A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
By AllegraCHAPTER 2 : COLD DINNERS
Lana Lang settled herself into a big leather armchair in the corner of the Beanery. She was shattered and this was just her fifteen minute break. The coffee house had been teaming with people all afternoon and every minute of serving coffees and collecting empty mugs felt more like an hour. She stared numbly at the bustling scene around her and had barely registered the angry looking customer heading in her direction when a muscly frame blocked her view. Looking up, Lana was relieved to be faced with her friend and would-be boyfriend, Clark Kent.
"Clark, hey."
"Hi Lana. Are you still working?" Clark's gaze rode anxiously around the hordes of people.
Lana pulled herself up into more of a sitting position in the chair. She could see that he was upset by something and, despite her fatigue, Lana was always ready to lend an ear. "What is it, Clark?"
Clark's big blue eyes turned back to her, wide with surprise. "Nothing. I'm fine." The moment the words left his mouth he knew he'd rather be telling Lana all about his troubles. "I wouldn't want to bother you on your break. I can see it's pretty busy here."
Lana patted the chair next to her. "Clark, I've always got time for you. You know that. Tell me what's bothering you."
The brawny teenager sat down and leaned back heavily. "I guess I just didn't want to go home. I could hear Mom and Dad arguing from the end of the yard."
A frown passed across Lana's flawless face. "About what?"
"Lex...Lex and me, our friendship." Lana mouthed a silent 'oh' but left Clark the space he needed to talk. "Dad still doesn't trust him and Mom invited Lex to dinner tomorrow night." Clark rolled his eyes, "It's going to be...horrible."
Lana smiled, reassuringly. "Oh, Clark, maybe it won't be that bad."
Clark chuckled, humourlessly. "Want to bet? I can see it already. Lex will be trying to make light conversation while constantly putting his foot in it by talking about local business. Dad's hackles will be up from the moment Lex steps in the door and Mom will spend the whole evening trying to keep things civil. Lana, it's going to be a nightmare. And the worst part is that I know Mom's doing it for me but right now I'm not sure I even want to be there myself."
Lana laughed lightly. Clark tried not to dwell too long on the way the light was reflected in her eyes or the curve of her full lips over perfect white teeth. Everything about Lana Lang was almost too perfect to be true - unsullied and pure as the whitest lilies. Catching his penetrating gaze, the brunette cleared her throat uncertainly. "Well, I don't know what to say. It sounds like you've already made your decision about how this is going to go."
Blushing at being caught staring, Clark asked, "What else am I supposed to think? It's the way things go every time the two meet."
Lana glanced at the clock. "Listen, Clark, I've got to get back to work." She stood to go then turned back, thoughtfully. "You know, Clark, your dad and Lex are both good people. Help them find some common ground and maybe things won't go so badly tomorrow."
Clark smiled sadly in acknowledgement. He appreciated Lana trying to help but, as he had feared, nobody could suggest anything that would make this experience any easier.
The next day bowled around and Clark tried to occupy his time with any other thought than that evening's torture. He was grateful that Chloe and Pete had invited him along to the movies but his mind wasn't on the afternoon's activities. It hadn't made the day any more fun to arrive just when Pete was arguing with Chloe once more about her tardiness. In fact, what was supposed to be fun had just turned into a damp squib. Eventually, he had been forced to go home when Smallville town centre had run out of options.
Clark dragged his feet towards the front porch where he could already smell the clean aroma of Martha Kent's fine home cooking. He opened the door quietly and slipped into the kitchen, hoping to make it to his room before his mother saw him.
"Jonathan? Is that you?" Martha whirled round from her place by the stove. "Oh, Clark. I thought it was your father."
Clark paused on the stairs, sheepishly. "Oh, hi Mom." He took in her flustered expression and asked, "Isn't dad here? Lex will be here soon."
Martha tried to cover up her concern. "I know. I expect he's just popped to the store or something. He'll be here, don't worry."
Clark puffed angrily, "It would probably make a better meal without him. Besides, Dad's already made it perfectly clear what he thinks of Lex. Why not spare Lex the torture?!"
