Bless the Broken Road

[Cardinal]

Chapter 20 - Game Day

His bedside alarm went off at 8 a.m., but Clark had already been up for an hour-and-a-half in anxious anticipation of the first game of the season. He was happier than usual that this was game day. Besides the fact that this was the first game of the season, this game would allow him to get his mind off everything else that had been going on recently. In particular, Lana and Elaine.

His two tests in class on Friday had gone well, but today was the first real test as far as he was concerned: how would he deal with the expectations. Last year, he was an unknown, a sophomore starting quarterback for a team that was a perennial national championship contender, this year, he was a pre-season All-American who was being touted by some as a Heisman Trophy candidate. Last year, nothing was expected from him, this year, everything is expected.

Clark leapt out of bed and went through his normal pre-game ritual. He showered, changed into a sky blue Metropolis University tracksuit, and headed over to the practice facility locker rooms at the same time that Pete left to pick up Lana.

Clark made it to the practice facility early, which was expected of a team captain. As the time got closer to 9 a.m., the rest of the players started showing up, all in their team tracksuits. Jabari White, a third-string running back, came last, sprinting in a vain attempt to make it on time.

The coaches will make him run at practice Monday, Clark thought, but as offensive captain, he’s one of mine, so I’ll need to talk to him after the game.

Once the entire team was present, everyone lined up down the sidewalk, four across, for their walk to the cafeteria for the team breakfast. The captains, including Clark, were in front and the rest of the line had the seniors in front with the freshmen in back. The team had eighty-five scholarship players, but with walk-ons, they would dress one-hundred players today since it was a home game. Taking a large breakfast of sausage, eggs, and biscuits with gravy, Clark ate mechanically, not really tasting the food, as his mind was already thinking of pre-snap reads, coverages, blitz packages, and hot routes.

--------------------

Lana was dressed and ready to go by the time Clark left the townhouse. She was sporting blue jeans and a brand new Met U sweatshirt purchased just for this game. It was sky blue, and had the snarling bulldog logo on the front under the word Metropolis and over the word University. All she was waiting for was a ride to the game from Pete.

Since Lana had never been to a game at the dome, Pete had volunteered to drive and show her the good places to park. Also, being with Pete would get her an introduction to the Kents at their small tailgate party. Clark had told her Thursday that she would be sitting with his parents and he apologized for not having thought about that earlier. They agreed that being introduced to the Kents by Pete, instead of by Clark, was less likely to make them wonder if she was a prospective girlfriend, and thus make the game a less stressful day for everyone.

Once there, Pete screeched to a stop in a downtown parking garage that charged $20 to park on game day. When Lana complained about the exorbitant price, Pete told her it got a lot worse closer to the dome. A brisk ten minute walk took them to a parking lot right next to the dome, which was reserved for team parents and high-powered boosters. Pete knew where the Kents always parked and he steered Lana in that direction.

Jonathan and Martha did not know who was going to use the ticket normally reserved for Kathy, but they knew someone would and with what they had seen pass between Clark and Kathy the other day, they had reason to hope it would be a girl. So, when they saw Pete walking up with a beautiful young woman in tow, they quickly looked at each other, smiled, and turned to greet their guests.

“Hi, Pete,” Jonathan said, “how are you doing this year?”

“Fine, sir.” Pete replied. “How are you and Mrs. Kent?”

“We have nothing to complain about, Pete,” Jonathan said. Looking at Lana, he asked, “Pete, would you do us the honor of introducing your friend?”

“Oh yeah!” Pete turned to Lana, and said, “Lana, these are Clark’s parents, Jonathan and Martha Kent.” Turning back to the Kents, Pete said, “Mr. and Mrs. Kent, this is an old friend of mine from Smallville, Lana Lang.”

Martha’s ears had perked up when she heard Pete name this girl ‘Lana,’ but when he said she was from Smallville and was a Lang, she just about jumped out of her shoes with excitement.

She quickly stuck out her hand and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you again after all these years, Lana.”

When Jonathan saw that gleam in Martha’s eyes, he grabbed Pete and pulled him off to the side to let the women talk on their own.

"Clark told me the story of you meeting Princess Lana the day of the meteor shower," Lana said. "I'm pleased to meet you once again."

Lana took Martha’s hand and shook it, as Martha said, "Ever since Clark mentioned he had met you, I’ve been wondering what kind of young woman you’ve grown into, and now I see…you’re simply lovely, Lana.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Kent,” said a blushing Lana.

Meanwhile, the grill was hot enough, so Pete was helping Jonathan lay the rack of ribs on the grill. The hamburgers took less time to cook and so were waiting their turn in a Tupperware container in the big Coleman cooler next to the grill.

Shortly before the ribs were ready, Chloe showed up with a guy by her side and introduced him to one and all as Mike Jones, a co-worker of hers at The Metropolitan. Pete already knew him and said, “Hi, Jonesy.”

“Hi yourself, Pete,” Mike replied. “When are you going to come to work at The Metropolitan as a photographer? Chloe says you’re pretty good and you know she doesn’t give praise lightly.”

Raising an eyebrow at Chloe, Pete said, “I’m done with covering the news. When I graduate here, I intend to start making news instead. That’s why I’m a Political Science major, I’m going to make things happen.”

Once the food was devoured and the sodas, iced tea, and beers were finished off, everyone helped clean up and then Chloe and Jonesy went their own way, as he needed to get to the press box to get ready for the game.

--------------------

Breakfast being finished, the players boarded three tour buses to head over to the Kansas Oil & Nuclear Dome for the game. As the buses wove through the crowds of fans who had come early to tailgate, Clark spotted his parents cooking over a charcoal grill, with their truck parked in the same spot as always.

He looked carefully and thought, There’s Pete, Lana, Chloe, and…oh my God…Chloe actually got Jonesy to join her for some burgers, barbecued ribs, and potato salad. I hope Lana and Mom are getting along. Lana will have Dad wrapped around her little finger in seconds, but Mom may be a different story.

By the time they reached the locker room deep in the bowels of the stadium, game time was still three hours away. The offense and defense had team meetings to go over what they had been practicing for the last two weeks.

--------------------

After the cleanup was complete and everyone had wiped there hands and faces with Handi-Wipes, the four remaining fans headed for the nearest entrance to the dome and presented their tickets. Lana and Martha each bought a souvenir program and Pete surprised everyone by purchasing a jumbo bratwurst with sauerkraut and onions along with a Coke.

“Hey,” Pete said, “what can I say? I skipped breakfast and it’s almost lunch time.”

As they settled in their seats, Lana was surprised. Clark had said the seats were on the thirty yard line, but she hadn’t thought they would be this good. Lana and Martha spent the next little while reading the articles in their programs while Pete plowed his way through the bratwurst. Jonathan waved vendor over and bought a cold beer which he planned to nurse right up until game time.

--------------------

When the meetings were over, everyone got dressed for pre-game warm-ups. The players who needed joints taped headed for the athletic training staff, starters first. For pre-game warm-ups, Clark pulled his jersey and football pants on over his underwear, and laced up his turf shoes. As the team surged out onto the field for warm-ups Clark looked up into the stands and smiled as he saw Lana and Martha animatedly discussing something in they saw in their programs.

When they noticed the team, the fans already in the stadium cheered, except for the small contingent of navy-blue clad Utah State fans in the corner. The Kents, Pete and Lana all stood and joined in the cheering. Clark waved at them and smiled. During warm-ups, the stadium really began to fill up, and the marching band was warming up on the far side of the field. Once warm-ups were over the players headed into the locker room to dress for the game.

Clark undressed and pulled on compression shorts and, though he did not need it, a protective cup just to keep up his disguise. A t-shirt went on next, followed by white mid-calf socks and his football pants. The pants were white with one sky blue stripe running down each outer seam and a red stripe down each side of the sky blue stripe, with a pencil-thin stripe of white between the red and blue. As with all football pants, they came down just low enough to hold pads in place over his knees. Also included were two thick thigh pads, two hip pads, and a tailbone pad. Next, he laced up his turf shoes. Once the shoes were on the he slid the socks down to his ankles.

After the shoes, Clark put on a pad for his abdomen called a “flak jacket.” Lastly, Clark’s shoulder pads were stuffed into his jersey and the whole mess was pulled on at once because it was too tough to get the jersey on over the shoulder pads once he was wearing them. The jersey was sky blue with white numbers edged in red. Heading back toward the field, Clark picked up his helmet. It was white and had the same stripe scheme running down the center of the helmet as was running down the outside of the pant legs. The helmet was completed with a snarling bulldog logo in the middle of the left and right sides.

As the Met U Bulldogs walked down the tunnel for team introductions, they had to wait for the marching band to clear the field after the pre-game show. Then, they waited as the Utah State Aggies, clad in their uniforms of navy blue pants, white jerseys with navy blue numbers, and white helmets with a large, navy blue letter U on each side, stormed onto the field.

Finally, it was time. Two smoke machines started up on either side of their tunnel exit as the loudspeakers began to play a long version of the intro to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.

“THUNDER!…nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah…THUNDER!…nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah…” The whole stadium began to rock as 74,000 people pounded their seatbacks in time to the already deafening repetitions of THUNDER!

The public address announcer began to introduce the starting offense, beginning with the linemen. He then worked his way through the skill position players, ending up with the quarterback. As each player was announced, the music muted somewhat, both smoke machines gave off a large blast, the player’s photo, name and number were displayed on the Jumbotron video board, and the player ran through the smoke and out to the Met U bench on the press box side of the field.

Finally, it was Clark’s turn.

“THUNDER!…nah nah nah, playing quarterback...a 6’3”, 200 pound junior…from Metropolis Washington High School…number 8...Clark Kent.” Clark put his head down, helmet in hand, and sprinted through the smoke. As soon as he made it through the smoke, the announcer said, “And the rest of your 2007 Metropolis Bulldogs.” At that, the remaining 89 players charged out onto the field following Clark to the sound of, “You’ve been…thunderstruck!”

The captains for both team met at midfield for the coin toss. Since Met U in from the Big 14 and Utah State is from the Western Athletic Conference, the officiating crew for this game was from the Southeastern Conference. The referee, who is the head of the officiating crew, introduced the two teams’ captains and then asked a captain from the visiting team, Utah State, to call heads or tails as the coin was tossed in the air.

“Heads,” said the burly linebacker as the coin shot upward. The coin rotated end over end and when it hit the turf and came to a stop, the referee bent over and saw that ‘tails’ was showing.

“The coin is tails!” the referee announced. He then turned to Clark and said, “You have won the toss. What do you choose?”

“We will defer our choice to the second half,” Clark said.

The referee then asked the Utah State captains what they wanted to do with the first half choice and they elected to receive, Clark then chose to defend the north goal. After the referee made the proper indications to the crowd and the ESPN2 audience, the two teams sent out their special teams for the kickoff.

The Bulldogs lined up on the north end to kick it to the Aggies. The first half was a comedy of errors from the Bulldogs’ perspective. Dropped passes, missed blocking assignments, one fumble lost, and a missed field goal. Several of the missed blocking assignments resulted in Clark taking an absolute beating from the Utah State defensive line.

Lana and Pete cringed with each and every hit Clark took, but Lana noticed the Kents were unconcerned. That surprised her a lot, especially coming from Martha. She sort of expected a dad to be stoic about it as just being part of the game, but a mom she expected to be worried about her boy. They were just mad at the mistakes being made. Lana was curious and spent some of her time watching the Kents the rest of the game.

Clark was not immune to the disease gripping his teammates. He misread coverages on several occasions and threw an interception which was returned for Utah State’s only touchdown of the first half.

As they stumbled into the locker room at halftime, down 13-10, the Met U coaching staff lit into them with a series of profanity-laced tirades about how poorly the offense was playing. Clark was upset, not because he was being yelled at, but because the coaches were right. The defense had saved their bacon in the first half. With all of the mistakes they had been making, the score should be a lot worse than 13-10.

Lana spent some time leaning over Martha to ask Jonathan and Pete how Met U could possibly be ranked #2 in the country. Jonathan had to admit this had not been a vintage first half of action and could only hope they snapped out of it in the second half. Pete’s only reply was that they were rusty and would get going soon.

Just before the second-half kickoff, Clark pulled the starting offense aside for a quick meeting. “Guys, we get the ball first this half. It’s time for us to show what we can do. This half, we’re scoring early and often. The defense did all of the work in the first half, it’s time we held up our end of the deal.”

Starting with the ball at their own 29 yard line after the run back, Clark called the first play in the huddle. He looked at the two left side receivers and said, “Be ready, whichever one of you the safety covers, I’m throwing it to the other one. We’re going to score on this drive.”

As they broke the huddle, Clark looked over the defense and smiled. He crouched down and put his hands under center and barked out the count, “Hut one, hut two” and the ball was snapped back into his hands by the center. Clark dropped back to pass, Looking off the coverage to the right. Then, he picked up the safety on the left side for his primary read.

When the safety jumped on the post route by the split end, Clark knew that the slot receiver would be one on one on his wheel route down the sideline. He pulled back his arm and threw a gorgeous spiral down the left sideline toward the receiver who was a step behind the defensive back. The safety was too far into the middle of the field guarding the post route and couldn’t make it back in time. Clark’s pass was caught by the receiver in stride and he raced down the sideline untouched for a 71-yard touchdown. The whole Kent party jumped into the air as they screamed and shared high fives.

