Chapter Four: All I can Do is Try

"Have you seen Chloe?" Clark asked Pete as soon as he left the scene of Isabelle and Micheal's talk.

"No, but I'm sure that she's just as lost as I am." Pete responded as Clark rushed past him, eagerly. Chloe was the only one here who would know what to do and there was definitely something going on with those kids from the mall. He just couldn't—

"Hey." Larissa shouted, rushing to keep up with his brisk pace.

"Have you seen Chloe?"

"No. What's going on Clark?" Larissa looked at him intensely as everything that he was going to tell Chloe disappeared from his mind.

"Nothing. I just wanted to …"

"Check out the café?" Clark nodded, finding himself instantly hungry.

"How did you know?" He wondered.

"That's all high school boys do. Eat." Larissa joked. "So what do you think of this place?"

"I don't really know yet, but it's a lot different from Smallville..." Clark's voice trailed off as his eyes began to watch and follow Lana. She was in the cafeteria too, carrying her tray around and looking for someone to sit with. Clark was about to invite her to sit with them, but she had already found a seat. With Michael and Isabelle. Suddenly, Clark felt an urge to protect Lana and to keep her away from them.

"Clark, where are you going?" Larissa wondered, trying to get him to look at her, but he wouldn't. As he walked away, Larissa knew that Clark Kent would be a challenge. But that was okay … she loved challenges. And she always won.

"Hey Lana." Clark smiled, walking up to the table. "Can I talk to you a moment?"

"Umm … sure." She shrugged, saying yes because she was happy to see a familiar face, but honestly not wanting to have anything to do with Clark at the moment.

"Have you seen Chloe?" He wondered.

"Is that what you came to talk to me about? Chloe?" Lana looked away, sadly.

"No. It's not like … There's something going on here and I really want to get her opinion. Nothing's going on." He admitted.

"And it wouldn't matter if something was happening. You're free Clark. Free as a bird and we both made it clear to each other that that was the best route." Lana smiled to herself. "You know I honestly thought that just being your friend would allow you to open up to me, but I have to admit that I'm more confused than ever."

"There's nothing for me to tell you Lana. Do you want me to make up stuff?" He shot back.

"I just want the real truth." She took in a deep breathe. "Why couldn't you say I love you back?"

"Ahh!" Clarke heard a host of screams behind him as lights started to crash everywhere with a group of people arguing heatedly in the midst of it.

"What's going on?" Clark wondered as Lana followed after him.

"I am not letting you get off that easy Clark. I want an answer." Lana demanded determined, unaware that one of the lights was about to fall directly over her delicate body.

"Lana." Clark dove over her body, pushing her out of the way as Lana landed against one of the counters, her head hitting the top. Hard. Immediately, Clark sat up, rushing over to her and making sure that everything was fine. "Lana. Lana!"

"I don't know what you pulled in there, but that was really stupid Michael." Max accused his best friend, glad that no one seemed to have connected them to what was happening.

"I told you Maxwell, I didn't do anything. Something weird has been going on and--"

"It was me." Isabelle admitted. "For the last two days, things have been a little out-of-control. It's like I have all of this pent up anger and it just explodes at any time. I can't control it."

"But you have to. Someone could've gotten hurt out there." Max ran his hand through his hair. "You can't let your emotions control you." He stopped suddenly, watching Liz Parker being wooed by Kyle Valenti.

"Look who's talking." Michael joked.

"She was bound to find someone that would return her feelings. You can't blame her." Isabelle chimed in. "They're probably just talking anyway." She continued, trying to make her older brother feel a little better.

"No. He's asking her to go somewhere …"

"The dance." Max sighed.

"Yeah, but two can play that game." Michael added as he watched Clark and Lana, what was left of the "Smallville" crew walk in front of them in a hurried rush. "Just take your pick."

"You make it sound so easy." Isabelle said as Max and Clark glared at one another.

"He knows." Max whispered when Clark was out of earshot, still carrying Lana in his arms.

"How could he?" Isabelle asked.

"He knows." Max repeated icily.

to be continued …

(A/N: Writers block is a terrible thing. I'm starting to get over it, so enjoy this chapter and these updates while they last. –NL)