Part 7

Later that evening, Lana was sitting in her room finishing a report for her English class, when she happened to glance out her window.

To her surprise, someone was standing out on the front lawn. On closer inspection, she realized that it was in fact Clark.

Opening her window, she stuck her head out and called to him.

"Clark! What on earth are you doing out there?"

A light rain had started late afternoon, but by now it was a heavy downpour.

Clark's only indication that he'd heard her was for him to step closer.

"What… you want to come in?" Confused, Lana watched him draw even closer. "Clark… you know I'm not suppose to have boys in my room…"

He looked at her, and at the look in his eyes, all Lana's indecision evaporated. He looked so sad, his dark eyes looking lost and desperate. Desperate for what, though? For her?

Never mind that now, she told herself. All that matters is getting him out of that rain and dried off. I'll worry about what's wrong later.

Opening her window, she stepped back as a cold gust of air wafted into her room. She was about to call down to Clark and ask him just how he planned on getting inside, when he ran over to a tree some 5 feet from her window. Soon he'd climbed to the height of her room, and not even skipping a beat, reached out with an arm to grab onto the wall.

"Clark-" Lana started, about to point out the obvious fact that Clark's arm could never stretch across a gap nearly as wide as she herself was tall.

However, the next thing she knew, his arm was stretching, growing. The skin almost seemed to melt away, and Lana had to turn away, for fear she'd be sick.

It was a good thing she did this however, for she missed the rocky inside of Clark's arm.

Lana couldn't believe herself. Just how heartless was she? How could something Clark, the love of her life do make her sick? And she clamed to love him!

Turning back, she was all set to apologize when she saw that Clark's hand was holding firm on the window ledge.

The next minute he'd swung across and was climbing through, his arm completely normal once again.

Grabbing a towel from her desk chair, she handed it to him and after closing the window, hurried from her room to grab another.

Returning, she set to work drying the upper half of his body. She suddenly realized that he was shivering. But… Clark wasn't supposed to shiver.

"Clark… you're shivering…"

"So?" His voice sounded… strange. Flat almost.

"But… you… you don't shiver," Lana said, struggling as to what to say.

"…Oh," Clark said, and abruptly stopped.

What on earth was going on here?

Forgetting about drying him off, Lana left the towel draped over his shoulders and simply spoke to him. Jeez, what was wrong with her tonight? Since when had she become so cruel? Was this that figure's doing? Had he affected her after all?

She started drying Clark's now motionless shoulders, hating herself. Why was she acting so heartless towards the man she loved?

Because something doesn't feel right about him, a part of her mind answered. But this looked like her Clark, plaid and all. His behavior had been slightly strange, but he'd had a rough day, that was all. She could surely tell her Clark from an impostor.

Once she'd finished drying him off, she placed her hands on his shoulders, letting the damp towel fall to the floor.

"Clark… what happened? I mean, why are you here? Did something happen with your parents?" She didn't know what to say to him once again. She felt like she was talking to a stranger, instead of the love her life.

He looked into her eyes, open with concern, and was suddenly kissing her.

It was gentle, but… different. He's just not used to kissing you, that's all. He's still a little shaken from what happened with that figure earlier, she told herself before losing herself in the kiss.

She was careful to not take it too fast, to let Clark call the shots. She did not object when his tongue pressed against her lips, requesting entrance. Granted, it was a little rougher than his usual advances, but she shrugged this thought off and parted his lips.

"I love you," she said in a whisper, as he kissed his way hungrily down her chin.

She opened her eyes and looked directly into his, making her love clear. She didn't want him to think that she was pulling away from him, or doubting him in anyway.

He was forced to see all her love and concern and support for him, every emotion she felt for him, and he staggered suddenly, stepping back from her, as though in pain. His lips left her skin abruptly, and he pressed a hand to them, gasping in pain.

"Clark?" She asked in alarm, reaching to touch him. Her concern mounted.

Her touch sent him back further still. She drew her hand away and stared at him in confusion and surprise.

He drew his hand from his face to grab his arm, and Lana gasped. His lips were… melting away, just as the flesh on his arm had done. This time however, the skin looked almost burned, and instead of a fresh layer underneath, or anything that she would have expected to see, there was rock.

Green rock.

Kryptonite.

She hadn't been aware of making any sound, but she must have. Clark quickly took his hand away from his arm to re-cover his lips.

