Through Lana's Eyes
Chapter 7
Craving
Author's note: Sorry I didn't update sooner. Happy holidays everyone. By the way, I don't own any one. All the characters and some of the dialogue belongs to Alfred Gough, Miles Miller, and the rest of the writers.
"Hey Clark!" Lana yelled after him. "Would you mind helping me study for the math midterm?" 'I really need someone else to study with or else Nell will drag me away to help with the party. Even though it's for my birthday I didn't want a huge party.'
"Sure. When?"
"I'm free after school."
"Sounds good. Do you want to meet in the library?"
"Actually it would be easier at my house. Is that okay?"
"Sure, that's fine."
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver."
"No problem. Oh, how's the party coming?"
"Great." she said sarcastically. "I gotta go. I'll tell you about it later." She went down the stairs out to the parking lot where she saw Whitney waiting for her. "Hey," she said.
"Hey," he gave her a hug. "I didn't see you at your locker, so I decided to come out here and wait. Were you looking for me?"
"No. I had to find someone."
"Did you?"
"Yeah."
"That's good." Whitney opened the door of the truck and got in. She walked around to the other side and got in. 'He seems a little out of it. I wonder what's up.'
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
"Yeah. Why?"
"You seem a little stressed out."
"It's just midterms and football. Every thing's just piling up."
"After Nell finishes planing the party I'll have more time and I could help you. You have no idea how obsessed she's gotten over the past few days. It's not even my party anymore." Whitney laughed and put his arm around her. As soon as she got out of the truck she saw Nell coming over to her.Whitney gave her a sympathetic look.
"Hi, Lana. You have a visitor." her aunt told her. She walked inside and saw Clark sitting at the kitchen table. 'How did he get here so fast? He must have gotten a ride from someone.'
"Hi. Ready to study?" he asked her.
"Just let me get a drink. Do you want anything?"
"Water would be fine."
"Be right back." An hour later she had finally memorized all the properties and was able to solve most of the equations. "Thanks for the lifeline."
"It's a math midterm, it's not like I pulled you out of a burning building."
"I still appreciate it." she stood up and put her coat on.
"Lana." She looked up to see Nell standing in the doorway. 'Not another decision.' "I just wanted to get your opinion on the balloons. Now, I think white always looks good."
"Works for me." 'Even thought I like blue better.'
"Okay." Nell walked back into the living room.
"This whole birthday extravaganza has been pretty distracting."
"I don't know. Having a birthday party at Lex's mansion seems pretty cool to me." Clark told her. They walked into the kitchen.
"It stopped being my party a long time ago. If it was up to me, it would be pizza and loud music with my friends." They walked outside.
"Did you tell Nell that?" Clark asked her.
"We've been through a lot the past few moths. I figure I should give her this one." Whitney's truck pulled into the driveway and he got out.
"Lana, guess what."
"The scout called!" 'He's been looking forward to this for months.'
"I just heard I got the tryout with Kansas State."
"That's incredible!" She wrapped her arms around him.
"Hey, congrats." said Clark.
"I haven't said yes yet. They want me there on Saturday, but that's your big night." 'It's not my big night anymore.'
"It's Nell's big night. I was just telling Clark it wasn't important."
"Yeah, Scout's honor." Clark told Whitney. 'Thanks. I don't think he would have believed me without that.'
"I want you to go." She gave him a kiss.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later."
"Lana," Nell was standing on the front porch, "Can you call Mrs. Kent with the produce list?"
"Whitney is going that way," she gave him a look, "I can take it over."
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind driving the birthday girl around." Whitney told Nell.
"Just be back for dinner." When they got to the Kent's drive way Lana told Whitney,
"There's a huge truckload of food, so I can get someone else to drive me home."
"Why do I have a feeling you're trying to get rid of me?"
"I am. You need to study if you want to get into Kansas State."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
"Bye." She walked down the dirt and gravel road that was the Kent's driveway, and knocked on the door. "Hello."
"Lana, hi. Come in." Mrs. Kent said.