Martha put her hands on her hips, "Clark! Don't talk about your father like that."
"Why not?! I'm sick of feeling like I have to hide my friendship with Lex. Every time I go to the mansion, I have to lie about where I've been just because I have to live with Dad's prejudices! I'm sick of it. Lex is trying, Mom. He's coming tonight. What about Dad? He's disappeared. Is this the role model I'm supposed to learn from? I'd rather get a lesson from the Luthors any day!"
"Clark, you find it so easy to see things from Lex's point of view, but you're a teenager. You don't understand how hard your father has worked to keep this farm running. The Luthors have never given hand outs without asking for something in return. Your father is only trying to preserve what he has worked hard for. Is that so wrong?" Martha checked her anger and her tone softened. "Honey, just think about what Lex has to lose in Smallville compared to your father. He's only trying to protect your future, Clark."
Clark nodded, knowing there was no point in arguing the point further. His gut instincts were right and he knew it. His father could hide behind the excuses all he wanted but the truth was Jonathan Kent just hated the Luthors - the name, the father, the son. As far as he was concerned, they were rotten to the core. Ignoring the pleading expression on his mother's face, Clark marched upstairs to get changed.
"Lex! Come on in." Clark could hear the undertones of anxiety in his mother's voice. He figured this meant Dad still hadn't shown up.
Lex's voice sounded even smoother and more self-assured in comparison. "I hope I'm not too early, Mrs. Kent." Clark entered just as Lex was pressing an expensive bottle of white wine into Martha's hand. "I wasn't sure what you were cooking, so I took a chance."
"Oh, it's perfect. Thank you, Lex. Wow! This is an excellent vintage." Seeing Clark, an expression of relief crossed her face. "Clark, would you make our guest comfortable. Get him a drink. I'll just see to the food." A slight smile crept to Lex's lips at the pampering he was getting. It happened everywhere he went. People treated him like royalty for one of two reasons - in the hope of getting money or because his money made them feel like lesser people. He hoped this didn't last long in the Kent household.
He turned to Clark, "She seems nervous."
Clark tried to disguise the worry he was starting to feel that his father wouldn't show up. "Oh, she's always like this when she's cooking for guests. Besides, I think she figures you'll have acquired very high taste from all those business trips."
"Ah. Well, there's nothing better than a home cooked meal. You can travel the world only to find the best is sitting at home."
"So this is home now? Smallville?" Clark inquired.
Lex paused as if detecting a trap and surveyed the teenager's face with his usual scrutiny. "Maybe."
The pair talked for a while, listening occasionally to the clattering sounds coming from the kitchen area. When Clark's stomach began growling with hunger, he couldn't help wondering how long his mother was going to put dinner off. As if party to his thoughts, Martha entered, "I'm sorry but I can't hold the potatoes off any longer or they'll be dry as a bone. You'd better come on through."
Before Lex could even ask the whereabouts of her husband, Martha had launched into a rather nervous monologue. "I'm so sorry about this, Lex. We seem to have lost Jonathan. I don't know where he's got to."
If Lex understood the subtext he didn't show it. "I understand, Mrs. Kent. Running a farm is a time-consuming job."
Martha attempted a relaxed smile. "Please, call me Martha. Now, Clark would you like to do the honours?" She passed her son the carving knife.
The conversation round the dinner table began very stilted but, with the help of Lex's good wine, the atmosphere soon grew more relaxed and merry. Lex had just as good an aptitude for making people feel at ease as he had for making them nervous and soon the three had all but forgotten Jonathan's conspicuous absence. In fact, just at the moment that Martha's inhibitions were starting to disintegrate, the front door slammed and Jonathan marched into the room. His face contorted into an expression of disappointment when he saw Lex sitting at the family dining table.
"Good evening, Mr. Kent." Lex offered, chirpily.
"Lex," was all Jonathan offered in response before his eyes moved to where his wife was sitting. "I'm sorry, honey. I got caught up at the store."
Martha shot him a look of fury. "Caught up? What's so complicated about a visit to the store? You've been gone for hours. We had no idea where you..." Her voice trailed off when she realised that she was starting a domestic in the middle of her dinner party.
