"So I was thinking... Lana's birthday party," A voice commented as I walked through the hallway towards the main doors to leave for lunch, I turned my head to see Jamie who smiled at me sheepishly. "You got a date yet?"
"Nope," I replied simply as I moved so I was walking backwards in front of him, an amused smirk on my lips.
"How about you go with me?" he suggested making me frown in fake thought as I drifted my gaze over him.
"I'll get back to you," I told him with a small smirk before I turned and walked out of the doors and down the steps, my gaze caught sight of Chloe and Pete talking to Jody Melville. "Hey guys!" The three of them turned to me, "Hey Jody, how've you been?"
"Good, thanks Izzy," she smiled at me sweetly.
"So are we on for lunch?" I asked the three of them, they nodded together but my gaze landed on the green gloop that Jody was drinking. "Or are you all set with the green shake thing?"
"Losing weight is never pretty," she commented to me with a shrug, I arched an eyebrow at the drink before shrugging it off in agreement.
"Hey, Ross," A voice called making me turn in curiosity my gaze landing on Dustin, "We're getting a little game together. You want in," he glanced at Jody, "or you want to keep whale watching?" He and his friend started laughing as I glared darkly at them.
"Back off Dustin," Pete snapped at him angrily making me glance at him, smiling slightly.
"Ooh, chill out, cool guy," Dustin laughed, "I didn't know you were chubby chasing... especially after you got with Izzy." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and narrowed my eyes. Okay, so yes there was a big difference between Jody and me, I lived on a farm and did daily chores of lifting heavy hay bales...
Dustin dribbled the basketball before tossing it at Jody, knocking her drink all over her and Chloe. Pete caught the ball as Dustin laughed making Jody rush off. "Jody, wait!" Pete shouted after her, he tossed the ball to me before he took off after her.
"Oh, you'd think someone that big would have thinker skin," Dustin laughed making me growl before I threw the ball at him, hitting him square in the face.
"You'd think someone that stupid would have a thicker head," Chloe snapped at him before the two of us rushed to follow Pete and Jody.
"Now, I want this to be special," I heard Nell saying as I walked towards Lana's house after school that day, she was in the living room with another woman, holding a binder. "What do you think about a three tier birthday cake?"
"Three-tier sounds good Nell," I smiled at her as I passed.
"Thanks Izzy," she smiled at me making me grin at her widely, "Lana's through there with your brother."
"Thanks Nell," I nodded as I passed her, "Hey Lana, you ready to go?"
"Yeah," she nodded, "Thanks for the lifeline, Clark."
"It's a math midterm, not like I pulled you out of a burning building." He shrugged it off.
"I still appreciate it," she smiled at him as she pulled her coat on.
"Lana, I just wanted to get your opinion on the balloons," Nell called over, Lana glanced at me making me turn around to Nell.
"White's always good," I told her honestly.
"Works for me," Lana smiled hesitantly, Nell smiled back and headed back out of the room. "This whole birthday extravaganza has been pretty distracting."
"Having a birthday party at Lex's mansion seems pretty cool to me," Clark smirked as we headed out to the porch.
"It stopped being my party a long time ago," Lana told us, "If it was up to me, it would be pizza and loud music with my friends."
"Wow, fifteen years with Izzy has really affected you, huh?" Clark smirked making me grin widely at him before I looked at Lana.
"Did you tell Nell you wanted it low key?" I asked her curiously.
"We've been through a lot in the past few months," she shrugged, "I figure I should give her this one." I frowned slightly at that but my gaze landed on Whitney's silver truck pulling up as he jumped out.
"Lana, Izzy, guess what?" he grinned at us.
"The scout called?" I asked him excitedly.
He nodded as he grabbed Lana into a hug before pulling me into one, "I just heard – I got the tryout with Kansas State!" He told us.
"That's incredible," Lana told him with a wide grin.
"Hey congrats," Clark smiled at him, but he sounded kinda dejected, Whitney nodded at him before looking back to Lana.
