Through Lana's Eyes
Chapter 16
Stray
The next day when things were back to normal, Lana went to work, and found Clark there. He told her about a kid named Ryan. Mrs. Kent had hit him with the car, but he was fine and he was staying with the Kent family. 'It must be nice for Clark to not be an only child for a while. I'm jealous.'
"So how does it feel having a little-brother-type figure in your life?"
"It's pretty cool."
"I dreamed of having a brother or sister someone to talk to, help fill the silence."
"Someone you can totally trust and would always be there for you."
"That's just how I see you, Clark."
"Thanks."
"Let me go talk to Lex; he just walked in."
"Okay. I'll see you later." She walked over to the table near the door to clear their cups. She turned around and saw Ryan run outside.
"Ryan." Clark was looking for him.
"Ryan just took off out the back. He looked scared, Clark." 'Hopefully that helped. I hope he's alright.' A little while later she saw Clark come in with Ryan following him.
"I found him out back." Clark told her.
"Are you alright?" she asked him.
"I think so."
"I'm gonna take him home just to make sure." Clark told her.
"Come back soon." She watched them walk out of the door, then went back to work. She was working around noon. 'Why is it that people pick the most inconvenient times to call in sick?'
"Knock, knock." She turned around and saw Ryan and Mr. Kent coming in the doors.
"Mr. Kent, this is a surprise."
"Yeah, Ryan's been doing chores with me all day, so I figured he deserved a break. I'd like a cup of coffee, give him whatever he wants and if you can point me to a phone, I'll see if Martha wants anything."
"All right, it's in the back."
"All right. Enjoy."
"So how you feeling?"
"Much better, thanks."
"Good."
"Do you think it's okay if friends have secrets?"
"Strange question. Why do you ask?"
"Because I think Clark's hiding something from me."
"Everybody has secrets, Ryan."
"Really? What's yours?" 'That I really, really like Clark.'
"If I told you, then it wouldn't be a secret." They both laughed.
"I guess you're right." Skye came over and cleared the tray off glasses that were sitting on the counter.
"Thanks, Skye, you're a lifesaver."
"You're welcome."
"Why the frown?"
"She's not a good person, Lana." 'How can you tell? He doesn't even know her.' "You should fire her."
"Ryan, why would you say something like that?"
"Because it's the truth."
"How do you know?"
"It's a secret."
"I'm all set." Mr. Kent came out of back room.
"What do you want, Ryan?" he asked him.
"I'll have a hot chocolate."
"Okay." She got the coffee and the hot chocolate. "Here you go." Ryan got down off the stool and walked out the door with Mr. Kent. Then next day she was working a double shift at the Talon, and she couldn't get what Ryan had said out of her head. She decided to count the money in the register just to make sure. After she counted she found that they were fifty dollars shot. 'I should fire Skye. I'll do it in the morning.' She was cleaning up some of the tables when Clark walked in with Ryan.
"Hi, Lana." Clark said.
"Hey."
"Ryan would like to say goodbye."
"Where are you going?" she asked him.
"Edge City."
"Chloe's research turned up an aunt there. She's coming by this afternoon."
"I wanted to thank you for your advice on Skye. You were right. She was stealing from the till." She bent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey." Clark said.
"Wow. Thank you." Ryan was grinning. She laughed. 'I do what I can. He's been through a lot." He walked off towards the door.
"I think you just made his year." Clark told her. Clark walked over to the table where Ryan had sat down and she went back to the counter and started doing the paper work for the day. 'I've found that it takes less time if I start now.' She smiled to herself as she looked over to the table where Clark and Ryan were sitting. 'They look so happy. It's too bad he has to leave. It'd be nice for Clark to have a sibling, then maybe he wouldn't be so lonely, secluded, what's the word? Clark-like. I guess he has to be himself.'