Chapter 23 [Twenty Minutes Later]
Breakfast satisfied the Kents and Lana alike. Martha's cooking, as always, pleased palates.
Conversation filled in certain gaps for Lana. Lana, in turn, shared instances where Clark had aroused Suspicion's scrutiny. Jonathan and Martha took in her insights with each forkful of food or sip of coffee.
Trust and Affirmation bonded them ever closer it seemed…
Lana wiped her face clean. She set the napkin down beside her plate. Adjustment's burden seemed to ease with each passing minute. "Just when I think I understand, there's something else." Her lungs punctuated that thought with a heavy sigh. "I was telling Clark that I was up all last night thinking about it. There's sure a lot to deal with."
"Yes, Lana, there is. That's why Mr. Kent and I are here to talk to you. It's so important that we all support each other. I know Pete's glad Chloe and you both know now. You three can watch out for Clark as well." Martha glanced at the clock. "I'll get the dishes. You two don't want to be late for school."
"I can get them, Mom." Clark pushed his chair away from the table.
"Normally, I'd agree with you, Son. The last thing we need right now is for you two to be late. Mr. Gibbons and you have enough to work through. What's important is that we're all having this conversation. Clark, you're becoming more aware of consequences. Lana, you're realizing what a big secret this is to keep safe. It's like Miranda said last night, there are people who would kill to get their hands on Clark. We have to be careful." Jonathan took a draught of coffee from his mug. "By the way, Lana, if you could thank Miranda for coming to us first, we'd appreciate it. I'll be stopping by the Talon today at some point to tell her myself."
"I know she'll really appreciate that, Mr. Kent. Miranda's really great at keeping things under wraps. I guess it's from being around Mr. Arighatto." Lana stood up. "I can't wait to meet her aunt and uncle! That's so great that they're coming from New York to see her! She was so excited last night."
"I know Lex is really into this visit too. He doesn't usually get like that. We've seen him get into things. But not like this. He just literally pushed over a stone and found them. It's like he knew." Clark grabbed for his jacket.
Jonathan exchanged looks with Martha. Clark's observation would've brought out Paranoia's diatribe only fifteen hours earlier. Necessity, however, demanded such things be played close to the vest. "He did know. Maybe he was in on their disappearance. Lex and Mr. Dubois are like brothers. If you see them together, you'll see that for yourselves. I'll admit that Lex did a good thing in keeping their secret, Clark. Now, at least, everything's out in the open. They can come back here to visit."
Martha started to collect the dishes. She recalled the players in the previous generation's melodrama. "Lex's mother would've wanted Mr. Dubois to be closer to him. Lionel kept them apart." She shook her head. "Those two could never stand each other. It's like what happened to Byron Moore."
"Byron? But he's so kind and warm. I mean we keep him out of the daylight and he's fine." Lana brought her plate and mug to the sink. "Lex told me his father's experiments did that to him. What does that have to do with Mr. Dubois?"
Jonathan coughed. "Everything, Lana. When you meet him, you'll understand. Your family's involved too. You remember what's burned onto the back of your hand?"
"What's burned onto her hand?" Clark stiffened. Curiosity and Concern turned his eyes toward Lana's hands. "Lana?"
"It's an old scar I got from the meteor shower. Seems the meteor that killed my parents burned me too." Lana revealed the Figure Eight Scar on her right hand. "Wish we didn't have school. I'd like to know how my family's involved. Other than Nell and my parents, I don't know any of them."
Jonathan cleared his throat. "Maybe you'll get the chance to ask Miranda's uncle about that in person. Lex would know as well. Now, you both really need to get going."
"Yeah, Dad. I'll be right home after school to finish stacking that hay. Maybe we can work on that fence along the back forty?" Clark eased his feet into his shoes.
"That sounds like a plan, Son. Thanks. You have a good day at school. Remember, be careful." Jonathan smiled at them. "Lana, thank you for coming to us and for sharing this secret. It means a great deal."
Smile warmed Lana's face. Gratitude Expressed warmed her heart. Trust had extended its bond both ways. "It really great that I finally know. Sorry to be so worked up about Clark's secret, Mr. and Mrs. Kent. It's really important to me. I'm glad I know now." Her eyes caught Clark's. Sparkle affirmed her vow to have his back no matter what the situation.
