Pete looked down in disgust at the various array of crap from his locker, now dumped on the floor in front of him. He made a face and tossed an old science project into the garbage can he'd dragged over, for the ceremonial locker cleaning. It was the last day of school, but summer wasn't turning out exactly as he'd planned and he'd almost rather have been studying than worrying about all that had happened in Smallville lately. His best friend had left and not been heard from in two weeks. Lex Luthor's plane had been missing just as long, and the papers were predicting the worst. Chloe had been distant and acting strange, and he was afraid Clark's mysterious disappearance had raised her suspicions. He looked up from a year's worth of vocabulary tests and math papers he'd never remembered to turn in, to see Lana Lang rounding the corner of the hallway, craning her neck, seemingly looking for someone. He watched as she scoured the halls, never thinking that she might be looking for him, but when they made eye contact, she acknowledged him and hurried over. She wrinkled her nose at the mess in front of him, said nothing, and grabbed his hand.

"Where are we going?" he asked as she took him by the arm and dragged him away.

"Not here," she said calmly, her voice concealing any apprehension she was feeling.

She slowed down when they'd reached their destination, a janitorial closet at the end of the hall. Pete trailed behind her. She around furtively to make sure no one was coming, and then shoved Pete inside and closed the door behind her. It was pitch black inside. Pete could hear Lana's harried breathing distinctly in the small space.

"Uh.Lana."

"I've got it," she said, and groped around for the light switch. When she located it, the room flooded with light, and they squinted to adjust to the change.

Lana looked around the room. It was jam packed with various cleaning supplies, brooms, mops, and toilet paper. Lana almost smiled at the ridiculousness of the situation. She just kidnapped Pete Ross and pulled him into a storage closet. She snapped back to reality when Pete's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"What's with the weird meeting place? You okay?"

Lana sighed. "Sorry about that. I just thought, given the nature of this conversation, we might like to talk in private."

"Couldn't it have waited until after school? You know, so we didn't have to be stuck in here?"

Lana offered an apology. "Sorry. I got impatient. I've been trying to find you all day. There's something I've been meaning to ask you for awhile, and I was in gym, and I suddenly got the nerve to do it, so here I am."

Pete slid his backpack off his shoulder and let it fall to the floor before joining it there. He motioned for Lana to sit down. She complied.

"Okay," he said seriously. "What's up?"

"It's about Clark."

"Yeah, I kind of figured."

"Uh.before I say anything, I think you should know that it's really important that we only talk about this when no one else is around."

He nodded, silently wondering what this was about. "Okay, cool."

Lana bit her bottom lip. "Okay." She gave him a quick smile before swallowing nervously and continuing.

"Pete.you've been friends with Clark for a long time, right?"

"Since we were kids, yeah. Why?"

"Pete," she whispered achingly. "How much do you know about him?"

"Everything."

"How much?"

"Lana, are you asking me what I think you're asking me?"

"Do you know the secret?"

Pete's mouth fell agape. "Do you?"

"Yes."

"How much exactly?"

"Well, how much do you know?"

Pete laughed. "This isn't getting us anywhere."

Lana relaxed. "I guess not. So, you know that Clark is." "An alien?" Pete finished.

"Yeah," she replied, her emotions teetering back and forth between overwhelming feelings of relief and betrayal.

Pete obviously saw it play out on her face, because he quickly adjusted his tone to soothe her.

"Lana, I found out by accident. He was forced to tell me."

She nodded unhappily.

"So.he finally told you?"

She shook her head angrily. "No. His parents did. After he left."

"Whoa! That doesn't seem like something they'd ever do. His secret's a big deal."

"Well, to their credit, they weren't exactly enthusiastic about it. And they weren't in the best frame of mind either. Did you know about the baby?"

"Yeah," Pete said quietly.

"I don't know exactly what happened, but Clark was really upset when he left."

"No wonder. So, the Kents told you everything, huh?"

"Well, no. Not everything. That's why I'm here. Pete, I know the basics, but.I haven't been back to see Clark's parents since they told me. It's just.too weird. But I want to know more. God, I'm dying of curiosity. Like, what can he do? I mean, I've never met an alien before. You need to help me Pete," she said, her voice rising in desperation. "I need answers."

He looked Lana up and down for the first time since she'd accosted him in the hallway. She was wide-eyed and manic; her gaze darted about nervously. "Calm down," he said soothingly, and put a hand lightly on her shoulder. "Okay," he said in a hushed tone. "First of all.well, he has powers." He looked into her eyes, waiting for a reaction. To his relief, she simply stared at him numbly.

"Right. That's why he's always at the right place at the right time." She nodded to herself, trying to make the information sink in.

"And he's got super speed," Pete continued, cautiously.

"No wonder he's always gone when you turn your back for a second."

"Yup. And let's see.heat vision."

"You mean."

"He can make fire with his eyes."

"So, in The Talon that time."

"That was him."

"Wow," she replied incredulously. "What else?"

"Well, he has X-Ray vision. And he's basically indestructible. Impervious to bullets, knives, well.anything, really."

"Jesus. And all this time.I never knew."

"Well you've got to admit, it's kind of unbelievable. Not exactly the first conclusion you'd jump to."

"I know, but.I knew something was different with Clark. But.I never imagined he wasn't even human."

"Lana," he said gently. "He's still the same guy. Believe me, it freaked me out too, at first, but now that I'm used to the idea, it's actually pretty cool."

"I'm just glad I'm not the only one who knows. God, Pete, aren't you terrified you'll let it slip. It's such a huge responsibility."

"Yeah. Now you know why Clark didn't want to burden us with it. I was angry at first, that he hadn't told me sooner, but now I understand. He was just doing what he could to keep us safe. He was afraid that we'd react badly. When he first told me, I was pissed off as hell. Not that he was an alien, but because he didn't trust me enough to tell me sooner. I get it now though. As bad as he wanted to, he just couldn't risk it. And he did want to Lana. He talked about telling you all the time."

"But he didn't," she said coldly. "All that time, he lied to me."

"Calm down," he repeated, watching the door anxiously.

"What do you mean, calm down? My boyfriend-"

"Shh!" he whispered frantically, putting a hand over her mouth. "Lower your voice."

Lana nodded and complied. "My boyfriend is missing. And he's an alien. And he's lied to me every day for as long as I've known him. I think I have a valid reason to be upset!"

"Okay Lana," he said finally. "Look, I'm probably the only one in the world who understands what you're going through right now. That's why you're here. Getting hysterical about it isn't going to help anyone. Please, believe me when I say you'll get used to the idea. As for Clark.well, we'll just hope for the best I guess. Lana.you know he loves you right?"

She nodded slowly. "He said so.before he left."

"So, what're you so worried about then? Do you love him?"

"Yes," she whispered reluctantly.

"Did you tell him so?"

"Yes," she said quietly. "He left anyway."

"But not 'cause he wanted to. You know that."

"I feel like I'm just waiting for something to happen. It' s like.I haven't decided yet if I should hate him or not."

She looked away and Pete saw tears in her eyes.

"Lana." he started.

She brushed him off. "No, it's okay," she said nonchalantly. "You know.life goes on right?"

He said nothing. Her eyes, sad and tired, suddenly looked very far away.

"I have to go. Thanks Pete," she said, offering him a pitiful half-smile.

"Anytime," he replied meekly.

They got to their feet. Pete picked up his bag, and handed her hers. She opened the door, and warm, cheery light streamed in.