Nicodemus
Clark opened the door to the house and walked inside. It had been another long day at school. The only bright side to reliving education again was that he got to see Lana. He closed the door behind him and tossed his jacket on the stair railing.
"Mom!" He called as he tossed his back pack down. He headed for the kitchen, "Dad! Mom! I just heard about the..uh,"
He paused as he came around the corner. Jonathan and Martha were in one hell of a lip lock. His eyebrows disappeared into his hair as he stood shocked. He had rarely seen his parents like this and it was no wonder why.
He turned his back quickly, "I did not need to see that."
Martha giggled from behind him and he could imagine what they were doing now. In fact he rather not imagine.
"Hey son. Just getting the ole hero's welcome. Know what I mean?" Jonathan smirked as he tapped Martha's ass.
Clark turned around to see his mom's expression. Tonight would be a good night to go for a flight.
"What's going on with dad?" He asked.
"I don't know. He's been acting strange ever since he got home." Martha explained.
Jonathan closed the fridge door with a beer in hand.
"Hey Clark, there's a football game on TV. Want to watch it with me?" Jonathan asked.
"Don't you have chores to do?" Clark asked as he watched his dad.
"Ah, chores can wait." He said as he tilted the bottle against the counter and slammed his palm down. The cap popped off. "Besides, whoa, I earned a rest. You can pick up the slack for me."
Jonathan used the curtain to wipe up the spilt beer on his hand.
"Jonathan!" Martha said shocked. She tossed him a rag.
"Glad to see the whole hero thing didn't go to your head," Clark said.
A knock came at the back door.
"Am I interrupting?" Lex asked through the screen.
"Hi, Lex." Martha said.
"What's up, Lex?" Clark greeted as Lex stepped into the kitchen.
"I'm looking for Mr. Kent," Lex said.
"What do you want?" Jonathan asked.
"I heard you pulled my employee out of a car, I wanted to see if you were okay," Lex explained.
"No, you didn't. You wanted to see if I was gonna sue you or not," Jonathan accused.
Clark looked at his dad as if he'd grown two heads. His dad never acted like this.
"Of course that would put an end to all of my financial difficulty. Wouldn't it?" Jonathan went on.
"Jonathan, that's enough." Martha said.
"No, its not enough, Martha." Jonathan said. He took a swig of his beer. "You see, I don't like Lex Luthor. I don't like Lionel Luthor, and I don't like your friendship with my son. In fact, if all of you Luthors were to dry up and die, I wouldn't shed a tear."
"Dad, that's enough." Clark stepped forward and pushed his dad out of Lex's face.
He was acting like a bastard and that wasn't his father. Yet he wasn't going to stand here and let it continue. Jonathan burped in Lex's face before he turned and went upstairs. Martha gave Lex an apologetic look before she followed her recently rude husband.
"Well, that was a Jonathan Kent I've never seen before." Lex said.
"Same here," Clark said.
"I think it's best if I leave." Lex said.
"I don't blame you," Clark replied with a shrug.
Lex left through the kitchen door and Clark looked at the staircase. He might as well get the chores done and hang out in the loft. He didn't want to be around Jonathan until he calmed down.
"Wow. Drinking beer, mouthing off and counter-macking with your mom?" Pete asked.
It was the next day at school and Clark was updating Pete on what had happened when he'd come home last night. "Congratulations, Clark, your dad's regressed back to being a teenager."
"He's been under a lot of stress but I wonder if he's beginning to crack." Clark said.
"I still like the part where he dissed Lex." Pete said and it was no surprise to Clark.
"What's your deepest desire?" Chloe asked from behind them.
Clark and Pete turned around to see their blonde friend holding a clipboard in one hand and pen in the other. It wasn't an unusual sight.
"Hello, Chloe, nice to see you too. What's up?" Clark asked.
"Principal Kwan thinks I need to get in touch with the pulse of the student body. So I've decided to do a poll. Now, if you would both please do your statistical duty." Chloe explained with a smile.
"I'd go and make out with that girl right now," Pete said as a rather good looking girl passed by.
"You know, every answer I've gotten so far has been either sex or violence related." Chloe said disappointed in Pete.
"That's human nature, Chloe. Later." Pete said before taking off after the hottie.
"Hey," Lana said coming up to Chloe's side.
"Hi," Chloe said. She held up her clipboard, "What about you Lana? Got one?"
"I would climb the windmill out in Chandler's field," Lana said.
"Really? That's your deepest desire." Chloe said surprised or shocked. Clark couldn't get a clear read on her facial expression.
