Through Lana's Eyes
Chapter 15
Nicodemus
Lana sat up in bed and was surprised when she heard a book hit the floor. 'Oh yeah, I was reading that a while ago. I should probably change into my pajamas.' She got up and noticed that sunlight was streaming in through the windows. 'Oh great, I feel asleep in my clothes.' She sighed and got changed into some other clothes and went downstairs. When she got to school, she was walking to class and she saw Clark and Chloe.
"Hey." she said.
"Hi." Chloe held up a clipboard with a poll on it. 'What is your deepest desire? That's an interesting poll.' "What about you, Lana? Got one?"
"I would climb the windmill out in Chandler's field."
"Really? That's your deepest desire." 'Not really. If I could do anything I'd probably ask Clark out but seeing as he's standing right there; that was my second choice. And plus,'
"Somebody told me you could see the Metropolis skyline from there. I haven't got the guts to climb up and see for myself."
"Okay."
"I can always make something up." 'Something like everyone else.'
"No. It's good. It's good, I like it. It's unleashing the inner Lana."
"Okay." She walked up the stairs and to her next class. That night Chloe called and asked her if she wanted to help her out with something. Since she didn't have anything better to do she agreed. Chloe said that she would pick her up and she also told Lana to bring a jacket. On the ride Chloe told her what had happened to Mr. Kent and a Mr. Beels. When she got in the car she noticed that Chloe was taking the very long route to the Kent farm, but when they were about a mile away Chloe stopped the car and got out. Lana got out too.
"Okay, so, what are we doing out here?" she asked.
"Mr. Kent and Mr. Beels both have the same symptoms. This is the only place they've been together, so I'm assuming that whatever happen to Mr. Kent was caused by something here."
"What are we looking for?" She took the flashlight Chloe handed her.
"Anything. Wow. The debris starts from way over there and ends over in that ditch. That's some serious road rage." Lana walked over to the other side of the car and started walking through the woods. She saw something reflecting the light from her flashlight.
"I think I found something." She picked it up and all it was, was a plastic hula dancer that must have been on the guy's dash board. Then she saw a flower next to it. As she looked at it the flower opened up and when she got close to it, something sprayed out of the flower. She rubbed her nose.
"What have you got?" Chloe asked. She stood up.
"Sorry." She held up the hula dancer.
"That's all right. Let's get out of here. This place is a dead end." They walked back to the car. She started sneezing once they got back to the car. The next morning she when she woke up she put on a black tank top and a black mini skirt. She also decided to wear her boot that went all the way up to her knees. 'I feel like dressing a little differently today. What have I got to loose?' When she got to school she found Whitney in the main hallway.
"Wow." he said, looking at her wardrobe. "What's the occasion?
"Nothing, I just thought we'd blow off class today."
"I. . . I can't. I'm barely keeping ahead, and I gotta go to the store and then run to by the hospital and see my dad." 'So now he's blowing me off to go to work and to go see his dad. He doesn't deserve me. I'll go find someone else to skip class with me.'
"You know what? I am tired of your excuses. Ever since your dad got sick, you haven't been any fun at all." She turned and walked away down the hall, leaving Whitney standing there.
"I'm sorry, Lana, but it's kind of a big deal."
"Whatever. I feel like I'm locked in this relationship out of guilt." 'At first I actually liked you but then I was just sticking around to help you get through this. I don't know why I even bothered."
"Lana. What's wrong with you?" He grabbed her arm and she turned around.
"Nothing. I'm just not keeping it inside anymore."
"Well, if that's the way you feel then, maybe we need to reconsider this relationship." 'I don't need you any more anyway.'
"Okay, fine. It's over, Whitney." She smiled at hi and walked away towards the newspaper office. When she got there she saw Clark sitting at a desk.
"Not going to class, Clark?"
"I'm not really up. . . to it." he turned around.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. It's just a change."
"You like it."
"I think the operative word is 'gulp.'" She walked over and sat down on his lap.
"Look. I know things are rough, but you can't let them get you down."
"It's kind of hard not to." 'Everyone is so down today. Why isn't anyone upbeat and happy?'
"The key is to keep your mind off it. Let your friends be your friends. Let them distract you. Trust them."
"I do trust you, Lana."
"Good. Then follow me." She took his hand and led him to the pool. 'I feel like going swimming.'
"What are we doing here?" he asked her.
"It's quiet."
"It's also completely off limits." She took off her boots. 'I can't possibly swim with those things on. I'd sink right down to the bottom.' "Lana, I don't' think I'm really up for this."
"You think to much, Clark." She walked onto the diving board and took off her belt.
"Right now I'm thinking you don't seem like yourself."
"Or maybe I'm more me than ever." She took off her skirt and threw it at him.
"Lana, this is crazy."
