-1Chapter Seventeen-Summer
Lex tossed down his paperwork as one of Clark's friends burst into his study. He stormed forward, his bruised cheek evident. Lex couldn't contain his laughter.
"Look what the cat dragged in." Lex said, leaning back.
"I have some information you will be very interested in." Sam said leaning against the edge of Lex's spotless glass desk.
"What would that be?" Lex asked, folding his hands together.
Clark sighed as he studied for his final exam while stretched out on his couch. He was so frustrated about what had happened today. Not only did Clark have to pick sides, deal with the fact that Lana, Chloe, and Pete knew about his troubles, and deal with Lois showing back up into his life. Now he had to lay on his couch and study for a test he didn't want to take. His phone rang, and with a grunt Clark closed his book and picked up his phone.
"Hello?" He answered, shifting to get comfortable.
"Hey Clark, it's Chloe." Clark rubbed his eyes at the sound of the blonde's voice.
"Hey Chloe. What's going on?" Clark asked.
"I had a question for you." Chloe said.
Clark sighed, "Listen Chloe, I've had a long day and if you want to ask me about personal stuff, I'm going to have to hang up on you." He wasn't kidding. Today just wasn't the day to get any answers out of him.
"It's nothing like that. Every summer Pete, Lana, and I go on a camping trip. We all would like it if you joined us." Chloe said.
Clark was shocked to be invited on a friend outing. However he had chose them instead of his friends. What did that have to show?
"I'm sorry Chloe, but I have to work this summer." Clark said, at least he didn't have to lie his way out of this one.
"That's fine Clark. The offers still open if you want to come later." Chloe said.
"Alright then." Clark said.
"Yea, well goodnight." Chloe said.
Clark closed his phone and tossed it away. He breathed deeply before getting up from his couch and changed into his pajamas. With a sigh he got into bed and closed his eyes. He breathed deeply, hoping the dull throbbing in his brain would ease.
Clark groaned and slammed his fist down onto the alarm clock. The beeping ceased and he pulled himself out of bed. As he stretched he realized that today was the last day of school and he had finals. With a curse he jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed.
He dressed in simple blue jeans and a red t-shirt. He hopped around pulling his shoes on while looking for his cell phone. He couldn't remember where he tossed it last night while in frustration. He tripped over his couch and his shoe flew out of his hand. While he was lying on the floor, he found his cell phone under the coffee table. He grabbed it and pulled on his shoe.
Clark made his way to the dining hall to eat breakfast. Lex wasn't in there, which confused Clark. All Lex had talked about the last few days were his finals. Why wouldn't he join him for breakfast the day of? Clark took his seat and waited for Steve to bring his cereal and orange juice. Steve finally walked in, and placed Clark's breakfast in front of him.
"Morning, Mr. Kent." He said placing the paper next to him.
With a bow, he turned and left. Clark watched as Steve left, and picked up the paper. While he ate he flipped through the paper, till he came across the sport section with a note written on it.
Clark,
A friend of yours informed Lex of your real doings with Edge. He knows of your secret plot to turn the sting against Lex. Be warned: Lex is furious. He has ordered your termination.
Steve.
Clark looked up, back at the door. Someone had just saved his ass and he wasn't going to waste it. He jumped from his chair and rushed back to his room. He grabbed his backpack and duffel bag. He stuffed all the things he could; clothes, and his laptop.
He rushed out of his room and down the halls. He doubled looked around the corners as he made his way to the garage. He knew Lex himself wouldn't attack him. He would make it look like an accident, so when he was about to jump on his bike he double thought.
He looked the bike over, before giving up on it. Physically he couldn't tell anything was wrong with it. Perhaps he'd messed with it internally. He looked around the garage and picked another bike. It wasn't a flashy as the one he liked. In fact it was opposite of what he would drive. He searched for the keys and when he found them he jumped on.
