We're Not In Kansas Anymore

Chapter 12

"Dancing in the Sky"

Homecoming.

It is an almost magical word amongst teenagers. Along with "prom", it ranked as one of the defining moments in a young life. At homecoming dreams can come true or be dashed forever. At homecoming the possibilities are endless.

That was how it felt for Clark. He had ridden in the special transport that had come to take his parents, who were one of the chaperone couples, to their destination of Sky High. Both Jonathan and Martha couldn't help but be awestruck as they flew through the night sky, arriving at the legendary though secret school for super heroes that their son attended. Once there, Principal Powers, who was in a beautiful black and silver dress, had greeted the Kents. She showed them in as Clark flew off to get his date.

Layla met Clark at the door of her house, looking like a dream come true in a green dress and her red hair hanging loose to her shoulders. Though he was dressed in a tux, Clark still felt like a lump of mud compared to his beautiful date. He had to be extra careful as he pinned the corsage he had gotten her onto her dress; as clumsy and nervous as he felt, combined with his super strength he was terrified he would tear her dress or crush the flower. Both miraculously survived. He then gently lifted her, and together they flew up through the clouds towards Sky High.

In the light of the full moon Layla looked over at Clark and marveled at what was happening. He was so handsome and powerful, yet so gentle and kind as well. He never had a bad word to say about anyone, and he had made friends with everyone he met, even the once feared but now popular Warren Peace. She wondered if there was anything he couldn't do.

They gently landed on the lawn outside the school, and both of them remained motionless for several minutes, neither one wanting to let go of each other. Finally Clark reluctantly put Layla down, where tiny flowers instantly appeared as her feet touched the ground. She blushed at that, but he only smiled as they entered the gym, which had been transformed into a wonderland of soft multi-colored lights and gentle fog rolling across the floor. Everywhere there were kids they knew, and they spotted Zach and Magenta thanks to Zach's neon glow in the gentle darkness.

"Hey guys," grinned Zach. Clark had to squint his eyes at the sight of the bright yellow tux Zach was wearing, and wondered if the light was actually coming off him or his wardrobe. Magenta looked lovely in a simple black dress highlighted with small amethyst earrings and matching necklace. Though she was trying to look totally disinterested by the dance, Clark knew she was as excited to be there as everyone else.

"You look beautiful," Clark said to Magenta, actually drawing a slight blush to her cheeks. The two had forged a close friendship since she had helped Clark when he was in his baby form, and they liked to tease each other relentlessly. But this time he meant what he said.

"Thanks," she said, "we met your parents a few minutes ago. How a nice couple like that produced a moron like you I'll never know."

"Just lucky I guess, fuzzball," answered Clark.

Suddenly a wave of talking and whispering went through the collective student body as they turned nearly as one and looked at who had just entered.

It was impossible. It couldn't be. But it was.

Clark had no idea what was going on, and he and Layla gently pushed through the crowd to get a better look. Even their eyes widened with surprise.

It was Warren. He had actually come to the dance. Even though he had been one of the heroes of the school, he had stayed his usual "brooding loner" self, which seemed fine with everyone as it was a great tradition amongst certain heroes. But the fact he was here now was amazing, not to mention he was in a black tuxedo that fit him perfectly, though the tie seemed a little loose.

But his date…wow. That was who EVERYONE was really whispering about.

They had never seen her before, as every male in the place would have remembered her. She looked tiny compared to Warren, but not the least bit less beautiful because of it. Her dark hair was up off her shoulders, and she wore a gorgeous off the shoulder white dress that highlighted her dark skin and seemed to catch the light and hold it so that she glowed nearly as bright as Zach…or maybe it just looked that way to the bedazzled throng. Her almond-shaped eyes seemed to sparkle as did her smile, and she held onto Warren's arm like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Who was she…a transfer student from Sky High West? A new young heroine only Warren knew? An angel come to earth? All these theories and more raced through the student body as Warren and his date made their way into the gym.

At least Clark, though as stunned as everyone else, knew who Warren's date was.

She was Lana.

Clark didn't know what to think. He was glad Warren had come to the dance, but with Lana as his date was something unexpected. Of course Clark realized that in his self-exile he had not been in contact with either one of them, so they would have told him what they were doing. He couldn't really feel jealous either, considering he was there with Layla. He was both surprised and happy for his two friends.

Before he could move, Lana spotted him and smiled as she led Warren over to him. Both of the guys just nodded at each other, but Clark had to introduce Lana to Layla and vice versa. To say it was awkward was putting it mildly.

"Layla, this is Lana. She's…"

"I'm a friend of Clark's back in Smallville," Lana saved the day with a smile, "we've been friends all through school until he came here."

"But we're still friends," said Clark, actually hoping they still were.

"Of course we are," said Lana, almost laughing, "you'll find Clark can be a little…weird sometimes."

"He likes to brood, I noticed," said Layla,

"Him and Warren both," said Lana, "I think it's a boy thing."

Both girls giggled at that while Warren looked bored and Clark wondered if they were communicating more information to each other in the strange language of girls.

The two girls started talking all right, leaving Clark and Warren to look at each other and shrug their shoulders as they went to get some punch for their dates.

"You're cool with this?" asked Warren.

"What, you dating Lana? Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, she is your girl…"

"Lana and I have had a…relationship since we were kids," said Clark, his mind drifting back to all the times they had drifted apart and then back together…of when he let his secret get between them like a wedge, "but we aren't married. There were times…like now…when we weren't even dating. I don't have any right to interfere if she wants to go out with you…besides, I know she's in good hands."

