Title- La Vie
Author- J.A.K
Rating- R: for real life feelings and real life situations that aren't always PG-13
Summary- Quite a bit of time has passed since Chloe and Clark have found their happiness in each other. This is the continuation of the goings-on in their lives including the lives of everyone else around them. This is an epic story of Life, Deception, and Tragedy; a story of how surprising life can be, and how cold, but sometimes comforting reality is. Find out what extraordinary events could break Chloe and Clark apart, and what could bring Lex and Lana together. This is a fanfic told through the eyes of every single person that has bearing on these four young people's lives.
Author's Note- A continuation of Debi's 'It's Now or Never 'and 'Monday at School'. My story has a plot and even a sub-plot that I promise will leave you wanting more. Scroll down and give it a chance.
An part 2: Clark and Lana are 17, while Pete and Chloe are 18 years old (Chloe only three months older than Clark and Pete the oldest, scoring six months over any of them). I know this isn't exactly right, but for the purposes of my story I've made it that way. I've also made Lex 22.
AN part 3: A very SPECIAL thanks goes out to my Beta-reader Alisa West, aka AW, who is woman enough to tell me like it is- even when what it is, isn't up to par. A great big shout-out also goes to my sister, for reading it over and having the final say. Thank You!
Lana
My head jerked up when the door swung open; and as sure as there was rain whipping against the glass covered building, there stood Lex Luthor - glancing searchingly around the expanse of the shop, until his eyes calmed and settled on me.
I felt a wave of nervousness pass over me as he stopped, parallel to where I sat, and quietly told me that we needed to talk.
For a split second my gaze focused beyond his form, and I noticed that everyone was staring either covertly or openly at us. Ignoring them, I motioned for him to sit down.
He shook his head, stretching out his arm.
"I need for us to speak inside the office."
Hesitating for a moment, I accepted his proffered hand and stood, following him through the opened door and sitting as he closed it behind us. He didn't reciprocate my actions. Instead he opted to pace the length of the enclosed area, staring hard into a place that only he could see.
The tense set of his shoulders and the ever increasing silence that enveloped the room, made all my previous nerves return.
I laced my fingers together and settled them on my lap.
"So Mr. Luthor…" I trailed off, not really sure of how or where to begin, but those uncertain words appeared to incite a response out of him.
"Can you believe it?" he asked with a slight lift to his eyebrows, a look that was probably the closest he ever got to expressing shock.
I cleared my throat and stared wide-eyed at his drenched, and now, immobile form.
"Can I believe what?"
He situated himself carefully in the chair that was directly opposite of me, across from the desk.
"Do you remember the file that you spoke to me about just a few weeks ago?"
I nodded my head; confused as that was the last thing I expected to come out of his mouth.
And speaking of mouths…his wasn't half bad.
I smiled inwardly.
As a matter of fact, it was a bit inviting. I took in a generous amount of air and sighed.
If only this desk didn't separate us. All I'd have to do is lean over and-
"Ms. Lang, are you listening to me?"
I nodded my head vigorously, hoping to defuse the blush that had started to rise in my cheeks, and praying fervently that he hadn't activated that uncanny sixth sense he possessed, which made it seem as if he was able to read minds.
Apparently, he had used it; judging by the way the corner of his mouth upturned slightly.
He leaned back in his chair, appearing to be more comfortable with our conversation.
"I asked you if you—"
"Yes, I remember." I felt myself blush again as I realized that I had cut him off, and that he probably wasn't used to being interrupted.
My brows furrowed together, while a look of mild distress plastered itself on my face. When did the words Lana Lang suddenly become the definition of bumbling idiot?
"I'm sorry Mr.—"
He held his hand up, immediately suspending my speech.
"It's quite alright Ms. Lang, and there really is no need for formalities."
Just as I opened my mouth to ask him if we were both on first name basis, he said that he would refer to me as Lana if that made me more comfortable.
I nodded my head in agreement.
"Now what was that stuff about the file?"
He studied me with a sweeping gaze, as though sizing me up.
"Yes. Someone was caught in the corporation's database planting what would appear to be a replica of the same file that was sent to you."
My eyes wandered over his expensive-looking, all black apparel.
"Well what do you need me for?"
He sat up, unfolding his arms and placing them on the desk.
"I need you to tell me exactly what the person said before they handed you the documents."
I shrugged my shoulders, flexing my intertwined fingers.
"He said—"
"So it was a he?"
I swallowed and looked away.
