This chapter brought to you by my beta. Enjoy.

NOCTURNE

Clark made his way through the crowds of people after school. It had been a few days after his run in with red kryptonite. Now he was hoping for life to go back to normal for at least a little bit before anything else was thrown at him. He turned a corner and saw Pete, Chloe and Lana. They were no doubt headed for the Torch headquarters. Clark walked up to them.

"Hey guys!" he said.

His greeting was met with silence. Something was up... Chloe and Lana went directly to the couch while Pete leaned up against a desk. Clark stood there watching them.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Lana has a secret admirer!" Chloe blurted out, as she removed her jacket.

Clark raised an eyebrow and looked at Lana, who was looking everywhere but at him. In her hands was an envelope.

"It's nothing really..." she said, quietly.

Chloe looked over at her disbelievingly.

"What do you mean nothing?! What happened to... 'romantic'?"

There was a moment of silence in which Chloe was waiting for Lana to say something. Clark wondered who Lana's secret admirer was this time.

"Just let the boy read it," said Pete.

Lana looked up, but tightened her grip on the envelope. Pete and Chloe watched intently. Finally Lana sighed and surrendered the envelope. Clark opened it up and read the poem. He raised his eyebrows in amusement. It was sort of...cheesy... Lana saw the glimmer in his eyes as he read it.

"What?" she stated flatly.

"It's a little mushy," he said with a slight smile.

Lana rolled her eyes and stood up. She grabbed the poem from his hands.

"I almost forgot that you were Clark Kent, Man of Steel," she said, her words dripping with apathy. Then she turned to Pete and Chloe. "I'll see you guys later."

"Bye," Pete and Chloe said.

After Lana left, Chloe started typing away and Pete left for football practice. Clark left frustrated. He didn't see this coming. If he would have, then his reaction would have been different. There was something familiar about this whole situation...but he was having trouble remembering.

Clark went straight to the Talon after he left the school. He knew Lana was working and wanted to make amends. He walked inside to find her talking to Lex. Lex was holding the poem in his hand and by the way Lana was smiling, Clark knew Lex's reaction was a lot better than his. Trying not to let jealousy get the best of him, Clark slowly approached.

"It's nice some people appreciate artistic expression," said Lana, when she saw him.

Lex looked from Clark to Lana, before handing Clark the poem.

"It kinds of raises the bar for any other contenders, doesn't it Clark ?" Lex said with a smirk.

Clark said nothing and Lex walked away. Lana walked from behind the counter and started clearing off a table. She was still not happy with him.

"Look, Lana," Clark started. "I know things aren't great between us right now, but –"

"I'm fine, Clark ," Lana interrupted.

She went on to the next table and Clark knew she was dropping hints for him to leave. But he refused to be pushed away that easily.

"Lana, I want to apologize for ragging on the poem."

Lana let out a sigh and looked at him.

"I guess poetry's not for everybody," she said.

She walked behind the counter and started wiping it down. Clark stood there staring at her. She looked up and saw the serious expression on his face.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked.

"I guess I was just surprised that you would show Pete and Chloe the poem, but not show me."

"You can't expect me to share everything with you, Clark, if you're not going to be open with me."

Clark looked down at the poem in his hand and laid it on the counter.

"Sorry I bothered you," he said and started walking away.

Lana let out a sigh and walked after him.

"Wait," she said.

Clark stopped and turned to face her.

"I appreciate your apology," she said, sincerely. "And I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I guess I'm just...a little bit freaked out."

"Why?"

"Well, because the poems I find are always on the tombstone at my parents' grave."

"Sounds like something out of a horror movie..."

"I know," Lana said. "The thought that someone is sneaking around watching me is a little scary."

"So...what are you going to do?" asked Clark . "Stop visiting their grave?"

"No! I would never do that," Lana said. "I'm going to stay out there later until I meet this mysterious Romeo."

Clark only nodded. Then Lana smiled up at him.

"I better get back to work," she said.

Smiling, Clark watched her walk off. For now they were both happy.

Clark knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to be there just in case something went wrong. What if Lana's Romeo turned out to be a cold blooded killer? He reached the cemetery and saw her talking to a guy who looked to be about their age. In the moonlight, he had pale skin, long dark hair and dark eyes. Clark got close enough to hear but not close enough to be seen.

