Chapter 15 — Mad World
Zoey yawns as she walks down the stairs. Spring had quickly arrived and with it, they welcomed the news that Martha was pregnant. A lot had happened including learning more about Clark's heritage. Krypton was the name of the planet he was originally from. Lionel had miraculously recovered from being blind and now had his full sight back. "Happy birthday," she tells Clark, who was sitting at the kitchen table. She grabs a piece of toast and takes a bite.
"Look what the cat dragged in," Jonathan greets, walking into the kitchen with Lex behind him. The biggest change that had occurred that spring was the fact that Jonathan had become more friendly towards Lex. The billionaire had a week where he was kicked out to the manor due to a long-lost brother coming out of the woodwork and partnering with Lionel. Lex had managed to regain his home and his position by working with his brother.
While everything had been going on, Zoey had focused on having a low profile. The press hadn't exactly been kind to her after the red carpet photos from the Wayne Foundation Gala had been published. Most of the comments were wondering why he would date someone who appeared so cold and unfriendly. The only good thing that came out of it was the fact that she and Bruce were talking daily. The school year for Zoey and Clark had just ended the week before.
"Have you had breakfast," Martha questions, motioning for him to take a seat at the table.
"Uh, thanks, but I can't stay. I just wanted to ask you and Mr. Kent for a favor," Lex begins. "I know we've had our differences, so this might sound strange, but it would mean a lot to me. It's customary for the, uh, bride and groom to sit with their parents at the rehearsal dinner so…since mine won't be there, I was wondering…would the two of you consider standing in?"
Martha and Jonathan exchange a look. Neither of them were expecting something like this. "Lex, we would be honored," Jonathan tells him.
Lex smiles. "Great. That just leaves one open seat at the table between Clark and Zoey. Any suggestions," he asks, looking between them.
Clark smiles, then he glances at Zoey. "Is Bruce coming," he asks.
Zoey shakes her head. "He has finals coming up." Clark turns to Lex with a grin on his face.
"Why are you sitting at the same table as Lex Luther," Bruce questions over the speaker. Zoey's Blackberry was sitting on her bed. She was currently trying to decide between two dresses: a pastel blue sundress or a soft pink spaghetti strap dress. "I don't get why you're going to a wedding in the first place?"
"Lex invited my godparents to sit at his table. Clark is his best man. So…I got invited to sit at the same table as a courtesy I guess," Zoey replies. "I wish we had a way to talk over the camera so you can help me decide what to wear."
"If we had a way to talk over camera then I wouldn't let you wear anything."
Zoey snorts. "Is that all you think about?"
"I'm a seventeen-year-old with a gorgeous, smart, sexy girlfriend. Of course, it's what I think about ninety percent of the time."
"What about the other ten percent of the time?"
"School. This physics final is kicking my ass."
"I'm sure that you'll do fine," Zoey says, picking up the pink dress. "Pink it is."
"How long do you have to visit Max for," Bruce questions, lounging on his bed and staring at the ceiling.
"At least half the summer," Zoey answers, pulling off her jeans and tank top. She pulls on the spaghetti strap dress and looks in the mirror. "Why?"
"I was thinking of going to Maui for a couple of weeks this summer and was hoping that you would be able to join me."
Zoey softly smiles. "I would love to join you in Maui."
"Zoey, sweetheart, we're getting ready to leave," Martha calls up the stairs.
"I have to go," Zoey says, grabbing a pair of low heels. "I will talk with you tomorrow."
"Of course. I love you."
A light blush covers Zoey's face. "I love you too."
Zoey doesn't miss the exchange between Lana and Clark. "Okay, you need to spill," she begins, causing Lana to look at her with a confused look. They were standing off to the side of the ballroom in the Luthor mansion where the rehearsal dinner was taking place. "What is going on between you and Clark?"
Lana lightly blushes. "It's complicated."
"Complicated? Like neither of you want to hurt Chloe complicated or something else."
"A little bit of both."
"I think you both need to be honest with Chloe. Everything else will fall into place."
