Lovely Lane Chapter 12

END OF SCHOOL YEAR

Just before Memorial Day Clark and Lana both have an appointment with their academic advisor. Through real effort, and a bit of luck, they have them on the same day and approximately the same time. They decide to have breakfast at the cafeteria just off the quad. They rarely do this, but today they got up late and didn't have time to cook. They worked their way through the line, paid and sat down to eat. They had 45 minutes until their appointments.

As they ate, Lana noticed a table of four boys, just a way away from them. They looked suspicious to her so she pointed them out to Clark. He turned on his super-hearing and listened in.

"They are just talking about girls, what fun they had last weekend. You don't want me to repeat what they are saying, trust me."

"I'm sure." They go on eating.

One of the boys had noticed Lana paying attention to them. When his table got up to leave, he came over to chat. "Hey girlie, I noticed you paying us some eye. You see anything you like, huh?"

"Nah, I've got a boyfriend."

"This country boy here? A pretty little thing like you can do better than that.'

"I really doubt it. You really should be on your way."

"Why?" His buddies are crowding around. "What's that pretty little bracelet say?" He jerks up Lana's wrist. "Clark, huh. Hey Clarkie, is that you? Or is that your other boyfriend?" All his buddies laugh at that.

"I wouldn't mess with him if I were you," Lana states in a low voice.

"And I wouldn't mess with her either, if I were you," Clark adds in a growl.

"Oh, listen to Jack and Jill here!" The group around the table roar with laughter.

SUDDENLY

Clark & Lana stand; while Clark grabs two of the guys by their shirts and knocks heads, dropping them to the floor – Lana punches her antagonist in the solar plexus. With a little magic help, he goes flying out the door. The 4th guy flees as fast as he can.

Our kids take their trays to the tray line, and go to their appointments. Clark arrives just in time to be called in to his advisor's office. "Clark, good to see you. How are things going from your perspective?"

"Good, Mr. Adams. My Ag minor is teaching me a lot, I am confident that I will be able to help the farm stay profitable and in the family."

"And Journalism? You were working on an internship at the Planet, weren't you?"

"Yes, and I've been doing that since January. It is going very well; I really like it."

"That's great. And, I heard that you and your girlfriend are doing part-time work at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. How are you doing balancing all that?"

Mr. Adams secretary enters, apologizes for the interruption and hands him a note. He reads it and places it upside down on his desk. "Go on, Clark."

" I am handling my load just fine. I work wait staff almost exclusively on weekends. Lana and I work together when they need two wait staff."

"Everything sounds good. Do you have any questions or concerns for me?"

"No, I appreciate you guidance when I need it."

"Always here for you. By the way, the Dean of Students wants to see you and Lana when you are done here. Do you need to see your Ag Dept advisor today?"

"No, not necessary. Do you know what the Dean wants?"

"No, just a note to stop by."

"Ok, thanks."

"Have a great summer."

"I will. See you in the fall."

Clark meets Lana back out on the quad. "My meeting was routine. Yours?" He comments.

"The same. Did your advisor get a note asking us to meet with the Dean of Students?"

"Yes, I bet it's about the cafeteria incident." Clark winces.

"I think so too. I hope we're not in too much hot water." Lana cringes.

"Well, we shall see. We need to be careful what we say. About our special abilities I mean."

"If we need to confer, should I freeze her?"

Clark looks at her, his mouth agape. Then he bursts into laughter, she giggles. "NO, although that would be interesting. But NO!"

"Darn, I bet we'd make the campus newspaper. Hey, you could write the article!"

"Aren't you funny today? Let's get going."

They go hand-in-hand to the Dean's office. They are asked to take seats while the receptionist announces their arrival. Shortly, they are ushered in and introduced.

"Dean Wilson, here are Lana Lang and Clark Kent – as you requested."

"Thank you, Cheryl. Lana and Clark, nice to meet the two of you."

"Likewise," Clark states. Lana forces a smile.

"Do you know why I requested this meeting?"

"No, our advisors didn't say," Lana answers for them.

"Clark?"

"No, ma'am."

"Well, the cafeteria this morning. Ring a bell?"

"We had a nice breakfast," Clark deadpans. "I liked the oatmeal, no lumps. Very nice." He grins.

