"Now will you tell me?" Chloe said frustrated, "Since Clark already knows!"
"Chloe, he can tell you if he wants you to know." Lana said getting really annoyed. "What's with you anyways? You only care about finding out about Clark's past. You didn't even care when he disappeared for 2 days, except that it maybe had something to do with Clark's adoption."
"Well, why should I have been worried? It's not like Clark can get hurt or anything." Was Chloe's defense.
"But didn't you even care at all, that he was upset?" Lana found herself disliking Chloe more and more lately.
"I was talking to my friend Van Nolty, I've told you about him before, he is really interested in all the meteor freaks, like me." Chloe refreshed her memory.
"Ya, I remember, I don't like him, I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but why are you even friends with him?" Lana noted that Chloe avoid her last question.
"We have common interests. Besides, I thought you liked people who had an open mind." Chloe said.
"I do, but... he doesn't look at the people who were meteor infected with an open mind. He sees them all as evil, dangerous creatures and that is not true." Lana said.
"Lana, ya they are." Chloe had to laugh at Lana, "How many times have you been attacked by them?"
"Chloe, just because the dangerous ones, come out in the open, doesn't mean they are all like that. I can't believe you would even say that. What if Clark heard you say that?" Lana called her on it.
"Clark isn't even one of them. Don't act like you love all of them just because Clark is a freak too." Chloe retorted.
"He isn't a freak. Why are being such a..."
"Bitch? Go ahead, say it, Lana." Chloe dared her.
"Well, I'm sorry, but you are. Clark's my best friend, and I thought he was one of yours too." Lana was hostile.
"He is, but friendship means different things to different people. Clark understands that, he is a Luther, they use people for different reasons." Chloe explained.
"So what really is your reason for being friends with Clark?" Lana had never distrusted anyone so much at that moment.
Chloe just laughed.
"Is Clark just another story to you, or something? Because lately all you seem to care about is finding out Clark's secrets, his past." Lana couldn't believe Chloe.
"Of course not." Chloe said. Lana didn't believe her though.
"I can't, Lex, Dad and me are going to New York for the weekend." Clark turned down Lex's invitation to go to a concert, "It's funny, you run away for a weekend, and suddenly everyone wants to do stuff with you." Clark chuckled.
"I know I haven't been the best brother lately, and I just thought we could spend some time together. But maybe when you get back." Lex said.
"Ya, definitely." Clark smiled.
Clark had been thinking so much lately, and he knew what was important to him. Clark always knew in his heart that he loved Lana, and wanted to be with her. Clark was certainly not scared to ask her out, he was never shy about girls. But Lana was different, he had something huge to lose- her friendship. Clark had never really had a friend like Lana, a real friend. Who knew the truth about him, but still stayed friends with him because they wanted to, not because of fear or because they wanted to study him or blackmail him, or get because he had money.
After hours of thinking about it, Clark knew he had to make his move. He had to know if she felt the same way about him. He had to see if it could work between them. He had to take the chance, even if he was rejected, it was worth the risk.
"He found out from Lionel, so don't use that excuse anymore. You have to tell him about the ship." Lana told Jonathan.
"Lana... he isn't our business anymore...it's not our place. I'm not getting this family mixed up with the Luthers again." Jonathan stood firm.
"Jonathan, we have to tell him." Martha said.
Lana and Jonathan both looked at her surprised. For the past 10 minutes they had been arguing, and she hadn't said a word. For the past 2 weeks every time they would fight, she refused to pick sides or give her input.
"What?" Jonathan knew she would be the deciding factor.
"He has to know... who he really is." Martha quoted Clark.
Lana recognized that phrase. Clark had said it hundreds of times. He wanted to know who he really was.
"Martha, you know as well as I do what getting mixed up in the Luthers does!" Jonathan didn't like that his wife was going against him.
"Jonathan, if it was Lana, wouldn't you want her to know." Martha tried to get her husband to see her side.
"It's not Lana. She isn't a Luther! It's different, and you know it!" Jonathan wasn't easily persuaded.
"Can you just imagine how it feels? Everyday of your life, knowing you are so different from everyone else, and not having any explanation at all. Struggling every day to fit in. Not even having a mother to comfort your confusion, and growing up with Lionel Luther as a father. He can't even hide in the crowd, he is a Luther." Martha said, looking away from her family.
