Miss Lonely Hearts [Archive] - KSiteTV Television & Movie Forums

Cardinal

08-18-2006, 10:09 AM

Prologue

Eighth grade. The first day of school. Schedules and locker assignments had been handed out the week before, but Clark still approached this day with some nervousness. He knew who his teachers were, but not what they would be like. And along with all of the anxieties that were common at the beginning of a school year, was one special anxiety of his very own…Lana Lang.

Every year he faced the contradiction of both wanting Lana to be in his class and wanting her to not be in his class. If she was in his class, Clark could look forward to a full nine months of seeing her every day. On the other hand, there was always the chance he might have to actually talk to her and that always ended in disaster. He got sick just by coming within a few feet of Lana, and being seated next to her, which had happened a few times in in the past, made things worse. Clark didn't think he could come up with another lame excuse to have a teacher move him away from Lana. Only, being in junior high, his problem was multiplied by six. Six classes, six chances to deal with his humiliating reaction to the girl he was sure he was in love with.

Clark headed out the kitchen door, rushing to make sure he didn’t miss the bus. Once on the bus, he quickly sat in a seat next to Pete in the back, and prayed for this most agonizing of days to be over. The best friends compared their schedules and found to their delight that they shared three classes, including homeroom, which was English.

Clark was so grateful that Lana never rode the bus. He would be a wreck if he had to worry about tripping in the middle of the aisle just because she was in a seat nearby. She was scheduled to be on their bus route, but Lana’s aunt always drove her to school on the way to work at her flower shop. After school, Lana was usually busy with cheerleading or some other activity, so she was almost never on the bus then either.

Once they reached school, Clark and Pete split up to go to their respective lockers where they dropped off their supplies of extra paper and pens. They met up again just outside their classroom, walked in together, and took a pair of seats in the back of the room at Pete’s insistence.

Clark quickly scanned the half-filled room, and was at once both disappointed and relieved to see that Lana wasn’t present. As the time approached for the second bell, by which time everyone had to be in class, the room was almost full, and still no sign of Lana. He had just about decided that she was not in this class when, just ahead of the bell, she slipped in the door. She was always breathtakingly beautiful, and today she was wearing a red and yellow Smallville Junior High cheerleading uniform, which seemed to make Clark’s heart pound faster all by itself.

Pete reached over and nudged Clark, just to make sure he had seen Lana. As if I could miss her, Clark thought. Pete then went on to say, quietly, “Hey, Clark. I heard from some people I know that Lana dumped Brad Miller over the summer. She’s a free agent again.”

Lana saw that most of the seats were already taken, but she spotted a couple in the back. When she saw who one of the empty seats was next to, she took a deep breath and decided to try with Clark Kent once again.

Clark quickly realized that the only open seats were in the back row, so he tried to steel himself, absolutely determined to not get sick this time. Just as he feared, Lana walked down his row, her heavily pleated skirt bouncing in rhythm with her steps, and her legs extending from the skirt like roses from a vase: slender and beautiful.

Pete was keeping an eye on Clark as Lana moved closer because he knew there might not be any better entertainment all day long than watching his best friend make a fool of himself.

Trying to keep from staring, Clark shifted his gaze to her face and was caught like a deer in headlights by her hazel eyes and luminous smile. He found himself returning her smile automatically, but when she got close, what he feared most happened again. His muscles began to spasm and he felt horribly sick to his stomach. How can I be allergic to a girl? Clark wondered. Am I so scared of her that I can’t be near her? What kind of chicken am I?

He tried desperately to hold on to his smile, but it had changed from warm and engaging to seriously strained by the time Lana walked up to him and said, in a soft voice, “Hi, Clark.”

“Hi…Lana,” he managed to gasp from between clenched teeth. His fingers were beginning to cramp now because she was standing so close to him that he could touch her. When she moved to her seat, Clark’s pain eased just a bit, but sweat had broken out on his forehead and he was holding on to the edge of his desk with a death grip to keep himself upright.

The teacher, Miss Eldridge, stepped to the lectern which was sitting on the folding table next to her desk and said, “Welcome to eighth grade English. I’m Miss Eldridge. If that’s not what your schedule says for first hour, you’re in the wrong room.” When no one left, she continued, saying, “In an attempt at learning your names and faces, I’ve made a seating chart…”

Clark breathed a deep sigh of relief upon hearing that. Just as Miss Eldridge began organizing the move, an office worker came into the room and handed her a note.

Reading it, Miss Eldridge then looked up and said, “Clark Kent? You are to go to the principal’s office immediately. It says here to take your belongings with you, so I assume you will be gone for the rest of the period. One of your friends can tell you where your new seat is located and I’ll get you your textbook tomorrow.”

The rest of the class ooohed at Clark, teasing him for being sent to the office on the first day of class. No one who knew him seriously believed he was in trouble, but even the slight possibility was fun.

As Clark fumbled for his backpack, Lana reached across the narrow aisle and touched him on the forearm. Surprised by her touch, Clark just about fell out of his seat and his pain level increased, much to his chagrin.

“I’ll tell you where you sit, Clark,” Lana said.

“Thanks, Lana,” he managed to mumble before staggering away from his seat. That caused a wave of muffled laughing and snickering from the other students. Once Clark got away from Lana, his strength and coordination returned and he made a shamefaced exit from the classroom.

Trudging down the hallway, Clark wondered why he was being sent to the office. He knew he had not done anything thatshould get him in trouble, but if the principal saw things differently, he would be in even more trouble when he got home. His parents were sticklers when it came to him not getting noticed, and he supposed they had good reason to be. If his secret abilities were ever discovered, his life as he knew it would come to a crashing end. So it was with some apprehension that he entered the principal’s office at Smallville Junior High.

As he was closing the door, he heard a small gasp just before Principal Guillot said, “Mr. Kent! I’d like you to meet our newest student here at Smallville Junior High, Chloe Sullivan. Chloe, I’d like you to meet Clark Kent.”

Clark offered his hand for a shake, but Chloe was oblivious. Her eyes were wide open and so was her mouth as the most beautiful guy she had ever seen flashed her a smile and said, “Hi.”

When the new girl did not respond, Clark waved a hand in front of her eyes, which snapped her out of her trance. Her porcelain skin flushed an alarming shade of red as she realized the thoughts she had just been having. A quick look at the lady principal, who was desperately trying to hide a smile behind her hand, confirmed to Chloe that she had been telegraphing her thoughts. Her blush threatened to deepen to purple when she considered what this guy must be thinking of her.

For the life of her, she could not remember his name, even though she was sure that Principal Guillot must have told her. “What was your name again?” Chloe asked with a squeak as she finally took Clark’s hand and shook it.

“I’m Clark…Clark Kent.”

There was no hint of smugness or superiority from him which surprised Chloe since she had made a fool of herself when he walked in. The only thing she felt from him was sincere kindness. Combine that with his looks and the fact that even his voice was sexy and Chloe was a goner…and she knew it.

Not sure if she had already been introduced, Chloe said, “Hi, I’m Chloe, but you can call me anytime.” Chloe’s face was on the verge of exploding after she realized what she had just said. Clark, however, thought she was just being funny and laughed his head off.

Chloe thought that maybe she should be offended that he was laughing at her, but all she could think about was what it must be like to kiss those plush lips of his.

Principal Guillot stepped in at this moment to try to rescue her new student before she said anything else that might help Clark figure out what was going on. “What I called you here for, Clark, is for you to give Chloe a quick tour of the school before the end of first period. I want you to support her for the first few days since you two have four classes together. Can you do that for me?”

Relieved that he was not in trouble, Clark happily agreed, and led Chloe out of the office. She risked a look at the principal as she left, and was not happy to see a knowing smile.

Stunned to have discovered her first mad crush, and embarrassed that the principal had figured it out already, Chloe thought, Gaaah! This can’t be happening to me. I’ve always liked boys, but never one boy…and if the principal can pick it up in seconds, then…then…

Clark’s long strides combined with Chloe’s inattention while she was being upset with herself had allowed him to open a sizeable gap between them. When he noticed, he stopped and flashed her another of his brilliant smiles as he waited for her to catch up.

Clark’s smile derailed Chloe’s train of thought in mid-sentence, …oh…my…gosh. That smile should be a registered weapon. Chloe tried to bury her thoughts as she hurried to catch up. “Hey, Clark,” she said. “Where can I buy a copy of the Daily Planet around here? I need to be able to keep in touch with civilization while I’m marooned here in the middle of Nowhere.”

“The middle of Nowhere?” Clark asked with pretended irritation. “Not quite. But you are close enough that you can get directions to the middle of Nowhere from any gas station in town.”

Chloe rolled her eyes at that, but was secretly pleased that Clark had a sense of humor to go along with his stunning good looks. “Now…about the paper?”

“I’m not sure, Chloe,” Clark replied as he shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t read the Planet, so I don’t know. My best guess would be to try the closest convenience store. Otherwise, try The Bookworm.”

“Let me guess…it’s a bookstore.”

“Yeah, it’s on Main Street, next to the only coffee shop in town, called The Beanery.”

Shoving his hands in his pockets, Clark said, “I guess we can start the tour with your locker and move on through your class schedule.” He looked at his watch. “We only have thirty minutes left.”

Chloe was already shaking her head no. “I want to start the tour by finding the room where the school newspaper is put together.” Seeing Clark’s surprised look, she asked, “You do have a school newspaper here, don’t you?”

Given Chloe’s quirks, the tour ended outside her first hour class, which happened to be his first hour class, English. Clark opened the door and ushered Chloe inside. Miss Eldridge turned and smiled to see Clark with what had to be the new student who had been added to her class roster first thing this morning.

“Clark?” Miss Eldridge asked, “why don’t you introduce our new student to the rest of the class?”

Clark spoke up so everyone could hear him and said, “This is Chloe Sullivan. She just moved here from Metropolis.”

Miss Eldridge turned to the class and said, “Class, let’s do our best to welcome Chloe, and get to know her.”

Far from being a shrinking violet, Chloe piped up and said, “Oh, they’ll get to know me whether they want to or not.”

Just then, the bell rang to end first period. As most of the students rushed by, two stayed behind: Lana and Pete. Pete hung back while Lana approached them. First, Lana told Clark that he was sitting in the front seat immediately next to the door, then, she held out her hand to the new girl and introduced herself.

“Hi, Chloe,” Lana said, “I’m Lana Lang.”

“Hi, Lana,” Chloe replied. “I’m Chloe Sullivan, it’s good to meet someone new.”

Clark had begun feeling sick the minute Lana approached, so he edged away from her as soon as she told him his seat location. While the girls chatted briefly, Clark talked to Pete.

“Who’s the new girl, Clark?” Pete asked.

“Weren’t you listening?” Clark replied. “I introduced her just a few seconds ago.”

“Yeah but I was preoccupied with taking in the view…damn, she’s hot.”

Clark rolled his eyes and said, “Pete, it’s hard to take you seriously, because you say that about half the girls in this school. Maybe you should learn to pick and choose a bit better.”

“Hey, just because you’re stuck on one girl,” Pete said as he nodded at Lana, “doesn’t mean I have to be.”

By the end of the day, Lana was thoroughly frustrated in her attempts at getting to know Clark better. They had two other classes together, and in each, he had pulled the same childish stunt that he had been pulling since kindergarten. She had thought he might have grown out of it by now, but no such luck. His last ‘illness’ had almost made her cry in sixth hour. She knew he was a nice guy, but she couldn't figure out what his problem was. With nowhere else to turn, she waylaid Pete after school and pulled him into a deserted classroom to find out from Clark’s best friend.

“Pete,” Lana asked as she closed the door to the empty classroom, “could you help me with something?”

Surprised to be the focus of attention for one of SJH’s most beautiful girls, Pete was more than happy to try. “Sure, Lana, what’s up?”

Lana dry washed her hands as she searched for the right way to ask. Pete spent his time admiring her beauty as she paced back and forth. Finally, she stopped pacing and settled her eyes on Pete as she said, “Pete, I’ve known you since kindergarten, and for as long as I’ve known you, you have been best friends with Clark, so maybe you can tell me why he doesn’t like me.”

Pete almost choked on his gum. “Lana, you’ve got it way wrong. You just make Clark nervous, and the closer you get to him, the more nervous he gets.”

