June 2006

-"And we're freeeee !" Lena shouted to Kara who was waiting for her outside of the classroom. It was Friday and the last day of finals exams. There were still a few weeks of school before the end of the year but now all the pressure was gone. Even the teachers would loosen up on those last days, playing games with the students or watching movies during class. For Kara though, as she was hugging Lena after the latter's final exam, all wasn't over yet. She had one important thing left to do and not an easy one to say the least. It all started a little over a month ago, when she realized that she was in love with her best friend. Lena wasn't her only friend, she had others that she liked very much. She also loved her adoptive family and Clark a lot but, with Lena it always felt different. She was special.

As soon as Kara realized that her feelings for the brunette were definitely more than friendship, she had decided to tell the truth to the subject of her affection. She had thought about the situation in great detail and came to the conclusion that honesty was the best policy and that she would tell Lena about how she felt after the finals, not wanting to disturb her friend during that pivotal moment of the school year. Maybe once she will tell Lena, she will be brave enough to ask the brunette to be her girlfriend and maybe even lucky enough for Lena to answer her "yes". Kara didn't know what her friend's feelings for her were but she was determined to give it a shot. Lena was like a wild animal. She talked only to a few people, avoided big gatherings and gave the finger more often than she said "hello". But with the blonde she was kind, chatty and she often had that beautiful smile that probably nobody in high school had ever seen. Except for Kara. That should mean something, right ?

In the other hand, the fact that they were both girls never appeared as a problem for the Blonde. On Krypton, there was nothing wrong or unusual about those kind of relationships. It was different on Earth Kara learned, but wasn't worried about Eliza nor Alex. She had lived with them for a while now and knew they loved her very much. Who she loved was never going to change that, she was sure of it. Plus, there was no need to tell her family now. It will be relevant information if and only if, Lena agreed to date her and for now, that possibility sounded more like science-fiction than reality.

After the last exam on Friday, the Kryptonian allowed herself the whole weekend to think about what she was going to say. On Sunday night, Kara had to face the fact that she would never be truly prepared. No amount of rehearsals in front of her mirror would ease the pit in her stomach nor help her to find the right words once she would be in front of Lena. If she doesn't end up totally speechless when the time comes.

Finally, Monday was here and Kara was ready. She had absolutely no idea about what she was going to say to Lena but one thing was certain : she was going to tell her friend today. Without fail.

However, when Kara took the bus this morning, Lena wasn't on it. Then, when she arrived at school, there was still no sign of the brunette. Kara started to worry. Maybe Lena was sick, she thought. Of course, this would happen the day she had decided to tell her friend the truth. So, she texted the brunette to know is she was ok and headed to class.

At morning break, Lena still hadn't answered Kara text. The blonde tried to call her then but again, to no avail. Kara begun to worry again but told herself that everything was find and that she was surely exaggerating.

After lunch break, things started to get weird. Students were whispering in the corridors, making phone calls all around and she had still no news from Lena. Kara overheard snatches of conversations, the words "Metropolis" and "dead" recurring often. Even the teachers had anxious faces. Surely because they had a TV in their break room and consequently, knew more about what was going on. Something bad apparently.

When Kara entered her first class of the afternoon, her teacher was already there, standing behind his desk with a worried face. He told his students that something really bad happened in Metropolis early this morning. Apparently, there was some sort of massive explosion and a lot of people were killed and injured.

-"If you have family or friends there, you can call them now, make sure they're OK" the teacher finished and took his own phone from his pocket. Kara immediately called Eliza. She needed to know if Alex was all right. She didn't worry for her cousin, if there was anyone who could survive a massive explosion, it was the Man of steel. After just one ring, her adoptive mother answered her call.

-"Hey, is Alex OK ?" Kara asked right away. There was no time for greetings.

-"Yes, she's fine. She called me an hour ago to tell me. Your cousin is all right too" Eliza informed her daughter hastily.

-"Oh great, I was really starting to panic here" Kara said, laughing nervously.

-"Listen honey, start gathering your stuff and meet me in front of the school in fifteen minutes OK ? I'm going to get you".

-"Why ?"

-"I'll explain later. Get ready OK ?

-"OK" Kara answered as the line went dead. She was relieved that Alex was safe and sound but Eliza had sounded so odd on the phone, like she was in a hurry, afraid even. Kara didn't know what was going on exactly yet, but a strange feeling was telling her that the situation was about to get worse.

Fifteen minutes later, Kara was standing in front of Smallville High waiting for Eliza with her backpack filled with all the content of her locker. She squinted her eyes under the dazzling summer sun, in search of the Danvers red car. Soon, she heard the sound of an engine approaching and saw Eliza driving around the block.

-"Kara, quick ! Get in !" Eliza shouted to her daughter by the open passenger window. As soon as Kara closed the door, Eliza drove off.

-"Eliza, what's going on ?" Kara asked starting to panic at her adoptive mother behaviour.

-"We go home, you pack all of your stuff, and we leave the city" the Danvers said seriously, her eyes never leaving the road.

-"Why ?"

-"The attack in Metropolis. It wasn't any explosion. I saw it on TV, there was a green ray and the amount of damage... only one thing can do that".

-"Kryptonite" Kara guessed easily.

-"Yes".

-"But you told me that Kal-El was fine. So I don't see what this whole thing as anything to do with us".

-"It has to do with who tried to kill your cousin" Eliza replied gripping the steering wheel tighter. "Clark didn't manage to catch him but he saw who it was".

-"Who ?"

-"Lex".

-"Wait, what ? But he's Kal-El best friend !" Kara exclaimed confused.

-"That's why we need to leave town as soon as possible. We're not safe anymore".

-"Why ? Lex doesn't know me !" Kara shouted angrily. She didn't want to leave at all.

-"Don't you get it ? They were best friend Kara ! Eliza said, raising her voice too. "Lex knows everything there is to know about Clark. Well almost. And it's no secret that we're very close to the Kent family. How much time do you think it will take him to connect the dots and start looking for Superman here ?"

Suddenly, all started to clear in Kara's mind. That was why Lena never showed at school today. The Luthors knew that their son was behind the explosion so they holed up in their home in fear of retaliation. Or maybe they were preparing to hide him there after his escape. Kara thought of Lena. She knew how her friend was close to her brother. She must have been scarred and confused. She had to talk to her.

-"Can I at least see Lena before we go ? To say goodbye ? the girl asked in a lower tone, trying to control her raising anger.

-"Absolutly not Kara !" Eliza exclaimed. "We can't go to the Luthors. We're not sure about what they know of Lex's attack, maybe they're accomplice". Sighting, she added : "I'm sorry but it's too risky".

After that, Kara retreated into silence the rest of the way. As she watched the landscape pass through the car window, she thought back to that strange feeling she had after Eliza's phone call earlier in the day. The feeling that it was not over, that things were going to get worse. She now understood what it was : a horrible déjà-vu. Adults have a funny way of defining protection regarding family. First, her parents who sent her alone at 13 years on an unknown planet and now, her adoptive mother who was snatching her from her hosting land just when she was beginning to fit in life on Earth. Kara had to admit that life as an alien refugee teenager was the worst. She couldn't wait to grow up to finally make her own decisions and to stop having her life turned upside down at every will of the adults in her life, on this planet or another.

Author's note : Hey there ! Just a few words to warn you that I won't post a chapter every week like I did since the beginning of this story because of some incoming (and very welcomed) holidays. Anyway, thank you all for reviewing, following, favoriting or sharing my story, it means a lot. So, bide your time and see you soon ! :)