"That means you care about everything, Lana. We understand. So will Pete. Maybe you can check with Chloe? Remind her that the door's open if she wants to talk. Have a great day at school." Martha finished clearing the table.
"Come on, Lana." Clark grinned at his parents. Somehow, he resisted Temptation's Urge to take her hand in his. With Lana knowing the Secret, everything seemed to be coming together. Dreams finally seemed to be meeting Reality in that moment. Fantasy flowed into Promise's and Bliss' waters. Although Lana had shared meals with them there before, this meal seemed different for many reasons.
Lana dragged her feet. School, Routine and Work awaited. Still, Belonging tethered her to that place. Her heart relaxed. She could see herself working alongside Martha in that place. Once more, Desire and Fantasy seemed to beckon for her to stay there. "Have a great day, Everybody. We'll work on that welcome for Miranda's aunt and uncle." She closed the door behind herself. "Have to say this is really nice, Clark." She followed him toward her waiting blazer.
"Yeah it is." Grin lit up his face. Despite Classes and Looming Detention in his path, his mood remained upbeat. He watched her walk around the vehicle's front end and climb into the driver's seat. "At least we don't have any tests."
She nodded. "The way my mind's all jumbled up this morning, I'm glad we don't." Realization hit her as to how that last remark would sound to him. "Hey, Clark, it's okay. I'm figuring it out. It's just kind of heavy you know?"
"Trust me. I know that. I'm just glad we're talking about it." He secured his seat belt and reclined against the seat. "I can't believe my folks are okay with this."
Cough escaped Lana's mouth. "Your Mom is. Your Dad's getting onboard. I'm just glad he trusts me. I really do need to be more careful. We all do." She raised an eyebrow at him while turning onto the state road. "Just be patient with me? It's kind of a lot to take in."
"You take as long as you need to, Lana. Believe me. I'll be right here. I have to say that I never imagined talking to you about my Secret like this." He shook his head. "I've been over and over in my head how this would go. It never came out like this."
"That's the difference between dreams and reality, Clark. Things just happen. Who knows why? Maybe it's just fate or some secret force from the stars? Maybe your wild phase was meant to bring this stuff out for us? I don't know. I mean it's great we can talk. It's not like you watching me through that telescope in your loft. Right?" Mischief gleamed in Grin and Eyes. Smirk spread across her face. Canary Feathers seemed to sprouting out its sides.
Clark rolled his eyes. Embarrassment's Crimson streaked his face. "I couldn't get close to you, Lana. Every time I came within ten feet of you, I'd get sick." Exasperation's sigh pushed every bit of air from his lungs.
"Yeah. I kind of noticed that. What was that all about?" She looked him over. Instinct noted (yet another) secret pushing its way out into the open. Memoria reminded her of how they'd drifted apart during middle school. Conversations shortened. Distance seemed to push them apart. Eventually, she tried to move on. Still, she could see him watching her from afar.
His mind churned over the meteor rock secret. He knew Jonathan and Martha would rather keep that facet from her for now. Still, Trust and Amor demanded the opposite. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Lana, it wasn't you. It…was…well…" He squirmed.
"Clark, what is it?" Questions peppered her mind once again. Now what? It's almost like what he's going to say is as big as what we all heard last night. "Whatever it is, you know it stays between us."
"I know that. Thanks, Lana." He allowed her a smile. Deep Breath calmed him. "It was your old necklace." Frown twisted at the sides of his mouth.
"My old necklace? What does that have to do with anything?" She struggled to understand. "Are you allergic to meteor rocks, Clark?" She did recall several instances in science classes where he'd backed away from them. An awful field trip in Shuster's Gorge had turned him green. She remembered Pete pulling him back toward the road. "You are. Aren't you?"
He bowed his head. "Lana, I'm sorry. I know you wore that necklace to stay close to your parents. I wasn't going to come between you and them."
She bit her lip. "So, you're allergic to meteors. Is it really bad?" She watched Smallville's buildings pass by her window and windshield. Concern, however, could've cared less. Guilt weighed down on her shoulders. She saw him turn toward the window. "Clark? Clark, it's okay. How bad?"
He squirmed yet again. "Lana, they make me really sick. I have to stay away from them. That's how Whitney was able to string me up in the cornfield. He and his friends put your necklace on me."
