Through Lana's Eyes

Chapter 18

Drone

The next day when she got to work she saw that there were only a few cars parked outside the Talon. 'What's going on? There's usually tons of people here after school gets out.' She walked on and saw that there were only five people, not including staff inside.' She was changing the centerpieces on the tables when Clark walked in.

"Wow, the place is. . ." he searched for words.

"Empty? Deserted? Vacant?" 'And it sucks.'

"I was searching for a euphemism to say that, but yeah."

"The Beanery's tried to put us out of business ever since we opened. I have tried coupons, price cuts, even ads in the Ledger so far nothing's worked. At this rate, we'll have to close the doors in a month." 'I don't want to lose this. I've already had to fight for this building once.'

"Have you spoken to Lex? He's an investor, I'm sure he can help."

"He's been uncharacteristically silent. Besides, this is my battle to win or lose, and I am determined to win. Speaking of which, I hear you've got a battle of your own on your hands."

"Oh, yeah the election I'm no really running."

"That's too bad. I think you'd make a great class president."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You're honest, people trust you. And you have this innate sense of justice. I can see it on your face how upset you get when you think somebody's being mistreated."

"You see all that in me?" 'Not just that.'

"Yes, I do." She smiled.

"About the Talon, let me talk to Lex."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it." Clark turned and walked out of the Talon. 'There's another one leaving.' The next day she was walking through the cafeteria when she saw Clark had set up a table and he had gotten a new slogan. She walked over.

"'Man of tomorrow.' Very catchy."

"Thank you. And thank you for the encouragement."

"You've got my vote."

"I was thinking maybe I could have my election rally at the Talon, help bring people by."

"That sounds great. You know where to find me."

"Bye, Lana."

"Bye." That day after school Pete and Clark stopped by the Talon.

"Hey, guys. Taking a break from the campaign trail?" Pete handed her a button.

"It's amazing how many people at our school I don't know." Clark told her.

"This is just a pit stop. Wanted to take advantage of your two-for-one deal."

"Figure that's the last step before I institute topless waitressing."

"Well, here's to hoping it fails miserably." They laughed.

"It looks like you have some customers."

"They're only here because Whitney forced them." 'I really appreciate it though."

"Yeah, I passed by the Beanery. They're kind of busy."

"The owner stopped by. He said he's made it his mission to run this place to the ground. Then he had the nerve to tell me that it wasn't personal, just business."

"Why does everyone over forty quote The Godfather?"

"I don't know, but it's really annoying. So how's political life treating you?"

"It's definitely a challenge. It shows you who your real friends are."

"How's your speech going?"

"I haven't started writing it yet."

"Maybe I could help you with that. Come by tomorrow night. We can work on it."

"Really? That'd be great. You sure you have enough time?"

"Look around. Unless Whitney can coerce the baseball team, I think I can squeeze you in." 'I wouldn't pass up an opportunity to help you anyway."

"Glad to see business is booming." they turned and saw Lex walk in.

"It's hard when even your regular customers blow you off."

"I haven't been blowing you off. I've had my eye on the situation."

"Waiting for me to fail." 'That's the best way for you to encourage someone.'

"Most new ventures don't make it. You have to prepare yourself for that possibility."

"I thought you didn't like to lose." Clark told Lex. 'Thanks for that attempt at help. I don't think anything will work though."

"I don't. But it's not my fight. As an investor, you have to know when to cut your losses."

"So, what do you suggest I do?" she asked.

"The Beanery declared war, if you wanna hold on to this place, get creative. Be willing to get your hands dirty. Don't worry, I'm not suggesting anything illegal. To quote The Godfather, 'It's time to go to the mattresses.'"

"That movie should be banned from basic cable." she told them. She walked off to clear the tables that were barely being used. That night Clark came by to work on his speech. Before they started, she got them some coffee.

"Good start." she said looking down at the blank paper.

"My trash bin has three drafts in it. Nothing I can come up with sounds presidential."

"You don't have to sound presidential. Say what you believe. Once you answer that, the rest is easy."

"I've still got a lot of work to do, then."

"Not as much as I have here." 'This seems impossible. I can't think of anything else to do.'

"I know you're having a tough time, but it's amazing what you've done with the place."

"This was just going to be the start." 'I wanted to do so much more with it.' "My dream was to restore the old theater completely. The projector, the screen. Show old movies."