He made it to school okay, not that he got there as fast as he wanted. The bike needed some upgrades, so it was obvious Lex didn't even know it was in his garage. He stopped before pulling into his parking spot. Max wasn't there yet, but Clark wondered if he was in on it. Max and the others were ruled by greed, not by loyalty. If Lex offered enough, they'd turn their back on Clark and Edge. He abandoned the parking spot and found one at the end of the parking lot.
He walked to the school and entered through the side door. He walked to his locker, but stopped when he saw Max, Rex, and Will hanging around talking. He stepped back and watched as Sam approached them. They talked, but it turned for the worse. Max and Will seemed to disagree with Sam, but Rex was looking down at the slip of paper in his hand.
The group parted, going separate ways. Max and Will left but Rex went with Sam out the school building. Clark turned away and acted like he was busy as Max and Will walked by. Once the coast was clear he rushed to his locker and grabbed all that he needed from it.
"Clark."
Clark jumped at the sound of another voice. He spun on his feet bringing his fist up to protect his face. He was crouched and ready to fight when he realized it was Chloe.
"Didn't mean to scare you. I was just letting you know that we are leaving tomorrow if you change your mind." Chloe said.
Clark breathed deeply and stood back up, letting his fist fall. "Sorry Chloe. It's been a rough morning."
"I can see that." Chloe said, chuckling.
"Anyway, tomorrow morning?" Clark asked.
"Yea, you changed your mind?" Chloe asked, surprised he would actually want to go now. She had gotten the feeling that it was a fluke that he'd saved them yesterday.
"After this morning, I think a camping trip would be a great idea." Clark said.
"Awesome. Meet us at the Talon tomorrow morning by six. Just have some clothes, we already have everything else." Chloe said.
Clark nodded and smiled his famous smile. He didn't need Chloe to ask questions about his current state of paranoia and uneasiness. Not to mention his sudden interest in camping with them. Chloe waved and headed down the hall where Pete was talking to Lana.
Clark watched as Chloe told the two his sudden wish to join them tomorrow. Pete laughed and turned back to his locker. Lana smiled and waved at Clark. He remembered how he was supposed to talk to her last night, but had left after running into Lois. He waved before heading into class. He had a final to ace.
The final bell rang and students jumped from their seats. The noise level reached the roof as everyone headed for the halls, talking about their summer plans. As Clark reached the door Lana touched his arm. Clark looked over and smiled softly, stepping out of the door way so everyone else could leave.
"I noticed how you left yesterday in a hurry." Lana said.
"I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't want to stick around with Lois there." Clark said.
"What's wrong with Lois?" Lana asked as Clark shifted his bag on his shoulder.
"It's a long story." Clark said trying to brush the subject off.
"I've got all day." Lana replied.
"You would sit around and listen to me whine about why I despise Lois?" Clark asked.
"Isn't that what friends do?" Lana asked, smiling.
He smiled back and looked down at his feet. She had said they were friends, and for some reason it left him feeling butterflies in his stomach.
"Yea, I guess. How about I meet you at the Talon and we can talk." Clark suggested.
"About everything?" Lana asked.
"Anything." Clark responded.
She nodded and turned to leave the door. He watched her go and when the coast was clear he pumped his fist in the air. He couldn't hold it in, the excitement he was feeling about just being friends with Lana.
Clark composed himself and headed out the class room. Someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back into the class room. Clark dropped his backpack and raised his fist ready to fight. Max raised his hands in defense.
"Hold up Clark."
"What do you want Max?" Clark asked.
"Look, I came to warn you." Max said.
"About what? Yourself?" Clark asked.
"Lex has deep pockets, okay. Even deeper than Edges." Max said.
"So he bought you. Thanks for telling me." Clark said.
"It's not like that. Sam, Will and Rex; their young and have no alliances." Max said.
"So you didn't agree?" Clark asked.
"Actually," Max began before stopping himself and looking down at his feet. "I can buy you time but I can't get on the richer man's bad side. You know I have to think of Richard." Max said.
Clark nodded and leaned against the wall, "How is your son?" he asked.
