Well, my final chapter. Review much, im leaving for three weeks, and when i get back...i hope to have lots of review! thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers, especially those who reviewed every chapter!

"Did you hear? Eric turned himself into the officials last night," Chloe bubbled on Friday as she walked with Pete and Clark to the bus. "I wonder what made him choose to do that?"

"Yeah, I wonder..." Clark said, pretending to be perplexed. "Anyways, what are you two doing after school today?"

"Practice," Pete answered.

"Torch."

It's nice to see everything's the same around here, he thought. "I was thinking of finishing up some of the work I've missed and then I'd head over to the Talon for a little while. Either of you care to join me a little later?"

"Err..."

"Well..."

"You know, flying solo doesn't sound too bad," Clark added, stepping up onto the bus.

"Maybe you should take it easy for a little while, man," Pete commented, settling down beside his best friend on the uncomfortable bus seat.

My God...they still treat me like I'm going to break. A guy can't pass out around here without everybody finding out about it. "Don't you think I've gotten enough rest, spending most of this week at home?"

"Maybe, maybe not," Chloe said. "I'll catch up with you, if I've got time."

"All right," Clark agreed, and then recalled, "You know, I think I might just go back to my place. I've got a lot of work I need to finish up."

"If you're sure..."

"Yeah, I'm sure."

That night, Clark was putting away his troublesome geometry work when he suddenly had the impulse to go the cemetery. Calling out to his parents that he was leaving, he ambled out the door and across the town to the place where he and Lana had first conversed. To his surprise, his often- thought-of maiden was there, sitting beside her parents' grave. "Lana."

She turned around with a start. "Clark! What are you doing here?"

"I don't know. I—I was thinking about my parents, I guess."

"I was just spending some time with mine. Why don't you come over here?" She patted a spot on the ground beside her. Taking his hands out of his pockets, Clark made his way over and slowly sat down on the cold grass. "Mom wants to know if something's wrong."

"No, Mrs. Lang. It's been a rough week, that's all," Clark still felt awkward talking to the darkness of the night. Lana edged up to Clark, getting closer and closer until he could no longer resist the urge to wrap his arms around her. "It's nice to have someone out here with me," she whispered. "Mom and Dad like it when you come around."

"I like them too," Clark said, nodding, making everything up as he went along. He still wasn't sure how to act around Lana and her parents. A small rodent ran through the bushes, startling Lana, giving Clark another opportunity to tighten his grasp around her. "You okay?"

"Yeah. It's different, having you here. Usually I'm alone."

"Good different or bad different?"

"Good different," Lana smiled, suddenly noticing that she was shaking. Yet she was perfectly warm. "Clark, you're shivering."

"I'll—I'll be fine..."

"Are you sure?" She pressed the back of her hand against Clark's forehead. "You're burning up. I've got to get you home." She stood up after Clark released her and motioned for him to join her on her horse, which was waiting not far off, grazing.

"No."

"What?"

"It's been happening all week. It'll be over soon," he stood and stared up at the sky. Without warning, his body grew rigid, then collapsed in a heap on the earth. Lana ran up beside him and tried to wake him from this 'Beauty and the Beast'-type phenomenon. But he rose on his own and she found herself staring up into his deep, dark, eyes.

"Clark...what happened?"

"I—I'm not sure," he said, to avoid the accusations that usually followed his secretive answers. Feeling himself growing weak, he murmured, "Can you take your necklace off, just—just until I leave?"

"Why?" Lana replied, reaching behind her neck to unfasten the clasp.

"It's strange...but the meteor rocks...I cant be around them."

Turning to place her necklace in her bag that was resting on her horse, Lana said, "How come nothing happened until just now?"

"I can't explain."

"As usual. Listen, Clark, since you're obviously feeling better, I think you should just leave."

"Lana—"

"Just go! Maybe this friendship was never meant to be. Secrets only keep people apart."

Not wanting to protest anymore, Clark unwillingly turned around and headed back to the farm. The last thing he saw before he went the other way was Lana putting her necklace back on. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you," he whispered. "Not now...not ever."

There you go. Hope it was satisfactory. Review a lot...! Thanks so much, to everyone. Mariah