“Why do I make him nervous?” Lana asked.

Pete laughed. “That’s all I’m gonna say,” he said, not wanting to give too much away. Clark would kill him. “I gotta go, or I’ll miss the bus.”

“Bye, Pete,” Lana said, “and thanks.”

Lana thought about what Pete had said. She felt much better knowing that Clark didn’t dislike her, but she was confused about how she could be making him nervous. This was something totally new for her, and she didn’t know how to handle it.

Meanwhile, Clark and Chloe were headed to the bus lane. Chloe was pleased to learn that Clark and his friend Pete were on the same bus route that she was on. It turned out that she lived within a few miles of both of them. That discovery led to a discussion of where they lived. When Chloe learned that Clark lived on an actual farm, she insisted that he invite her over. Visions of the movie Witness danced through her head, and she wanted to see what a farm was like. Plus, it would allow her to spend more time with Clark.

During the day, Clark and Chloe had spent a lot of time together, between the four classes they shared and Clark’s duties as her mentor. She had become more convinced with each passing moment that Clark was ideal for her, and had given up trying to fight the feeling by lunch time, but there was one fly in her ointment.

Three of the classes she shared with Clark were also shared with Lana. Chloe had seen enough of the way he looked at Lana to know that he liked her a lot, whether the self-absorbed cheerleader knew it or not. After spending the morning being angry with herself for falling for a guy she did not even know, Chloe had been doubly upset in the afternoon to learn his heart was already taken. Still, she was determined to be his friend. He was so nice and so much fun to be around, that she wanted him in her life…and if he happened to get over his infatuation with Lana, she would be in position to pick up the pieces. So when he agreed to have her over, she readily accepted.

They left the bus at the mailbox and Clark carried in the day’s mail. Setting it on the kitchen table for his mother to find, Clark gave Chloe a quick tour of the house and outbuildings, ending in the barn loft.

Looking at the afternoon sunlight sparkling in his blue-green eyes as they looked down at her, Chloe knew the time was not yet right for her and Clark, but there was one thing she had to do. She pulled Clark’s face down to hers and kissed him full on those luscious lips of his. I’ve been wanting to do that all day, Chloe thought.

“I know you’ve been thinking about doing that all day,” Chloe said. “So I thought we’d get it out of the way and be friends.”

It was Clark’s first very kiss, something he had always assumed would happen with Lana, and he was flabbergasted. Still, he held on to the last word Chloe said, and thought it sounded fine. Friends.

Dr.Willowbrook

08-18-2006, 11:50 AM

Wow, nice start Cardinal! I've been waiting for someone to do a fic from this time period, and I'm really glad you're the one doing it! I like how you're staying true to cannon in the prologue, and I can't wait to see what you have in store. I always wondered what could have happened right after Drone, with Clark and Lana seeming to get really close before all the drama with his secret kicked in.

maru11

08-18-2006, 12:34 PM

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

clana1fan4ever

08-18-2006, 02:59 PM

That was Great!!

superman_lives_on

08-18-2006, 03:17 PM

Well now, this is VERY promising. But...Lana, self-absorbed? Something doesn't sound right there. Then again, maybe Chloe's just biased...

I do wonder what to make of the title...

justsuper

08-18-2006, 04:54 PM

I am so excited!!! A new fic from Cardinal! I love the approach you are taking with this - I will be on the lookout for more. PPMS!

SVsleuth

08-18-2006, 09:04 PM

Great start, Card. Can't wait to find out how things go with Clark, Chloe & Lana. It was fun to have someone actually write that loft scene with Chloe that is mentioned on the show. And funny to see how Clark and Pete both believe Clark's illness is just due to him being nervous around Lana. Lana's talk with Pete was cute, too. Poor Pete, trying so hard not to betray Clark. I hope Lana gets it now. Wonder when she'll take off the necklace.

And when we'll find out if there's a meaning to the title.... ;)

PPMS!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

08-18-2006, 09:16 PM

kool i would like some clana though

happycamper

08-18-2006, 10:01 PM

Very nice Card.

I always wondered why no one had written this particular story. Great luck to you in the attempt.

Everyone seems so young and innocent (except maybe for Pete :lol: ). I hope Lana and Clark can get together without too much pain (or did you intend to keep them separate here per the show)?

Just wanted to say that I trust we won't see any of your 'free love' predilections in this story. :lol:

Nemu

08-19-2006, 12:56 AM

Well this is a good prologue...

I wonder what your take on stuff happening during the Drone-Crush time frame will be...

PPMS :D

maitriniazngurl

08-19-2006, 04:06 PM

WOW!!

Awesome job Card!! :)

I really like how your coming back to their much younger days! It's really cool!! I'm really going to enjoy this fic!! :D

maru11

08-19-2006, 06:08 PM

yeah me too!!!!

clark&lanafan06

08-19-2006, 08:45 PM

Great Start ! Can't wait for more . PPMS !!!!!!

closetfan

08-20-2006, 01:38 AM

woo hoo finally a fic about the early years....

cant wait for another update

emsfan

08-20-2006, 10:35 AM

wow thats awesome great update!!!!!!

maru11

08-20-2006, 05:09 PM

can´t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cardinal

08-21-2006, 08:40 PM

Chapter 1 - A New Job

Clark slammed and locked his locker door, happy to be done with one more day of school. Hefting his backpack, he headed for The Torch to see if Chloe needed any help.

Clark wasn’t what you would call a regular reporter for The Torch, instead he was more like Chloe’s personal assistant. He wrote the school lunch menu each week and helped edit her copy. If someone was sick, he pitched in to help cover that person’s responsibilities...and so it was this day.

Clark strolled into the office and took a quick glance at the Wall of Weird to see if there was anything new. Here in Smallville, you never knew when the next meteor freak would pop up.

Chloe heard Clark enter the room and looked up from the monitor on her desktop computer. Seeing the boy she had had a crush on for the last year and a half made her smile. Her smile was as involuntary as it was genuine, because no one had the ability to brighten her day like Clark Kent. She reluctantly pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, as she had a message to relay to Clark from the faculty sponsor of The Torch, who happened to be Principal Kwan himself.

“Hey, Chloe,” Clark said. “Uncover any corruption scandals today?”

“Ha-ha!” Chloe replied. “Very funny, Clark. Very funny. Just because the news on campus isn't earth-shattering doesn‘t mean it isn‘t important. I‘ll have you know I‘m finishing my article on Sasha’s breakdown.” Chancing a glance Clark’s way, she said, “It’s strange, Clark, there were four candidates in that election, and only you came out unscathed.” As Clark settled into a seat next to hers, Chloe picked up an official-looking document from the school office. “Clark, Principal Kwan needs to see you in his office right away.”

“What?”

Brandishing the document, Chloe said, “Don’t ask me, ask Principal Kwan. His note says it’s urgent and it’s related to the paper, so you’re not in trouble.” But what worries me, Chloe wondered, is why he won’t tell me what’s going on.

Clark was as curious as Chloe as he headed toward the office. He wasn’t worried about being in trouble. He and Principal Kwan had been on pretty good terms ever since he pulled Kwan out of his burning car. The only hiccup had been when Kwan was forced to give him detention for swimming during school hours the day Lana was affected by the Nicodemus flower. Even that hadn’t been too bad as Kwan had let him go after half an hour. Still, being called to the office to go over something about the paper was surprising.

When he got there, Kwan’s secretary sent him right on in. Kwan immediately pointed Clark to a seat and said, “Ah, Mr. Kent, thank you for coming.”

“My pleasure, Principal Kwan. How can I help you today?”

“I have a job at The Torch that has just opened up, as the previous holder of this position just moved to St. Louis. Having given this some thought, I’d like you to fill the position for the rest of the year, Clark. I know you're not the most obvious candidate for this sort of job, but you’re kind and conscientious.”

“Who moved, Principal Kwan? I know pretty much everyone in The Torch and I haven’t heard about anyone being gone.”

“Well, I don’t see any harm in telling you now since she’s gone for good. Her name is Maria Snyder.”

Clark’s forehead furrowed in thought as he tried to remember who Maria was. He finally had to admit that he had no idea who she was, and he said so to Principal Kwan, who waved off Clark’s embarrassment and said, “You aren’t supposed to know who she is, Clark. She’s two years ahead of you in school, so you’ve never had her in a class and I’ve purposely told her to keep a low profile. She never went to The Torch. Instead, she came here to pick up her ‘assignments,’ and she sent her columns to me by e-mail. I then copied the text of the e-mail into a new e-mail and sent it on to Miss Sullivan to be placed in The Torch.”

“Sounds like a hush-hush kind of job,” Clark said. Intrigued, he agreed to do it. “Sign me up, Principal Kwan, this sounds like fun.”

Now that Clark had committed himself, Principal Kwan picked a bright pink folder decorated with red, heart-shaped stickers out of a pile on his desk. He handed it to his unsuspecting victim and said, “I’m glad you feel that way, Clark. Because, for the rest of the year, you’re writing the ‘Ask Miss Lonely Hearts’ column.”

When Clark heard that, he dropped the folder like it was a hot rock. While he was kneeling on the ground, sweeping the scattered papers back into the folder, Clark said, “No way, no chance. I can’t be ‘Miss Lonely Hearts. I’m not even a girl.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Principal Kwan replied as Clark stood up, placed the folder on the desk, and sat back down. “Your teachers consider you to be one of the most sensitive people they know, male or female. You’ll be perfect. Besides, you promised you’d do it already.”

“Only because you tricked me.”

“I had to trick you,” Principal Kwan said unapologetically. “The last seven candidates I asked all said no.”

“Well, how can I write a romance column when I can’t even get a date? Wouldn’t it help if I had some experience?”

“Whether you’ve been on zero dates or one hundred dates doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re kind and you write well. Most of the people who write are girls. Sometimes they just want someone to listen to their problems, other times they’re so emotionally involved in what’s going on, that they just need someone with a little perspective to straighten them out a bit.”

“But…but…”

“No buts, Clark,” Principal Kwan said as he handed him the folder again. “The job’s yours.”

“But…what if I give advice that turns out poorly? Some angry girl or her boyfriend might come looking for me.”

“That’s why Maria was anonymous around The Torch. Until today, the only person that knew she was ‘Miss Lonely Hearts’ was me. Even Miss Sullivan was in the dark. I’m also the only one that will know about you.” Looking to close the sale, Principal Kwan went to his big guns, and appealed to Clark’s need to help people. “If I don’t get you to help me, I’m stuck. You’re my last hope.”

Just as the principal hoped, Clark’s inability to turn down someone in need tipped the balance and he agreed, on one condition: Kwan’s oath that no one would ever find out about this, not for any reason.

Rubbing his hands together, Kwan said, “Okay. What you need to know is that you pick a couple of letters, whichever ones you like the best, and answer them in a succinct manner. There’s not a lot of space devoted to this, so don’t go writing “War and Peace” every time you reply. Also, you have to turn in the article on Thursday afternoon so I can get it to Miss Sullivan in time for the weekly issue of The Torch. Next, don't use real names. If someone uses what they claim is their real name, change it to something like ‘Anxious in Algebra.’ That way the school doesn’t get sued when some student writes a fake letter to embarrass an ex-girlfriend. Got all that? Good! Get going. Your first column is due in two days.”

Clark stuffed the folder deep into his backpack and said, “I can’t believe it. I’m an actual newspaper columnist and I don’t dare tell a soul.” As he made his way out of the Principal’s office, Clark looked back over his shoulder and said, “I don’t mind helping out once in a while, but you owe me for this one, Principal Kwan.”

LetMeGo

08-21-2006, 08:48 PM

1st :D

:rotfl: That is absolutely priceless!! You’re a genius Card! I can’t wait to see where this will go… it looks like it’ll be a fun read.

PPMS!

SVsleuth

08-21-2006, 08:52 PM

2nd - Oh, this is going to be a FUN fic! :D I wonder if Clark will be able to keep Kwan's deadlines? Seems he has a penchant for being late.

And I wonder if Chloe will badger Clark to tell her what Kwan wanted? Then again, what's one more secret being kept by Clark Kent?

Can't wait for Clark to choose and reply to some letters. This should get interesting.