"Someone told me you could see the Metropolis skyline from there," Lana explained, "I haven't got the guts to climb up and see for myself."
"I see," Chloe said making a face as she wrote it down.
"I could always make something up," Lana said.
"No! No, its good. Unleashing the inner Lana," Chloe said.
Clark smiled as Lana looked over at him.
"Okay. I'll see you two later," Lana said.
Clark watched as Lana headed upstairs.
"Okay, Clark, you're up," Chloe said, "Remember, it's a PG-13 poll." She added as he turned back around.
"Since Whitney's dad has been in the hospital there's been a no-fly zone over Lana," Clark said.
"You know, there are other girls out there that don't require crossing an emotional minefield," Chloe said.
Clark recognized her hint but he wasn't going to move on it. Chloe always had a crush on him in high school and he had hurt her heart once. He had super sped out of the formal to save Lana.
"I really care about her. Beside's Lana is the girl worth waiting for and the one worth fighting for," Clark explained.
"You know, the choice is yours," Chloe said, "You can sit in your loft and play with your telescope. Or you can move on."
Clark watched as Chloe walked off.
It was after school and Clark was on his way to the Talon to make some casual conversation with Lana. When he heard screeching tires he quickly turned around to find the cause. He saw a blue truck that looked like his dads. It was swerving recklessly all over the road nearly crashing into a handful of cars. As it took a sharp left turn the door opened and his father stuck his head out and screamed at some car. Clark watched shocked.
He looked around and with no one focused on him he super sped after his crazy father. He found his dad out behind the bank. He came to a stop in front of him and noticed the shot gun in his hands.
"Dad what are you doing?" He asked.
"I've done nothing but give to this town and they screw me over," Jonathan said. Clark noticed how angry he sounded and could only imagine what happened to trigger this attitude. "They've pushed me too far and I'm pushing back."
"Not with a shotgun," He said pushing his dad back, "You've got to slow down. You're not thinking."
"I'm thinking just fine, son." Jonathan said. He shifted his arm and cocked the shotgun. "Now get out of my way!"
Jonathan moved forward and Clark did the only thing he could think of. He grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and pulled it. His father didn't let go and turned with it. He slipped and stepped back, his finger on the trigger. Jonathan watched as the shotgun shells bounced off of Clark's chest.
Clark looked down in shock before looking back up at his father. Jonathan had broken out into a sweat and looked horrified.
"Clark," He said before spinning on his feet and trying to catch his breath. Clark rushed to his side when he collapsed and lost consciousness.
"His symptoms indicate a severe anaphylactic shock. But we can't detect any known antigens," The doctor explained.
"What is it then?" Martha asked turning from the hospital window where she was watching Jonathan.
"Truth is, if he'd come in just yesterday, I'd say I'd never seen anything like it. But we admitted a car-crash victim this morning, a James Beels?" The doctor explained, "Showed identical symptoms."
"That's the guy dad saved. How's he doing?" Clark asked.
"Not good," The look on the doctors face told all. This was bad. "He fell into a coma an hour ago."
Clark looked down at his mom. He wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his chest. He hoped Chloe found something out at the crash site.
The next day his mom forced him to go to school. Even if he could make up the homework and get a hundred she still needed him out of the house. His mom was barely keeping it together and he was trying his hardest to remember what had happened to his dad. It ate away at him that he couldn't remember everything that had happened in high school. Before the whole incident with the time travel he would be able to tell Lois the exact events on any date she thought of. Now for the life of him he could barely remember the biggest challenges he faced.
He flicked the propellers of a toy airplane while he hid away in the Torch office. Even if he was at school he didn't want to go to class. Chloe understood and gave him the keys to the office door.
"Not going to class, Clark?" Lana asked from the doorway.
He jumped a bit and turned to look at her. His jaw nearly hit the floor. She was wearing a mini black skirt that showed off her legs nicely and a red and black lacy shirt. She looked dead sexy and it boiled his blood.
"What's the matter?" She asked at his silence.
"Nothing. It's just a change." He managed to get out with the little breath he had.
She stepped from the doorway and did a little spin on her way into the office.
"You like it?" She asked.
"I think the operative word is "gulp." He said with a awkward smile.
She took a seat in front of him and dropped her smile, "Listen." She leaned forward a bit, "I know things are rough, but you can't let them get you down."
"It's kind of hard not to," He said.
She didn't know how rough things were. Having lived all of this once and not being able to remember events like these.