Jonathan slipped out of his thick jacket and slid into the chair opposite Lex. "I'd rather not talk about it here, Martha." He looked at their guest from under a hooded brow. His affairs were exactly that and he was damned if the Kent family were going to be drawn into discussing finance again in front of a Luthor.
Lex ventured to break the ice. "Martha's been telling me all about the fishing at Waconda Lake. It sounds spectacular and, from what I hear, you're a hustler at hooking them."
Jonathan swallowed a mouthful of chicken. "Yeah, Clark and I went on a few fishing trips there until some state tycoon built a private reservoir there." He continued munching his food, seemingly oblivious to everyone else's discomfort.
Clark tried to rescue the situation. Clearly, Lex had been taking tips from Lana about finding common ground but now the teenager could confidently go back to her and say the 'common ground' clause didn't work with Mr. Kent. "Dad, do you remember that one year that I didn't catch anything the whole week, except for the very last day?"
Jonathan smiled at his son, "You were only six, Clark. I could barely find a rod small enough for you to hold. You did good."
Clark continued, "About two hours before we were heading home, I caught this tiny fish. I mean, there wasn't enough flesh on it for one person to eat. Anyway, Dad figured it was such a good catch that he had it stuffed and mounted. God knows what happened to it."
Jonathan laughed, "I've got it hanging over my work bench in the garage. Those were good times."
Lex watched the exchange between Clark and Jonathan with an unwelcome sense of longing. He had been given the lectures time and time again. He knew the score. Even the rich had yearnings for something money just couldn't buy. This must be it - those moments of familial love, knowing that someone wants you. How much he would give for just one of those.
Jonathan visibly mellowed. There was pride in his voice when he spoke. "Have you ever been fishing, Lex?"
"I've been fished, bait for a great white on a 'fishing trip' with my dad." He could see the excitement in Clark's eyes, the desire for such an opportunity. "Believe me, Clark, it wasn't as much fun as it sounds."
Clark snorted, "Yeah, but there aren't many thrills bigger than that!"
"There are other things in this world I'd rather have a close encounter with," Lex replied, quietly.
"Who's for desert?" Martha interjected as Clark opened his mouth to dispute Lex once again. "It's apple pie."
Lex smiled, "I can't imagine anything better than the first course, but I'm open to the possibility. Thank you, Martha."
Martha tried to ignore the messages she was sensing from Lex. In the few short hours they had spent together, her view had changed somewhat. Away from his cars and mansion, she felt a sort of motherly concern for his welfare. When all was said and done, he was still just a kid in her eyes. A kid who was starved of love.
The meal continued to go well and she was relieved that Jonathan seemed to be genuinely making an effort to avoid confrontation with Lex. The pair didn't exactly get on like a house on fire but they could hold a civil conversation together. The time flew by and it was into the small hours of the morning before anyone thought to look at a clock. Finally, Lex made his exit. "Well, thank you very much Mrs. Kent for such a fabulous meal. I can't remember the last time I ate so well."
"Oh, flattery will get you invited back anytime," Martha blushed.
Clark joined them at the door. "Just don't come when she's cooking meatloaf."
Martha hit her son's shoulder, playfully. "You should be in bed, young man. You've got school tomorrow."
Lex smiled at the thought. He sometimes wondered how he had managed to become such good friends with a kid who was still in high school. Their worlds were oceans apart and yet Clark was more mature than half the men he made daily business deals with. "Goodnight, Clark."
Martha made her excuses and left Jonathan and Lex alone to say goodbye. She didn't know what it would achieve but it wouldn't hurt to let the two have a moment of privacy. Lex offered his hand and Jonathan took it. "You're a lucky man, Mr. Kent. You've got a wonderful family."
"I know. I'd do anything to keep them safe."
"I'm sure you would." The warning wasn't lost on Lex. "Goodnight, Mr. Kent."
OK, PART TWO. WHAT DID YOU THINK? I'M STILL NOT SURE WHERE I WANT ALL THIS TO END UP BUT I'VE GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA. STILL, ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE REALLY GREAT :)
