Note: Feel free to pop in "You and Me" into your CD players while Clark and Lana are dancing!

Clark's POV

Standing in front of the full length mirror in the loft, I curse whoever suggested that men should wear tie a bow around their necks for formal occasions such as prom.

I glance at my left wrist, but remember that I set my watch off to the side. My mind backtracks to where I last put it. I make my way over to the old desk, leaving the tie hanging around my collar.

Damn. If I don't get this tie on straight soon, I'm going to be late. I walk back to the mirror and attempt to tie the perfect bow around my neck. Now would be a great time for Dad or Mom to walk up those steps and offer to help me, I decide. Pete would even do, but I know that none of those three people would walk up those steps anytime soon.

And Lex? If push comes to shove, then sure, I'd gladly accept Lex's help. I might have to take a few calming breaths through clenched teeth to keep my temper under control, but if it means that I would actually be on time for once to pick Lana up, then I'll take all the help that I can get.

As I untangle my fingers from the ribbon to start over again for the umpteenth time, my mind drifts back to my conversation with Lana earlier. Although all evidence so far points to Lex adding Kryptonite into the fertilizer without my knowledge, there's still a sliver of doubt. I guess that it's just my trusting nature, but a part of me wants to believe that Lex had nothing to do with my dad's heart attack and that someone must have smuggled in the Kryptonite without his knowing. I mean, Lex was my friend before all the lies and deceit, right? Why would he lie to me about something as trivial as the ingredients in his fertilizer?

The first answer that springs to mind is money. But then again, why would Lex care about money? The old Lex I knew didn't care about it. But, maybe I never really knew him at all…just like he never really knew me.

Whatever the reason behind his motives, the suspicions are still there and they're not going to go away until I find the truth. With so many lies in my own life, the truth seems like the only thing that keeps me sane sometimes…with the exception of Lana, of course.

I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand and push away the whole fertilizer business. One way or another, I'll find out the truth tonight from Chloe. No point in worrying about it now, not when Lana is waiting for me and counting on me to have a good time tonight.

After deciding that my attempts to straighten my bow are fruitless, I super speed out of the loft and to the truck, already a few minutes late. Time always seems to be against me, doesn't it?

Lana's POV

After looking at the mirror again to reassure myself that nothing was out of place, I smooth out my elegant white prom dress and glance at the alarm clock on my night stand. Clark should be here any minute now.

I decide to move away from the mirror before I start analyzing my reflection. A pimple that I should have covered up…a loose strand of hair that should have been tied up with the rest of my hair…yeah, I really need to get away from this mirror.

Putting some space between the mirror and myself, I make my way into the makeshift kitchen and pour some water out of a pitcher. After draining the last drop, I start picking up around the apartment. A magazine left open to a page about tips on makeup goes under the coffee table…a book on painting techniques goes back in the book shelf…hair ties and bobby pins go back in a small bag of accessories…junk mail makes its way to the trash… Soon, I've scoured the whole apartment for odds and ends and Clark still hasn't shown up.

After sticking the broom back to the closet (that's when I decided that I had gone a bit too far), I take a seat on the couch and fight the urge to go over and straighten a stack of books. I glance at the clock over on the far wall and notice that Clark is thirty minutes late. I always knew that Clark had a knack for being late for the simplest things, but this was ridiculous.

I debate whether or not to give Clark a call in case he had forgotten, but then decide to wait another five minutes for him. At the end of the five minutes, just as I was dialing his cell number, there was a knock at the door.

I sigh and roll my eyes. Some things never change, do they?

I swing open the door and say, "Clark, you're late─" I stop in mid-sentence, staring the bouquet of flowers in his extended hands. They look hand picked, but then I spot a price tag.

"Umm…yeah, I know, I'm late," Clark says awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I had to stop at the market to get some flowers…."

I take the flowers and sniff them gingerly. "Thank you, Clark. They're beautiful."

Clark sighs in relief, glad that I'm too mad at him.

"I'm going to put these in a vase," I say, walking over to the sink and filling a vase with water. Seeing that Clark is still standing at the door, I wave him in.

He stands in the middle of the room, hands in pockets, glancing around the interior of the place since he's only been in here once before. I feel his eyes on my back, giving me chills—good chills.

After I'm done angling the bottom of the stems, I place the flowers in the vase and set it on the kitchen island. I pick up my purse and make my way to Clark, who's still staring at me.

I clear my throat to get his attention. "Ready to go?"