"I haven't said yes yet," Whitney told her, "They want me there on Saturday, but that's your big night."
"It's Nell's big night," Lana told him with a shrug, "I was just telling these two it wasn't important."
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Scouts honour," Clark added.
"I want you to go," Lana told him, Whitney smiled before kissing her.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later," Clark told us as he started off.
"Yeah, actually... I think we can rain check," I smiled at Lana as I started to back away.
"But I thought you wanted to tell me something," she asked me curiously.
"It can wait, just some advice on who I should go to your party with," I shrugged it off as I glanced sideways to Whitney.
"Wait, are you going with?" Lana called.
"Jamie asked me," I shrugged, "Needed some girl talk to think it over. I'll catch you later though." She nodded with a confused look on her face making me grin at her before I jogged after Clark.
"Football scholarship?" he asked me with a sigh as I walked along beside him, headed for the farm.
"Yeah," I nodded, "It's a good thing though, for the both of you."
"How is Whitney getting a scholarship to Kansas State, be good for me?" he asked curiously.
"Lana's gonna be dateless for her own party," I grinned at him before picking up the pace.
"Clark, Izzy's right, this is good news for you," Pete grinned as we walked though the quad at lunch the next day.
"Kansas State gives Whitney a full scholarship and Lana gives him a tongue bath," Clark frowned at the two of us, "How is that good news?"
"Even I'm having a hard time following the skewed logic to this," Chloe told us with a frown.
"Like I said," I smirked as I turned to walk backwards in front of them, "Lana's gonna be dateless to her own party."
"Hi Pete," A familiar voice suddenly called, making us all turn towards the picnic benches. I suppressed a frown as Jody got up from the bench, looking a lot thinner than the day before.
"Jody?" Pete asked in shock as he walked over to her, we followed curiously.
"You look..." Chloe started.
"Thinner?" she asked us all with a small smile.
"I was looking for a euphemism, but yeah," Chloe nodded.
"Are you okay?" I asked her curiously.
"Never better," she replied with a smile, "My diet's just starting to pay off. I bought some new clothes."
"You look great," Pete told her, making me glance sideways at him, he had a love struck grin on his face making me suppress another frown.
"Thank you for sticking up for me yesterday," Jody told him, looking at him shyly yet flirtatiously, "Most people wouldn't have done that."
"Most people can't stand Dustin," Pete shrugged it off.
"Yeah," Jody laughed nervously, "Listen... I was wondering – do you have a date for Lana's party?"
"Uh," Pete started, glancing sideways at me, I looked away from him.
"No, he's still free," Clark told Jody on his behalf as Chloe sent me a curious look.
"Would you like to go with me?" Jody persisted hopefully, Pete took a deep breath, smiling stupidly making me bite at my tongue.
"He'd love to," Clark answered again.
"Great," Jody smiled widely, sending me a worried look. "Okay, well, I'll see you later."
"Bye," Pete smiled slightly, she nodded and walked away, my gaze following Pete as he turned to watch her walk past.
"I don't get it," I commented simply.
"Women dig me," Pete turned towards me, a slight glare on his face making me arch a challenging eyebrow, "Get used to it."
"Uh huh," I sneered, "Not what I meant." I turned to Chloe, "It's like she lost that weight overnight."
"If she could, half the school would be after that secret," Clark commented making me shrug in agreement.
"Oh well," I sighed as my gaze landed on Jamie who was talking to Whitney, probably about the scholarship. "I'm gonna leave you guys hanging, I need to go get a date for Lana's party."
"Like it's that easy," Chloe smirked at me so I grinned at her with a wink before I headed towards Jamie and Whitney. I could feel them watching me as I walked away from them.
"Hey guys," I smiled in greeting, making the two of them turn towards me.
"Hey Izzy," they greeted together with grins.
"So Jamie, can I talk to you?" I asked him, he glanced at Whitney who grinned before he nodded and followed me away from him.
"What's up?" he asked curiously.