"The key is to keep your mind off it. Let your friends be your friends. Let them distract you. Trust them." She said.
"I do trust you, Lana." He said.
She smiled big, "Good." She giggled and stood up. "Then follow me," She said grabbing his hand and leading him off.
He followed her to the pool. No one was inside as she closed the door and grabbed his hand leading him all the way in. He had no idea what she was up too.
"What are we doing in here?" He asked, wondering what she was up too.
"It's quiet," She answered leaving him at the corner while she snaked around to the diving board.
"It's also completely," He looked over as she stomped her foot down on the diving board and unzipped her boot, "off limits."
He gulped as she smiled seductively at him. He had only seen that smile a few handful of times and he sure did miss it. But that was after high school so why was she doing this now?
"I don't think I'm up for this," He said as much as he hated to say it.
She stepped out onto the diving board and walked her way down.
She unbuckled her belt, "You think too much, Clark."
"Right now I'm thinking you don't seem like yourself," He said as she tossed her belt off to the side.
She reached behind her and he could hear a zipper.
"Or maybe," She slipped her skirt down to her ankles and kicked the piece of clothing toward him. He caught it and smiled. "I'm more me than ever," She said with a smile.
"This is crazy," He said going along with it.
"That's the point," She said holding her arms out. She turned back around to him, "If life doesn't make you crazy, then why bother living it? I know that's how I want it," She said pulling her shirt off.
His eyebrows reached his hairline. She walked back closer to the edge and looked over to him.
"Question is: Do you want what I want?" She asked.
She smiled at his reaction. He watched as she did a back flip down the diving board. She paused for a moment and smiled over at him before doing a back flip into the pool. He smiled in surprise that she did something like that. Not to mention it was incredibly hot.
She smiled as she surfaced for air, "Don't you want to come in, Clark?"
"As soon as I take my clothes off the principal would walk in," He said with a small laugh.
She smiled and swam over to the ladder and climbed out. She walked right up to him and got as close as she could without touching him.
"I know you want me, Clark." She said. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. "Just stop holding back. Come on." She pulled his head closer and his heart jumped a beat. "You not made of steel. Or are you?" She asked as their lips were almost touching.
His breath caught in his throat but he couldn't hold back. This was Lana and he could feel her breath on his chin. He leaned down and captured her lips with his. He placed his hands on her hips and she reached up and unbuttoned his shirt. She pushed his shirt off his shoulders and let it drop to the floor. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. He moved from her lips to her neck. Her hand snaked its way up into his hair.
"God. Clark," She moaned.
She pulled away and smiled at him.
"I think you need to cool down," She said.
"Only if you join me," He flirted back.
He knew she wasn't acting like herself and that this was wrong. But it was Lana and he wanted this so bad.
"I don't know, Clark. Suddenly you got ballzy." She said amazed at his taking charge.
He picked her up and smiled, "Who said I would take no for an answer?" He asked.
She giggled and he jumped into the pool. She laughed and smiled at him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. She met him halfway for another kiss. When they pulled apart for air the principal coughed. They both looked at him guilty as charged.
"She just stripped down in front of you? Lana Lang, in all her glory." Chloe was shocked by what Clark told her.
He had just been released from the principals office and went to the Torch to see if Chloe had figured anything out. Lana had taken off and Clark knew something was up.
"Most of her glory," Clark said.
"Well, at least you'll have a nice picture to daydream about in Saturday detention for the rest of the year," Chloe said.
He finished drying his hair, "It was weird. She said everything I've ever wanted to hear from her. But it didn't seem like she knew what she was doing."
"What do you think made Lana go soft-core?" Chloe asked.
"First my dad, now Lana," He said.
"Yeah, and don't forget that Beels guy. Remember the one that your dad helped?" Chloe asked.
"You must have missed something at the accident site. That's the only connection," He said thinking.
"No, I didn't. Because I was there and I'm fine," She said.
"It just doesn't make any sense," He said.
Chloe messed with her computer for a bit, "Wait. Looks like we weren't the only ones out there."
"Who's that?" Clark asked looking at the photo.
"I think it's Dr. Hamilton," She said looking closely at the photo.
"The meteor freak?" Clark asked.
"Yeah," She said.
"What's he doing skulking around in the woods?" Clark asked.
"I don't know, but I have a feeling it's not just a coincidence," She said, "I'm going to go talk to him."
"I'm going to go talk to Lana," He said. Maybe she remembered what happened last night. "I think whatever happened to my father is about to happen to her."
