Clark sat down at the kitchen table and took a deep breath before picking up the phone. Time to get this over with. Ring. It rang three times.

"Hello?" Lana's voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Hi, it's Clark."

"Hey, what's up?" Lana sounded curious, after all Clark didn't call her much since they saw each other almost every day.

"Uh…" Clark gathered his courage. "I was thinking that, I know it's last minute but do you have a date to the Halloween dance?"

"No."

"Well, I was thinking that we could go together." There was silence on the other end. "Lana?"

"As dates?"

"Well, yeah." Clark's courage was fading. "If you don't want to that's ok."

"No," Lana interrupted. "I would love to go to the dance with you."

Clarks heart skipped a beat. "Great!"

"Just promise me you'll be there."

Clark wasn't surprised. He had a history of not showing up. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Clark said goodbye and put down the phone. Clark felt like he was walking on air as he made his way over to the couch which he flopped down on. Clark smiled and closed his eyes.

"That's my bed remember." A voice came from above him. Clark opened his eyes to see Ginny looking down at him.

"I know." Clark sat up.

"You haven't told your parents have you?" Ginny sat down next to him. She was referring to their conversation in the cellar.

"No. I wont tell them about your power if you don't want me to, but they've notified child services about your parents." Clark said.

Ginny sighed. "I know. So what's going to happen to me now? Can I stay here?'

"I wish it was that easy but my parents aren't your legal guardians.." He looked over at Ginny.

She sat still. "I wish I could stay. It's the closest I've been to having a family since…." She broke off.

Clark nodded sadly. "You should get to sleep." He rose and headed up the stairs. The days events reeled around in his head as he closed his bedroom door behind him, stripped down to his boxers and climbed into his cool bed.

"Lana! Lana, where are you?" Clark found himself walking through the empty red and yellow halls of the high school.

"Clark…" Clark turned on the heels of his bare feet to see were the faint noise had come from. He heard it again stronger than the last. "Clark.." A closet door to Clark's left started to shake violently. "Clark…" The dark haired boy walked cautiously over to the door with an out stretched hand. Before he could touch the metal knob the door flung open revealing a woman surrounded by fog. Clark squinted, trying to focus on the figure. Clark's features turned to shock and he back away from the open closet as it became all to clear who the woman was. Lana Lang walked out from the fog, face mangled and bleeding all over the white lace of her dress. "Clark, it's your fault." The version of Lana held out a green rock. Clark backed into the wall, suddenly feeling sick, the lockers made a dull thud as his body hit them. His knees buckled and he fell to the floor. Clark felt soft dirt beneath him and look around. He was at the Smallville grave yard. Clark scrabbled to his feet, trying to see through the thick fog.

"All this time." Clark wheeled around to face Lex who had his hands in the pockets of his trench coat. "All this time, and you never trusted me, I'm your friend!" Lex's emotion quickly turned to anger. "You'll pay!" Lex lunged at Clark who ducked. When Clark stood up straight he was alone again.

"How could you?" This time Clark turned to face a Lana who was standing in front of him with tears streaming down her face on to a black dress. "I trusted you, I loved you, and you pushed me away. We could have been happy if you had just told me! I don't know who you are."

"Lana," Clark started franticly. "I'm so sorry, I wanted to tell you…" The rest of his words were lost in a breath of wind that stung Clark's eyes to the point were he had to look away. When he picked his head up he was alone was again once more. "Lana!" Clark ran forward. "Lana!" He tripped on a head stone and fell to the ground.

Clark sat up with a jolt sending the blankets around him flying. He was drenched in sweat. Clark ran both hands through his damp hair, and left the warmth of his bed for the sink in the bathroom. He lifted his cupped hand to his face feeling cool water run over it. He shook so that the tips of his hair dangled in his eyes. His face looked pale in the mirror. Clark looked out the small window opposite the sink. He could see the beginnings of dawn peaking over the tree tops. It would be no use going back to sleep, he didn't want to go back to that dream anyway. As quietly as he could Clark returned to his room and slipped on sweat pants and a t-shirt, then crept down the stairs. He reached the door and tried to keep it from slamming as he walked through. Clark turned around looking over the fields that had a blanket a mist covering them. Clark closed his eyes and breathed in the fresh air.

"Clark?" Clark spun around to see Ginny standing in front of him. "I didn't mean to scare you. Is everything ok? I heard a lot of noise coming from your room."

Clark sighed. "Everything's fine, I'm just a little jumpy."