That set the tone for the rest of the game as the Bulldogs scored a touchdown the first five times they touched the ball in the second half. After that, the backups finished the game which ended up as a 45-20 victory for Met U. After a lackluster first half, Clark threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to end with totals of 360 yards and 3 touchdowns for the game He was named the Chevrolet Most Valuable Player for Met U.

By the end of the game, Lana’s very valid questions had been answered. Clark could throw the ball just like she remembered from high school. It’s nice to cheer for him this time instead of against him, Lana thought. I’d hate to bet against him in anything he chose to try.

When he was interviewed briefly on the sideline after the game, Clark said, “The credit goes to the whole team. The defense kept us in the game in the first half when the offense was stinking up the building. In the second half, everything worked. Blocking, running, throwing, catching…we did everything better as a team, and that’s how we won, as a team.”

Up in the stands, Pete and Lana were taking their leave of the Kents since Pete said he needed to get home right away and the Kents had decided to wait for Clark so they could take him out to an early dinner. Not having eaten since 9 a.m., they knew he would be ravenous.

“It was nice to meet you again, Lana,” Martha said. “I hope to see you again soon, at least, sooner than another seventeen years.”

Lana smiled and said, “Me too, Mrs. Kent. Having met you and Mr. Kent, I know where Clark gets it from.”

Jonathan leaned in and said, “Gets what, Lana?”

“Everything that doesn’t have to do with physical attributes…charm, kindness, manners…even poise.” Lana paused for a second and then decided to probe just a bit to see what might come of it. “I mean, Clark took a lot of abuse in the first half. I was just about ready to panic, but you two took it in stride.”

Both Kents stiffened slightly, but noticeably, at that. Lana carefully kept her reaction under control, but inside, she thought, Aha! There is something screwy going on with Clark. He said he’d tell me when he was ready, but I sure wish I knew what it was.

Oh the walk to Pete’s muscle car, Lana asked what was so important to make Pete hurry home instead of waiting for Clark. “A party,” Pete replied. “Since we won, Clark wants to host a victory party at our place. I need to go home and start hiding all the good stuff so nothing gets broken tonight. We’re going to put the kegs in the basement and no one gets to come into the main part of the house with a beer in hand.”

“Can I come?” Lana asked.

“Sure, Clark would have asked you already, but he didn’t want to jinx the game by announcing the party too early.”

Chloe said she had never seen Clark drunk before, Lana thought. I’m beginning to wonder if he can get drunk. I wouldn’t miss this party for the world.

Later, after the team had showered and was preparing to leave the stadium, Clark pulled Jabari aside and said, “You know coach is going to run your butt off on Monday for being late this morning, don’t you?”

“Yeah, I’m sorry, Clark,” Jabari said, “I guess I just overslept.”

“This is the ultimate team sport, Jabari. We get nowhere in football by ourselves, that’s why such a premium is placed on doing things together. So, next week, I‘m going to be right outside your door, bright and early, to make sure you get up in plenty of time.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! That was super, Card. I like that Lana is beginning to piece things together a bit, noticing the odd things about Clark, instead of being oblivious as on Smallville. And the way you described all the football action was done very well - I could see the game in my mind, just like when listening to one on the radio!

Can't wait for the party update. That promises to be another really great chapter. Your writing continues to be awesome.

PPMS!

[superman_lives_on]

2nd!

[HP_DRAGON]

3rd! great update PPMS

[C.A.chick]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gotta go to bed though............. i'll be more explicit on what i like tomorrow. It was sooooooo GREAT!

[IluvCLANA]

5th!!!! way awesome!!! good job (again) card. i hope you have some clana fluff in the next update!

[NYC300Z]

Lana is so smart! She's putting everything together slowly, but surely! I wonder how long it will take her and what will go down at the party? Will Lana get drunk?

PPMS!;)

[MOOman0618]

YEA FOR OBSERVANT LANA!! She is getting so close!

The game was awesome…I could see the whole thing playing out in my head. I wonder what the party will bring. Will Lana have a little too much beer? Or will she be tying to pump it down Clark’s throat to see what happens? Whatever happens, it should end up being some great Clana!

[sandy]

Man, I cant say enough of how talented ur writing is! so realistic...ppms:)

[IluvCLANA]

I cant wait for the next update!!!

[SuperNes]

Last!- Oh I mean uh :P

Wow so you must play football, that was a very descriptive game.

[superman_lives_on]

SuperNes? Sorry to bug you sooo much the way your other readers are doing--but really, what's keeping you? We do hope to see an update--before the end of this year, at least!

And Cardinal--keep up the FANTASTIC work! I look forward to some real Clana in the near future! :D

[SuperNes]

Sorry guy! I wanted to update today but I can't find my flashdrive!!! I did the "smart" thing and put it somewhere where I would rememberit...! Ya well I don't! Well I do but it's not there! I swear I left it above the fish tank last night! Anyways sorry! I want to post it so bad too!

[binkys711]

dang, I was reading and the bell rang!:( I'll get back to reading it once I get home, I'm loving the update so far Card!:D

(Did I make it up to you now, by updating my story?:p)

[NYC300Z]

you updated again binkys? or is that just the last one I already read? don't tease me!:lol:;)

[clanafoeva]

omg great update i loved it
hope there is clana in the next update

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Loved the update. It was very descriptive, and it helped me a lot. American football isn't popular in europe, so most of us haven't seen it that much. I usually catch some of the superbowl, but that's it. Hoping for a lot of clana in the next update!

Your writing is awesome. PPMS!!

[akuma]

GOOOO CLANA!!!:D Awesome update, and now for the party:p

[C.A.chick]

hmmmmmm............how to say it?

YOUR STORY IS AWESOME!
I hope some clana fluffness happens at that party! *ccough cough* *nudge nudge*

The game was absolutely amazing!!!! PPMASAP!

[super12]

that was great. I liked how Lana caught on so fast on how the Kents were acting.

[binkys711]

Originally posted by NYC300Z
you updated again binkys? or is that just the last one I already read? don't tease me!:lol:;)

No I meant the last one but I am updating again today anyways;):D

back on topic...Lana is a smart one she is! hell yeah! she's noticed a lot! Good eye Lana! Can't wait for the party! loved the update Card! PPMS!!!:D

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by Dr. Jeckyll
American football isn't popular in europe, so most of us haven't seen it that much.

Being that I write for a primarily American audience, I couldn't very well put Clark on the Cross Country Skiing 50K Relay Team, now could I? :p

Though, I guess he could be a striker in the vein of Juergen Klinsmann.

[SmallvilleMan]

hey less talking and more writing:p

[IluvCLANA]

yea! what svman said!! jk but PPMS

[C.A.chick]

Card, can't for an update!!!!!!!!!! that was awesome!!!!!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Being that I write for a primarily American audience, I couldn't very well put Clark on the Cross Country Skiing 50K Relay Team, now could I? :p

Though, I guess he could be a striker in the vein of Juergen Klinsmann. Hehe, that's for sure. Clark as a cross country star...Ehrm. But soccer, well that's my sport! I both play and watch soccer whenever I have the opportunity. I LOVE it. And I have tried to learn some American football through my Madden NFL game, but I wouldn’t say I'm a pro. I know the basics though.

And PPMS!!

[IluvCLANA]

PPMS

[linn]

that was awesome Card....Lana is trying to put clues together....she is good.....PPMS!!!


YAY I GET ! MORE POST TO GET 1,000!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

[pacifichic]

Great update! Please post again soon! After all, it is the christmas season lol :)

[iloveit]

awesome update! cant wait to see wat happens at the party!

[LovinMe210]

wow!!! Just caught up!! Your story is awesome ppms!!!

[C.A.chick]

YAY for Dr. Jeckyll!!!!!!!! I love soccer too! PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Scotty]

I just read through all 20 chapters. :) This is an really great fic Cardinal! I can't wait for more! :) I really like the characters in this fic, especially Lana, she is not so oblivious to Clark like she is on the show.

[Cardinal]

OMG!!!! The rabid badger is back!

Where is the effing world have you been, Son?

I've finished one fic, almost finished another (including a loooooooong wedding), and started this piece of #$%# since I last saw you here.

Nice to have you back, Scotty. :D :D :D :D :D

[IluvCLANA]

will you update for the return of scotty? pretty please? *sticks bottom lip out*

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Scotty
I just read through all 20 chapters. :) This is an really great fic Cardinal! I can't wait for more! :) I really like the characters in this fic, especially Lana, she is not so oblivious to Clark like she is on the show.

SCOTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! Cardinal brought you out of hiding :D I'm so happy!! Hellooooooooooooooo! Welcome back to the Clana boards, we've missed you!!!

And, Cardinal, this last update was fantastic as always. SO WHEN IS OUR NEXT TREAT COMING? We're all waiting!

Party on, dude :lol:

[SVsleuth]

Yeah, welcome back, Scotty! It's been a Loooong time since we've seen you. You picked my favorite current fic to read as a marathon read. This is a Super fic!

PPMS, Card!

[NYC300Z]

No update yet??

[Cardinal]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Party on, dude :lol:

Be excellent to each other! ;)

[clanafoeva]

please update soon i can't stand the wait

[pacifichic]

Bill and Ted...lol
"Strange things are afoot at circle K..." :)

[Scotty]

Originally posted by Cardinal
OMG!!!! The rabid badger is back!

Where is the effing world have you been, Son?

I've finished one fic, almost finished another (including a loooooooong wedding), and started this piece of #$%# since I last saw you here.

Nice to have you back, Scotty. :D :D :D :D :D

Well I'm home until April anyway so I'll have time to read your other fics. After that my squadron will be stationed at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and I have no idea when I'll be back. :( And OMG... 4ever still hasn't updated her fic! :eek: :(

[IluvCLANA]

LOL YEA SHE SURE HAS LIVED UP TO HER NAME

[SVsleuth]

Originally posted by Scotty
Well I'm home until April anyway so I'll have time to read your other fics. After that my squadron will be stationed at the Pensacola Naval Air Station and I have no idea when I'll be back. :( And OMG... 4ever still hasn't updated her fic! :eek: :(

Pensacola - watch out for hurricanes next season. (I'm in Louisiana & things are slowly recovering from Katrina. But life has sure changed around here. Anyway, you'll be a Gulf Coast neighbor so welcome to the Gulf Coast, Scotty.

And :lol: you're right, 4 Ever has STILL not updated, but it's not for our lack of trying to get her to do so. Right now we're HOPING she'll give us a Christmas gift update.

[C.A.chick]

Card, I sincerely hope you update before tuesday, when i leave for san diego........ PPMASAP!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

What are you doing in San Diego?

Are you going to visit Binky while you are there?

[C.A.chick]

I don't know if I'm visiting binks, my parents probably wouldn't approve, but if I met her and pretened not to know her before then, it would work....lol. PPMASAP!

[akuma]

LOL, yes that could work...'acciedental meeting'...yeah it will work:p Hey C.A. Chick is ur PM box full?

[C.A.chick]

oops, my message box might be full...... lol, i bet it is. PPMASAP!!!!!!!!! anyhow, i have to talk to binks to see if we could arrange an 'accidental' meeting...... PPMASAP!!!!!!!!

CARD!!!! I see you!!!!!!! not literally, but you're on...... an update????

[Cardinal]

An update, but not here. I'm finishing off the wedding story.

Lots of 'yummy Clana goodness.'

[C.A.chick]

What about here???????????????????????
:(, we're not good enough for an update? :p.........J/k!!! PPMASAP

[NYC300Z]

Update!;)

[C.A.chick]

OI Card......... update?????????? I just saw Narnia! It was awesome!!!!!!

[MOOman0618]

So now that you are all done with the 'Wedding', when will see some more updates here??!?!

[SVsleuth]

PPMS, Card :)

[C.A.chick]

Card?? please? :(??????????

[IluvCLANA]

^^^ ditto

[binkys711]

^^^^ ditto also:p

[NYC300Z]

Update!;)

[Cardinal]

In honor of that Clanalicious photo from the L.A. Times, I am writing as fast as my chubby fingers can move to come up with an update here.

[NYC300Z]

yes! That's awesome! Can't wait! I hope you make it as Clanalicious as possible!;)

[Dr. Jeckyll]

I see Cardinal is around; the update will maybe arrive soon? That would've been awesome :D:D Now when several fics recently ended, this is even more appreciated then it was before. And that says it all:)

[sandy]

yes, we must honor the Clana....a moment of silence...now type up a storm!:p

[Dr. Jeckyll]

I gave you my best, but at 4 a.m. even the most hardcore must give up ;) I'll be back tomorrow to read the highly appreciated update. That is if I manage to get any sleep at all. I mean, the clana-picture gives my brain instant overload!

[Cardinal]

Update on Tuesday evening. Too much Clana excitement today to finish a full update.

[binkys711]

Yay! can't wait!:D:D:D

This day has been great! so much clana good news:D:):D

[SVsleuth]

We understand, Card. We're all trying to recover from fainting or hyperventilating!!!!! :lol:

[binkys711]

:rotfl:^^^^ so true

[IluvCLANA]

lol yea, does anyone know the exact amount of times i have fainted and died, lol

im gonna look at it again, yay!!!!

[NYC300Z]

Tuesday it is!

[IluvCLANA]

cant wait 'till tonight card!!!!!!!

[NYC300Z]

we have to wait all the way til tonight? Come on before midnight eastern at least!

[sandy]

did i hear he will be updating tonight??? sweet! can't wait!:D

[nellie2]

yess i cant wait either!!!!!!!!!