PPMS!

justsuper

08-21-2006, 08:53 PM

X-CELL-ENT!! I LUUUUUVVVVV ITTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!! Way 2 funny! 2 good to B true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job Cardinal!!!! You made my day. PPMS!

ajfinn

08-21-2006, 09:10 PM

Tee hee hee ...... yes, Clark is the PERFECT candidate for all things in the romance category. Would you please have him sign his advice as The Big Dumb Alien? Rather than Miss Lonely Hearts. :D

I'm SO looking forward to this fun fic :)

Nemu

08-21-2006, 09:17 PM

That was good! and funny... Poor Clark.. but... it is true that he does fit the job...

PPMS :D

clark&lanafan06

08-21-2006, 10:21 PM

Great update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

happycamper

08-22-2006, 01:01 AM

Too funny, card. Here I had been wondering what the title could possibly signify about your story. Clark's new alter ego. Who'd have thought.

Looking forward to more...

closetfan

08-22-2006, 01:08 AM

i am definately gona like this

emsfan

08-22-2006, 01:10 AM

wow thats awesome great update!!!!!!

deanyouk

08-22-2006, 06:36 AM

Brilliant new story Cardinal

Venezuelan Lana

08-22-2006, 10:23 AM

great story Card!!! you're such a talented writer! I can't wait to see what happens next!!! PPMS

NYC300Z

08-22-2006, 08:30 PM

How did I not know about this story sooner? Card why did u hide it from me lol. Oh well Great to have another story by Card on the board! This one sounds like it will be fun!

PPMS!

C.A.chick

08-25-2006, 06:10 PM

Card? Hello? Anyone home? Great start! I'm liking it already! Sounds real good.
Did you know this was on the SECOND page? Crazy..... I mean seriously... soooo when are getting the next installment? I'm eagerly awaiting an update!

maitriniazngurl

08-25-2006, 07:01 PM

Awesome update!! This is hilarious and a real great fic to relax yourself.

Can't wait to see how is first letters. :D :D

PPMS!!

justsuper

08-25-2006, 07:39 PM

Oh, I am definitely getting lonely for more Miss Lonely Hearts - what an excellent premise for a fic - I can hardly wait for more. And you are so talented in developing all the aspects - so much fun, Cardinal! PPMS!!

Clana227

08-25-2006, 09:01 PM

This is the best. keep going as soon as possible

buddy232

08-25-2006, 09:18 PM

Great Story!

Please keep updating!

clana4ev3r

08-25-2006, 11:27 PM

Update Card! I am not leaving my seat until you update. :D

Cardinal

08-25-2006, 11:29 PM

Originally posted by clana4ev3r
Update Card! I am not leaving my seat until you update. :D

Man is your butt going to be sore! I'm working on the next update, but it won't be up before tomorrow night at the earliest. :(

MOOman0618

08-26-2006, 12:18 AM

This should be a very fun fic!! Can't wait for the next installment!!

C.A.chick

08-27-2006, 11:59 AM

:confused: Second page? That's depressing. :p . Hope to see an update soon Card! I'm already liking this story.

emsfan

08-27-2006, 01:03 PM

update please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

maitriniazngurl

08-27-2006, 05:47 PM

Card this story is getting a lot of attention because it's so inncent and Awesome!!

So PPMS!!

Cardinal

08-29-2006, 08:54 AM

Chapter 2 - First Letters

Clark couldn’t believe this had happened to him. Me, Miss Lonely Hearts. What was Kwan thinking, Clark wondered, and why did I just agree to do it? All he could think of was getting home so he could take a look at his new burden, but his feet were on autopilot and they had taken him back to The Torch.

“Hi, Clark,” Chloe chirped as he wandered into the room and set his backpack on the desk next to hers. “What did our fearless leader want with you?”

Rattled out of his walking coma by Chloe’s question, Clark said, unconvincingly, “Oh…nothing.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, feeling almost insulted that he felt she was going to believe that one. Clark thought about coming clean, but then he thought about the pink folder in his backpack and the ridicule he would receive if anyone found out, and he decided to keep it a secret. “Sorry, Chloe, Kwan told me it was a secret.”

“Oh, come on, Clark,” Chloe pleaded.

“Sorry, Chloe, nothin’ doin’.” Looking over her shoulder at the screen of her desktop computer, Clark changed the subject by asking what she was working on.

“Duh?” Chloe snorted. “It’s Tuesday. What does that always mean?”

Clark’s face twisted with pretended concentration, something that Chloe found hysterical. Finally he asked in a small voice, “Articles from last weekend’s events?”

When Chloe quit chuckling, she said, “Wow! It’s only taken you seven months to figure that out. I’d say I was impressed, but then I would be lying.”

Clark sat down at the computer next to hers and asked her to send him some articles to go over. Cutting her workload here to a manageable level was Clark’s biggest Torch-related job these days. The more articles he could review for her, the more work she could get done on piecing together a preliminary layout for the Friday paper. Clark put in an hour and a half before he felt the need to go home and do chores before dinner. Chloe groaned, but she reluctantly agreed to shut down and take him home.

After chores and a relaxed dinner of chicken and dumplings, Clark took his backpack out to the barn where he could look at the pink folder in privacy. He knew if he was going to tell anyone about this, it would be his parents, only…he hadn’t decided if he was going to tell them yet. So, off to the loft he went.

Once opened and on his desk, the folder turned out to be a slim three-ring binder. The letters themselves were grouped by which week they were received, and after checking a few back copies of The Torch, he saw that the letters on top of each week’s pile were the ones picked to be answered in the weekly column.

Clark used his super speed to reread all of the letters in the folder, along with the printed responses, in a matter of seconds. He was surprised to find that the letters that called out to him to be answered, were always on the bottom of the weekly piles.

It looked like this Maria Snyder had consistently taken the easy way out by choosing the safest letters to respond to. Clark figured, if he was going to do this, he was going to do it right, and to him, that meant trying to help the people who seemed to need it the most. I still think Kwan was smoking something when he decided I would be good at this, Clark thought, but I’ll give it my best shot.

Clark reached into the pile of current letters to pull out one in particular written by ‘Lori.’ It was typewritten, like a lot of the letters were, likely in an attempt at hiding the author’s identity. Lori’s letter said:

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

I can’t believe I’m actually writing to you, but I have no where else to turn for advice, and my love life is driving me crazy. I know my problem won’t seem like that big a deal, but it’s important to me, so I hope you’ll give it some thought.

Without getting into too much drama, here’s my problem: there are these two guys that I’m torn between.

The first one is my boyfriend, let’s call him “Will.” Will and I have been dating for a while now. He’s a few years older than me and is more mature than the slobbering boys my own age I usually have to put up with. He’s also kind (most of the time), cute, dependable, and a lot of fun to be with. I really like him. I think he’s in love with me, but I’m not sure.

Virtually everyone thinks Will is the perfect guy for me. My friends, my family…heck, even people I don’t know at school think we’re this ‘golden couple.’ As for me, I'm not so sure. Sometimes I think I just stay with him because it makes me feel safe to have someone I can depend on.

But then there's this other guy, let's call him "Corey”. I’ve known him for years, but it was just this year that we really became friends. He’s quiet, humble, easy to talk to, puts others before himself, and he’s even cuter than Will. The more I get to know him, the more I find myself wanting to spend time with him rather than with Will. I don't know what it is about him, but I just feel drawn to him. I think Corey might like me too.

So, I guess I'm not sure of what to do. I feel at ease with Will. Things would be nice and stable with him, very safe. But, I have this feeling that if I take a risk with Corey, that things could be much more than good, maybe even great.

Should I give up something good for something that might be great?

Yours,

Lonesome Lori

She doesn’t sound too lonesome to me, Clark thought morosely. She’s got two guys to pick from, I can’t even get one girl. Of course, when you shoot for the moon like I have, sometimes you miss. So, what can I say to Lori? Also, Kwan said to keep the replies short, but he didn’t set an actual limit. I wonder if Chloe has to edit these for length?

Clark took a pencil from his desk drawer, sharpened it, and began writing on a clean sheet of paper. Writing the words by hand will slow down the writing process and give me more time to come up with the right thing to say, he thought. After many rewrites, he was happy with his final draft.

Lori,

For me, the question isn’t “which guy to choose,” instead, I’d want to know what you want out of a relationship right now.

If your big goal in a relationship is safety and security, then it sounds like Will is the right guy for you. If you really want something that might lead to love, then Corey seems to be the choice.

Only you can make this choice, however, so think carefully about what is really important to you. Once you have decided what you really want, deciding who you really want should be much easier.

Sincerely,

Miss Lonely Hearts

After rereading his final copy, he checked his watch and saw that a lot more time had passed than he would have thought. I’ll have to do the second letter tomorrow, I need to get my homework done now.

The letter he chose the next day was from “Cinderella,” and it went like this:

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

My name is Cinderella and I have a problem. There’s this guy, called Prince Charming, that I have been interested in ever since the day I met him. We’re already good friends, but I want more.

The problem is that Prince Charming has a girl that he is stuck on. Her name is Snow White. Snow White already has a boyfriend, but I can’t get Prince Charming to take his eyes off of her long enough to give me a chance.

All I want is an opportunity to see if we can make this work. What can I do?

Waiting for the glass slipper,

Cinderella

Clark had an easier time with this letter, since he had a lot of experience being on the outside looking in. He once again pulled a pencil out of his desk as he sat down to write.

Dear Cinderella,

As far as I’m concerned, if you want to get Prince Charming’s attention, you need to arrange some time to be alone with him. A full day someplace where thoughts of Snow White will be left far behind. That way, you’ll have a chance to check his interest in you.

If you see enough good signs to think he might like you the way you want him to, then the next step is to ask him out. I know most girls want the guy to ask them out, but if you wait for this Prince Charming to do the asking, you could be waiting a long time.

Sincerely,

Miss Lonely Hearts

By the time the paper came out Friday afternoon, Clark had already had a good day, since his history teacher had given his class a special project, to be worked on in pairs, and had assigned the pairs alphabetically, which put him together with Lana. They had already made plans to meet at the Talon next week to work on the project together. Clark strolled into The Torch, quickly reading his column to see if Chloe had needed to edit anything. Chloe, as always, was already at her computer working on an idea for next week’s edition.

Seeing Clark walk in, Chloe perked up and said, “Hey, Clark, there’s a student journalism convention in Metropolis two weeks from tomorrow. Do you want to go with me?”

“Sure, Chloe,” Clark said as he slid into his usual chair at her side, “that’d be great.”

“Oh,” Chloe said, “could you sign us up, Clark? If they see my name on the application after what happened last year, we’ll never get registered.”

Lifting the blank application form out of her hand and placing it into his backpack, Clark smiled and said, “No problem, Chloe.” Taking another look at his copy of the latest edition of The Torch, Clark asked, “So, Chloe, how’d this week’s edition turn out? What grade do you give it?”

I’ll let you know in two weeks after the student journalism conference, Chloe thought. “Right now,” she said, “I’d say we get a ‘B’ for this issue.” But if Miss Lonely Hearts’ advice pans out, it could be an ‘A+.’

deanyouk

08-29-2006, 09:03 AM

1st

haha I can imagine Clark now...... "wha!!!!" heh

great update Cardinal :)

SVsleuth

08-29-2006, 09:05 AM

2nd - That was great, Card. This is so much fun. You did a great job with the letters. Love the Cinderella/Prince charming letter from Chloe. Cool. Chloe took Miss Lonely Hearts' advice right away, and Clark is oblivious. I wonder how "Lori" wil respond to the advice she received from Miss Lonely Hearts. ;) PPMS!

emsfan

08-29-2006, 09:11 AM

This is really fantastac story!!!! I love it more and more!!! Outstanding performance!!! WoW! I can't wait for the next update!!!:)

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

08-29-2006, 09:22 AM

this is really great lana and chloe sending letters to clark..lmao that is funny

Venezuelan Lana

08-29-2006, 10:19 AM

this is awesome!! you're a great, great writer!!! PPMS!!!

akuma

08-29-2006, 11:35 AM

Of course Clark picks the letter sent by Lana and then the one sent by Chloe lol. Great job, cant wait for more!

happycamper

08-29-2006, 04:48 PM

Great Job Card!