In doing this however, left the place on his arm where Lana had touched him exposed. The skin the size of her handprint was gone, revealing more kryptonite.

She was completely at a loss for words now. She stared, opened mouthed, at him.

"C-Clark," she breathed finally, trying to remain calm. "I-is this some new side effect?"

He blinked. "What?" His voice was filled with panic and she hastened to assure him.

"Clark, it's okay. I understand exactly what happened."

"You do?" The panic was leaving, a curious relief in it's place.

"Yes, of course. With all the pain you've been put through today, your body is dealing with in a… new way. I don't understand the kryptonite part, but I'm sure it will pass." She stroked his cheek lovingly, feeling him wince, but not stopping regardless. "It's okay, you don't have to be ashamed. I just wish you'd told me sooner, that's all."

She took her hand away and gasped as the skin of his face came with it. Chill out, Lang, she told herself sternly. Now is not the time to freak out over this.

"I…I…" It was Clark's turn to stutter, but Lana spoke before he had a chance to continue attempting to do so.

"It's all right, Clark. It was just a little surprised, that's all. I'm sorry…" She hesitated, and then with a forced smile, continued, "let's look on the bright side of this. You can now stretch your arms really far. That's how you reached my window, isn't it? I would have preferred if you'd jumped over or even used the front door, but it's all right, I understand everything now."

She took his hand and led him to the bed. They sat down and he yanked his hand from hers, and Lana grimaced, having felt the skin melting away this time. It seemed the longer she touched him; the faster the skin left his body. Or, in the case of her stroking his cheek, she'd unintentionally helped to pull the skin away.

Clark didn't speak for a few moments, and Lana was still reeling from what she had discovered.

Clark's lips were suddenly on her's again. They felt hard and uncomfortable, but she didn't dare pull away. She didn't want him thinking it was because she was grossed out of the sight of him. If he wanted to kiss for a while before talking she supposed that was all right.

-

"Clark, telephone!" Clark came out of his room around 8:30 on Saturday evening. He'd been doing an essay for English and was pleased that the sound of his mother's voice had only made him a little nervous. That was progress, wasn't it? She sounded normal enough, after all.

"Coming!" He called in response, even more pleased to see that his own voice had remained steady.

He came down the stairs and into the kitchen. "It's Chloe," his mother said in a whisper as he picked up the phone.

"H-Hello?" The fear was back, and he pleaded his mother hadn't noticed. She'd turned the water on and was continuing to wash the dishes, so he doubted she had.

"Hey. Weren't we supposed to work on that article together today?"

Her voice sounded normal, all be it annoyed. He sighed inwardly in relief.

"Yeah. I came over and…" he hesitated, fumbling for an excuse. "Your uh dad was just leaving and said you weren't up. I decided to leave and just… got side tracked. I'm sorry, Chloe."

"It's okay, I had a pretty strange morning."

He tensed, renewed fear coming in full force. Keep it together, Kent. "What do you mean?"

"I don' even remember getting up. The first thing I remember after going to sleep last night was suddenly finding myself out on the lawn, dressed in a ruined shirt and having some dream where I was beating the life out of you. Weird, huh?"

"Yeah… really weird, Chloe."

"So… if you wouldn't mind, do you think you could come over now and we could do the article? I really need it for Monday's addition of the Torch."

"Sure, why not?"

"Great! I'll see you in ten minutes."

With that she hung up. After telling his mother where he was going and expecting him back around 12 at the latest, he left, happy to brave the rain instead of Chloe's wrath.

-

"Okay, I think we're done."

"Great!" Clark glanced at the clock, and his smile widened. Only 10:15! He had plenty of time before he was expected home. Without even realizing it, his head jerked in the direction of the stairs.

Having seen this, Chloe rolled her eyes. "I'll go see if she's up," she said, flashing Clark a smile to show that it didn't bother her. And she was surprised to realize that it didn't, at least, not as much.

Was it possible that she was finally getting over Clark? A part of Chloe was relieved, whereas another part was saddened.

"Snap out of it Sullivan," she muttered under her breath as she headed up the stairs.

-

If Clark was in pain, Lana had stopped noticing. Their kisses were deep and filled with so many emotions. She never pictured Clark to be this passionate or experienced, let alone ready to take things this far, yet his kisses told her otherwise.

Clark fell backwards on the bed, moaning wordlessly. The sound was out of pain, but Lana didn't notice. She fell on top of him, her hands feeling the muscles of his body through his shirt, and wishing the clothing wasn't there.