[binkys711]

yes! I agree! midnight eastern is perfect! (9 pm my time) so I can catch the update and not wait 'till wednesday (maybe even thursday:() plz...update Card!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

If your profile is right binks, then I'm in big trouble :p It says 05:33 PM in your timezone now. 9 pm (your time) will be in 3,5 hrs from now. Here, in Norway it's 02.40 A.M...you do the math ;) I'm pretty much screwed, but I'll wait a bit longer. Wait..and hope :D

[akuma]

Make it sooner than midnight eastern time Card!! i have finals tomorrow at school! i need a great big confidence boost in the form of Clana before i go to sleep:D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

I'm starting to loose faith :( Well, all you Americans enjoy the update! I'm getting some well-deserved hours of sleep. I'll read the update first thing in the morning. See you around.. :)

[Cardinal]

Oh ye of little faith...the update is coming along nicely, it's just long.

Now that the excitement from last night has moderated somewhat, I'm able to write. Since most of this update has been plotted out ahead of time (an unusual occurrence for me), the writing is going quickly.

Yes, Dr. J, the update may not come soon enough for you since you're seven hours ahead of me, but I can't help that. Sorry.

[binkys711]

aww...sorry you couldn't catch it tonight Dr.J, don't worry tomorrow it will be here. I'm glad to here the update is goign smoothly:)

[SVsleuth]

It's one o'clock, Cardinal. Did you decide the update isn't coming after all? :confused: Where'd you go? You disappeared. Oh well. :\

(I hope it wasn't a computer crash!) :eek:

[NYC300Z]

It's after 5 am! I just woke up :lol: but I see you still haven't updated Cardinal what happened to you?

[kewl]

hey card! just caught up with ur new fic. this is totally awesome!!!! i can't hardly wait to read for more so PPMS!!!!

[Cardinal]

Sorry this is taking so long, but the update still isn't completed, so I've decided to cut it off at a natural stopping point and post the first part. When I finish the rest, I'll post that as the next chapter.

Chapter 21 - House Party, Part I

When Clark left the townhouse to buy the beer, their first-floor valuables were already locked away in their bedrooms and Pete was in the basement, setting up cheap, plastic chairs they had bought at Wal-Mart. Pete then went over his stack of CDs, making sure all of his best party mixes were ready to go.

Clark drove along with no particular sense of urgency since they were not letting anyone in for another couple of hours. He pulled up minutes later at the nearby liquor store where he had placed an order for four kegs the day before. True, Clark was only 20 years old, but as the biggest star on the most successful, highest profile team at Met U, that was only a formality. While he did not take advantage of the extras offered by some of the boosters, he saw no harm in this since he paid for it with his and Pete’s money.

The clerk saw Clark coming and went to the back. While the clerk was in the back, Clark was busy filling a shopping cart with bag after bag of ice. A minute later, the clerk rolled out a handcart with four kegs standing on end. The taps were placed on top and Clark paid the bill.

Clark loaded the beer in the truck and then came back for his cart of ice. Upon reaching the townhouse, Clark carried a double armload of ice bags around the back of the townhouse to the sliding door of the walk-in basement. Pete took the bags, cut them open, and filled the bottom of four large, green plastic trash cans. Clark then picked up the first keg and finally noticed the keg wasn’t cold. No one would want lukewarm beer and he wasn’t sure if the ice in the trash cans would be able to chill the kegs in time.

So, after loading the kegs in the trash cans, installing the taps and hoses, and packing the remaining ice around the kegs, Clark sent Pete to bring the snacks down to the two card tables set up for that purpose. Once Pete disappeared up the stairs, Clark leaned over the first ice and beer filled can, took a deep breath, and used a blast of cold breath to chill the beer quite nicely. The other three kegs were chilled with three more breaths.

When Pete finished lugging the snacks from the kitchen, he gave the sound system a final test while Clark made sure the laundry room was locked. That done, the two guys looked at each other, and Pete said, “Let’s get this party started!”

Pete, being Pete, proceeded to test all four kegs: Budweiser, Bud Light, Miller Genuine Draft, and Labatt’s Blue, and found them to be just as tasty as he remembered them to be.

“Okay, Pete, save some for the party,” Clark said.

Half an hour later, people started showing up for the announced 10 p.m. start time. A note placed on the front door directed everyone to walk around to the back of the building and use the basement entrance. With the arrival of the first partiers, Pete popped in his first party mix and pressed play.

“That disk will be good for a solid hour,” Pete said.

“Good,” Clark said. “Time to make like Martha Stewart and be perfect hosts.”

“Yeah, right! You just want to get Lana off in a dark corner somewhere.”

Clark colored slightly at this, and said, “Could you blame me?”

“Nope. Elaine wasn’t the right one, maybe Lana will be. Just remember, more people than Lana will be here, so circulate and keep the guests happy…especially since you’re the one they’re coming to see. Well, you and our four friends in the trash cans over there.”

“Aye, aye, Skipper!” Clark said, as he snapped off a mock salute.

To keep their party from being busted, they had a two-part strategy. First, they invited everyone in their building of four townhouses to come to the party. Second, Clark placed a call to a ‘friend of the football team’ who, in turn, called the local police precinct to inform the desk sergeant that something special was going on at Clark’s address and that no police presence would be needed should anyone call to complain.

By twos and threes, the room began to fill up. The beer was flowing and Clark soon was glad they were having the party in the basement. The first dropped beer hit the floor when its holder’s elbow was jostled from behind. The bare concrete floor with a drain in the middle was going to make cleanup a easy.

Chloe and Lana made their entrance together half an hour after the party was underway. A kegger is no place to dress up and the girls knew it, both having worn faded jeans and t-shirts.

Shortly after the girls made their way to the refreshments, Pete edged his way over and welcomed his friends to the party. “Hi, Chloe. Hi, Lana,” Pete said, before kissing each of the girls on the cheek. “We’re glad you could make it.”

“Glad to be here, Pete,” Chloe said, talking loudly to be heard over the noise. “I wouldn’t miss the first Pete Ross-Clark Kent party for all the tea in China.” Looking around the bare-bones room, Chloe asked, “Where are the decorations, Pete? I’ve seen better interior design in a prison cell.”

“Tonight,” Pete said, “it’s all about drinking, dancing, and hooking up, Chloe. A few posters aren’t going to help that.”

Having poured two cups of Budweiser, Lana handed one to Chloe and took a sip from her own before she said, “Speaking of ‘we,’ Pete, where is the other half of ‘we?’”

“Clark is on hall monitor duty tonight. The only bathroom we have available is the one at the top of the stairs, so he has to make sure no one tries to ‘make use’ of the rest of the place…especially our bedrooms.”

“Is he staying upstairs all night?” Lana asked.

“No,” Pete said, “but he has some kind of sixth-sense when it comes to these kinds of things. Whenever he thinks someone might want to wander around, he bolts up the stairs and escorts them back down here. It’s kind of spooky when you come to think of it.” Shrugging his shoulders, Pete added, “I guess it’s kind of related to his football ability to feel a blindside rusher and avoid him.”

Chloe was doing anything but looking at her friends, as she knew full-well how Clark was catching the wandering guests. Lana just added this bit of information to her ever-growing catalog of Clark Kent’s abilities, suspected or otherwise.

Lana took this chance to put her own plan into action. “Pete?” she asked, “can I take a cup of beer up to Clark?”

“Sure. I think he likes the Labatt’s the best.”

Lana looked over the large crowd, pretending distress, and asked, “Would it be okay if I took the long way around the building and used the front door? I don’t want to get a wet t-shirt because someone bumped into me.”

“Lana, a wet t-shirt would just mean the party was underway, but if that’s what you want…” Pete reached into his back pocket and gave her his keys, as he said, “The front door key is the big one with the red stuff on the end.”

“Thanks, Pete,” Lana said, as she smiled and filled a cup with Labatt’s. Heading out the sliding door, Lana headed around the house, but walked the long way to avoid other party goers. When she reached the far end of the building, she reached into her purse and pulled out a small bottle of Jack Daniel’s. As Lana poured an approximate shot of whiskey into his beer, she thought, Time to see if Clark can get drunk, A few boilermakers ought to do the trick for someone who drinks as infrequently as Chloe says Clark does. If he happens to get drunk, then he’s already at home and won’t be at risk; if not, then it’s one more piece to the gorgeous jigsaw puzzle that is Clark Kent.

Back inside, Pete was laughing himself silly.

“What’s so funny?” Chloe asked.

“Lana…she’s taking a cup of Labatt’s Blue to Clark,” Pete said.

“Yeah, I know. You told her it was his favorite.”

“Uh-huh…but it’s not. He hates the stuff. Says it tastes like heavily carbonated water.”

“You…how could you do that to Lana?” Chloe asked, “You know she and Clark are trying to start a relationship.”

“No, Chloe, you don’t understand. I’m not doing this to Lana, I’m doing it to Clark.”

“Huh?”

Oh yeah!” Pete said. “You see, Clark likes Lana, and when she gives him a cup of what she thinks is his favorite beer, he’ll be forced to choke down the whole cup while keeping a smile on his face the whole time. Every time she takes him a beer, it’ll be the same stuff and he’ll have to drink it down…all night long.”

"You are so evil, Pete."

"I know it, Chloe."

By this time, Lana had reached the front door and used Pete’s key to open it. Clark was just heading back to the basement when he heard the front door open. His head whipped around in surprise, but he smiled when he saw Lana as she locked the door behind her. Smiling when I see her is getting to be a reflex reaction, Clark thought. I’m turning into Pavlov’s dog.

“Hey, Lana, glad to see you here,” Clark said.

“I’m glad you invited me,” Lana replied. “Besides getting a chance to unwind, I get a chance to meet some new people, and spend some more time with you.” Lana handed the boilermaker to Clark, and said, “Here, Clark, I brought this for you. According to what Pete said, it didn’t sound as if you were getting to enjoy your own party.”

Accepting the cup with a quick “Thanks” and taking a swallow, Clark’s eyes flew wide open and he had to lock his jaw closed to keep from spewing the booze all over Lana. After successfully swallowing, it finally occurred to Clark to wonder how Lana had opened a locked door to enter the townhouse.

“How’d you get in the front door?”

Lana just waved Pete’s keys in front of Clark’s eyes, and said, “It’s the big one with the red stuff on the end.”

Clark smiled to himself and took another swallow. “Come on, Let’s get back down to the party.” As they turned for the door, Clark said, “I’d better let you go first, though.”

“Any reasons besides gentlemanly behavior?”

“Yeah. If I trip this time, no one will be able to say you pushed me.”

“True,” Lana said, “but you’ll squish me flat.”

“Oh, but this time, you’d be able to catch me since you’d be in a position with much better leverage…not to mention the fact that you’d have a little more motivation this time since you wouldn’t want to be ‘squished.’”

As Clark pulled the door at the top of the stairs closed behind him, he looked at the sliding door, came to a halt, and groaned. “Oh crap!” he said.

Lana turned around and asked, “Oh crap, what?”

“Look who just walked through the door.”

Lana looked in the same direction and saw Elaine coming through the door with a tall, blond guy at her side. “I know why I don’t like her, Clark, but what’s your problem with her? The last time I saw you two together, you were snuggled up on a couch upstairs.”

Clark ran his hand through his hair as he tried to explain to Lana why Elaine was not the best guest to see at this party. “I don’t know how to explain this, and some of it is private, so I won’t be explaining that, but we didn’t work out. I wanted Elaine to be my next girlfriend, but it…just…didn’t…feel right. She, however, read more into our relationship than I did and didn’t take it well when I tried to let her down easy.”

Inside, an ecstatic Lana was turning backflips, outside, she managed a more subdued response, as she asked, “When did this happen?

“Wednesday night. She didn’t handle it well and I thought she’d avoid me for a while. Instead…here she is with some frat boy.”

“I’m sorry for you, Clark.”

“Yeah,” Clark said. “Me too. She’s been one of my best friends during the past year and I’d like to have that friend back.”

“Give her some time. If she’s the friend you thought she was, she’ll be back soon, if not, you are well rid of her.”

Clark finished off his beer and asked, “You think so?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Thanks, Lana.” Visibly steeling himself, he said, “Well, I guess I better go over to greet the new guests.”

“Would you like me to come with you?”

“No, I ‘d better handle this on my own…but thanks for offering.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! :eek: Woah, is this going to be good! Ice breath! Sneaky Lana and sneaky Pete! Poor Clark doesn't have a chance.
Great update, Card. Looking forward to the rest. :)

[kewl]

BUFFER??? :D

[Cardinal]

Heck no! I'll finish the rest of this and post it as a separate chapter.

[superman_lives_on]

Am I third or fourth?

[MOOman0618]

Nice party! 4 Kegs!! Holy crap! That is a lot of beer. But that is the point of a party right? Sooo...Lana is being sneaky and putting some booze in Clark's 'favorite' beer? That should raise some suspicion when Clark doesn't even get tipsy. And not Elaine is here with another guy! Its going to be a great party that’s for sure. Post more soon!!

[ajfinn]

Bring on the rest, dude :) I want Clana in a dark corner :lol:

[kewl]

PPMS!!!!