"That's the point. If life doesn't make you crazy, then why bother living it? I know that's how I want it." She took off her shirt and put it on the floor with the rest of her clothes. "The question is: do you know what I want?" She did a back hand spring and then she did a back flip into the pool.
"Lana!" Clark said when she resurfaced. 'That finally impressed him."
"Don't you want to come in, Clark?"
"I don't think so." 'Why not?' She laughed and swam over to the ladder and got out. She went over and stood right in front of him. "I know you want me, Clark. Just stop holding back. Come on. You're not made of steal. Or are you?" She kissed him, and he didn't seem to mind so, she kept right on kissing him. 'Wow. He's a great kisser.'
"Wait." He said. 'For what?'
"Aren't you tired of waiting? Need a little help warming up?" She pushed him with one finger and he fell into the pool with a huge splash. She laughed. Suddenly she heard the door open, she got her clothes and ran into the locker room. She decided to go to the Talon.
"Lana, where have you been? Monique called in sick, and we haven't got anyone to cover." Clare told her.
"Why is this my problem?"
"Because Nell's in Metropolis and you're the assistant manager."
"Well, I'm taking the afternoon off, so I guess we're closing early." She whistled to get everyone's attention. "Listen up. We're closing early, so coffee's on the house. Drink up." She walked over to the counter, took the whipped cream, and squirted some onto her hand. 'I love whipped cream. It always tastes better off your fingers too.'
"Lana. The Talon closes at nine." She spun the chair around and saw Lex standing in front of her.
"Not today."
"You're not impressing anyone with the attitude, Lana. You're talking to someone who set the bar for adolescent rebellion."
"That's right. I heard you were quite the bad boy before you joined us here in Smallville." She put her hand on his shoulder and started playing with his collar.
"It's nothing I'm proud of."
"Please. You don't really care about the Talon. You only invested because I asked you to. Now why would you go and do a thing like that?" She wiped the whipped cream from her fingers on Lex's lips. "The Luthors are famous for their ulterior motives. So tell me, Lex, was it really about profit?" He took her wrist and held it away from him.
"I'm not sure what this is, but it isn't you, Lana. Are you feeling okay?" She stood up.
"Actually. I'm a little nervous. I might need some guidance, you know, from someone with a little more experience. What do you say boss?"
"Lana, where have you been in the last twenty-four hours?"
"It's none of your business. What's your problem?" 'Now you're keeping tabs on me?'
"This isn't you."
"Why, because I'm not doing exactly as I'm told?" She shoved him backwards. "Because I'm not sitting in the corner hiding in a book? For once I'm not scared of life and no one can handle it because you all prefer the insecure little girl." She shoved him again. "Well, I'm sick of her and all her talk about her dead parents." She picked up the tip jar from the counter, threw it at Lex, took his keys, and went out to his car. She drove it out to Chandler's field and got out of the car.
"Lana," she turned around and saw Clark. "Does Lex know you have his car?"
"He should by now." She turned and walked towards the windmill.
"Something's happened to you, I just don't know what it is."
"It's called self-confidence. For the first time, I'm not repressing my feelings. I'm free."
"No you're not."
"You should talk. You had me in the pool, and you didn't take your chance. I see the way you look at me. Why don't you tell me how you feel?"
"Lana, you're sick. I need to get you to a hospital."
"Don't avoid the question, Clark. Are you in love with me?"
"Lana."
"Such a coward. Can't even answer a simple question. You want me? Come and get me."
"Lana, stop!"
"What's the matter, Clark. Afraid of heights?"
"What are you doing? Come down! Lana." All of a sudden she felt really dizzy, and then she let go of the ladder. She felt someone catch her and she looked up and saw Clark's face.
"Clark." she whispered. Then the whole world went black. The next thing she knew she was waking up in the Smallville medical center. She sat up and looked around. She saw that she wasn't the only one in the room. In fact, when she looked at the bed next to her she saw Pete laying there. She had only been awake for a few minutes when she head Pete wake up too. Later a nurse walked in and told her that Nell was still in Metropolis and the she was very sorry that she couldn't come. Then the nurse told her and Pete what had happened to her. 'Oh no, what did I do?' She looked down at her clothes. 'And what the heck am I wearing?'
"Miss Lang, you have a visitor." the nurse told her. She looked up and saw Whitney walking over.
"Hey."
"Hey." He sat down on the bed next to her and gave her a hug. "Are you alright?"
"I'm a little tired, but other than that I'm fine. Did I do or say anything to you that I should know about? I can't remember anything at all."
"Well, for a start, you broke up with me."
"Then what are you doing here now?"
"Clark called me and said that nobody could remember anything, so I figured that you would think that we're still together."
"Did I say why?"
