Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville
Chapter 14
00 Zero 00
Official report on the death of Jude Royce:
Lex Luthor entered Club Zero (located on 78th and Main) accompanied by Amanda Rothman, to celebrate her engagement to the deceased, who was the business accociate of Mr. Luthor. They reached the upper level of the warehouse and walked in on the scene of Mr. Royce entertaining two women, and not on the business trip as he had told Ms. Rothman. Ms. Rothman threw her engagement ring (Item C) at the deceased, and left the level, followd by Mr. Luthor and Mr. Royce. Once they reached the dance floor on the main level Mr. Luthor and Mr. Royce exchanged blows. The Bouncer, Mr. Max Kasich came onto the scene to pull the two apart, at which point Mr. Royce pulled out a knife (Item B) and stabbed Mr. Luthor in the shoulder. Mr. Kasich pulled out his revolver (Item A) and shot the deceased in the heart, at which point Mr. Royce died.
end of report
As reported by Detective Sam Phelan
0000
Class projects were an expected part of American education, and in an effort to make these projects more personable and intresting teachers sometimes made the projects more personal.
Like assigning every student to write a biography on another student.
"There is nothing like 50 minutes of Mr. Austin's English class that works up an appetite," said Clark.
"Nothing like a six-page student biography report to due monday to make me loose mine," countered Pete.
"Is everthing about food for you two?" I asked, honestly curious.
"What the biography part or the fact that our student subjects were randomly assigned?" Chloe asked Pete, before turning to me, "And they're guys, its an important thing to them, you know their brains are smaller," she said jokingly.
"That would explain a lot about Pete," I mused.
"Hey!"
"Enough you two. Pete's convinced that the drawing was fixed," said Clark.
"There are dozen of ladies in our class, each one worthy of lengthy interrogation- I get stuck with Sam Bibson?"
"Hah!" I laughed mockingly.
"The manager of the student store? Well, I hear he's very-" Clark said.
"Effcient?" Chloe suggested, earning a chuckle from me and Clark.
"Very funny, I'm about to learn more about the art of selling "Go Crow" pennants than any human should have to endure."
I winced sympathetically, talk about cruel and unusual punishment.
"You haven't stopped smiling since we left. Who's you victim?" Pete asked Chloe
"The illustrious Mr. Kent himself." Uh oh.
"Ohh-" Pete whooped, "I take it back. Chloe's the one with a challenge."
"Excuse me."
"No offence Clark, but digging up six pages of interesting on you is going to require some serious excavation."
I smiled nervously, "Just look up all the crime scenes he's been to and you'll be golden."
"I do stuff. I do plenty of other stuff than show up at crime scenes," Clark said, offended. I looked at him skeptically.
"Yes, and I'm sure that once I deploy my journalistic skills on you I'll be able to unearth a skeleton or two." I did not like the sound of that.
"Don't get so chipper Chloe, I'm the one who got your name," I said smugly.
"Ohh, I'm so scared."
"This is a class project, not a curroption scandal."
"Relax, Clark. It's not like you have anything to hide, right?"
"C'mon Clark, cough up. Who'd you get?" asked Pete.
At the change in topic Clark's face morphed into a bestotted smile. Great-
"Oh, don't tell me-" Chloe said.
"Lana Lang," we finished in unison.
"Oh my god, just look at his face, you don't even have to see it," Chloe said, while Pete took the paper for confirmation.
"Like I said, definetly rigged!" Pete cried, holding up the paper.
"It's all going to work out, I've been helping out at the Talon to get it ready for the grand opening." Guess it was too much to hope for he had been doing it for me, huh?
"Oh, thats nice, the surrogate boyfriend does the heavy lifting while Whitney works at his dad's store."
"On that note..." Clark said, pulling me off from the group.
"Wait," Chloe said, reaching out to grab Clark, "When are you going to sit down to do my intreview?"
"Right, I'll be around," Clark said, and then speed walked away.
"I'll talk to you after I'm done at the Talon, Chloe," I called.
0000
With the grand opening on Saturday there was a long to check list of things to be done, and it didn't help that things kept going wrong. Today it was leaky pipes.