[SVsleuth]

Originally posted by ajfinn
Bring on the rest, dude :) I want Clana in a dark corner :lol:

:eek: We would NEVER have guessed that, AJ! :p :lol:

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Yes, Dr. J, the update may not come soon enough for you since you're seven hours ahead of me, but I can't help that. Sorry. Well, you could always buy me a ticket to the states and let me stay at your place until this fic ends...? :)

Anyway, loved the update as always. And like AJ said; WE WANT CLANA IN A DARK CORNER! :lol:

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Dr. Jeckyll
[L]oved the update as always. And like AJ said; WE WANT CLANA IN A DARK CORNER! :lol:

Two of a kind, eh, Doc? I suppose you'll be Hyde-ing out, watching said Clana in a dark corner. Heh, I need to work on my puns... :)

[Dr. Jeckyll]

:lol:

[LovinMe210]

muhaha ppms!!!!

[baldy92]

awesome update can't wait for the next one PPMS :D

[sandy]

wow, i need a Clana party soon! ppms!

[akuma]

Awesome job Card, cant wait to see how Clark is after drinking all of his least fav. beer!:D and sweet avi in case no one has mentioned:p

[binkys711]

I'm glad to see you did update! I have to go now but I'll come back in a little while to read....

[annaliese]

hey i was a silent reader.... but not anymore. i luv ur fic! ppmasap. clana in a dark corner!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Welcome to the Clana board, annaliese!

As a writer, let me say that we love it when silent readers come out of the closet!

[ajfinn]

Welcome, Annaliese!!!! Yes, writers LOVE it when silent readers come forward!! Anyone else out there?

[binkys711]

I'm not silent...jeje...but I did just get home (again) and read the update. I also want clana in a dark corner!:p Great update Card! I loved it! PPMS!!!:D

(Welcome to the clana section annaliese!:))

[NYC300Z]

Great Update Card! I wonder if anything will happen between Elaine and Clark tonight? And what Card No Heineken Crona or even Amstel? They must not know how to throw a party! :lol: Well I hope things go well for Lana and Clark!

PPMS!

[kewl]

PPMS!!!

[annaliese]

Thanks for welcoming me!!

[booze_is_me09]

hey guys! I haven't been around lately but i've tried to keep up w/ the stories! cardinal, u are doin a wonderful job with this story! keep up the good work!


PPMS!

[NYC300Z]

Hey Card you going to update again today for my bday?;);)

[IluvCLANA]

yea yea update again!!!! plz!!!!!! need....m..more...cla..cla...clana.....

[nellie2]

oooo yes update ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!

[C.A.chick]

THAT WAS AWESOME CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE UPDATE!!!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!! ELAINE IS A MEANIE BUTT.

[cufcchic]

awesome update as always! lana and pete are sneaky. lol. ppms!

[ajfinn]

*sniff* no dark corner update yet?

[Cardinal]

Update will be in the morning sometime.

How about some hot, sweaty (on Lana's part anyway) dancing? Would that work?

Anyway, old guys like me need to sleep after a day of working at Wallyworld during Christmas, so I'm about to check out.

[NYC300Z]

:lol: ok Card if you say so! I'll look for it when I wake up!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Update will be in the morning sometime.

How about some hot, sweaty (on Lana's part anyway) dancing? Would that work?

Anyway, old guys like me need to sleep after a day of working at Wallyworld during Christmas, so I'm about to check out. That'll do just fine Card :) Some real hot clanalicious action on the way?! That is something to look forward to :D

[LovinMe210]

That would be great!!!!!

[IluvCLANA]

im up.... and still no update.... ill be gone pretty much from noon to prob. 11:00- 12:00 tonight, please update soon card, i really wanna see what happens next....

[annaliese]

AHHHHH! NEED UPDATE!!! PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cardinal]

Chapter 22 - Dirty Dancing

Lana watched from a couple of steps up the stairs as Clark made his way across the room. He was stopped every few feet by someone who wanted to talk, so it took several minutes for him to make his way to where Elaine had stationed herself. As Clark got closer, it became apparent that this guy was even taller than Clark. He must be 6’8” at the very least, Lana thought. She also noticed that Elaine had both of her arms latched tightly onto her escort‘s arm. When Clark made it to Elaine, Lana headed for the refreshment table.

Clark threw his empty cup in a strategically placed trash can, shoved his hands in his pockets, and said, “Hi, Elaine, I’m glad you decided to come over here tonight.”

“Miss your first party?” Elaine asked, with a gleam in her eye. “Not likely. After all the tri-Alpha parties you’ve been to, I thought the least I could do is return the courtesy.”

Clark shifted his eyes from her to her escort, and Elaine took the hint. “Lars, let me introduce you to our host, Clark Kent. Clark, this is Lars Obermueller.”

Clark looked up to Lars, stuck out his right hand, and said, “Welcome, Lars. I hope you enjoy the party.”

Lars looked quickly at Elaine before returning his gaze to Clark, and said, “I hope to, Clark. I plan on having a lot of fun tonight.” Lars wrapped one of his massive hands around Clark’s and began to shake. Unfortunately for him, he also tried to squeeze Clark’s hand in a show of ‘who’s the man.’ Clark’s smile never altered a hair as he crushed Lars’ hand almost to the point of breaking bones.

“It’s always nice to see you Elaine,” Clark said as he took his leave. Watching Lars open and close his hand as he grimaced in pain, Clark said, “You might want to have that looked at, Lars. Arthritis at your age can’t be good.”

By the time Clark freed himself from Elaine and her date, Lana had already picked up another Labatt’s and snuck outside to spike it with the Jack Daniel’s.

“Here you go, Clark,” Lana said, in a bright, chirpy voice.

“Thanks, Lana,” he said. Hoping against hope that she hadn’t chosen the same beer, Clark took a mouthful and swallowed as quickly as possible to get the stuff out of his mouth. Now, Clark thought, I need a chaser of…anything…to get this nasty taste out of my mouth. There’s some OJ in the fridge upstairs, that’ll have to do.

“I’ll be back in a second, Lana,” Clark said, “I just need to go upstairs.”

“Oh, okay,” she replied.

When Clark left, Lana headed back to the refreshments to get a second cup of her own and a handful of honey-mustard pretzel bits to munch on. She began peering through the crowd to see where Chloe had gotten off to, and spotted her dancing closely with some guy. On the other side of the room, Pete was circulating and checking up on the party goers, but staying true to form, most of his inquiries were directed toward the women.

As she was throwing away her cup and dry-washing her hands to rub off pretzel crumbs, she saw someone she knew that had no connection to home. As he came to the kegs and filled a cup, Lana stepped out of the shadows and said, “Hi, Ted, it’s nice to see you. This is the first time I’ve seen you anywhere other than our Astronomy lecture hall.”

Turning at Lana’s unexpected, but very welcome voice, Ted smiled and said, “Lana! I wouldn’t have expected to see the quiet and modest Lana Lang at a party like this one.”

“Normally, it’s not my scene, but I do like to let loose now and then. Plus, the party is being given by two guys I know, so I couldn‘t miss it.”

“How come you aren’t out there dancing? Surely someone has asked you for a dance by now.”

“Not yet,” Lana said. “I haven’t stayed in one place long enough, I guess. Also, I’ve been talking to one of my friends.” One that I had hoped would have asked me to dance by now.

“Well, let me rectify that.” Setting his half-empty beer down on the counter, Ted held out his hand, and asked, “Would you like to dance with me, Lana?”

She smiled, took his hand, and said, “Sure. Let’s go.”

Clark was making his way down the stairs just as Lana was headed to the dance floor. Clark did not see Lana, he was noticing the larger than expected crowd. I swear we only invited 30-40 people, Clark thought. Where did everybody come from? At least Pete was right about buying much too much beer. This way, we won’t run out.

The bass was pounding a driving beat beneath the catchy rhythm of the melody line, and Clark found himself moving to the music of the 80s dance classic “You Spin Me” by Dead or Alive as he reached the dance floor.

It was easy to spot Elaine and Lars since he was so tall, but Clark was unable to spot Lana in the dimly lit, and now, somewhat smoke-filled basement. A small group of girls saw him, however and, not taking no for an answer, pulled him out on the dance floor with them. Clark was initially startled by this bold approach, but he began loosening up and having fun.

Lana, meanwhile, was enjoying herself as she danced with Ted. He’s not my type, Lana thought, but he is nice. Near the end of the song, Lana and Clark saw each other and locked eyes for just a second, but both of them continued to sneak glances at the other.

Clark envied the limber, almost boneless way she moved, and was irrationally jealous of the guy she was with. We’ve never even dated yet, he thought. I have no special claim on her, so why do I suddenly want to rearrange that guy’s face?

He does move pretty well for a guy as tall and as muscular as he is, Lana thought. He should look awkward, but he doesn‘t. Lana then counted the girls circling Clark and ended up with four. Four girls? Lana thought, snickering to herself. Does Clark aspire to have a harem?

As the song drew to a close, Lana thanked Ted for the dance just as Clark was waving goodbye to his dance partners as he prepared to move off. When they stepped away from their respective partners, they almost bumped into each other.

With the all of the bodies packed into a relatively small and enclosed space, the temperature in the basement had been building up for some time. The exertion of dancing in the sweltering heat had made Lana begin to sweat and her t-shirt was starting to stick to her skin. Clark‘s skin, on the other hand, was as dry as a bone. There was a pause in the music, as Pete had programmed a gap of thirty seconds between songs to allow people to leave the dance floor or maybe even grab a quick drink before coming back.

They reflexively looked each other up and down, with Clark admiring the way her shirt was clinging to her slender frame, and Lana being very appreciative of the way Clark’s cargo shorts and ribbed a-shirt, sometimes known as a ‘wife-beater,’ showed off those well-defined muscles of his.

“I feel like Yul Brynner in ‘The King and I,’” Clark said.

“How so?” Lana asked.

“He was a guy who desperately wanted to ask the woman across from him to dance, but he didn’t know how.”

“Didn’t know how to ask?”

“No,” Clark replied, “he didn’t know how to dance.”

“From what I just saw, you’ll do just fine, Clark.”

“Really? In that case, how about you and me dance to this next song?”

“I’d love to,” Lana said.

As they faced each other, the intro to the next song started and Nelly’s “Hot In Herre” began to fill the air.

Well, Lana thought, it is hot in here to be sure, but what a song to dance to with Clark.

Clark was turning pink at the thought of dancing with Lana to this song. It’s a good thing it’s kind of hard to see, he thought. My face must be beet red.

Hot in... so hot in herre! So hot in... hot - OH!
With a little bit of, uh uh; and a little bit of, uh uh
Just a little bit of.. {*beat*}; just a little bit of.. {*beat*}
Just a little bit of.. {*beat*}; just a little bit of.. {*beat*}

By the time the intro was done, Clark and Lana had given up on being self-conscious about the song and were getting into the groove. Lana’s straight, dark hair was flailing around as she shook her shoulders and swiveled her hips in time with the insistent beat.

I was like, good gracious - ass is bodacious (uhh)
Flirtatious, tryin’ to show patience
I'm waitin’ for the right time to shoot my steam (you know)
Waitin’ for the right time to flash them Gs, then uhh
I'm leavin’, please believin’ - ohhh!
Me and the rest of my heathens
Check it, got it locked at the top of the Fo' Seasons
Penthouse, roof top, birds I feedin’
No deceivin’, nuttin up my sleeve and no teasin’
I need you to
Get up up on the dance floor
Give that man what he askin’ for
Cause I feel like bustin’ loose
and I feel like touchin’ you, uh uh
And can't nobody stop the juice
So baby tell me what's the use? I said

Not wanting to be left behind, Clark let himself go, and made use of his strength, quickness, and athletic conditioning (or so Lana thought) to keep up a rugged pace.

It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
Uh, uh, uh - let it hang all out!

Why you at the bar if you ain't poppin’ the bottles? (c'mon)
What good is all the fame if you ain't ****** the models
I see you drivin’, sports cars, ain't hittin’ the throttle
And I'll be down to do a hundred, top down and goggles
Got off the freeway, exit 106 and "Park"ed it
Ash tray, flip gate, time to spark it
Gucci collar for dollar, got out and walked it
I spit game cause baby I can't talk it
Warm, sweatin’, it's hot up in this joint
Vokal tanktop, on at this point
You with a winner so baby you can't lose
I got secrets can't leave Cancun
So take it off like your home alone
You know dance in front your mirror while you're on the phone
Checkin’ your reflection and tellin’ your best friend
like "Girl I think my butt gettin’ big!"

At times, they were dancing mere inches from each other, as if an invisible force field was the only thing keeping them apart. Then, just when it seemed they had to grab onto each other, one or the other would back off a step, and they would begin inching back toward each other all over again.

It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
Uh, uh, uh - let it hang all out!

(Let it hang all out)
Mix a little bit of ah, ah
With a little bit of ah, ah
(Let it just fall out)
Give a little bit of ah, ah
With a little bit of ah, ah
(Let it hang all out)
With a little bit of ah, ah
And a sprinkle of that ah, ah
(Let it just fall out)
I like it when ya’ ah, ah
Girl, baby make it ah, ah

After a few repeats of drawing close and pulling back, they edged in close again. This time, however, Clark wrapped his arms around her back, nestling his linked hands just beneath her shoulder blades. Lana smiled and her arms quickly snaked around Clark’s lower back as she pulled him in tight.

Stop pacin’, time wastin’
I gotta a friend with a pole in the basement (what?)
I'm just kiddin’ like Jason (oh)
Unless you gon' do it
Extra, extra - eh, spread the news (check it)
Nelly took a trip from the Lou' to the Neptunes
Came back with something’ thicker than fittin’ in Sasoons
Say she got a thing about cuttin’ in restrooms - ohhhhh!