Clark snaps out of his daze. "Yeah. Umm…after you."

I'm about to walk past him, but pause at his appearance. Something's not right….

"There." I straighten his bow tie with a smile and he blushes. "That's better."

Clark chuckles nervously and follows me out of the apartment. After locking, the door, I descend the steps, Clark right behind me. Before I get the chance to make it to the door, I feel his hand on my arm.

"Lana?"

"Yeah?" I turn around.

"Uh…you look beautiful," Clark says after a beat. "I mean, you look amazing. Breathtaking, even."

I smile and despite myself, I feel a blush. "Thanks. You don't look half as bad either." I wink at him and begin to feel my nerves slip away.

Clark's POV

With one wink from her, I feel my nervousness from earlier vanish. I follow her out of the door, hurrying to open the passenger door for her. She smiles at me as she passes me, slipping into the car.

"Sorry…I tried, but I couldn't find a limousine available anywhere in Smallville," I explain to her, sliding into my seat and starting the engine. "They must be all booked."

She merely shrugs as if she could care less. "That's okay, Clark. I think that the dance already started so there might be less people out in the parking lot." She pauses and then adds, "I'm just glad that you were able to find a tux."

I laugh and pull out onto the street, heading in the direction of Smallville High. Minutes later, Lana's prediction of less cars and people in the parking lot is proved wrong.

"Looks like everyone is late, huh?" I say, carefully weaving my way through the crowd.

"Let's just park here, then," Lana suggests, pointing to the side of the sidewalk.

"Are you sure? We'll have to walk a bit further."

"A little exercise never hurt anyone, Clark," Lana replies, gathering her purse.

I do as she says and run around to her side to open the door again. To my delight she hooks her arm through mine as we make our way to the school.

I pull her to the side a couple of minutes later to make room for a motorcycle to pass through. The driver is decked out in a tux and his date is holding on tightly to his waist.

"What a way to make an entrance," I comment, pointing to them.

Instead of agreeing or laughing, Lana remains silent in thought.

"Clark?"

"Hmm?" We're inside the school now, on our way to the gym.

"You never did tell me why you were acting so strange in Metropolis."

I look at her and my step falters for a second. "You mean…in that night club?" I know exactly what she means, but I ask anyway.

She nods and gazes up at me. I pull her off to the side near some lockers so that no one will overhear us.

"Remember what I told you about Kryptonite? Well, there's also a red kind…it's different from the green one. Instead of hurting me, it strips me of any inhibitions that I might have."

"And that's why you were acting so…forward?" Lana asks, putting together the pieces quickly.

"Well, forward is one way of putting it…more like an asshole is how Pete and I used to describe it," I say, shrugging. "But you don't ever have to worry about me on Red K again…I've given it up."

Lana smiles at that. "So, how did you find the red Kryptonite anyway? The ones I've seen are all green."

"Our school rings…the company substituted the rubies for red Kryptonite."

"I remember reading about that in the Torch a while ago…." Lana says, hooking her arm through mine again and leading the way back to the decked out gym.

People are still piling in as I hand our tickets to the photographer by the double doors. Lana and I strike a pose and smile for the camera. Moments later, we walk off, our vision filled with little white spots from the flash.

"The committee has really outdone itself this year," Lana remarks, looking around the gym at the party lights and silver stars hanging from the ceiling and the stage where the band is warming up for their next song. "They've even managed to get Lifehouse here."

I nod and don't bother to add that Lex actually got Lifehouse in Smallville.

After a couple of minutes of small talk with the people around us, I realize that Lana is waiting for me to ask her to dance. I excuse myself from my former football teammates who keep harassing me if Lana and I were indeed, 'doing the deed' tonight. Not that the thought hadn't crossed my mind, but who am I kidding? We just got back together…I highly doubt that we're both ready for it. Still, it's not as if I hadn't thought about…doing it with Lana.

I make my way toward Lana who is chatting with Cindy from the Talon. Cindy notices me and excuses herself, a knowing smile playing on her face.

"Hey, I thought that I had lost you there for a second," Lana says, looking as beautiful as ever.

"I don't think that that's possible, Lana," I say seriously.

Lana smiles and points to the crowd. "Looks like Chloe is having a good time with Tim."

It takes me a moment to spot them in the massive crowd, but I do and I see them dancing and laughing.

Taking the hint as a cue to act, I inquire, "May I have this dance?" I extend my hand and she takes it.