Lana had beaten me to the Talon so Clark was walking me there after school.
We were nearly there when I noticed Lex confronting a black man whose back was to me by his car, and when he looked over to see us, he looked rattled, which when translated to everyone else was terrified.
Lex handed the man something and he walked away, and then walked over to greet us.
"Hey Lex," said Clark.
"Hey."
"Who was that?"
"Nobody."
"Didn't look like nobody," I said muttered quietly, so that Lex could hear me but Clark couldn't.
I set down my backpack when we walked into the former theater.
"I hear we sprung a leak," Lex said to Lana.
Lana nodded absently, looking around, seeming throughly spooked.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm just a little weirded out."
"Relax, its just a leak," assured Lex.
"No, a friend of yours came by, applied for the managment position. He told me to stay away from you."
Doesn't sound like a very good friend.
Lex scoffed, looking at us, "What was his name?"
Lana walked over and handed Lex the application, "Jude Royce."
The name sparked a memory, but I couldn't remember where I had heard it before. I paused to sift through my memories for the name.
Lex took the paper and froze, looking at the name.
"What is it, Lex?" Clark asked.
"When did he leave?" Lex asked Lana, his voice hoarse.
Jude Royce, I place the name, not in one of my memories, but in Phelan's.
"Just before you came in," Lana answered.
Lex walked out and I followed him, motioning for Clark to stay put.
"Lex!"
Lex stopped and turned before he reached his car, his face smoothed into a more natural expression.
"That couldn't have been Jude Royce. Jude Royce died in Club Zero three years ago."
"How do you know that?" Lex asked harshly.
"Phelan threatened Clark, I did some research."
"Leave it, Clara," Lex said, getting into his car and turning it on.
Only for blaring club music mixed with screams to come on, intermixed with calls of 'killer'.
I place my hand over my ears to block out the sound while Lex fumbled with the dashboard, pressing buttons, trying to turn it off. It was then that Clark came out of the Talon, probably to investigate the noise.
"What's going on?" Clark asked.
I just shrugged helplessly at him, or I shrugged as well as I could with my hands still over my ears. Unfortunately they weren't doing much the muffle the sound.
Lex rolled down his window, "I don't know!"
Clark stared hard at the car, "Feel under the dash."
Lex did, pulling out a protable purple CD player, killing the sound, "Looks like someone decided to get creative while I was inside."
"What was the screams?"
"I assume its someone's idea of a joke," I felt dread pool in my stomach, at the situation as well as Lex's blase attitude. "And a sucsessful one, we've managed to draw a crowd."
I looked around, noting the crowd of curious observers that had gatehred on the sidewalk during the commotion.
"Lex," Clark said, tone cautious.
"This really doesn't concern either of you," Lex said, before driving off.
Well, if Lex was going to blow me off, there was noting I could do about it, yet, at least.
I could do something about that leak though.
0000
Once the leak was fixed, the water cleaned up, and the water heater installed (all without help from the contrator), I consented to allowing Clark to take me home.
"Hello, anybody home?" Clark asked, while I checked my hair to make sure my braid wasn't too badly damadged from the run.
"Hey," Dad called out and we looked over to see him and Mom sitting at the dining room table across from Chloe, "Pull up a microphone, son."
Clark faltered, but I opted to sit down next to Chloe, "Chloe what's going on?" Clark asked.
"Since I couldn't find either of you all day, I decided to start my biographical inquiry at the beginning. And unlike certain so-called friends of mine your parents gracefully agreeded to be intreviewed," she said accusingly.
"That's very . . . Proactive of you, Chloe," I said diplomatically.
"Chloe's been asking some very intresting questions, Clark," said Mom, shakily.
Chloe smiled and replied, "Thank you," That wasn't a compliment. "Now, we just have a few more to go, so..." Chloe said turning back on the recorder, "We were talking about the early days. Now, what was involved in the adoption?"
Loaded question.
Dad faltered, his mouth comically open, before recovering, "Well, it was- it was just like any normal adoption, I guess."
