Nothing's Left Part 18
Notes: This chapter starts a month after the last chapter. Lana has accepted her spot at the school in Paris and has told all her friends and family. Clark is now able to walk a little with a cane and is slowly rehabilitating. None of his friends or family have seen him walk yet. This chapter starts in the first week of April.
"Hey Clark where's that football I loaned you back in October?"Pete asked. "I think it's in one of those boxes in the barn of stuff my dad put away when he cleaned the barn out,"Clark told Pete as he flipped the channel on the T.V. "Hey do you and Lana want to go to the movies on Friday?"Pete asked. "If you mean tomorrow we can't. It's our five month anniversary and I have something special planned for us,"Clark said with a confident grin. "Would you give a brother a clue as to what this special surprise is?"Pete asked. Clark shook his head no. "Well fine. Is it a present?"Pete asked. "You're never going to stop are you?"Clark asked. Pete shook his head no.
The Next Day . . . . .
Clark sat in the loft waiting for Lana to arrive so they could have their five month anniversary. The loft was lit with candles and there was an elegant dinner for two set up in front of the window. Clark was all dressed up and sat on the couch waiting for her to arrive. Light footsteps on the loft stairs made him jump in excitement. Finally, she appeared in front of him with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing a beautiful tan and light pink dress that had spaghetti straps and a black sweater. She began to twirl and made her dress fly, "What do you think?"Lana asked slowly walking towards him. "I think I've never seen anything more beautiful,"Clark said with a soft smile. She walked over to him on the couch and leaned down and kissed him. She looked around at the dinner set up, the candles and that couch was pushed as far back away from the table as it could be pushed. She scrunched up her face when she noticed this, "Where's your wheelchair? Did you forget in the house?" A mischievous smile spread across Clark's face as he shook his head no. He reached behind the couch and pulled out a cane and motioned for her to move back a little. Her mouth slowly dropped as he pushed off the arm of the couch and stood up. He then proceeded to shakily walk to the window which seemed like a mile away. When he got there he turned around and waited for a reaction from the stunned Lana. "Oh my God. This is incredible,"she exclaimed as she ran over and hugged him. He leaned against the wall for some support, but was standing on his own. She leaned back and looked into his eyes, "This is the best anniversary present ever." He motioned for her to take her seat at the table. He had help from his mom making dinner. There was chicken, vegetables, bread, mashed potatoes, and fruit salad.
"Clark you outdid yourself tonight. This is amazing. How long have you been able to walk?"Lana asked. "Well I started walking on my own at my last session, with the cane of course. I thought I'd save it for tonight. I've waited so long just to be able to be able to do something for myself and not be totally dependent and it seemed like I should start on a special occasion like tonight,"Clark said passing her the bread basket.
When they had finished eating, conversation set in. "Look I told myself I wasn't going bring this up tonight because it should be a happy night, celebrating, but I don't want you worrying about Paris breaking us up. I know you are, I can tell. I can read you like a book,"she said cracking a small smile. Clark reached across the table and took her hand in his, "I know it won't and I don't worry about it. It's not like that. . . . I have faith in what we have, but it's just a little bit hard for me to let go of someone who's been my everything for five months. Going from being someone who other people depend on and need to be saved everyday to being someone who has to be dependent on other people to move has been . . . . really hard. You've been there for me and you . . . .accepted me when I needed you. It's gonna be really hard to not have you around. I don't want you to get me wrong about how I feel. It'll be hard to see you go, but you have to go, for yourself. You've been dedicated to me, the Talon, the Sullivans, you haven't been able to just get something you want in a long time. You deserve this opportunity and don't think twice about it." Lana reached down to a bag on the floor and handed it to him. "Happy Anniversary,"Lana said. Clark blinked and took the bag. He looked in it and took the paper out and pulled out a cell phone. "I know you don't have one and this has free long distance, no roaming, tons of minutes for cheap, and it's the same as mine so we can talk to each other for free. This way, when I'm in Paris we can talk to each other non stop,"Lana said hoping he liked it. "Wow. Thank-you. This is great,"He said standing up with his cane and walking over to the couch. Lana followed him and set down next to him. "Now before I give you your present I want to ask you something,"Clark said looking into her eyes. She had a serious look but broke a small smile, "You can ask me anything." He nodded and took her hand, "Well Matt says by the end of the month I should be able to walk without the cane and I wondered if you'd be my date to our senior prom?"Clark asked. Lana let out a laugh, "Of course. You didn't even have to ask." Clark nodded and reached behind the couch and pulled a small bag up. He handed it to Lana and she reached in and pulled out a small velvet jewelry case. Her mouth dropped in that instant and she looked to Clark who motioned for her to open the box. She opened it and found a white gold ring with a square diamond in the middle that wasn't small, but wasn't very big either. "Clark . . ,"Lana choked out speechless. "It's a promise ring. I want you to always remember that I love you and I'm always thinking about you. I want you to remember that if you still want me when you get back I'll be waiting for you. . . .Plus, all those clingy french guys need to know you're taken,"Clark said hoping that she would like the ring and confirm that he is what she wants.
Lana paused a moment and the silence became overwhelming. Then, closed her jaw and nodded slowly as this whole ordeal began to process. Clark didn't know if he should say something or just silently pray that she would make some sort of movement. Then, Lana's eyes became lighter and then she slowly moved closer to Clark, not breaking eye contact with Clark for a second. Then when she was merely inches from his face she whispered, "I love you." Then she took his face in her hands and kissed him, more passionately then they had kissed since their first time they had in their relationship. Clark even noticed that the way she was kissing him was different, less pedestrian. She started to run her hands through his hair and sending tingling shots up his spine and his she lightly ran her hands up his back while his lip tangled with hers. Clark smoothly put his arm around her back and they slowly fell back onto to the couch and continued kissing with Lana on top of him.