Delete Part 1

Clark was with Alicia. Again.

Lana cast a side eye at the two of them sitting casually at a table. They were studying for an economics test at the Talon. Perfectly normal behavior for local students. But Lana couldn't help but notice that the two of them had become inseparable since the Homecoming Dance. Every time Lana summoned up the nerve to talk with Clark, Alicia was always nearby. And Lana was consciously aware how the new girl always managed to find a way to touch Clark's hand or his arm or his shoulder during their interactions. Alicia seemed to linger a little longer each time, and Clark didn't seem to be pulling away from them.

Lana knew it was inevitable that she would have to talk with Clark eventually. He had warned her about Seth, and, under magnetic influence or not, she had dismissed his concerns. Lana could remember the pained look on his face when she had declared how much she cared about Seth. Still, Clark didn't abandon her and found a way to save her from Seth's influence.

But the truth was, Lana had meant every word.

She was still angry and confused about why Clark wouldn't let her in. What the big secret was that kept them apart.

Then, she had arrived at school Monday morning to see the newest Torch edition. The front page story naturally had been about the Homecoming Dance. Normally, a photograph of the King and Queen was splashed across the first page. However, since Seth and Lana, who had won by a landslide, had not been present, no photo had been taken. The runner-up's had been friends of Seth, so they declined the position; no one had heard yet about Seth's coma. Chloe had to insert a photo of the student body dancing the night away.

And there, off in the bottom right corner, was Clark dancing with Alicia.

Chloe had asked Clark to be there to get the story. His article, "The View from the Dance Floor" was actually really good. The article was a balanced summary of Homecoming week and encouragement for students to give new things a try.

"Homecoming may just last a week, but one cannot stay on the sidelines of life." Had been Clark's closing sentence.

Clark might have gone to the dance on assignment, but did he have to look so happy? Granted, the photo was a bit blurry, but Lana could clearly see them smiling at each other. And she couldn't help but notice the dress Alicia was wearing was the same style as the one she had picked out to wear for Seth. The difference was Alicia's dress was blue; a color Clark preferred.

I am not jealous, Lana told herself on repeat throughout the week.

A simple solution would have been for Lana to make a trip out to Clark's loft, but she couldn't seem to do it. The loft was one of Clark's refuges; a place where she and him had spent countless quiet hours watching sunsets. For all the fights they had in that barn, they shared many more intimate and precious moments there.

If Lana walked over there and found Alicia in the loft, she would have to admit she was losing Clark. Even if he wasn't aware of it.

But now, Lana was trapped in her shift. Clark and Alicia were patrons, able to call her over for a refill at a moment's notice. Lana pulled her best tricks to avoid them, but eventually her luck ran out.

"Hi," Clark said, coming over to her as she wiped down a table.

"Hi, Clark."

Her friend had picked the best moment. The Talon's rush had died off. Most of the customers and staff had left for the evening.

"I've just been wanting to ask how you've been."

"I've been fine, Clark. Thanks."

Clark waited for Lana to go on. When she didn't say anything more, he nodded in understanding and then turned to go back to the table. Lana recognized Clark was only trying to be respectful and give her space.

"Clark," Lana called him back. He turned around immediately. "You were right about Seth. Thank you for stopping him."

"Actually, I can't take the credit on this one." Clark motioned back towards the table. "It was all Alicia. She knew exactly what to do."

"Do what?" Lana groaned inwardly as Alicia joined them. The new girl must have seen the motion as an invitation. And Lana took notice on how close Alicia was standing next to Clark. It made Lana feel the distance between her and Clark all the more.

"I was just telling Lana how you saved the day."

"Yeah." Lana took a deep breath in. "Alicia, I want to thank you for helping out with Seth."

"No problem. I mean, I didn't know at the time what was going on, but Clark filled me in on Chloe's 'Wall of Weird' theory. The whole thing is just…fascinating. I just feel bad for causing someone to fall into a coma and then die."

Alicia bit her lip at the last part. Clark put his arm around her in comfort. "You couldn't have known that would happen."