"You said that you felt like you were locked in this relationship out of guilt, and ever since my dad died I haven't been any fun at all. Do you really think that?"
"Well, ever since your dad got sick; you've been occupied with helping out at the store, and I understand that. Your dad's sick and you need to help out your family. You've got less time for me than you used to, but I don't mind."
"Are you sure? Do you still want to be with me?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And of course I want to be with you."
"I'm glad you're all right." He bent down and kissed her forehead.
"Do you know when I can leave?" she asked him.
"Let me ask the nurse." He got up and walked out of the room. A few minutes later he came back into the room. "They said that I had to sign you out, but I could take you back to your house."
"Hey, Pete. Hey, Lana." Chloe came in and sat down on the bed next to Pete. "How are you feeling?" Chloe looked over and saw Lana getting out of bed. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going home. I think you can leave too, Pete."
"I think you might want to call Lex." Chloe told her. "I heard you went postal in the Talon."
"Great. Thanks Chloe. Bye Pete. See you guys later." Whitney put his arm around her waist and they walked out of the hospital. Before they went out into the parking lot Whitney draped his jacket over her shoulders. The jacket barely covered her skirt. "I can't believe I'm wearing this."
"I kind of liked it." He grinned down at her. She playfully punched his arm.
"I think you should drive me over to Lex's mansion. I think I need to apologize to him. But first, can you take me home so I can change?"
"Alright." Once they got to her house she went upstairs and quickly changed into jeans and a pink shirt and a white jacket. Then she went back out to the truck. When she got to the mansion, Lex was in the library.
"Hi."
"Hi, Lana. How are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks. Lex, did I do or say anything to you that I should know about?"
"At one point you got very aggressive, and you stole my car."
"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
"No, but the Talon's going to need a new tip jar."
"Why?" 'What did I do with it?'
"It won't ever be the same after you threw it at my head and missed."
"Oh, my God. I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry about it. It wasn't you."
"I wish I could remember what happened though."
"Trust me, it's better this way." He walked over to his drink table. "Do you want a soda?"
"Sure." She sat down on the sofa.
"Hey, Lex" They both turned and saw Clark walk in.
"Hi, Clark." Lex said.
"Lana, I figured you'd be here." Clark said to her. "I've got something I want to show you."
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"It's a surprise. Come with me."
"Are you in on this too, Lex?" she asked him.
"No, go with Clark. Whatever he has planned should be good." When they got into the truck, he handed her a blindfold.
"Put it on."
"Why?"
"So it can really be a surprise."
"Okay. I trust you, Clark." She slid the blindfold over her eyes and leaned back against the seat.
"Okay, we're here. Don't take off the blindfold yet thought." She heard him shut the car door and then he opened her door and took her hand. "Careful. There's a step down. Okay. Walk this way." He was walking behind her with his hands on her shoulders. "Now you're going to climb a ladder."
"With the blindfold on? You can't be serious, Clark."
"I'll be right behind you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you." Slowly they climbed the ladder, and made it to the top of whatever they were climbing up. She felt him take the blindfold off, but when she opened her eyes his hands were covering them.
"Keep them closed. Now, carefully, sit down. Your feet should be dangling over the edge. Okay now open your eyes, Lana." He took his hands away. She opened her eyes and she was staring at the Metropolis skyline. "There's Metropolis."
"It's beautiful." She looked down. "I can't believe we're up here."
"It's actually getting down which is gonna be the interesting part." he told her. "It's good to have you back, Lana."
"I spent the entire day apologizing to the Lex and to Whitney." 'They were surprising nice about the whole thing. I think I did more than they told me.' "I just wish I could remember what happened. It sounds like I got a little out of control there."
"You spoke your mind, and you did what you wanted. Kind of an alpha Lana."
"I couldn't believe what I was wearing."
"I kinda liked it." 'Oh no, what did I say to Clark?'
"Clark, I didn't say or do anything embarrassing to you that I should know about, did I?"
"No." 'Thank God. So he still doesn't know how I feel about him. I think I'd like to leave it that way. At least for a while."
"Good. Good. So how does it feel to be on top of the world? Or at least Smallville."
"I feel free."
"Me too. Like all my troubles would just go away. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah." She glanced down at her watch. It was almost five thirty.
"Nell said she'd be home at five forty-five. We should probably get down."
"Yeah. I'll go first. That way I can catch you if you fall."
"That's so comforting." They walked over to the ladder and he started climbing down. She followed him. "I liked it with the blindfold better." He laughed. She let out a sigh of relief when she was on the ground. They both got in his truck and he drove her back home. When she got there all she wanted to do was sleep, so she let Nell come up and sit by her bed. No matter how many times she told Nell that she was fine, she still insisted in watching Lana fall asleep. 'Parents. What can you do?' She drifted lazily into a peaceful sleep.