After months of angst, Clark and Lana are thrown together and forced to admit their true feelings when a strange new girl in school tries to make sure Clark will always be hers.

This fic will mostly switch between Lana and Clarks POV. This fic is slightly alternate Universe being that it started waaaaay back in the middle of season three and everything that happened after the episode "Relic" never happened. Spolier warning for everything prior to that.

Lanas POV

It's funny how in thirty seconds your life could change and your heart could break and you all of a sudden want to stretch your arms out to the sky and say "EARTH SWALLOW ME!" Anything to take you out of your misery. Anything to just make the pain stop. Melodramatic Much? Maybe. But not in this instance.

One second I'm okay and all is slightly right with the world, and the next I'm wishing I had chosen another hallway to walk down.

But not me. Not Lana Lang. No, Lana Lang has to walk into every difficult situation and then act like everything is okay even when its not. But maybe I should explain myself.

I woke up this morning thinking it would be like every other typical day. You know, brush teeth, get showered, get dressed, go to school, go to work at your own personal coffeshop, try to avoid any meteor freaks and try not to stare too hard at your very own knight in shining armor, Clark Kent.

Well at least this is a day typical for me.

But today, oh today, was different.

It started out the same, but somehow between school and work the man upstairs decided to throw a monkey wrench into the works.

And that brings me back to the present. Me standing in the hallway at school watching Clark Kent by his locker smiling down at some girl as her hand rubs up and down his arm.

Who the hell is that? He pushes me away because he says he's too dangerous to be around but then he goes and practically drools all over some other chick at school? How does this make sense? You know what? Enough! Not this time. This time I'm going to fight. That boy is mine; he just doesn't know it yet.

At least that's what I keep repeating to myself over and over again as I walked toward them trying not to lose my nerve.

"Clark, hi." I said trying not to sound nervous.

"Lana!" Clark says surprised as he straightens himself up doing his best impression of a cat that ate the canary.

The girl turns around to see who interrupted their cozy little moment. She has Dark hair almost black and light brown eyes. Whoa what are those things? Do those really qualify as a high school students breasts? She had an exotic look to her. Hispanic maybe? Who cares? Hello, She's my competition!

"Hi" I lifted up my arm for a handshake. "I'm Lana." There, that wasn't so bad.

Clark looked a little flustered as he said "Oh God, where are my manners? This is Alexa Santana. Alexa this is-."

"Lana. She just told me." As she took my hand Alexa stared up at Clark looking a little amused by his nervousness.

"Yeah. Right." Clark cleared his throat as his eyes darted left to right between us, and said "Ummmm, Alexa's new here. She moved here about a month ago. I was just telling her about the lack of places to visit in Smallville. You know hence the name."

I raised an eyebrow at Clark. "Well, this place isn't so bad. It's quaint."

Alexa snorted (Ugh, soooooo unladylike) and said "Yeah, that's another word for boring"

"Well, where are you from since you seem to be such an expert on excitement?" I said sarcastically. Who the hell did this girl think she was? Nobody told her to come to Smallville.

Clark looked at me surprised at my nasty tone. "Lana-." He began but Alexa cut him off. "I'm from New York City. You know the Big Apple. Where there isn't just one movie theatre, one pharmacy, one bakery….well you get the picture." She gave me a challenging look practically daring me to respond to her sarcasm.

"So why did you move if you feel you need multiple shopping opportunities to buy the same exact thing in three different stores?" This chick really didn't realize whom she was dealing with.

Clark turned to me a look of anger replacing his surprise. He grabbed my arm and started to lead me away while calling over his shoulder to Alexa. "Alexa, I'll see you later. I have to have a little talk with Lana."

Alexa's eyes followed us down the hall. A smirk on her way too pretty face. "Yeah. Later. Oh and Clark?"

Clark stopped walking and turned toward her. "Yes?"

"Don't forget about tonight." With that she turned around and sashayed down the hall.

Tonight? Did I hear correctly or did that sound like they had a date?

Clark still hadn't taken his strong grip off my arm as he watched Alexa walk away.

"Earth to Clark. Hello? You mind letting go of my arm?" Anger was laced in every word. I just wanted to go somewhere and think about why I was so insistent about my love for him.

Clark shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs and turned to look at me angrily. "Yeah. I do mind! What the heck was that about? Your never rude."

"I don't know what your talking about Clark. But I do have a question for you. What's tonight? You have a date with her?" I said pointing at her retreating back.
The jealousy in my voice was a little embarrassing but I couldn't help it.

Clark blushed and looked away for a second. "No Lana. It's not a date. I'm helping her study for our chemistry test. They had a different curriculum in her old school and she's having trouble keeping up with the class." He looked me straight in the eyes and told me "Nothings going on between us. Okay?" He let go of my arm and grabbed me on the shoulders and bent his head so we were on the same eye level. "Okay?"

Oh lord. Why do I always melt when he looks at me like that? Why can't I just be strong and be mad at him? Stupid question. It's because you love him with your everything and it hurts to even breathe sometimes when he's not around you and all the time when he is.

"Clark, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off nasty but I….." I trailed off as I realized I was softening towards him again. "I don't even know what to say to you anymore Clark! I'm just tired of playing games with you. I'm tired of the constant heartache and turmoil. I'm tired of your secrets and I'm tired of being away from you!" I blurted out with the threat of tears loud and clear in my voice. I didn't dare look at Clark. I know the only expression I'll see there is regret and that's not what I want.

Clark put his hand under my chin forcing me to look at him. He closed his eyes as if he was in pain.

Clark opened his eyes again and looked me in the eye, "Lana, everyday I contemplate whether I've made the right decision in pushing you away. To this day I'm still not completely sure. Don't ever doubt the fact that I care for you. It's just easier and safer for the both of us if we're not a couple." Clark looked like he wanted to say more but he just closed his lips together as if those dreaded words were going to jump out of his mouth otherwise.

"You know what Clark? I am sick of you telling me how much better off I am without you, meanwhile I wake up everyday feeling a little bit worse than the day before." I was practically spitting at him I am so furious at his repetitive words. But I just couldn't stop myself. "Every day, that I go without knowing for sure whether you still love me or not kills me. I've had enough of…of yearning for something it looks like I can never have."

At that moment I came to a decision. No more. Yeah, yeah I know I said I would fight, but you know what? To hell with that. If Clark wanted me, he was going to have to come get me.

"Lana, I-." Clark began. But I cut him off. I knew where this was leading.

"No Clark. I'm done. Give me a call when you decide what you want in life. I may or may not be waiting for you." With that I gave him one last glare and stomped away trying my damndest not to look back.

I could feel his eyes following me and even though that should have made me feel some kind of triumph, it didn't.

Don't you dare cry, don't you dare cry. Too late

I missed him already.

End of Part I