"Can you take me through the process? Did it take weeks or months?" This was painful to watch, but I didn'tknow how to intrevene without it being suspicious, so I let Chloe barrage my parents. "Did you guys use a lawyer, or did you go thorugh an agent." Chloe was stopped by the clicking of the recorder, "Shoot. I'm out of tape. That's okay, I've got some extra C-90s in my car. I'll be right back."
I saw an oppurtunity and I jumped on it, "No rush, have you forgotten about my paper? I have a few questions for you myself," I said, gesturing with the hand Chloe couldn't see for Clark to take the oppurtunity to scram.
The kitchen door opened and closed and Clark was gone, Chloe startled, looking put out at Clark's exit, but he was in the clear (for now), and I wasn't going to waste the oppurtunity.
"So where did you live before you moved to Smallville?"
0000
When Chloe finally left, hours later, I had more than enough for a paper and it was far too late for Chloe to chase down Clark. Chloe had been very helpful, answering all my questionsm, save one.
"What can you tell me about your mother?"
She had deflected the question admirably, as well as all others about her mother, but if she was going to go digging through our closet for skeletons, I was going to go through her's.
Ring Ring
I picked up my cellphone an answered.
"What do you mean you found a hand?"
0000
I grabbed Dad's truck, mindful of the fact that I didn't technically have my licence yet (I was getting around to it!), and headed toward the Talon.
I arrived there before the police, a small mercy, to see Clark shielding Lana from view of the box with a dismembered hand inside, and a very rattled Lex on his cell phone, shouting orders. Seeing no resistance, I walked over to the box and studied the hand, it was male, African American, and had a distinctive gold 'K' ring on the pinky. Next to it was a matchbook promising 'zero consequences'.
The hand belonged to Kasich, the bouncer accredited for shooting Royce. I look a closer look at the severed wrist and winced.
I went over to Lex, "We need to talk."
Lex hung up at whoever he had been shouting at and turned to me, "I'm handling it."
"This goes beyond a stupid prank, Lex. Did you get a look at that hand?"
"Yes, I saw the hand," Lex said deadpan.
"Did you notice the lack of hemoragic tissue?"
"What?"
I shifted uncomfortably, "Hemoragic tissue occurs when a wound clots after it was cut. That there isn't any mean..." I trailed off, not wanting to say it.
"It means what?" Lex pressed.
"It means that Kasich was already dead when they took off his hand."
Lex looked sick, but I didn't have time to comfort him right now.
"I know Det. Phelan handled the case, I'm assuming he knew everyone involved, including you. Could he have done this?"
"Phelan was killed in prison a couple weeks ago," I gasped, well aware of the fact that the reason Phelan was in prison was because I had put him there. Making me indirectly responsible for his death.
"Don't worry about it Clara, I'll find out who did this. I promise."
I looked him straight in the eye, "If that is allowed to escalate any further, I won't back down this easy."
"Sheriff's department!"
0000
After all the hubbub of the night before, I was more than happy to sit with Clark while he caught up to where I was already regarding Club Zero- mainly that someone blames Lex for Royce's death and is going after anyone involved.
We were in the Torch and Clark was printing off the article from the Metropolis Inquisitor on Royce's death, when Chloe walked in.
"Now, as kind as that sounds, Pete, I really don't think it falls into the 'something amazing' test," said Chloe, setting down her bag.
"What test?" Clark asked.
"I'm not finished," said Pete, "Clark didn't just push Braindead, he put him throug a door, as in splinters and hinges. How he did it, I still have no idea. Guy was at least twice our size."
That is exactly the kind of story that I didn't want linked to Clark.
"Clark, any comments?" Chloe asked hopefully.
"Uh, well, we were, you know six years old. Twice our size was three feet tall."
"Nice recovery," I whispered sarcastically to him.
"If you need any more ancient history ask the the source," Pete said gesturing to Clark "or better yet ask his shadow," he pointed to me, "I've got an appointment at the student store."
"Have fun," Chloe said sympathetically,
"Actually I'm going to have to bail too," I admitted aplogetically, more to Clark then Chloe, "I have an errand. But, Clark, keep me appraised."
I walked out, not stopping to eavesdrop, as I actually did have an errand.