The Dean looks irritated. "Really? Punching out 3 boys, a nice breakfast? Is that how things work in Smallville?"

Lana is really irritated herself! Not freezing the Dean is getting harder by the second. Or throwing her out a window.

"Those 'boys' were being rude to Clark and myself."

"And you were, what?" The Dean raises an eyebrow.

"Minding our own business. Sure, Lana did look their way because they were being loud." Clark retorts.

"Then they came over and surrounded us. They used crude language and grabbed my wrist to see my bracelet." Lana emphasizes.

"And that justifies your actions?"

"We think so." Clark explains.

"I agree," Lana adds.

"Well, no discipline today. This is your 1st incident. Please be careful."

"We will," Lana mutters as they stand to leave.

AT HOME

"She didn't say anything remotely like she was interested in our abilities," Lana suggests.

"Yeah, but I wonder if she was just waiting for us to slip up?"

"Could be. We need to be really careful at school. I wouldn't be surprised if the faculty and staff have been alerted about us. Do you have any professors that you trust enough that you could feel them out about that?" Lana asks.

"There is one Ag teacher, he knows mom and dad quite well. He is really friendly and helpful with me. I may feel him out."

"Carefully."

"Of course."

"Clark, I've been thinking."

"About?"

"2 things. First, we haven't finished the discussion with mom about disguises."

"You are right. We need to spend a little time at the farm and finish that. And 2nd?"

"Well, 2nd, I would like to spend some more time with Densi. Get better acquainted?"

"Densi? Oh yes, Deeks and Kensi. You know what? Smallville has a July 4th festival every year; I have been trying to get the Kent Farm to sponsor a float in the parade. Like, forever. Could we get Deeks & Kensi to join us on a float?" Clark muses.

"I don't know. We would have to ask. You have Kensi's number, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll call her and talk it through. Ok?"

"You bet."

THE KENT FARM

The kids fly out for a Saturday talk with Martha, about disguises. Clark tries on his blue/red suit with the Coat-of-arms now on the chest. The ladies love it; he agrees to give it a try. He still doesn't know when he will use it. His role with the disguise is still a work in progress.

For Lana, Martha has something prepared. Lana goes up to change; she comes down, stands in the LR and does a slow pirouette. Mom is flabbergasted, Clark is speechless. His mouth drops open, his eyes grow big, his pulse races.

Lana has on an all-white, leather suit with a flowing egg shell cape and matching boots. There is a matching head piece with a rear circular cutout for a pony tail when they fly and an eggshell mask.

"Wow, you are . . . words aren't adequate for this, babe!"

"Very, very nice," Martha adds.

"Now what shall we call you, dear," mom asks.

"Well, I have been thinking about that," Lana admits. "My long-ago relative with Wiccan powers was Isobel. I kind of like that."

"I do too," mom agrees as does Clark.

"OK, I'm Isobel. And you are?" She winks at Clark.

"I don't know yet. We'll figure that out later."

"When are you going to use the suits," asks mom.

They look at each other and shrug. Another work in progress. They pack up their suits and fly back to their loft.

TALK WITH KENSI

Lana calla Kensi the next day – Sunday.

K: Blye here.

L: Kensi, this is Lana Lang.

K: Lana! I didn't think I would ever hear from you. You and Clark were pretty pissed off at us.

L: Yes, we were. But we've been talking, and it seems like we could be friends with you and Deeks. At least we are willing to try. If we leave all the law enforcement and super-abilities on the sideline. What do you think?

K: I agree, and I like it. Deeks and I have talked about the very same thing. BTW, you can call him Marty, I do away from work.

L: I'll remember that. So, Clark and I have thought about this and we have an idea. He is trying to get his folks to sponsor a Kent Farm float in Smallville's July 4th parade. Would there be any chance we could get you and Marty to come and be on that float with us? We would need to come up with a theme and dress in costumes.

K: that's a great idea. Let me float, pun intended, that past Marty and see what he says. Could you fly out here and spend time, maybe a weekend, planning?

L: we certainly could. We would just need directions as to where to land, and a good time to do so. When do you think you can get back to me?

K: give me a couple of days.

L: ok, I'll wait to hear from you. Bye Kens.

K: bye Lana, and good to hear from you.

L: you too, say Hi to Marty.

K: will do.

TBC