A/N #1: Nightcrawler8 and Ghostwriter626, thanks for commenting so quickly. You guys just made my day :D
So yeah, I am currently in the mood to post this chapter quickly, so I hope you guys/dolls see for yourself if it's worth continuing - for your sakes (to read) and mine (to write) ...
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Chapter 2
The Not-So-Pefect Epitome of Perfection
(Lana's P.O.V.)
"Hey guys!" I greeted Samantha and Ashley with a big smile. "First day of high school, can you believe it's here already?"
Samantha and Ashley took turns giving me a quick and happy hug. "Hey, girly gurl!" My two buddies greeted me back in chorus.
'I could swear sometimes these two are so like twins!' They knew right away what I was thinking and we all burst out in giggles.
"So how was your summer in Metropolis, Lana dear?" Ashley asked, excited to hear what interesting stuff I, her best pal, did the past couple and a half months.
Samantha joined in to start the interrogation. "Yeah, did you get to do sumthin' fun for a change? And by fun I mean AFTER you tagged along with your Aunt Nell and her new boyfriend and all. Well, that is, IF they gave you some free time to yourself."
"Ugh, you know exactly how that goes, right?" I answered as I rolled my eyes, still smiling.
"Oh? So how come you cannot wipe off that mischievous grin on your face?" Ashley, the more "inquisitive" among the three of us, cannot help but ask. "You look like the kid who stole the last chocolate chip cookie from the jar. You can't fool me, sisterrr." And she raised that one eyebrow at me.
I had to stop smiling and put on the most innocent face I can muster. "What on earth are you talking about, Ash? Li'l old me, having something to hide, c'mon now…?"
Samantha and Ashley both look at me in disbelief and place both their hands on their hips. Samantha quips, "Ya better spill it, missy… NOW!"
"Ssshhh, ladies. For real, nothing remotely exciting happened to me in Metropolis this summer."
I try my hardest to keep a serious face now because I am so totally lying through my teeth. I had decided to keep the full truth from my two best friends about my recent summer activities - not that I did something horrific or grotesque. How awful to lie, I know, but I do have a reputation to maintain here. My precious name - Lana Lang, simply cannot be tainted as one of the "wild ones" in Smallville High.
As my Aunt Nell always reminds me: "Lana, remember this, your mother and I once graced the halls of the school and upheld the admiration and respect of everyone in campus for being very smart and very good girls. Now it's your turn to keep the banner flying high, so to speak." Yup, that's quoting Aunt Nell word for word.
But see, I now think the new friends I met at the Metropolis Institute of Arts and Sciences during summer classes seriously rubbed their so-called bad influences off me. I mean, not that those influences were entirely "bad". I believe that having met those people and hanging out with them all summer long actually freed me from most of my worthless fears and silly inhibitions, leading me to discover my true self and my hidden expression of the arts and then some. We didn't really get into so much sticky trouble - just a few minor ones that didn't end up in police involvement, thank God. Seriously!
'Ok, this is not the time to ponder on my recent summer activities. I shall continue this later at home…in a hot tub full of lavender scented bubbles,' Lana mused, trying to end her flow of thought on purpose.
"Ooooo, did'ja all get into bad and naughty stuff?" Ashley kept on asking, catching me by surprise and snapping me out of Lala-land. Samantha just chuckled, leaving it to Ashley to bug me until I surrendered and spilled bean after bean.
"Ash, please take me off of that ongoing soap opera in your head?" I said sweetly.
"Oh but Lana, you're the leading lady in that soap opera," she whined as her eyebrows furrowed, to which I shrugged off, giving her that "yeah-like-I-care" look on my face.
"Fine, it's all good, Lana!" both girls had the same reaction, once again in unison and both still eyeing me suspiciously.
As if on cue, a couple of cute jocks came up to say hi to us - among them was the tall, blonde quarterback, Whitney Fordman, who gave me a little wink and huge hug that lasted a little too long for my liking.
"Hey girls, nice to see you again after a long summer," Whitney greeted us three before turning to me.
"Lana, you're looking more fetching as ever," he managed to give me a compliment for everyone to hear, yet the sincerity of his words never reaching his eyes. Then he let go of me as his buddies tugged at him to go meet-n-greet others.
"Gee, thanks!" was all I said, happy to get free from his embrace.
Soon as the boys leave, I turn to Sam and Ashley again. "So now it's your guys' turn to tell me what you've been up to all summer long since I got nothing juicy to spill."