Ginny nodded and passed him to sit on the swinging bench. She nestled into the cushions. "I couldn't sleep either." Clark watched her stare out towards the barn. "Do you ever think about them?" Ginny asked after a moment, still staring at the barn. "Your birth parents I mean."

Clark nodded slowly. "All the time. I wonder what my life would have been like if they hadn't sent me away." Ginny wrapped her arms around her knees as Clark continued. "I know another person who knows what it's like to lose her parents."

"Lana?" Ginny looked towards Clark.

Clark lifted his eyebrows in surprise. "How do you do that?"

Ginny shrugged. "The eyes." She said simply. "Does Lana know about you?"

Clark dug his hands into the pockets of his flannel pants and looked back towards the fields which were now filled with a soft golden light.

"She'd want to know."

Clark blinked. "You know what it's like to be different, you know that people would never look at you the same if they knew."

"You don't think she would except you. You're afraid."

Clark turned abruptly to gaze at the small girl. He opened his mouth to protest but Ginny beat him to it.

"Clark, your relationships can't grow without truth, and truth involves change. Your afraid of change. You have so many fears, and fears keep you from living." Ginny shook her head, sending loose strands of hair flying. "The only thing to fear is fear it's self."

"Theodore Roosevelt." Clark smiled. It amazed him how wise she could seem at times.

Ginny smiled in return. "Yeah." By now the sun had risen fully into the sky and the rest of the house had started to wake. They could hear noise from the kitchen and somebody walking down the stairs.

"Come on." Clark motioned to Ginny. " We need to get ready for school."

"We?" Ginny asked, standing up and stretching.

"My mom thought it would be a good idea for you to sit in on some of the freshman classes while you're here." Clark said with a hasty grin.

"Remind me to thank her." Ginny grumbled as she tramped into the house behind Clark.

"Do you need to me go to the principals office with you?" Clark turned to face Ginny right outside the doors to the high school.

"Clark, I've been through a lot worse than high school," she reminded him. " I think I can handle it." Ginny stated confidently though she looked less confident than she sounded. She straightened the forest green tank top she was wearing.

"Ok, my mom already got this all straightened out so he should be expecting you."

Ginny nodded and shrugged Clark's old backpack over her shoulder before following him into the building.

"The office is that way." Clark pointed down a hall way. "I'll see you at lunch." Clark watched Ginny shuffle through the crowd of people most of which were taller than her, until she was out of sight. He then headed down a different hall way, stopping at his locker to gather books for his first period class.

"Hey mystery man." Chloe appeared next to Clark.

"Hey." Clark shut his locker. "Have you found out anything more on the Grandville murder?" He asked apprehensively. Now that he knew Cortes' accomplice was Ginny he needed to keep Chloe off the case. Which meant more lies.

"No. It's going to require some tip top sleuthing to get the records from that day. "

Clark knew what she was thinking. "Chloe, is this important enough to break in to Cadmus? I don't want you to get caught."

"Come on Clark." Chloe rolled her eyes. "It's not like I haven't done it before. If I solve this case, it would be the story of a life time."

"Is it worth your life?" Clark retorted more abruptly than he had meant to.

"I thought you'd be with me on this. What's wrong?" she demanded.

"Nothing."

Chloe shook her head. "It's never nothing Clark." With that she stalked away.

"Hey, how has your day been going?" Clark questioned as light heartedly as he could. Ginny joined him at the table, slamming her lunch down.

"I don't get why they are called princi-pals. It makes them sound so friendly." Ginny slumped down in the chair across from Clark. "He lectured me for 30 minutes on being a guest in the school, and how he expects me to behave and bla, bla, bla." She added hand puppet gestures to the last bit of her sentence.

"Really?" Clark said with an amused grin. "How did you manage to get away in such a good mood?"

"I stuck some gum on his chair, and watched him walk out of the room with it on his butt."

Clark stifled a laugh but nearly spit out his drink in doing so.

"What's so funny?" Pete sat down next to Clark.

Clark just grinned at Ginny.

Pete's attention was not on the question anyway. "Hi Ginny. Clark, have you seen Chloe? There's something I want to ask her"

Clark's smile faded. "Not since this morning."

Ginny looked over at Clark's watch. "I should get going, I've found that you are actually expected to find your classes on time so I'm going to give myself a head start." She took a bite of her hamburger and stood up and brushed off the back of her old faded jeans before heading out of the cafeteria, hair swishing energetically behind her.

