Chapter 20
Lana and Clark were having a quick discussion in the school hallway. After Clark went off to class Lana was suddenly approached by Chloe.
"Good to see that some things never change," Chloe said.
"You're back," Lana said hugging her best friend.
"Yeah fresh from the wilds of Metropolis and the Daily Planet internship program," Chloe said.
"Well Pete said you were a big hit." Lana admitted, "I thought we had lost you for good."
"Well my dad thought he'd give Lex Corp. another shot so here I am, back in the boonies."
"I'm glad you're staying," Lana said. "I really missed you over the summer."
"Yeah I can tell by the numerous e-mails you sent me," Chloe said with a slight hint of sarcasm.
"Look I'm sorry," Lana replied. "I was just so busy over the course of the summer with the farm and everything and you know I'm not good about checking my e-mail."
"Don't worry about it Lana it's not a big deal," Chloe said. "I was kind of busy myself anyway. I met this really hot intern from Metropolis high."
Lana was suddenly very interested. "Really, what was he like?" Lana asked.
"He was great," Chloe replied as made a motion to head to class. "Made me forget about Smallville for three whole months."
Lana had this odd feeling that Chloe was making this story up but she wasn't really sure why, if it was jealousy or what. She hadn't developed any kind of relationship with Clark over the summer if that's what Chloe was worried about. She quickly put those thought into the back of her mind and focused on being on time for class.
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Lana and Pete entered biology together. They had been biology partners since their days as kids when they experimented by pulling the wings off of flies and the other kids did to animals.
"Great," Pete said noticing a film projector. "Every year the incredibly aged Ms. Kowalski begins the year by showing a sex ed film."
"Who told you that?" Lana asked. "Your brothers?"
"No." Pete replied, "My dad."
Lana was a little surprised as she took her seat. It was incredibly hot in the room just as it was everywhere else in the school. Smallville was suffering a heat wave the likes of which had not been seen in almost twenty five years.
"Good morning," someone said as they entered from the backroom.
Pete and Lana both looked up to see a woman who couldn't have been that much older than them enter the room. She was dressed in a very revealing white dress.
"I'm Miss Atkins," their teacher introduced herself. "I'll be your new biology teacher on Health and Human Development."
"I'm really sorry about the air conditioning in here," the teacher apologized. "But it looks like we're gonna have to suffer through this together."
"Bring on the pain," Pete commented from beside Lana.
Lana was struggling to contain her laughter. It seemed like all the guys in the room couldn't take their eyes off the new teacher.
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The film they were watching was incredibly boring. It was stuff that Lana had already seen on the discovery channel but given in a much more boring manner. Through out the movie she kept looking over at Clark who was sitting beside Chloe. Clark was holding something in his hand that he was staring at intently. Lana looked saw light flash off it as Clark adjusted it slightly and realized he was staring at the reflection. She tried to follow the reflection and discovered that Clark was ogling the new teacher. Miss Atkins caught Lana looking back at her and pointed back to the film. Lana glanced back at the film but she wasn't at all interested. The topic of the film was making some raunchy thoughts run through her head. They mostly involved Clark. Suddenly she felt something weird with her eyes. The spot on the screen she was looking at suddenly burst into flames. Miss Atkins began evacuating the class from the room. Lana was too stunned. She wasn't entirely sure but she thought that she had started the fire.
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As the school waited outside for the fire department to give the all clear to head back, in a fancy silver sports car pulled up honking its horn.
"Lex," Lana said stepping forward to meet her rich friend.
"I came as soon as I heard," Lex said.
However he rushed past Lana completely ignoring her. Lana turned to see him kissing the new Biology teacher. She couldn't help but feel a little confused. Obviously Pete was also confused.
"Are you alright?" Lex asked her.
"I'm fine," Miss Atkins replied. "Thanks to this young woman right here. Lana come here for a second. She was the only one who kept her head through the entire thing; she actually put the fire out."
"Why am I not surprised?" Lex asked rhetorically. "Lana once again I'm grateful."
"And I'm confused," Lana admitted.
"You right, I'm sorry," Lex apologized. "I'd like you to meet Desiree Atkins, my fiancée."
Just then the fire marshal gave the all clear for everyone to head back into the building.
"Fiancée huh?" Lana asked. "I didn't even know you were seeing anyone, are you sure about this?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my life," Lex replied. "Oh that reminds me."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope, "I was going to have this messengered but since you're here."
Lana opened the envelope. "This is a wedding invitation," Lana said. "For tonight."
"I know it's short notice," Lex said. "But I was hoping you'd be there."
"Um, yeah." Lana agreed. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Great," Lex said. "I'll see later then."
As Lex got back into his car she couldn't help but think that something was odd about the relationship between Desiree and Lex. Two words flashed through her mind, gold digger.
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When Lana got home from school both her parents were in the kitchen. They both noticed the odd look on her face.
"How was school today?" Martha asked.
"It was, different," Lana replied.
"Do we like different?" Jonathon asked.
"There was a fire during biology class," Lana said. "It's okay nobody was hurt I stopped it before it spread."
"Well it sounds like we should be proud of you," Martha said.
"Except I think I started it," Lana finished.
"Wait you want to explain that please?" Jonathon asked.
"I started to feel hot, and then my eyes started to burn," Lana explained nervously. "All of a sudden the spot I was staring at burst into flames."
"Just by looking at it?" Martha inquired disbelievingly.
"Hello? Look I'm Lana, I'm the girl that can lift up tractors and see through walls." Lana answered as if that at all explained it.
"Lana, hold on a second," her father cut in. "Just what was going on when all this happened?"
"We had just met our new biology teacher and we were watching a film," Lana replied. "A sex educational film."
Lana suddenly realised what her parents were thinking at felt really embarrassed. She went and poured herself a glass of lemonade from the fridge.
"Lana, it's possible that whatever has happened has some sort of hormonal connection," Martha suggested.
"Great," Lana said. "So I'm maturing into a fire starter?"
"Look we've just gotta get a handle on this thing like we've gotten a handle on all of your other abilities," Jonathon said.
"Except all my other abilities didn't involve things bursting into flames," Lana said rather upset.
"All the more reason for you to give it some time," Martha said. "You'll just have to stay close to home and then we'll, uh, figure it out."
"I can't," Lana said pulling the envelope from her pocket and handing it to her mother.
"Why what's this?" Martha asked.
"You're not gonna believe it," Lana said as her mother opened the envelope.
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Please Read Over:
Simple put, Heat seemed necessary to move on to Duplicity. This also helps set up the relationships a little better as well and it's chronologically correct.
Just another one of the usual reminders that if you want to talk to me about the story or Smallville in general. 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. That and it gets kind of boring talking to the same two people all the time, I need fresh opinions. Look forward to seeing some of you there.