STAND BACK

CHAPTER FOUR-THE DATE

Elizabeth and Clark exchanged looks.

"Wow. Do they know what killed her?" Clark asked casually.

"No. From the extent of the wounds it could've been a bear, but there aren't really bears here in Kansas," Chloe said. "Elizabeth? How are you feeling?"

"Better," Elizabeth grinned.

Chloe grinned and wrapped her arm around Elizabeth's shoulders and began walking down the hall corridor with her.

Elizabeth stopped walking for a moment and turned around.

"Oh and Lana? Easy on the perfume. It's smothering," Elizabeth added before turning her back and walked away with Chloe.

Clark had to force himself not to smile. Even Pete was hiding a grin.

"How does she know I have perfume on?" Lana asked.

"Um, she can smell it? Just like we can," Pete replied.

"I swear there's something odd about her," Lana replied watching as Elizabeth and Chloe entered the Math classroom down the hall.

"There's nothing odd about her," Clark said firmly. "She's just a nice girl. Why don't you give her a chance?"

"You certainly are buddy buddy with her," Lana said stiffly. "Chloe told me she's staying at your place."

Clark easily glanced behind Lana. Elizabeth was watching them and no doubt could hear them clear as a bell.

"She's staying with us because she's scared to go through those woods again. After all, she was attacked there remember?" Clark said.

"Right," Lana said sarcastically. "Some big dog attacks her and suddenly she's afraid of some bad doggie."

Clark could see Elizabeth getting angry. He lightly shook his head, signaling Liz not to act or do anything. It was taking Elizabeth all the willpower not to run down the hall and tear Lana's head off.

"Just leave her alone," Clark said angrily.

He brushed past her and headed downstairs to Science. Pete just glared at Lana before following Clark.

Lana turned around and found Elizabeth glaring at her from the end of the hall before she headed into the Math classroom.

"I can't believe Lana," Elizabeth said outraged as she and Chloe worked on the day's problems together. The teacher, Mr. Wilson, allowed the students to talk and to help each other out. He was actually pretty cool and a lot of the kids liked him.

"Lana is just jealous," Chloe replied. "Because I'm with Clark. Clark told me he cares about Lana but just as a good friend."

"So that's what's got Lana all miffed off," Elizabeth said.

"Don't pay any attention to her," Chloe replied.

It still hurt Elizabeth to hear Lana say that she was afraid of some bad doggie. But it wasn't a dog. It was something much worse.

She knew she couldn't tell Chloe the truth but she could talk to Clark later on.

"So, I hear you have a date with Lex," Chloe grinned.

Elizabeth grinned too.

"Yeah. Tomorrow,"

"I hope you have a great time," Chloe said. "Hey! Why don't we double date!"

"That would be great!" Elizabeth said happily.

This way if anything odd happens, Clark would be there. Elizabeth thought.

They continued their lesson.

After school, Clark, Chloe and Elizabeth waited outside of school for Mr. Kent to pick them up. They were going to work on a science project that Ms. Davis assigned them. They had to find out what sort of metamorphosis took place with a butterfly. They had to study one and document changes.

Luckily, the school gave them a butterfly in the cocoon stages. It would take a few days for the butterfly to emerge.

Just then, a silver Mercedes convertible pulled up in front of the school. Lex opened the driver's side door and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Lex," Clark said brightly.

"Hey Clark," Lex said. "Are you ready for our date tonight?"

He turned to Elizabeth.

"Absolutely," Elizabeth said.

"Oh, Lex," Chloe said suddenly. "I suggested that we go on a double date. Would that be okay?"

Lex broke into a grin.

"That would be fine,"

Clark looked at Chloe questioningly, but Chloe jabbed him in the ribs. Clark cringed for a moment before smiling at Lex also.

"I'll see you later," Lex said giving Elizabeth a wink before climbing back into the Mercedes.

Chloe and Elizabeth both grinned at each other as the car pulled away from the curb.

Shortly after that, the Kents red pickup came into view.

Mr. Kent opened the passenger side door and allowed Chloe and Elizabeth to climb in.

"I'll get in back," Clark said as he hopped into the bed of the pickup and slid open the little window behind the driver and passenger.

"If Clark gets bad we could always throw him a dog leash," Chloe said laughing.

Clark playfully smacked Chloe on the shoulder.

"Behave you three," Mr. Kent said looking stern, but his lip twitched.

