AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey! Here's another update. Hope you all enjoy.
THANKS TO: Jiminy Cricket
Kris
Belle
X5 452
Mysterious Mask
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Smallville. Nor will I ever. So with that said don't even think about suing me. You won't reap any benefits unless you're into exotic underwear. Ha! Don't even ask. J
*************
Silence surrounded Penelope Harris as she stood outside of the closed coffee shop staring avidly at a lonely blonde with a dejected visage. He was resting and stargazing from the bed of his truck. Penelope could only guess at the bleak thoughts that were running through his head. She imagined that they pretty much matched the same thoughts that she had been feeling some weeks ago when she had broken up with her boyfriend of three years.
Though she knew that he was waiting for his ex-girlfriend she didn't have the heart to tell him that she had already slipped out the back with another guy some time ago. Penelope knew not to pity his because that was far from what he needed. However, that didn't stop her from still feeling bad for him.
He looked over in her direction (she happened to be standing in front of the coffee shop exit) for the fourth time. Penelope let out a small sigh and decided to put the lonesome teen out of his misery. Setting her book bag on the walkway next to her bicycle she walked up to his truck. Piercing baby blues met warm friendly brown.
He sat up and sighed. "So, when did she sneak out?"
"Close to an hour ago." Penelope hated being the bearer of bad news. "She asked me to close up the Talon for her. Mind if I sit down."
He shrugged. "Whatever."
She couldn't help but notice the lack of emotion in his voice. She sat down next to him. "I know that I don't know you that well. Heck, I've known you less than a week, but you seem like a very nice young man with a good head on your shoulders."
"I'm not the one that needs convincing on that score." He spoke sourly. "Tell that to Lana."
"From what I know of Lana she's not the type to make rash decisions. She's not manipulative or phony." She pressed on despite his rude snort. "I think you should respect the choices she makes because if you don't she'll only come to hate you."
"You think." A sneer crossed his face. "Well, I don't remember asking for your opinion."
His remark struck her dumb. "Okay, guess that set me in my place." She stood to leave.
He reached out and stopped her from walking off. "Wait. I'm sorry for lashing out at you. This break up came from out of nowhere. And I was so not expecting it."
"Believe me I understand all about unexpected break ups. Would you like to talk about it sometime? I heard talking about a problem gives it closure."
A brief smile flashed across his face. "How about I give you a ride home. It's a little to late to be riding a bicycle."
Penelope found that she was unable to reject his offer. "Sure. I'd like that."
*************
Pete made the decision, before leaving the Talon, not to discuss anything with Lana pertaining to the breakup between her and Whitney. Of course Pete, being the Curious George that he was, only managed to make it through about ten minutes of silence before blurting out the question that has been on the mind of more than half the population of Smallville.
"What is the real reason for the break up with Whitney? You guys have been dating since seventh grade."
Since the break up Lana had been asked that same question by numerous people. Each time she gave the same answer. "The passion died. I only see him as a friend."
A long silence settled over them while Pete found a place to park the car. Then he spoke rather forcefully. "That is total bullshit."
"What?" Lana was shocked.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so rude. But seriously Lana, how can you expect anyone to believe that. You two started dating in the seventh grade. At the age of twelve no one dates because of passion. And all throughout your time of dating the most y'all have done was to kiss. Your relationship was more like a really close friendship than anything else. No where in that time frame has passion ever been involved. So, don't give me that crap."
She had no comment for what he just said. So she kept quiet, deciding to focus her attention on the movie that was just starting.
Pete figured he had went to far. "Look I'm sorry Lana. I didn't mean to jump all into your business. If you don't want to talk about it then I'll just sit back, enjoy the movie, and respect your wishes."
"It's not that I'm trying to keep things a secret. It's just that everyone is treating our break up like some type of soap opera."
"You two were Smallville's most popular couple. Just about everyone wanted to be like you two. How can you now expect them not to wonder what went wrong?"