"Just not The Godfather." They both laughed.

"Come on, get back to the speech. You have to decide what you believe in."

"I believe in my friends and their dreams." 'I know that was directed at me.'

"What if their dreams come crashing down around them?"

"Nothing's crashing down around you, Lana, not while I'm here."

"Thanks, Clark." 'I've got my own personal protector. It's kind of nice.' All of a sudden she heard something strange from inside the ceiling. "Did you hear that?"

"Yeah, it was coming from over there." He pointed. "And there."

"What is it?" All of a sudden he grabbed her hand and go up.

"Come on! Get in!" he pulled her over to the door to the back room. She saw bees streaming out of the ceiling vent. She screamed.

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine." 'Oh my God.' She ran as far away from the door as she could, but there wasn't very much room in the back room. A little while later Clark came back.

"Oh, my God." She ran over to him and gave him a hug. "Are you alright? Did you get stung?"

"I'm fine. And no I didn't get stung." She took a good look at him. 'He looks fine.' "What about you?"

"Only a little. I'm fine. It's a good thing I'm not allergic."

"I'm gonna take you home with me." The walked out to his truck and he drove to his house. After she called Nell, they sat down on the porch and talked for a while.

I still can't believe you didn't get stung."

"Guess I have tough skin."

"The insurance forms are gonna hurt worse than the stinger. But I'm fine, thanks to you. There's Nell." They got up.

"I had a really nice time tonight." 'Even though we got attacked by bees?'

"Yeah, we should do this more often."

"You sure you're okay?"

"Sorry we didn't get further on your speech."

"That's the least of my worries. Right now, I need to find Sasha."

"Do you think she had something to do with this?"

"Yes. I just don't know how she's controlling the bees."

"You need to call Chloe." 'They're the ones who work out the misteries.'

"We're still not really talking. Can you believe she didn't endorse me?"

"Well, if I were in her position, I probably would have done the same thing. She was just trying to be objective. She endorsed the person she thought was most qualified for the job."

"Yeah, but still. . ."

"Clark you said you believed in your friends. She only did what she thought was right."

"You're right." She smiled and walked over to Nell's car. When she got home she called Chloe and told her what happened. She told also told her that Clark was going to find Sasha. After the votes were tallied, sadly Clark lost, and Paul won. In the spirit of trying to do things for the school she offered to have the victory party at the Talon.

"Nice crowd." Lex said.

'We'll be having more nights like this." She had been dying to tell someone what she had done about the Beanery and she figured Lex should be the first to know.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Let's just say I went to the mattresses. Check out page thee of the Ledger tomorrow."

"Can you give me a preview?"

"Apparently, a rival coffeehouse has had several health department violations they've been trying to cover up."

"How'd you hear about that?"

"A vendor told be. So Chloe had a reporter friend look into it. And sure enough, it's true."

"Very creative. I'm impressed." She smiled and walked off to clear the many occupied tables. She spent the rest of the night working, and when she finally got to leave she didn't feel like going home so she went over to the Kent's house.

"Packing up campaign headquarters? She asked Clark as she walked up the stairs into the barn.

"Yeah, it's back to just being a barn."

"Sorry we couldn't talk more at the Talon. It was packed."

"It looked better that way. I'd assume that was a good thing."

"It is. It's just I'm not sure I like what I did, playing dirty with the Beanery."

"Maybe the mattress isn't for you."

"I had to choose between doing the right thing and being successful. The weird part is, I kind of enjoyed being underhanded."

"Lana Lang seduced by the dark side? Who would've thunk? Don't worry, we all get caught up. I got co caught up in the popularity thingI almost forgot why I ran."

"Did you ever finish your speech?"

"Yeah. Not that anyone will ever hear it." 'I'd like to hear it.'

"I could hear it."

"Yeah? When?"

"Now."

Right now?"

"Yes, Clark. Speech, speech, speech!" She laughed.

"Nobody thinks that a class president can make a difference, but I disagree. If we want to change the world first we have to change ourselves. My father always says that you learn life lessons whether you win or lose so I hope that my worthy running mates will work alongside me." As she sat there, Clark's speech became drowned out by her own thoughts. 'He would have made a great class president. It's too bad that he didn't start running when the others did. I guess he might have a chance to make a difference later in life, or maybe he's already making a difference.'