I'm already amused beyond belief at the thought of all the trouble that is about to erupt.

What a coincidence that Clark just happened to answer letters from the two most important young women in his life. :lol:

The only problem I see coming up immediately is that there should be a lot of people recognizing the original writers, especially the one from ‘Lonesome Lori.’ That should add another layer of amusement at what happens when both writers take him up on his advice (I assume).

Poor Clark, he only thought he had problems when he was lonely himself. How much worse is it going to be when that situation suddenly ends! :lol:

:D :D

clark&lanafan06

08-29-2006, 05:13 PM

Great Update !!!!!! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!

maitriniazngurl

08-29-2006, 06:18 PM

Awesome updates Card!!

Really interesting and the fact that they were both from Chloe and Lana... he seems to be giving the advice for them to make a move for him without knowing!

I really like "Lori" letter... it's really funny.. "Will", "Corey", and the replys was really good!!

NYC300Z

08-29-2006, 06:39 PM

oh man I'm pretty sure I know what Clark just did and he doesn't lol. This could be very funny or very set up for hard times ahead. I guess we'll see!;)

PPMS!

buddy232

08-29-2006, 07:30 PM

5th - Lana and Chloe both sending letters is funny!

Great story and updates!

Please continue!

ajfinn

08-29-2006, 11:29 PM

oh, lovely update, Card :)

It's SO fun to revisit the early days of Smallville. It makes me want to watch the first 2 seasons again .... which is probably the only Smallville I'll ever watch again.

Any whoooooo ........ love this new fic. And may I say something that will make everyone mad at me??? I like the smaller (than normal) updates from you. It's easier for me to keep up that way. But that will only be nice if you update frequently :)

Just thought I'd state my preference, which will surely get shot down by your many readers who love very LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG updates :) I'm just less intimidated by a story if I know I can read the update in 5-10 minutes :D

Love it! PPMS!!!!!!!!!

MOOman0618

08-30-2006, 06:47 AM

This fic is going to be so much fun Card!...I mean it already is, and we have barely gotten started.

Clark can really dish out the good advice...too bad he never seems to use any of that smarts for his own problems.

I can't wait for more!! And hopefully more letters from 'Lori' and 'Cinderella'

One question though...are you taking this in a different direction than how the show worked out or are you just going to play more of a behind the scenes sort of thing...or would you rather not say? :)

Clana227

08-30-2006, 02:48 PM

Hey this is great keep going.

emsfan

08-30-2006, 03:45 PM

update please!!!!!!!!!!

LetMeGo

08-30-2006, 05:23 PM

Poor Clark, he doesn't even know what he's done! :lol: Can't wait to see him deal with the consequences! PPMS! :)

mysteryman1

08-31-2006, 01:04 AM

Update Soon.

Nemu

08-31-2006, 03:43 AM

Omg! I was like man that first letter is from Lana... and then when i read the second letter... What a way to start... by 'helping' both girls in his life to 'win his heart' lol

Very good Card...

PPMS!!

mysteryman1

09-02-2006, 10:57 PM

Update Soon.

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-03-2006, 07:34 AM

yea...soon

emsfan

09-03-2006, 08:42 AM

update please:)

Iowanmom

09-03-2006, 02:40 PM

Well, I finally made it here to read the Prologue, Cardinal. Very nice work. You continue to impress me with your ability to draw on these characters' personas and keep them true to character.

Each time Lana came close to Clark, I cringed knowing that he'd make a fool of himself, though it wasn't his fault. That damn necklace. Interesting thought filtered through my head. Most people exposed to the meteor rocks were affected some how over time. I mean look at Dr. Hamilton. Tho I realize his involvement was on a larger scale than some, Lana has had that necklace around her neck for YEARS and has had no repercussions. I find that odd, or maybe just another plot hole in the endless pit of plot holes riddling this show.

Anyway, I must admit that in the beginning, I wished for Clark to finally be able to call Lana his simply because he'd longed for it for so long. I mean they looked so beautiful together, yet Chloe sparked my interest nearly from the beginning as well...

Your portrayal of Chloe and this place in time with the couple is awesome. I loved the banter between them and Chloe's thoughts were right on and so funny to witness.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I did get the chance to finally read your prologue and will heed your warning about this being a 'VERY' Clana fic. I understand. :)

Wonderful job, Cardinal. And thank you for being so kind and true to Chloe. You ROCK!!! :D

justsuper

09-04-2006, 02:10 PM

This is fantastic, Cardinal! Well done in every way! PPMS!

Clana227

09-04-2006, 08:31 PM

Hey Cardinal are u going to update, I love this fic update very soon please

Cardinal

09-04-2006, 09:26 PM

This story is next maybe tomorrow, but more likely on Wednesday.

NYC300Z

09-04-2006, 09:29 PM

Good News!;)

emsfan

09-05-2006, 10:56 AM

hey! thats great!:)

that girl

09-05-2006, 01:18 PM

I just read what's been posted here so far and I love it! Like other people have said, it's fun to revisit the first season, it was such an innocent time.

Clark writing an advice column :rotfl: :rotfl: That has to take the cake for funniest fan fic premise I have ever come across. I love the way you're having Chloe and Lana factor into the whole thing. It's priceless. I just hope you don't make Chloe out as a
b!tch so we can get some happy Clana, 'cause that would suck. Was that a hint of future Chlete in the prolouge I saw? Here's to hoping. :)

Update soon!

Dr. Jeckyll

09-05-2006, 02:35 PM

Great start, Card. Clark as 'Miss Lonely Hearts'? Now that's hilarious! :lol: It's so much fun to revisit the early days (as others have pointed out already). You're ridiculously talented to come up with new and interesting plotlines. This one is gonna be awesome.

PPMS!

mysteryman1

09-05-2006, 10:09 PM

Update Soon.

Cardinal

09-07-2006, 02:35 AM

Chapter 3 - Crushed

Clark took a large swallow of the Talon’s best brew, then looked at his watch and decided he could afford to spend another half-hour at the Talon with Lana before he had to get home to work on the rest of his homework, including reading more letters for ‘Miss Lonely Hearts.’

Lana caught his downward glance, and asked, “What’s the matter, Clark?”

“Nothing, Lana. It’s just that recently, my workload at school has picked up, so I have to use my time a little more carefully.” Clark pointed at the books and papers spread out all over their table. “Besides this report on Abraham Lincoln, I’ve got big stuff happening in two other classes this week and I’m still helping Chloe after school with The Torch.”

“I know I’m being nosy, Clark, but how did Chloe ever rope you into that in the first place?”

“Wellllllll,” Clark said as he scratched the side of his head, “it all kind of happened this summer. Chloe had joined the newspaper staff and they all went to journalism camp at K.U. Since the previous editor of The Torch had graduated, they needed to choose a new one. All during camp, any time they had an assignment where the campers received scores, Chloe kept coming in first. She had started the camp as just another freshman newbie, but finished it by being named the new editor by Principal Kwan.”

“Okay, Clark, that tells me how Chloe got the job, but it doesn’t tell me how you got sucked into helping her.”

“Something you ought to remember from your brief time running The Torch is how short-handed you were. The problem Kwan caused by naming a freshman as editor was that a lot of upperclassmen on the staff were offended and quit. That created a shortage of experienced writers and photographers. Chloe was desperate and reached out to anyone with even the slightest interest. The first two people she leaned on for help were me and Pete since we’re her best friends...how else do you think Pete became a staff photographer as a freshman?”

“I’d wondered why most of The Torch’s workers were so young.” Lana’s brow furrowed as she thought, which was one more thing about her that Clark found irresistibly cute. “I guess Chloe’s been busier than I thought all year long.”

“Yeah, she says she’s ‘busier than a one-legged woman in a butt-kicking contest.’ And that’s why I gave in and helped her out. Chloe really needed my help until she got all of the empty positions filled and I keep doing it because she’s fun to be with.”

Feeling a pang of jealousy because she knew Chloe had feelings for Clark just like she did, Lana wondered if Clark ever referred to her as being ‘fun to be with.’ Her immediate answer to that internal question was: not likely, we don’t ever get to do anything fun together because most of my free time is spent with Whitney these days. Some days, I honestly I don’t know why Clark keeps hanging around me.

Clark was oblivious as usual and had already returned to their research materials. Picking up a large Lincoln biography, Clark pointed out a particular passage and said, “This may be something we can use.”

Lana read the passage he was pointing out. It said that whenever Lincoln was upset with an army commander during the Civil War, he would write that commander a letter explaining why he was upset and the actions that Lincoln thought the offending commander should take to fix the problem. Once Lincoln had worked out his irritation during the process of writing the letter, he would then lock the letter away and never mail it to the person it was written for.

“I like that, too,” Lana said. “Those letters were just a device for him to blow off steam. That way, he could work out his concerns without negatively affecting the commanders in the field.”

The half-hour Clark had allowed himself to stay at the Talon had stretched to almost an entire hour before he reluctantly gathered up his papers and books for the drive home. He trudged inside the house to check in with his parents. While inside, he exchanged his research materials for his backpack and headed out to the loft. Once, the backpack was open, the pink folder called out to him like a beacon.

Clark had gone by Principal Kwan’s office earlier in the day to pick up this week’s letters and had been dismayed to see that the stack of letters was thicker this week than it had been last week.

Shaking his head once again at his stupidity for ever agreeing to do this, Clark super-sped through the stack of letters, looking for two good candidates. One letter caught his eye even though it wasn’t the type to be used in the column. It was just an update from Cinderella. Her letter read:

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

Hi, it’s Cinderella again. I’m just writing you to let you know I’ve already put Phase 1 of your plan into action. I’ve arranged to spend an entire day all alone with Prince Charming.

If everything goes well, I’ll put Phase 2 into action and ask him to go to the Spring Formal with me.

Wish me luck,

Cinderella

Clark was shocked that someone was actually following his advice. That made him wonder if Lonesome Lori had made her decision yet. A second look through the new stack of letters confirmed that there was no reply from her, so he got down to the business of answering this week’s letters.

A couple of hours later, well after the Talon had closed for the evening, ‘Lonesome Lori’ was in her second-story bedroom. Lana had just come home from the Fordmans’ place after stopping by to check on Whitney once she left the Talon. She hadn’t stayed long as, like Clark, she needed to get started on homework. But when she reached her bedroom, she had padded across the darkened room on bare feet to stare out at the night and think about what Miss Lonely Hearts had written. Both elbows were resting comfortably on her window sill and her chin was cradled in both hands. Through the near-perfect dark of a rural night, she could see a tiny blotch of yellow light, coming from what she knew to be Clark’s loft.

What do I want? she wondered. Ever since my parents died, I’ve wanted permanence. People that would always be there for me. Whitney is solid in that area while Clark has…problems…and yet, when I dream at night, the boy that I dream about is almost always Clark. He awakens new possibilities in me.

Also, if I do choose Clark, can I really dump Whitney when he needs my support the most? He’s so attached to me and I wouldn’t want to cause him any more pain, but where do his needs end and where do mine begin?

As the school week drew to a close, Clark finished his second week of advice for the lovelorn, and he began to feel like he was really getting the hang of it. He and Lana finished up their project on Lincoln for history class and the last thing for students before the weekend was the annual Smallville High Career Fair. Attendance was required because the school board thought it was never too early to begin thinking about the rest of your life.

It was a waste of time for Clark. He already knew what his summer was going to be filled with: baling hay, feeding cattle, and the endless repairs that always seemed to be necessary around the farm.

As Clark aimlessly circled the room, Principal Kwan asked him to go speak to the Air Force recruiter. Not having anything better to do while he waited for Pete to finish up at the mayor’s booth, Clark agreed. It turned out that the recruiter was Danny Kwan, the principal’s son. Danny was stiff while giving his brief presentation, like this was his first day on the job. When he said, “I see you in the uniform, flying,” Clark started looking for a way out of the conversation. He hated heights and just a few months earlier, while riding horses in Burnham Woods with Lana and Chloe, he had said that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life, as long as it didn’t involve 'putting on a suit and flying.' The Air Force was a no-go on both accounts. Danny’s next line: “Have you ever considered a career in the Air Force?” drove Clark away. He said, “Um, I’ll think about it,” and hurried off.

