A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

By Allegra

See Part One for all notes & disclaimers.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I apologise for the shortness of the last chapter. I didn't realise how short it actually was until after I uploaded it. I suppose I just didn't want to lose my fabulous audience! Also, I had to change the title because I completely ditched the original plot so now there isn't any particularly devious lying!
I hope this part won't disappoint. As always, please, please, please review!

CHAPTER 7 : BONFIRE NIGHT

The small town in the Tornado Valley felt electric with party vibes that evening. Every street seemed to be filled with the youth of Smallville laughing and hugging, full of good will. Parties came and went but there was something about Marty Chesterfield's annual bonfire night that captured people's imagination. Maybe it was because Marty had both an older and younger brother, meaning the whole spectrum of high school kids could legitimately go and fraternise with the people they shouldn't normally be seen dead with. It was an evening when people's inhibitions seemed to fall away, you could do anything down in Marty's west field and feel secure in the knowledge that it would all be forgotten the next day.

Chloe had been looking forward to it as much as her classmates and had duly run a front page article to advertise the fact that it was going to be a party unlike any other - except perhaps last year's! Marty's dad was friends with the local sheriff and must be owed a few favours because the cops turned a blind eye to the teenage antics that Marty's party inevitably brought.

Pete was picking Chloe up at seven. It was quarter to seven and the blonde reporter was still standing in the front of her bedroom mirror, weighing up the consequences of wearing her plunge neck sequinned black top. Sure, it was risque, but was that what she wanted? Would it give Pete mixed signals? She'd already got wind of Clark's plans to take Lana to the bonfire while Whitney was away so there was no chance of his eye wandering towards Chloe's lusty outfit. Frowning at her reflection, she slipped it off over her head. Given her luck in love, some jock would probably throw French fries down her cleavage or make some dumb comment about how hard she was trying.

Chloe had already decided to wear her new trousers. Only Clark and Lex had seen her in them and since one wasn't going to be there and the other might as well not be, it wouldn't be the cardinal fashion sin she had predicted. Maybe she should go for a simple top to carry them off, quietly sexy. Yes, that was the way to go.

Fifteen minutes later, she had put the finishing touches to her hair and make up as Pete Ross rang the doorbell. She raced to the door before either parent could catch her and throw the curfew book at her. "Bye, folks!" she called, not bothering to wait for acknowledgement.

Linking her arm through her friend's, Chloe steered Pete towards the garden gate. "You're looking pretty spiffy tonight, Pete. Trying to impress me?"

Pete laughed, looking her up and down. "Looks like we're both scrubbing up pretty good tonight. I did warm you Clark's going with Lana, right?"

Chloe sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeees. Come on, Pete, Clark's not the only guy in the world worth a bit of effort."

Pete gave her a quizzical gaze. "Really? You could have fooled me."

Chloe shrugged his comment off. "You know, just because my life isn't as perfect as Mr. Kent's doesn't mean it has to come to a standstill every time he isn't around."

Clark couldn't believe how much his life sucked. As if putting the first nail in his coffin by offering the word 'friend' to Lana, he had tried to dry his favourite sweater straight from the washing machine with a little heat vision. Instead of hot steam, he had only succeeded in burning small holes in the fabric. This night had started out as something to look forward to in the uneventful world of Lowell County, but it was rapidly degenerating into a pretty miserable occasion.

"Clark? Shouldn't you be going?" Martha Kent enquired, popping her head around the door of her son's bedroom. Her eyes widened into saucers of dismay as she caught sight of the abused sweatshirt resting in peace on the bed. "Clark?! What did you do?"

The teenager sheepishly grabbed it and hid it behind a pillow. "I was just...trying to dry it."

Martha cocked her head in a knowing stance. "Well, I think we can safely rule that out as one of your super talents. What are you going to wear? You can't go like that?"

Clark looked down at the cotton T-shirt he was wearing. "I liked that top. Red's my colour, mom. I wanted to look good..."

Martha didn't need that sentence finished. "Lana will think you look good no matter what you wear, honey."

"I guess it doesn't matter now anyway. Not when we're just good friends." He watched ruefully as his mother rummaged through his cupboard and produced a blue sweater in a similar style to his favourite. "There. This looks great on you." Clark pulled the sweater over his head and examined himself briefly in the mirror. "Thanks, mom," he mumbled. "I'd better go. Don't wait up."

Lana had finished her dilemma over what to wear that evening hours before Clark arrived to pick her up. In fact, she had barely needed to think about it. She would need to wear something warm because even the summer nights in Kansas could bring goose bumps to her arms. She had chosen a simple T-shirt covered with a moss green cable knit jumper, its high neck just touching glossy raven locks which she had coiled into Leia-style buns on either side of her head.

The whole effect was just casual enough not to startle Clark or give him the wrong idea but subtly attractive to make Lana feel a bit special. Her heart and mind were torn between loyalty to Whitney after everything he had been through and the underlying urges to kiss Clark.