He started the car and then they went to pull away when Lana stepped over to the truck.

"Hi Lana," Clark said.

"Hi," Lana said.

Her eyes moved onto Elizabeth.

"I hear you're going on a date with Lex Luthor," she said.

Chloe was sitting in the middle of Elizabeth and Mr. Kent. Elizabeth was in the passenger seat.

Elizabeth crossed her arms on top of the window pane and rested her chin on them. The window had been rolled down all the way.

"So?" Elizabeth asked smoothly.

Chloe and Clark were listening intently.

"I just thought that Lex would be into someone his own age," Lana replied.

Elizabeth leaned out of the window until Lana and her face were inches apart.

"Maybe he wants someone different for a change. Not a stuck up, snooty minx who likes to hurt people's feelings," Elizabeth said breaking into a smug grin. "Besides, what business is it of yours who Lex dates? It's not like he was dating you to begin with."

Lana's eyes shifted to Clark, who was sitting in the bed of the pickup watching everything.

"Are you going to let her talk to me like that?" Lana asked him.

"Actually, I am, Lana," Clark said shifting his weight. "She's right. "Why do you care who's dating Lex?"

Elizabeth could tell Lana was stung, but she didn't care. Lana was a snoot. While in Math class, Chloe told her how Lana hurt Clark in so many ways and she didn't seem to care about his feelings.

That wasn't right. Elizabeth hated Lana now even more when she tried to tell her how Lex should date. He was a grown man and had the right to date whomever he wanted.

Lana just nodded and Liz could see a faint glimmer of tears in Lana's dark brown eyes. Elizabeth sat back against the passenger seat.

"Have a nice day," Elizabeth smiled sweetly to Lana.

Mr. Kent started the pickup and pulled away from the curb leaving Lana standing there.

"What's gotten into her?" Mr. Kent mused as he turned left onto Evan's Road.

"We don't know," Chloe replied. "She doesn't seem to like Elizabeth for some reason."

"I can't imagine why," Mr. Kent said. "Liz is such a sweet girl."

"Thank you," Elizabeth said blushing.

"You love to blush huh?" Clark asked grinning.

"I just get embarrassed easily and I always blush with compliments," Elizabeth replied looking back at him and grinning too.

"That's perfectly fine," Chloe said. "I tend to blush too."

"When?" Clark asked her good-naturedly. "I've never seen you blush."

"That's because I'm not telling you what makes me blush," Chloe grinned. "But I will tell Elizabeth."

Chloe leaned close to Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, "Clark in swimming trunks,"

Both girls got into a giggling fit.

"I think we're being outnumbered," Mr. Kent said laughing.

"Not exactly," Clark said as he too, started laughing. "Two men against two girls. I think we should feel uncomfortable because they talk about us."

"Men?" Chloe snorted. "Where? The only man I see is Mr. Kent."

"That sounded so wrong on many levels," Elizabeth said bursting into laughter.

Chloe frowned for a moment then she burst into laughter too.

"Hallelujah it's raining men!" Elizabeth sang.

Chloe giggled even further.

Mr. Kent and Clark were beside themselves with amusement and they too were laughing along with the girls.

When they reached the Kent farm, the girls were still giggling when they entered the house.

Mrs. Kent was preparing lunch for them.

"What are you two laughing about?" she asked with a grin on their faces.

"Apparently seeing one man is enough to set them off like time bombs," Clark grinned.

Mrs. Kent looked confused.

Chloe managed to calm down long enough to explain to Mrs. Kent what they were laughing about.

When she heard it, she too laughed.

"See son, now we're out numbered," Mr. Kent grinned at Clark.

Finally, they managed to calm down and they began eating tuna sandwiches that Mrs. Kent made.

"These are delish," Elizabeth said.

"Really? Thanks," Mrs. Kent said pleased.

Chloe began explaining Lana's behavior to Mrs. Kent.

Mrs. Kent sighed.

"I don't know what's gotten into her. She was so sweet,"

They were just as stumped.

After lunch, they began working on their science project.

Around 6:00, Chloe left to get dressed for the date. Clark was upstairs getting ready also.

Elizabeth found Mrs. Kent in the kitchen.

"Mrs. Kent? I don't have anything nice to wear tonight," she said, looking embarrassed.

Realization formed on Mrs. Kents face.

"Oh dear,"

Then, she broke into a smile. "I have something that should fit you,"

"I don't want to take anything," Elizabeth said.

