Lonesome Street

Chapter 4

A/N: The following 2 chapters contain a detailed explanation of Clark Kent's origin and abilities. It is garnered from various sources, and is hopefully reasonably complete. Any errors of omission or commission are solely mine. Comments are always welcome.

MISSING YOU

As the school year dragged on Martha's prediction (to herself) became more and more true. The life-long friends and classmates missed each other increasingly. They had thought that they would get past this, that was not happening. The opposite was happening. The simple companionship of reliable friends was missing in their lives. Clark had experienced a close call; Lana had too.

LANA – CLOSE CALL

Lana had the same issue as Clark, who to go to a party with? She did the group thing on several occasions and had a moderately good time. But it wasn't the same as with Clark, Chloe and Pete.

She agreed to a 1:1 date twice. Each time she had to use all her self-defense skills to extricate herself from a near physically abusive situation. NEVER AGAIN! Not at Met U! She withdrew socially and became depressed.

CARDS

Lana was excited to receive a Christmas card from Clark; return address the Kent Farm. It was a hand drawn sketch of Rudolph with his red nose. He was standing in front of a barn with an open 2nd story loft window. He was crying tears of red blood, which ran down his snout and dripped into the white snow. There was quite a red puddle where he had been crying for a while. His eyes were obviously downcast, and the hand drawn inscription simply said . . . MISSING YOU THIS Christmas! It was signed – CK.

She laid it on her desk, lay her head on it and cried! God, she missed him!

Martha had given her Clark's address; she had intended to get him a Christmas card too. She never got it done.

Valentine's day . . . Clark sent Lana a valentine also. Also hand drawn, it was a large red heart dripping large drops of red blood. There was a red pool of accumulated red tears, this time on a bed of green grass. STILL MISSING YOU – CK!

Her mind grouses . . . he knows where you live, why doesn't he come see you?

Her heart retorts . . . you know where he lives! Why don't you go see him?

Nothing happens.

THEN SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN!

Lana receives a large manila envelope in early May. Inside are 2 smaller envelopes, they are marked #1 and #2. Upper left corner of each is his initials, CK. Both are addressed to Lana Lang. She opens #1 and reads:

My dearest Lana,

Being w/o you for the better part of a year has taught me many things. High on the list are:

Being apart from the person you LOVE hurts, a lot!

Being right is not as important as being together.

Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the realization that something is more important than your fear.

You deserve to know EVERYTHING!

I am begging you for another chance, another chance at US – please!

Thus envelope #2.

Envelope #2 contains an explanation of my SECRET. You've been asking for this, here it is. It starts with my special abilities (Yes, I was in the tornado with you). There are several and I will explain and demonstrate. But they are not my SECRET! The real SECRET is WHY I have those abilities and how I rejuvenate to keep them.

I will give you 3 choices: a) you may read the contents of envelope #2 for yourself, b) you may wait until I am at home, then come to the loft and hear the FULL explanation in person and ask questions, or c) you may decide not to give me another chance and destroy envelope #2. God – I hope you don't choose option c!

In any case, PLEASE do not let the contents of envelope #2 fall into any hands but yours! I am trusting you with this.

I will be on the farm by mid-June; I hope to see you then.

I've loved you since I was 5 y/o. I can't shake it, nor do I want to! I want it/us to grow!

Yours forever,

Clark Kent

Lana is speechless. Clark has laid bare his soul, for her. He wants her, them, and is ready and willing to give her everything she has ever asked him for. How can she say no to his explanation? She cannot.

She decides not to read envelope #2; she will join him in the loft, hear the story from his lips, and ask her questions. Then she will decide on another chance for him, for them.

She honestly doesn't know which way it will go.