"Why do you leave me these poems?" Lana was asking.

"Because...you inspire me," said the guy.

Clark saw Lana smile. Then she stepped a little closer to the guy because she felt comfortable. Clark sighed. Nothing about this mysterious stranger seemed harmful so he turned to go. Then he heard Lana scream. Without thinking he zoomed over and sent the guy flying onto another grave. Clark saw Lana lying a few feet away puzzled beyond all reason.

" Clark ?" she said, sitting up. "Where did you come from?"

"I – I heard you scream," said Clark , changing the subject. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah I think so, but where's Byron?"

"Who's Byron?"

Lana looked around and saw Byron lying unconscious on the ground. She stood up and hurried over to his side.

"Oh my god!" she said, kneeling down.

Byron's eyes opened slowly.

"Are you alright?" Lana asked.

"Yeah...I'm fine."

Byron sat up and Lana let out a sigh.

"Sorry about that," she said, staring coldly over at Clark . "I don't know where he came from."

"It's alright," Byron said, slowly standing up.

He wobbled a bit and Lana put his arm around her shoulders. Clark felt a twinge of jealousy, but then felt guilty. He missed something, but he hadn't missed Lana scream.

"Let's go back into town and talk," said Lana.

"I can't stay out for too much longer, though," Byron said.

"Don't worry, we'll get you back home."

Back in town at the Talon, Clark and Lana watched as Byron ate and drank like he hadn't in a long time. Then Lana looked at Clark and cleared her throat. He knew she was wanting him to apologize.

"Listen, Byron..." he said. "I'm sorry I knocked you out. Its just that I heard Lana scream and –"

"It's okay, Clark . You were protecting a beautiful young lady. It was chivalrous."

Lana smiled over at him and Clark frowned.

"I'm just curious...why did you scream?" Clark said to Lana.

Lana was about to answer, but Byron cut in.

"She shined her flashlight in my eyes. I didn't mean to...but it was the sudden bright light. It caught me off guard. I'm sorry, Lana. I would never hurt you."

"It's okay, Byron," smiled Lana.

Clark watched as they looked at each other.

"If I could write the beauty of your eyes and number all your graces... The age would come to say 'This poet lies. Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces'," said Byron, all the while staring deeply into Lana's eyes.

Clark fought back the urge to laugh, but immediately frowned when he saw the looks they were giving each other.

"That was beautiful," Lana said.

"Which poet wrote that?" said Clark .

"Shakespeare," answered Byron.

Clark nodded thoughtfully. Byron finished off the cake and sat back, fully satisfied. The sound of a truck outside made them all frown. Then the realization hit Lana.

"Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "That's our milk delivery."

"What time is it?" Byron asked.

"Quarter to five," answered Clark .

Byron's eyes widened and he jumped up from the table. Clark and Lana quickly followed him outside.

"Byron, at least let us take you home," Clark called after him.

They all piled into the truck and quickly drove him home. Clark pulled up to the edge of the white picket fence surrounding the weathered old farm house. Then Byron quickly got out.

"You want us to come in and tell your parents what happened?" Clark called after him.

"No, I'll be fine!"

Just as Byron made it to the porch steps, the porch light came on and the door swung open. Clark and Lana's eyes widened when they saw Byron's father holding a gun in his face. Then Byron's mother hurried Byron inside, while Clark and Lana got out of the truck. They ran up to the yard, where Byron's dad was waiting for them.

"I better not catch you around my son again! Get out before I shoot you for trespassing!" Byron's father threatened.

To get his point across, he shot once into the air. That did it. Lana and Clark hurried into the truck and drove off as fast as they could to get help.

The next day, Lana and Clark explained to his parents what happened. Then they headed back to Byron's home with Sheriff Ethan and Jonathan. When they got there, Byron's parents said that Byron died eight years ago. But Lana and Clark knew better and knew his parents were lying. Sheriff Ethan promised to issue a warrant to search the house. Clark and Lana received strict orders to stay away from Byron's home until the warrant was made out. At school, Chloe did some research of her own.