"Richards good, so is Emily." Max said.
"That's good to hear." Clark said. They stood in silence for a minute, "What's the plan?" Clark asked.
"You've always had my back. Especially with keeping my family a secret. The other's haven't seen the good side of you. They haven't been helped by you, not like you've helped me." Max said.
"I know. I understand your situation and I don't blame you. You have to protect your family." Clark said.
"Yea." Max said. "This is the plan; You have to get out of town. If they can't find you, they can't kill you."
Clark rubbed his forehead, then ran his hand through his hair. "I just can't leave. I have connections here that I can't leave behind for Lex's wrath."
"You mean Lana?" Max asked. Clark couldn't deny it, Lex already had a thing for her. "I can tell by your silence. I'll protect Lana, I owe you that."
Clark picked his bag up, and clapped Max on the shoulder. "Thanks. Now I'm going to get gone for this summer, if Edge isn't in on this perhaps I can get some help in Metropolis." Clark said thinking of a plan.
"Lex has allies everywhere. He'll find you in Metropolis and it'll be over." Max said.
"Then what should I do?" Clark asked frustrated.
"Lionel." Max said. Clark looked at him like he was crazy. "Lionel has been apart of this since your parents death. He's the reason you were sent to live with Lex, he's the reason you worked for Edge in the first place." Max said.
"What are you talking about?" Clark asked.
"Your entire life, since your parents death, has been under the control of Lionel Luthor. He had Edge find you and take you off the street." Max said.
"Why would he do that?" Clark asked.
"He promised your mother. From what I've heard he's done a lot for you. Maybe he can help you with Lex?" Max asked.
"Yea. I should talk to Lionel, but right now I have somewhere to be." Clark said. With a nod they parted and Clark made his way out of Smallville High.
Clark sipped his tea waiting for Lana to finish her shift. He kept thinking about what Max had said about Lionel. Edge had been his family, but according to Max Edge would have never taken him in. He could have turned out completely different. What would his life have been like?
Lana sat down across from him and smiled, but he didn't notice. He imagined himself at some high school with an amazing girlfriend and a letterman jacket on his shoulders. He could have been the guy everyone wanted to be.
"Clark?" Lana asked waving her hand in front of his face. He blinked and finally noticed her there.
"Lana, sorry. Have you been there long?" Clark asked sipping his coffee.
"Only a bit. You seemed to be in another world, everything okay?" She asked.
Clark smiled at her concern. "It is now. So what did you want to talk about?" He asked.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked. Clark stared her down, but came to the conclusion he could trust her.
"I found out today that my life is a lie. I'm just a pawn in a chess game and now the game has gone for the worse." He said. She listened to him, sipping her tea.
"What will happen?" She asked.
"I don't know. I'm not sure where I'm going to go, or what I'm going to do." He said. He could see the disappointment on her face.
"So, you're just going to leave?" She asked.
"Yea." He replied taking another sip.
"When will you get back?" She asked.
"I don't know if I'll be coming back. There's nothing here for me." He said.
He knew it was a lie, but with his life in danger he couldn't put anyone else's. He was falling for her, and he couldn't let her become a target because of him.
"Nothing here?" She asked, clearly upset.
"It's not like that. It's just," He tried to explain. "I can't risk there being anything here." It was a lame attempt to explain.
"I see. You let me know about that." She said standing from the table and going for the stairs.
"Lana." Clark called out, standing from the table.
She turned halfway up the stairs and looked down at him. He could tell she was fighting back tears. He tried to form some type of words to fix this, but when the reality of what he said settled in his head. He had just practically told Lana that everything she'd heard about him liking her had been a lie. He just couldn't say that she wasn't good enough for him to stay.
She shook her head at his lack of words and continued up the stairs. He looked down at his hands and sighed in frustration. He'd never had this problem before. Why now? The waitress behind the counter smiled at his pathetic self.
"I think you blew that one." She said. Clark glared at her then sat back down.