Through Lana's Eyes
Chapter 19
Crush
Author's note: I condensed the time frame of the episode to make it easier. Hope you don't mind.
That week at school there was a career fair and all students were required to go and have a look around during a free period. That day her last period English class had a sub and they were given permission to go to it. Just as she had expected she saw that Luthor Corp had set up a booth. She walked over to see if Lex was there, but she wasn't too surprised when she didn't see him. She walked around and saw Clark and Pete walking around together. She decided to walk over but then Chloe beat her too it. She watched them, and saw that Chloe and Clark weren't too happy with each other. Chloe turned and as she walked away Lana heard her say,
"Most men are from Mars, but you're from some distant galaxy that I've never even heard of!" 'Poor Clark, I wonder what that was about.' She was about to go over when Whitney came over and put his arm around her shoulders.
"Hey."
"Hi, what's up?" she asked. 'He looks happier than he has been since his dad's been in the hospital.'
"Nothing. I'm just in a good mood." He gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"I like it when you're in a good mood. You're not moping around feeling sorry for your self for one reason or another."
"You wanna go get a coffee?"
"Sure. I have to work today anyway, just let me go get my stuff out of my locker." She walked out the door into the hallway and Whitney followed. They went to the Talon, where they were able to sit down for five minutes before she had to start working. The next day before she went to work she went over to the Kent farm to get some more pies for the café. She walked to the door and knocked on it. Clark was sitting just inside at the island.
"Hi."
"Hey, Clark. Is your mom around? I wanted to order more of her pies."
"She's in class, I can help you."
"I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you'd be helping Chloe proof the latest edition."
"She had enough help."
"Are you two still fighting?"
"Who said we were fighting?"
"I kinda caught it yesterday at the career fair. What's going on with you two?" 'Whatever it is I'm sure they can work it out.'
"Chloe likes me." 'So do I. This won't end well.'
"So how do you feel about her?"
"Like maybe we could be more than friends." 'Not exactly what I wanted to hear.' "I saw her with Justin today. I got kind of. . ."
"Jealous?" He nodded.
"It's like you find out this secret and it colors everything. Just can't believe I never saw it before."
"Sometimes the right person can be in front of your eyes and you never even know it." 'Like me.' She looked at him, waiting for him to say something. 'Awkward silence.'
"So how many pies did you want?" he asked her.
"A dozen."
"How's Whitney? I hear his dad's feeling better."
"He's great."
"Everything okay?" 'Not sure. I like you, Clark. But, I'm going out with Whitney.'
"Never better. Good luck. I hope things work out with Chloe."
"Me too."
"Bye." She turned and walked out to the driveway. She was at the Talon later when Clark came by with the pies. 'That didn't take too long.'
"I wish everything sold as well as your mom's organic apple pies." she told Clark as he came out of the store room. She handed him the money for the pies.
"Every little bit helps."
"Hey, Clark." Whitney came over to the counter.
"Hey, Whitney, how's your dad?"
"On the mend. Happy to be home." He turned to her. "Hey. Keep Saturday night free. Got two tickets to Our Town at the Metropolis Playhouse." 'I was reading that at school the other day.'
"Wow. What inspired you to do that?"
"Saw you reading it at school. Thought we might start making up for some lost time." He leaned across the counter and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "See you."
"Bye." Clark walked over. "Whitney has paid more attention to me in the last two weeks than he has all year."
"Have you talked to him about it?" She shook her head.
"He's seemed so happy ever since his dad got better. He wants to pick up things where we left off."
"How do you feel about that?" 'What is this? An interview? It's nice to have someone who cares so much though.'
"After Mr. Fordman got sick, Whitney needed me. Kind of defined our relationship. Now we need to redefine it."
"There's a lot of that going on." 'Oh, yeah, his dilemma with Chloe.'
"How are things with Chloe?" 'Part of me wants them to drift apart, so if I do decide to break it off with Whitney I can have a chance. But I want them to work it out too.'
"Unresolved."