Lana was so moved; it was like Martha was actually looking through Clark's eyes, like she didn't hate Clark, almost like ... her love for him was still there.
"Martha..." Jonathan didn't know what to say, he refused to see Clark like that... he wasn't the victim Martha made him out to be.
"I don't care if you think he is like his father, Jonathan, maybe he is, I don't know. But you not telling him is just...just a way to get even with Lionel. But you are hurting Clark, and that isn't fair. If you don't tell him, I will." Martha said.
Jonathan and Lana had never heard her so passionate about something before, and really didn't know what to say. Lana couldn't believe what Martha had just accused Jonathan of, she had never even thought of it like that, but when she said it like that, it sounded so... horrible.
Jonathan felt guilty, but didn't know what to say, he was definitely not going to tell Clark. He couldn't stand looking at him, much less having a conversation about who he really was.
"Then I guess I'm telling him." Martha was disappointed; she hoped her husband would step up. But she understood to a certain point. Jonathan was a good man, and he would do anything for his family, and at some point, Clark was part of it. It was like after they adopted Lana, he just looked at Clark as a part of Lionel. Martha had never seen her husband hate someone so much, it actually scared her sometimes.
"Fine." Jonathan excited the room.
"Mom, I never knew you felt like that." Lana said impressed.
"It's the right thing to do, Lana." Martha said, "Your father is a good man, but the what Lionel did, it just hurt him so much, and he can't forgive him." Martha didn't want to make Jonathan a bad person in his daughter's eyes.
"YA!!!" Clark was just another one of the thousands of fans in the stadium, cheering as his team scored the winning run.
Lionel just laughed, seeing his son so enthusiastic.
"That was a great game." Clark said sitting back down next to his father, in the front row seats.
"That could be you someday." Lionel pointed out.
"Ya." Clark smiled. He could do anything he wanted. Clark's cell phone rang and he picked it up,
"Hey Lana... ya, I'm in New York... just watching a baseball game... I'll be back Sunday night, why? ... ya, I have some things I want to say too... your house? Won't your parents be pissed if... you're sure? ... Okay then..." Clark hung up.
"You like her a lot, don't you?" Lionel smirked.
"Ya, I do." Clark loved the fact that his father just knew, without him saying a word.
Clark had really enjoyed the weekend with his father, catching up and remembering old times. Clark was sitting on the bed, in the hotel room, watching a re-run of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
"Clark, I have to stay here tonight. I have to meet with some people, regarding that new project I told you about. Your flight leaves in about 45 minutes." Lionel said.
"I can just run back, it's quicker anyways." Clark said flipping channels.
"Clark..." Lionel hesitated, "what if someone sees you?"
"They won't, I do it all the time. Don't worry." Clark assured him.
"Okay, but you had better go to school tomorrow. You have missed 10 days in the last month and a half and-"
"I know, I know. Don't worry I'll be there." Clark said. It was no big deal to him, he got good grades in school, due to the fact that he could super speed read a book in 10 seconds. He knew he didn't really need a good education though, he had his father's company to take over, if he wanted to, or he could make millions in professional sports.
"Hey, Lana." Clark greeted her, as he stepped inside her house. "Your dad isn't here, is he?"
"No..." Lana looked so serious.
Clark was a little relieved, "So... You want to go first, or should I?"
Lana had to do this now, or she knew she wouldn't have the courage later, "Clark, this is really important. I would explain myself but... well, you'll see."
"Explain what to me?" Clark asked with a smirk.
Before she could answer, Martha walked in, "Clark, I'm going to tell you the truth about what really happened the day we found you, because I really do want you to be happy."
"Okay..." Clark didn't know what to say, it was very awkward.
"Clark, have a seat." Martha gestured toward the seat facing her, so they could talk face to face.
Clark sat down, and Lana sat down right next to him.
"Clark, I don't know what Lionel told you, about what really happened, but we did find you." Martha paused, seemingly expecting some response from Clark.
"and?" Clark didn't know what else to say. He felt Lana's hand squeeze his, in a comforting manner.
"It was the day of the meteor shower, and our truck flipped over... and there you where, you looked like you were about 3 years old or so. Jonathan and I were looking around for your parents and..." Martha didn't think it was going to be this hard, but with Clark starring at her with those sad eyes...