"I can't say for certain now." His eyes were intense when I met them again. "I mean it sounded like a man- an older man", I added when I saw that he seemed to want more. "But he was completely covered."
His irises, I noted dimly, were almost ridiculously dilated.
"Think about the build." He reached out and put his fingers over mine; a gesture that I knew was purely tactical to get me to relax and talk, as he wasn't one for personal contact. "I realize that you said that it was only a few seconds, but I'm confident that if you concentrate, the answer will come to you."
I thought for a long moment. "Yeah. I suppose you can say that the build was that of a male." I paused, staring at my fingers. "So I guess he said that it was your fault; and that if you had the file, then maybe he wouldn't have to do what they had sent him to do. He said maybe you would fix it on your own." I looked past his face and focused on the objects that made up the room's background. "He said that he'd only make it available to you twice, but that you couldn't take forever to figure it out."
As I watched him, I noticed that his facial features became impassive as he ingested everything that I'd just told him.
I jumped a bit from the sound of his chair scraping against the floor as he stood and made to leave.
"You have been most helpful Ms. Lang, but I'm afraid that I must go now."
"Wait." I called out.
He turned his head just enough, so that his profile was facing me.
"Whatever you're about to do to investigate all of this, you'll still need my help."
The knob of the door turned as his fingers rounded the metal handle.
"I think I can manage this situation all by myself, but thank you."
I came out from behind the desk so that I could stand in back of him.
"No matter what, I'm still the only person who he contacted- who heard him speak- who could maybe think really hard and remember something about the way he looked."
Both of his hands dropped down and hung by his sides as he let out an impatient sigh.
"Alright Ms. Lang, I get your point; so now what?" He turned to face me. "You are the manager of this establishment. What are you going to do, kick all the patrons out because you had to shut down the Talon an hour early?"
I gave him a slight smile, having already thought of that.
"I'll let Sheila fill in for me, she wouldn't mind."
Another sigh escaped his lips, but this time it sounded weary.
"I don't care at this point, as long as we leave right now."
The force of my smile could have competed and won against the sun. I stepped forward, prepared to engulf him with a hug, when I caught myself, remembering who he was.
Even if we were familiar enough with each other to hug, and even if he wasn't Lex Luthor, I would have still only caught his back, because he had already turned around and opened the door.
I shook my head, remembering what I'd said earlier in the evening, and whispered a hushed thank you under my breath.
Pete Ross
There they go.
I felt my face dip, as an already growing scowl appeared full force.
What the hell was she doing with Lex anyway? That guy was scum city.
I quickly chewed and swallowed the doughnut that she had served me more that 30 minutes ago as I sat in my booth of choice.
How could she just leave like that? Didn't she understand that the only reason I came through this storm was to be with her? Couldn't she see that I liked her?
Just as those thoughts entered my mind they were replaced by new ones; ones that made me decide that maybe Lana was as clueless about this stuff as Clark had been a year ago with Chloe.
I use to hope that Lana would get a best friend that she could confide in, so that I could have asked him or her what she really thought about me.
But there wasn't any such person.
In reality I had caught her eye a couple of times, but in those instances I hadn't had the balls to continue looking at her to see if she had kept on staring at me.
I wished I knew then that in those instances, we had both looked away because she had been having the same thoughts I was having. It probably could have spared all of us from the drama that later ensued. But I guess everything in life happened for a reason, even the things we didn't like, 'cause in the end, we were all stronger because of what we had experienced.
I still just wished that things could've been different; because had I known all of that, and had I pushed- or even suggested my feelings back then, Lana Lang could've been all mine.
The sad thing though, about wishes spoken of in the past tense, was that they could never come true…
…or could they?
The Stranger
There wasn't much time left.
Everything was about to go down just as it had before, and then it would be too late.
I've already been here for just under two months, and though I made contact twice, they still haven't figured it out.
I sighed then, and tried in vain to find comfort from the bed I was lying on; but my thoughts were too disturbing for me to relax.
I hope they understand. I hope they haven't made the encryption too hard.
I shook my head and rolled unto my back, staring into the darkness. Lex Luthor was smart, he would decode it; he would figure it out. A fine layer of sweat broke out along the edge of my forehead.
I just hope that he'll do what's necessary after he's figured it all out, so I won't have to.
A feeling of apprehension settled in my stomach.
The weight of…everything was resting on my shoulders. But I had volunteered. I had put the hopes of everyone on me.
So no matter how it happened, I had to complete the mission; regardless of whether or not I had put too much faith in Lex- I still had to do it.
After all…the world needed Superman.