0000
Clark called me while I was walking into the building.
"Chloe found out about Metropolis Charities?" I asked.
"You knew?"
I scoffed at the question, "Of course I knew."
"What do you know about them? Do you know why they only exsisted for six months, or why were are the only adoption they handled?"
That was because it was a front, set up by Lionel Luther as a favor to our parents, "If you really want to know ask Mom and Dad. Now is there anything else?" I nodded at the gaurd at the door and handed him my purse.
I heard Clark pause at my abrutness, "Yeah, when I went to visit Lex I thought I heard someone there, along with the sound of a gun cocking, but when I went inside he said it was nothing."
"That's because he's scared and thinks if we get involved we will get hurt, or see less of him or soemthing. Anyway, stay on him. This whole thing is reading like a game where everyone ends up dead." The gaurd handed me back my bag and gestured to the 'no cellphones' sign. "I'll be back soon, but right now I have to go. Bye." I hung up without waiting for a response and stut down my phone.
Once my phone was safely secured I walked up to the front desk, where a bubbly, blond bombshell with too much blue eyeshadow waited.
"Welcome to Forest Glen Sanitarium, who are you visiting today?"
"A Moria Sullivan."
"Relation?" the recptionist asked, logging onto the computer, voice full of ever present cheer that I was sure would drive my nuts if I had to spend too much time with her.
"I'm a friend of her daughter, Chloe."
0000
course of events at Club Zero:
Royce stabbed Luther, Lex pulled out Kasich's gun, Kasich tried to get the gun from Lex's grasped, Royce was shot in the struggle.
as reported by Lex Luthor to Phlean.
0000
The next morning I had a very intresting story via Moria Sullivan, an email sent with all pertinent informtion (censorsed heavily) to the shmuck who got my name in the biography assignment, and a to do list of things that needed to be done.
The only problem was that I didn't know what to do with the information Mrs. Sullivan gave me. Chloe was my friend, I didn't want to hurt her, and I didn't want her to hurt Clark.
I'd let Clark decide when he came from tending to the cows.
"Mom! Clara! come quick, it's the herd. They're all dead!"
0000
It was a sight to see, over a hundred cows, dead, and just feet from our property line were Luthor Corp waste barrels leaking a sick purple fluid.
In conjunction with the events of the last four days, this just reeked of a frame up.
Both the Haz-mat crews in their glaring yellow suits and the deputy from the sherriff's department had arrived, as well as Chloe, already taking pictures.
"What do you think happened?" Chloe asked from behind the camera. "Why would Luthor Corp dump their stuff here?"
'Who said it was Luthor Corp' I thought bitterly, as I heard the sound of another vehicle coming, I turned to see a standard edition silver Luthor Corp. hummer pull up, with Lex in the passenger seat.
As Lex climbed out Chloe, sensing the awkwardness, made a hasty retreat, "Um, I'm gonna go take some different angles."
Lex walked past ma and Clark and favor of adressing our parents directly. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent, I have no idea how this could have happened but I'll do anything in my power to find out, and I'll pay for your livestock, of course."
Dad didn't turn around, "You think thats how you solve everyting, don't you Lex?" and I had never heard my father as close to tears, "You sprinkle a little money on it and hope the problem goes away. Well, obviously, some things are more difficult than that," Dad said his voice trembeling with rage, and walked away, with Mom close at his side providing comfort.
I watched Lex grimace and hit the fence softly, and if he was anything less than the incredibly composed person he was, he probably would have broken something.
We walked over to him, and Lex didn't look at us when he spoke, "I didn't think it was possible to fall any further in your father's eyes. Obviously, I was wrong," he said, gesturing to the mess around us.
"Well, you could have started with being honest," I suggested. "'No idea how this could have happened'? C'mon Lex, you are not that dense," I said, just this side of mocking.
Les swallowed harshly, "You think this is related to the person harassing me," it wasn't a question.
"You don't?"
"You need to tell the authorities everything you know," Clark demanded cooly, "This isn't just about you anymore."
I think it stopped being 'just about him' when Kasich got dismembered, but that comment wouldn't be very useful here.