Neither heard the door open, Lana too caught up in the kiss and Clark in too much pain. No one saw the shocked face of Chloe peak in, her mouth open as though she were going to speak, but no words coming out. She stared for a minute, taking in the scene of Lana making out with an unfamiliar boy, before se closed he door and ran as fast as she could down the stairs.

-

Clark turned at the sound of running footsteps, his excitement growing. Was Lana really that happy to see him?

"Hey, glad I'm worth hurrying - Chloe? Where's Lana?"

"Clark…" She looked at him, eyes filled with shock and sorrow. "I just saw Lana in a major make out session with some guy…"

Clark felt the bottom drop out of his stomach. I was like he'd just been exposed to kryptonite, only much worse. So, so much worse. His heart felt as though someone was hitting it with a sledgehammer, and for a moment he literally couldn't breathe.

"What… what…" He stared in shocked disbelief at Chloe.

"I'm so sorry…" she came to stand beside him, placing a hand on his arm.

He pushed it off, not caring if her hurt her. "Where is this guy?"

"Up in Lana's room… Clark, what are you going to do? Clark!"

But he was already tearing up the stairs. He ran down the hall at super speed, nearly crashing through Lana's door in his hurry.

He managed to calm down, however. He didn't want this guy knowing his secret - maybe that's why Lana was doing it. She needed an escape from his life and crazy problems - their crazy problems. These thoughts made him feel even worse.

He opened the door, expecting to see one of the guys from school.

"I love you," was the first thing he heard as the door opened. It was Lana, her voice a mere whisper, in the tone she saved for him.

Fresh pain hitting him like a gunshot, he looked at the couple on he bed.

And got quite a shock.

It was Lana yes, kissing a guy that looked a great deal like him.

Except that the skin on his back was half gone.

-

Lana had ripped off Clark's shirt and was running her hands over his hard back. His very hard back.

She thought she heard a noise, from very far away, but ignored it. She continued her kissing and exploring, wondering if Clark would ever act like this ever again.

"I love you," she told him, just in case he was having any doubts of her enjoyment.

He cried out in pain against her lips, jerking out from underneath her. She looked at him, confused and gasped.

A large portion of skin from the middle of his back was melting away.

"Clark… I'm so sorry…"

"What?!"

The voice hadn't come from him, but from the doorway. Lana turned in bewilderment, and her mouth dropped open for the second time that evening.

Clark was standing in the doorway.

Clark was also still on the bed, wincing over his burnt skin.

"K-kryptonite!" The Clark in the doorway cried, stumbling backwards.

The Clark on the bed swore and lunged for the window. As he got farther away from her, Lana saw his skin slowly begin to reform.

"I-I-I…" she gasped, staring at him in utter revulsion. "You-you freak! You sick minded freak! I hate you!"

His skin reformed even faster, and that's when the peaces began to put themselves together in Lana's mind.

Her love for Clark had weakened him.

She hadn't been concerned for Clark - not Clark - for that thing when he'd first came in, but once she'd convinced herself that she was being closed minded and hateful, and reassured him of her love, which had been genuine, he'd started to weaken.

By this time, he was nearly halfway out the window. His skin was fully formed once again, the burn marks fading. Suddenly there was a gust of wind hitting Lana, but it wasn't from outside. Clark - her real Clark - was speeding passed her, leaping out the window after his twin.

She faintly heard first one teen and then the other hit the ground, and then all other noise was lost to her in the wind and rain. She hugged her pillow close and cried.

Author's Notes:

It's done! I finally got over my writer's block and finished this part! I know, I know… it took me long enough! Believe me, I've been reminded of that… Maaaany times.

Lana was extremely out of character in this chapter, and for that I am so sorry. I blame the Lois and Clark show. Oh, and just so you know… Clark is back to his usual bad guy butt kicking next part. Well… sort of. I think. Jeez… I'm getting a headache. And this is totally off topic but my brother is extremely annoying, aaand… I lost my C/L CD that I made myself!! I was so proud I'd figured out the program, and I loved my CD sssooo much… and now it's GONE! *Sobs*

M'kay, time for you to feedback and it's time for me to go rant in my LJ and to the people on MSN. If any of my MSN buddies are reading this and you see that I'm online… I suggest that you run!

I'll be calm eventually, don't worry. I've got a cold, gimme a break. G'bye all… remember the FB!