I had to apologize again in thought - for lying to them.
Don't get me wrong, my two best friends are the best - they've always been the best - but it's just a sad true fact that neither of the two can keep a secret. They're the worst blabbermouths I've ever encountered in my life! And even though I love them both so dearly, I just can't be a total open book to them, especially not now that I do have a big can of worms hidden in my pocket.
Suddenly, I begin to feel this chill go up my spine.
I suspected that there must be a pair of eyes carefully watching, eyes glued on me. Much like what I feel when I ride Donatello, my favorite horse, around the grounds at home and the neighboring farm beside it. So I look around me, starting from behind and take in the view slowly. There are dozens of boys and girls all busy buzzing, mostly happy to meet up again - some new and some old friends altogether, after a lengthy hot summer.
I tried to listen intently to Samantha as she chirped about her hectic summer at Granville with her Dad and his new family, and then to Ashley spending the entire time visiting with several relatives in California.
But I am distracted. Here come those chills again, and this time I get goosebumps.
I lift my gaze and I'm drawn to look straight ahead of me. Standing there, about 30 yards away, beside two other people chatting in an animated fashion, is a very tall, medium-built, really attractive guy with dark wavy hair wearing a red plaid shirt, white t-shirt underneath it and faded blue jeans. His facial features look awfully familiar.
'Oooo looky over there! Tall, dark, handsome and…sexy as hell…well, in a simple farmboy kind'a way. Hmm… I wonder if he's hiding a delicious hard body underneath all the flannels?' I thought to myself, an evil grin slowly creeping into my face.
The guy's head was turned away at the moment as he talked to his two friends beside him.
'Heeey, I know that other guy… uhm…it's Pete…Ross? Oh yeah… and that's Chloe Sullivan…' I continued to wonder.
'And... holy mackerel! Oh... my... goodness!' I couldn't believe my eyes as I finally connect the dots in my head. In fact, I had to blink at least twice.
'I-Is that…? No frickin' way,' I mentally shook my head in disbelief. '...Clark Kent? I've only been gone for one entire summer and Clark somewhat magically grew into a definite hottie! Is this at all possible?'
I bit my lower lip for a bit before taking a deep sigh and felt heat shoot right through me, moving quickly to rest on my face. 'Damn it! My cheeks feel really hot now. Must… look… away…' I commanded myself.
"Ahem… Lana!" Ashley calls out to get my attention. I quickly turn to give Ashley a quizzical gaze.
"I'm sorry, girl…uhm, what? I missed what you said," I replied, the li'l evil grin on my face is now more apparent, my cheeks are painted red.
"You little devil, you!" Ashley points a finger at my face while Samantha just looks at me, trying to figure out what I was hiding behind my mischievous smile and obvious blushing.
'Oh gawd, I hope they don't trace my gaze over to fabulous Mr. Plaid over there. Whoops, gotta close my mouth, dammit…and I hope I'm not drooling either!' I lifted a hand to caress my chin quickly, just in case.
Ashley couldn't seem to stop her interrogation. "Lana, are you like in the middle of reminiscing your fun escapades in Metropolis…? Because frankly, my dear, if Sam and I didn't know you any better we'd say you probably rewarded someone with your special cherry-hood?" she paused, with both eyebrows raised. "…and that's why you're acting like you're so lost in translation right now!" she continued.
Before I could make a reply, Ashley finished her neverending opinion, "...and we do believe the cliché that the most shy ones are usually the ones to watch out for - hiding the naughty streak and all."
"I have to agree. Lana, seriously, you do look like you're still stuck prancing around in dreamland." Samantha adds, raising an eyebrow toward Lana and elbowing Ashley beside her.
Then all of a sudden the bell rings loudly.
"Oh shuddup you two," I had to laugh. "You're imagining things again. And f-y-i…" I whispered, looking at each of the two girls intently before finishing with, "…I still am a virgin! So there."
I turn around and quickly give 'em both a last look over my shoulder. "See ya later, girlies."
I walk up the steps into the main doors of Smallville High before any other comments are said.
Ashley and Samantha look at each other for a moment, shrug their shoulders and then follow behind me up the steps.
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A/N #2: Things that make you go, "Hmmm..."
I'll somehow find a place to incorporate what-Lana-did-last-summer somewhere along the way, to fill up dead space or something :D
Once again, I hope I get to see some more R&R's, just for inspiration.
Must I beg?
(sniffle...whimper)
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