He wasn't about to let anything bad happen to her if he could help it.
When Clark was approaching the Talon he saw Lex's car peel out and do a 180 in the middle of the street. When he got a closer look it was Lana behind the wheel. He got worried as she sped off. He followed in super speed. He couldn't let her get herself killed. He followed Lana out to the windmill.
"Lana, what's going on? Does Lex know you have his car?" He asked after he slowed to normal speed hoping she wouldn't ask about how he was out here. She turned around and smiled at him.
"He should by now," She said before turning around and heading toward the ladder.
"Something happened to you, I just don't know what." He said running around the car and to her side.
"It's called self-confidence. For the first time, I'm not repressing my feelings. I'm free," She said.
"No, you're not." He pleaded.
"You confuse me Clark. Don't you like me being free? After all we had a great time in the pool," She said.
"Lana, you're sick. I need to get you to the hospital," He said trying to get her to a doctor before she broke down like his dad.
"Are you in love with me?" She asked.
Clark sighed, "I've always been in love with you."
She smiled and turned around. She started up the ladder and called down to him, "You want me? Come and get me."
"Lana, stop!" Clark called.
"What's the matter, Clark? Afraid of heights?" She asked as she kept climbing up.
"What are you doing? Please come back down," He called.
He really didn't want to have to fly up there and get her. He saw her stop and look around.
"Lana!" He called worried.
He watched as she fell backwards and rushed toward the ground. He moved and caught her before she smacked the earth.
She looked up at him confused, "Clark?"
Then she went limp in his arms. He immediately super sped towards the hospital.
Clark watched as the doctors wheeled Lana down the hallway. Martha came up, "What happened?"
"She's got the same symptoms as dad and Beels," He answered watching as Lana was wheeled to her room. Clark noticed Lex by the doorway which sent warning signals through his spine, "How's dad?"
"He slipped into a coma. The doctors don't know how long he'll last," She said.
He could hear his mothers emotional disarray in her voice. He looked through the hospital window and watched as his father laid there motionless.
"I've got doctors flying in from Metropolis. I'm going to do everything I can for Mr. Kent," Lex said.
Clark looked back at his bald friend. He somehow had a feeling Lex might be behind this. Martha walked back into the room and Lex joined his side.
"Clark, I'm sorry," Lex said.
"It's not your fault Lex," He said looking over at him.
Lex just looked back. Clark turned back to watch as his mother rubbed his father's hair. He knew his mom was doing everything to not break down.
Clark sat with Chloe and Pete at lunch. Going to school wasn't easy especially when he wanted nothing more than to be rotating between Lana and his father's room at the hospital.
"Dr. Hamilton had a copy of this in his barn. Nicodemus Diary." Chloe said as they ignored their lunches. "It's a first-hand account of Smallville's first mystery," Chloe went on as Clark flipped through the pages. "In 1871, the whole settlement went postal before they even had a post office."
"Nice to know Smallville was whack before the meteors," Pete said.
"Yeah. In the diary, they talk about a flower. The settlers called it Nicodemus. They said it liberated repressed feelings, sent them into rages, then fever and finally…it…well..." Chloe explained.
"Well where can we find this flower?" He asked knowing why Chloe cut off.
"You see, that's the glitch. After the massacre, the cavalry torched the settlement. They didn't want whatever caused it to spread. The flowers been extinct for 100 years," Chloe explained.
"How is Hamilton involved in this? He's a geologist." Clark asked frustrated that none of the information was helping.
"With a meteor fixation," Chloe added.
"We tracked down this paper he wrote six years ago," Pete said pulling it out of his backpack.
"Metropolis University Press," He read out loud.
"I think this is the last straw," Chloe said taking it from Pete and flipping through a few pages. "In it, he postulates that meteor rocks can be used to irradiate dormant plant cells."
"So you think Hamilton brought back the Nicodemus?" Clark asked.
"Now he's trying to cover it up," Pete said.
"Let's go talk to him," Clark said wanting to get to the bottom of this.
"Wait, there's more. Dr. Hamilton didn't check out The Nicodemus Diary. Lex did," Chloe said.
Clark had a feeling Lex was in on this but he wasn't going to go accusing the guy until he had evidence. Now he did.
"You think he's involved?" Clark asked.
"I told you all along he was bad news," Pete said not keeping his anger hidden.
"Pete, we don't know anything yet," Clark said going to Lex's defense.