When Martha didn't continue, Clark looked to Lana. She didn't respond but just held his hand tighter.
"Mom..." Lana urged.
"Ya... we found something...something we had never seen before..." Martha didn't want to be too blunt about this, but there was really no easy way to say it, "It was a small device that you must have been in... it's a spaceship."
"A spaceship?" Clark laughed aloud.
"I know, it sounds crazy, we didn't want to believe it either but it's true." Martha said, her voice shaking.
"Sure." Clark said sarcastically.
"Clark, it's true. I saw it." Lana looked up at him, and he knew she was telling the truth as he stared back at her big brown eyes that shown nothing but fear.
"No... I'm different, but I'm not... an alien." Clark refused to accept it.
"I can show you..." Lana suggested.
"I..." Clark had to face this, "okay" He said so quite it came out as almost a whisper.
As Lana and Clark walked out to the storm cellar, Lana never let go of Clark's hand, and as they reached the cellar, Clark noticed her rubbing his arm, and it made him more nervous, because it showed she was worried about him.
Once inside Lana broke the silence, "Clark... it's okay, this doesn't change who you are..." she lifted the sheet off the ship.
"No..." was all Clark said, as he ran his hand over the metal object, "No.."
"It's okay..." Lana tried to comfort him, as she resisted her tears, she had to be strong for him.
"It's not okay, Lana... you know what this means... I'm... I'm not even human..." Clark was disgusted with the thought.
"Clark..." Lana had never been at a loss for word, as she was now. What could she say? It was true.
"You are still the same Clark I knew." Lana said, forcing a smile.
For the first time, since Clark had entered Lana's house, he let go of her hand, "No, I'm not..."
"Clark, I know you must be scared, and I understand that, but this doesn't change anything." Lana gripped him arm.
"Doesn't it?" Clark was really feeling it hard.
Lana hugged Clark tight, "No."
Clark held Lana's small body in his arms for what seemed like hours, before the left her go.
"Clark, where are you going? Don't leave." Lana didn't want him to be alone, not now.
"I need time to think about this.. alone..." and Clark was gone in an instant.
"Chloe, he can tell you if he wants you to know." Lana said getting really annoyed. "What's with you anyways? You only care about finding out about Clark's past. You didn't even care when he disappeared for 2 days, except that it maybe had something to do with Clark's adoption."
"Well, why should I have been worried? It's not like Clark can get hurt or anything." Was Chloe's defense.
"But didn't you even care at all, that he was upset?" Lana found herself disliking Chloe more and more lately.
"I was talking to my friend Van Nolty, I've told you about him before, he is really interested in all the meteor freaks, like me." Chloe refreshed her memory.
"Ya, I remember, I don't like him, I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but why are you even friends with him?" Lana noted that Chloe avoid her last question.
"We have common interests. Besides, I thought you liked people who had an open mind." Chloe said.
"I do, but... he doesn't look at the people who were meteor infected with an open mind. He sees them all as evil, dangerous creatures and that is not true." Lana said.
"Lana, ya they are." Chloe had to laugh at Lana, "How many times have you been attacked by them?"
"Chloe, just because the dangerous ones, come out in the open, doesn't mean they are all like that. I can't believe you would even say that. What if Clark heard you say that?" Lana called her on it.
"Clark isn't even one of them. Don't act like you love all of them just because Clark is a freak too." Chloe retorted.
"He isn't a freak. Why are being such a..."
"Bitch? Go ahead, say it, Lana." Chloe dared her.
"Well, I'm sorry, but you are. Clark's my best friend, and I thought he was one of yours too." Lana was hostile.
"He is, but friendship means different things to different people. Clark understands that, he is a Luther, they use people for different reasons." Chloe explained.
"So what really is your reason for being friends with Clark?" Lana had never distrusted anyone so much at that moment.
Chloe just laughed.
"Is Clark just another story to you, or something? Because lately all you seem to care about is finding out Clark's secrets, his past." Lana couldn't believe Chloe.
"Of course not." Chloe said. Lana didn't believe her though.
"I can't, Lex, Dad and me are going to New York for the weekend." Clark turned down Lex's invitation to go to a concert, "It's funny, you run away for a weekend, and suddenly everyone wants to do stuff with you." Clark chuckled.