"Nonsense," Mrs. Kent said grabbing Elizabeth's hand and pulling her into the den. "I'm giving this to you."

She led her over to a wicker cedar chest and opened it. She shifted through some curtains and then pulled out a box tied with a blue ribbon. She opened it and inside was the most beautiful white dress.

It had spaghetti shoulder straps with gentle embroidery around the neckline. It looked like it was made of satin.

"It's beautiful!" Elizabeth gushed as she gently touched it.

"Come on," Mrs. Kent grinned. "I'll help you get ready."

She ushered Elizabeth upstairs and began helping her get ready.

Promptly at 6:30, Lex arrived.

Chloe was waiting downstairs with Clark. Chloe had on a cute sundress and Clark was in slacks and a shirt.

"So where are we going?" Clark asked Lex.

"Sunmaza's Restaurant," Lex replied.

"Italian…yum," Chloe said eagerly.

Lex grinned.

Mrs. Kent came down with a huge grin on her face.

Then, Elizabeth followed.

Clark's jaw dropped and so did Lex's.

The white dress fit Elizabeth perfectly and her hair was curly. Mrs. Kent had also applied a light touch of makeup.

Elizabeth grinned at Chloe, who winked back knowingly at her before she stood beside Lex.

"You look nice," Lex said smiling.

"Thanks. Are we ready?" Elizabeth asked.

Clark recovered and nodded.

"Have fun kids," Mr. Kent smiled.

They headed out of the house.

Elizabeth glanced up at the sky. A quarter of a moon began to appear faintly. Elizabeth felt that familiar sharp pain shoot across her abdomen. She cried out and doubled over.

"Are you alright?" Lex demanded standing beside her.

Clark caught Elizabeth's eye. He knew what had happened.

"Yeah. I'm just hungry," Elizabeth smiled reassuringly at Lex.

"Why don't you go with Lex and I'll go with Elizabeth? This way if anything happens I can always drop her back at home," Clark suggested to Chloe.

Chloe nodded and grinned. Lex led Chloe over to his Porsche. Clark led Elizabeth over to the red pickup. They climbed in and followed behind Lex and Chloe.

"What happened?" Clark asked.

"I felt that pain again like I was going to change," Elizabeth said. "But it's not a full moon."

"Just be aware okay? If you feel you're going to change, then say 'I'm not feeling well'. It's subtle and Lex won't know anything is seriously wrong," Clark replied.

Elizabeth nodded.

They arrived at the restaurant and Lex had already made arrangements. They were led to their table and sat down.

Lex was sitting beside Elizabeth and Chloe and Clark were across from them.

The waiter came and took their orders.

"So, tell me," Lex said turning to Elizabeth. You like Smallville so far?"

Elizabeth nearly choked on her soda. "Yes. It's lovely here and everyone is so kind to me,"

Chloe beamed.

Lex and Elizabeth talked more until their food came. Clark could see Lex really liked her and was glad. Lex was a good guy and he deserved someone nice. But there was the issue of Elizabeth being a werewolf. Clark didn't know how Lex would react if and God-forbid found out about it.

Clark checked his watch. It was nine o'clock.

Elizabeth suddenly cried out again and grabbed the edge of the table. Clark quickly glanced out the window.

The moon was only half full. What was going on?

"I'm not feeling well," Elizabeth said and Clark knew that signal.

"Lex? I think I should take Liz home," Clark said quickly.

"Nonsense…I'll take her," Lex said looking concerned.

Clark saw the nails start to grow. Elizabeth looked like she was trying to control it and to Clark's surprise, she managed to.

"I just get these weird pains every once and a while," Elizabeth explained to Lex with a smile. "I'm okay now."

"Sure?"

Elizabeth nodded.

Clark looked at Elizabeth. She leaned forward and so did Clark so that their faces were inches apart.

"I was able to control it," Elizabeth said. "Maybe I can control when I want to change?"

"Maybe…but if it happens again, we've got to go,"

Elizabeth nodded and leaned back.

The rest of the evening went smoothly.

Back at the Kent farm, Elizabeth was chained up in the barn after she told Mr. Kent what had almost happened on the date.

As a precaution, she was put in the barn. The moonlight spilled in from the twin wood doors and Elizabeth began changing.

The wolf broke free of the chains and raised its head to the ceiling and howled. It knew who it wanted to kill next. It took off breaking through the twin wood doors of the barn and down the driveway keeping out of sight.