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Back to the Talon where Mack and Lana are talking about the men in their lives…

Lana nervously tucks her hair behind her ear and looks down at her mug, "Yeah so could we get some vodka? I'll need mine Irish for all this."

Both girls laugh and through her laughing Mack says, "Nice try mine wasn't so you'll have to deal."

"Damnit, well are you sure you want to sit through this?"

"Lana, after what I saw in the hallway this afternoon..…. I can't wait. But you don't have to….."

Lana cuts her off, "You told me, I tell you. That was the deal."

Mack puts her heads up, "Ok man," puts them down leans forward with one eyebrow up, "So spill it." She flashes Lana a warm smile.

Lana returns a smile and begins, "Lana and Clark or Clark and Lana whichever sounds best…Chapter 1: Clark was always this awkward guy who whenever he was near me who stumble or drop his books. Till this day I have yet to figure out why. Anyway, when I met him I was with Whitney. Safe, dependable Whitney. He had it all QB of the football team, looks, charm, maybe at times a bit jealous but he was like I said safe and dependable. I needed that I didn't know I did but I did. You see my parents died during the meteor shower. Ever since then I've lived with this annoying obnoxious fear of abandonment…"

Mack interrupts, "A perfectly justifiable annoying obnoxious fear."

"Oh you have no idea. So one day I was in the grave yard visiting… um… my parents," Lana looks up at Mack to see if she is wierded out but there's no reaction, "Do you think that's weird?"

"What?" genuinely unaware.

"That I visit and talk to my parents, I visit a tombstone." He tone is unsure and weak.

Sitting back in her chair, "No way. I do it."

"You do?"

"Oh yeah, well I haven't since I was 8 but when my grandmother died I went all the time. My dad had no idea but Id sneak out at night and talk to her. At the point the parents had stopped talking to me." laughing, "she was an amazing listener. Her advise not so great but I appreciated her listening none the less."

Laughing, "it's nice to have that."

"Yeah I guess but I would have preferred some feedback," she says still laughing.

"You know I haven't laughed in so long I've forgotten how could it felt," her sentence had started out hopeful and ended with a depressed tone.

"Ahh I've been using sarcasm as a defense mechanism for years," winking at Lana "stick with me kid and we'll have the time of our lives."

Still laughing, "Sounds like a plan…"

"Wow we went on a tangent.. So Whitney the jock, Clark the hottie.."

"Hottie uh?" Lana smiles with amusement

"Man, so hot. You think so of course.."

"You know I never told anyone this but yeah. He is really really hot, you should see him with his shirt…." She blushes at her admission and looks up and Mack who has both eyebrows up, nodding her head. "ANYWAY… So I'm in the grave yard and there's Clark Kent just hanging around. We start talking he listens to me, he even talked to my parents. Looking back on it that's when I started falling for him. He's so understanding, he's built but so gentle. In one sentence he can shake you to the core. And that smile," she puts her hand to her heart, " Nothing makes my heart both ache and flutter with the same intensity. When he kisses.. He's the most amazing kisser. I get so lost in him….God I love him." At that her eyebrows furrow and an alarm starts going off in her head 'Alert, Alert All Personnel…Think up something to cover up the last sentence…Rewind time! Take it Back! THINK OF SOMETHING' but she couldn't it was out there and it killed her to have admitted to still loving a boy who had hurt her so much.

Mack noticing something was wrong, "Lana? Hey you ok?"

Tears start brimming in her eyes, "I'm not going to do this.." Lana gets up forcefully and walks to the counter with her mug.

"Mack gets up but remains at the table, " Do what?"

"What I just did," her tone was an octave lower the type that signals to any logical human that a storm front is headed for their cheeks.

"What Lana admit that you still love him.." she walks over and leads her to a stool at the counter then takes one for herself, "Listen to me Lana," she takes her finger and gently lifts Lana's chin so they're looking eye to eye, "Never be afraid to love someone, ever. You know that guy Dylan," she grabs Lana a napkin and hands it her.

Lana takes it and wipes her cheeks , "uh huh."

"I wake up every morning and go to sleep wishing he was there."

Lana looks up surprised, "But?"

"Yeah, he's a bastard but there's this quote that says 'forgetting your first love is like tryign the remember someone you never met.' It kills me when I think about what he did. My soul feels hollowed out and I feel like I'm going to be sick but I can't help it. Ill get over it, I have to but who says you have to get over Clark?" She gabs the used napkin from Lana and hands her a new one.