After Clark checked on everyone at the hospital he went to search for Lex. It was nightfall by the time he'd found him. Lex was on the phone standing outside of the Talon. Clark walked up as Lex hung up.
"I just got off the phone with the doctors. They've isolated the problem." Lex said.
"Does it have to do with the Nicodemus flower?" Clark asked. When Lex didn't answer he went on, "I know that you checked the diary out of the library."
"Yes, I did, Clark." Lex answered.
"Why?" Clark asked.
"Because my property was built on the site of the original settlement. I always thought it was an interesting story. When I heard about your dad's symptoms, I remembered it. I tracked it down to see if it could help." Lex explained.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Clark asked.
"Clark, it's a crackpot story. I was grasping at straws," Lex went on.
"Do you know Dr. Steven Hamilton?" Clark asked.
"Who's that?" Lex asked.
Clark grabbed his jacket and shook Lex a bit, "Don't lie to me!" He said frustrated.
The book that Lex had checked out was on Hamilton's desk. He knew Lex was lying.
"Clark calm down. I know you're worried about your dad and Lana but I checked the book out of the library, that's it." Lex said. Clark let go of his jacket. "I'm not responsible for what happened, and I'm doing everything in my power to fix it. That's the truth, Clark." Lex said.
Clark knew he was lying. At least about some of it. But he swore he would give Lex another chance. He was trying to fix the problem. He backed off and caught his breath.
Clark went back to the hospital and joined his mom in his dad's room.
"How is he?" He asked as he walked inside.
Martha looked up at him, "Not good." He took a seat next to her. "Clark, Mr. Beels died half an hour ago."
Clark's heart dropped. He fought back tears. He had to stay strong for his mom.
"With all my abilities, there's nothing I can do." He feared losing his dad again.
He swore he wouldn't let it happen but here he was watching the heart monitor that beeped out his dad's heart beat.
"Did I ever tell you about the first time I ever saw your father?" She asked.
Clark looked over and smiled. After he had died it was one of the stories she would tell him a lot.
"No." He said.
He wanted to see his mom light up again telling the story. It always made her smile no matter how sad she was.
"He came to Metropolis U to take a finance course, and he was sitting by a fountain all denim and flannel, eating an apple. And I asked to borrow his notes. He didn't know that I was the note-taker for the class. He still doesn't." She said with a huge smile.
"You're sly, mom." He smiled back.
She looked back over at Jonathan, "He was so cute." She looked back at Clark, "So I asked him for his notes and he just handed over his notebook without even asking my name, and I said: "How can you be sure I'll bring it back?" and he said: "I prefer to believe in people."
"It sounds like dad," He said.
"I remember looking at him, completely embarrassed because I was thinking the dumbest thing. I was thinking: "God, I hope he marries me." I still think that. Everyday there's a part of me that says " God, I hope he marries me." She began to cry and he pulled her into a hug and let her cry into his chest.
A knock came at the window and Martha waved the person in.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Kent. Can I talk to you for a second, Clark?" Chloe asked.
Clark turned back to his mom as she wiped away her tears, "Go." She said.
She kissed his cheek and he gave her a quick hug before getting up and going out to the hallway where Chloe was waiting.
"I'm so sorry," Chloe said. Clark closed the door and looked at her. "Dr. Hamilton was lying. I found the Nicodemus flower in the barn. One got Pete, and he took a quick turn to scary."
"Where did he go?" Clark asked not wanting Pete to end up like Lana and his dad.
"He grabbed a gun and said he was going after Lex." Chloe said.
Clark nodded and took off down the hallway. Once out of eyeshot he sped off like a bullet.
Clark got the Mansion and heard gunshots. He made it to the study as fast as he could and found Lex being held at gunpoint.
"Pete! Don't do it." Clark called bursting into the room.
"We used to be best friends. His dad screwed over my dad, and now he's trying to screw up things between us." Pete vented, "The worlds a better place without him."
"Pete, put the gun down." Clark tried to reason with him.
"He's behind all this. I saw Hamilton here." Pete urged Clark to understand. Clark looked over to Lex believing what Pete told him. "They're working on this together!" Pete went on.
Clark saw the look of fear on Lex's face. He knew he was caught and in trouble.
"Is that true?" Clark asked.
"Clark. He's delusional," Lex said.
"I don't believe you. You're right Pete, he's been lying to everyone." Clark said agreeing. "I know who my true friends are."
He wasn't lying. He knew Pete would always have his back and that Lex was his biggest enemy in the future. But he still had a chance to save Lex from himself but first he had to prevent him from getting shot.
