Chapter 19: Masked

My plane arrived in Metropolis and I took a cab to Smallville. Clark couldn't pick me up because he had a final. So I sat in the cab silently, preparing my lies to my friends, the Kent's, Clark and even Lex. I was yanked out of my thoughts by the cab driver stopping and announcing we were here. I paid him, and grabbed my bags then headed inside. I took a deep breath before opening the door.

"Anyone home?" I said with forced happiness.

"Juliet?" Mrs. Kent said. She walked into the entry way and hugged me.

"It's so great to have you back!" Then she looked me over. "You've gotten so thin!" She exclaimed. "Honey is everything okay?"

I looked at her, she was like my substitute mother, always caring for me and treating me as her own. I remembered when I used to think that maybe one day Clark and I would get married and then she would kind of be like my mother. But those hopes were fading now.

I forced a smile out and spoke.

"Yea, everything is great." I lied. She looked at me a moment skeptically before smiling back.

"Well then good. We were surprised to hear you were coming home so early. What happened, did you use your inevitable charm to convince your professors to let you take your finals early?" She joked as we headed into the kitchen.

"More or less yea." I smiled and lied again. We talked and drank coffee for a while longer before Clark came in the door.

"I'm home!" He yelled. Normally I would have ran into the living room and literally jumped on him after not seeing him in over a month. But not this time, this time his voice sent chills up my spine and made me see flashes of many colors. I didn't want to lie to him. So as Martha stood up, I took a deep breath and turned into my character, just as I had learned.

"Clark!" I exclaimed when I spotted him. He saw me and smiled widely, that smile still sent butterflies to my stomach. Clark walked towards me and embraced me securely in his arms.

I could have screamed, I could have cried and told him everything. But no, I stayed in character, forcing myself not to break.

"I'm so glad you're back!" He said. Still holding me

"Yea me too." I said as we broke apart. Clark was still smiling, and then his expression changed. Martha seemed to have noticed and made an excuse to leave the room.

"Jules are you okay?" He asked concerned.

"I'm a little tired, but other then that, yes." I lied again, I could feel the stone wall practically being built around me.

"Okay good." He said, a little unconvinced. Not that I could do much, Clark could read me better then anyone. So I tried to think of something to turn his attention.

"Come on, I have something for you." I said cheerfully. I grabbed Clark's hand and led him upstairs.

"Jules what have you done now?" He said sarcastically. I laughed and we continued up the stairs and into my room.

"Umm okay, it's right… here!" I exclaimed when I found the package. "Open it!" I demanded as I handed the package to him.

"Okay, okay!" He said laughing. Clark opened it and was none the less surprised. I had to say, I was quite proud of myself for finding this specific gift.

"Jules, how did you manage this?" Clark asked smiling.

"Well I knew your birthday was in a week and I spent trying to find something perfect, then I met Lifehouse and knew you liked them. They were outside a coffee shop one day and they signed the album and I think there is a personal note to you inside." I stated. Clark looked at my and opened the case.

'Clark, Happy 20th birthday, hope it's great. P.S. Your girlfriend is awesome, don't let her go.' Clark read out loud. I laughed

"I swear I didn't put them up to that!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry I believe you. But maybe I should be jealous." He joked. "So what did you have to do to get this?"

"Well unfortunately I was wearing a Julliard t-shirt at the moment and so they asked me if I went there and what my major was, and to make a long story short, I had to sing." I said pouting. Clark smiled and embraced me.

"Thank you Jules, I love it." He told me before kissing me lightly.

"Don't mention it." I whispered. Then I laid my head on his chest and just stood there in his arms. Wondering how long this happiness was going to last