Clark walked over to our parents, but I stayed as the Deputy (I swear he had a name, I just had given up on trying to remember it) came up to us, "Mr. Luthor, the CEP guy needs to talke to you. He's over there," he said, gesturing to a man whose back was to us standing by a black van.
The Deputy walked away, but I grabbed Lex's arm before he could do the same. "You are not in this alone, Lex. The second you call, I'll be there," I looked at him meaningfully until I was certain he got the massage, "you go and handle the goverment stooge, I need to handle my parents," I looked at him, trying to think of something to say to make this situation even a little bit less awful, but coming up empty, so I settled with, "Good luck."
I watched Lex walked toward the CEP van before turning back the the huddle my family had formed.
I'd be waiting for Lex's call.
0000
I was lounging in my workshop, chosing to fool arond on google rather than actually get some work done, my mind was too worried to handle that kind of precision tasks or to go tend to my tree.
I heard a knock on the door and I pressed the button releasing it, "Come in."
Dad opened the door and stepping inside, "Hey sweetheart."
I sat up from my slouch and pulled off some blueprints off the couch so he could sit, "Hey dad, I thought you were supervising the cow removal."
Dad sighed at the riminder and sat down, looking heartbroken, "I was, but I just needed a break. If it wasn't for Luthor this never would have happened."
I sighed, "Dad this wasn't Lex's fault, someone's trying to set him up because of something that happened at Club Zero."
"This never would have happened if Lex wasn't in our lives!"
"That's not fair," I said angrily.
"Look Clara, until this has all settled down I think you should stay away from all things Luthor."
I scoffed angrily, "Really, Dad. Lex is being targeted and you expect me to turn my back on him. What does Mom have to say about this?"
Dad looked me in the eye, "Your mother agrees," what?, "Lex has brought this down on himself, and its starting to effect us, you."
"Dad-" I objected, but he wouldn't let me speak.
"The severed hand at the Talon? Our cows poisoned? This is starting to effect us, face it Clara, Luthor is a bad element, and we don't want you to get dragged down with him."
That was enough. Lex was my freind, he made to short list of people I truely cared about, just under my parents and CLark, and I would never leave them alone in their time of need, just like I wouldn't leave Lex because it might get dangerous.
"Lex is my friend, and I will be there for him, just like you would be there for your friends. You suggesting otherwise-" I choked off, unable to finish, rage and something else clogging my throught, "... dissapoints me. This conversation is over," I stormed out, leaving him on the threadbare couch, calling after me.
I didn't want to listen.
Lex made my short list, and I'd let him drag me down to hell if I thought it could help him.
0000
A couple hours later and no word from Lex, and both Clark and I were starting to get worried.
Clark was calling around and getting no where, so I opted to lounge in the rafters of the barn (I didn't want to go back to my workshop), trying to think over everything to sus out the culprit.
Jude Ryce was dead, he couldn't be behind this, who ever was impersenating him probably just had a remarkable resemblence. Someone else was working from behind the scenes, but who?
Everyone invloved was confirmed dead, except Lex and Amanda. Lex hadn't done this to himself, and Amanda was in the wind, making her an ideal suspect.
But that didn't fit, by all accounts she was a kind woman, and Lex was a far better judge of character than I, so it he felt that she wouldn't be invloved, then she probably wasn't. Also, the nature of the crime reeked of a sadist who was getting off on Lex panic, that was the whole point, well that and to uncover the truth of what happened. I hadn't seen any women around that fit Amanda's description, even taking into account possible plastic surgery and hair dyes.
So she wasn't the culprit, at most she was probably the leak.
I was still stewing when Clark walked in to brood, I decided not to disturbe him, after today we needed a good brood.
After half an hour of my brain running around in circles, I was statled by a voice.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" I looked down to see Chloe approching Clark, looking contrite. Clark got up and walked up the steps to the loft, which chloe took as permission to follow, "How are you doing?"
"That depends if its on the record or not."
"Okay, I deserve that. Look- I didn't mean to ambush you with the whole adoption agency thing," I listened attentively, that almost sounded like an apology.
"Hey, you saw a story and you went right for it," Clark said bitterly, "That's what journalists do."