"Thanks," said Warren, giving a half-smile, "she's really terrific. She's not just beautiful, she's…I don't know how to put it."

"I know what you mean," said Clark, "she's always been that way. It's almost magical."

"Are you sure she doesn't have any powers?

"Only to capture your heart so that you never want it back," smiled Clark.

"That's deep, dude," said Warren, "but there's no other way to say it. Did you ever…you know…tell her how you really felt?"

"There have been times I wished I could…but I never did."

"Words of love left unspoken are the quickest route to a heavy heart," said Warren with a far away look in his eyes.

"Now THAT'S deep," said Clark, "where did you hear that?"

"My dad told me that a long time ago. I guess he was speaking from experience."

"Now what are you two talking about," said Layla as she and Lana rejoined their dates, "who's going to win in the big game tomorrow between the Metropolis Sharks and the Maxville Atoms?"

"Uh…yeah," said Clark, both he and Warren embarrassed that they had almost been caught talking like a couple of girls by their dates, "that's all…football, cars, guy stuff."

"Mmm-hmm," said Lana as she and Layla exchanged quick glances. "so how's the punch?"

"Not bad," said Warren as he handed Lana a cup, "though I can think of something that tastes a lot better."

"What's that?"

Warren then bent forward and gently kissed Lana on the lips, drawing surprised looks from a few others, including Clark. He had never have been that bold with Lana since…well, ever.

"Yeah," said Warren as he stepped back with a slight smile, "that's a LOT better."

Lana blushed, but she was grinning from ear to ear.

"Not bad on this end, either," she said. She then took Warren by the arm and gently coaxed him out to the dance floor, where he at first acted like he really didn't want to dance, then rolled his eyes in an exaggerated way and "gave in". The two snuggled close and began dancing very slowly in a circle.

"I think they've got the right idea," said Layla, drawing Clark's attention back to her, "after all this IS a dance."

"Yeah, sorry," said Clark, "it's just…strange seeing them together like that."

"You don't approve?"

"Oh yeah," said Clark, "I do. I've known Lana since forever and Warren's a great guy. I trust him with her totally. It's just…"

"Weird seeing your old girlfriend and your best friend together?"

"That's it," said Clark, "See? I'd have spent all night trying to put it together, and you did it in two seconds. It's clear who's the brains in this relationship."

"Relationship?" said Layla with a raised eyebrow, "Is that what this is? A little sudden, don't you think…it's only our first date."

"Oh," said Clark, flustered, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Clark," giggled Layla, "I was just joking. You really need to learn to lighten up more."

Clark relaxed with a sigh. He had loosened up a lot being around other super powered teens, but there were times he still felt a little tightly wound. Maybe with a little more time and hopefully a now super villain free semester to finish, he would get over his self-consciousness. But since he was a teenager, that wasn't likely to happen very soon

Clark and Layla began to dance slowly, seeming to fit perfectly with each other. Though he was nervous Clark concentrated on what he was doing, so in no time he and Layla were dancing as if they had been doing it for years. The soft lights and slow music made the atmosphere perfect, and it felt like there was no one else in the entire world despite their being in the crowded gymnasium. All the battles, stress and trouble they had gone through the past few weeks melted away as they held each other. They were so lost in each other that neither noticed that they were floating several feet off the floor to the amusement of the other couples.

"He sure can sweep a girl off her feet," grinned Jonathan as he stood with one arm around his wife.

"He gets it from his dad," smiled Martha as she turned to her husband, and without another word the two of them started dancing as well.

Off in one of the dark corners of the gym, one particular pair of blue eyes was watching Clark as he and Layla danced through the air.

"This ritual is meaningless," whispered a voice in the mind of the watcher, "the contact has been established and the work to begin."

"If there is one thing you should have learned by now, it's patience," the watcher replied mentally, "everything will go as you have planned…but it is the WAY it happens that is important. Trust me…I know teenagers."

"He will do as he is told…it is his destiny."

"Spoken as one who balked from those same words when you were his age…and I should remember, I was there. Now if you are not going to enjoy your son's time of happiness, I suggest you end this contact. I want to have a little fun before the work begins."

There was no reply from the voice, and the watcher smiled. Jor-El never could stand losing an argument, even when he was alive. Still, his presence could be felt, so he had some reason to continue to watch what was going on. As long as he kept his big mental mouth shut things would be fine the rest of the night.

"There you are," said Coach Boomer, dressed in a nice suit but still wearing his always-present baseball cap as he approached the watcher, "I put the latest progress report on the "Triple Threat" on your desk. Personally I'd have tossed the little punks in the clink, but it was your call."

"I think Speed, Lash and Penny have potential to straighten up, but time will tell. Until then, how about a little turn on the dance floor?"

"Well," grinned Boomer, "you're the boss."

With that Coach Boomer and the watcher began to dance, but she was always careful to keep an eye on Clark. After all, she had been doing so for years despite having total confidence in the Kents that they would raise him the right way.

It was the least Principal Powers could do for her departed sister's only son.

To be continued

Next:

Alfred returns to the Kent farm with news about Lionel Luthor, but how does it involve BARON BATTLE? And why is a certain blind lawyer with him concerning the final fate of Royal Pain? Plus, a chance encounter between a Sky High student and a Smallville cutie could make things VERY interesting for both of them.