Disclaimer: I own nothing but the sub-plot of this fiction and I am not
making money so don't sue.
Chapter five: Sanctuary of the Wounded, part II Best Time of our Lives
I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes. A little righteous and too proud. I just want to find a way to compromise, Cuz I believe that we can work things out...
She liked this song, it described very well how she felt lately. Stubborn, righteous and if anyone had too much pride, it was herself.
Gone, he is gone...
Clark?
That word echoed around her in a weird way, like in a vacuum, but she was in the Talon's backdoor, pulling herself together before she went working to the counter, and serve coffee and cappuccinos and sorts.
Clark, where are you?
Is he safe? Is he still roaming the country on that damned bike of his? Has he stopped acting weird yet?
And...right on cue there it was: no answer.
Would somebody just do me the favour of, like answering me just once?!
Just stand straight, tap foot impatiently on the ground, and do the same with your hand.
And – ain't life a bitch – NO ANSWER.
Sighs.
She sniffed, straightened her shoulders, made sure no tear streaks were visible, and made her way to the counter.
One tall cappuccino with the granioles on top, coming right up. Two small decaf coffees, with just a dash of milk and one sugar, coming your way sir.
Was this where she was meant to stand up on the tables, stomp her feet, jump on and down for good measure and scream her heart out to everyone that her guy left town and she refused to go with him?
It seemed like today was the worst time in her life.
And yet it wasn't, she realised.
All those times when she had risked dying...and hadn't Clark saved her? She couldn't keep count after Tina buried her in that –
She sighed.
Lana, there's no point in torturing yourself in this way. He's gone and you went right in and socked it to him, playing righteous little mummy's girl.
But Clark, I can't possibly go with you.
Don't ask that of me, please.
But ask he did.
And the first time she could do something with him, for him, what did she do? She denied him.
She refused to even think about the possibility that he might be hurt and just wanted to get away. And he had wanted her with him.
Now that, my friends, is the saddest thing she ever had to do.
Her hands shook as she served the clients queuing up to the till to get their Talon amounts, and her throat clogged with unshed tears.
Just before she plumbed into the mirror, she thought she saw him standing at the door, a beautiful smile lighting up his handsome features, but of course that couldn't be.
Holding the coffee server in one hand and just about to reach for a cup with the other, she turned towards the door again, and was more than startled to see a cute blue-eyed boy standing just in front of a sandbox, spade on shoulder, like a miner, smiling at her.
Clark!
But no – that was five year old Clark, it wasn't possible, she –
She was standing right there, five years old again, a pink puffy little frock resting on her small form, bucket sitting at her side, a warm red liquid running slowly down her knee.
Small sobs shook her frame, she wanted her parents, but they would not come to her, and she still did not understand what she had done wrong to upset them so much they left her with her auntie. When that mean looking bully had tripped her because she refused to give him her playing tools, she'd landed on her knees and her hands were scraped, and she didn't like it one bit.
Just as the bully advanced upon young Lana to finish her off and grab her toys anyway, a someone stepped in front of her, shoulders tensed, feet apart; his voice didn't sound afraid, and she thought dazedly that he must be very brave to stand up to Jimmy Laster that way.
"Leave her alone."
Young Lana beamed very shortly. Her hero.
"No. What are you going to do? Beat me up, or run to mama's side like you always do when someone tries to get you to play?"
No reply, very steely glare.
"What's the matter Kent? Too good to play with the other kids? Think you can take me on? Come on, then, let's see Kent get beaten by Jimmy."
It was over pretty quickly; Jimmy advanced on Clark and went immediately for the head, as many children did.
But – oh my – Clark did no stay rooted to the spot, completely petrified at the sight of Jimmy Laster raising his fists t beat him up.
Oh no, that wasn't Cark.
Just as Jimmy's ham sized fist was about to connect very painfully on Clark's face, he ducked and – would you believe it? Striked back at the whale with his own fist.
Ooowwww! Right in the stomach.
Where had he learnt to do it?
Jimmy was winded after the unexpected, forceful punch, and for a moment he just clutched his large stomach, wailing in pain, and Clark stomped on his foot – hard.
He never came to that park whenever Clark was around again.
A sigh, a beautiful Clark smile, and offered hand, and that boy would forever be plastered on Lana's heart.
The best time of her life.
