Chapter 7
"What's going on?"
My eyes snapped open at the sound of Lana's voice, and turn to stare at her. I don't know what to say. What can I say? Sorry Lana, I can't bring myself to let go of your boyfriend? Yep, I'm sure that one will go over very well…
"Hey Lana," Clark greets her before I feel him lean down again. "Liz? Are you okay, can I let go now?"
No! My mind is screaming at me to hold on tight… I nod slowly, and his arm leaves my waist. Almost immediately, I feel bereft, an aching sense of loss building within me.
"Is anyone going to answer me?" Lana sounded a bit miffed.
"Hi Lana, it's just that we had a little accident. You see…"
I left Chloe to explain the situation as I turned to thank Clark.
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise that you were on the other side of the door." Clark whispered, contritely. "Don't know my own strength sometimes."
"It's alright." I'm not sure why we are whispering. "You saved me from a fall, so no harm, no foul."
"… and then Clark was just checking to see if Liz was alright as you walked in the door." It seemed that Chloe had completed her explanation.
Lana looked at me for a moment, before asking, "Are you okay, Liz?"
"Don't worry guys, I'm fine." I looked at them all. "Nothing happened." Oh, but I wish it did…with Clark…
"Here Liz, let me get your bag." Clark grabbed hold of the strap and reached down to collect my bag and the papers I hadn't realised I had dropped on the floor while I was in Clark's arms.
Smiling at him, I extended my arm to grasp the bag, and in doing so somehow my index finger intertwined with his and then the flashes started…
Flash: A dark heavy-laden sky…
Flash: Lana looking at Clark with hate in her eyes…
Flash: Lana shouting at Clark…
Flash: Clark responding to Lana…
Flash: Lana lifting a gun and pointing it at Clark…
Flash: Lana cocking the gun and pulling the trigger…
Wrenching my hand away from Clark, I backed away from him unaware that my bag had once again fallen. My mind was racing…
"Liz, are you okay?" I saw his lips moving, but didn't hear the words. Seeing him approach, I moved away until I felt the wall against my back. When he took another step, I shook my head, and held up my hand to ward him off.
"No!"
No!!! No, no, no… Why now?! I had put this behind me…I was going to start over, no more aliens, no more powers!!! And then, it hit me what the flashes were about… Oh God, Lana was going to shoot Clark… Why was there hate? I have to save him… I couldn't allow this to happen…I have offensive powers, I can blast her now, and she won't be a threat to Clark in the future…Eliminate the threat…
It was only later that I realised that I was being filled with an incredible amount of hate towards Lana, but at that instance, I only felt the power building and I was faced with another reason to panic.
The electricity was starting to build up in me, and knew I had to get out of here fast. Making a mad dash for the door, I scooped up my bag and ran. Hearing my name being called behind me, I ignored it and focused on trying to find a safe haven.
Run Liz… Shit! I don't know where I'm going… Where the hell is the bathroom?! I can't be seen… The sparks will appear soon… I can't place the others in danger again… Not again! Please, please… I need a place to hide… Turn down this corridor… Push those people aside…Why the hell is this place so big?!
And like divine benevolence, I saw a sign indicating a girl's bathroom at the end of the hallway. With a burst of speed, I shoved the door open, ran to the first available door and slammed it shut. Only once I had the lock secured, was I able to let go.
The pain was excruciating, the green sparks were running up and down my body, flowing through my veins and burning me from the inside… It felt like my blood had become boiling hot lava, incinerating everything in its path… I was unaware of the tears falling down my face, mixing with the blood that was escaping from the bite on my lip… Unaware of the whimpers that could be heard by anyone who happened to in the bathroom and one Clark Kent with super-hearing...
Relax… It's only heightened emotions… You know that, Liz. Relax… Breathe deeply… Inhale… Exhale… Think of a relaxing afternoon lying down on the grass… Inhale… Exhale… Cute puppies and kittens… Inhale… Exhale…Rainbows after a rain storm… Inhale… Exhale… A Roswell sunset… Inhale… Exhale… A Florida sunrise… Inhale… Exhale… The comfort of Clark's arms… Inhale… Exhale… Clark's beautiful eyes... Inhale... Exhale...
Finally I could feel some of the pain easing; the urge to release power dimming, but I just continued to breathe… I wasn't sure how long I sat on the floor of that bathroom stall, but when all else started to register, I noticed that there was no noise, and figured that everyone must have gone to class. Slowly opening my eyes, I gradually noticed the pins and needle effect travelling the length of my body… and looking down, realised that my veins looked like they were about to pop out of my skin. It was painful, but not as bad as the sparks, which I also realised, was the worst 'attack' I had ever had.
After another ten minutes, I rose and left the stall to check the damage, hoping that the 'popped out' veins were not visible in my face. Breathing a sigh of relief, I noticed that all I had was a broken lip, tear tracks and red eyes, which could all be easily dealt with, by keeping my head down and my hair covering my face. Eternally grateful for the sweater that I had stuffed into by bag this morning, I put it on and succeeded in covering the visible signs on my arms, only flinching slightly at the cloth brushing against sensitive skin. Mental note… always carry a sweater and wear long pants in case you spazz again…
Exiting the bathroom, I hoped that it was only second period. Spying a tall blonde guy at the end of the hall, I approached and asked for directions to my class, which thankfully was close by. Straightening my shoulders, I knocked on the door and entered.
"Yes? Can I help you?" the brunette teacher looked impatient.
"Yes ma'am. My name is Liz Parker."
"Oh, you're the new student." She stepped closer, and proceeded to look down her nose at me. "Well, Miss Parker, you are unbelievably late for this class, and if there is one thing I will not stand is tardiness. You got that?"
Great, hell of an impression on the first day… "Yes ma'am."
"Secondly, you will address me as Professor Atkins. I demand respect in this classroom. You heard me?"
"Yes ma'am, Professor Atkins."
"Good. I only accept the best in this class, and since you are in it, I assume that you are capable of producing those results. Now, I don't imagine that you need a map to get to an empty seat do you?" She sneered at me.
"No Professor Atkins." Looking up briefly, I spotted one at the back of the class. Hearing the snickering and whispering as I walked down the aisle, I sincerely wished that the ground would open up and swallow me whole.
"Now class, let's continue…"
The last ten minutes of the class passed by really slowly as I tried to become invisible at the back of the room. Never had I endured such a horrific Biology class in my life. Finally, the bell rang summoning the end of the torture, and I picked up my books and left the classroom. Hopefully it would be better next time around.
"Liz."
Leaning against the wall opposite the classroom door was Clark. I really didn't want to deal with this right now, knowing that I had no answers or could give no answers to the questions he was obviously dying to ask. How could I explain any of what had happened. They must probably think I'm a nutcase.
As I crossed to him, I bit my lip and flinched. Forgot I had opened it…
"Hi Clark. What's up?" I know the smile looked forced.
"Hi, I wanted to give you your schedule and book list. You left it at the Torch." He frowned, holding out the documents.
Carefully, I reached for them, not willing to touch him again. "Thanks Clark."
"Liz, what hap…" He started.
"Well, I have to go. Don't want to be late for my next class." I turned away and started walking away.
"Liz." He sighed. "We share the next class." He pointed in the other direction. "It's this way."
"Oh. Thanks."
Careful to maintain the distance between us, I walked with Clark to class.
"Liz, if you ever want to talk to me…" He blew out a breath, looking frustrated.
"Thanks Clark. Maybe one day…" Yeah, like the day after hell freezes over.