"I was just wondering if your invitation still stands," I asked curiously, he smirked slightly as he tilted his head to the side.
"And if it does?" he asked.
"And if it does," I smirked, "Maybe I'd take you up on it." His smirk widened making me bite at my lip, "Well?"
"Well, looks like I have a date to Lana's birthday," he told me making me blush slightly, "You don't know how much I wanted you to say yes."
"So I'll see you later?" I asked him curiously.
"Definitely," he nodded, I hesitated before moving to leave, but as I turned he took my wrist and turned me back around. My questioning gaze landed on him, but before I could say anything, he leant in and pressed his lips against mine in a sweet, tender kiss. "I'll see you later."
A small smile tugged at my lips as I felt my cheeks heat up, another smirk crossed his face as I backed away making me blush more before I turned and walked back over to Chloe, Clark and Pete. The latter was frowning slightly, but the former was giving me a look of disbelief.
"That's how easy it is?" Chloe laughed as she linked her arm through mine.
"That's how easy it is," I confirmed as we headed back towards the school so we could head into the Torch.
"So, what about Pete?" she asked quietly, making me turn my head to see Clark and Pete, talking quietly. "I mean, is that it? You're over it that fast?"
"He seems to be," I shrugged, "I mean if he wasn't he wouldn't be dating a different girl every weekend, right?"
"Maybe he's just trying to make you jealous?" she suggested with a shrug.
"And maybe it worked," I frowned.
"So, you and Jamie?" she insisted.
"Jamie asked me out and he's cute." I replied, "I figured if Pete's going with Jody, I may as well go with Jamie."
"So, is he a better kisser than Pete?" she smirked at me, I rolled my eyes at her as I suppressed a smirk of my own.
"I don't know," I shrugged, "It's kind of hard to tell from one kiss." Chloe giggled slightly at that making me grin at her before joining her.
"Hey Izzy," Chloe waved as I walked out of the house the next morning, she was walking towards her car from the Loft with Clark.
"Hey Chloe," I smiled at her, "Why're you here so early?"
"Big story she told me, I needed your family pull to get into Animal Control," she replied making me arch an eyebrow at her. "You guys do know people at animal control, right?"
"One of the perks of growing up on a farm," I shrugged in answer.
"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could stop by there before school?" she asked us. "You could use your pull. We could take a couple of pictures. I'll help Clark out with his gift-giving dilemma."
"Okay," Clark nodded, "But I want it to be something unique."
"Just don't make it as unique as what you gave me last year," Chloe commented.
"Or what you gave me for Christmas," I smirked at him, making him roll his eyes at me.
Half an hour later we were walking through the halls of Animal Control, "Very impressive use of pull," Chloe laughed, "Can I use your bathroom?"
"Yeah well," I smirked with a shrug, "Worked didn't it?" She laughed slightly and shoved me.
"I can't believe we're creeping around looking for road kill," Clark sighed at us.
"The deer's in there," Chloe told us, nodding to a room beside us before she tried the doorknob. "The door is locked. Um, I'm gonna go find a maintenance worker." I nodded as she walked away before I turned to Clark who reached out and opened the door with ease.
"Chloe, it's open," I called down to her.
"How'd...?" she started to ask.
"Kent charm," I shrugged with a smirk before I walked into the room my gaze landing on the gurney with something on it, covered by a sheet.
"Lift it up," Chloe smirked at Clark who frowned before reaching out and doing just that. I let out a groan as my gaze landed on the dead deer.
"Looks like jerky," Clark complained as Chloe took photos, I moved away from it, picking up a file of lab reports.
"Says the deer lost something like 80% of its body fat," I commented as I flipped through it. "It's like it's been liposuctioned to death."
"What do you think it is," Clark asked, "some sort of fat-sucking vampire in town?"
"This is Smallville," Chloe shrugged, "Land of the weird, home of the strange." Biting my lip, I suppressed a frown of thought.
"C'mon, we're gonna be late," I commented before I turned to walk back out of the room.