"Lana, Clark's here!" Lana could hear the squeak of the screen door as Nell opened it and Clark's low voice making casual conversation downstairs. Quickly descending to meet him, Lana felt her breath catch a little in her throat. Clark's hair was ruffled from the cool breeze outside and his cheeks were flushed with colour, his blue eyes bright with excitement. If he were her boyfriend, Lana couldn't feel prouder. But he wasn't. He wouldn't be.

"Hi, Clark," she attempted to sound careless even though she could feel the heat of his stare on her as she reached the bottom step. "I won't be back too late, Nell."

Clark interposed, "I'll take good care of her."

"I know you will, Clark. You guys have a great time. No alcohol." Nell's face drew into lines of severity and Lana knew better than to defy her.

The pair made their way out to Clark's truck where he opened the passenger door for her. "You look really nice tonight, Lana." Clark tried to sound sincere without too much exaggeration; he didn't want her to feel uncomfortable before the evening had even begun.

"Thanks, Clark. So do you." Lana's glassy blue eyes searched his for a moment as if seeking out some deeper meaning. Clark could smell the soft scent of her perfume wafting to his nostrils on the wind. Her skin looked so soft and perfect, like blemish-less porcelain. He would have given up his powers in an instant just for the chance to touch that cheek, to feel her reciprocate.

Catching himself, Clark scrambled into the driver's seat and fired up the ignition.

Even though conversation had been stilted to start with, Clark was really starting to enjoy chatting to Lana on the journey to Marty's place. Subject matter had ranged from average school stuff to surrogate parent trouble to taking orders at the Talon. It seemed so natural to be talking like two untroubled teens enjoying a night out together. Okay, so it was clear the relationship wasn't going anywhere, but Clark's sombre mood had well and truly lifted by the time he drew the truck to a halt.

"Hey, there's Pete and Chloe!" Lana exclaimed, pointing through the windshield. Clark craned his neck to see them and then sounded the horn loudly. Chloe's blonde hair whipped round and she caught sight of him. Pete waved back. Clark slid out of his seat and jogged round the back of the truck to open Lana's door. She may not be his girlfriend but he could still act like a gentleman.

Chloe and Pete sidled up to the pair and Pete grinned, pointing to the truck. "I guess this means you've already decided you're not drinking tonight, pal."

Clark looked a little taken aback and glanced down the line of vehicles near his own. "I'm not the only one!" He didn't mean to sound so defensive and caught the girls' smirks at his gullibility.

Chloe reminded him, "These are strictly no alcohol premises, Clark. This year Marty's eldest brother has taken his party elsewhere so they can knock back a few beers without getting any minors involved."

Lana pulled a sorrowful face, "Damn, I was looking forward to a nice bit of eye candy tonight. I always thought Daniel Zimmerman was a bit of a heartbreaker." Clark and Pete exchanged mortified looks; they'd have a hard time competing with college studs, no matter how cool they acted.

Pete interjected as the girls giggled, "Hey, are we invisible tonight? Don't we match up to expectations?" There was a twinkle in his eye as he said it but Clark couldn't help scrutinising Lana's smiling face to see her reaction. He knew she was attracted to him in some way, but would she rather have Daniel Zimmerman over him?

Lana looped an arm through his, nonchalantly. "How could I turn down such an impeccable gentleman. Clark has collected me from home, driven me here, entertained me all the way and is even willing to forego his chances to find himself a hot date in the name of charity." She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "Thank you, Clark. It's funny, whenever Whitney lets me down, you're always there to make things right again."

Clark didn't know quite how to react to that statement so he just smiled in appreciation. True, he liked to see himself as a hero, but not to be Whitney Fordman's hero. Maybe if he didn't step in and help Lana forget how her jock boyfriend had let her down, she would have stronger reasons for breaking up with him.

They moved towards the bonfire burning in the next field. Clark shrugged off any more negative thoughts about the state of his love life. If he was honest with himself, he knew that he'd choose to be with Lana whether she was taken or not. He had her at his side, they were going to have a great night with all his friends around him. What more could a guy wish for?

"Hey guys! Glad you could make it. Food and drinks are in the barn and Dave's got some weird concoction brewing behind the haystacks. I wouldn't try any though, not unless you want your brain to explode." Marty hit Pete playfully on the arm and disappeared back into the throng.

Pete nodded in the direction of the haystack. "What do you say, Chloe? As chief reporter for The Torch, you can't pass up the opportunity to try Dave's poison."

Chloe glanced nervously over his shoulder. "I don't know, Pete. It sounds pretty noxious."

Ignoring her pleas, Pete dragged her towards the group of students lined up near the stacks, leaving Lana and Clark in their wake. Looking down at his date, Clark tentatively asked, "So, what do you think, Lana? Is it worth losing a few brain cells?"

She laughed, "Sure. Why not? If you don't do it when you're young, you'll only get arrested for it later."