"I'll help you find Chloe." Clark started to get up but Pete bolted out of his seat.

"It's ok, I'll find her myself." Pete pushed on Clarks shoulders trying to get him back in the chair.

"What's going on Pete?" Clark questioned, not even noticing Pete's tries to get him to sit down.

Pete stopped his futile attempts. "Nothing, I just need to talk to her alone."

"Are you ok?" Clark said with a worried look. Pete didn't answer, he was already half way to the cafeteria door. Clark watched him leave with a quizzical look on his face, then picked his bag off the ground and made to throw his trash away.

"Dude, you know her?" Clark turned to see Reese O'Neil, a short, stocky sophomore that Clark had tutored the year before, standing next to him.

"Hey Reese, I know who?" Clark looked down at the shorter boy.

Reese gave him a wide eyed glance. "Little red head."

"Oh Ginny, yeah I know her." Clark said.

Reese licked his lips. "You think you could introduce me?"

Clark looked incredulously down at the sandy haired boy. "No, I don't think so." Clark's voice had become stiff.

"Why not?" Reese said with a pout.

"Look, Ginny is like a little sister to me, and truthfully I don't want you anywhere near her."

Reese's pout became clearer. "Forget it, I don't need your help." Reese sidled past Clark but didn't make it very far before Clark grabbed his arm. The boy fought his grip but to no effect.

"I said stay away from her." Clark said in a threatening voice before letting go. Reese goggled at him. Clark was confident as he walked out of the lunch room that Reese would not bother his little sister . Clark caught himself. No, not little sister, she's going to be gone in a day or two…just like Ryan. Clark's mood did not improve with this thought. Clark trudged through the hallways until he found himself at the Torch. Pete was there, talking to Chloe who was smiling. Chloe laughed then her sight fell on Clark and she stopped but a smile still held on her face. She murmured something in Pete's ear and he nodded. Pete stood up and walked to the door, he seemed to be in a very good mood and patted Clark on the shoulder as he passed him.

"What's made you two so happy?"

"Why do you care?" Chloe answered stiffly, the smile had faded from her face.

Clark shifted his bag uncomfortably. She was obviously mad about this morning. "Look Chloe, I'm sorry but-"

"I accept." Chloe interrupted.

Clark was stunned. "Just like that?"

Chloe shrugged. "I know you have your reasons Clark but I can tell when your being less than truthful." Chloe looked up. "After all the chances you've given me, I can at least give you the same."

Clark sighed in relief. The last thing he wanted was to be fighting with Chloe again.

"But you know I can't just forget about a story like this. I'm still going to investigate it, but I wont ask you for help."

Clark considered this for a moment. There was really no stopping her so he nodded slowly.

"So." Chloe said as she returned to her never ending job of being an editor. "Have you figured out the costume thing yet?"

"I'm not going to wear a costume."

Chloe looked up from her computer. "Won't that be kind of weird, you'd be the only one without a costume? You'll find something Clark. What did you wear last year?"

Clark shook his head. "I didn't go last year."

Chloe nodded humorously. "Have you ever been trick or treating?"

"When I was a kid.." Clark answered. "The last time I went I was a pirate."

Chloe choked on a laugh. "Clark Kent hoarding swag…"

Clark rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the help Chloe." He bid her goodbye as he walked out the door of the school newspaper. Clark turned the corner running straight into Lana. Books spilled out of her arms and all over the tiled school hall.

"Sorry Lana, I wasn't paying attention." Clark apologized as he helped pick her books up off the floor.

"It's fine." Lana took her books back. "I'm really excited about the dance tonight." she smiled.

Clark smiled, feeling very warm. "Me too. I was thinking I would pick you up at 8?

Lana gave him a sweet smile, the one that always made his insides squirm. "Sounds good." They stared at each other for a minute, Clark could see her fumbling with the zipper of her blue corduroy jacket. "I've got to go." Lana said awkwardly after a moment and touched his hand as she slid past him continuing down the hall. Clark shivered. The spot where her fingers had been tingled. They had been friends for nearly 3 years, he should be past the butterfly stage, but it was always like that with Lana. Even after all they've been through, it never changed. Clark headed off in the opposite direction, hoping against all odds that this time things would work out.

Clark woke the next morning with excitement. This time there were no complicated stories going on, no meteor induced psycho paths. Nothing to keep this day from going right. Clark jumped out of bed, he wasn't usually a morning person but today he felt as though he was stock full of caffeine.