"Hey. Lana, can I interest you in a latte?" Mr. Kent asked.
"I'll pass. Bad waitressing flashbacks. I brought over the produce order for the party."
"You could have called it in."
"And miss a chance to get out of the house? Nell's planing this party like a royal wedding." Mrs. Kent looked at the list.
"Oh, yeah, I can tell." The screen door opened and Clark came in carrying three buckets of apples.
"Dad, I got the posts in the west field. I hit some granite, but I jammed it through." The three of the exchanged strange looks. 'I wonder what that's about.'
"Very impressive."
"I have a sledge hammer."
"Somebody's gotta work around here." Mr. Kent said as he went outside. She walked with Clark into the living room.
"Thought you'd be posing for ice sculptures by now." She laughed.
"I'm hiding out. You have my sympathies. Whitney's not even here for backup."
"I know, I was contemplating stowing away in the back of his truck on Saturday."
"A no-show at your own party. That would keep the town talking." 'It would get me thrown out of the house too.'
"I wouldn't do that to Nell. It's just, all this attention is a little unnerving."
"Well, if you like, I could be your escort on Saturday." 'Like a date?' "You know, so I can fend off the throngs of adoring fans." She laughed. 'I'm going to need all the protection I can get.'
"I'd like that."
"Great."
"I better got. If I'm away too long, Nell will probably send out a search party." She started to walk away. "And Clark, promise me you'll make it this time." 'I'd be disappointed if you didn't make it.'
"I promise."
"Thanks." she said to Mrs Kent as she left.
"Bye."
The next morning she woke up to find that she had over slept and it was seven. She heard Nell calling her.
"Lana, are you up yet?"
"I am now." She groaned and rolled out of bed sleepily. She opened her eyes and still squinting she walked down the stairs into the kitchen.
"Hey Lana."
She turned around and saw Whitney sitting on the couch in the living room.
"I'm running a little late today. Sorry."
"It's alright. We have study today, remember. Nothing that important. Anyway, I brought you your birthday present." He handed her a small box wrapped in brown paper. 'He didn't wrap it himself.'
"Thanks." she gave him a hug.
"Just to let you know; wrapping isn't one of my strong suits. So I got it gift wrapped."
"It's not the paper that counts." she smiled. "I'm gonna go get dressed, then I'll open it.' She hurried back upstairs and put on jeans and a plain white t-shirt. When she came down she found Whitney sitting on the porch waiting for her. She sat down next to him on the steps and he handed her the present.
"Happy Birthday." She tore off the paper a found a book. She flipped it over and looked at it.
"Confederacy of Dunces" she read off the cover. 'I've been wanting to read this.' "You know me too well. I love it." She gave him a kiss. "Thank you." On the ride to school she listened to Whitney talk about the tryouts that were being held the next day. After school she snuck out into the football stadium to read in peace. 'Plus, from here I can watch Whitney practice.'
"Confederacy of Dunces." She looked up to see Clark standing in front of her.
"First edition."
"Early birthday gift?"
"From Whitney. I couldn't believe it."
"It's a cool gift."
"That's the thing with Whitney. Sometimes I think he's a million miles away and then he surprises me with something like this." She turned and looked out at the football field. 'Awkward silence. That seems to happen a lot, especially when I talk about Whitney.'
"How are things on the party front?"
"I surrendered. Told Nell to make the final decisions without me."
"I can't believe how anti-birthday you are. Haven't you ever had a happy birthday?"
"Once. Went to a drive-in." 'It was a long time ago, before my parents died.'
"That doesn't sound like Nell's style."
"I was with my parents. My dad pulled the car up to the first row so the screen filled up the entire windshield. I remember feeling all grown up because I got to sit in the front seat with them. They played Bugs Bunny cartoons before the movie started. I was cold, so my mom wrapped me up in her sweater." 'I guess he likes hearing about this kind of stuff; it seems like this is all we ever talk about.
"That sounds nice."
"I fell asleep before the movie even started between my mom and dad. That was the last time I can remember feeling completely safe."