By the time Clark made it back to the mayor’s booth, Pete was all smiles because he had just landed a summer internship with the mayor’s re-election campaign. Not only was Pete going to get to work in the field of politics, something he had just shown an interest in by getting Clark to run for class president, but it was going to get him out of spending the summer as a file clerk for his mother, Judge Abigail Ross. As they walked and talked, the winding path that the two friends took slowly led them toward the far end of the room, where the Daily Planet booth was located.

As they should have expected, Chloe was camped out at the Planet’s counter. When she finished there, she turned around and saw Clark and Pete slowly making their way toward her. Seeing Tall, Dark, and Handsome always put an extra spring in her step, and when he actually took notice of her appearance and gave her a compliment, it helped balance out the dread she was feeling about the intense competition for the few spots available in the Daily Planet summer intern program.

As the three of them circled the room, they evaluated Chloe’s options, with Clark pointing out that Lex had promised to hook her up at The Inquisitor, an idea Chloe rejected instantly, and Pete suggesting she try again next Saturday since she was going to be in Metropolis anyway. Chloe thought that idea had some merit and was about to ask Clark if he would mind spending a little of their time at the Planet when he casually brought her world crashing down around her with one innocent-sounding question: “Why are you going to Metropolis?”

All of Chloe's carefully constructed plans flew out the window and her heart sank way below her stomach, coming to a halt somewhere near her shoe tops. She came to a complete stop, which forced her companions to stop and turn to look at her. She was so crushed that it took her a couple of seconds to even say anything. Desperately hoping the trip had just slipped his mind, Chloe tried to prod his memory by saying, “We’re going to Metropolis, Clark. The student journalism conference?” That ring any bells for you, Big Guy? she thought hopefully.

The look of absolute surprise on Clark’s face told Chloe all she really needed to know, but the twin disappointments of the dashing of her romantic plans and the fact that she wouldn’t even be able to attend the conference made her want to rub it in Clark’s face.

“You were supposed to sign us up,” Chloe said, “and I know you didn’t forget, because now it’s too late to get in.”

Pete really felt for Chloe both because he had long ago figured out her interest in Clark, and because she had confided in him about the secret purpose behind the trip. Even though he had feelings of his own toward her, feelings of genuine interest that were an absolute first for a would-be player like him, he was trying to give Chloe the support she needed.

Towards Clark, Pete felt nothing but disgust. Clark wouldn’t take a step forward with Lana, which confused Pete to no end, and then, right under Clark’s nose, was a girl that Pete himself would love to date. A girl that had done everything except throw herself in front of Clark’s truck in an attempt at getting him to notice her. Once again, Captain Clueless was making a mess of everything.

For his part, Clark was embarrassed. He had promised Chloe to sign them up, and with everything going on in his life right now, it had totally slipped his mind. All that was left for him was to apologize.

“I’m really sorry,” Clark said earnestly. “I’ve been at the Talon all week with Lana working on a history project.”

As far as Chloe was concerned, mentioning Lana as the reason he forgot about her was just adding insult to injury. Where before she was just crushed, now she added resentment to what she was feeling.

“So naturally everything else becomes less important,” Chloe said bitterly as she pushed by Clark and Pete, intent on making her way out of the room before she started to cry.

“Whoa, that’s not true,” Clark said disbelievingly.

Determined to get in the last word, Chloe turned on Clark and asked, “Clark, how much time have we spent together in the last three weeks?”

“We see each other every day.”

“It was 45 minutes when my car happened to break down outside the Talon and you gave me a ride home.” Throwing in some additional heat, Chloe added, “I practically had to tear you away from Lana.”

“Don’t you think you’re being just a little unfair?”

“No! Whenever Lex and Lana are around, it’s as if the rest of us don’t exist.” Chloe turned and continued her exit from the room.

Clark stepped forward and, in a somewhat confused manner asked, “Wait. Chloe, why are you being so hypersensitive?”

This last bit of cluelessness on Clark’s part sent Chloe over the edge. She wheeled on Clark one last time and said angrily, “You know, most men are from Mars, Clark, but you’re from some distant galaxy that I’ve never even heard of!”

Having finally succeeded in having the last word, Chloe stormed off before Clark could make things any worse.

Clark was completely confused and a little bit irritated by now. He turned to Pete, who had been a silent bystander to this argument, and said, “Look, I know I screwed up, but why is Chloe having a breakdown?”

Knowing that he would never have messed up a golden opportunity like the one Clark had just ruined, Pete let his disgust pour out. “You’re not the most observant person in the world, are you?”

Clark was really getting irritated now. As Pete headed the same way Chloe had left, Clark followed, and asked, “What are you talking about?”

Without slowing down or turning around, Pete finally clued Clark in. “She wanted to spend a day with you uninterrupted. No Lana and no Lex. She was planning on asking you to the Spring Formal.”

“Yeah, but that’d be like…”

Finally hearing evidence that the lights were going on inside Clark’s head, Pete turned to Clark and said, “A date? Clark, maybe if you took off your Lana blinders, you’d realize that Chloe likes you.”

Like a dam bursting in Clark’s mind, it all came together for him in a thundering rush. Why didn’t I ever see this before? Clark wondered. I mean, Chloe kissed me like she meant it the first day we met. Has she liked me all this time? And…and what do I feel about her? Could there be something there for us? Do I want to risk it?

And while he was thinking those, and many other thoughts, one more line of thought crept into his brain. What did Pete say Chloe had planned? She wanted an uninterrupted day with me, and she was planning on asking me to the Spring Formal. Why does that sound familiar?

It wasn’t until that evening, when he was back in the loft, that it hit him. He was using his three-hole punch to organize the last bunch of letters before putting them into the rings of the pink folder, when his eyes came across the brief update note from Cinderella. Oh God, this can’t be happening, Clark thought. Chloe’s Cinderella!

happycamper

09-07-2006, 04:33 AM

This seems to be following the plot line of the 1st season pretty closely...I just never knew that so much of the story was actually driven by the advice of Miss Lonely Hearts... ;) :lol:

But what is he going to do now that he knows the identity of Cinderella?

Well, he could always react the way he did on the show...;) And crash in flames again. :lol:

:D :D

You know, earlier this evening (my time) I figured you were going to update (based on the way you were 'acting' on the board and the sudden, late-night appearance of some others :) ) so I was hanging around, waiting. And waiting. And waiting...and then the board seemed to blow up again (maintenance?). I did come back before going off to bed...but it looks like you had a very late night to get this out. Thanks! :D

that girl

09-07-2006, 07:00 AM

We have now entered Crush territory, ladies and gentlemen.

I feel so bad for Chloe. It really sucks for her that she likes Clark that much and he will never feel the same way. I love me some Clana, but Chloe's my favorite character.

What's Clark gonna do know that he's figured out who Cinderella is? Will he realize Lana is Lonesome Lori too, or will we have to wait a few more updates for that?

PPMS, Cardinal, that was awesome!

SVsleuth

09-07-2006, 07:05 AM

Dang, Card, you stayed up until you finished the chapter. Off to read....

EDIT:
That was great, Card! This was the absolute perfect time to choose to insert this whole plot of Clark being "Miss Lonely Hearts". I love seeing how Clark's own advice came back to bite him.
And Lana's musings about Clark & Whitney were insightful too. She finds herself dreaming of Clark, never Whitney. I hope you change things so they don't have to wait so very long to ever get together.
This fic is so much fun, Card. Thanks for burning the midnight oil - I mean the 3 a.m. oil - for us. What are vacations for? :p

PPMS! Lovin' it! :D

mysteryman1

09-07-2006, 09:46 AM

Update Soon.

ajfinn

09-07-2006, 09:51 AM

It was a waste of time for Clark. He already knew what his summer was going to be filled with: baling hay, feeding cattle, and the endless repairs that always seemed to be necessary around the farm.

Oh, but if only Clark knew what his next summer would be like ..... robbing banks, bar hopping with floozies, and running from the law! :lol: Stupid farm boy!

Danny’s next line: “Have you ever considered a career in the Air Force?” drove Clark away. He said, “Um, I’ll think about it,” and hurried off.

Dude, you will BE the Air Force. :D Very funny, Card!

Whenever Lex and Lana are around, it’s as if the rest of us don’t exist.”

My one complaint ......... if I ever see the phrase Lex and Lana in this fic again, I'll stop reading! :D :lol:

PPMS!

Cardinal

09-07-2006, 11:21 AM

Originally posted by ajfinn
Danny’s next line: “Have you ever considered a career in the Air Force?” drove Clark away. He said, “Um, I’ll think about it,” and hurried off.

Dude, you will BE the Air Force. :D Very funny, Card!
PPMS!

Sorry, aj, I don't get the credit for this line, it's a direct quote from the episode "Crush."

There's one more thing I'd like to point out.

While I like this fic idea as much as anyone and while I hope to be able to do justice to it, I can't claim to be the person who came up with the idea. That honor goes to a former writer on the Clanaboard, 4EverSmallville.

I was stuck for a fic idea more than a year ago when I posted a plea for help. She answered and gave me this idea, which I have finally decided to use.

Thanks, 4Ever! ;)

Originally posted by ajfinn
Oh, but if only Clark knew what his next summer would be like ..... robbing banks, bar hopping with floozies, and running from the law! :lol: Stupid farm boy!

Come on, aj, you know your Smallville history better than that! :p

Clark's summer was filled with reconstructing the Kent farm, not e-mailing Chloe in Metropolis, and staying away from Lana.

akuma

09-07-2006, 11:29 AM

Wow great update, it will be interesting to see when Clark realizes who Lana is in the letters, if he even will, and what he does about it. PPMS!

superman_lives_on

09-07-2006, 11:39 AM

Originally posted by Cardinal
Come on, aj, you know your Smallville history better than that! :p

Clark's summer was filled with reconstructing the Kent farm, not e-mailing Chloe in Metropolis, and staying away from Lana.

She was talking about his NEXT summer, Card. You know, the whole Red Kryptonite mess? But yes, this summer, from what we could tell, was BOR-ING to the max. They didn't show a single episode chronicling it!

So now we're in the events of "Crush". How different will things be this time around--if at all? Will Justin still show up? What will Clark do now that he knows Chloe is "Cinderella"? (And she said that woman was never her role model...) And will Lana come to her senses sooner this time around?

Update soon!

SmallvilleMan

09-07-2006, 01:58 PM

It's not aj's fault she got the history wrong. Smallville has poison here with lexana and everything is a fog. Great update cards and i would like to mention one thing. It's funny how Chloe never EVER got called out for not noticing pete liked her, even loved hera dn yet clark got called out all the time, because chloe liked him and he didnt notice.

Cardinal

09-07-2006, 02:20 PM

I called her on it in my fic "A Lifetime of Tomorrows."

There was an entire scene that was nothing but Pete fessing up to feeling for her what she felt for Clark. Then she had to deal with that.

It gave her perspective on what Clark must have felt like all those years when he liked one and was pursued by another.

Clana227

09-07-2006, 02:34 PM

CArd I know you're in here please update this is unbelievebly great story. I love it

Cardinal

09-07-2006, 02:39 PM

Good golly, Miss Molly! I just updated this morning. It takes some time to come up with a suitably large update, especially when you write as slowly as I do.

mysteryman1

09-07-2006, 08:41 PM

Update Soon.

buddy232

09-07-2006, 10:16 PM

Great, update soon!

justsuper

09-07-2006, 10:48 PM

Loving it! PPMS!

NYC300Z

09-08-2006, 01:21 AM

wow Clark's more clueless than i thought! and i thought he was pretty clueless lol. oh well this could make it even more interesting!;)

PPMS!

Cardinal

09-08-2006, 01:45 PM

Chapter 4 - A Second Too Late

Lana had been wrestling with what to do about Whitney and Clark for some time. Miss Lonely Hearts’ response to her letter had only brought her thoughts more tightly into focus. Unswerving loyalty was one of her greatest strengths. Once you made it inside to become one of Lana’s friends, that loyalty belonged to you. In this case, it belonged to Whitney, who needed someone to hold onto right now. Clark had also made it inside, but had instead become the one she relied on. She liked both guys, but there was something more, something exciting and maybe even a little dangerous involved in being with Clark. But should she risk it?