"What are you gonna do?" 'Now I'm interviewing him.'
"I don't know, just don't want to loose a friend in the process."
"Once you've crossed that line, you can't go back."
"Chloe gave me that same advice about someone else." 'Is that why he hasn't mentioned anything about liking me since the blood drive?'
"What happened?"
"Decided to say friends."
"Do you regret that decision?"
"Yeah. I let that moment slip away and I don't think I'll ever get it back. I don't want to make that same mistake twice." 'Maybe he did like me, but not anymore.' She just smiled and nodded. He walked away and out the door. An hour later Clark and him mom were back in the Talon. The phone rang and she answered.
"Hello, this is the Talon. I'm Lana. How can I help you?"
"Lana. It's Chloe. Is Clark there?"
"Yeah."
"I screwed up. Can I talk to him?"
"Sure. Let me go get him. Hold on." She walked over to Clark and his mom. "Clark, Chloe's on the phone, she sounds really freaked out." He picked up the phone.
"Chloe, what's up? Well, calm down. Where are you? Chloe? Chloe!" Clark ran past them and out the door. 'I hope Chloe's going to be alright. Clark should be able to help her. At least I hope so.' She went back to work to keep herself from worrying. The next day Clark and Chloe came in and sat down together. She walked over.
"Hey, guys. Chloe, how are you feeling?"
"Better, thanks."
"That's good. Can I get you guys anything?"
"Regular coffee." Chloe said.
"Me too." She delivered the coffee and went back to cutting pies. She looked up and she saw Clark reach over and take Chloe's hand. 'Now any chance I had of getting Clark is gone.' She looked away and saw Whitney walk in. 'I might as well tell Whitney that we need to redefine our relationship.' She walked over to him.
"Whitney, we need to talk." He looked at her, and she noticed that he was on the verge of tears. In fact, it looked like he had been crying. 'Oh no, what happened? What I have to say can wait.' "What is it? What happened?"
"It's my dad." She reached up and put her arms around him. She told the nearest waitress that she was leaving and she walked out with Whitney. They went out to his truck, and she decided that she would go home with him. As they were driving he said,
"It's not fair."
"It's not. I know what you're going though."
"No you don't! You now no idea what you're talking about." 'I think I know more than you about losing parents.'
'Hey, think about who you're talking to. I've lost both of my parents, remember." She put a hand on his arm.
"Sorry, I forgot."
"It's alright. You're not yourself right now."
"Thanks."
"How's your mom doing?"
"I think she's in shock."
"What about you?"
"It was weird. When the doctor told me and my mom, at first I didn't really understand what he was saying. When I was driving to the Talon it hit me; I'm never going to see my dad again." He stopped talking and squeezed his eyes shut trying to stop himself from crying. He was silent the rest of the way to his house. When they got there she saw there were three extra cars in the driveway.
"Do you want me to stay?"
"I would really appreciate it." She got out of the car, walked over to him, and put her arm around his waist. Together they walked over to the house and went inside to find some of Whitney's family in the kitchen. She stayed there for most of the day, and when she go home she got a call from Whitney telling here that the funeral would be on Saturday.
On Saturday morning she got up, took a shower, and put on a black dress. When she got downstairs she saw that is was raining. 'The weather with go with the mood of today.' Nell dropped her off at the Fordman's house; Nell was going to be at the graveyard later. When she went inside the house was silent. She went upstairs to Whitney's room and found him sitting on his bed with his head in his hands. She walked over to him and sat down on the bed next to him. He didn't notice she was there until she put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. They sat there until Whitney's mom can in and told them it was time to leave. When they got to the cemetery she saw that all of their friends were there. Chloe, Pete, Clark, and his parents were standing off to one side, while she and Whitney's family stood off to the other. At the end of the ceremony she was following Whitney back to the car when she turned and saw Clark standing alone by and angel grave stone. He looked up and held her gaze for a few seconds before he turned and walked off in between the graves. She slowly walked towards the car.