CHAPTER 10 - Lessons

Chloe arrived at the renovated Talon. Not much was changed of course but there were some new furniture, windows and wallpapers to replace the minor damages that the Talon suffered. Lana was already down there drinking her morning coffee.

"Hey Chloe."

"Hey… I've had the worst day and it's only 11 o' clock. I was stuck for an hour at the exit of Metropolis. Apparently there was an accident and what followed can only be described as the definition of the world's worst traffic jam. There were people literally eating breakfasts in their cars!" Said Chloe in frustration.

Lana smiled. Things looked like they were getting back to normal. Well as normal as they could be considering this was Smallville. At least it seemed that Chloe was back to her old good self.

"Definitely not a good sign." Said Lana with a smile.

Chloe sighed and sat down. "So… how were the first two days after a week in Metropolis general?"

Lana remembered the events of the previous day and couldn't help but smile. A really happy smile. Chloe hadn't seen Lana really smile in quite some time. "Wow… That good?"

Lana was embarrassed that it was so obvious to read her. "I… can't complain…" Answered Lana sheepishly. She still wasn't sure about Chloe's feelings towards Clark and if she was truly over him, so she didn't want to say anything that would make Chloe feel uncomfortable.

Chloe smiled. Although she still felt the slight sting of sadness and jealousy, she was really trying to put Clark behind her and was actually glad to see Lana happy. "Well… It seems that someone finally stepped up."

"What?" Said Lana embarrassed and feigning ignorance, but still trying to hide her joyfulness.

Chloe smiled knowingly. "Come on Lana. We both know what… or better yet who… could make you all giddy like you are now. Besides I saw the way he was with you at the hospital."

Lana realized that she couldn't lie to Chloe and if she was going to be honest, she didn't want to. "Well… we did kinda have a talk… and…"

"And you're back together again." Said Chloe plainly.

"Chloe are you all right with this?" asked Lana not sure if it was right to ask her friend that and not expecting an honest answer anyway. She just felt she had to ask her that.

"Lana come on… We have been so over this stuff… I mean… you never had to ask for my permission with Clark. He's been in love with you for as long as I can remember. What right do I have to come between you? Besides if it makes you feel better, I have moved on from pining over Clark." Said Chloe with a smile. Well at least it's not a complete lie, thought Chloe.

Lana looked lovingly at Chloe. "For what it's worth, I want you to know that it means a lot to me."

Chloe smiled warmly at Lana. Then taking a mischievous look and whispering asked: "So was there a heavy make out session involved?"

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Clark went in to the house to have a cold lemonade, after all the heavy work they did with his father. His mother was there in the kitchen preparing lunch. "Clark honey, how is your father doing?"

Clark knew that his mother worried too much about his father's condition, which was another huge factor for him not wanting to leave them at this point.

"Same ol' Jonathan mom. But don't worry, he never seemed healthier." Said Clark with a smile.

"How about you Clark? You seemed troubled the whole morning. Is there something I can maybe help you with?" Asked Martha in a sympathetic voice.

"Well mom… it's just that I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. And now that I'm back together with Lana… I don't know…"

"What do you want to do?" asked Martha.

"I want to stay here of course." Answered Clark without even thinking about it.

"And what do you think you should do?"

"That's the tough part. I keep thinking of what happened with the meteor shower, and I can't help but consider that Jor- El is right. I mean can I really put off taking on this huge responsibility that seems to be meant for me, because of some high school crush?"

"Do you really believe that?" asked Martha looking intently at her son.

Clark looked dejected. "No. Of course not. I love her. But I'm just trying to think logically about all this. I mean I'm 18 years old and for all I know this could very well be just a high school crush. What Jor-El is talking about is the future of mankind…"

"I know what you're trying to say Clark, but I just want to point out that I met and fell in love with your father at your age."

"Gee… Thanks a lot mom... You're certainly helping things!" said Clark frustrated.

"Clark do you want us to help you reach a decision whatever it may be, or simply justify what Jor- El said?" asked Martha a little irritated.

"I guess you're right… so what you said is a valid point for staying…" said Clark hesitantly.

"Clark I would be lying if I said that I liked the idea of you going off to some place Jor- El said and leave behind all those you love. But the fact of the matter is that neither he nor me and your father can make you chose. We can only help you reach that decision by you drawing from our experience. And let's not kid ourselves. The bottom line of your dilemma is taking up some responsibility of being the hero on Earth, that Jor- El talked about, or continuing the life you now live. I believe that the biggest problem of that equation is Lana, otherwise I truly think that you would have done what Jor- El said."

"It's not just Lana, I don't want to leave you guys." Said Clark in protest.

Martha smiled and touched her son's cheek tenderly. "I know you don't sweetie, but you are a grown man now and sooner or later you will leave this house. Even if you go do whatever Jor- El said, we will still be here for you, if you want to come back to. Lana represents your future, or at least what you want for your future. And if you leave it would be wrong for you to expect her to put her life on hold for you. That is why she represents the biggest problem to your dilemma." Said Martha with understanding.

Clark remained thoughtful taking in what his mother told him. "I know I love her mom, it's just that as many people say, when you're a teenager things look more serious than they really are. Plus I don't have much experience in the matter of women. I've only loved Lana, which is probably why this is so hard for me. I mean I want to do the right thing, which now seems to be to finally embrace who I really am. I just don't know if I can." Said Clark emotionally.

"You will not be able to embrace who you really are Clark. Not now. Not until you've lived life and realize who you are and what you want. Until that day comes you will be trying. And through it, that realization will eventually come. And then, I promise you, you will be at peace." Said Martha very tenderly.

As Clark was listening to what his mother told him, his mind went back to an encounter he had a few days ago with his birth mother, when she told him those exact words. Clark smiled and hugged his mother warmly. "Why must I wait so long to know what I really want? What if one day I look back and realize that I took a wrong path?"

"That's what life is about Clark. It's full of pain, regrets and missed opportunities. But along with that come joy, happiness, fulfillment and peace. I'm sure you'll feel most of them in your life time, and usually the good stuff comes later on, as I told you before."