"Where is Lana?"
"Clark? How would I know where she – "
"She called me from the bus station saying she didn't want to do this anymore. I know she was lying and I've already checked the bus station. You're the only other one besides Chloe who knows where Lana was, so – "
"Whoa, Clark, just calm down."
On the contrary, Lex's words made me want to hit something – hard - but figured I should at least hear him out. I was talking a little fast and my hands were still shaking unmanageably. So, I attempted to hide the pained demeanor in my voice, as I spoke, slower this time, into the phone. "I'm sorry, Lex. I'm just…I'm so worried, I can hardly think straight."
"That's okay," he retorted with understanding. "Unfortunately though, I can't say I know where Lana is. When did she leave?"
"Probably ten minutes ago or so. We kind of got into an argument and she said she needed to think, so she went upstairs and a few minutes later Chloe came down and said she hadn't seen her. Then I got the call…" I closed my eyes, collapsing onto the nearest empty metal bench of the station and ran my free hand through my messy, unwashed hair. I didn't think once about myself that morning. No shower. No breakfast. It was like without having Lana safe and next to me, I couldn't function anymore. "You really don't know where she is?"
"I'm really sorry, Clark. I wish I did. I wish I could even figure out how anyone else could've known that – " His voice halted in mid-sentence.
"Lex?...What?" I swallowed deeply, my heart pumping faster in my chest.
"The pilot of my jet. He used to work for my father. I didn't tell him where we were driving, but he must've followed us." He sighed harshly into the phone and muttered, "Damn spy…I can't believe my father stooped that low…"
Although there was none around, I could almost feel the effects of red kryptonite coursing through my veins, eating away at my morals and inhibitions. My freehand clutched into an automatic fist. "Where is your pilot now?"
"Clark, it doesn't matter where he's at. Lana's the one you're looking for. And I'm willing to bet they she's with Whitney now."
I pursed my lips, anger bubbling in my veins. "Right. Thanks. I'm sorry again about earlier."
"Forget it. And Clark?"
"Yeah?"
"I know how much you love this girl, but don't do anything stupid. If you find her, let me know. Don't inform the police – they're too close to my father."
I sighed, already knowing that if I did find Lana, calling Lex would probably be my last priority. "Alright. Later."
I ended the call, slipped my phone in my pocket and sat there for a moment. Lex's voice kept replaying over in my head…"…she's with Whitney now…she's with Whitney…"
I stood abruptly, and strutted outside towards the highway. My strut evolved into a jog, then into a run, and by the time I passed the sign that informed all travelers that Metropolis was 40 miles ahead, I was superspeeding faster than I ever had before.
……..
Two days. Two days of searching for Lana which ended in complete failure. Chloe looked. Lex and anyone trustworthy enough that he knew looked. I looked so much I barely had time to sleep.
She was no where to be found.
And, conveniently, neither was Whitney.
I don't remember much about my whereabouts. I remember hearing Lana's voice, and seeing Lana's smile soaring through my mind like a light, trying to guide me home. I didn't realize quite how much she meant to me until she wasn't there. I felt suffocated. Surrounded by everything and everyone when the only one I really wanted was gone. I just wanted to escape with Lana. Be free.
On the morning of the third day, I trudged down the sidewalk of downtown Metropolis. I'd looked everywhere I possibly could and now I was basically grasping at straws. Any girl with long brown hair caught my attention and gave me false excitement. Each smiling face of a stranger seemed to mock me and remind me that Lana was still missing.
"Cigarettes! Newspapers! Comic books!"
I jolted at the deep-set voice of a man standing behind a small booth on the corner. He looked young, but dirty and worn out. He seemed to be boring himself as he shouted his merchandise, almost as if he was encouraging people to not buy his items instead.
"Hey, buy something or move, Buddy! You're blocking my customers!" He barked at me in his same, annoyed manner.
I glanced around, realizing there weren't and probably never would be any customers who I could be blocking. I looked back at the man, and began to feel a little sympathetic. Maybe it was a subconscious connection – I didn't have the one thing I wanted and neither did he.
"I'll take a paper," I informed, pulling out my wallet and dropping some quarters on the counter.
The man looked a little taken back, but handed me a newspaper and took the money away.
"Thanks," I muttered, tucking the paper under my arm and wandering off towards some undefined location.
Suddenly, maybe by fate, I heard the muffled noise of my cell phone and pulled it out to see a text message from Chloe:
Buy a paper and look at the engagements.
My breath caught in my throat and I stopped walked immediately. "No….no….no..no..no…"
The repetition sped up as I stuffed my phone back in my pocket and tore the paper open to the correct page. My face scanned feverously fast across the black print until I found what I dreaded to see:
My head was plugged with so many emotions, I couldn't continue reading and only glanced at random words….'happiness'…'wedding'….'beautiful couple'…'true love'…all little daggers piercing my heart.
I skipped to the end of the article:
The wedding itself will be for exclusive family and friends only, but will be held at Saint Francis Catholic Church today at 8:30 AM.
"Saint Francis…8:30…" I swung my arm around to see the time. "9:15! Sht!"
In two seconds I was standing on the opposite side of the massive cathedral that stood only a few blocks from the Met U campus. The entrance was dancing with pink and white ribbon and flowers. Hundreds of happy people stood around the stone steps, blowing tiny bubbles, shouting and laughing. The heavy, wooden doors flew open, and everything slowed down to a creepy, crawly pace.
There was my Lana, dressed in an intricately embroidered white gown, a veil flying over her curling brown locks of hair. She was smiling as Whitney held her hand and they rushed down the stairs, but it was only a small smile. She didn't even reveal her teeth like she always did when she truly felt happy about something.
Without thinking or even looking where I was going, I stepped out into the street, crossing the road and causing a few cars to screech to a halt to avoid smashing into me. Everyone in the wedding looked over to see what had happened, but the only pair of eyes I really saw were hers.
She was standing in front of the limo, Whitney at her side, holding the door open for her. She stared at me, her smile fading. I don't know how I looked to her, but I tried with every fiber of my being to make her see how I'd been feeling for the past few days. How empty my life was…
She sighed deeply, slowly, parting her lips as if she was going to whisper something. Then she closed her mouth and looked away to gaze at Whitney. With a short, timid smile to her new husband, she slipped into the limousine.
As it drove off, I tried to rush up to catch it, not sure what I'd do exactly if I did. But all the obnoxious guests crowded around me, jostling me away and leaving me lost and even more confused than I'd been earlier.
Lana had looked at me so blankly, almost as if she were upset with me. And then the way she looked back at Whitney and smiled?
I tilted my head to the side as I watched the vehicle turn the corner and take the newlyweds out of town. Almost intuitively, I focused my super hearing on the interior of the limo.
"…best day of my life," Whitney admitted proudly.
"Mine too," Lana replied quietly.
"I love you…Lana Luthor."
"I love you too, Whitney."
I could hear in her voice that she was smiling as she spoke...and the soft smack of their lips as they kissed.
I felt tears began seeping around my eyes. She didn't run to me the way I'd imagined she would…she didn't hesitate in telling Whitney she loved him…hell, she didn't even give me a tiny, secretive smile…she gave that to him, too.
I blinked and looked down at the cracked and broken pavement below, watching a single tear splatter onto it. My heart kept telling me this wasn't real…something happened to force Lana into acting the way she did…
But the real, rational part of my mind couldn't stop looking at the tangible facts and reminding me that there was always the possibility that Lana…my Lana…didn't love me anymore.