Nothing Left-Part 23
Notes: It's now Friday evening and our chapter will begin in the Talon. I thought I should get right to it. After this chapter, I'm going to continue this storyline but I need some feedback now. The next part after this will take place after a good portion of the summer has passed. Well finally thanks for sticking with me this far and I hope you still read my chapters on this storyline. Here it goes.
Lana wiped down the counter top in the Talon and turned off the coffee machine. She looked around at the business she'd built. She had an idea and went for it. She had spent so much time in the past couple years here it was like . . .home. It was the one place all her own that she could run to when something was wrong or hang out with friends at or on that rare occasion that she would want to lose her virginity to Clark, they could come here. She dropped a mug she had in her hand and bent over to pick it up and as she did the door bell rang. "Sorry, we're clos . . .,"she stopped as she stood up to meet Clark's eyes. "Hi . .,"he said softly. "Hi,"she answered him even softer. "I tried to come and see you, but you were always gone,"Lana said and Clark nodded.
"Clark . .I'm so sorry I didn't tell you. I just was split between what I really wanted to do. . . Half of me doesn't want to leave you a month early or at all. Half of me thinks we may not make it if I leave and t will be all my fault. Half of me knows I could get a jumpstart on the school if I go. You are so amazing, making those awesome plans. We would of had an amazing time. I'm so sorry that I hurt you. I really didn't mean to. . . .Are you okay?"she said looking into his eyes. "Yeah . . .yeah I'm okay,"he said. "Can you forgive me, please. I need us to be okay before I leave,"she said. "Okay . .Everything's okay. . .We're okay,"he said. A small grin of relief spread across Lana's face as she walked toward him. She wrapped her arms around his chest and laid her head on his shoulder as his arms surrounded her. "I missed you this week,"Lana said into his shirt. "I missed you too, but if you miss me after a week what are you going to do later on?"Clark asked while letting a smile spread across his face. "Are you all packed?"he asked pulling back from their hug. "Pretty much. Do you want to do something tomorrow with me?"Lana asked. "What do you have in mind?"Clark asked. "How about we spend the whole day together and then tomorrow night, I'll cook you dinner here,"Lana said. "Sounds good,"Clark said.
Saturday Afternoon at the Talon . . . . . . . . . .
"Don't you think closing on a Saturday is bad for business?"Clark asked. "Well, it may not be open for much longer. It's really up to Lex. I mean he may not even keep it open,"Lana said shrugging her shoulders. "That movie was so stupid,"Lana said as she started walking upstairs. "I liked Hellboy. I thought it was slightly exciting and slightly hilarious,"Clark said sitting down on a chair in the apartment. "There's something wrong when you find an action movie that has a guy with horns in it and a big red fist hilarious,"Lana said putting the spaghetti on the stove top. Lana brought Clark a cup of coffee and sat across from him at the table. "What time does your flight leave?"Clark asked. "It leaves at 8 a.m. so I should probably get there at 6. Would you mind driving me there?"Lana asked.
"Of course I don't mind,"Clark said. "Now you have my phone number on your speed dial on your cell so if anything happens you'll call me right,"Lana said talking a mile of minute. "Definitely,"Clark answered. "I think we should set up call dates. Just to make sure we talk to each other and don't always get the answering machine,"Lana suggested. "That's good. How many days is good for you?"Clark asked. "Let's write this down. How about Sunday at 9 p.m. and Wednesday at 9 p.m. We can talk more, that's just the main times okay?"Lana said.
"Sounds good to me. How much time until that spaghetti is done?"Clark wondered. "I'd say we have a good fifteen minutes and we're there. Why?"Lana questioned him. Clark got up walked over and dimmed the lights and turned on Norah Jones in the cd player. "Ms. Lang may I have this dance?"he said holding his hand out to her. "Why of course. No matter how cheesy it is,"she answered getting up and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Are you going to miss me?"Clark asked. "I'll miss you every minute,"she said gazing into his blue eyes. "Lana I'm going to ask a question and I want you to tell me the real answer. Are you coming back? Am I going to be spending senior year with you? Are we going to go to prom together again and actually have it go right?"Clark asked. Lana didn't know what to say. She didn't know what she was going to do. She didn't know if she would come back or not. "Right now, I really don't know. My plan so far is to be back senior year,"she said. Clark nodded but wasn't assured at all that him and Lana would be together. All Clark could do was nod his head and Lana pulled him in tighter. They danced until the spaghetti was ready and then they ate.
