Chapter 26

At the Talon

"What does she have that I don't have?" Lana asked Chloe as they sat in a booth at the Talon, sipping decadent calorie-laden drinks.

"Don't do that to yourself. Take it from someone who has visited that particular brand of self-pity first hand, it isn't about what you're lacking. It's not a contest."

"It just seems like it is so much easier for him to be around her."

"What show were you watching? Because when I tuned in, that isn't what I saw? She totally gets under his skin, and throws him off his game."

"But, he seems to open up to her."

"Again, I think you're not seeing the whole picture. Lois reacts to his actions—she doesn't expect him to talk about his feelings. See, you and I expect Clark to relate to us like we relate to each other. He's just not programmed like that."

"Because he's shy?"

"No. Because he's a man. One of the advantages of being raised by a non-communicative father on military bases all over the world—she knows how to relate to men."

Lana took a sip of coffee and considered that for awhile. "How did you get to be so wise about reading Clark?"

"Let's just say I sought out the answers to the question of 'what I didn't have' long ago. I finally realized that I couldn't make him love me."

"I guess I was just taken by surprise. That's all."

"I get that. Really I do. Believe me when I tell you that some of this has been as big a surprise to Clark as it has the rest of us. I know it's hard, but you had to think he would eventually go on with his life."

"You're right. And if I really care about him I should just be happy that he is happy, right?

Now you're starting to sound like Jimmy."

"Yeah?"

"Jimmy is Captain of the Lois & Clark cheer squad. At first, I thought he was only trying to set them up because he thought I still had feelings for Clark, y'know? But he genuinely believes that they got some sort of karmic destiny."

"And you don't?"

"I didn't see it at first, but maybe I didn't want to see it. Then last night at the museum . . . and then again this morning . . .yeah, I think Jimmy's right."

"Maybe Lionel Luthor is on that same pep squad, because he couldn't stop talking about them this morning."

"Oh?"

"About how happy they looked together. And then he told me that Lex might not understand why I was looking into it and advised that I should just drop it."

"Much as I hate to ever agree with Lionel Luthor, he does have a point."

"I know. He so sinister, that it makes me suspicious when I don't need to be. He will often say things to make is seem like he is concerned about Lex, but this time I felt that he was trying to protect Clark in some way."

"Maybe he's just a big romantic, like Jimmy." They both laughed at the idea. Just then Chloe was interrupted by the bleating of her cell phone.

"Hey Lois, What's up? . . .Ok, I'm on my way."