She exhaled a sharp breath. "So, that's why you collapsed that day at school? And at the plant around Mr. Jenkins? Clark, you should've told me. I'd have understood."
"Lana…" He shook his head. "I…"
"Clark." Her expression firmed up. Her eyes narrowed. "Yes, that necklace is important to me. Hopefully, Whitney can get it back to me one day. If not, then he'll have it for a time. I have enough reminders of my parents around the farm. I can take rides to the cemetery to see them. But you're important too, Clark Kent. Don't you ever forget that!"
He straightened up akin to Lightning hitting him in that heartbeat. Her statement jerked him from Doubt's depths. Words and Tone seized onto his heart and mind. Words failed to come. Fears dissipated before Amor's warmth and purpose…
…Lana was there. Right there. She wasn't going anywhere…
"You get it now?" She flicked an eyebrow at him. "Clark, I'm here with you. I want to be. Your health is far more important than that necklace." She took a hand off of the steering wheel. She squeezed his hand in hers. "That's really important. It's part of being open with each other."
He nodded. "Guess that goes with the trust?"
"Kind of important." She heard his cell phone go off. "Did we forget something?"
He took his phone out. "It's Chloe. Wonder what's going on?" He answered it, "Hello?"
"Clark, I'm sorry. It's Chloe! You know about Miranda's stepdad? He's here! Somehow, he knows about last night! He's got a really big sword! And…"Chloe looked right at Arighatto.
"Mr. Arighatto's there? Chloe, you've got to get out of there! Dad warned me about him!" Fear stabbed through Clark. Jonathan's warning echoed in his ears once again. He shot Lana a pointed look.
Lana's eyes went wide. Her face turned pale. "Clark, what do we do? Is she all right?" Possibilities jostled about in her mind. She knew Arighatto had better martial arts skills than Miranda. Besides, Arighatto had something about himself. Residual Chill and Menace hovered about him. He'd abused Miranda. He'd threatened her…and now Chloe…
Clark pointed at the phone. He listened for Chloe's response.
"HOW, CLARK? HE'S BLOCKING THE DOOR! IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN WALK THROUGH WALLS!" Chloe bellowed into the phone.
I don't care what Dad says! Chloe's in trouble. I can't let that guy hurt her. It's not like she can walk through walls. I can get in and out before…. Clark started to reach for the belt release button.
Dark Laughter echoed through their minds. Challenge stabbed at them. Intimidation sought to steal the teens' strength and will.
"Clark, he can do that mind thing too!" Panic rocked Lana's psyche in that moment. Green Light allowed her to pass through an intersection. "That means he can get in our heads!"
Indeed, I can, Miss Lang. Pity you had to involve my daughter in that dinner last night!
"Clark, he just spoke in my head! He was at your house!" Lana gaped. "What do we do? We can't call the Sheriff! Maybe that friend of Lex's?"
Clark didn't hear Lana or her suggestions. Instead, Arighatto's challenge drew him deeper into Reverie's grasp. His finger clicked the release button. Instinct pressed him toward Rescue's service once more. I've got to do this! I know what Mom and Dad said. I don't have a choice. Maybe I can't walk through walls. I'll have to get in and out of there before…
No, Boy. She can't. Neither can you. I wonder who is faster? Your ALIEN physiology or my reflexes? Shall we find out? Arighatto snapped through the forced link.
"PETE, GET AWAY FROM HERE! GET HELP!" Chloe pointed toward the outer doors. "CLARK!" She called into her phone.
"Pete too?" Clark winced. His eyes saw the alley approaching to their right. He slid over toward the door. "Lana, just keep going."
"Clark, what was that about Pete? Now he's there? And…" She saw him reaching for the door handle. "Clark, you heard your parents! You can't take on Mr. Arighatto! Please!"
Clark shrugged. "Sorry, Lana." He pushed the door open against Speed's updraft. "They need me." Then, he jumped out. His hand managed to tap the door closed again. He managed to land on his side. Within seconds, he sped off toward the high school.
"Clark! CLARK!" Lana slapped the steering wheel. Frustration burned inside of herself. "Did his parents just say not to do anything dumb? And he does what? Of course, he has to try and do the one thing that will get him killed!" She stewed over this course of events. Foot pressed down on Gas Pedal.
Maybe her boyfriend was on the front lines. Well, she was going to be right there too….