Once you cross that line, Lana thought, there’s no turning back.

She wrestled a nearly full plastic trash bag out of its can as she worked on shutting down the Talon for the evening.

I told that to Clark about Chloe, but it’s also true for me when dealing with him. He’s been such a good friend this year, he’s always ready to listen and whenever I need help, he’s the first one in line. Do I want to risk that by trying for something more? Something that I feel is there.

Lana tied the bag closed and set it by the alley door so it would be ready to go when she emptied the rest of the cans. She went back and forth inside her head all during closing, trying desperately to untangle her thoughts and desires and make a choice for herself.

In the end, that was what it came down to.

Whose feelings am I responsible for? Lana thought. It’s not my job to make either Whitney or Clark happy. I have to make my decisions based on what makes me happy...and right now…that means Clark.

She thought back to the last conversation she had with Clark. He had as good as told her that he still had feelings for her…‘Yeah,’ Clark had said, ‘I let that moment slip away and I don’t think I’ll ever get it back.’ But he then had gone on to let me know that he wanted to go after Chloe, ‘not wanting to let that moment slip away twice.’ Now that he had saved Chloe from Justin Gaines, the former Torch cartoonist who had gained telekinetic powers, Clark's way was clear to do just that.

Lana realized that the first move between her and Clark was up to her. Once he had sent her back to Whitney, he would never ask her out or do anything to cause problems in her relationship with Whitney. Clark was the kind of guy that was going to respect her decision about who she wanted to be with, even if it killed him. She loved that he was such a gentleman, but her having to take the first step as a result of his morals was scary.

As for when and where, Lana felt that there was no time like the present, especially when Clark might ask Chloe out at any time. Since he had said that school work was keeping him busy these days, she would go to his loft straight from work, since that was where he usually did his homework. She would tell him that she was breaking up with Whitney, now that his dad was on the mend, and hopefully he’d give her some kind of sign, something to encourage her to declare her intentions.

At that moment, Clark’s mind was filled to distraction. Earlier in the day, he had stopped Justin Gaines just in time to keep him from killing Chloe. Also, the staff at The Torch was still trying to piece together a memorial issue for Principal Kwan without Chloe‘s help, and he still hadn’t resolved his feelings for Chloe.

Seems like everything in my life is revolving around Chloe right now, Clark thought. Strange, my life usually revolves around Lana. As far as Clark could tell Lana was going to be with Whitney forever. He felt something there, something strong, but Lana hadn’t given him any reason to wait for her. And with Chloe, those unresolved feelings of his were just begging to be resolved now that Justin was out of the way. When he combined the two, he knew he wanted to try with Chloe. Lana was happy with Whitney, it was time for him to find some happiness of his own.

Chloe, however, was staying in the hospital overnight for observation after she had been diagnosed with a mild concussion. Clark had been worried that it was going to be something worse than a concussion once he realized Justin had hit her in the head with an iron horseshoe. After riding with her to the hospital in an ambulance, he had stayed with her until her dad arrived from the LuthorCorp plant, then he had left to let her get some rest.

Looking for something to get his mind off of Chloe lying hurt in the hospital, Clark took a seat in his loft as he sorted through the stack of letters he had picked up from Kwan’s office earlier in the day. God, he thought, I hope there’s not another one from Cinderella in here. I wouldn’t know what to do. Giving advice to her about dealing with me and Lana was just unreal.

Clark had been unsure about how to pick up, what he now privately referred to as ‘his’ letters, since Kwan was dead. He had hesitantly approached the principal’s office, but he needn’t have worried, because Kwan’s secretary, Miss Simon, had had the letters ready for him. Apparently she knew everything about this situation, because as Clark made to leave the office, she had said quietly, “Keep up the good work, Mr. Kent. The last columnist just provided a shoulder to cry on. You’re actually providing solid, positive advice. And your readers seem to be taking notice.”

Already stopped dead in his tracks by the idea that someone else knew about his secret job, Clark turned back and said, “Huh?”

“That pile of letters is easily the biggest stack of the year,” Miss Simon said. “In only two weeks, you’ve struck a chord with the girls of this school.” Smiling warmly, she added, “You might even have a few letters from desperate guys by now.”

As Clark had turned back to leave, Miss Simon had hit him with a parting shot that nearly buckled his knees. “If the girls of this school knew that the sensitive and practical Miss Lonely Hearts was actually a nice looking young man such as yourself, you’d have so many girls chasing you that you’d need to have Sheriff Ethan put you in protective custody at night just so you could get some sleep.”

Just remembering that moment made Clark blush a fiery red. His absorption in that memory was so complete, that he didn’t hear the sound of soft steps on the treads of the loft’s wooden stairs until a small feminine voice called out from a few steps down, “Hi, Clark.”

Clark looked up from the letters and saw that it was Lana. She was wearing a teal Henley and her trademark tight blue jeans. Her long, silky hair was pulled back in a pony tail. Clark didn’t notice any of those details though, because he was too busy panicking. Oh my God, he thought. can’t let her see the folder or read the letters, or my goose is cooked.

He bounded up off of the couch before Lana could begin the last three steps and rushed over to meet her, leaving the letters in a neat stack on the couch right next to the pink folder, which Clark had laid face down so the red hearts weren’t showing.

“Hi, Lana,” Clark said nervously. “What’s up?”

Lana was fighting nerves of her own and thus didn’t notice the quaver in Clark’s voice as she replied, “Nothing much Clark. I just came by to see you.” While she didn’t notice Clark’s nerves, she did notice he was standing still at the top of the stairs which kept her from coming up onto the top level of the loft.

“Umm…Clark? Are you going to let me come up?”

“Uh…nope.”

At first Lana thought he was joking, but when he made no attempt at moving, she asked, “Why not?”

“Well…I’m working on something secret right now.” Boy am I ever!

Feeling somewhat skeptical, Lana leaned to the right to peek around him, but the only things she saw that were different before Clark ushered her back down the stairs were two things: a bright pink folder and a stack of previously folded papers. She was halfway to the barn floor before it hit her, a pink folder? For Clark?

“What’s with the pink folder, Clark?” Lana asked. “That’s a great color for me, but it doesn’t quite fit you.”

Clark was already sweating figuratively, and if Lana kept up her questions, he would start sweating for real. “Umm…it was the only one available to me when I went and got it.” Yeah, that’s definitely all Kwan had in his hands.

“And the crinkled papers?”

Before he thought, he blurted out the truth, by saying, “Letters.” Mistake! Cover it, Fool! “Umm…people write me letters and, umm, I answer them.”

Lana found her interest was piqued by Clark’s letters so she asked, “Like pen pals? That sounds cool, Clark.”

“Yeah, you could think of it that way.” Please do, it will save me a lot of grief.

Hands in her back pockets, Lana asked, “Could I read some of your letters?”

Clark’s level of panic reached a new high and he said hurriedly, “No! Umm, I mean, those are private. I’m sure the people writing them expect me to keep them to myself. Sorry, Lana.” Yeah, I doubt all those girls want you to know their love secrets…and I definitely don’t want you knowing who they think they’re writing to.

Lana thought something was going on with the letters, but she hadn’t come by to talk about Clark’s correspondence. She had come to get things started between them. She took a brief second to admire his appearance. He was still wearing the white shirt with the blue and red plaid pattern that he had worn earlier today. His hair was perfectly tousled, and his baggy jeans clung to him just enough to stoke any girl’s interest.

That brief pause for eye candy was fatal to her hopes.

While she was admiring, Clark had marshaled his courage and then said, “Lana? I think now that Justin’s out of the way, I need to take my shot with Chloe. What do you think?”

The blood drained from Lana’s face. Noooooooo! she thought, I came out here to talk about us, not Chloe. Lana knew she had been a second too late. Now she had to be for Clark, what he had always been for her: a friend, someone to lean on during his romantic trials. She knew already that she was going to hate this!

It was nearly a miracle that she didn’t faint on the spot, and it was all she could do to plaster a sickly smile on her face as she said, “That sounds great, Clark.” Just stick a knife in my heart while you’re at it. “I’m sure Chloe will say yes.” Who am I kidding? Chloe will be turning friggin’ backflips! “You two will be great together.” Is this what it’s been for like for Clark as he has had to be my boy friend instead of my boyfriend? I’ve only been doing it for ten seconds and it’s already Hell.

During the five longest minutes of her freshman year, Lana helped Clark plan his strategy for asking Chloe out. He was already scheduled to help Mr. Sullivan pick Chloe up from the hospital so that Mr. Sullivan could return to LuthorCorp immediately after signing her out.

Where they would go on their date was easy once Clark mentioned the journalism convention and the fact that he had tickets already and Chloe didn’t. Where to ask her had been a bit sticky. Lana almost puked when Clark finally suggested bringing Chloe by the Talon for a cup of coffee and asking her there. Lana already knew she had the afternoon shift tomorrow, and would thus have a front row seat to watch the guy she wanted ask out someone else.

Once Lana drove off, Clark headed back to the loft to get some work done on his Miss Lonely Hearts duties. Picking the two best letters to respond to was becoming harder with the increase in the number of letters he had to read through. One letter though caught his eye instantly. It was handwritten and rather short, both of which were highly unusual. The letter read:

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

I’m a just a lonely farm boy who has got two of the hottest girls in my class both trying to get my attention, but I’m single-handedly screwing up my chances with both of them.

Could you help me mess things up any faster?

Sincerely yours,

Stu Pidaso

By the time he completed reading the letter, he knew why the letter was so short: it was a prank. And from the handwriting, he was sure it was written by none other than Pete Ross. Clark was just about rolling on the floor after reading that letter. The best part was the pen-name he used, Stu Pidaso. That was brilliant! Still, Clark wondered where he got the material for his letter. Is there some guy out there actually screwing things up like that? Whoever he is, I hope he doesn’t write in. I don’t think I can help him.

When Lana got home, she ran up to her room before Nell could even get a word out. Lana flopped down on her bed and screamed. When Nell came up to see what was the matter, Lana begged her to just go away. Once she had released her pent up frustrations, she settled down to think.

Who can I talk to about this? Lana wondered. Nell wouldn’t understand, she thinks Whitney’s my ideal guy. Same for my girlfriends at school. Clark, who I normally turn to for things like this, is off limits for obvious reasons. Ditto for Chloe. Pete’s a nice enough guy, but he doesn’t seem to even understand the concept of a relationship.

With no one else left to turn to, Lana walked over to her desk, pulled out a piece of paper and started to write.

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts…

buddy232

09-08-2006, 02:32 PM

Great Update!

Please continue!

superman_lives_on

09-08-2006, 02:59 PM

Sheesh...will Lana be able to escape the chokehold she's stuck in and work things out? And when exactly does Clark realize who he really wants to be with? I'm still not sure when in the show's timeline he decides that Lana is the one and not Chloe...

Update again soon!

Clana227

09-08-2006, 03:03 PM

Great update sorry about rushing you

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-08-2006, 03:13 PM

man i hope clark finally realizes that lana is that other pen-name chick!!! soon

SVsleuth

09-08-2006, 04:48 PM

:) Pete's letter had me LOL - and clueless Clark made it even more of a scream!

Poor Lana, seconds too late to snag her man. I can't wait to find our how she eventually does. I know you won't make us wait all the way to Accelerate/Calling/Exodus for more Clana love. ;)

This fic is great, Card, full of suspense, and humor - and I love knowing what Clark & Lana are thinking. Can't wait for Lana's next letter. PPMS! (maybe after a BR update?) :)

Cardinal

09-08-2006, 04:54 PM

Originally posted by superman_lives_on
Sheesh...will Lana be able to escape the chokehold she's stuck in and work things out? And when exactly does Clark realize who he really wants to be with? I'm still not sure when in the show's timeline he decides that Lana is the one and not Chloe...

Some things will be different here than they were in Season 1. Not telling which ones though. ;) :p

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-08-2006, 05:01 PM

well thats comforting....physch!!!!!!

Cardinal

09-08-2006, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by Clana227
Great update sorry about rushing you

Don't worry about it! I'd much rather have readers that are insistent about getting the next update, as opposed to complete indifference.

Your reply just kind of caught me off guard. I had just posted hours earlier and here was someone begging for more already.