Lana shrugged. "I'm tired of people looking up to me. I'm not perfect. It's like the picture of me in the fairy costume on the cover of Times has totally overshadowed my life and that's all people see. I don't want to be a Faerie Princess all of my life. I just want to be me, Lana Lang."
"That's the problem though. No one knows who Lana Lang really is. All they know is the Faerie Princess. That's all you allow us to see. What more can you expect? Whitney has been the only one able to get close to you."
"To tell you the truth, even he doesn't know who the real Lana is. The boldest thing I've ever done is to approach Lex about saving the Talon. It's like ever since then I've been wanting to experience more. Breaking up with Whitney was just one step on the path to the new me or maybe real me. I don't want to spend my whole life here in Smallville. I want to go places and experience new things."
"And you felt that you couldn't do any of that with Whitney." Pete guessed.
She nodded. "If I would have stayed with Whitney we would have ended up getting married right after high school. He would have taken over his dad's shop and we would have started making babies right away. I figured I could spare both of us that future by ending things. Whitney can go on to accept the football scholarship at MU and I… Well I haven't figured out what I want to do yet but I have about a year or so to figure that out. Does that seem to selfish to you?"
"Not at all. As a matter of fact I applaud you and admire you for your decision. But may I make a suggestion?"
"Sure." She said sincerely.
"I think you should sit down with Whitney and explain your feelings to him." He put a finger to her mouth to end the forming protest. "He deserves the real reason behind your decision. I think he'll understand things more if you tell him like you told me."
"Yeah. I guess you're right. He does deserve to hear the truth."
"Good. Now be quiet, we're totally missing the movie."
*************
Ring… Ring… Ring…
Chloe woke up screaming. She yanked up the phone and practically shouted into the earpiece. "Who dare disturbs my rest?"
"Morning Sweetie. It's daddy."
"Morning daddy. Sorry for shouting at you. It's just to early for calls."
"Baby it's 11:30."
"On a Saturday. That's just too early."
"Well I was just calling to see how you were doing." Just then Clark woke up with a moan. "Who's that?"
"That's Clark, daddy. We had a movie night last night. He slept over."
"Oh well tell Clark I said hey. Anyway, I have to get going sweetie. I have a meeting in about five minutes. Talk to you later. Don't get into any trouble."
"Kay daddy. See ya later."
As soon as she hung up the phone it rung again. "Hello?"
"Hey Chlo. Is Clark still there?"
"Yeah Pete. He just woke up. Hold on a sec."
Chloe shook Clark completely awake. "Pete wants to talk to you."
Clark took the phone from her. "Morning Pete. What's up?"
"Well, that was quick. You must have been right there. So does that mean what I think it means?" He hinted.
"No it doesn't." Clark answered as he moved over a bit to let Chloe up from the sofa bed.
"Please tell me you didn't waste the perfect opportunity to talk about your feelings to Chloe. I practically handed you that moment on a silver platter."
"Come on Pete. It's not as easy as you make it out to be." Clark complained.
"It's not that hard either." Pete stated. "For all your powers you are such a coward."
"Yes well I'd rather look like a coward than a idiot."
"Clark you're not going to look like an idiot."
"Well I feel like an idiot every time I get ready to open my mouth and admit my feelings." Clark sighed. He looked around to make sure Chloe was no where in hearing distance. "This is worst then when I was crushing on Lana. At least the reason I kept getting all goofy around her was the meteor rocks. What's my excuse with Chloe?"
"Lust?" Pete teased.
"I'd like to think that it's more than just lust. I don't want to ruin a happy friendship due to lust." He said in disgust.
Pete sighed trying not to laugh. "Man, would you just listen to yourself. You so need to lighten up and stop predicting problems where none exists. Pretend that you're Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and that Chloe is the treat at the end of the rainbow."
"Why don't I pretend that I'm Toto and Chloe is bone?"
Pete laughed. "I doubt Chloe would care to be likened to a bone."
"Even if it's a sexy bone?"
"Whatever man." Pete grinned. "Listen, let's meet up at the Talon in about an hour."
"Okay. See ya then."
TBC