Clark slid his hands into his pocket as he entered the Talon. Peter and Gwen stood beside him and their eyes wandered curiously around the place. Clark merely scanned the room until he found Lana and Chloe, who waved him over as soon as they spotted him. He glanced back at Peter and Gwen and then headed over to the counter where they were sitting, with the two following him closely.
"Lana, Chloe, these are… Well, I'm helping them out while they have car troubles." Clark stuttered. "This is Peter and Gwen."
Chloe smiled and gave Clark the side eye. "Ah, you're very lucky to have broken down where you did. Clark here is like Smallville's own superhero."
"Oh yeah, he's saved our lives a couple of times." Lana added.
Both girls directed their eyes to Peter, and they exchanged a look before giggling. Peter looked at Gwen from the corner of his eye and quickly reached for her hand. She bit down on her lip, but didn't deny him. However, Lana and Chloe were having none of it.
"Oh, we have got to talk to you…" They chimed.
Chloe reached out and grabbed Gwen's other hand and Lana stepped behind her, giving her no choice but to go along with them. She glanced back over her shoulder at Peter as she struggled to keep up with the girls and he shrugged.
With the girls out of the way, Clark bit his tongue and forced back the thought that was nagging his mind. He turned to Peter with a smile and gestured towards the counter.
"Coffee?" He questioned.
"After the day I've had, yes please." Peter agreed.
As they took two seats, a waitress placed two cups of coffee in front of them and Peter didn't wait to pick his cup up. Despite how it burned through his hand, he raised it to his lips and sipped on it. Clark didn't touch his own right away, and left it on the counter to cool.
"Peter…" He began.
"Huh?" Peter hummed as his attention shifted to Clark.
"I wanted to ask since we left the house, but I've been hesitating… how did you stop all of those glasses from falling?"
Peter's expression shifted. He looked taken aback by the question, and quickly averted his eyes anywhere but Clark, who was sitting beside him. He had figured this moment was coming but still hoped that it wouldn't.
"Uhh… why are all the girls in this place staring at us?" He asked, changing the subject as he noticed all the eyes on them for the first time.
Clark snorted a laugh. "Haha, don't worry, you'll get used to that if you stick around long enough."
"I'm guessing you have a large fan club."
"You could say that. I don't know what it is… girls just seem to throw themselves at me." Clark chuckled. "But my eyes remain only on one."
"Lana?" Peter guessed.
"Wow. You are really observant, aren't you?"
"Sometimes." Peter admitted.
"What about you?" Clark inquired curiously.
"Me?" He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I have Gwen, and she uh- she's amazing."
"Then you're a very lucky guy. Most girls just throw themselves at me because… well, not to sound cocky, but because I'm not bad for a farm boy."
Peter frowned. "Well, what about Lana?" He questioned. "You two seem close."
Clark's smile wavered, but didn't completely disappear. He glanced over to where the three girls were sitting at a table and then looked back at Peter.
"It's complicated." He answered at last. "Sometimes I think that I have a chance, and then something happens and we're either not speaking or she's with someone else."
Peter flashed a wry, one sided smile and gave Clark a pat on the back. "Yeah, that sounds complicated alright. No offense, but I'm glad that I don't have your life for that reason alone."
"Hah! Thanks." He scoffed. "But it doesn't matter, there's just so many reasons that we shouldn't be together…"
"I know a little something about that." Peter admitted. "Though all of these reasons for me couldn't compare to my feelings."
Clark didn't say anything further on the subject and picked up his coffee cup, gulping down a mouthful. His mind wandered to Lana, and everything that had happened since he had placed himself in her life. He lifted his head and opened his mouth to speak, but before any words could come out a high pitched scream pierced through all other noise in the Talon. The sound of several chair legs scraping the floor followed as several customers gathered in one area and Clark and Peter exchanged a look before getting up and joining them. They pushed their way through the growing crowd to the front, where Lana, Gwen and Chloe were the center of all the attention.
