Chapter 9

(Clark, Martha, and Nell sit in the Kent's red truck.  Clark has his hand on the door, but seems hesitant to leave.  Nell sits in the middle and Martha behind the wheel.)

Clark: "Mom, are you sure you'll be alright?"

Martha: "I'll be just fine, Clark."

Nell (Patting him on the knee): "I'll take good care of her, don't worry."

Martha (Smiling comfortingly as she sees him still hesitant): "Go on, Clark."

(With one last glance, Clark opens the car door and hops out.  He walks around the back, picking up his duffel bag as he does.  He pauses in front of the driver's side window.  Martha rolls it down, smiling at him.)

Clark: "Mom?"

(Martha looks at him expectantly.)

Clark: "Have fun."

Martha (A hint of tears forming in the corner of her eyes): "You too, honey."

(Martha holds her hands out the car door.  Clark moves in closer to her and hugs her tightly to himself.  When they release, Clark backs away from her several feet before turning around and climbing aboard the bus.  Martha waves good-bye one last time before they pull out of the parking lot and drive out of sight.  Spotting his trio at the back of the bus, Clark makes his way past the fifteen or so people between them.  The greyhound bus is only half full, a record low even for Smallville High.  Clark pauses momentarily when he sees a fair skinned brunette sitting next to Chloe.  She rests her forehead on the outstretched palm of her hand, her eyes closed.  Clark hears her sigh.  Shrugging, he sits down next to Lana.  Lana stares out the window of the bus, lost in nostalgic remiss.  She doesn't notice Clark.)

Clark (Lightly prodding her): "Lana?"

Lana (Snapping out of it): "Clark, hey!  Sorry, I just kind of..."

Clark: "Zoned out?"

Lana (Smiling): "Yeah."

(Clark suspects what she is thinking about as she once again looks out the window of the bus.)

Lana: "You know, the last time I saw a greyhound bus..."

(Her voice trails off.  Clark looks at her for a moment.  Behind them, Pete and Chloe are engaged in a conversation.  Clark puts a hand on Lana's shoulder.  She puts her own over it as she turns from the window back to Clark.)

Lana: "I lost a friend."

(A tear forms in the corner of her eye.)

Lana: "But I gained something a lot better."

(She leans in and lightly brushes her lips against Clark's, then runs her hand through his hair.  Drawing back, she looks deeply into his eyes.  Clark smiles, letting all reserves he had for this trip fade away...)

(Seven hours later, the bus is in complete silence.  Lana rests her head on Clark's shoulder as her chest slowly rises and falls.  The sky outside is dark, and they still have three hours time left before they reach their destination of Frisco, Colorado.  Softly stroking her hair, Clark sighs as he stretches his arm that is wrapped around Lana.  Carefully, he extricates himself from her and leans her against the window.  She groans slightly in her sleep.  Standing, Clark walks up the aisle.  He turns and walks back to his seat, but does not sit down.  Pete rests with his head against the window, Chloe has her head on his lap and is stretched out across the seats in the back of the bus.  Clark smiles, then glances over at the unknown brunette.  Surprisingly, he finds her looking his way.  She quickly looks away and out the window.  Clark stretches then sits down backwards in the seat directly ahead of the girl.  She looks up at him as he does.)

Clark (Smiling): "Hi.  I'm Clark Kent."

Girl (Frowning slightly): "Lois."

Clark: "I haven't seen you around, before.  You new?"

Lois: "God, no.  My parents made me come to Smallville for this little 'escapade'..."

(Clark is slightly taken aback by the bitterness in her voice.  She notices, and her face visibly softens.)

Lois: "Sorry, I'm just not used to being out of the city.  It's too quiet, if you ask me."

Clark: "It's alright.  I've spent a lot of time in the city, too."

Lois: "Really?  You seem the picture perfect farm boy, to me."

(Clark raises his eyebrows at her.)

Lois: "Sorry, again...  uh, which?  Which city did you spend time in?"

Clark: "Metropolis."

Lois: "No kidding.  I grew up there."

Clark: "Seriously?"

Lois: "Yeah.  I was born in Germany, but moved stateside when my dad got off active duty."

Clark: "Sounds like fun."

Lois: "I can't wait to get back to Metropolis, though."

Clark: "Why?"

Lois: "I want to talk with Perry White.  My dad was best friends with him while he was growing up."

Clark: "What's he up to nowadays?"

Lois: "My dad?"

Clark: "No, Perry White."

Lois(Looking slightly skeptical): "You know Perry White?"

Clark: "He came to Smallville awhile ago."

Lois: "Why would he come to such a -"

Clark: "I've been wondering that for awhile myself.  But what's he up to now?"

Lois: "He's the head editor for the Daily Planet."

Clark: "Wow."

Lois: "Yeah, it was a big jump for him.  But if anyone's qualified, he certainly is."

(Clark leans back.  Lois looks out the window at the passing terrain.  Unscrewing a water bottle, she takes a sip.)

Clark: "Where do you live now?"

Lois (Not hearing him the first time): "Huh?"

Clark (Repeating himself): "Where do you live now?"

Lois: "New York City."

(Their voices continue softly speaking to each other as the camera quietly leaves.  Soaring into the night air, the bus far below, the beginnings of the Rocky Mountains can be seen off in the distance.  High above, the half full moon shines down as the bus plugs along closer and closer to its destination...)