"It looks like your tortured poet is an unfortunate member of the Dead Poet's Society. The certificate of death is signed by Dr. Emil Jenkins," she said, as she printed out a death certificate.

She handed it over to Clark who shook his head in disbelief.

"Its gotta be fake," he said, handing it back.

"Not that I don't trust your judgement, but could it be possible that goth boy is –"

"I don't think a ghost could polish off three pieces of cake and two cappuccinos." said Lana.

This whole situation really had her shaken up. She was concerned about Byron's welfare and so was Clark .

"I was just checking, I mean...this IS Smallville," said Chloe, as she typed quickly away on the keyboard. "I ran Dr. Jenkins' name through the computer and found something very interesting..."

Clark and Lana crowded behind her as she continued.

"Eight years ago, he surpervised a medical trial over at Metron Pharmaceuticals."

"Let me guess, Byron was a participant," said Clark , though he already knew the answer.

"Yeah. They were all kids who had exhibited antisocial behavior."

"But that doesn't sound like Byron. He's so gentle," said Lana.

Clark and Chloe looked at her. A sly smile spread across Chloe's face.

"Could it be that our new Shakespeare has stirred the heart of our young Juliet?" Chloe asked.

"Its just nice to meet someone who's so honest about their feelings, I don't have to guess what they're thinking," Lana answered, looking straight at Clark . "We have to start looking for Byron."

"No," said Clark . "We should see what the sheriff finds."

Lana looked at him, before rolling her eyes and walking out of the office. Chloe stared up at Clark .

"Let me guess...a lover's spat?" she said.

Clark only shrugged. This was not looking good.

In an attempt to help speed things along, Clark volunteered himself and Pete to go search Byron's home themselves. They found Byron in the darkened basement all chained up. When they got him out into the sunlight, he went through a transformation in which his skin broke and his eyes blackened. Byron turned into a completely different person whose strength was comparable to Clark 's. In his strange new form, Byron managed to throw Clark into a shed and knock Pete off the porch into an old car. Then he made his escape. Once he had Pete at the hospital, Clark decided to do some more research of his own.

He and his dad went back over to the house and found Byron's mom. She told them everything. About how Dr. Jenkins had promised to find a cure but couldn't. Then they feigned a death certificate and decided to keep Byron from the outside world. With Byron still out, he was growing dangerous by the minute. Clark knew he needed to take further action. But first he had to be sure Lana hadn't encountered the new Byron. He stopped by the Talon and found her gone, but just as he was about to leave...

"I just got back from visiting Pete," said Lana, as she walked into the door. "He told me what happened."

"He did?"

"Thanks for the call," Lana said, sarcastically.

She pushed past him.

"Look, Lana, I –"

"Why did you lie to me, Clark? Byron's my friend and I wanted to help. You cut me out."

"I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Is that really the reason or do you just not trust me?" Lana asked, crossing her arms.

Everything about her words and body language was challenging him.

"You...haven't seen Byron have you?" Clark asked.

He immediately knew that was the wrong thing to say. Lana frowned.

"No. I haven't. But if I had, you would already know! I would've been honest with you regardless if you were ever honest with me."

About that time, Chloe walked up with a piece of paper.

"Okay, I think I figured out why our would be Shakespeare went all pro wrestler on –"

She trailed off when she saw the ice daggers Lana was staring in Clark 's direction.

"Geez, is it me or did it just get a lot colder in here?"

Lana looked over at her before letting out a sigh.

"What'd you find?" Clark asked.

"The drug that Byron was given during the medical trials targeted his adrenal system..."

"And they were looking for a cure," Clark finished for her. "We need to track down the company."

"It's a little late for that. Metron was shut down before they even finished their research."

"Why would they do that?" Lana asked, frowning.

"I don't know," said Chloe. Then she turned to Clark . "Maybe Clark should ask his mom's new boss."

"Lionel Luthor owns Metron?" Clark said.

He didn't know why he was so surprised...it should've been obvious...

"I'm going to talk to Lex," he said.

He heard hurried footsteps coming after him and turned to see Lana.

"Where are you going?" Clark asked.

"To find Byron."

"My dad, Mr. Moore and half the sheriff's department are out searching for him."