"Everyone…" she says threw weak tears.

"Like who?"

"I know Chloe thinks I should, I know she thinks I'm pathetic for loving him."

"One person! Well come on we better put you in some Clark Kent detox center because, if Chloe thinks its pathetic it must be. She has a bachelors in the rules of love right? I think I own a copy.." She smiles at Lana hoping she made her laugh.

Lana laughs while wiping away the oncoming tears.

"Ah SUCCESS! And the police said I would never amount to anything. I made Lana Lang laugh. Wahoo. No but seriously Lana. I don't know much about you and Clark only from what you told me just now. I don't know about what keeps you apart, how much he hurt you or what he did to it…"

Lana cuts her off "But that's just it he did things but … I've been so mean to him over the years. Ive missed trusted him, questioned him. GOD a month ago I blamed my accident on him and told him to stay away from him. I must have crushed him."

"And what as he done to you?"

"Protect me, love me to the fullest extent. But he left me. He said he would never leave and he did. He said he would never leave…" Lana starts crying again. Mack gives her a hug and lets her cry and pushes her back to the stool.

"Look at me Lana. You have to go to him and tell him this."

"Its more complicated then that. He dumped me because he couldn't let me in he couldn't tell me the truth about himself. He wouldn't let me get to know him…"

"Then push him.."

"I have too many times…"

"Well I guess its up to me then," Mack says throwing her hands up and getting up to get her mug from the table.

"What are you talking about?" Lana says cleaning her face of tears.

"I'm gonna get him to open up.." walking around the counter grabbing Lana's mug and going into the back.

Lana's confused and shouts to her, "And how do you expect to do that?"

"Dude Ill use the Mackenzie magic. I got you to open up didn't I?"

"Yeah."

"Well I promise Ill have Clark Kent spilling his heart out to you by this time next week.. " She looks at Lana's who is still confused.

"If my charm ::cough:: doesn't work I'll use some Jedi mind tricks.."

Now amused, "Jedi mind tricks huh?"

"That or alcohol" shifting her eyes to one side, "either way the job is getting done.."

"Why are so interested? I mean you've been here a day and now you want to step into the quicksand that is Clark and I."

"First of all nice metaphor, kudos. Second of all, you to aren't going to be happy unless your together. And If intended on sticking around and being somewhat civil with you people. Your gonna be happy. Plus maybe I'll get a months free rent.." at that she glances up and Lana knowingly while putting the chairs back.

"Nice try.. But you don't have to this…"

"Lana it s small town. I've nee here a day and I'm already bored this will be fun…"

'OK fine work your magic. What time is it?"

Mack looks at her watch "yeah its 1 o'clock."

"Jesus," putting her hand to her forehead then running it through her hair, "I bet get home Chloe's gonna have questions.

"Wait you live with her?"

"Yeah long story.."

"Interesting. You need me to do anything."

"Nope everything is done. I better go." She grabs her keys for the counter and rushes past Mack. Then stops and turns to say thank you but Mack isn't there. "Mackenzie?"

"Yeah," Mack yells from the stares.

Lana walks back to where she can see her, "Thank You."

"No thank you. No I have plans this week…" She says climbing the stairs.

Lana laughs, "Well I'm glad I could be of service." Lana starts towards the doors with a smile on her face. 'This sister thing could work out.' The smile subsequently fades, 'one day she'll find out and how will she react?'

::Smallville High::

Clark is at his locker looking confused. Mack spots him down the hallway and move in like a Navy Seal on a mission.

"Hey man," Mack says leaning against the locker next to Clarks.

Clark pokes his head out, "Hey Mack. By the way I never thank you for that great performance in class."

"No sweat. Lying comes far too easy to me…." her voice fades as she ends the sentence and her eyes drift to one side, "Wow that's not a great thing to brag about haha."

" Well you do have a talent for it," Clark says smiling while putting his textbook in his backpack.

"Yeah I suppose one has to be when going to an all girls prep school…" leaning in closer and whispering, "you know what I mean?"

Clark cocks one eyebrow up and whispers back "no?"

Mack speaks a bit louder then usual to get a rise out of him, "Boys. Clark. Boys!."

Clark laughs "your to funny."

She shrugs off the compliment, "So I'm told. So listen I didn't come to visit the good 'ol locker to make you blush. I wanted to know if you were doing anything after school…"

Shutting the locker door, "After school well I have to help out around the farm."

"O ok," acting disappointed.