"I thought you'd never ask," Lana replies jokingly as she leads us to the dance floor.

"Sorry, I'm sort of slow on these things…." I offer an apologetic smile and she chuckles.

"I've noticed."

I grasp her hand a little more tightly and place my hands on her waist gingerly. Soon, we're too caught up in the moment to care what others around us think. I manage to pull off several spins and dips successfully and Lana laughs at each and every one of them, clearly enjoying herself.

The music for the first half is upbeat and fast, and people are constantly bumping into each other. Once, I nearly managed to knock a dancing Chloe off her feet, but she shrugged it off amid Lana's and Tim's laughs. After several songs, the band announces an intermission and the DJ over on the side of the gym immediately takes off, playing today's hip hop.

I bend down and say softly, "Want to take a break?" into Lana's ear since the crowd around us is mostly made up of rambunctious dateless guys who are showing off their moves to the ladies around them.

"Sure," Lana calls back a little breathlessly and follows me out of the crowd. We head to a half occupied table and Lana takes a seat. Chloe and Tim joins us a moment later.

"I guess we'll go get some drinks," I offer and Tim follows me, leaving Lana and Chloe alone to chat for a while.

Tim and I spoon punch into cups in silence. Out of the corner of my eye, I study him. His eye glasses are replaced by contacts tonight, his hair neatly parted and combed.

I clear my throat, attempting to make small talk. "So, how are things going with Chloe?"

Tim looks up, but if he's surprised by my question, he doesn't show it. "Good. She's great. She has a lot of…spunk."

I nod and say, "Yeah, well that's Chloe. Once you get used to it, she's really fun to be around."

"I've noticed." Tim takes a drink out of his cup and glances at Chloe. The look on his face is similar to the one that I have when I'm around Lana.

Right then and there, I decide that Tim is just a regular guy trying to find the perfect woman. Nothing out of the ordinary and nothing to be worried about—not that I was.

I take a sip of punch and look in Lana's direction where she and Chloe are talking animatedly.

Lana's POV

"What do you think they're talking about?" I ask Chloe, nodding toward Clark and Tim who are over by the punch bowls.

Chloe shrugs. "You know how Clark is…probably making sure that Tim isn't a meteor freak or something."

I laugh and lean a little closer. "Well, you and Tim seem to be having a good time."

"Tim's smart, funny, and best of all; he didn't laugh at my meteors-make-freaks theory when I told him about it."

"Really? Wow…he must be something…."

Chloe fidgets with the strap of her purse as if contemplating whether or not to say something.

"What is it?" I prompt her.

"It's just…Tim has been really great to me and I don't want him to turn out to be…oh, let's say, a meteor freak or a psychopath."

By her expression, I can tell that she's serious about this. "Chloe, is it just me or are you acting a little paranoid here? I mean, I know this is Smallville, but like you said, Tim's been great so far, right?"

Chloe stops fidgeting with her purse and sets it down on the table. "You're probably right, Lana. I'm spending way too much time in that office of mine…. It's just that I don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to falling for guys."

"Chloe, do you like Tim?"

She looks up at me, a little taken aback from my bluntness. "Well, yeah. What's there not to like?"

I nod. "And have you noticed anything unusual about him? You know, anything that would send up a radar for Wall of Weird material?"

"Not at all."

"Then why are you worrying over this?" I ask, smiling reassuringly. "Chloe, I see the way that he looks at you…he really likes you. Give him a chance, okay? And stop worrying over this."

Chloe gives a small laugh and sighs. "You're right. I mean, what am I doing worrying over something like this on a night like this?" She gestures around the gym and I laugh.

"So, I didn't see you and Clark pull up. When did you and Clark get in?"

I open my mouth to answer, but Clark, who has just arrived with Tim, replies for me.

"Lana and I were a little late…old habits die hard or something like that," Clark says, handing me my drink.

I smile at his response and take a sip of punch. A couple of minutes later, Chloe and Tim are off on the dance floor again, leaving Clark and I alone at the nearly deserted table.

Clark drains the last of his punch and sets his empty cup down.

"Do you want to dance some more?" He offers, noticing that I'm nearly done with my drink as well.

I shrug, not really caring. "Not really. I sort of need a break…catch my breath from your well-practiced moves."

"I seriously doubt that my dance floor moves could make you breathless."

"Well, they did."

"Wow…I'm that good, huh?"

"I can see your ego growing," I tease, looking over at him.

