Part 2

Author's notes: I know that Lana wouldn't have the gym class just before Clark's anymore, since their schedules would change at the beginning of sophomore year, but for the sake of my beeeautiful story, I'm changing things. Also, this figure is getting more powers… somehow.

Clark walked towards the gym feeling considerably all right. His face was bruised, as was his arm. When he'd gotten undressed the night before, he'd felt more bruises appearing all over his body, and by now it hurt at nearly every move he made.

Despite all of this, Clark was smiling. He would get a glimpse of Lana all flushed and sweaty…

A sudden feeling of nausea made his Lana fantasies come to an abrupt end. He stopped walking abruptly, causing Pete, who'd been trying a pick up line on some girl, to crash headlong into him.

"Clark, what's the big idea- what's wrong?"

Pete, catching sight of the pained look on Clark's face, stopped his complaining.

"I…I just… never mind," Clark mumbled, continuing slowly on.

Reaching the gym just as the girls were leaving, Clark's spirits lifted slightly.

Lana waved as she past by the boys, flashing Clark a smile. He waved back, but his smile was forced and he was sure Lana knew it.

"All right," coach Guerin said a few moments later once everyone was assembled and more or less ready for class, "we're going to do some running today. I want you to give it all you've got - maybe some of you will even be picked for the track team! So, let's go!"

Clark was still feeling sick. He stumbled to his feet, and started jogging. He managed a light run, but he was afraid if he went any faster, he would throw up or worse.

"Pick up the pace, Kent!" The coach yelled, not seeming to notice Clark's pallid skin.

Clark obeyed, hating himself for always going exceptionally fast in gym.

"Come on Clark! My wife can do better than that!"

"Of course your wife can run faster," Clark muttered as he reluctantly went faster. "Maria's the coach of the girls swim team."

Sweat formed on Clark's face and forehead. His body felt like it was moving through a thick swamp, and he struggled to keep going.

His body began to tremble and he felt his breakfast rising up his throat.

"Kent, move it!"

He took another step before his knees buckled and he fell to the floor, passing out before his head smacked against it.

---

Lana stopped brushing her damp hair, frowning slightly. She had a sudden urge to go back to the gym, and fast.

But why, though? She wondered to herself as she brushed her hair a few quick times and threw the rest of her belongings inn her bag. She hadn't left her sweatshirt or anything down there.

Shrugging, Lana decided to trust her instincts and hurried out of the girl's locker room.

As soon as she reached the hallway, she could tell something was wrong.

"Stop! Move back, move! Ross, go and get the nurse."

Coach Guerin's voice sounded almost panicked, and Lana's worry increased. Nothing had happened to Pete obviously, but someone was obviously hurt.

She picked up her pace and just reached the gym as Pete ran out, looking terrified.

"Pete!" She grabbed his arm, stopping his near run. "What's going on?"

"Lana!" Pete said in relief. "It… it's Clark. He just past out."

"Are you serious?" Lana's eyes widened as fear clenched her heart.

Pete nodded, looking just as scared as Lana felt. She ran through the gym doors, with him close behind.

They found the entire class crowded around someone, with coach Guerin kneeling over them.

Lana pushed her way roughly through the boys, and managed to make out Clark's still form. His eyes were closed, and his skin was pale. She had an urge to get to him, hoping that as she'd helped him sleep a few weeks before, she could as easily help him with whatever new problem that had caused this.

The gym door opened again, and some of the other girls came in, no doubt hearing the commotion as they were passing.

Coach Guerin, who'd previously been sitting staring dumbly at Clark, decided to take action.

"Kent?" He grabbed Clark's shoulder, shaking him roughly. "Come on, Kent!"

Lana pushed through the crowd more, growing anxious. She had to at least try to help somehow.

Just as she was about to reach the center of the circle, Clark moaned softly and opened his eyes.

He looked around the gym, looking utterly confused.

"Kent, you all right?"

"Uhhh… yeah…" He mumbled.

"Ross! Where's the nurse?" The coach yelled, spotting Pete near the door.

Pete looked down sheepishly, and the coach sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Someone take Kent to the nurse," he said, sounding more exasperated than concerned.

Clark's eyes widened, and he sat up quickly. This obviously hurt him somehow, because he slumped forward, his head falling between his knees.