"But I we could do something later."

"Good things, Its just sitting in the apartment all day gets really really boring I figured you could give me a tour of Smallville."

Clark starts walking and glances at Mack to following. Now walking side by side, "Sounds fun, I'll pick you up. Where's your apartment?"

"The Talon," she smiles mischievously.

"Oh," Clark stops in is tracks.

"So I'll be waiting outside for ya then?"

"No I mean….I can but…." looking at his feet.

Mack puts a hand on Clarks arm. At this point Lana is turning the corner and stops dead in her tracks when she sees them. "Its all good Clark, Ill wait outside. I better go, See ya later around?"

"5?" Now back to smiling.

"Sweet see ya then!" She waves and walks down the hallway.

Clark stands watching her with a stupid smile on his face. Then turns to go to class.

Mack walks with a sense of accomplishment, until she's suddenly yankes out of the hallway and into a room, "What the.." is all she gets out till she sees Lana.

"Oh hey."

"Hi, yeah so I didn't now fixing things between me and Clark meant dating him," she says trying to sound jokingly but Mack picks up that she's pissed.

"Calm down.. .. I can't walk up to the guy and make him open up. The switch has been flipped. Trust me Lana, the guy is hot but he's all yours."

"I know its just…."

Mack walks past her reaches for the door and turns halfway around to Lana, "Trust me."

'You should trust her she's your freaking sister!' Instead Lana says, "Consider you trusted." Smiles and follows her out of the room

::5 o'clock the Talon::

Lana comes out to water the flowers and finds Mack waiting there. "Clark isn't here yet?"

"Nope."

"Well I'll go before he comes….." with that she retreats into the Talon.

Soon enough Clark pulls up in the red pick up truck.

"Hey get in," Flashing his smile.

'God, that smile. No wonder Lana loves it. Make sure you don't fall for this one Mack.' "Hey," getting in "So where we going?"

"I figure we could tour Smallville on horseback," Clark says proud of his idea.

Mack gulps, "Horseback? As in me on a horse?"

Amused, "Yeah you on a horse and me on a horse."

"Oh," She feels herself getting pale.

Clark loses confidence in his plan, "What's wrong?"

"Last time I saw a horse I was 8 and it scared my shitless. It was so big and I was so small and well I freaked out…" looking out the window in order to avoid Clarks amused face, thinking 'god this is embarrassing.'

Clark looks her hands nervously rubbing each other and then to the road disappointed but smiles, "But your bigger now."

Mack laughs, "Lets hope so."

The two share a laugh. 5 minutes later there at the Kents.

Mack gets out wide eyed, "This is your house? This is where you live?"

Clark gets embarrassed, "yeah its not much…."

"Shut up," she rounds the car and playfully punches him in the arm, "its beautiful Clark. You should be proud. People in metropolis would kill for there kids to grow up with this much yard. They might not admit to much but they would. "

"You better listen to her son, she's a smart girl." Jonathan Kent says knowingly coming from the garden. Reaching out his hand to Mack. "I'm Clark's father."

Grabbing his hand and shaking it, "Mackenzie Small, sir,"

Jonathan lets her hand go, "Small? Henry's….."

"Daughter yeah I would use the term loosely but, I am her," Sticking her hands uncomfortably in her back pockets and kicking the dirt.

Jonathan looks at Clark. Clark reads his eyes and shakes his head as if to say know she doesn't know about Lana.

"Well I better get back to work…it was a pleasure meeting you Mackenzie."

"Oh Mr. Kent you can call me Mack. Mackenzie is a bit of a mouth full."

"Ok Mack nice meeting you.."

"You to sir."

Jonathan departs for the house while Clark and Mack stand there sheepishly.

"Well your dad seems cool.." smiling sheepishly.

"Yeah he is," watching his dad go, "So the horses…"

"Umm I haven't met your mom," she says walking to the house.

Clark knew just what she was trying to do, "Nice try," he then slides his hand down her arm and into her hand and starts walking in the opposite direction. Feeling resistance, "Come on….Maaaackk.,"

"I'm not gonna win so I might as well" Clark feels her walk towards him and drops her hand. So she jogs a bit to catch up.

"I don't know Clark.." squinting up her face.

Clark looks at her and smiles, "Well living here your gonna have to see a horse eventually."

"Yes see one.. For afar like over there on your comfy looking porch," pointing to the porch then getting excited and grabbing the zippers of Clarks jacket. Looking up at him innocently "How about this? I sit on the porch and you bring it out?!?!"