Oh my God!" Peter gasped, and moved over to the right where Gwen was sitting next to Chloe.
Lana looked up at Clark and then beside her at Chloe. She hesitated for a second, not sure if she should say what she wanted to in front of their two guests. Clark glanced away from her at Peter and Gwen, and his eyes narrowed. She was sitting normally with her legs crossed, but her eyes were staring blankly ahead as though the lights were on but no one was home.
"What happened?" Peter looked at the other girls.
"Clark, can I talk to you for a second?" Chloe asked.
"Y- Yeah." Clark hesitated. "Lana, stay with our guests."
With that being said, Chloe grabbed Clark by the wrist and pulled him away from the crowd and towards the back room. She double checked that they were out of ear shot, then got straight to the point.
"This makes no sense. Total wall of weird material."
"I'm guessing that this is the handy work of another meteor freak."
"That's my theory, anyway." She shrugged. "But I didn't say anything because well… anyone who's not from Smallville won't understand."
"Well, we have to do something." Clark sighed.
"Come on, let's see what we can do." She insisted and started back towards where the others were sitting.
Clark followed behind her and let out a breath when he saw that the blonde was now moving and talking as she should. Whatever had happened, the effects of their powers couldn't have been all that strong.
"Gwen, what happened?" Peter asked.
"I don't know. We were talking and someone brushed past me, but I don't remember anything else." She answered.
Peter looked at Clark with a questioning look. It was obvious that he wanted to say something, but whatever it was never passed his lips. Clark scanned the room in search of anyone who stood out, and when no one caught his attention, he looked around again, but this time using his x-ray vision. Still, no one stood out.
"Well, as long as you're okay…" Clark dismissed, hoping that nothing more would come of the situation.
"Yeah." She confirmed.
Clark averted his eyes to Lana as Peter started fussing over Gwen, with small kisses and hugs. His mind drifted away from the present and into a future that he was quite certain would never come to pass. He was unaware of everything until an annoying voice called out his name.
"Lois…" He greeted her, feeling less than excited.
"Hey, Smallville. I got back home and your mom said you were out with friends. I guess my invite got lost in the mail."
Clark bit back his growing need to insult hee and shook his head. "It's not like that, actually my dad is fixing their car but it could take a while. I figured that I should at least show them a few good places while they're here."
"No offense, but you are the last person who should be showing them around." Lois teased.
"Bite me." He growled.
"No thanks, I don't want farm boy germs."
"Okay, Lois… come on, we've got work to do at the Torch." Chloe cut in, linking their arms and marching her cousin back towards the door.
Clark pulled up a chair and sat down beside Lana, with only the four of them together. He tapped his foot against the floor, trying to come up with something to say that would smooth things over.
"So, how's life with Lois on the farm?" Lana asked, breaking the silence.
"Hectic." Clark answered.
"Really? Because I thought you'd be all googly eyed over her by now."
Peter jumped up from where he was sitting. "I don't know about you, but I could use another coffee. Gwen, care to join me?" He asked.
"Oh yes." She agreed, fully aware of what was about to go down.
Grabbing her by the hand, Peter led her away towards the counter, leaving Clark and Lana by themselves. Clark hung his head and ran his fingers through his black hair, causing it to stick up in places.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked with a sigh.
"I just know better. You have a girl staying on the farm, and you even gave up your room for her. There's obviously something there."
"Yeah, that something is that I can't stand her and she can't stand me." He snapped. "And I gave my room up because it seemed like the polite thing to do, not that I need to explain myself to you, Lana."
"I never asked you to, I'm just saying."
"There's a huge difference between just saying something and implying that there's more to it."
"No, but the way you're reacting tells me that there is more to it." She insisted. "Tell me, are you catching feelings or just hooking up?"
Anger flashed through Clark's eyes and he stood up, slamming his hand down on the table in the process. Lana flinched, but got to her feet and followed him as he walked towards the door.
"You're just gonna walk away without giving me an answer?" She raised her voice in disbelief.