A loud shrill noise interrupts our conversation. We both turn to the source of the racket. Mr. Jennings, one of the English teachers is tapping a microphone, testing it. The students gathered next to the stage covers their ears frantically, shouting at him that it works.

"C'mon, let's get closer." I stand and grab Clark's hand, cutting a path through the crowd.

"Lana…do we really have to?"

"Yes." I pull him along until we're as close as we can get. Clark reluctantly responds to my tugs and stops right behind me.

Once Mr. Jennings figures out that the microphone does indeed work, he announces, "Well, it's that time again. Time to announce Smallville High's Prom Queen and King." He pauses for what I suspect dramatic effect. Instead, the crowd hisses for him to continue.

"Okay…and the Prom King for the class of 2005 is…Trent Woods!"

Through the clapping, I turn and notice Clark's countenance visibly relax.

"Sorry you didn't win," I offer, giving him a quick kiss on the lips.

Clark smiles and shrugs. "I'm actually glad I didn't."

"And…the Prom Queen is…Dawn Stiles!"

Around me, I hear some girls murmur their reaction—most of them negative. One even calls Dawn a foul word.

Behind me, I hear Clark sigh as we both have to listen to Dawn Stile's speech, which, might I add, is even duller than mothballs.

The crowd gets restless soon and Mr. Jennings has to shoo Dawn off the stage so that the band can play some more. This time, instead of upbeat tunes, the songs are slower and couples all crowd the dance floor.

Clark takes my hand and leads me to an open spot where we begin the typical high school shuffle. We get through several numbers before the band announces that the last song of the night is coming up. I take the moment to ask Clark about our plans afterwards.

"Do you have anything planned afterwards?" I ask him, still in his arms.

"Nothing in particular." He pauses, appearing thoughtful. "Why?"

"I don't know…I don't want the evening to end just yet," I confess, feeling his arms tighten around me. Around us, people are already leaving, wanting to head off the traffic jam to Lex's mansion for the senior bash.

"Well…we could always go back to my place," Clark suggests.

I look up at him. "And do what?"

Clark's eyes widen, realizing the hidden meaning behind his words. "No—not for…I meant…"

I laugh at his embarrassment and say, "Clark, it's okay. I get what you mean."

Just as the last song of the evening begins, Clark reluctantly suggests, "Or…we could go to Lex's senior bash…. I still have to talk to Chloe…."

I nod and don't reply right away, just enjoying this intimate moment between us. I rest my head on his shoulder, his arms pulling me closer. Everyone around us fades away as we sway to the rhythm of the music. Strangely, a lump forms in my throat as I realize that this is a landmark moment for us. We've been through so much together…and now, here we are. Together at prom…dancing away like high school sweethearts, which, I guess, some people would say we are.

I lean back to get a good look at Clark. He smiles at me and bends his head down slightly. Sensing what is about to come next, I meet him halfway, our lips touching and making love. Our tongues intertwine and duel making it impossible for me to think straight. Clark pulls back by an inch and starts to trail soft kisses down the side of my neck.

"Clark…" I gasp when he attempts to nibble my ear. I giggle and pull away. "We're in the middle of the dance floor…." I remind him.

"Sorry." He flashes a smile and begins to lead me out of the gym, taking my hand. Behind us, the final song of the evening is over and so is the occasion. Nonetheless, I know that there will be scattered parties throughout Smallville tonight. Some of them wild and on the fringe of involving the police and others quiet and intimate.

A couple of minutes later, Clark and I are out in the school parking lot. The summer night air is crisp and refreshing, a nice change to the stuffy and warm environment in the gym. At least, when we get to Lex's mansion, there will be air conditioning.

"Clark?"

"Hmm?"

I move back so that Clark can open the passenger door for me. I slide and wait for him to get into the car before continuing.

"We're going to Lex's place, right?"

Clark turns the key and the engine comes to life. "Yeah, I reckon so."

I notice that his demeanor has changed from cheerful to…something that I can't quite put my finger on yet.

"Clark, we don't have to go if you don't want to…."

Clark shakes his head and pulls out into the street, his eyes straight ahead. He doesn't speak until we turn into an empty road, a shortcut to the Luthor Mansion.

"Lana, I still have to talk to Chloe and it's obvious that you want to go to Lex's party."

I blink. Did I just detect a note of resentment in his voice? "Clark, I never said that I wanted to go. I suggested it. And like you said yourself, you still need to talk to Chloe. If you'd rather we go back to your place or mine, then fine. Turn the car around."