It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
Uh, uh, uh - let it hang all out!

It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
It's gettin’ hot in herre (so hot), so take off all your clothes
I am - gettin’ so hot, I wanna take my clothes off
Uh, uh, uh - let it hang all out!

They were dancing pressed tightly together, moving together in a way that would quickly lead to something neither one was ready for, if they weren’t careful. Each realized this at the same time and they jumped back, stopped dancing, and stared at each other, their minds filled with the sudden hunger for the other’s body that had almost taken over.

(Let it hang all out)
Mix a little bit of ah, ah
With a little bit of ah, ah
(Let it just fall out)
Give a little bit of ah, ah
With a little bit of ah, ah
(Let it hang all out)
With a little bit of ah, ah
And a sprinkle of that ah, ah
(Let it just fall out)
I like it when ya ah, ah
Girl, baby make it ah, ah... ohhh!

As they blatantly stared at each other, drinking in the lines and curves of each other’s body, two things happened. First, as Lana pulled some strands of hair out of her face, she saw what looked like a brief flash of red in Clark’s eyes before his hands shot up and started rubbing his eyes.

Oh no! Clark thought. This hasn’t happened to me since high school. I’ve got to get out of here. Clark rushed over to the kegs and picked up a double handful of ice to place against his eyes in the hope that would help. Lana asked what was wrong, and Clark said he was overheating and just needed to go outside to cool off.

Ice against his eyes? Lana wondered. That’s an unusual way to cool off. As she took a hold of his forearm to lead him outside, she noticed something…the second thing. Clark was completely sweat free, except for where she had pressed up against him while dancing, even though she was sweating like a pig.

“Clark,” Lana asked, “if you’re so overheated, why aren’t you sweating? You can’t be going into heat exhaustion, so what’s going on?”

With his eyes closed, ice pressed over his eyelids, and his mind thinking about anything except for Lana’s outrageous beauty, Clark was able to get his eyes under control.

As he pulled his hands away from his eyes, Lana noticed the ice had completely melted. What kind of heat was he generating to do that so quickly? Lana wondered. And why was it concentrated in his eyes?

Clark looked into Lana’s eyes and saw worry and, unfortunately for him, more questions.

“Remember me saying there are some things about me I’m not ready to share with you?” Clark asked.

“Yeah, I do,” Lana replied, “and I said I’d wait for you because trust has to be earned.”

“Well…this is definitely one of those things.”

Looking up to see fear in his eyes, Lana gently took his hand and said, “I’ll wait for you. I’ll want to know the truth eventually, but for now, I’m content to wait.”

“Thanks, Lana.”

[MOOman0618]

1st!


Originally posted by Cardinal
Does Clark aspire to have a harem?

Ok, who doesn't aspire to having a harem? ;)

That was great...definitely getting a little hot on the dance floor. I still love how perceptive Lana is being with Clark, and how Clark...while not telling...is not lying to her either. Can't wait to see the end of the party and how many more Boilermakers Lana is going to get Clark to drink! :)

[ajfinn]

Yee haa!!!!! Such a great scene, we're getting some real Clana action now, and Clark is actually being as honest as he can with her. Such a nice thing to see :D

[Dr. Jeckyll]

HOT HOT HOT, card! One of the most enjoyable clana-scenes I've ever read. Lana sure is a bright girl, but doesn't demand him to tell her everything. And Clark is being as honest as he can.. That's nice! :) Once again; magnificent update!! Keep 'em coming. PPMS!!

[SVsleuth]

4th! Wow! I sit down for a 5 min breather in the midst of a hectic day and... Woah! :eek: You did a great job on that update, Card. Can't wait for the next part.
It's so great to see Clark being honest and Lana being patient with him. PPMS!

[LovinMe210]

yeah! keep them coming! That was great!

[akuma]

HOLY CRAP!! that was sweet, nice and sweaty Lana:D:D very nice indeed! keep em coming!

[NYC300Z]

Amazing update Cardinal! They wer getting so close together! Awesome! They are really starting to feel it! I hope their date coming up goes really well!

PPMS!

[C.A.chick]

AWESOME CARD!!!!!! oh la la...... gettin a little close to each other ehh? hehe..... I wonder if they're eer going to kiss...... silly elaine, thinking she could make clark jealous. PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SuperNes]

Niiice chapter! Loved your descriptive dance scene! Any chance you could write in another :D lol well can't wait for more :)

[annaliese]

great update! ppms

[maroon09854]

WOW:eek:
awsome update definitley one of ur best ones i love that song and wat happened between the two :rotfl: clark almost using his heat vision cant wait 4 the rest of the party PPMSASAP

[binkys711]

phew! I think it got hot in here as well...:p that update was awesome!!! the title fit perfectly! dirty dancing *giggles* dam straight it was! wowza! PPMS!!!

[booze_is_me09]

that was an amazing update!!!! PPMS!

[Cardinal]

To answer your PM, maroon09854, I am working on the last party update. It should be done well before midnight central time.

Famous last words. :rolleyes:

[maroon09854]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cant wait but i dont think ill b able to stay up and go on it tommorow:( o0o well ill get to it monday i suppose:( o0o well ur storys awsome

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Ah, that's awesome Card! I'm gonna miss it, but I'll read it tomorrow ofc. I wanna know how the party ends. Do they kiss? Or are they gonna save it for they date? God I love this fic.

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by Cardinal
To answer your PM, maroon09854, I am working on the last party update. It should be done well before midnight central time.

Famous last words. :rolleyes:

I'll be here waiting for it :)

[NYC300Z]

Yeah me too!

[booze_is_me09]

ditto

[akuma]

MERRY CHRISTMAS!:D YAY!! First present to come from Card!:p

[Cardinal]

Okay, this update is almost finished, but it is longer than expected (big surprise, huh?) so it won't be ready until 1 a.m. central time.

Sorry! :(

[NYC300Z]

oh well that's only in 15 mins right?

[Cardinal]

Uhh...no. That would be an hour and fifteen minutes...Central time, not Eastern.

[NYC300Z]

oh yeah darn the time difference! I don't know 50/50 if i'm still up!

[super12]

that was good i hope you post me soon

[ajfinn]

2nd .......... and Merry Christmas, Everyone :)

[NYC300Z]

2nd! Yeah Merry Christmas Card! I see you gave in!:lol:

Great Update! Really nice Clana interactions! I hope their date goes well!

PPMS!

[4EverSmallville]

Hey, I've been reading this story, more so on another site, but it's fabulous. Excellent work :D. And don't think I haven't seen your little chides @ me :lol:. 4Never? :lol: Very cute :lol:.

I'll take a break from writing and read, I think :p. Since I have the time...Never does tend to make that impression on a person ;).

[Cardinal]

No disparagement of Scandinavians in general was meant in this update. This means YOU, Dr. J.

Lars just happens to be Scandinavian.

Chapter 23 - Iris

Clark’s face was wet from the melted ice, and what had not stayed on his face had soaked his a-shirt. He pulled it over his head, and used the remaining dry portion to wipe his face.

Lana’s jaw dropped as she took in Clark’s washboard abs and classically sculpted chest. I’m not sure what’s worse, Lana thought, as she attempted to regain her equilibrium, that he just short-circuited my brain, or that he did it without even thinking about it.

“I’ve got to go upstairs and get a clean shirt to put on,” Clark said. “This one is soaked through.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Clark,” Lana said, as she made it obvious she was ogling him. “You look pretty good to me right now. I don‘t think a new shirt will help. Nope, shirtless is definitely the way to go.”

“I’ll try it if you will, Lana,” Clark said with a smirk.

Lana crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her t-shirt, and began to lift it, all the while keeping her eyes on Clark’s face. When the hem cleared her belly button, Clark’s eyes grew as large as dinner plates and his complexion went pink.

At that point, Lana dropped her shirt back into place, and said, “Nah. From what I can see, you can’t handle any more of me than my belly button right now.”

Flustered, Clark turned to the townhouse and said, “I need a beer!” If Lana only knew what that kind of teasing makes me want to do. X-ray vision turns every kind of clothing into see-through.

“While you get a clean shirt, I’ll get you that beer. Okay?”

“Sure, thanks.” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Clark remembered just what beer she was likely to give him and his mouth twisted in anticipation of the impending assault on his taste buds.

When Clark and Lana finally went back inside, they worked their way around the edge of the dance area as Clark headed for the stairs and Lana made her way toward the refreshments. “Gonna Make You Sweat” by C & C Music Factory was playing. Its pulsating beat made the dance floor come alive, but when the song reached the chorus,

Come on let's sweat, baby
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you
Sweat, sweat
Let the music take control
Let the rhythm move you

Lana and Clark looked at each other from across the room and busted out laughing. Sweating, or more precisely not sweating, was what was causing their current problem and the irony of that song being on this CD dance mix was too much for them to take.

Back downstairs a couple of minutes later, wearing a yellow t-shirt, Clark slammed the beer he knew was going to be waiting for him to get it out of the way.

“Aw…” Lana said when she saw the t-shirt. “I liked au naturel better.”

The next song was just starting and Pete had thrown in a slow song to give everyone a rest, and to give couples a chance at some canoodling on the dance floor.

“This song sounds nice and slow, Lana, how about another dance?” Clark asked.

“Please?” Clark asked, as he gave her his best ‘puppy-dog eyes.’

Lana’s pretended some resistance, but then gave in to his request. As they edged into a good spot for a dance, they finally focused on the song long enough to recognize it. It was “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

Lana’s small hands held his waist and Clark’s chiseled arms looped around her shoulders as they moved in time to the music.

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

With that last line, the fun of playful teasing faded and everything became more serious. This was not just a dance anymore, it was almost a confession, with Clark willing his eyes to explain how personal this was for him.

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you'd bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

When the song finished, a passing couple bumped into them which broke them out of the spell they were under. Lana squeezed Clark lightly and answered his silent plea by saying, “Whenever you’re ready, Clark.”

“Thank you again, Lana. You can’t know what this means to me.”

As much as he really wanted to spend time with Lana, Clark ended up spending much of the rest of the evening playing host along with Pete. Lana managed to get more boilermakers down Clark’s throat, so that by evening's end, he had downed seven with no impairment of speech or motor skills whatsoever.

As the party wound down, Clark started paying special attention to the guests’ condition. He was trying to determine who was impaired and shouldn’t be driving. It was a simple matter for him to divest them of their keys and call a cab for them. Thus it was that Clark noticed Lars and Elaine as they left the townhouse.

Clark had not had a good feeling about Lars ever since he looked at Elaine and said he planned on ‘having a lot of fun tonight,’ That seemed sexual, and Elaine was not a first-date-sex kind of girl…at least, Clark did not think she was.

Just to be sure, Clark used his abilities, especially his super-hearing, to keep tabs on them as they left. They had barely cleared the vicinity of the townhouse when Lars’ hand slid from the small of her back down to cup a butt cheek. True to Clark’s beliefs about his friend, she pushed his hand away.

Clark climbed the stairs to the first floor to get away from prying eyes just in case he needed to speed away and help Elaine.

Instead of taking the hint, Lars stepped up his aggression, turning Elaine toward him and roughly fondling both of her buttocks as he said, “Oh come on, Baby! Don’t fight it, you know this is what you want.”

As he leaned in for a sloppy kiss, Elaine said, “Leave me alone, Lars,” and gave him a full-arm slap right across his face, which only served to enrage the large, powerfully -built, and slightly drunk young man.

He let go of her butt with his right hand, but only to draw that arm back for a monstrously powerful punch. Elaine was to frightened to do anything except stand there as his fist came whistling in toward her face, his face contorted in a rictus of anger.

The punch never landed.

Lars was beyond stunned to find his arm stopped dead with his fist mere inches from its intended target. Clark had super-sped to the rescue and had grabbed Lars’ elbow from behind as the punch was about to land. Elaine’s knees buckled and she fell forward in a dead faint.

Clark let go of Lars long enough to catch Elaine. He set he down on the grass and turned to a still stunned opponent.

“How did you…”

“Stop your weak-ass punch?” Clark said as he cut Lars off in mid-mumble. “Easy. I play football, I deal with tougher guys than you everyday at practice.” Getting right up in Lars’ face, Clark said, “Let me make something crystal clear: beating on women, especially for a guy your size, is never an acceptable behavior…not for any reason. So if you want to take a shot at someone, hit me…if you can you Scandinavian mama’s boy.”

Talk about waving a flag in front of a bull, Lars’s confusion cleared up instantaneously and he moved in for the kill. He threw a series of compact, powerful punches, each of which would have done serious damage to any mere mortal, but each of which hit nothing but air as Clark stepped out of the way just before the punch landed. With each punch that missed, Lars was thrown more and more off balance, until all Clark had to do to drop Lars to the ground, was to give him a slight shove in the back.

Lars was of the bonehead persuasion, so he did not give up easily. Getting back up, he continued to throw punches. Lars whined about how Clark should be man enough to stand still so he could get hit.

Clark shrugged his shoulders and stood stock-still as punch after punch landed on his abs, chest, and face. He did not flinch, but Lars was screaming in pain from the damage he had just caused to his own hands. Clark took a quick x-ray look and saw at least four broken fingers.

Then, to finish him off, Clark stepped to Lars’ side and very carefully hit him in the side of the jaw just hard enough to break it. Lars collapsed onto the ground, squealing with pain. Clark picked him up and dropped him off at the hospital emergency room, but not before giving a final warning.

“If I hear of you near Elaine ever again,” Clark said, “I’ll make what happened tonight seem like a picnic.”

