The next week went by in a blur for Clark and Lana. The whole news
was a buzz with the news that they were dating. The ex-cheerleader, and
her rebound fling. Clark and Lana tried their best to ignore the comments;
most of them from Whitney's friends. Whitney himself had said nothing to
either of them. However, his new girlfriend Megan had actually told Lana
that she and Clark made a cute couple. A bewildered Lana just nodded her
head in thanks, smiled shyly, and walked away.
Soon it was Saturday and the Winter Formal dance was only a few hours away. Lana was incredibly excited, and even Nell had to notice how much happier her niece was with Clark than with Whitney. After they'd all had dinner together Nell has realized how much she really liked Clark. He was kind and respectful and she was glad for that.
At dinner, Clark had at first seemed slightly uncomfortable, but relaxed considerably when, during a particularly awkward moment, Lana reached under the table and grabbed his hand. He glanced at Lana gratefully. Nell noticed and was amused, but chose not to say anything. She wanted to trust Lana's judgment, but considering her last choice for a boyfriend, she wanted to make sure that Clark was good enough for her niece. Nell concluded that although she still felt it was too soon for Lana to be dating she had to make her own decisions. Besides, Nell trusted Clark, and Lana liked him, and that's what was important.
The night had ended with the couple sitting outside on the porch swing talking and laughing. Clark had gotten up to leave and kissed Lana gently on the lips. She looked up at him in adoration. When she came inside to find Nell standing suspiciously close to the window looking slightly guilty, she wasn't the least bit angry. Lana just laughed and headed upstairs to her room.
The day of the dance Lana slept in late, went riding in the morning, and spent the rest of the day getting ready. Clark did his chores, hung out with Pete and Chloe and called Lex, who had the suit sent over to his house. At 6:45 Clark nervously got into the limo, which drove promptly to Lana's house. Clark wrung his hands. 'Why am I so edgy?' he thought. When the limousine pulled up to her house and Clark stepped out, he realized why. 'It's official. Lana and I are a couple. For the first time, everyone will see us together.' He wondered how Chloe was going to react, but pushed the thought to the back of his mind and rang the doorbell. Nell answered expectedly.
"Come in Clark." She ushered him inside. "My, don't you look handsome."
"Thank you."
"Lana's upstairs, still getting ready. Here, why don't we sit down and chat for a while."
"Alright," said Clark, sitting down on the couch.
"First of all, curfew is twelve. And I assume I don't need to tell you that drinking, smoking, drugs, are off limits for both of you."
"Nell, where would we get that stuff here in Smallville?" Lana called from the top of the stairs.
Clark stood up quickly and watched Lana descend the staircase. She was a perfect image of beauty. Lana wore a flowing black, chiffon dress that reached the top of her knees and matching, elegant stiletto heels. Her hair was long and loose across her shoulders. Her eyes were a smoky charcoal, her cheeks flushed, with lips pale. His mouth hung open.
"Wow! You look beautiful Lana," he finally stammered.
"Thank you," she replied, laughing. "You don't look so bad yourself," she said, and took his arm. "Don't worry Nell, we'll be careful."
Nell nodded and smiled. "Have fun you two!" she called after them.
They were already gone. Nell shook her head, and shut the door.
Soon it was Saturday and the Winter Formal dance was only a few hours away. Lana was incredibly excited, and even Nell had to notice how much happier her niece was with Clark than with Whitney. After they'd all had dinner together Nell has realized how much she really liked Clark. He was kind and respectful and she was glad for that.
At dinner, Clark had at first seemed slightly uncomfortable, but relaxed considerably when, during a particularly awkward moment, Lana reached under the table and grabbed his hand. He glanced at Lana gratefully. Nell noticed and was amused, but chose not to say anything. She wanted to trust Lana's judgment, but considering her last choice for a boyfriend, she wanted to make sure that Clark was good enough for her niece. Nell concluded that although she still felt it was too soon for Lana to be dating she had to make her own decisions. Besides, Nell trusted Clark, and Lana liked him, and that's what was important.
The night had ended with the couple sitting outside on the porch swing talking and laughing. Clark had gotten up to leave and kissed Lana gently on the lips. She looked up at him in adoration. When she came inside to find Nell standing suspiciously close to the window looking slightly guilty, she wasn't the least bit angry. Lana just laughed and headed upstairs to her room.
The day of the dance Lana slept in late, went riding in the morning, and spent the rest of the day getting ready. Clark did his chores, hung out with Pete and Chloe and called Lex, who had the suit sent over to his house. At 6:45 Clark nervously got into the limo, which drove promptly to Lana's house. Clark wrung his hands. 'Why am I so edgy?' he thought. When the limousine pulled up to her house and Clark stepped out, he realized why. 'It's official. Lana and I are a couple. For the first time, everyone will see us together.' He wondered how Chloe was going to react, but pushed the thought to the back of his mind and rang the doorbell. Nell answered expectedly.
"Come in Clark." She ushered him inside. "My, don't you look handsome."
"Thank you."
"Lana's upstairs, still getting ready. Here, why don't we sit down and chat for a while."
"Alright," said Clark, sitting down on the couch.
"First of all, curfew is twelve. And I assume I don't need to tell you that drinking, smoking, drugs, are off limits for both of you."
"Nell, where would we get that stuff here in Smallville?" Lana called from the top of the stairs.
Clark stood up quickly and watched Lana descend the staircase. She was a perfect image of beauty. Lana wore a flowing black, chiffon dress that reached the top of her knees and matching, elegant stiletto heels. Her hair was long and loose across her shoulders. Her eyes were a smoky charcoal, her cheeks flushed, with lips pale. His mouth hung open.
"Wow! You look beautiful Lana," he finally stammered.
"Thank you," she replied, laughing. "You don't look so bad yourself," she said, and took his arm. "Don't worry Nell, we'll be careful."
Nell nodded and smiled. "Have fun you two!" she called after them.
They were already gone. Nell shook her head, and shut the door.