"I know I haven't been the best brother lately, and I just thought we could spend some time together. But maybe when you get back." Lex said.
"Ya, definitely." Clark smiled.
Clark had been thinking so much lately, and he knew what was important to him. Clark always knew in his heart that he loved Lana, and wanted to be with her. Clark was certainly not scared to ask her out, he was never shy about girls. But Lana was different, he had something huge to lose- her friendship. Clark had never really had a friend like Lana, a real friend. Who knew the truth about him, but still stayed friends with him because they wanted to, not because of fear or because they wanted to study him or blackmail him, or get because he had money.
After hours of thinking about it, Clark knew he had to make his move. He had to know if she felt the same way about him. He had to see if it could work between them. He had to take the chance, even if he was rejected, it was worth the risk.
"He found out from Lionel, so don't use that excuse anymore. You have to tell him about the ship." Lana told Jonathan.
"Lana... he isn't our business anymore...it's not our place. I'm not getting this family mixed up with the Luthers again." Jonathan stood firm.
"Jonathan, we have to tell him." Martha said.
Lana and Jonathan both looked at her surprised. For the past 10 minutes they had been arguing, and she hadn't said a word. For the past 2 weeks every time they would fight, she refused to pick sides or give her input.
"What?" Jonathan knew she would be the deciding factor.
"He has to know... who he really is." Martha quoted Clark.
Lana recognized that phrase. Clark had said it hundreds of times. He wanted to know who he really was.
"Martha, you know as well as I do what getting mixed up in the Luthers does!" Jonathan didn't like that his wife was going against him.
"Jonathan, if it was Lana, wouldn't you want her to know." Martha tried to get her husband to see her side.
"It's not Lana. She isn't a Luther! It's different, and you know it!" Jonathan wasn't easily persuaded.
"Can you just imagine how it feels? Everyday of your life, knowing you are so different from everyone else, and not having any explanation at all. Struggling every day to fit in. Not even having a mother to comfort your confusion, and growing up with Lionel Luther as a father. He can't even hide in the crowd, he is a Luther." Martha said, looking away from her family.
Lana was so moved; it was like Martha was actually looking through Clark's eyes, like she didn't hate Clark, almost like ... her love for him was still there.
"Martha..." Jonathan didn't know what to say, he refused to see Clark like that... he wasn't the victim Martha made him out to be.
"I don't care if you think he is like his father, Jonathan, maybe he is, I don't know. But you not telling him is just...just a way to get even with Lionel. But you are hurting Clark, and that isn't fair. If you don't tell him, I will." Martha said.
Jonathan and Lana had never heard her so passionate about something before, and really didn't know what to say. Lana couldn't believe what Martha had just accused Jonathan of, she had never even thought of it like that, but when she said it like that, it sounded so... horrible.
Jonathan felt guilty, but didn't know what to say, he was definitely not going to tell Clark. He couldn't stand looking at him, much less having a conversation about who he really was.
"Then I guess I'm telling him." Martha was disappointed; she hoped her husband would step up. But she understood to a certain point. Jonathan was a good man, and he would do anything for his family, and at some point, Clark was part of it. It was like after they adopted Lana, he just looked at Clark as a part of Lionel. Martha had never seen her husband hate someone so much, it actually scared her sometimes.
"Fine." Jonathan excited the room.
"Mom, I never knew you felt like that." Lana said impressed.
"It's the right thing to do, Lana." Martha said, "Your father is a good man, but the what Lionel did, it just hurt him so much, and he can't forgive him." Martha didn't want to make Jonathan a bad person in his daughter's eyes.
"YA!!!" Clark was just another one of the thousands of fans in the stadium, cheering as his team scored the winning run.
Lionel just laughed, seeing his son so enthusiastic.
"That was a great game." Clark said sitting back down next to his father, in the front row seats.
"That could be you someday." Lionel pointed out.
"Ya." Clark smiled. He could do anything he wanted. Clark's cell phone rang and he picked it up,
"Hey Lana... ya, I'm in New York... just watching a baseball game... I'll be back Sunday night, why? ... ya, I have some things I want to say too... your house? Won't your parents be pissed if... you're sure? ... Okay then..." Clark hung up.