"You're right. You're right. I didn't think about how it would hurt you. And, you know, as much as journalistic instinct rebells, I'd much rather have a friend than a subject so I'm dropping the whole thing," I sighed in relief.
Clark smiled, "Thank you."
Chloe smiled back, "Can I ask you a question?" Clark looked at her meaningfully, and she amended, "Totally off the record. Do you ever wonder about your biological parents?"
"Everyday of my life," I bit my lip, I hated holding back information from Clark when it was to no one's benifit but my own.
But, regarding this, I couldn't help but be selfish.
Chloe smiled and looked away, breaking the tension, and noticing the article on the table. "Looks like I'm not the only one doing some digging," she said, holding up the article, "What's Club Zero?"
"A part of Lex's past he asked me to stay out of it."
Chloe gave a small laugh, before she had a realization, "Oh! By the way, I brought by some pictures for your parents. I figured they could use them for insurence paper and stuff," she sadi, handing him the pile, "I'll see you later. I gotta go."
"Chloe!" Clark called, holding up one of Chloe's pictures to the article, "It's the same guy."
What? I jumped down, making them jump, "Let me see that." I took the photo from Clark roughly.
"How long have you been up there?" Clark asked, looking mildly embarrased, but I was too distracted to adress it.
"Clark, you weren't able to reach Lex, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
I swallowed, trying to get the taste of blood out of my mouth, I must have bitten my cheek when I jumped down and hadn't noticed. "Becasue, we were the last people to see him, I was the last person to talk to him, and the last thing I saw him do was go over and talk to the CPE guy. The same guy in this picture, that means that Lex is missing, and this man in all likelihood took him."
Clark caught on quickly, "You think he's the one who's been bringing up Club Zero? We need to find them."
"Wait!" I shouted before Clark could run off anywhere, "Let me think," I said, pushing back the rising panic thretening to choke me, this wasn't the time to loose my head. The point of this whole sceme was to find out what had happened in Club Zero. To bring back the past. If kidnapping Lex was part of the endgame than what better place to take him than to where this all began? "I know where he's keeping Lex, we have to hurry," I said, grabbing Clark's arm and dragging him down the stairs and out of the barn, "Bye Chloe!" Once we were out of the sight of the thourghly baffled reporter I climbed on Clark's back and gave him directions to Club Zero.
I could only hope we made it there in time.
0000
When we made it to the club's door (really just a warehouse now that the club was shut down), Clark dropped me on my ass before I could even get a look inside. It was only thanks to my years of experience with Clark that I was able to catch what happened next.
Lex was falling off the balcony on the upper level of the club (and was he wearing a straight jacket?), Clark blurred over to a couch on the far side of the room and sent it kareening so that it stopped under where LEx would land (to cusion his fall), then Clark went upstairs and knocked a man with a gun against the wall (and was that our contractor? He is so fired), and then came back to me at the entrence of the club.
"Lex!" I scrambled to my feet and we ran (at normal speed) over to where Lex had landed on the couch, surronded by broken glass. Now that I got a closer look I was alarmed to see it was a straight jacket, and his feet had been tied together by chains.
"Get down! There's a man with a gun up there," Lex warned.
"Where? You mean that guy?" Clark said, pointing to the unconscious man.
"What happened?"
"I have no idea."
"I don't care," I laughed, semi-hysterically, "Oh, god, Lex. You're alive!" I flung my arms around him in a desperate hug, it was made slightly awkward by the jacket but I didn't care.
Lex was alive.
0000
A little while later I had been forced to leave Lex's side, Clark had managed to distract me when the paramedic checked Lex over (he was fine except for a few cuts and brusies).
I had finally gotten the full story on Royce's death, it had been Kasich's gun, but it had been knocked out of his hands and across the floor to Amanda Rothman, who after seeing her fiancee stab Lex she picked of the gun and pulled the trigger, shooting Royce in the chest and killing him. Lex had been blameless, but had told Phelan that he was the one behind the gun so that his father would cover it up, protecting her.