"So you're saying I should just stay here and pour coffee?"

Lana's temperature was rising and Clark knew it was, but he refused to let her get hurt.

"I'm just saying that you should be careful. Byron's not the same. If you see him, don't get too close. Call someone."

Lana looked at him a few moments more before getting in her jeep and speeding off. Clark let out a sigh then supersped himself to the Luthor Mansion . If he was remembering correctly, that's where he would see Byron next.

After a short conversation with Lex, Clark went to search the grounds before Martha and Lionel had arrived for the helicopter ride to Metropolis. Clark struggled against him and finally got him into an old abandoned well where Byron returned to his normal state and lost all consciousness.

Clark saw his mom and Lionel off on their trip to Metropolis then hurried Byron to the hospital. Then he waited in the waiting room until the doctor said it was alright for him to go into Byron's room. Clark stopped in the doorway when he saw that Lana was already in there. Byron looked up at him and smiled.

" Clark ," he said. "I was just telling Lana here about how you saved me."

Clark only smiled and walked the rest of the way into the room.

"It's funny...I don't remember our fight, but I can't believe I didn't hurt you," said Byron, rubbing his forehead in confusion.

"Some people are lucky," said Lana, then she smiled up at Clark . "And then there's Clark Kent ."

Clark looked at her wondering what she meant by that. Then Byron reached out and took Lana's hand in his. She turned her attention back to Byron and Clark felt awkward standing there. Without a word, he silently slipped out.

Later on that day, Jonathan commissioned Clark to unload bales of hay. After a quick trip to the library, Clark got right on his assignment. It took a few minutes before he realized someone was watching him. He saw her out of the corner of his eye but kept on working like he didn't know she was there.

"You pulled one of your trademark disappearing acts last night," said Lana, walking over to him.

"Well, I figured you could use some alone time with Byron," Clark said.

He heaved another bale of hay onto the ground, before pretending that his arms were sore. Then he sat on the edge of the truck bed.

"About that..." said Lana, looking off to the side. "I kind of wish you had stayed."

"I thought you were comfortable around him."

"I am. I wish you could've heard what he had to say."

"Why's that?"

Lana sat down beside him and smiled.

"Because..." she said. "He had nothing but good to say about you."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he didn't tell me anything I didn't already know."

Clark thought for a moment and wondered what that meant. But instead of asking, he just smiled over at her.

"I'm sorry for not being straight with you from the beginning," he said, sincerely.

"It's alright. No need to apologize."

"I should've been there for you."

"I chose to chase after him myself, Clark. I honestly believed that I could save him, but I only ended up making things worse."

"You were trying to help a friend. There's no harm in that," Clark said.

Lana nodded and looked away.

"I just hope he's going to be okay..." she said, softly.

"It doesn't bother you that he's...different?"

Clark waited for her answer. At this point in time, he didn't remember how she felt about meteor infected people.

"No it doesn't bother me, actually," she said. "Should it?"

"I don't know, but this is Smallville..."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well you remember last year...all those meteor freaks."

" Clark , they weren't freaks," said Lana. "They were...people like you and me. The only difference is that they had abilities and weren't afraid to use them."

This caught Clark off guard. He looked around and tried not to pay attention to the dark haired beauty sitting beside him. She studied him and smiled.

"Besides..." she continued. "If you really like someone, you accept every part of them. But you can't do that until they're willing to share every part with you."

"But I think a lot of people are like Byron. They keep a part of themselves hidden so they don't scare people away."

"If you want to get close to someone, you have to take that risk," Lana countered.

This was yet another conversation with Lana that Clark used to dread. Conversations that alluded to the fact that she knew he was hiding something bigger from her. Clark forced himself to look away from her for fear of letting his eyes give him away.

"What if that risk is too big to take?" he said, without looking over at her.

"Then you might miss out on something that could be pretty amazing."

He looked over at her and she was smiling. Her beautiful smile that always melted his heart. Their eyes connected in a way that Clark had missed. Both of their hands traveled towards each other. As they sat there staring out at the endless blue skies, each were thinking different thoughts but the exact same thing. What did the future hold? But most of all, what did it hold for them.