"Yeah, well, good riddance." Lana huffed out.

"Lana?" Clark's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What? Oh, please forgive me for not having more sympathy for the guy who was controlling me like a puppet."

"Seth didn't ask to be different."

"No. Just like Greg Arkin didn't ask to become a bug-boy and Tina Greer didn't ask to become a bone-morpher. Look, the fact is, after they got their powers they went psycho and tried to kill me. Tina even came back for seconds."

Lana looked up at Clark, imploring for him to understand her fear. For all his faults and secrets, Clark still managed to make her feel safe. He had saved her life so many times; from Tina. From Ian. From Emily. Or to be more specific, a clone of her deceased childhood friend.

The new Emily, after Lana confessed a dark secret of her own, had thrown her off a bridge into a raging river. Lana could remember the fear; the helplessness she had felt being pulled under by the current.

And then, Clark had been there, pulling her up from the water, breathing new life into her.

"Clark, hold me." Was all Lana had asked.

That was all Lana wanted now. For Clark to reach out and pull her into a comforting embrace.

But there was no sympathy. If anything, Clark looked shocked and hurt by her rage, and he only seemed to pull Alicia closer to him. Lana turned her attention to Alicia. The least she could do was warn the newcomer. "You see one of those freaks, you run. Welcome to Smallville."

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Lana finished her shift in isolated silence. Clark and Alicia had left not long after their talk. Instead of relief, Lana's frustration had only grown. Clark always looked for the best in people. It was a trait she admired and loved in her friend.

But why couldn't he see that these freaks were dangerous?

Lana took out her rage by smooshing down the garbage. She pounded the trash of napkins and muffin wrappers down to tie off the bags. She lugged several others out back to the dumpster.

From the corner of her eye, Lana saw a lone figure standing at the end of the dimly lit alley.

The man was tall and muscular and wore a greyish tracksuit. He was completely bald. Something looked off with his skin. It looked pale; almost grayish. The stranger's head leaned to the side. And he stood there unmoving; as still as a statue.

Lana felt her heartbeat start to quicken. She kept a steady pace going back to the Talon door; her eyes were kept on the figure in case he should start advancing.

Within a second, the man was by her side, staring into her eyes. Lana instinctively gasped; she hadn't seen the man move, let alone take a step.

She wasted no time; Lana sent a swift kick into the man's stomach. She hoped the man would topple over and she could run inside, lock the door, and phone the sheriff.

But the man didn't flinch. He circled around Lana, blocking her way into the Talon.

"Help!" Lana shouted into the night as she ran to get out of the alley and into the main street.

Instead, she ran into the wall that was the strange figure. Inches away from his face, Lana could see the man had red eyes, and his skin was indeed gray. He smelt strange; of dampness and death. There were open sores across his face; part of his nose was gone. His eyes reminded her of a fish; not much there. Not even anger.

With a meaty hand, he grabbed Lana by the throat and lifted her into the air. Lana grasped the man's arm to help lift her body to breathe in what little air she could. Her legs kicked towards her attacker but couldn't reach. The man paid no heed to kicks that did land.

The struggle for air was real now.

This is it. I'm going to die.

The next thing Lana knew, she had been dropped to the pavement. She scurried backwards, all the while gasping for air. Her attacker also lay on the ground, unmoving. When Lana looked up, she saw a masked figure dressed in camo standing at the other end of the alley. In his right hand was a handgun, which was kept pointed at the unmoving figure on the ground. The gunman advanced. With a foot he kicked the body; it lay unresponsive.

The gunman offered Lana a hand to help her up. She accepted the offer and rose up. Her legs were shaky from her adrenaline, and she stumbled forward into the stranger's chest. He steadied her trip with his strong arms and Lana looked up at her hero. She couldn't see his face or his eyes past the mask.

"Thank you," she managed to whisper from her sore throat.

Lana took a step back and looked down at the unmoving figure. Whoever had attacked Lana was now dead. When she looked up, Lana found herself alone in the alley.

Her hero had vanished into the night.

Opening theme song…