"If you felt that Bruce was keeping something from you, would you still be with him," Lana asks.
Zoey had a good idea of what Lana was getting at. "Yes. Because if he was keeping something from me, then it must be for a good reason. And I would trust that when he was ready, he would tell me."
"It's time for everyone to be seated," a voice rings out in the ballroom. Zoey shoots Lana a smile and walks over to her seat next to Martha.
After food has been eaten and dishes cleared away, Clark stands up and taps his fork on his glass. "Can I have everyone's attention, please," he asks the room and the light chatter comes to a stop. "I think Lex picked me to be the best man because he knew how…comfortable I was speaking in front of people. I've been looking through every book from Socrates to Shakespeare, trying to find someone who could put into words the way Lex and Helen feel about each other. But what I realized is there are no words for it. And when you have it you trust it and you believe in it. Take a chance on it. And you're willing to sacrifice anything to keep it no matter what the cost. To Helen and Lex."
"To Helen and Lex," the crowd rings out.
Zoey lifts her glass before taking a sip of the soda water she was given. She doesn't pay attention to Clark running out of the ballroom. Part of her wondered if she should be honest with Bruce; if she should tell him about the kiss she shared with Oliver at her birthday party. She wondered if she should talk to Oliver about telling Bruce. They had both acted like it had never happened. She hadn't even talked to Oliver much since the party. A hand touches her shoulder and she snaps out of her thoughts to see Martha. "Sweetheart, we're leaving," Martha softly tells her.
Zoey stands up. She frowns not seeing Clark. "Where's Clark?"
"He already left," Martha answers as they walk out of the ballroom. "You looked pretty lost there. Something you want to talk about?"
"Bruce invited me to spend a couple of weeks with him in Hawaii this summer and I don't know how to tell Uncle Max," Zoey lies. She hated that she could lie so easily to her godparents. She certainly wasn't going to tell them about kissing Oliver or that she wondered if making out with someone for a few minutes was considered cheating.
"First of all, your godfather and I still want to meet this young man," Martha says, walking out of the house with her. "Secondly, I think Max would be ecstatic about Bruce inviting you on vacation."
Zoey sighs. She knew that Max would be beyond happy. "Probably."
Zoey shifts in the uncomfortable pew that she was sitting in. Jonathan and Martha were next to her. She glances at her godparents, wondering where Clark was. "Any word on Clark," Lex asks, walking up to the pew. "Helen's already circled the church five times."
"He's coming with Lana," Martha answers.
Zoey frowns. She glances down the church aisle to see Lana walking towards them. "Lana's alone," she tells them.
"Lana, where's Clark," Jonathan questions.
"He said he had something to do. It seemed important," Lana replies.
Martha and Jonathan exchange a look before standing up. "Mr. Kent," Lex begins.
"I'm sorry, Lex. It looks like you're gonna have to start your wedding without your best man," Jonathan replies.
"We can wait."
"Hey, don't worry about Clark. You have far more important things to do here," Jonathan replies. "Good luck."
Zoey watches as her godparents walk out of the church without a backward glance at her. Lex walks up to where the minister is standing. Lana takes the now vacant seat. "Zoey, are you okay," she softly asks.
Zoey forces a smile. She had grown used to being in the background once more. "I'm fine," she lies, turning towards the front of the church.
Zoey stares in disbelief at the crater where the storm cellar once was. She had no idea what had happened. The wedding had gone off without a hitch, except for Lex not having a best man. Jonathan and Martha were in the hospital. Martha had lost the baby. Clark was nowhere to be seen. She turns and walks back over to the farmhouse where Lana was sitting on the steps. "Clark just left," she repeats, sitting down next to her.
"He said Smallville wasn't his home anymore," Lana softly says, wiping away a tear.
"Are you okay," Zoey questions, worried about her friend.
"He wanted me to go with him. Smallville's my home. It's Clark's home too. It's your home too."
Zoey sighs. She rubs her arms, trying to provide herself with some comfort. "He'll come back."
"You sound sure of that."
"It's home. He'll be back."
And I find it kind of funny
I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world