Chapter 9

"Well, well, well," Pete said. "Look who managed to catch the bus today."

"Come on give me a break," Lana said as she dropped into the seat in front of Pete and Chloe. "I only missed the bus on Monday."

"Sorry Lana, but any day that you managed to catch the bus is a minor miracle," Chloe joked.

"Ha Ha," Lana laughed sarcastically.

"So are the rumours true?" Pete asked.

"What rumours?" Lana inquired curiously.

"The ones about Whitney asking you to the dance." Chloe replied.

Lana was left speechless, "Duh, uh, I, um, ga…" she stammered trying to think of a reply.

The rumour was true. Whitney had asked her to the dance over the phone just last night. Lana was just incredibly surprised that her friends knew about it already. She was yet to actually say yes or no to Whitney.

"What is it to you?" Lana finally managed to spit out.

"Just curious," Pete replied with a smirk.

"You're not actually seriously considering going with a jerk like that, are you?" Chloe asked.

Lana wasn't entirely sure. Sure Whitney wasn't the nicest guy in the world and it was a well known fact that she had a huge crush on Clark, but he was probably already taken since every girl was enamoured with Clark. And Whitney was the quarterback on the football team. Lana couldn't help but feel a little selfish in wanting to go to the dance with one of the more popular guys in school. Then again he did chose her to be the scarecrow at homecoming.

"Maybe," Lana replied finally. "I mean it's not like I'm gonna go with Pete."

"Hey!" Pete and Chloe both said angrily. They had gone to Homecoming together.

"Sorry," Lana apologized with a chuckle. "I couldn't help but take shot you guys there."

"It's you decision Lana," Chloe said. "I just don't have a good feeling about Whitney. Something about him just doesn't seem right."

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Whitney managed to corner Lana in the cafeteria in the hopes of getting an answer from her.

"So Lana," he said. "Have you reached a decision yet?"

"I don't know," Lana said trying not to look him in the eye. "There was that scarecrow incident."

"I know," Whitney said. "I'm sorry, and I want to make it up to you by taking you to the dance."

"Really?" Lana asked.

"Yes," Whitney said. "You're a special girl Lana and I want you to know."

Lana didn't have to think about it for even half a second. "Yes Whitney," she said. "I'll go to the dance with you."

"Alright," Whitney smiled, "I'll pick you up at say six o'clock?"

Lana nodded.

"Alright," Whitney said. "I'll see you around."

As he walked away Chloe suddenly appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"That was so phoney," Chloe said. "I can't believe you said yes."

Lana glared at her best friend. "I can't believe it," Lana said. "You sound so totally jealous."

"I am not," Chloe protested.

"Yes you are," Lana said. "Why else would you be eaves dropping and trying to not get me to go to the dance with Whitney?"

"Because I don't think Whitney is everything that he seems to be," Chloe replied.

"This is one time when I think you've taken your investigative skills too far," Lana said.

"Lana he…" Chloe began.

"No," Lana interrupted. "Unless you're going to apologize I don't want to hear it."

Before Chloe could say anything else Lana stormed off to class.

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After school as Lana was heading home Clark ran up to her, "Hey Lana," said.

"Hi Clark, what's up?" Lana asked.

"I was just wondering if you were going to the dance with anyone yet." Clark replied. "'Cause if you're available I'd love to take you."

Lana had to hide the emotions that quickly welled up inside her. Was Whitney being truthful or was this just another attempt to ruin her life. He knew that she liked Clark and he'd probably heard Clark mention that he'd like to take her. She would have to talk to Whitney about this, for now she had to try and keep her options available.

"I'd love to go with you Clark," Lana said. "But I'll have to get back to you on that."

She didn't want to disappoint Whitney if he was being sincere, even her gut feeling told her that he wasn't.

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"Has anyone asked you to the dance yet Lana?" Martha asked her over dinner.

"Two people have," Lana replied.

"Really?" Jonathon said surprised. "Looks like I have a very popular daughter."

"Who asked?" Martha inquired.

"Whitney Fordman and Clark Lang," Lana replied.

"So who are you going to go with?" her father asked anxiously.

"Well Whitney asked first and I said yes," Lana replied. "But I'm wishing I'd waited until Clark asked. I feel like Whitney was trying to stop me from going with Clark."

"You can always turn him down," her mother told her.

"I know," Lana said. "But, I don't know. I guess I'd just feel guilty if I said I couldn't. Especially after I've already said yes. And I do want to go."

"Maybe it won't really matter," Jonathon said. "You know how most of these things end up. The girls and guys separate and congregate in their own areas and only a few people actually dance."

"You're probably right Dad," Lana said. "You usually are."

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That Friday, almost right on time Whitney came to pick Lana up. Martha answered the door.

"She's just getting ready," Martha told him. "Lana! Whitney's here."

Upstairs Lana nervously took on last look in the mirror hoping that everything was alright and then headed downstairs to greet Whitney.

"Wow you look good tonight," Whitney said.

Lana smoothed a slight wrinkle out of her white sleeveless dress. Whitney was dressed in a nice dark grey suit with a black tie.

"Well aren't you just a cute couple," Martha said. "Hold on I want to get picture."

"Mom," Lana complained.

"Let your mother take a picture," Jonathon said.

Martha quickly returned and took a picture of couple, although it didn't look overly happy on Lana's part. After saying farewell they headed off to the dance.

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Please Read This:

Shorter chapter but it sets up an action packed chapter 10 so stick with it. Just another reminder if you wanna talk to me about the story or Smallville in general. Don't complain about the sappiness. Go on IRC to the otherside servers, irc. (Port 7000) or irc. (Port 7000), channel #smallville. Hope to see some people there. If you're looking for an IRC client I would recommend X-Chat although there are many other options out there. Really, please go there to discuss any questions answers will be a lot more direct