"So, what can I expect tomorrow night?" Jamie asked as he wrapped his arms around my waist making me turn my head and smirk at him.
"What do you mean?" I asked him teasingly.
"C'mon Iz, describe your dress to me," he smirked as he burrowed his face into my neck making me blush slightly.
"It's a surprise," I told him as I pulled away slightly.
"Well, are you coming to lunch?" he asked me curiously.
"I can't," I told him, "I told Chloe I'd help her out in the Torch." He frowned but sighed with a nod making me smile up at him.
"Kiss me before you go?" he asked curiously making me turn around in his hold, my arms looping around his neck.
"Why're you acting like you're gonna miss me?" I asked him with a smirk, he shrugged and smirked back.
"Maybe I will," he told me before leaning in, his lips brushed against mine before pulling back making me bite at my lower lip. "But if you're not gonna miss me..."
"Oh shut up," I muttered before moving on to my tiptoes pressing my lips, hard against his.
"Well, from one footballer to another, huh?" A familiar voice asked from behind me making me pull away from Jamie before turning to face Lex who was stood with a smirk.
"Lex," I greeted in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
"I had a meeting with your principle," he replied with a charming grin but his gaze moved to Jamie whose arms were still around my waist.
"I'll uh, see you later," Jamie muttered to me before he pulled his arms away from me, I smiled up at him as he backed off and walked away.
"Between you, Clark and my dad I'm surprised guys even ask me out," I sighed as I turned back to Lex, he was grinning in amusement.
"Yeah well, looking after your virtue may get me in your dad's good books for once," he shrugged, "Walk me to my car?"
"Sure," I nodded before falling into step with him, "How's the Lana-bonanza coming along?"
"I made an informed decision to keep my nose out of it," he replied, "I gave Lana and Nell free reign..."
"And Lana gave it all to Nell," I smirked as I glanced up at him, "I'm not sure your mansion's going to survive it."
"I have something for you, by the way," he told me as we stopped at his car, I frowned in curiosity.
"What is it?" I asked him.
"It's a surprise," he grinned, "Come by the mansion later?" I nodded and he pulled me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my temple before he got in the car, waved and drove off.
"Rain check?" a voice asked from behind me, making me turn to see Chloe smirking at me.
"No, I was on my way in," I replied, "Bumped into Lex, walked with him to his car." She gave me a curious look before nodding, turning to go back inside with me right behind her. "So what stories do you for me today then?"
"Actually this isn't about the paper," she told me, making me turn my head to her in confusion. "This is about you and Pete."
"There is no me and Pete, Chloe," I told her simply as we walked into the Torch office.
"Except there is," she replied, "Jamie asked you out, but you never gave him an answer until after you knew Pete was going with Jody." I frowned at that as I dropped into the seat at my computer. "Pete didn't answer Jody when she asked if he was going with someone, he looked at you and Clark answered for him."
"What are you getting at?" I asked her seriously.
"It doesn't take a genius to notice that you guys are still into each other," she replied simply. I turned my head towards where she was still stood, her 'I'm an investigative reporter' look on her face. "My question to you is: if you know he's still into you, why are you two playing this game?"
"You can't be in a relationship with one of your best friends," I replied, "Especially if you know you can't trust each other."
"Why can't you trust each other?" she asked curiously, finally dropping into a chair beside me. "You guys have known each other your whole lives, what don't you know about each other?"
"Nothing, there's just..." I sighed and trailed off, "When we were together, I could see that every guy I talked to, Pete thought I was cheating on him. And to be honest, every girl he talked to, I was thinking the same thing."
"Even with Lana and me?" she asked tentatively.
"A girl's mind works differently when she's in a relationship," I answered. Rushing feet past the office had us both turning around in curiosity before Chloe grabbed the camera and we both took off after the crowd.
"What's going on?" I asked a randomer as we joined the crowd surrounding someone getting put in an ambulance.
"Looks like Dustin just got liposuctioned to near death," was the reply making me shove through the crowd, Chloe right behind me before we joined Clark and Pete at the front.