A few seconds later, and Clark was carrying a limp Elaine through the front door of the townhouse where he set her down on a couch in the living room. Not knowing what to do, Clark grabbed some ice cubes from the freezer and wrapped them in a clean washcloth so as to have something to dab on Elaine’s forehead.

She came to fairly quickly, and when she got her bearings, she wrapped her arms around Clark’s neck and hugged him tight, thanking him over and over for saving her.

When she slowed down a bit, Clark asked, “What in the world possessed you to go out with a goon like that?”

“Well,” Elaine said, looking guiltily at Clark, “I wanted to make you jealous, at least a little bit anyway, and Lars had been chasing me for a long time, so I decided to give him a chance. If you hadn’t have come along right then, I don’t know what I would have done! Thank you, Clark.”

“No problem,” Clark replied. “Just do yourself a favor and pick your next guy with your heart, not your eyes. You’re one of my best friends and you deserve a lot better than that piece of crap.”

When Elaine stood to leave, Clark stood with her and asked how she was getting home. Elaine replied that she and Lars had walked over together from the tri-Alpha house, so she would be walking back.

“In that case, Elaine,” Clark said, “let me walk you home.”

“Okay,” she replied. “I would feel safer that way.”

Wrapping her arms around him for a quick hug, Elaine said, “I’m sorry I’ve been such a screw up recently. I seem to cause you problems at every turn. I swear I’m not always like this.”

Clark hugged her back, and said, “I know you’re not. That’s why we’re such good friends. You’ll find your balance and we’ll be buddies again.”

It was at this moment that Lana stepped out of the bathroom by the basement stairs. She was just in time to see Elaine hug Clark and Clark return the hug. Given what Clark had said about Wednesday night, she was more than little surprised to see them so affectionate, but there was nothing about the hug to suggest sexuality.

Maybe they’ve straightened things out, Lana thought. Then, reluctantly admitting the possibility to herself, she thought, Or maybe Clark likes playing the field. As far as I know, he might have several girls on his string.

Lana quickly ducked into the stairwell to avoid being seen. She heard the front door close and looked back upstairs to see both Clark and Elaine gone.

Great, she thought, he’s walking her home. Take a deep breath, Lana. There may be a perfectly good explanation for this.

Chloe came upstairs to see where Clark had gone off to now that almost everyone had left. Lana turned to her with her fears, hoping to be told she was being silly, but afraid to learn the truth. Lana explained what she had seen and what Clark had said earlier about Elaine.

“Am I being ridiculous, Chloe? Clark’s not the kind of guy that keeps a different girl for every day of the week, is he?”

“No, Lana, Clark isn’t like that at all,” Chloe said. “He has enough trouble managing a relationship with one woman, let alone a multitude of us. Whatever you saw, ask him about it. Let him tell what happened, and I bet you’ll be sorry you had the slightest doubt.”

“You’re probably right. It’s just that, I don’t want to lose this relationship before it even gets started. I really think this could be something special, and I haven’t gotten to experience that much.”

Minutes later, Clark returned from the tri-Alpha house and Lana did as Chloe suggested.

“What was that all about, Clark?” Lana asked.

“What was what all about?” Clark asked.

“The full-body hug you gave to Elaine.”

“Oh! Nothing...well, not nothing, but..."

Clark went on to explain everything except for the details of the one-sided fight. No point in giving her any more clues than she already has, he thought. When he finished, Lana hugged him and apologized for thinking bad things.

“We all have insecurities, Lana. That’s fine as long as we don’t let them rule us.” Returning her hug, Clark said, “Now, are we still on for tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for anything. Six o’clock, right?”

“Right. Dress casually.”

[SmallvilleMan]

Now i'm 1st, bwahahhahahhahah

[NYC300Z]

2nd! Again! I thought you really updated again Card! Don't tease me like that!

[4EverSmallville]

Great update :D.

[ajfinn]

Yippeee!!! Onto their private date :) Great update!!

Merry Christmas!! :D

[SmallvilleMan]

I love how Clark made Lana h...... I mean, made her happy to see him:D Good play on his part;)

[binkys711]

ehh...4th or 5th...whatever...

That was a great update Card as always! Loved the on sided fight!:p and the clana shirt thing was funny! I loved it! PPMS!!!

(I stayed up just to read your update...now, I'm off to bed! Merry Christmas!)

[kewl]

super awesome update!!!! PPMS!!!

[SVsleuth]

Wow! What in the world is Lars going to think about Clark? Broken fingers & broken jaw? I guess he was pretty drunk so can be convinced it didn't happen the way it did.

Can't wait for Lana to ask Clark why 7 spiked beers had no affect at all on him....The date will be good. I wonder how many dates it will take before Clark lets Lana in on his secret.

I wonder if Clark will find out why Lana kept giving him his least favorite beer - & what he'll do to Pete for doing that to him.

It was sweet of Lana to tell Clark she'll wait for him to be ready to tell her.

And I like how Chloe, knowing Clark better than Lana does, is able to calm Lana's fears and confirm to Lana what kind of a guy Clark really is. She was feeling jealous, though, but i'm glad he was honest with her & she believed him. Now we have a CLANA first date to look forward to. :)

PPMS! Merry Christmas!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Originally posted by Cardinal
No disparagement of Scandinavians in general was meant in this update. This means YOU, Dr. J.

Lars just happens to be Scandinavian.:D In that case I'm sure he's Danish (I mean drunk and violent? He has to be!) and we don't like them very much anyway. *Prays that we don't have any newly recruited Danish clana-fans around here...* ;)

Your update was great as always and I loved how Clark dealt with Lars. It's the first time (I think) you've showed the heroic early-superman Clark in this fic and I that was great. You're doing a great job with handling the triangle that is Clark, Elaine & Lana. There's always this tension between Lana and Elaine and at the same time Clark manages to keep his friendship with Elaine and romance with Lana. That’s cool. Bring on the date! PPMS!! And Merry Christmas!

[annaliese]

that post was great Card!!!! keep em comin!!!!!!

[akuma]

Sweet, nice Christmas present for me!:D cant wait for the date!

[IluvCLANA]

^DITTO :D

[nellie2]

wow that was great! MERRY CHRISTMAS

[booze_is_me09]

that was great!!! PPMS!!!!!!!!!!!

[annaliese]

i cant wait to read the next chapter *wink wink nudge nudge* ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)

[C.A.chick]

THAT WAS AWESOME CARD! ok, i say that everytime, but its only cause i mean it!!!!! you're the greatest ever!!!!! YAY!!!! PPMASAP!!!!!!

[maroon09854]

CARD!!!!! i got to read the update b4 tommorow im soo happy i wish there would hav been more clana though:( loved the part when they danced PPMSASAP

[kewl]

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

[IluvCLANA]

CARD, DO YOU THINK YOU COULD PRETTY PLEASE UPDATE AGAIN?
POSSIBLY TONIGHT? PRETTY PLEASE WITH LANA IN THE EPPI NICODEMUS ON TOP?

[Cardinal]

No chance of an update tonight. I just got home from Christmas with my family.

I dread having to write another Clana date. I only have so many ideas for dates and have used most of them in previous fics.

[C.A.chick]

PLEASE CARD? :(? please don't let your dread keep you from updating! PPMASAP!

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Cardinal
I dread having to write another Clana date. I only have so many ideas for dates and have used most of them in previous fics.

Well, you might have to do a bit of mixing-and-matching, but I'm sure you'll turn up something engaging--you always do.

BTW, I've been meaning to comment on your avatar. Love the pic--Lana looks positively ethereal in that. But what exactly is up with the "Oh...my...God" part?

[Cardinal]

Oh...My...God! was my reaction upon seeing that photo, especially when you get to see the complete photgraph at full size.

Words like staggeringly, stunningly, stupefyingly beautiful just aren't adequate to describe how fine she is in that pic. OMG was/is the best I can do in a short sentence.

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Oh...My...God! was my reaction upon seeing that photo, especially when you get to see the complete photgraph at full size.

Words like staggeringly, stunningly, stupefyingly beautiful just aren't adequate to describe how fine she is in that pic. OMG was/is the best I can do in a short sentence.

Whoa...the whole thing was that good, huh? Man, I'm grinning just thinking about it. That definitely made my day. :)

[C.A.chick]

*sigh*Boys... :p

[NYC300Z]

Update!;)

[C.A.chick]

Yeah, listen to Matt!

[Cardinal]

Hey, superman lives on, did you get the link I PMed to you?

[NYC300Z]

stop worring about PM's Card and update!;):p

[LovinMe210]

exactly ppms!!

[4EverSmallville]

Card this is a really great story, I hope you update soon. ...I can't tell you how many times of played Iris in the past few days :lol:.

[Dr. Jeckyll]

For me who doesn't have thousands of posts on this forum I'd say my 200th post is kind of a tiny milestone so here ya go Card; for one of the best fics ever. Hope you update soon!!

[SVsleuth]

Hey, Card, when do you plan to update again?

[Cardinal]

Christmas!!!! Oh, wait, that was two days ago... Umm...I'm starting on one now. Dates are hard to write, so this one could take a while.

[C.A.chick]

Darn! Oh well............................ PPMASAP!

[annaliese]

heck yes christmas was 2 days ago! well hurry up and write. lol

[PeteM]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Christmas!!!! Oh, wait, that was two days ago... Umm...I'm starting on one now. Dates are hard to write, so this one could take a while.


Dates are hard to write since there are only so many things you can write about.

If you are having a block, may I suggest writing an "after" date update.

Let them mention or talk about their date with each other or to Pete or Chloe.

Put in as many or as few details regarding the date as you want.

Then allow the readers to fill in the details with their own imagination.

[IluvCLANA]

well, im sure that it'll be great, just dont keep us waiting 4ever bc i, wait, scratch that, all of us need a clana fix asap..............

[booze_is_me09]

ppms!!!!

[annaliese]

Originally posted by 4EverSmallville
Card this is a really great story, I hope you update soon. ...I can't tell you how many times of played Iris in the past few days :lol:.

im with 4ever... i have played that song sooooooooooooooooooooo many times. lol

update soon cardinal!!!! cant wait

[SpecKay11]

LOL! same wit me, ive listened so many times to that song this week!

[binkys711]

Welcome to the clana side SpecKay11!:D Welcome to k-site for that matter. Hope ya have a great time here!:)

[IluvCLANA]

ditto

[ajfinn]

Iris is my favorite Clana song ever :) Nothing fits the first years of their romance better, in my opinion!!

Can't wait for the next update. Relax about writing the date scene. All I care about is the conversation, not where they go. I'm all about the relationship. If they do something simple, they'll have a lot of time to talk and get to know each other better.

Sigh ....... I feel a first Clana kiss coming soon. Maybe not right away, but soon.

[Cardinal]

I've been working my way through this next update with help from my story consultant. I've got a lot down already, but this, like everything I write these days, is a long update.

[binkys711]

WOOHOOO! can't wait! Don't rush it though! take your time. We know your clana date is going to be the bomb anyways:)

[IluvCLANA]

couldn't have said it better myself binks ;)

[tomfreak11]

i've been silently reading ur story and i think it is wonderful!!!!!!!! keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!PPMS!!!!

[ajfinn]

Welcome tomfreak11!!! Hope we see you around more often :) I'm a Tom freak too, just ask anyone who knows me . . . especially my husband :lol:

[SVsleuth]

Yeah, welcome tomfreak11!

Card, tomfreak11 posted her very first post here. You must be honored!


And....

THIS is the 700th post on your thread! Congrats! PPMS! :)

[IluvCLANA]

welcome tomfreak..... and what aj said was true, i think i remember her posting something about her kids running around the house yelling "mommy loves clark!!! mommy loves clark!!!!"
now THATS hilarious........ and yes, i am also a tom freak

!!!!!!!CONGRATS CARD!!!!!!!!

[booze_is_me09]

Yea congrats on over 700 posts!!!!!!!!PPMS!!!!!!

[ajfinn]

Originally posted by IluvCLANA
welcome tomfreak..... and what aj said was true, i think i remember her posting something about her kids running around the house yelling "mommy loves clark!!! mommy loves clark!!!!"
now THATS hilarious........ and yes, i am also a tom freak

!!!!!!!CONGRATS CARD!!!!!!!!

Yes, yes . . . it's true :D

Congrats Card . . . lots of posts on an excellent story.

Now, give us a freaking update :lol: Kidding.

[Cardinal]

Yes, SV, I am honored. It's great when new readers come out of the woodwork and start posting.

700 posts...hmm...that's just way too many. I'm not used to this kind of attention, it'll probably end up giving me a big head and making me an insufferable jerk (even more so than I already am, anyway).

I'll take a wild guess and assume that tomfreak11 is related to booze_is_me09. If so, then way to go booze_is_me09 on turning Clana into a family affair!

And as for you, aj, shut yer pie hole, the update is coming. :p :p

[Cardinal]

Chapter 24 - Preparation

Sunday morning, Clark was making his way to the kitchen, wearing a t-shirt and boxers, looking for something to drink that would sluice the morning gunk off his teeth. He finally decided on coffee, and set a pot to brew. All the while, in the back of his mind, was the happy thought, I’ve got a date with Lana tonight! As he waited, he turned on ESPN and watched the early morning edition of SportsCenter.

A few highlights of his game were shone and his chipper mood went straight into the tank as he watched the highlights from the fist half. We played terrible, he thought. Coach reamed us at halftime during the game, and it’s going to be worse during film session today. When the highlights of the second half domination were shown, Clark smiled a bit. At least he’ll be happy with the second half, he thought. That was Met U football!