It's quite nice actually, once I get used to it. :D

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-08-2006, 05:20 PM

yea that was very cool and honeslty card.... i like the ohh la la avi better and post more soon

NYC300Z

09-08-2006, 07:27 PM

lol Clark's response to Pete's letter proves his cluelessness to no end~! Now Lana's asking for more advice from Clark and I wonder if he'll ever figure it out? Yeah I feel bad for Lana and just wondering what Clark's thinking

PPMS!

clark&lanafan06

09-08-2006, 08:01 PM

Great Update !!!!!!! PPMS !!!!!!!

that girl

09-09-2006, 10:24 AM

NO! Clark can't go on a date with Chloe!! Make it stop!

Other than that, great update. :D

Clark has once again proved he's completely clueless, Pete has once again proved he's completely awesome and Lana is about to make a bigger mess than she wanted out of all of this.

Update soon!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-09-2006, 10:36 AM

yea no chalrk all clana

maitriniazngurl

09-09-2006, 04:07 PM

Awesome updates Card!! I'm trying to catch up.. and I can't believe I already missed two updates from you.

This story is so interesting and at the same time, hilarious, and cute.

I love the part when she says "That sounds great Clark" 'just stick a knife in my heart while your at it.' lol :lol:

Update soon. I can't wait to find out how Clark is going to response to all of this.

happycamper

09-09-2006, 06:12 PM

Literally just a second too late for our unhappy girl. :(

I was howling at Pete's letter, knowing even before the signature that Clark wouldn't be writing to himself...:p

It is funny that Pete is able to so easily see what is going on while Clark remains so clueless!

Clark figured out Cinderella pretty quickly, but is he ever going to be able to see through to Lana?

Knowing him - probably not. :lol: :( :lol:
(what can you say, it's sad while still being hilarious)

:D :D

Clana227

09-09-2006, 08:09 PM

Hey can you please update this.

akuma

09-10-2006, 09:55 PM

Ouch, what a crappy situation, PPMS

NYC300Z

09-10-2006, 11:20 PM

ahh Rick you made me think there was an update!

mysteryman1

09-11-2006, 08:23 PM

Update Soon.

buddy232

09-12-2006, 12:51 AM

Please update!!

emsfan

09-12-2006, 11:57 AM

yeah update soon

Clana227

09-12-2006, 05:37 PM

Please update

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-12-2006, 05:54 PM

yea update

kewl

09-13-2006, 09:15 AM

just caught up with ur new story card. this is so terrific and very much interesting! please update more soon!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-13-2006, 06:05 PM

updates oon

justsuper

09-14-2006, 01:02 PM

Amazing work, Cardinal! I was rather hoping that Clark wouldn't find out the letter was from Chloe right away. But, I've read so much of your writing that I know your ultimate strategy is right on the money! Looking forward to more and seeing how this wonderful story continues to evolve!!! This is such a terrific, novel idea!!! PPMS!

Clana227

09-14-2006, 02:39 PM

Hey Cardinal please update this soon.

Cardinal

09-14-2006, 02:44 PM

This story is next. ;)

Clana227

09-14-2006, 02:46 PM

Thanks

that girl

09-14-2006, 02:59 PM

Good to know.

mysteryman1

09-16-2006, 12:28 PM

Update Soon.

Cardinal

09-16-2006, 10:22 PM

Sorry, boys and girls. Since I took some time out of my writing schedule to enter the Kryptonsite Writing Contest, my next update here is even farther behind...but I am working on it. ;)

SmallvilleMan

09-16-2006, 11:27 PM

the what contest? boooooooooooo.... We all know the best writers are clana, we dont need no stinkin contest to us that;)

Cardinal

09-17-2006, 12:45 AM

Chapter 5 - First Steps

As planned, Clark met Mr. Sullivan at the hospital to help bring Chloe home. Once she was dressed, in an outfit she had chosen over the phone since she didn’t trust her dad’s fashion sense, Clark escorted her out of the hospital while Gabe signed the release forms.

“Hey,” Clark asked nervously, “you wanna stop by the Talon for a latte?”

“Well…”

“My treat.”

“Okay,” Chloe grinned sunnily, “you talked me into it.”

As they walked through the front door of the Talon, they made quite a contrast. Short, curvaceous Chloe was wearing a patterned brown blouse and red pants, while tall, muscular Clark was more soberly attired in a blue oxford with a white pinstripe grid and his usual blue jeans.

They took a small round table close to the counter and then Clark headed to the counter to place their orders. Clark looked back over his shoulder and asked, “Non-fat and low-foam, right?”

“You remember!”

Clark stepped up to the counter where a pink and denim clad Lana was waiting. Gaaah, I must be his friend, Lana thought. I can’t blame Chloe or Clark. It’s my fault for waiting too long.

“Hi, Clark,” Lana said brightly. “What can I get for you today?”

“A non-fat, low-foam latte for Chloe and a cappuccino for me.” Clark nodded to where Chloe was sitting. “We’ll take them over there.” He half-turned away before stopping, and saying quietly, “Wish me luck.”

“Luck,” was all Lana was able to choke out in reply. She was unsure what kind of luck she really wanted him to have. The friend in her wanted Clark to get everything he deserved, but the selfish part of her thought that he deserved her.

Clark and Chloe talked about her concussion and the horrid hospital food while they waited for their coffee. Once Lana dropped off the coffee, she headed upstairs on a made-up errand, anything to get away from the impending emotional train wreck. The errand didn’t last long enough, however, by the time Lana came back downstairs with her serving tray, they were still there, still making small talk.

“I just spoke to Justin’s parents,” Chloe said.

“How’s he doing?” Clark asked.

“He’s in the psychiatric ward. The police don’t really know what to charge him with, but at least he won’t hurt anybody.” As Clark nodded his head in agreement, Chloe finally turned to the part of the conversation she was dreading. “So should we do the, uh, ‘I told you so’ part? Or is my perennial bad judgment implicit?”

Afraid of what she would see, Chloe looked directly into Clark’s eyes and was gratified to see sorrow and sympathy instead of smug satisfaction. Given what kind of friend he had always been to her, Chloe knew she shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Chloe, I wish I were wrong.”

“What is it with me? I can spot Wall of Weird material from a mile away but put it right in front of me and I’m oblivious.”

That hits a little too close to home, Clark thought. But verbally, he disagreed with her, saying, “You’re not oblivious, you’re trusting.” Here goes nothing, Clark thought as he summoned his courage. “You’re strong enough to take risks with your emotions. I wish I were as brave as you.”

Chloe didn’t know how to handle that compliment, so she just stayed silent, curious to see where Clark was going with this line of thought.

Almost hesitantly, Clark said, “I still have those two tickets to the journalism convention.”

Where only a few seconds ago Chloe had been thinking she had done irreparable damage to her chances with Clark over the past few days, she suddenly began to have hope.

“It’d be a good chance for us to spend some time together,” Clark said.

Unable to believe this sudden turn of events, Chloe smiled widely and said, “Okay, it’s a date.”

Clark answered her smile with a satisfied smile of his own as he reached across the table to wrap his fingers around Chloe’s thumb.

Lana, just as she had feared the night before, had a front row seat. Though she thankfully had been unable to hear what was being said by either Clark or Chloe, she needed no help deciphering the meaning of Clark reaching across to clasp Chloe’s hand. Lana became so agitated, that she needed something to do to take her mind off of what was going on right in front of her.

At that moment, Lana saw Whitney come in the front door. Well, Lana thought, now that I’ve decided that I don’t want to be with Whitney any more, the only fair thing to do is to break up with him. I shouldn’t let him hold on to false hope. And, maybe, if I end this now, right in front of Clark, he might get the idea that I’m finally free. Maybe…maybe he’ll ask me out.

Set on a course of action, Lana walked out from behind the counter, determined to meet Whitney half way.

“Whitney,” Lana said as she drew near to him, “we need to talk.” She had been so focused on what she planned to say, that she didn’t notice Whitney’s obvious emotional distress until she stopped right in front of him. Suddenly worried, Lana asked, “What is it? What happened?”

Whitney struggled, finally choking out, “It’s my dad.”

Lana went through a range of emotions in a short span of time. First she felt irritation because she knew she wouldn’t be able to break up with Whitney now. Then, her close friendship with Whitney kicked in and her sympathy for the Fordmans overwhelmed her petty personal concerns. Whitney needs me right now, Lana thought. Maybe Clark going after Chloe was a sign to me that I wasn’t quite done with Whitney yet. If I believe in signs that is.

The death of Mr. Fordman changed a few things. Not only did Lana feel unable to break up with Whitney while he was in such pain, but the funeral was scheduled for Saturday, the day that Clark and Chloe were supposed to be going on their date to the journalism convention. They mutually agreed they had to cancel the trip so they could support their friends.

When Lana found out that Clark and Chloe were canceling their trip to Metropolis, she wanted to dance for just a second and then felt like a total creep for taking even the slightest enjoyment from anything surrounding Mr. Fordman’s death.

On the day of the funeral, the weather was cold and rainy. The somber setting was a perfect match for the mood of those in attendance. The only things heard at the graveside were the droning sounds of the priest’s service and the constant tattoo of heavy raindrops on the tombstones and the waterlogged ground.

As the crowd of mourners broke up to head for the protection of their cars, Clark, Lana and Chloe all lingered. Clark and Lana connected in that moment and though no words were spoken, the looks they gave to each other spoke of an intense longing that had no place in their lives right now, and might not ever. Chloe looked on from the side, her eyes solely focused on Clark, and she wasn’t liking what she was seeing.

SVsleuth

09-17-2006, 12:47 AM

:) I love how you get inside Lana's mind and we can see how she is feeling. Jealous Lana - something not seen much on SV. Love the fic. Can't wait for more letters. PPMS!

NYC300Z

09-17-2006, 03:55 AM

2

oh come on Clark you have to see that connection with Lana and give up trying with Chloe and make ur move with Lana! YOu have to do it stop being a herb!! Lana brake up with Whitney and go after Clark so the messgae is loud and clear!!!!

PPMS!!!;)

Nemu

09-17-2006, 07:11 AM

hmm that was good.. will you bring in Lana's next letter to Miss LH in the story?

PPMS

Clana227

09-17-2006, 07:18 AM

Yeah what Nemu said but I always liked the ending of Crush so I loved that last chapter

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-17-2006, 07:22 AM

no chlark silly! at least dont follow the entire story line of the 1st season abd ket clark ask lana to the dance and hy can fall in love and stay that way

Cardinal

09-17-2006, 08:07 AM

This won't be an exact repeat of Season 1, though there are a lot of similarities.

I expect that the closer we get to the dance the more changes there will be. ;)

And yes, Lana's next letter is due to be seen in the next update...whenever that is.

maitriniazngurl

09-17-2006, 10:20 AM

Awesome update. Lana's emotions were sad.. I hate to see Clark and Chloe holding hands and stuff too.. I feel bad for Chloe when she had to witness Clark and Lana.. now I'm feeling bad for Lana. But I believe she made the right choice by staying with Whitney in his time of need.

Anyways can't wait for the next update. :)

superman_lives_on

09-17-2006, 11:29 AM

I just hope that things can work out here in the way that they never did in the original Season One. Clark and Lana must come to realizations on their own before they can be together, though... I just hope that Chloe will be able to realize that she simply doesn't hold Clark's heart in her hands. Like Lana figured, false hope does little good in a situation like this. :(

I wonder what Lana's letter will say this time?

clark&lanafan06

09-17-2006, 02:45 PM

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-17-2006, 03:17 PM

better be soon card or we will start a mob! right guys?

that girl

09-17-2006, 03:51 PM

Oh, that was so sad. I'd forgotten Whitney'd dad died at the end of crush. :( And the whole Chlark thing is sad in its own right.

I really hope that Chloe doesn't totally freak out when Clark and Lana finally admit their feelings for each other. One of the things I've always liked about Chloe is how her feelings for Clark always take a back seat to their friendship and it would be a shame if it got changed up here.

