CHAPTER 14 – Confrontations

Lex stopped by the Kent's farm. He wanted to see Clark before he left for Metropolis. Lex knocked on the door and was greeted by Clark.

"Hey Lex… Haven't seen you around in a while…" said Clark surprised to see him

"Well I've been mostly in Metropolis. You see Clark, I'm moving back there."

"Oh… when did you decide that?"

"The past week. I… Can we go for a walk?" said Lex smiling.

"Sure thing" said Clark as he got out of the house and closed the door behind

him.

They started walking in the field of the Kent farm.

"So… what did you want to talk about?" asked Clark not sure what was on Lex's mind.

Lex just looked on straight ahead seemingly lost in his thoughts. "Nothing really Clark… Just wanted to have a nice last walk with my friend…" said Lex finally turning to him smiling.

"Oh… Uh… sure…" said Clark smiling uneasily at the simplicity of Lex's request.

"so… how are things with Lana?" asked Lex looking straight ahead again.

Clark was caught off guard. That was a question that 1 or 2 years ago would have seemed natural coming from Lex, but now Clark was unprepared for this. He had no idea why would Lex be asking about Lana. Did he perhaps know that they were together? And if he did, how did he learn it? Lana couldn't have told him… Could she? Or maybe Chloe did…

"Uh… why do you ask?" said Clark a little uneasy.

"Come on Clark, that's what friends do… Word is out and it seems that you two are something of an item." Said Lex with a smile.

"What word? I mean… no one knows that Lex…" said Clark a bit annoyed and feeling suspicious.

"Oh come on Clark! That's not the point! The point is that 2 years ago I would have been the first to know about this, because you would have told me! What the hell happened to us Clark?" asked Lex sounding very sincere.

"I get it… Now that you decided to leave Smallville you want to close that chapter of your life clearing up the air and free of guilt… Is that right?" asked Clark.

"What if I am? Is that so wrong? It's a natural thing Clark. You will eventually do it yourself too." said Lex looking at Clark dead serious. "I just wanted to hear, what I did to you that was too horrible for you to forgive. Is that too much to ask?"

Clark didn't know what to say. He realized that he couldn't really explain his position without revealing his secret. "You haven't been honest with me Lex and you spied on me! I was supposedly your best friend and you spied on me and my family!"

"Guilty as charged! But I just thought that you'd be more understanding of keeping secrets, since you yourself have always been lying to me." Said Lex plainly.

Clark tried to look indifferent, as doubts of how much Lex knew about him started to gnaw at him. "What do you mean?"

"What do I mean? Come on Clark… You and that cave for starters… And don't try the school project angle on me again. School projects don't last for 3 years!" said Lex starting to get a little irritated and pacing back and forth as Clark remained still watching him. "I mean… it's gotten very frustrating over the years Clark. I really tried to ignore all the weird stuff surrounding the day we met; but every single day since that, you have given me new reasons to doubt you!" Lex paused trying to regain his composure, then calmly walked to Clark and looked at him. "I never claimed to be a saint and I don't want to be thought of as one, but don't try to play holier than thou on me Clark! You have been just as dishonest with me as I probably have been with you. The only thing that's different are the reasons for our lies. You know why I do what I do. It's my nature. I just can't be in the presence of a mystery and try to ignore it, and believe me in your case I really did try. But what have you to say for the reasons of your lies?"

Lex finishing his rant, stood face to face to Clark and looked at him intently waiting for an answer.

Clark looked at Lex emotionless. "It also appears to be my nature Lex."

Lex looked at him confused. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Clark smiled. "Nothing Lex… It just seems to come down to trust; and maybe we're both lacking in that respect. You could almost say that it wasn't meant to be…" said Clark with a bitter smile.

He turned and started walking back to the house, before he paused and turned to look at Lex once more. "For what it's worth Lex… I appreciate the effort."

Lana sat at her apartment lost in thought.

If I'm being completely honest, I have to admit I'm thinking very selfishly. I mean… what if Clark really is destined for great things, and with his powers that's not so far fetched. I mean I'm keeping him from reaching his full potential. I would never want someone keeping me down… It's not fair that I do this to Clark… But then again… it was his decision… wasn't it? … Get real Lana… We made love for the first time… oh God that was the most amazing experience in my life… I hope Clark felt the same way… he must have… it's probably why he changed his mind…

Ugh… why must it always be like that with him? Face it Lana… he is not meant for you… Clark's abilities should benefit the whole world… and he won't be able to do that if… I keep him away from what is supposedly his destiny… But I love him… and he loves me… he really must love me… I mean he did put me above all this destiny stuff… he said he wanted to stay with me… he chose it… But it's not fair to him… He must not have to choose between what he wants and what is the right thing to do… I mean I don't want him to look back some day and feel that I held him back… even though he loves me now… he is going to hate me when that day comes and I don't want it to reach that point…

As Lana was slowly realizing what she felt she had to do, tears started coming to her eyes.

I have to let him go… Oh god it hurts so much… but I have to let him go…

Those were her final thoughts as she lay back in her bed crying.

To Be Continued…