When the coffee was ready, Clark poured a cup and drank it while he tried to figure out why he was up so early on a day when could have slept in a bit. After several moments of consideration, Clark could only chalk it up to habit. My body and mind are used to being up no later than eight, he thought, so when eight rolls around…it’s ‘up and at ‘em.’ At least coach switched our off day to Friday, and with us only lifting twice a week during game weeks now, that means sleeping late Friday and Sunday, unless we lose, then we watch game films Sunday morning at five instead of Sunday morning at ten.

Finishing a second cup of coffee, Clark rinsed out the empty cup and put it in the dishwasher. He then showered, shaved, and dressed comfortably in jeans and a red polo and walked over to the cafeteria for breakfast.

Following a huge meal of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs with peppers, maple-smoked bacon, French toast with syrup, and several glasses of juice, Clark had another hour to kill before going to the film session, so he returned to the townhouse to clean up the basement. He had already policed the area outside their building last night which helped ensure their neighbors would remain happy with them, but even crushing each cup, Clark had ended up with a couple of 39-gallon yard waste bags filled with cups and other detritus.

Out of the four full kegs they had started with, there remained approximately one-and-a-half kegs of beer between them. Clark began pouring the remaining beer into the basement floor drain. He was just beginning to empty the final keg when a bleary-eyed Pete wandered into the basement, and asked, “What’s going on down here? You’ve been making enough noise to raise the dead…namely me.”

Seeing the golden liquid rushing into the drainpipe, Pete hurried over and asked, “What the hell are you doing? ”

“It looks like I’m pouring out the rest of the beer,” Clark replied.

“Why? That’s stuff is still drinkable.”

Clark tipped the keg back up, offered an empty cup to Pete, and asked, “Would you like some, then?”

Batting the cup away, Pete cringed at the thought of more beer right now after a full night of drinking. “No, not right now.”

“Then I’ve got to empty the kegs, Pete. We had to buy the taps, but the kegs are rented and we have to return them today. In fact,” Clark said, as he tossed his truck keys to Pete, “that will be your job while I’m watching game film with the team.”

Clark went back to empty out the last keg and Pete grabbed a broom and dustpan to begin sweeping up the trash on the floor. By the time Clark left for the film session, the only thing left to do was to use a stiff-bristled broom and a bucket of soapy water to scrub the dried fluids off of the concrete floor.

Clark left it to Pete to load the now-empty kegs, as he headed for the team meeting rooms. The offense and the defense watched their films separately. The defensive coaches were fairly happy and, for the most part, went through the plays only once or twice. The offensive coaches, on the other hand, chewed their players out, watching certain plays over and over and over to hammer on the mistakes that were being made.

As offensive captain, Clark came in for his share of criticism. “What in hell were you looking at, Kent?” the offensive coordinator asked. “Didn’t you see that middle linebacker there? You know, the guy wearing the white shirt with the blue 51 on it? You’re not supposed to throw it anywhere near him, yet you hit him right between the numbers! That was the most accurate pass you threw the entire first half…it’s too bad the other team ran it back for a touchdown!”

On and on it went. Finally, they reached the second half and the coaches went from screaming to grudging praise.

“That’s more like it. See what happens when everyone does their jobs…we score, we score a lot."

By the time the offense was done, it was time for lunch. Instead of eating in the cafeteria, Clark hurried home to eat ham sandwiches and potato chips so he could watch the NFL game between the Metropolis Sharks and the Dallas Cowboys. Once again, the Sharks showed how far they had fallen since their Super Bowl appearance a few years ago. The game was played at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, and Dallas won the game 33-21.

Clark thought about starting to watch the afternoon game, which was the Kansas City Chiefs versus the Arizona Cardinals, but decided he needed to prepare for his date with Lana. He went out and took his truck to an automatic car wash, and even had them wax it after the washing. Then, having learned from Chloe that Lana favors oriental food, he went home and reserved a table at a nice, but casual, Chinese restaurant.

He spent the next several minutes finding a florist that was open on Sunday afternoon. That proved tougher than Clark would have thought and he had to hustle over there to get something before they closed.

Looking at his bouquet of half-a-dozen red roses and three stargazer lilies, Clark thought, Stargazer lilies, perfect for someone who loves looking at the stars. Clark finally returned home and dressed for his date. He pulled on a black, short-sleeved button-up shirt and a pair of black Nikes to go with his blue jeans. Satisfied with his appearance, he slapped on some cologne, picked up his flowers, and headed for the door.

Pete was lounging on a couch, going through some homework while the Chiefs-Cardinals game played in the background. Spotting Clark heading out the door with the large bouquet, Pete perked up and said, “Good luck, Clark. Relax and have fun.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

--------------------

Lana’s day was much shorter. She woke up sometime on the far side of noon with a screaming headache. Stumbling slit-eyed toward her bathroom medicine cabinet, she grabbed four aspirin and downed them with a glass of water. Her next considered move was to head for the kitchen and turn on her coffeemaker.

At least I’m not hungover, Lana thought, but that party went late, and all of that pounding music battered my brain. I swear, I can still hear it now!

Lana had two cups of black coffee to wake herself up while she waited for the aspirin to kick in. Then, she headed for a shower. The steaming shower and the sharp floral scent of her soap combined to fully wake her up. As she shampooed her hair, Lana thought about the events of last night. Seven beers…no, seven boilermakers, and Clark wasn’t the least bit tipsy. I was more drunk than he was, and I only had three regular beers all night. At least Chloe was the designated driver…she only got to have one beer.

Also, as big as Clark is and as tough as he has to be to play college football, that Lars character was still awfully big. He should have been able to do something to Clark, even if it was just messing up his hair a little bit, but Clark came through that unscathed. Hmm…also, what was up with his eyes and the melted ice? That was the freakiest thing that happened all evening.

Finally, as she was using her conditioner, Lana focused on what she really wanted to think about…those dances with Clark. Chloe said we looked as hot out there as Debra Winger and John Travolta in “Urban Cowboy” during our first dance. As hot as that was, I liked the second dance even more. There wasn’t anything the least bit salacious about it, but it seemed to mean so much more.

Her hair washing complete, Lana quit thinking about Clark, as much as possible anyway, so she could concentrate on shaving her legs without nicking herself.

When that task was finished, Lana went to work on her hair. Drying her long, thick hair and then styling it was a task that took her a full hour to get every hair looking ‘just so.’

Once she was done with her hair, she called Chloe on the phone and asked her to come over and help pick an outfit to wear. After Chloe agreed, Lana went to work on her makeup. This was an everyday occurrence, only today, Lana was being more exacting in her application of her cosmetics, from base and blush to lipstick and lip-liner to mascara, eyeshadow, and eyeliner.

All this work, she thought, and Clark wants it to be a ‘casual date.’ Someone should inform that boy that there are no casual dates, only dates that don’t require fancy clothes.

When Chloe announced her arrival on the scene with an energetic knock, Lana left her seat in front of her mirrored dresser and opened the door. Chloe air-kissed Lana’s cheek to avoid mussing her makeup, but she admired Lana’s carefully-curled tresses and makeup, and said flatly, “You are going to knock Clark dead.”

“Thanks, Chloe,” Lana said. “That’s my goal. I want to fix this date in his mind so firmly, that he can recall the details years later.”

Lana and Chloe spent the next two hours rummaging through her outfits, matching up possible combinations of tops and bottoms. When the list of potential outfits had been narrowed down somewhat, various pairs of shoes were trotted out to be set next to the contending outfits. This narrowed down the choices even more, at which time Lana tried on all of the remaining outfits and modeled them for Chloe as well as looking at them herself in the full-length mirror on her bathroom door.

At long last, Lana selected a modest dark blue Henley and khaki mid-thigh shorts. Brown leather sandals finished her outfit. As she paraded for Chloe one last time in her outfit, Chloe said, “I think you two will do well together, Lana. You seem to fit together in so many ways: similar temperament, similar interests, both quiet and reserved…the list goes on.”

Chloe stood up from her position on Lana‘s bed, and said, “Now, this is something I don’t really want to say to you, Lana, but…I think I have to.”

Surprised at this last minute seriousness, Lana asked, “What is it?”

“Well…it’s just this…” Chloe looked directly into Lana’s eyes with an expression as serious as death, and said, “…if you do anything to hurt Clark, there won’t be a hole deep enough for you to hide in. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had, male or female, and it tore my guts out to watch his heart get destroyed by the last woman he dated. If it happens again and you’re the one to blame, friend or not, I’ll come after you.”

Stunned by this…this…threat, Lana said, “Whatever brought that on, Chloe? You know me well enough to know that I’d never purposely do that to anyone, much less someone like Clark.”

Wringing her hands, Chloe said, “It’s just that I feel somewhat responsible for getting you two together. I’m scared, just a little bit, for Clark. The way things ended with Lori hurt him deeply. So if it happens like that again, and you’re the cause, which means I’m partially at fault for setting you two up…I don’t know if I could take it.”

Lana wrapped an arm around Chloe shoulders and pulled her friend in close. “Chloe,” Lana said, “I promise I won’t hurt him intentionally. I’m not like that, you ought to know that by now…but sometimes it happens even when you try your hardest to avoid it, like when I broke up with Whitney in high school. I did everything I could to ease his feelings, but nothing I did mattered. He was crushed because I didn’t feel the same way he did.

“I want this budding relationship to work, Chloe, even more than you do. I just get this feeling about Clark that I’ve never had before about any other guy.”

Finally returning Lana’s hug, Chloe said, “Well…you’re not the only one. Clark seems to think you‘re pretty special, too.”

“What…has he said something to you?”

“No, but I saw him dancing at the party with you. First, the fact that you got Clark to dance with you twice in one night has to qualify as some kind of record. He doesn’t like dancing very much at all. Second, remember, I told you how hot you two looked out there dancing to ‘Hot in Herre.’ It takes two people who are really into it to make the dance floor steam like that.”

“Let me tell you something, Chloe,” Lana said. “As hot as that first dance was, the second dance meant even more…and I think it meant more to Clark, too.”

“In that case…go get him.”

Chloe slipped out the front door, and minutes later came a quick knock at the door. Lana jumped up from her seat, took a quick step toward the door, and then stopped herself. Mustn’t look too eager, she thought. She counted to ten, slowly, and then made her way to the door.

[SVsleuth]

1st? - Wow! And I wasn't even here. I'm an hour late! where is everyone?

That was great, Card. You paint such vivid pictures in my mind with so much description and all. I can't wait for the actual date. Clark & Lana both seem really excited about it too. :) It seems we've been waiting so long for it. Time sure moves slowly in Clanaland. PPMS! PPMS!

[Cardinal]

Time only moves slowly when I'm the one doing the writing.

[SVsleuth]

Not really. I seem to remember time moving slowly in AJ's fic too ;)

[IluvCLANA]

that was awesome card!!!! and i know i say that every time you update, but its the truth..... i cant wait for the clana date, your going to put some clana fluff in for me, right? well.... ppms ;)

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Ah, awesome card! Like SV said; time moves so sloooowly here in clanaland. Can't wait for the actual date to start. PPMS!!!

[ajfinn]

Ahhhhhhh ........ and then ................................. okay, now you have to update again today. I hope you're busy writing!! :lol: hee hee

Great update, can't wait for more

[C.A.chick]

That was great!!!!!!!! can't wait for the update.........do I sense a clana kiss????? :p................ PPMASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[binkys711]

darn....I started reading but I have to go now:mad: blasted! I promise I'll finish it up later;) bye!

[smallvillewolf17]

this is a great story. PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

are you working on an update card????? i REALLY hope so!!!!!!! well, ppms

[4EverSmallville]

Great update, I can't wait to see what happens on their date.

[Cardinal]

Am I working on an update? Yes.

Is it anywhere near ready? No.

Will it be posted tonight? Not a snowball's chance in Hell.

[superman_lives_on]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Am I working on an update? Yes.

Is it anywhere near ready? No.

Will it be posted tonight? Not a snowball's chance in Hell.

Uh... I don't think a snowball would stand a chance in Hell.

I'll be waiting as patiently as I can--though I doubt that's saying much.

[iloveit]

lol great update! i started reading it then i didnt get half the stuff then i realized i missed like 3 updates and im like wtf? lol but its all good. ppms!

[IluvCLANA]

Originally posted by Cardinal
Am I working on an update? Yes.

Is it anywhere near ready? No.

Will it be posted tonight? Not a snowball's chance in Hell.

well, guess ill be waiting for when it is ready..... whenever THAT is, thanks for the news card.......ummm.....yea

[booze_is_me09]

you guessed rite card TOMFREAK11 and i are related now PPMS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SpecKay11]

thnx for welcuming me, and ill be rite here the moment u post sum more clana for me to read :)

[annaliese]

awesome update!!!!!! PPMASAP!!!!

[kewl]

great update!!!!
welcome new readers!!!!
&
Happy New Year!!!!! everyone :D

[NYC300Z]

Awesome update Card! I've been away you know...finally got a chance to read it! I hope thier date goes well!

PPMS!

[IluvCLANA]

WELCOME BACK NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!

[d.g225]

good

i have been a silent reader for sometime now and i must say your clana fics are my fav

[maroon09854]

welcome to the clana boards d.g225 :)

[Cardinal]

Welcome to the Clana fanfic board and to my thread in particular, d.g225!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love it when silent readers speak up and say hi!