Clark doesn't respond right away. Nor does he turn the car around. After a tense moment of silence, he says, "Lana…I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to come out the way that it did…."

I nod and try to keep my cool. "Then why did it, Clark?"

Clark shakes his head again. "It's nothing…."

"Nothing would have you that worked up, huh?"

Clark takes his eyes off the road and glances at me.

I bite my lip and stare out the window, looking at the shadows that the trees and an occasional car cast. After a moment of contemplating, I decide that I don't want the rest of our evening ruined just because of this one petty argument.

"Clark, pull the car over."

"What? Why?"

"Because we need to talk."

"Well, we can talk with me driving, Lana."

"I want your full attention though."

Clark glances at me out of the corner of his eyes and after a moment of hesitation, he does as I say. With the engine idling and an occasional car whizzing past us, he turns to me, waiting for an explanation of why we're doing this.

"Clark, I don't want the rest of our night ruined just because you can't tell me what's on your mind. So, either spit it out or turn around and drive me home."

His face is unreadable in the dark, but I know that he's not just going to let me go.

I hear him sigh and shift in his seat until he's facing me as best as he can in the small amount of space he has.

"Lana…I really don't know what came over me earlier, but I'm sorry."

The sincerity in his voice gets to me, but he's not off the hook just yet. "If you had to come up with something for it, what would it be?"

"Well, I guess that I'd attribute it to stress due to my dad's health...and my newfound hatred for Lex."

"Anything else?"

Clark shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "I…" He pauses, trying to figure out the right words. "I'm just worried that what Chloe has to tell me might lead me to do something stupid in front of everyone. I mean, Lex probably has a TV crew in his office, ready to go to announce his departure for Metropolis. And if Lex has to do something with Dad's heart attack…I'm not really sure how I'd react and what I'd do..."

I nod, trying to understand his situation. "Clark, even if Lex put Kryptonite in the fertilizer, there's nothing that you can do to him. You can stop the fertilizer from getting approved and maybe get him to confess his sins to the public, but you know how the Luthors are. Lex will probably worm his way out of this just like his father before him."

Clark doesn't say anything right away. To the right of me, a truck passes by, rattling and shaking the car a bit.

Clark finally sighs. "You're probably right, Lana." He shifts gears and pulls onto the road, in the direction of the Luthor mansion.

"Clark, you know, we don't have to stay through the whole thing. I mean, we can just drop by and you can hear what Chloe found out from the sample of fertilizer." I sit up a little straighter in my seat and brush a strand of hair out of my face.

Clark simply grunts.

"And we can go back to your place once you hear what Chloe has to say. Maybe order a pizza," I suggest innocently, playing with the button on my purse.

"Yeah…that sounds great, Lana," Clark replies absentmindedly, turning the car onto the gravel driveway of the ancestral Luthor mansion. There are cars parked haphazardly in the gravel drive and even more cars honking for the other car to get out of the way.

I frown a bit at Clark's absent-mindedness. I decide to try to regain his full attention again. "And after we finish the pizza, I'll let you lick whipped cream off of me."

"Sounds like a─" Clark begins, but stops abruptly. He quickly turns his head to face me and in turn, nearly crashes into the car in front of us.

"Clark!" I cry, yelling at him to hit the brakes. He does and if it were a second later, there would have been a serious dent in the rear end of the car in front of us and another to Mr. Kent's truck.

Clark curses under his breath and I don't dare breathe a word until there is a clear path in front of us. Clark parks the car off to the side of the drive and turns off the engine.

I bite my lip and can't help but let out a giggle. I somehow manage to turn it into a cough.

"Umm…sorry."

Clark turns to face me and stares at me incredulously. "Lana, I just nearly totaled my dad's truck because of your comment."

"Serves you right."

"What do you mean?"

"You were ignoring me earlier."

"I was not."

"You were too," I huff out indignantly and attempt a small smile. I can tell that he's trying really hard not to laugh by the way that his face is scrunched up. I giggle again and that breaks him.

Five minutes later, we're still sitting in the truck laughing our heads off. It's hard to imagine how the mood drastically changed from tense to comfortable in a matter of a few moments.

Our laughter dies down again and I seize the chance to get a few words in before it starts again.

"Clark, you do realize that we actually have to go in some time soon?"

"Can't we just sit here and continue laughing?"

"Absolutely not," I say in a stern voice. "Now c'mon, be a gentleman and open the door for me."

"Yes ma'am."