"You're certainly perky this morning." Ginny greeted him as he jumped the last couple steps down the stairs. She still looked asleep with her hair falling un-combed around her face. Clark just smiled broadly at her and grabbed a muffin. He ate quickly so he could get his chores done as soon as possible.

"I still need to find a costume for tonight." Clark said through a mouthful of muffin. "You think you can help?" He swallowed and grabbed the milk carton from the table and brought it to his lips but seemed to think better of it and got out a glass. Ginny looked at him blankly while her sleepy mind tried to comprehend his question.

"Sure" She finally answered. "Would you?" Ginny held up a piece of bread. Clark nodded, heat shot from his eyes until the bread was golden brown. She dropped the piece of toast, muttering curse words under her breath, sucking on her singed finger tips. Clark smiled and tousled her hair on his way out the door which put a scowl on her face and a balled up towel flying in his direction. Clark super-sped away from the house before the towel could make contact.

"Ok, so lets see what we have." A much more alert Ginny made her way through Clark's closet. "Plaid, plaid, and, oh look! More plaid. Honestly, is concept of t-shirts lost on you?" Ginny sorted through the shirts with distain.

"I have some t-shirts!"

"Yes, but who gets to see them? The cows?"

"Lana has seen-"

Ginny held up her hand.

"Ok, back on topic." She stood thinking for a second then her eye fell upon a leather jacket. "You own one of these?" Ginny took the jacket of it's hanger.

Clark grimaced, remembering the red kryptonite filled ring that had played a part in getting the jacket. "It's a long story."

She made a face. "I don't want to know." She put the jacket back. Ginny turned her attention to a wood dresser in the corner of the room. Something caught her eye. "Nice glasses." She picked up the Raybands

Clark had worn during the short time he had been blind. "Take these." Ginny thrust the glasses at him then went back to his closet. She took out dress pants, a black t-shirt, and a blue blazer which she held out for Clark to take.

He lifted the clothes from her hands. "What am I supposed to be?"

Ginny shrugged. "If anyone asks just say Stevie Wonder."

Clark looked down at the fabric in his hands. It was better than nothing. "Thanks Ginny.'

Ginny smiled broadly. "I know, I know. I should be a fashion designer." She looked down her at shoes. The mood in the room changed immediately. "Has child services called back?"

Clark sighed. "They said you could stay here for a few more days until they find a foster family." She nodded, still staring downwards. Clark put an arm around her shoulder. "You'll be ok."

Ginny looked up. "I know, it's just that… I was beginning to feel like I had a family again."

Clark new how she felt, it was going to be hard to say goodbye to her. Suddenly Ginny's fingers flew to her temple and she winced. "You ok?" She didn't answer but shook her head as if trying to get rid of a fly. Clark crouched down so they were eye level. "Ginny." He spoke louder than before. This time the girl lifted her head, the pain seemed to have lessened.

"It's just a headache." She said after a minute shrugging off his worries but still rubbing her temple.

"That looked pretty painful to be just a headache." Clark looked at the side of her head, it was red and there were nail marks from where she had dug her fingers in.

"I get them all the time."

"You said you got a headache before.." Clark stopped. "Ginny, is it going to happen again?" He gestured to the blue wrap that was still in place on her arm.

She looked frustrated. "I don't know, The only times I've ever gotten a headache were the first time it happened and then in the barn after I got the wrap."

Clark looked at the side of her head again. "Maybe we should see a doctor."

Ginny shook her head roughly, then winced. "No, you know what would happen to me if they found out what I can do. I would spend the rest of my life as a lab rat or in a detention cell."

Clark wasn't sure what to do, he was usually on the other end of this conversation.

She shook her head again. "I'm gonna go take a shower, see if it cools me off."

Clark nodded, still worried. Ginny seemed to notice. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. You have fun."

Clark stood in front of the mirror in the downstairs bathroom since the upstairs one was occupied. He could hear the running water that had been going for the last 15 minutes. Actually, he had to admit he didn't look half bad all dressed up. Clark adjusted the jacket and started to put on the Raybands. He stopped abruptly when he heard a yell from upstairs.

"Clark!"

Clark dropped the glasses and ran towards the stairs to see Ginny at the top. She came barreling down the steps wrapped in a towel, dripping wet. "They found me! They're here."

"Who found you?" Clark's adrenaline was rising. He heard police sirens coming down the Kent drive.