"You like her a lot, don't you?" Lionel smirked.
"Ya, I do." Clark loved the fact that his father just knew, without him saying a word.
Clark had really enjoyed the weekend with his father, catching up and remembering old times. Clark was sitting on the bed, in the hotel room, watching a re-run of Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
"Clark, I have to stay here tonight. I have to meet with some people, regarding that new project I told you about. Your flight leaves in about 45 minutes." Lionel said.
"I can just run back, it's quicker anyways." Clark said flipping channels.
"Clark..." Lionel hesitated, "what if someone sees you?"
"They won't, I do it all the time. Don't worry." Clark assured him.
"Okay, but you had better go to school tomorrow. You have missed 10 days in the last month and a half and-"
"I know, I know. Don't worry I'll be there." Clark said. It was no big deal to him, he got good grades in school, due to the fact that he could super speed read a book in 10 seconds. He knew he didn't really need a good education though, he had his father's company to take over, if he wanted to, or he could make millions in professional sports.
"Hey, Lana." Clark greeted her, as he stepped inside her house. "Your dad isn't here, is he?"
"No..." Lana looked so serious.
Clark was a little relieved, "So... You want to go first, or should I?"
Lana had to do this now, or she knew she wouldn't have the courage later, "Clark, this is really important. I would explain myself but... well, you'll see."
"Explain what to me?" Clark asked with a smirk.
Before she could answer, Martha walked in, "Clark, I'm going to tell you the truth about what really happened the day we found you, because I really do want you to be happy."
"Okay..." Clark didn't know what to say, it was very awkward.
"Clark, have a seat." Martha gestured toward the seat facing her, so they could talk face to face.
Clark sat down, and Lana sat down right next to him.
"Clark, I don't know what Lionel told you, about what really happened, but we did find you." Martha paused, seemingly expecting some response from Clark.
"and?" Clark didn't know what else to say. He felt Lana's hand squeeze his, in a comforting manner.
"It was the day of the meteor shower, and our truck flipped over... and there you where, you looked like you were about 3 years old or so. Jonathan and I were looking around for your parents and..." Martha didn't think it was going to be this hard, but with Clark starring at her with those sad eyes...
When Martha didn't continue, Clark looked to Lana. She didn't respond but just held his hand tighter.
"Mom..." Lana urged.
"Ya... we found something...something we had never seen before..." Martha didn't want to be too blunt about this, but there was really no easy way to say it, "It was a small device that you must have been in... it's a spaceship."
"A spaceship?" Clark laughed aloud.
"I know, it sounds crazy, we didn't want to believe it either but it's true." Martha said, her voice shaking.
"Sure." Clark said sarcastically.
"Clark, it's true. I saw it." Lana looked up at him, and he knew she was telling the truth as he stared back at her big brown eyes that shown nothing but fear.
"No... I'm different, but I'm not... an alien." Clark refused to accept it.
"I can show you..." Lana suggested.
"I..." Clark had to face this, "okay" He said so quite it came out as almost a whisper.
As Lana and Clark walked out to the storm cellar, Lana never let go of Clark's hand, and as they reached the cellar, Clark noticed her rubbing his arm, and it made him more nervous, because it showed she was worried about him.
Once inside Lana broke the silence, "Clark... it's okay, this doesn't change who you are..." she lifted the sheet off the ship.
"No..." was all Clark said, as he ran his hand over the metal object, "No.."
"It's okay..." Lana tried to comfort him, as she resisted her tears, she had to be strong for him.
"It's not okay, Lana... you know what this means... I'm... I'm not even human..." Clark was disgusted with the thought.
"Clark..." Lana had never been at a loss for word, as she was now. What could she say? It was true.
"You are still the same Clark I knew." Lana said, forcing a smile.
For the first time, since Clark had entered Lana's house, he let go of her hand, "No, I'm not..."
"Clark, I know you must be scared, and I understand that, but this doesn't change anything." Lana gripped him arm.
"Doesn't it?" Clark was really feeling it hard.
Lana hugged Clark tight, "No."
Clark held Lana's small body in his arms for what seemed like hours, before the left her go.
"Clark, where are you going? Don't leave." Lana didn't want him to be alone, not now.
"I need time to think about this.. alone..." and Clark was gone in an instant.