Chapter 14 [Talon—A Few Hours Later]
Lana muddled through her shortened shift. Her fingers worked the coffee press. Questions about Gabe and the disappearances popped up. She thanked Renee for stepping up in her absence. Jill and she bonded immediately. Familiarity relaxed her mind and eased her soul. Security wrapped itself around her akin to warm blanket. She carried Refill's pot around for her customers. She'd wipe empty tables. She bussed dirty dishes and mugs to the back for washing.
Energy, however, overwhelmed her. Emotions battered her sensibilities. She fought to maintain her composure. I have to figure out how to control this. Wow! She rubbed her forehead.
"Boss? Hey. Take a seat." Miranda got up from her table. Despite being off the clock, she stuck around. Memoria recalled full well her own adjustment to telepathy. School proved difficult enough. Neglect and Solitude allowed a baseline of sorts. Summers at Yamanuchi provided guidance and direction. The stepbastard was no help to me. I wish I could have Clark and her go to Japan with me.
"I'm okay, Miri. Thanks. Just a very long week." Lana stretched her arms overhead. "I'm glad we're closing early until school starts again. Wow. It's 6 already?"
"Yeah. Time flies when we're having fun. Doesn't it?" Miranda pushed the seat out across from her. "I wish you'd kept Sandra on with you. We're all still wrung out after that ordeal in New York. This morning on top of it?" Her eyes rolled on that note. "Your clothes and everything up in smoke. Poor Mr. Sullivan! I don't know what Chloe's going to do now."
"Chloe's almost seventeen. She's old enough to go for emancipation. Judge Ross, Lex and I have offered to help her. She's staying at the mansion at least during this school year. That Ms. Travers offered her an internship this summer at the Daily Planet. I guess after Mr. Sullivan's funeral she'll head there for a couple of months. And I'm all set." Lana stifled a cough with her hand.
A snort escaped from Miranda's mouth. "Captain Plaid invited you to stay there? That figures. Make sure to send me pictures of you in that plaid and flannel." She kept a straight face. Old Jealousy didn't nag at her as it would have before. In fact, Anticipation pushed her mind forward for certain other reasons.
"Clark was just as surprised as I was. His parents did. Then…I kind of let it slip out." Conspicuousness streaked Pink across her cheeks. "I was trying to help him understand what Mr. and Mrs. Kent were getting at about following the rules and respecting. I said 'sort of engagement'." She leaned back in her chair. Her eyes scanned the ceiling.
Those words have only been dying to come out for the last decade at least! Miranda rubbed her forehead. "And what did he do?"
"Clark's trying to wrap his head around it. His Dad said I had the right idea." Lana's smile spread wider across her face. "They accept me! We just have to be old fashioned about things. Mr. Kent said we have to wait until we're eighteen. He'd prefer we were graduated from high school too. But he said I could wear a ring if I wanted to! Can you believe this?"
"Finally. They see the light. Seriously, I'm glad you two can finally be together without the nonsense. You'll be seventeen in November, right? A year and a half. You can do this. In the meantime, focus on this place, school and training. I'll be back in a couple of months. At least Sandra and Renee are really ready to jump in and help out." Miranda assured her. "And I'll have some great stuff to show you. Seriously, I wish Clark and you could come with me."
"Mr. and Mrs. Kent would have a fit. They'd never let us go. And then Jor-El would hate letting another 'Earther' know." Lana's fingers signaled air quotes around the Earther reference.
Perhaps you might ask? Louise stepped out of the Ladies' Room. Her feet almost pranced across the aged wood under her shoes. Teenaged Enthusiasm and Wonder washed across her consciousness in that heartbeat once more. Her nostrils picked up on Coffee's scent and that of Popcorn lingering underneath that. "You've worked a miracle here!" She spun in a circle to take in the entire café. "Oh this definitely takes me back!"
"We do show movies in the back sometimes, Aunt Louise." Lana motioned toward the theater. "What do you mean ask? We have to be careful."
"Yes we do." Louise rubbed her chin. "This master guy…he's one of those old Japanese masters. He's ancient. But he knows about you."
"Me?" Lana stared at Louise and then Miranda. "What about me?" She cringed at that thought. How did he find out about Clark and me?
"I've talked about you as my best friend during those summers at Yamanuchi. Master Sensei told me of other travelers such as Joe and your ancestor. Apparently, Uncle Dave and your Mom really did some hardcore research." Miranda rubbed her forehead. "Anyway, if you want to train for a day or something, let me know."
"There are ways to get you both there, if need be." Louise slid her hand across the near wall's trim. "Joe can send you both there easily enough."
THIS ONE KNOWS. HE CAN BE TRUSTED, Jor-El interjected. THE ONE KNOWN AS ARIGHATTO CAN INVADE YOUR MINDS AND TRACK YOUR MOVEMENTS. WE MUST PREPARE A STRATEGY. CONGRATULATIONS. I APPRECIATE YOUR INITIATIVE. OF COURSE I APPROVE OF YOUR BOND. ASK KAL-EL FOR THE DESTINY BRACELET. IT IS YOURS BY RIGHT. ON THAT, JONATHAN KENT AND I AGREE. AS LOUISE AND MIRANDA HAVE SAID, I WOULD LIKE KAL-EL AND YOU TO WORK ON YOUR FOCUS AND CONCENTATION. HUMAN EMOTIONS DISTRACT AND LESSEN OUR ABILITIES. KNOW HOW TO FEEL AND WHEN NOT TO. FOR NOW, IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON.
"Joe's right. I'm glad you two can be together!" Louise pumped her fists over her head. "Be careful with that bracelet. You've got to get a ring though."
"Auntie, that's not important. Clark and I know." Lana shrugged.
"Boss, it's important. Face it. You're committed. You two are it for the long haul." Miranda got back up. "By the way, I've got my clothes in the back of my car. The rest of my stuff's already at the mansion. Mr. Luthor had the staff watch it today. I'll put it in my room there when I come back from Japan." She exhaled a pointed breath. "I'll be so glad to be out of there." She made a face.
"You and me both. That place is creepy." Lana winced. Abilities or not, she felt overwhelmed every time she went into the Arighatto house to be honest.
Louise glanced toward the door. "Someone's about to show up. I'll be watching." She disappeared in thin air.
"Now who?" Lana sprang to her feet. She glanced at her phone. "We're about to start closing."
"It's okay, Boss. I…" Miranda stopped her reply in midstream. "Oh great."
Lana saw Smallville's (Less Than) Finest strutting toward the front door. Oh great! Why now? A deep sigh escaped her mouth. Tension pounded yet more at her forehead.
What was that about the fun never stopping?