Such hardships over the years that passed, their friendship somewhat steady but distant, when she was with Whitney she didn't have much time to spend with Clark, but the secret attraction she had felt for him grew steadily, unmatched by Whitney's boyish charm, undisturbed by anyone else.
When he rescued her all those times she was in grave danger...at first she thought it was Whitney, rescuing her, but after a while, her sub-conscious kicked in, and told her Clark Kent was her knight in shining armour.
He'd always been that.
Especially after she lost Whitney, and felt so alone and so vulnerable.
She never felt those things with Clark; whether she was in his strong arms or simply in his company.
That business with Chloe hurt them all so much.
How could they betray their friend so?
All those times he would laugh at something she said, all the times his smile lit up his face, the way the sunlight played with his black hair, his intent eyes focusing on her like they were alone all the time...he was so gorgeous and so loving, it should be made illegal, or distributed in teensy bits to all in America.
But in a way, she liked it that did not happen: she liked having him in one bit, and all for herself.
Together...that word sounded so sweet, so bitter, so hurtful, so amazing at times her breath would catch, and there just wouldn't be no way she'd get it back if she didn't stop thinking about it.
The best time of our lives...would they ever get those moments where it was just the two of them and nothing but the stars, and – Wait...no, no stars.
She found she held no fascination over them anymore. She didn't understand why Clark seemed so obsessed with them, but she didn't care.
Everyone would say look, look! A falling star! You make a silent wish every time you see one. Make one! Go on, Lana make a wish!
Except that they never came true, and if they didn't, the exact opposite would happen, in a very negative, hurtful way, so she'd stopped doing that long ago.
Like that time when she wished she'd didn't have an obligation to Whitney, Clark would be her guy, and her parents would be still alive.
Yep, no stars ever again.
She couldn't stand another one of their cruelties so soon.
But hadn't they already provided her with that? Hadn't Clark run away from Smallville and changed from good guy to bad down-town boy?
No, she'd had to put up with their cruelty so much, it would last her a lifetime.
But no more of that.
She had angry customers to attend to, and here she was, crying over Clark, and how the stars were cruel and how she wanted him back home, with her.
Well, if he ever came back, she'd let him know that she wasn't angry with him, and that if she wanted to, she'd give them a chance to have the best time of their lives again.
Chapter five: Sanctuary of the Wounded, part II Best Time of our Lives
I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes. A little righteous and too proud. I just want to find a way to compromise, Cuz I believe that we can work things out...
She liked this song, it described very well how she felt lately. Stubborn, righteous and if anyone had too much pride, it was herself.
Gone, he is gone...
Clark?
That word echoed around her in a weird way, like in a vacuum, but she was in the Talon's backdoor, pulling herself together before she went working to the counter, and serve coffee and cappuccinos and sorts.
Clark, where are you?
Is he safe? Is he still roaming the country on that damned bike of his? Has he stopped acting weird yet?
And...right on cue there it was: no answer.
Would somebody just do me the favour of, like answering me just once?!
Just stand straight, tap foot impatiently on the ground, and do the same with your hand.
And – ain't life a bitch – NO ANSWER.
Sighs.
She sniffed, straightened her shoulders, made sure no tear streaks were visible, and made her way to the counter.
One tall cappuccino with the granioles on top, coming right up. Two small decaf coffees, with just a dash of milk and one sugar, coming your way sir.
Was this where she was meant to stand up on the tables, stomp her feet, jump on and down for good measure and scream her heart out to everyone that her guy left town and she refused to go with him?
It seemed like today was the worst time in her life.
And yet it wasn't, she realised.
All those times when she had risked dying...and hadn't Clark saved her? She couldn't keep count after Tina buried her in that –
She sighed.
Lana, there's no point in torturing yourself in this way. He's gone and you went right in and socked it to him, playing righteous little mummy's girl.
But Clark, I can't possibly go with you.
Don't ask that of me, please.
But ask he did.
And the first time she could do something with him, for him, what did she do? She denied him.
She refused to even think about the possibility that he might be hurt and just wanted to get away. And he had wanted her with him.
Now that, my friends, is the saddest thing she ever had to do.
Her hands shook as she served the clients queuing up to the till to get their Talon amounts, and her throat clogged with unshed tears.
Just before she plumbed into the mirror, she thought she saw him standing at the door, a beautiful smile lighting up his handsome features, but of course that couldn't be.