Clark smiled a big smile, "nah come on." Suddenly to his surprise he grabs her by her legs and throws her over his shoulder. "You can do this…It's ok I promise"

Laughing.."Yeah great the horse can talk to my ass and I never have to see it." She shuts her eyes hard causing her face to wince.

Clark reaches on of the horse stalls, "Comet, meet Mack's ass. Mack's ass meet comet." Clark was surprising himself left and right today he just felt so much more comfortable around her then well anyone other girl in his life.

The two burst out laughing and Clark lets her down. He notices her eyes are still closed, "Come on. Mack look he's in the stall… its safe."

Mack opened one eye slowly followed by the other one. "Ok… I can do this," reaching up to touch its head.

Proud of her and still amused, "See he's really gentle."

She cocks her eyebrow and give him a sideways look, "Did you drug him or something?"

"No why would…" Clark puts his guard up.

"HAHAHAHA calm down I'm joking Hahaha lighten up buddy.," she playfully hits him again.

Clark punches her lightly and playfully back, " I knew that."

Mack rolls her eyes, "Yeah ok."

After a few second of silence Mack removes her hand from the horses head and starts to walk away, "Ok so that was good…. What's next."

"Hold on there," catching up with her, "The next step is riding it." He grabs her hand and pulls her back to the horse.

"No way, its like alive…." pointing to it with her palm up.

Amused beyond belief, "yeah I hear its best to ride them alive. What's your problem anyway I mean you ride a motorcycle without any fear at all," crossing his arms.

"Right a motorcycle, a machine that isn't alive," Pointing to the horse again, "Dude he's alive he has a brain. The motorcycle can't think for itself. Its all me but that that's alive."

Grabbing both her arms turning him to her he leans in and whispers, "Yes, but a very small brain."

Mack smiled and thought 'no wonder Lana loves this guy. Hell I wouldn't mind loving him too' "Ok Kent I have a deal for you."

"Ok?" crossing his arms again.

"We share a horse you steer and I'll hung on. This way we do this all thing in steps. Because If we don't," switching to an impersonation of an old Metropolis Jewish woman, "I'll start having palpitations." She fans her chest.

Clark is hysterical, "hahahhaa fine it's a deal," he holds out his hand to shake.

Mack grabs it like a man and shakes with purpose.

They let go and Mack runs her hand through her hair. Just then Clark thinks 'she's really good looking.' then gets annoyed because he thinks of Lana.

"Ok," returning her hands to her back pockets "We riding good ol' Comet here." patting the horse on the head.

"Oh now its good 'ol Comet huh? just a minute ago you were pissed he was breathing."

Mack gives him a huge smile, something she has yet to do since she got into town. Something Clark's brain freeze frames for memory. "Well fine why don't we ride that one." Pointing to the horse down the stall.

Looking where she's pointing, "That one no we can't," He says short and coldly.

Mack cocks her head to the side, "And whys that..?"

"Its Lana's," he says with sadness and walks across the barn to get the saddle.

"Lana rides huh? that's cool. So she must come here to take care of it?" she delivers making sure she sounds more interested then investigative (something Chloe always lacked)

"Yupp," he says matter of factly while hauling the saddle to the horse stall.

'Ok Mack the door is open to the circus tent step right up honey' "What's with you too? Whenever you talk about each other you get sad."

Clark opens the stall and puts the saddle on the horse but stops for a moment to think… "Why have you talked to her."

"Yeah all last night. I was bored she was pissed. It was an estrogen fest." she delivers with ease folding her arms on the stable door and resting her head on them.

Clark starts fastening the saddle with force, "She was… she was sad."

"Oh yeah. I don't know much in this crazy ass world but I do know Lana loves you with everything she is." After delivering that line Mack furrows her eyebrows and thinks 'Ok Dawson's Creek that was corny.'

Clark stops fussing with the horse and moves around it to look at her, "How could she after.. " looking down at his feet, "After everything we've put each other through. I mean I've been so dishonest."

Standing upright, "Well let me ask you this. When you told her you love her. Were you lying?"

Clark rubs his head and looks her in the eyes, "No."

"If you told her that right now; would you be lying?"

"No" now rubbing his neck, "God no."

Switches to her John Wayne voice "Well saddle that horse partner" she points to the horse then starts doing her I love Lucy Ricki impersonation, "Cuz you gots a lot of explaining to do."

:::To be Continued Really Soon::

(possibly tonight)