"Izzy, come on in," Lex greeted as I walked into his office after school, curiosity etched on to my face.
"So what is it?" I asked him curiously, he smirked and nodded over to one of the many leather sofas. There was a pale blue box on it making me frown at him before I walked over.
"Go ahead," he grinned as he walked over to me, I dropped down next to it before pulling the lid off. Inside was a gorgeous forest green and black dress making me look up at Lex in shock before I pulled it out of the box to see it properly. It had a black, strapless, form-fitting bodice with intricate green leaves flowing across the chest, then it flowed loosely in forest green from the waist to just past mid thigh.
"Wow, Lex... I..." I started as I looked up at him in shock. "Wh...?"
"You like it?" he asked me with an amused smile, I bit my lip and nodded.
"But this looks, really expensive..." I started.
"I always wanted a little sister to buy things for," he interrupted me, "And I figured you needed a beautiful dress like this to wear to your best friend's birthday."
"Lex..." I started.
"I'm not taking no for an answer," he replied making me bite at my lip, "Plus I didn't know your size so..."
I put the dress back in the box before flying at him, wrapping my arms around him in a hug making him laugh slightly. "It's beautiful, thank you." I told him softly as I pulled away from him, he just shrugged it off before getting up and walking to his desk, grabbing a box from there too. "Lex..."
"What's a dress without shoes and accessories?" he smirked at me, I blushed slightly before grinning and shaking my head.
"So I called the hospital this morning," I told Chloe as she walked beside me and Jamie towards the cafeteria. "Dustin's in a coma. His body went into shock from loss of fat. He hasn't told the police anything."
"I'll leave you guys to your reporter talk," Jamie told me, pressing a kiss to my cheek before walking off to join the jocks.
"So I think it's time to revisit the fat-sucking vampire theory," Clark commented as he joined our side.
"You know, if you hadn't been there, he probably would have died," Chloe told him.
"What I can't figure out is why anybody would want to steal body fat," Clark commented to us.
"It takes eating disorders to a whole new level," I added as we dropped into seats at Jody's table. "Hi Jody."
"Hi guys," she replied, "What's up?" She asked through a mouth full of food, my gaze taking in the mountain of food in front of her.
"Study group, remember?" Chloe asked her.
"Totally slipped my mind," she replied honestly, still eating.
"So no more veggie shakes, huh?" I asked her curiously. She looked up at us in surprise, mostly Clark.
"Are you feeling okay?" he asked her, "Pete said you felt sick yesterday."
"Oh that," she laughed, "I'm fully recovered."
"I guess it's safe to say that the diet's finally over?" Chloe asked her cautiously.
"Mm, I'm starving," she replied, "I haven't eaten anything all day." I arched an eyebrow as Chloe and Clark carried on staring too. "I'm just a little nervous about the party tonight."
"Right, yeah, of course," I nodded as I pushed my food around my tray. Clark on the other hand carried on staring.
"So, um, I'll see you guys tonight," Jody muttered before grabbing some of the snacks from the table and rushing off.
"Okay, what was that about?" Chloe asked in shock.
"I don't know," Clark replied, "I gotta fly. We'll talk about it later?"
"Okay," Chloe nodded.
"Where're you going?" I asked curiously.
"I'm still working on Lana's birthday gift," he replied.
"Any hints?" Chloe grinned.
"Yeah, it's not a gift certificate," he replied before heading off, I chuckled before grabbing some of the cookies Jody left behind.
"So, you got your dress yet?" I asked Chloe, she nodded. "Gonna tell me what it looks like?" She shook her head making me laugh and shake my head. "Fine, you don't get a preview of mine either then."
"Izzy! Jamie's here!" Mom shouted as I pulled on the sparkly silver heels that Lex bought me.
