Lana's POV

"Can you believe that graduation is tomorrow?" I ask Clark, who is standing in front of me. We're both in line for our caps and gowns.

"Honestly, no. I can't believe that it's been four years already," he says, glancing over his shoulder.

"Time sure does fly," I say, smiling at him. He grins and returns his attention to Mrs. Wilkins.

"Name?"

"Clark Kent."

"Here's your cap and gown, one ticket included. If you want more, see Mr. Parker in A-7."

He nods and gets out of line. I see him stalk off to the side of the hall to wait for me.

"Name?"

"Lana Lang." She looks at her list and highlights what I assume is my printed name in pink highlighter. Then, she peers up at me from her spectacles.

"No tickets?"

"No." I shake my head.

"Here's your cap and gown. If you change your mind about tickets, see Mr. Parker in A-7."

"Will do." I take the boxed package from her and shuffle off to the side where Clark joins me.

I struggle to open the taped box and finally pull out a wrapped cap. Clark watches curiously as I open up the package and pull out the cap, placing it on my head.

"How do I look?"

"Cute," Clark says seriously.

"That's all? Cute?" I tease.

"Well, what were you looking for?"

I put a finger to my mouth, pretending to be thinking. "Hmm…well, I guess sexy or sensual."

Clark grins, clearly enjoying my teasing. "You were looking pretty sexy last─"

"Okay, whoa. Do not finish that sentence there, Clark."

I laugh as Chloe approaches us. "Hey, Chloe. You got your cap and gown yet?"

"Yup and look what else I've got." She steps aside to reveal Pete.

"Pete!" Clark steps forward and they embrace in a 'manly' hug. "What are you doing here?"

"To see you of course! My graduation was last week. I am officially done with high school!" Pete announces.

"What do you say that skip the rest of the day and celebrate?" Chloe suggests. "A pre-graduation outing."

"What about the Torch?"

"Tomorrow's edition has been finished and filed. All I have to do is hit the print button."

I glance at her, a knowing smile playing at my lips. "Why do I get the feeling that Tim gave you an advanced copy of his speech for valedictorian?

"Who's Tim?" Pete asks. Clark slaps him on the back.

"I'll tell you over burgers."

Clark's POV

Pete sits back in chair, patting his stomach. "I'm stuffed."

"Who wouldn't be after eating two whole burgers and still managing to woof down fries?"

Pete ignores my comment and sits up a little straighter. Lana and Chloe have gone to the bathroom. Pete and I have learned early on not to expect them to come back until a good ten minutes.

"So, how're you holding up, man? The last time I spoke to you was at your dad's funeral and you weren't exactly doing so well, which is perfectly understandable since you were at a funeral."

I poke around at my soda with my straw. "Things have been…different with my dad gone"

"Different? How so?"

"Just things around the house…it's a lot quieter. Mom doesn't laugh much anymore, but she's doing a lot better than she was a week ago. And we finally secured our financial situation."

Pete shifts in his seat, noticing my evasiveness. "I mean, how're things going with you? You doing okay?"

"If you mean that I'm better than how I was at the funeral, then yeah, I'm fine."

Pete notices my discomfort and changes the subject. "I had to drive by the farm to get into town—I noticed it wasn't exactly a farm anymore." Pete pauses, waiting for me to collaborate.

"Yeah, well, we were having some money problems and we decided that running the farm now without my dad actually costs more money than we make out of it. So, we sold all our livestock, farming equipment, and anything else that we didn't need to Mr. Green. Now, we just own the house and the property. No farming to be done," I explain, omitting the part about a moving scare and receiving seventy-five hundred dollars from Lana.

"Fair enough," Pete says, nodding. "It'll take me a while to not picture your house with any cows and dung."

I laugh. "I'm sure you'll get it right someday, Pete."

Pete shakes his empty soda cup and reaches for mine. "So, you and Lana, huh? When did this happen?"

I grin. "Around the beginning of May. I finally got around to talking to her."

"Well, it took you nearly a whole year to do it, but it looks like things are finally going your way. Just don't screw it up."

Jor-El's message flashes in my mind, but I shove it away, determined not to let it ruin the day. "I'm trying not to, Pete, believe me. Lana's the one. I've known it since I was five."

Lana's POV

"Looks like you have me all to yourself now." I wrap my arms around his neck. It's night now and Clark and I are outside his house, leaning on his truck. Chloe has gone home and Pete is inside the house, using the bathroom before crashing at his dad's house for the night.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. What do you plan on doing?" I smile when Clark bends his head, his lips aiming for mine.

Behind us, someone coughs.

"Get a room," Pete says good-naturally.

Clark glares at Pete over my shoulder, although I can't quite tell if Pete receives the glare or not due to the lack of lighting.

"Pete, I bet you must be tired from driving all the way here from Wichita; why don't you head back home?"

"Okay, okay." Pete holds up his hands. "I know when to take a hint. I'll see you two tomorrow."

"Thank, Pete," I call as Clark and I wave 'bye' to him. Once Pete has driven off, I turn back to Clark. "So, where were we?"

I sigh and rest my head against his bare chest, snuggling up to him on the couch in the loft. "Clark?"

"Hmm?"

I hesitate, wondering if asking this question will ruin the moment. "You haven't heard from Jor-El lately, have you?"

I feel Clark tense up under me. "No, I haven't." He pauses. "I wouldn't worry too much, Lana. I think it's come to pass."

I'm not convinced, but I not nod anyway. Clark continues to stroke my hair.

"What do you think that message meant?"

"I don't know, Lana."

"But you told me before that Jor-El doesn't carry out empty warnings or threats. That all the things he says will happen sooner or later," I persist.

Clark remains silent, in thought. "He said that I have until my commencement before I must return to him."

"What does that mean?" I ask, more to myself than to him. "Commencement is the beginning of something and…"

"And it could also mean graduation," Clark finishes. I look up at him.

"Clark…graduation is tomorrow."

"I know, Lana."

"But…"

He shakes his head. "Lana…it doesn't matter what Jor-El says. Dad once told me that I choose my own destiny. No one else."

"Clark, what about that message from Jor-El before you ran off to Metropolis? You tried to run away, but in the end, you did exactly what Jor-El wanted you to. You left behind your parents and me."

"Lana…don't worry about it, okay? Jor-El can do whatever he wants with me. Just know that in the end, I'm coming back to you."

Though I'm still worried, I smile for his sake and lean against him once more.

"I miss him," Clark whispers a few minutes later.

I know immediately who he's talking about. "I bet he misses you and your mom, too."

"Do you think that he'll be there tomorrow? At graduation, I mean."

"Of course," I say softly, speaking into his chest. "He wouldn't miss it."

"Your parents will be there, too?"

"I never doubted that they would," I reply, closing my eyes.

"I love you, Lana."

I smile and whisper back, "Love you, too."