The contractor was Amanda's brother, who had been convinced that Lex had something to do with Royce's death, and to fault for Amanda's suicide, for which he was taking revenge for. Chloe had traced the adress on the imposter CEP's licence and sent the cops to that location, where they discovered Kasich's body.
Somehow, despite severed hands in boxes, poisoned cows, Lex being kidnapped, and my preoccupation with the mystery, the Talon opened on schedule.
I had been forced into a dress for the occasion, a fact that I was quite bitter about, although not as much as the fact that Clark had managed to drag me away from Lex so soon after his recent brush with death.
The Talon was beautiful, of course, and Lana was practically glowing as she dragged me around to talk to customers. I was avoiding saying anything even vaugely insulting to Whiteney (or anyone else for that matter) when I spotted Clark.
I pointed him out to Lana and gave her my best puppy dog eyes, thankfully they worked and Lana excused us to go meet with my brother.
"So what do you think?" Lana asked him.
"I'm defienetly suprised. Especially since I know Clara was gone for most of it."
I scowled, "I was trying to find a deranged killer after my friend, I think that's a good reason to call in sick."
"What-?" Lana started to ask only to shake herself, "Where's Chloe?"
I looked around for her too, but Clark answered ending my confusion, "She said she wanted to be fashinably late." Lana nodded understandingly and I sulked silently while Clark pulled out a wrapped present, "I got this for the opening. Don't worry it's not a body part."
Lana ripped off the wrapping paper to reveal a picture frames containing an old black and white of the Talon. "It was in the attic. It was out grandfather's and was taken just after the Talon opened," at my questioning look he shrugged, "I wanted it to be a suprise." I smiled at the thought behind this gift, well aware it was more for Lana's benifit than mine.
She loved the Talon, I just wanted to try my hand at operating a business.
"Figured you could hang it above the counter."
"Clark, it's amazing, thank you."
"Your welcome."
Their stares were filed with subtext and I took that as my cue to leave. Thankfully I spotted Lex almost immediately.
"Hey, Lex," Lex turened to look at me, giving me a hesitant smile.
"Where's your other half?" I just pointed at Clark and Lana making awkward small talk, "They look happy."
"Yeah, this whole night has been a raging sucess," I said looking appreciatively at the crowded shop.
Lex paused, looking at me, "If you don't mind me asking, why did you do it?"
I looked at him questioningly, "Do what?"
"Start this shop with Lana, you told me yourself that you don't like her."
I bit my lip, "I decided to take the advice of a friend," I looked at him pointedly, "I'm keeping my friends close but the cheerleader closer," I was pleased to catch an almost-smile from Lex, "Besides it actually hasn't been that bad as long as we avoid any and all talk of the love triangle no one wants to admit exsists."
"Speaking of avoiding, it it just my imagination or is Clark avoiding me?"
I shurgged apologetically, "Probably a little of both, he's just come to the revalation that there's a lot we don't know about you."
"That doesn't bother you?"
I smiled, my eyes scanning the room for displeased faces, "I knew that going in, being reminded isn't that big of a deal. Especially when I learn something good."
"Good?"
"When you told Phelan that you were the one who shot Royce instead of Amanda, you were trying to protect her, right?"
Lex nodded, looking relevied and I felt like i had won something, "I knew my father wouldn't do a thing to help her, but he would do anything to protect his only son."
I frowned as a thought occured to me, "You always do that, try to take care of people, and at the same time you push them away. you did it with Amanda, you did it with Amy Palmer, and you've probably done it with many others." I looked at him consideringly, "Don't do that with me, okay? I'd much rather fall flat on my ass while you stay and watch me pick up the pieces than the other way around, okay?"
Lex looked at me with a wieght behind his eyes that I had never seen before as I waited cautiously for his answer.
"Okay."
Notes:
Okay, finals are over, school is finished, summer has started!
Good news: no school means more time to write
Bad news: My house doesn't have internet so updates are going to be sporadic at best
To my lovely reviewers: Thank you so much for all the praise, I love it. And I'm a little worried because it seems you are guessing my plot developments before I write them. Is that a good thing in that I'm laying a good foundation? Or is it bad and I need to start writing plot twists?
Leave a review on your way out.