"I knew you'd see the light," Pete said.
Clark stalked forward and Lex raised his hands in defense, "Clark, what are you doing?" Lex asked. Clark could hear his fear.
"Can't talk you're way out of this one, Lex." Clark said shaking his head. He got a thrill of scaring him. "I see you how you really are. This friendship is over."
He grabbed Lex by his collar. He shoved Lex into the wall and Lex crumbled. Clark enjoyed the feeling of power that rushed over him. It was an amazing feeling that he had to brush off.
"Nice one," Pete said slapping Clark on the shoulder. "I'll finish him."
Pete raised his gun and pointed it at Lex. Clark actually paused for a moment. This would end so many problems. Clark ripped the gun from Pete's hands a moment later. He had to give Lex a chance.
"How did you do that?" Pete asked.
"Don't worry, Pete, we'll get you to the hospital." He said.
He knocked Pete on the forehead and Pete was out cold. Clark checked on him before checking on Lex. Lex was coming too.
He rubbed the back of his head, "Clark, what the hell?"
"I'm sorry, Lex." Clark apologized even though he enjoyed it.
"So that was an act?" Lex asked.
"I didn't know what else to do. He was going to shoot you." Clark explained.
"You had me for a moment. I thought you were serious." Lex said.
Clark helped him to his feet, "What do they feed you on that farm?" He asked.
"I prefer my mom's mac and cheese with mashed potatoes with her famous steak. Then some good chocolate chip cookies for dessert. But nothing beats her apple pies," He joked.
"Glad to see you still have a sense of humor," Lex said with a small laugh.
"So did Hamilton get out of here okay?" Clark asked.
"Pete shot him but it wasn't serious," Lex said basically admitting he had been lying.
Clark woke to someone rubbing his hair. He lifted his head and heard his dad, "Morning sleepyhead," Clark smiled and leaned over to give him a huge hug.
"Dad, you're okay!" He said.
"Yeah. Clark. Clark, what am I doing here?" Jonathan asked.
"Jonathan! Oh, sweetheart!" Martha said rushing the room.
"Martha," Jonathan managed to get out as his wife smothered him with kisses.
"The doctors in Metropolis found a cure last night. It was an old Native American remedy." Martha explained to him.
"How are Pete and Lana?" Clark asked.
"They're already up," Martha said. Clark sighed in relief.
"Dad do you remember anything?" Clark asked.
"No," Jonathan said confused.
"Doctors think it's because of the fever," Martha explained
"Trust me, it's better that way." Clark said. If his dad knew that he shot him with the shotgun he would feel horrible and he didn't need that stress…ever.
"Okay, open your eyes, Lana." Clark said after pulling his hands away. "There's Metropolis." He explained what she was seeing. He had carried her up to the top of the windmill.
"It's beautiful," She said. "I can't believe we're up here."
"It's actually getting down which is going to be the interesting part," He said. He looked down before finding the words he wanted to say. "It's good to have you back, Lana." He looked over to her and caught her smile.
"I spent the entire day apologizing to the Talon staff and to Lex and to Whitney. I just wish I could remember what happened. Apparently I broke up with Whitney and stole Lex's car after closing the Talon early. It sounds like I got a little out of control." She said.
"You spoke your mind, and you did what you wanted. Kind of an alpha Lana." He said.
"I couldn't believe what I was wearing." She said with a small laugh.
"I thought you looked hot," He said. "I kinda liked it."
She looked at him and saw the smirk on his face. "I didn't say or do anything embarrassing to you that I should know about, did I?" She asked.
Clark looked her in the eye and debated telling her.
"Well, we went for a swim in the school pool. The majority of the trouble we got in was because of the lack of clothing we were wearing." He explained.
"My god, Clark. How much were we lacking?" She asked.
"We'll I was down to my jeans and you…well…left no room for imagination." He answered.
She turned away embarrassed. "I can't believe it. I am so sorry."
"Don't be. I've been wanting to do something like that with you for a long time." He said.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I rather enjoyed the half naked swim," He said with a huge smile.
"I wish you had told me sooner," She said.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because then I wouldn't have gotten back with Whitney," She explained.
"His dad is dying. He needs you and I understand that," He said.
She smiled up to him, "You're a great guy Clark."
"I'll still be here waiting for you." He said.
She smile and looked back over to the Metropolis skyline. They just took one step forward to becoming more than friends. He had meant his words to Chloe. She was worth waiting for. Now all he had to do was wait. But at least he had hope on his side.