Holding the coffee server in one hand and just about to reach for a cup with the other, she turned towards the door again, and was more than startled to see a cute blue-eyed boy standing just in front of a sandbox, spade on shoulder, like a miner, smiling at her.
Clark!
But no – that was five year old Clark, it wasn't possible, she –
She was standing right there, five years old again, a pink puffy little frock resting on her small form, bucket sitting at her side, a warm red liquid running slowly down her knee.
Small sobs shook her frame, she wanted her parents, but they would not come to her, and she still did not understand what she had done wrong to upset them so much they left her with her auntie. When that mean looking bully had tripped her because she refused to give him her playing tools, she'd landed on her knees and her hands were scraped, and she didn't like it one bit.
Just as the bully advanced upon young Lana to finish her off and grab her toys anyway, a someone stepped in front of her, shoulders tensed, feet apart; his voice didn't sound afraid, and she thought dazedly that he must be very brave to stand up to Jimmy Laster that way.
"Leave her alone."
Young Lana beamed very shortly. Her hero.
"No. What are you going to do? Beat me up, or run to mama's side like you always do when someone tries to get you to play?"
No reply, very steely glare.
"What's the matter Kent? Too good to play with the other kids? Think you can take me on? Come on, then, let's see Kent get beaten by Jimmy."
It was over pretty quickly; Jimmy advanced on Clark and went immediately for the head, as many children did.
But – oh my – Clark did no stay rooted to the spot, completely petrified at the sight of Jimmy Laster raising his fists t beat him up.
Oh no, that wasn't Cark.
Just as Jimmy's ham sized fist was about to connect very painfully on Clark's face, he ducked and – would you believe it? Striked back at the whale with his own fist.
Ooowwww! Right in the stomach.
Where had he learnt to do it?
Jimmy was winded after the unexpected, forceful punch, and for a moment he just clutched his large stomach, wailing in pain, and Clark stomped on his foot – hard.
He never came to that park whenever Clark was around again.
A sigh, a beautiful Clark smile, and offered hand, and that boy would forever be plastered on Lana's heart.
The best time of her life.
Such hardships over the years that passed, their friendship somewhat steady but distant, when she was with Whitney she didn't have much time to spend with Clark, but the secret attraction she had felt for him grew steadily, unmatched by Whitney's boyish charm, undisturbed by anyone else.
When he rescued her all those times she was in grave danger...at first she thought it was Whitney, rescuing her, but after a while, her sub-conscious kicked in, and told her Clark Kent was her knight in shining armour.
He'd always been that.
Especially after she lost Whitney, and felt so alone and so vulnerable.
She never felt those things with Clark; whether she was in his strong arms or simply in his company.
That business with Chloe hurt them all so much.
How could they betray their friend so?
All those times he would laugh at something she said, all the times his smile lit up his face, the way the sunlight played with his black hair, his intent eyes focusing on her like they were alone all the time...he was so gorgeous and so loving, it should be made illegal, or distributed in teensy bits to all in America.
But in a way, she liked it that did not happen: she liked having him in one bit, and all for herself.
Together...that word sounded so sweet, so bitter, so hurtful, so amazing at times her breath would catch, and there just wouldn't be no way she'd get it back if she didn't stop thinking about it.
The best time of our lives...would they ever get those moments where it was just the two of them and nothing but the stars, and – Wait...no, no stars.
She found she held no fascination over them anymore. She didn't understand why Clark seemed so obsessed with them, but she didn't care.
Everyone would say look, look! A falling star! You make a silent wish every time you see one. Make one! Go on, Lana make a wish!
Except that they never came true, and if they didn't, the exact opposite would happen, in a very negative, hurtful way, so she'd stopped doing that long ago.
Like that time when she wished she'd didn't have an obligation to Whitney, Clark would be her guy, and her parents would be still alive.
Yep, no stars ever again.
She couldn't stand another one of their cruelties so soon.
But hadn't they already provided her with that? Hadn't Clark run away from Smallville and changed from good guy to bad down-town boy?
No, she'd had to put up with their cruelty so much, it would last her a lifetime.
But no more of that.
She had angry customers to attend to, and here she was, crying over Clark, and how the stars were cruel and how she wanted him back home, with her.
Well, if he ever came back, she'd let him know that she wasn't angry with him, and that if she wanted to, she'd give them a chance to have the best time of their lives again.