"Man I made way too much,"Lana said as she patted her flat stomach. "I couldn't even fit another noodle in my stomach. I'm so full. Thanks Lana. It was great,"Clark said. "It was my pleasure. . . .Ya know. All this spaghetti will go to waste if I just put it in the refrigerator,"she said getting up and picking up the bowl of spaghetti. "So you want me to throw it away for you?"Clark asked. Lana walked around the table, stuck her fingers in the bowl and set a handful of noodles with sauce on Clark's head and then proceeded to laugh harder than he had ever seen her. "Oh cute. Really are we five?"Clark said. He walked over and pulled the bowl chocolate pudding out of the fridge. He picked up a handful and smeared it down her face. He then picked up a cherry that was on the counter and put on top of her head. "Perfect,"Clark said chuckling.
He set down the bowl and took his clean hand and wiped some off her forehead and ate it.
"You really did a good job making this pudding. Really, complements to the chef," Clark said mocking her. She took the cherry off her head and ate it. "That's a good cherry,"Lana said.
"You look so cute covered in chocolate. I'll go get you a towel,"Clark said heading to the bathroom. He returned with a towel and wiped her face clean. When he was done, he wiped the spaghetti out of his hair and threw the towel in the hamper. "I have an idea. How would you like to watch your last sunset in Smallville?"Clark asked. "That would be great,"she said with a smile.
They went back to the Kent farm and up to the loft just in time to hold hands and watch the sunset. As it became darker and the stars came out Clark lit his candles to light up the loft. They just stood by the window looking at the stars. "You know so much has happened this year. So many things have changed. Everything ended up really great,"Lana said. "I don't know if I've told you this, but I'm glad you told me everything and I love everything that you are. . . I'm going to miss the sunsets. I know we haven't watched that many this year, but there is just something about not even having the option to do it that makes me sad,"Lana said feeling a tear coming on. "I know. Sunsets wouldn't be the same without you,"he said putting his arm around her. "I don't think I'll ever look at the stars the same way I used to. Especially after learning your secret. Maybe there are other people like you out there. If they are anything like you, then our world is a much better place,"Lana said making Clark blush a little. "You do know what happened right here on my birthday don't you?"Clark asked. "Of course I do. That was one of the best nights of my life,"Lana said. "Did you really not expect anything to happen when you came up here like that?"Clark asked. Lana bit her lip. "I don't know. I wasn't sure if you would ever make the first move. I hoped you would, but I wasn't counting on it,"Lana said. "I want you to know that I cared about you so much back then and I care about you even more now,"Clark said.
"Ditto,"Lana said with a smile. Lana turned toward him and Clark leaned downed and kissed her. Lana run her hand down his arm just like she had down before. When they parted their eyes remained closed and they just nudged their forehead together. "I'm going to miss you so much,"Clark said intertwining his finger with hers. "I know. . . Me too,"she said, "I will come back.. I promise."
The next morning came all to soon for Clark and Lana. They had fallen asleep cuddling on the couch with Clark's alarm set so Lana wouldn't miss her plane. Lana had to leave extra early to say goodbye to Chloe and her dad before she left. Clark had agreed to drive her to Metropolis Airport so she wouldn't have to ride on a bus. They arrived at the airport at 7 a.m. which was just enough time to get her to the plane and through security. "You have everything you need right?"Clark asked as he prepared to say goodbye to her outside the airport. "Yeah. I got my bags, my ticket, my passport, and my cell so I'm all set,"Lana said dreading this exact moment. "I have something for you,"Clark said pulling a white rose from behind his back. Her face lit up at the sight of it. "It's beautiful Clark,"she said. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her face on his chest just like so many times before. Clark felt like he never would let her go. Lana let silent tears fall from her eyes into his jacket. Clark pulled back from their hug and slowly leaned in to kiss Lana. Lana kissed him back, slow and passionate. The kiss didn't last long enough for either one, but they knew this was a plane she had to catch. Clark pulled her in for one more hug as he whispered, "I love you. Don't forget,"This caused more tears to fall from her eyes. She pulled back, "I love you too." She ran her hand over his face one last time. He wiped her tears and kissed her on the cheek. He put her bag on her shoulder. "Have a good flight. Call me when you get there,"Clark said. "Okay, I will. Bye,"Lana said. "Bye Lana,"he said as he gave her hand one last squeeze and she walked through the doors.
Clark walked back to his truck and got in it. He just sat in the truck until it all sunk in. A single tear slid down his face and then he broke down and leaned his face against the wheel as he cried.
I hope you liked what I consider the first installment in this series. The sequel to this storyline will show up shortly under the title Reality Sinks In. So don't forget about and keep reading my fics.