A/N: So...this is my first fic. Glad to have you here reading it. I attempted a fic once before, but then I got really busy with school, so it died. I think it deleted it. But I kept my account so I could post signed reviews for all the stories I read. Then I started feeling lazy, having an account but never using it. Anway, I hope you like this, and please review. If you don't like it, tell me why so I can either fix it or stop writing. Obviously, if no one likes my fic, there's no point in continuing.

Disclaimer: The only characters I own in this chapter are Lana and Max.

"I'm sorry. Really, I am."

"I know. Thanks." Her voice was in danger of cracking on this last word. "Don't worry, I'll be okay. I'll live." She forced a smile, then quickly turned away and put on her sunglasses so no one could see the pain in her soul or, more obvious, the tears in her eyes that she refused to let spill out onto her cheeks as she ran to her car. She drove aimlessly, ending up at a desolate but grassy field by a lake, and deciding this was as good a place as any to calm herself. No! She would not cry. The tears would stop. No more would come. But no matter how she protested, they came anyway.

"Dammit!" she cursed. Deep breath. In, one two. Out, one two. In, one…

And for a moment it seemed as though she would win. Frustrated, she punched herself in the arm as hard as she could, causing a shaky gasp of pain. She sighed, finally having triumphed over the pain in her heart.

The pity was the worst part. It shouldn't have been, but it was. She knew Max honestly was sorry, even though it wasn't his fault. He was a nice guy, and Lana appreciated it, but for some reason the thought of him standing there, knowing she had been hurt, made her feel uncomfortable. He had had no part in it, yet still he knew what had happened. He understood the pain she felt, and Lana was not going to be a drama queen and pretend no one understood, because they did. They all did, but somehow she almost wished they wouldn't.

It began to rain, lightly at first. Then harder, with lightning. But Lana wasn't afraid; she knew it wouldn't strike her. A breeze began to lift the hairs on the back of her neck. Or perhaps it wasn't the breeze doing that…

The tingling in her eyes began again.

"Argh!" she raised her fist once more to strike, but instead of hitting her arm, she deliberately whirled around and threw a punch at whoever was behind her. A gloved hand caught her fist and held it firmly, though not harshly. As though the masked boy to whom the gloved hand belonged wanted to restrain Lana from hitting him, though he did not want to hurt her.

"You know, there's a better way." He lowered his hand and gently released her own.

Lana brushed the long curls off her face and quickly wiped tears from her eyes, letting them mix with the rain.

"There's always someone to talk to," he said softly, the expression on his face softening as well. Something in his voice made Lana listen.

"Does it have to be four someones?" she asked facetiously, noting three other teens near this Boy Wonder. He chortled. The rain lessened.

"I'm Robin," he introduced himself.