Clark's eyes widened in surprise. "Lana! Don't let Nell hear you talking like that. She'd throw a fit." She punched him lightly on the arm then slid her own around his waist in a friendly gesture of affection. To Clark, it felt electric and his body reflexively tensed against her touch. It took all his energy to relax again with her so close and he was grateful for the jostling of the crowds that drew attention away from his nervous reactions.

Two hours later, after much eating dancing and general revelry, Clark and Lana collapsed onto a strategically placed hay bale at the edge of the field. From their vantage point, they could take in the buzz of activity without being drawn into it. Clark's head was still spinning a little from the intensity of Dave's brew and he was relieved to have a legitimate reason to sit down at last.

Lana's hair was starting to come loose of its coiled plaits, tendrils of dark hair twining around the golden skin of her neck. She closed her eyes and leaned heavily against her companion's shoulder. The weight of her small frame against Clark's was insignificant but it was all he could sense. The heat from their tired bodies filled the remaining space between them. Her warm breath tickled his neck and her lips parted invitingly, subtle colour imbuing the teenager with an urge to kiss her.

"Oh, I'm shattered," Lana mumbled, wearily. Clark wasn't sure whether to put an arm around her to hold her up but every action seemed to have a consequence he knew was out of his depth. He squirmed to adjust the position of his shoulder and Lana mistook the gesture as him pulling away. "No, let's just stay like this a bit longer. My head just throbs..." She feebly raised one hand to her head and tapped it drunkenly.

Clark fumbled to think of something to say. "Yeah, mine too. I think Dave's got a real recipe there. Some of the guys were paying hand over fist for the stuff." He looked down, dotingly, on the girl resting beside him. She looked so perfect, dishevelled in a healthy, vigorous sort of way with her cheeks flushed rosy with colour. Unable to resist, Clark gently reached out one hand to brush aside stray strands of hair from her face. Half believing her to be asleep, he was surprised when her blue eyes flew open, staring intently back into his. "Clark?"

"Yes," he replied, hoarsely, quickly returning his hand to his lap.

"Do you ever just wish things could just stay like this forever?"

"You mean like this, right now?" Clark vainly tried to interpret the signs correctly. Did she mean this moment or life in general? Lana nodded, mutely, her eyes trailing casually over the vibrant scene unfolding around them. Clark agreed, falteringly. "Sometimes, yes. I guess my life's in a pretty good place."

Lana murmured, "Things are so uncomplicated. When I think about my parents, about getting a job and dealing with a mortgage, all this seems so...enviable. And we've got it. I think that makes us pretty lucky, don't you?" Her gaze travelled to Clark's face, searching it for acknowledgement.

"Most of it's uncomplicated. But then there are other bits that always seem to confuse me." Lana forced herself into an upright position. Clark's words weren't lost on her. Ever since day one, their relationship had strained against the bonds trying to confine it to friendship. In her mind, she could alter the person in front of her to a blonde quarterback with piercing green eyes and a smile that could melt her heart. Whitney made her feel safe, feel wanted and needed. But then there was Clark. Clark was her hero, a hero with a heart of gold and blue eyes that contradicted his actions with their innocence. He was her saviour and Lana knew that when she was with him, she didn't need to worry about a thing. He loved her, she knew that.

In a state of blissful delirium, Lana felt herself lean forward into his hard, muscular body. Her fingers reached up to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck and she could feel the soft exhalation of his breath against her cheek. His gaze travelled from her eyes to her full lips and Clark's body felt alive with passion and wantonness. Responding to the pressure of her body against his, he steered her chin closer to him until their lips touched in a moment of ecstasy. Suddenly, the whole world seemed to drop away from them until Clark felt like this moment made up the pinnacle of the world. The scent of her filled his nose, his hands wandered around her waist, holding her close to him. Dimly, he checked himself, crazed ardour replacing the rational recollection that he needed to mind his powers. An overwhelming desire to squeeze Lana harder overcame Clark. He wanted her so much, to bruise those tender lips with his kisses.

Lana gasped and pulled away abruptly. "Clark?" The name tumbled out of her mouth in a mixture of fear and confusion. They both knew the implications of what they had just done, the line they had just crossed. For a moment, they simply stared at one another, reluctant to move past the intensity of their emotions only to replace it with awkwardness and distance.

As if easing them into it, a branch cracked in the darkness of the tree line close to where they were sitting. A voice could be heard mumbling incoherently and, as he peered closer, Clark could make out the X-ray skeleton of a man shuffling through the foliage. And he was heading straight towards them.

End of Part 7

I tried to make this part a bit longer to make up for the last one. I wrote some Clark/Lana stuff in response to John Xavier's review request. I hope I did the deed to your satisfaction! But never fear, Lex-lovers, I haven't forgotten him!! As always, I'd really love to hear what you thought, what you'd like to see etc. I have got a fairly fixed plan for our Smallville inhabitants, but I'm happy to stretch the story to accommodate anything you'd rather see.

Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has reviewed for me. It makes me so excited & keeps me in the mood to write :)