"No," he said thickly, trying to get to his feet. "I…I'm fine…"

"Don't give me that," the coach protested, looking around. "Why doesn't one of you girls take him?"

Lana felt that this was a good time to make her presence known.

"I'll do it," she said, shoving her way through the remaining boys.

"No," Clark moaned, obviously not fully a wear of what was happening.

"I'm his girlfriend," Lana told the coach, bending over and taking Clark's hand gently in hers to give them both reassurance.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" The coach asked, and Lana rolled her eyes.

"Yes," she said, voice slightly harsh.

"Well, thank you, ms… ummm…"

"Lang," she nearly snapped. "Lana Lang." And then in a gentler tone as she helped Clark to his feet, "Come on, Clark."

Clark managed to get to his feet, too weak to protest. He was still very pale, and he was leaning heavily on Lana for support. She somehow managed to stay on her feet and get them both out the door.

Once outside, she led Clark a ways down the hall. "I-I'm r-really fine," Clark was saying, sounding panicked. He still didn't seem to know that he was in fact talking to Lana, and once making sure they were a safe distance away, Lana stopped walking.

"Really I'm fine," Clark was still encysting, sounding slightly more desperate.

"Clark, it's okay. It's me - it's Lana. Relax, you're fine now," she said in a soothing voice, moving to stand in front of him and running her hand over his.

Clark blinked and looked at her more carefully, seeming to realize that it was Lana for the first time.

"Lana?" Clark said after a pause, sounding relieved.

"Yeah, it's me. Clark, are you all right?"

"I think so," he said, and Lana squeezed his hand.

They walked a little more, until they came to a water fountain. Clark gulped down about half of Smallville's water supply it seemed, but looked considerably better after doing so.

"Any idea of what made you pass out?" Lana asked, as they walked in the direction of the library. It was Lana's study hall right now, and Clark's gym class was nearly over, so neither saw any reason to go back.

"I'm not really sure," Clark said honestly. "I've been feeling sort of out of it ever since I got near the gym, and we were running and… that's all I remember."

"When you came to, you didn't seem to recognize anyone," Lana said quietly, "why was that?"

"I still felt really sick," Clark explained, rubbing his hands tiredly across his face, "I only seemed to hear bits and peaces of the conversation. I heard the coach say that I should go to the nurse, and I just sort of panicked. But when you talked to me," he said, a ghost of a smile forming on his face, "I felt that everything would be all right again."

Lana put her arms around him, and he returned her hug gratefully, kissing her hard.

"How do you feel now?" She asked, once they'd stopped kissing. They were still holding one another, with Lana leaning up against a near by locker.

"Fine," Clark responded, absently playing with Lana's hair. "Except for being really sore…"

"What do you mean?" Lana asked, her eyes falling on the bruise on Clark's cheek.

"I have bruises all over my arms and legs," Clark replied, sounding perplexed and worried. "I never get bruises. And even if I did, I don't know where and when I could have gotten them."

"I know this is real weird," Lana said slowly, "but maybe… maybe it's nothing. Maybe… it's just some puberty side effect for aliens?"

"Maybe…" But Clark sounded unsure.

---

The figure stood just behind the two in the hallway, his usual smirk crossing his demonic face.

He'd left them alone for a while, but he did not want Clark, as he was called on this planet, to forget his presence so easily.

"I make you pass out and you still don't know my power?" He whispered, stepping closer. He was invisible to the human - and kryptonian eye, so he saw nothing to worry about.

In Lana's arms, Clark began to tense. The figure watched his skin go slightly green, and if it weren't for Lana's arms around him, he probably would have fallen. He fell hard against her, pushing her fully against the locker, which was the only thing that kept them both upright.

"Are you okay?" He overheard her ask, eyes wide with fresh concern.

He nodded weakly, and Lana led him down the hall, away from the figure.

"I'm still with you," the figure murmured to Clark's fading form. "You cannot escape me…. Never. Never again."

His laughter echoed around the hallway, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone, leaving a green mist in his wake along with a small, carefully placed stone.

Author's notes:

Is it just me, or is this part more or less pointless? Well, I tried to get it up pretty quickly, so did that help any? I've started part 3, but it currently consists of 3 sentences, so it'll be a few days in comin. For now, please give me feedback!