"Just a second!" I shouted back down before straightening up and moving to stand in front of my mirror. Somehow Lex had gotten the sizes perfect. With a small sigh, I smoothed out the skirt, patted at my hair, which was curled over my shoulder in a pony tail with a sparkly silver and green leaf clip, and grabbed my clutch bag before heading out of my room.
"Izzy!" mom called again as I took my first steps down the stairs, "Oh wow." I chewed on my lip awkwardly at the sight of mom, dad, Clark and Jamie all giving me wide eyed looks.
"You look..." Jamie started as I reached the bottom of the stairs, "uh..." I smiled slightly at that.
"You look beautiful, honey," dad told me making me look up at him with a bright smile.
"We should get going," Jamie said after a moment making me turn to him and nod before I took his hand in mine and let him guide me out of the house and to his car.
The party was, amazing, but I could see that Lana was upset as I danced with Jamie. Whitney wasn't here which she expected, but neither was Clark, Chloe or Pete. "Hey, I'm gonna go talk to Lana," I told Jamie as we walked off the dance floor, he glanced over at her before nodding.
"Sure, I'll be with the guys," he told me, pressing a kiss to my cheek before walking off. I bit my lip before walking over to her.
"Hey," she gave me a bright, but obviously fake, smile making me give her a weak one back.
"Come on," I told her, taking her arm in mine before guiding her out of the party and on to the balcony. "He'll be here... he was so excited about this Lana."
"It's just a birthday," she shrugged, "I haven't really been lucky with those over the years." I bit my lip and thought it over.
"Remember the drive in?" I asked her softly, she turned her head and smiled properly at that. "With your mom and dad."
"Dad pulled the car up to the front row so that the screen filled up the entire windshield," she replied, "I remember we felt so grown up because we got to sit in the front seat with them."
"They played Bugs Bunny cartoons before the movie started," I smiled widely, I could see tears glimmering in her eyes, but I could feel tears in my own, "You got cold, so your mom wrapped her sweater around you."
"We fell asleep before the movie even started," she laughed slightly.
"Best birthday ever?" I asked her.
"Last year was a close second," she replied making me smile at her, "I never thanked you for that."
"It's nothing Lana," I shrugged at her.
"You kicked Nell out of the house," she laughed.
"Pizza, soda and Johnny Depp," I laughed, "Curled up in front of the fire just me and you."
"That's why you're my best friend, you know," she told me, "Sometimes you disappear, and sometimes we let each other down. But when I really need you, you're right there. It only takes a phone call... and sometimes it doesn't even take that, you just turn up like you can feel that I'm upset."
"Yeah well, what are sisters for?" I asked her with a grin, she laughed at that and pulled me into a hug. We were still stood hugging when Lex walked out to us.
"Sneaking out, huh? It's this, your shindig?" he asked as he joined us.
"Says so on all the invitations," Lana replied with a sigh, her arm still linked through mine as we leant on the rail of the balcony.
"Right, you're not hiding, you're getting some air," Lex nodded, getting it. "I spent 18 long years of Luthor Christmas parties in the coatroom." I bit back a smirk at that.
"I'm still waiting for my other reinforcements," Lana explained.
"I know Clark," Lex told her, "He'll be here. If he can."
"It's just a birthday," Lana shook her head, repeating what she said to me. Lex smiled at her, nodding to me before heading back inside. Once he was gone, I pulled her into another hug, knowing just how upset she really was.
Later that night, after Jamie had dropped me off, I headed into the house to find Clark stood in the living room, mom and dad sat on the sofa by the fireplace. "What happened?" I asked him angrily.
"Izzy, I can explain," he told me quickly, mom and dad giving me a 'let him talk' look. I bit at my tongue, glaring darkly at him.
"You can explain after you make it up to Lana," I told him coldly before I turned to head up the stairs. Turning on my heel half way up, I looked down at him, "Maybe you should go give her your present."
"Now?" he asked in surprise, I arched a challenging eyebrow and he nodded. "Yeah, okay. Thanks." I forced a smile, still angry at him before I headed up stairs to change.
AN: So I struggled with this one, let me know what you think?