"No, Lana. There's nothing going on between me and Lois, but even if there was I don't see the issue. You never want me unless you can't have me, and now you're gonna tell me that you're jealous of Lois? The girl I have made my dislike for very clear!" He yelled.
The volume of their voices brought attention to them and Clark glanced around awkwardly, wishing to be anywhere but there. He drew in a breath as if to conceal the worst of his anger and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Yet the way you're acting says otherwise."
"The way I'm acting? Lana, you're acting like a crazy, jealous girlfriend!"
Lana's eyes widened and she folded her arms across her chest. "I'm not jealous, I have no reason to be."
"And you really expect me to believe that?" He scoffed. "No, I'm not gonna stand here arguing. There's nothing going on between me and Lois, no matter what you might believe." He added. "But if I was with her or any other girl then you have absolutely no right to be jealous or attack me over it-"
"I'm not attacking you, Clark." She cut in.
"Let me finish!" He snapped. "You have no right to tell me who I can and can't be with. I have wanted you every day for over four years, but you show me an open door then slam it in my face and do you ever consider that I'm just tired of being hurt by you?"
"I'm sorry, I hurt you?" She raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "I gave you chance after chance and you blew it because you can never be honest with me."
"Yeah, Lana. You hurt me… and what's worse is that half of the time you don't even know it." He said, lowering his voice again. "And I do have feelings for you, but that's what makes it hurt worse every damn time."
"Clark…"
"Don't." He warned. "Don't change your attitude towards me now, you'll only give me hope and then pull the rug from under me."
"Fine. I'm sure you'll just run to Lois for comfort." She snapped, turned on her heel and stalked out the door.
Clark lingered on the spot, avoiding all of the judgemental eyes on him. His good mood throughout the first half of the day had vanished, having been replaced by anger and misery. He slid his hands inside the pockets of his jeans and forced himself back over to the counter, where Peter and Gwen were pretending not to have noticed the major dispute by making their own small talk.
"I'm sorry." He muttered. "Look, you should know that Smallville isn't the most normal of places. We get a lot of strange things, but don't worry. I'll make sure that you both are safe as long as you're staying on the farm."
Peter shook his head. "No worries, we know a thing or two about strange happenings."
"Yeah, you wouldn't believe the things we've seen." Gwen added.
"But this town goes beyond strange." He added. "Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to head back to the farm right now."
"Oh." Peter mouthed. "Yeah, it's been a long day and it's getting late."
Clark was already halfway out the door when they joined him and the three were silent as they walked back to the truck. It was a short while before they arrived back at the farm, and as Peter and Gwen stepped out of the truck, he remained for a second.
"You two go ahead. I'm gonna hang around out here for a bit." He informed them.
"Huh, is everything okay?" Peter frowned.
"Yeah, I just don't wanna head inside just yet."
"Alright."
Waiting until they had reached the front porch and disappeared inside the house, Clark got out of the truck and headed over to the barn, not stopping until he was upstairs in the area that had, for years now, been his Fortress of Solitude. He stared out at the pastel orange, purple tinted sky and flopped down on the couch.
"Having trouble, Clark?"
"Lex!" He exclaimed, startled by his unannounced presence. "How long have you been here?"
"Not long, I've been waiting for you as we need to talk. But I can come back later if now is a bad time."
Clark thought it through and then sat up in his seat. "No, it's fine. What's going on?"
"I just came to warn you that a patient escaped from Somerhault." Lex explained.
"A patient with weird powers?" He raised an eyebrow.
"The ability to show people their worst fears." Lex confirmed. "Just… be careful, Clark."
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." He assured him. "Is that all?"
"Pretty much, I'll be seeing you though."
Saluting him like a soldier to a captain, Lex turned and hurried down the stairs. Now fully alone, Clark let himself flop back down on the couch and closed his eyes. He couldn't recall a time he'd been left feeling this mentally drained. With his argument with Lana echoing through his mind, he succumbed quickly to a deep sleep.