"That's a great memory. You're luck you have that. I don't remember much of anything about my parents."
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Lana looked down at her watch,
"Oh, shoot. I told Nell that I would be at Lex's in ten minutes."
"I'm staying here, sorry. If I wasn't I'd give you a ride."
"It's alright. I should be able to find someone." Since cheerleading practice let out early she was able to get a ride in her old car pool. When she got to Lex's she went into the library and up onto the balcony that ran around the top of the room.
"What do you think?" She turned and saw Lex come up the stairs behind her.
"It's really. . ." 'Fancy, extravagant, well planed'
"Not you at all." She sighed. 'Exactly.' "I heard the quarterback couldn't make it. Too bad."
"I knew you'd be devastated. Whitney's trying out for a football scholarship to Kansas State. He didn't think he'd made the cut, but then someone fell out."
"I know." 'How is it that he know everything?' "Your aunt told me. I like your new escort better. Have fun tonight." She looked back at the rest of the room. 'That's just Lex being Lex. He's never liked Whitney before, so why should now be different.' She spent the rest of the day curled up in her room with the book; waiting for Nell to come back and tell her that they had to leave soon. When it was getting close to time to leave she decided to get dressed. She decided to wear her blue spaghetti strap dress with a light blue shawl over it. After about half an hour she decided to got out onto the balcony that ran around the outside of the library.
"Sneaking out, huh." Lex had come out to join her. "Isn't this your shindig" 'Not really.'
"Says so on all the invitations."
"Right. You're not hiding, you're getting some air. I spent eighteen years of Luthor Christmas parties in the coatroom."
"I'm still waiting for my reinforcements." 'It's normal for him to be late, but if he misses this one too I'll be crushed.'
"I know Clark, he'll be here if he can."
"It's just a birthday." She told him more for her benefit than his. Lex just stood up, walked back inside, and shut the door behind him. 'Come on Clark; I'm really counting on you to be here. Where are you?' She walked over to the wall and leaned against it. She waited outside until there was only half an hour left to the party, then she went back inside to say goodbye to everyone. 'He didn't make it again. I guess we aren't as good friends as I thought we were.' When she got home she took a hot shower, put on her robe, and sat back down and started reading. After a while she heard a tapping on the window. She walked over and saw Clark standing outside. She opened the window.
"You kind of missed cocktail hour." 'And I was really counting on you to be there.
"I'm sorry."
"I told you I stopped believing in happy birthdays a long time ago."
"Well, maybe I can change that." 'How?' "Okay, I know I blew it tonight, but at least let me give you your present."
"When?"
"Now." 'You gotta love his timing.' She smiled at him and went to go put something other than a robe on. She went downstairs and outside.
"So, where is it?"
"Just come with me." He turned and started walking towards the path that led through the woods to his house. When they got to the barn she saw Mr. Kent's truck parked in the paddock with something on top of it. He walked around to the passenger side of the car and opened the door. She got in. Once he closed the door she expected him to get in the other side, but instead he climbed up onto the flatbed. 'I wonder what's up there.' All of a sudden she was looking at a cartoon projected on the side of the barn. 'Oh my god, it's just like I told him. It's too hard to stay mad at Clark for so long. Maybe we're better friends than I thought.' When he got into the other side he had two drinks and some popcorn. He handed her one of the cups.
"Thanks," she told him. For a while they sat and watched the movie, 'We're about the only teenagers in history to do that.' she thought to herself.
"Pass the popcorn." Her eyes were glued to the screen. 'I love Bugs Bunny cartoons.'
"Lana."
"Yes?"
"Happy birthday." She turned to him,
"Shh!" They both laughed. A few minutes later, with the customary 'That's all folks' the cartoon ended.
"I should be getting back, or else Nell will wonder where I've gone off to. I really appreciate this though. It was fun."
"I had a pretty good time too." She turned and started walking back to her house. 'I guess Nell was right; this was one birthday that I'm never going to forget. Although it won't be for the reasons she thought.'
That's All Folks