[d.g225]

well i can tell you this card your are a very good writer. i injoy all of your fics like the wedding and thats my fav

[LanasLover16]

Ive been gone for 2 weeks and i come back to 4 new updates, and they are AWESOME!!! PLEASE POST MORE SOON!!!!

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Welcome to the Clana-family d.g225! :D

Btw, what's the status on our snowball in hell, Card? :p

[Cardinal]

The snowball is growing in size. It may soon be large enough to survive the trip through Hell.

[ajfinn]

Welcome, Welcome . . . . d.g225!!

Well, Card ..... this moment just reminds me of when I'd post on "This Time" and you'd lash me for posting without updating.

Hmmm, for that ...... I'll give you another snowball for your collection ........ SPLAAAAAAAAAAATTTT!!!

[Cardinal]

This update is dedicated to the birthday girl herself, Kristin Kreuk!


*Most of the information on painting came from Wikipedia.*

Chapter 25 - Culture

Lana pulled the door open just as Clark was preparing to knock again. “Hi, Clark!” Lana said, as she took in his appearance. Mmm…she thought, black really suits him!

At the sight of Lana’s torrent of silken curls and her exquisitely made-up face, all Clark could manage was a soft, “Wow!”

Lana smiled at that, while Clark’s mouth hung open slightly. Nothing served to break his trance until she pointed at the flowers and asked, “Are those for me?”

Embarrassed, Clark came to with a quick shake of his head and offered the bouquet, already in a clear glass vase, to Lana. “I’ve gotten flowers for you before, so I figured that flowers for an actual date had to be nicer than those daisies.”

Lana stepped forward and accepted the vase with a warm smile. She held the flowers under her nose and took a deep breath. “Mmm…these smell wonderful. They smell as nice as they look. Thanks, Clark!” Lana walked back into the apartment and set the vase on her kitchen table. She picked up her purse and returned to Clark. Once outside, she closed and locked the door, and said, “Let’s go.”

Clark took her hand and walked her to his truck. After opening the door and handing her into the passenger side, Clark closed her door and climbed behind the wheel. As Clark pulled out of the small apartment building’s parking lot, Lana got a case of the fidgets and could not keeps her hands still. They went from her lap to her sides to arms crossed and back again.

Finally, her nervous hands began fidgeting with the buckle of her seatbelt. That is when she noticed Clark was not wearing his seatbelt. “Clark, why aren’t you wearing your seatbelt?” Lana asked.

“I guess I just forgot,” Clark said, flustered at making such a basic mistake. Then, looking over at Lana, he said, “I’m sorry, Lana, that’s not true. I don’t ever wear a seatbelt.”

“Would you wear it? Please? I get worried seeing anyone in a car without a seatbelt on.”

“Okay. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll put it on.” At the next stop light, Clark fished under the backrest to find his never-used seatbelt anchor and only found it in time with a little help from his x-ray vision. He brought out the seatbelt anchor, adjusted the shoulder strap to the proper length, and snapped the buckle into the anchor just as the light turned green.

As the truck moved forward again, Lana said, “Jeez, Clark, you weren’t kidding when you said you never wear you seatbelt. Don’t you worry about being in a car wreck?”

“Not really,” Clark said, “I’m a pretty careful driver and I’ve just never felt the need to wear one.”

“Clark?” Clark turned to look at Lana, and as he did, she flashed him a big smile and said, “Thanks.”

To Clark, that smile was more than worth all of the questions and the inconvenience of the seatbelt, and he reflexively smiled back at her.

As he was smiling back at Lana, a large U-Haul moving van pulled out in front of Clark’s truck from an alley. Clark spotted it as he turned back to the road and Lana let out a scream. Clark reacted instantaneously. His right arm shot out in front of Lana like an iron bar and held her firmly in place. His foot began pumping the brake pedal faster than any anti-lock brake system ever made, and his left hand stayed on the wheel and guided the pickup into the alley just vacated by the moving van.

As the truck screeched to a stop, Lana’s eyes were as wide as saucers and she was on the verge of hyperventilating. Clark was breathing hard himself due to his fear over what might have happened to Lana. After a few seconds staring straight ahead to collect themselves, they slowly turned to look at each other. Lana gave Clark a tremulous smile and Clark breathed a sigh of relief.

“Maybe wearing this seatbelt is a good idea after all,” Clark said. “Are you okay, Lana? We can go home if you’re not feeling up to continuing the date.”

“Let me catch my breath and I think we can go on.” Her smile widened and warmed as she said, “So much for a ho-hum first date. I can’t wait to see what else is in store.”

Clark laughed at the joking implication that their close call was planned and drove down the alley to the other end. Minutes later, they were at their first destination, the Metropolis Museum.

Lana arched her brows in surprise when she figured out their destination, but kept quiet. As they made their way up the steps, past the outer colonnade, and into the building, her anticipation grew. She had never been able to find the time to come here herself. She had planned to make the trip with Whitney in high school, but he always came up with a reason for not going, if it was not a pay-per-view sporting event on TV, it was something else. He never had time for culture, never had time for what she wanted to do, unless it was one of his favorites also.

And now, completely unbidden, Clark was bringing her here and not the other way around. Amazing! Clark paid their admissions and they headed into the museum proper.

“We don’t have the time to take in the whole museum tonight,” Clark said, “but I thought you might like to pick out a particular collection you want to see or a special traveling exhibit.” Looking at his watch, Clark said, “We’ve got at least a couple of hours to spend here.”

“Good. I’ve always wanted to come here,” Lana replied. She clasped his hand and led him over to the museum directory where the current displays and their locations were laid out. “Let’s see…Impressionism, First Floor, Northeast Wing…Cubism and Surrealism, First Floor, Southeast Wing…” Lana perused the options felt like a kid in a candy store as she realized that there were other buildings in the museum complex and that it would take her months to see everything.

Still, she had to start somewhere, so she took the first choice on the list and led Clark to the Impressionism exhibit in the Northeast Wing. As they walked from room to room, Lana’s eyes lit up as she saw works by Monet, Renoir, Manet, Sisley and Bazille. There was even an entire room of paintings on loan from the Louvre in Paris.

Clark was somewhat confused, but this was one of the reasons why he had brought Lana here: to learn a little bit about her world and the things she loves.

“Lana, could you explain a little bit about Impressionism? I’m kind of new at this art thing, and I don’t really understand what makes it different from any of the other kinds of painting.”

“Sure, Clark, I’d be happy to.” Lana took on an almost professorial air as she explained, “Impressionism was a new style of painting in the mid-to-late 1800s. It is known primarily for short, thick brush strokes that allow a painter to show the heart of a subject without worrying about its details.

“The brush strokes were left visible, and the artists mixed colors as little as possible, instead preferring to put primary colors directly on the canvas and let the viewer’s eye mix the colors optically. They painted wet paint on wet paint which produced softer edges and an intermingling or color. Also, impressionist painters were big on natural light and how it reflected from object to object.”

All during her talk, Lana was leading Clark from painting to painting and showing him the visible brush strokes and how most of the strokes were basic colors.

“So,” Clark asked, “no Bob Ross deal about mixing Viridian Blue, Titanium White, and a touch of Van Dyke Brown to come up with some new color?”

“No. What that guy does is nice for beginners, but I can do what he does, and the techniques from his public television show don’t transfer well to doing portraits, which I do paint very well, even if I do say so myself.”

“Maybe you’ll have to show me your portrait skill sometime.”

“Maybe I’ll have to paint you sometime,” Lana said.

“Uh…I don’t know about that.”

“Why not? It does take a while, but the results are a lot nicer than a plain, old 4x6 photograph.”

“Well…” Clark said, “a couple of girls have asked me to model for their art class and they made it sound like an ordeal.”

“An ordeal?”

Clark looked away from Lana, and said, “A…a naked ordeal. You know, sitting on a platform in the middle of a classroom and holding a pose while twenty or more students draw you. That’s not for me. I‘d just die.”

“Well,” Lana said, “those kinds of situations can be embarrassing for both sides. I had to draw all kinds of naked guys and girls in art classes in Chicago. They were so blasé about it and I felt like my face was burning off. So if you do end up modeling for a portrait for me, you can wear all the clothes you want. Deal?”

“Deal.”

Looking at her watch and seeing that it was already 7:30 p.m., Lana asked, “Is there any particular time we need to leave here?”

“Not really. I do have something else planned, but if you want to stay here, we can spend the rest of the date right here. On the other hand, if you want to see what else I have planned, we‘ll need to leave here in an hour or so.”

“In that case, there’s a special exhibit on the second floor that we ought to see while it’s still here.”

“What is it?” Clark asked.

“Faberge eggs. They were created by the House of Faberge for the last two Czars of Russia. Only fifty of the large Imperial Easter eggs were known to have been made. After the communist takeover, the eggs were stored for safekeeping. Josef Stalin began selling them after he came to power so he could raise much-needed hard currency to finance his reforms.”

Holy crap! Clark thought. I knew she was into art, but I had no idea she’s an art historian.

“…only ten are left in the hands of the Russian government. The eggs upstairs are on loan from various private collectors and will only be there for a short time, so we’ve got to see them now.”

“Cool,” Clark said, “let’s go.”

Hand-in-hand, they raced up the stairs to the second floor. Following the signs, they made their way to a heavily-guarded, windowless room where the Faberge Eggs, along with other, less famous Faberge creations, were on display.

Clark and Lana slowly walked along the room, in awe of the exacting craftsmanship required to make such small, perfect mechanical devices. Neither one of them wanted to speak, they just nudged each other and pointed out favorite features of the enameled, jewel-encrusted treasures.

Back on the main floor of the museum, Lana looked at her watch which caused Clark to check his. “It’s almost 8:30 p.m.,” Clark said. “Unless you want to stay and explore some more, it’s time to go.”

“No,” Lana said, “we can always come back some other time.”

Clark was grinning from ear to ear at the implication there would be ‘some other time’ as they headed down outside and into the night. Once they reached his truck and were both safely belted inside, Lana asked, “Where are we going now?”

Clark said, “I hear you like Asian food, so I’ve made reservations at ‘The Forbidden City.' It’s supposed to be one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in town."

“Really?” When Clark nodded his head yes, Lana perked up and said, “Good. I am so hungry right now. I got up late and forgot to eat before I left the apartment.”

“In that case, I’d better hurry. You’re so slender right now, that any delay in getting to the restaurant might cause you to disappear.”

[SVsleuth]

1st! Alright, that was great, Card. :) I liked how Clark retracted his lie about the seatbelt, showing us this more truthful Clark Kent. Glad Clark has such great defensive driving skills, & Lana didn't get hurt. (We all know Clark couldn't get hurt.) The museum was great, & I do think they will return there again together. The discussion of modelling was cute. It would be cool for Lana to paint Clark. Can't wait for the Chinese food, & whatever else -- will they kiss on the first date? Post more, soon. In fact, if you keep writing, you just may have time for another update by midnight.:p

[ajfinn]

Great start to the date ....... made me want to go to an art museum. :D Sure glad you posted tonight, hope you don't keep us waiting too much longer for the .... umm snuggling. We'll get snuggling, right?

Anyone want to join the campaign .....
SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE

[Dr. Jeckyll]

3rd!
I KNEW IT! Finally Dr. J gets his award for staying up insane late! *Off to read!*

[Cardinal]

You are hella-nuts, Dr. J. It's got to be three in the morning in Norway right now.

[superman_lives_on]

HOME PLATE! :D

Great work so far--please post more soon as you can, Card! :)

[Dr. Jeckyll]

Well, actually it's 03:21 at this very moment, but it was so worth it! I don't need much sleep anyway... Besides I've gotta take advantage of not being dragged out of my bed by some sergeant at 6 in the morning ;) I loved your update and how Clark really wants to know her better. But as aj said...

WE WANT SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE :D

[d.g225]

once again card you amaze me !!! from one clana fan to anuther thank you! keep up the good work and update soon!!!!

[IluvCLANA]

that was beautiful, wow, just, wow, im afraid that im out using the words 'awesome' and 'amazing' so i wont say it.....
but and i cant wait for the rest of the date......and wowoowowowoowowowowoowowowowwowowowoowowow
and
!!!!SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE!!!!

i see your on....... are you working on another update? i hope so....bc we want SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE SNUGGLE

*sees cards not on anymore*

NVM

*sees cards back on*

what the???

o well, ummm...... hopefully your updating?

[Cardinal]

No chance of another update tonight, IluvCLANA. One 12,000 character update per day is enough.

[IluvCLANA]

ok, o well, ill be waiting for the next one!:D

[ajfinn]

Just a quick reminder:

Snnnnnnnnnnnnnuuuuuugggggggglllllllleeeeeeeeeeeee :D

[IluvCLANA]

lol

and heres another one:
SSSSSNNNNNNNNUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGLLLLLLLLEEEEE EEEEEEEEEE :D

[iloveit]

great update!love it! ppms!

[Cardinal]

They can't snuggle in the truck while it's moving or else Clark will wreck the truck like Steve Martin did in "Fatherhood."

They can't snuggle in the restaurant, that kind of public display wouldn't work for either character.

There may, or may not, be something after dinner and before going home. They may get in some quality "snuggling" time then, if that after dinner time even happens.

They definitely won't snuggle when he takes her home, though Clark may work up the nerve for a kiss...or he may chicken out. Who knows? I don't and I'm the one writing this fic. :p :p :p

[IluvCLANA]

:(