Overall, nice update, even if it was a bit depressing. :p

PPMS!!

happycamper

09-17-2006, 05:57 PM

Yeah that was a bad time for all the characters. Chloe was beginning to get what she always wanted, but I think she already knew it was doomed (that's why I always feel bad for the Chloe shippers; just look at the K-Site logo at the top of the page and the placement of the characters - Chloe is way to the back and even has Lois between herself and Clark). Clark had given up on what he always wanted, and Lana was obligated to stay silent because of what she owed Whitney and to Clark and Chloe themselves. All that tragedy was what made me like the show. :);)

Originally posted by Cardinal
Sorry, boys and girls. Since I took some time out of my writing schedule to enter the Kryptonsite Writing Contest, my next update here is even farther behind...but I am working on it. ;)
Did notice a certain sneaky entry in the contest that seemingly sought to maximize votes by leaving hope for all Ships... :lol:

You know us Clana readers can't accept that... :mad: ;)

Fortunately for you, I decided I wasn't going to enter the contest - too lazy, and I already have my copy on order. :lol:

:D :D

Cardinal

09-17-2006, 09:37 PM

Originally posted by happycamper
Did notice a certain sneaky entry in the contest that seemingly sought to maximize votes by leaving hope for all Ships... :lol:

Hey, it's a contest, you do what you gotta do to win. It's my only hope.

Clana227

09-18-2006, 03:24 PM

Hey can u please update soon

Transhuman

09-18-2006, 06:28 PM

Hi, I'm new to the forum, but this is a very entertaining fic. Hope you update soon.

mysteryman1

09-18-2006, 08:54 PM

Update Soon.

kewl

09-19-2006, 08:12 AM

welcome to the clana ship transhuman ;)

hope u update soon card

Cardinal

09-19-2006, 09:11 AM

Originally posted by Transhuman
Hi, I'm new to the forum, but this is a very entertaining fic. Hope you update soon.

Yes, welcome to the K-Site Clana board!

Transhuman

09-19-2006, 06:46 PM

Thanks guys, this place has some interesting fics actually.

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-19-2006, 08:51 PM

UPDATE SOON CARD!!!

C.A.chick

09-19-2006, 09:59 PM

Umm where do you find the contest?

SVsleuth

09-19-2006, 10:24 PM

Originally posted by C.A.chick
Umm where do you find the contest?
The contest is in the General Smallville Discussions Forum. The thread is titled Kryptonsite Writing Contest. :)

mysteryman1

09-19-2006, 10:26 PM

Updtae Soon.

justsuper

09-21-2006, 11:03 PM

So looking forward to your next spectacular update. When might we see something?

Cardinal

09-21-2006, 11:08 PM

Hopefully, sometime Friday night. I'm half done already but have to reacquaint myself with what this update was all about after taking some time off to work on something else.

happycamper

09-22-2006, 03:04 AM

What? No update?? ;)

Just where have you spending your time lately, anyway. :p :lol:

:D :D

kewl

09-22-2006, 07:30 AM

waiting for ur update card!

Cardinal

09-22-2006, 10:50 AM

Chapter 6 - More Letters

After the convention date with Chloe was canceled due to the funeral, Clark found himself unable to reschedule the date because of what had happened at the burial. He was more confused than ever. Here was Chloe, a beautiful, intelligent, and thoroughly attractive girl that really wanted to be with him and yet he was helpless to do anything about it simply because Lana Lang had looked at him at the end of the graveside service.

Oh, he knew it was much more than a simple look. She had said more with that look than most people could say in a five-minute monologue. She had walked off with Whitney, yet that look had said plain as day that she wanted to be with him. Still, until Lana broke up with Whitney, he’d feel like a heel if he tried to move in on Lana…and he still had those unexplored feelings for Chloe to try and work out.

Eventually, Clark settled in to do his weekly duty as the advisor to the lovelorn. He read the letters at normal speed, wanting to wallow in other peoples’ misery as a hoped-for antidote to his own problems. This time, he found another letter from ‘Lonesome Lori.’ It read,

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

Hi, it’s Lonesome Lori again. I wish I wasn’t still writing to you, but everything is awful!

I took your answer to my last letter to heart and decided what I want most. I decided that ‘good enough’ was no longer enough for me and so I chose Corey. The chance for something great was too irresistible to pass up. Unfortunately, I chose too late.

I made the mistake of thinking Corey would always be there, patiently waiting for me while I made up my mind, but another girl has suddenly caught his interest. Now the shoe’s on the other foot. I have to be a supportive friend and wait for him as he dates this other girl. I feel so stupid for waiting so long. I wish I could go back in time just one day so I could let him know, then maybe he’d be mine.

The really bad part is, this other girl, call her ‘Carol,’ is a friend of mine, so I can’t just try to take him away from her. Also, she’s pretty and smart and fun to be around, so Corey might end up really liking her.

I’m so frustrated right now. What should I do?

Yours,

Lonesome Lori

Well, Clark thought, I do understand her problem. This girl is having to wait for her Corey like I’m having to wait for Lana. Having to wait while the person you want spends their time on someone else is nothing but torture. Grabbing a sheet of paper, Clark rummaged through his desk drawer to find a pencil. Then he set to work composing his reply.

Lori,

I understand what you’re going through. I’ve gone through something similar myself. All I can advise is to continue being Corey’s friend. Don’t get mad just because he’s looking at someone new, and don’t let your frustrations get the best of you.

The same goes for Carol. Show some maturity by not snapping at her just because the guy you want is interested in her now. If she’s your friend now, you’re going to want her as your friend later, so don’t ruin things between you two.

Patience is your best friend right now. I can’t stress that enough. Who knows, when Corey goes out with Carol, they might not work out and you’ll be there to show him that you’re ready to try a relationship with him.

Sincerely,

Miss Lonely Hearts

Clark spent the next couple of weeks being as wishy-washy as ever. He kept edging closer to Chloe, trying to make their relationship more about male and female and less about two buddies, but he was unable to ask her out and make it official that their relationship had turned a corner. Any time he thought about asking Chloe out, the black-clad Lana from the funeral would move to the forefront of his mind, reminding him that they had unfinished business of their own.

I wish I had someone to write to, Clark thought. Who’s going to help me figure out what I should do? Pete would likely tell me to go for both girls at the same time and become a real player, but I couldn’t do that to any girls, much less two that I care for like Lana and Chloe.

Finally, taking his cue from the history paper he and Lana did on Abraham Lincoln, Clark decided to try and organize his thoughts and feelings by writing them out in a letter. Laughing at the humor of writing a letter of this type to himself, Clark decided to address the letter to ‘me.’

Dear Me,

I’ve got these two great friends who both happen to be girls.

One has held my heart in her hands for as long as I can remember, but she’s never been available, whether because of my “allergies” or because she’s dating someone else. I think she wants to be with me, but she won’t/can’t get away from her current boyfriend.

The other friend is close to me and has been ever since she moved to town last year. I just found out that she likes me and that I may have feelings for her, too.

Another friend of mine said that love isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about risk. He says unless I put myself out there, I’ll never know. I think he’s right and I’m ready to take that risk. But who to take the risk on is my problem.

How do I choose?

Sincerely,

Clark

Clark stared at the letter as he pondered the last question. Writing his thoughts down had helped organize them. As he pondered, ‘how do I choose?’ morphed into ‘what do I want?’ At that point, he flashed back to the advice he had given to Lonesome Lori in response to her first letter. Decide what you want and then choose the person who can give you that. When he thought of it like that, there was only one way to go.

Chloe was attractive and he had some brand-new feelings for her that might become love, but Lana was someone he was already in love with, and seemingly had been forever. What Clark wanted was love, pure and simple, and that made Lana his choice.

For the first time since the Blood Drive, Clark chose to fight for Lana. Whitney’s had his chance, Clark thought, now it’s my turn.

buddy232

09-22-2006, 01:16 PM

Great update!

Please continue soon!

superman_lives_on

09-22-2006, 01:20 PM

Originally posted by Cardinal
Clark stared at the letter as he pondered the last question. Writing his thoughts down had helped organize them. As he pondered, ‘how do I choose?’ morphed into ‘what do I want?’ At that point, he flashed back to the advice he had given to Lonesome Lori in response to her first letter. Decide what you want and then choose the person who can give you that. When he thought of it like that, there was only one way to go.

Chloe was attractive and he had some brand-new feelings for her that might become love, but Lana was someone he was already in love with, and seemingly had been forever. What Clark wanted was love, pure and simple, and that made Lana his choice.

For the first time since the Blood Drive, Clark chose to fight for Lana. Whitney’s had his chance, Clark thought, now it’s my turn.

Dang...so THAT's where this story breaks off from Season One. That's some darn good reasoning on Clark's behalf...something the show NEVER gives us these days. Well done! :D

Yes, Whitney's had his chance...now it's Clark's turn. This should be good...

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-22-2006, 02:00 PM

finally make a move clark and be with alan forever and tell hre ur secret and stay with her and in 4 years or so dont be afraid to "be" with her if yopu know what im saying,clark!

Cardinal

09-22-2006, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by *#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*
finally make a move clark and be with alan forever and tell hre ur secret and stay with her and in 4 years or so dont be afraid to "be" with her if yopu know what im saying,clark!

Who the heck is Alan? And why would Clark want to be with him? :p :p :p

SVsleuth

09-22-2006, 02:33 PM

:) Nice letters, Card. So alan - I mean Lana is dying to be with Clark - LOL - and Clark wants nothing more than to be with Lana...can't wait to see how they actually get there. I loved how Clark wrote "Dear Me" to himself, and remembered his own advice. Can't wait for more. PPMS!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-22-2006, 02:37 PM

not alan lana move the l around and alan is what you get i typed to fast sory

Clana227

09-22-2006, 05:35 PM

Hey Cardinal great upate ppms.

justsuper

09-22-2006, 05:49 PM

Awesome-issimo!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-22-2006, 07:11 PM

what was that last word?

maitriniazngurl

09-22-2006, 09:28 PM

Great update! I loved the letters... Clark should go for Lana.. they belong together!!

Anyways.. very good work. Update soon. :D

mysteryman1

09-22-2006, 10:42 PM

Update Soon.

happycamper

09-22-2006, 10:48 PM

I'm shocked! :eek: Clark actually made the decision to go after Lana. :)

Unfortunately (?), Clark is choosing the wrong time (I think). :( The last letter from Lana was written after she had seen Clark's decision to date Chloe, but before Whitney's father passed away. Like in the original, I don't think she could force herself to abandon Whitney at this time, no matter what she actually wants. :(

Bad tactics on Clark's part!

Of course, I could be wrong... :lol:

:D :D

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-22-2006, 10:57 PM

update

SmallvilleMan

09-22-2006, 11:09 PM

That's tough, do you sacrifice your feelings and your happiness, just to be there for the person who lost their father. Why do you have to date to be there for someone? I always thought she could have been there for him even if she was with clark.

kewl

09-23-2006, 06:23 AM

excellent update card!
good choice clark! about time. go for lana! ;)

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-23-2006, 06:55 AM

ppmAsaP

NYC300Z

09-23-2006, 08:24 AM

Great Update Card! A lot of great Letters both Clark and Lana are realizing what they want I wonder what they'll do about it!;);););)

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-23-2006, 09:02 AM

hopefully they will do 'something' boout it right?!! card....

that girl

09-23-2006, 11:51 AM

Yeah, it's his turn!!!

Still waiting for Clark to wake up and realize Lana's been writing Miss Lonely Hearts but I won't hold my breath.

Awesome update as always, Cardinal, keep 'em coming!

Nemu

09-23-2006, 01:49 PM

I thought that with him writing down his feeling and all he would get a clue of who Lonesome Lori was...

Oh well... that was still an insight...

I hope he sees the light soon!!!

PPMS :D

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-23-2006, 03:37 PM

yea what nemu said.......

mysteryman1

09-25-2006, 02:00 PM

Update Soon.

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-25-2006, 02:48 PM

ppmasap

mysteryman1

09-27-2006, 03:17 PM

Update Soon.

mysteryman1

09-29-2006, 12:30 AM

Update Soon.

Cardinal

09-29-2006, 01:12 AM

Posting an update here next, hopefully Friday night.

SVsleuth

09-29-2006, 08:14 AM

Yay! Although when I saw your name on your thread, I was half-hoping you already had posted an update. :p PPMS!

Cardinal

09-29-2006, 03:38 PM

Chapter 7 - Nobody

Clark was acting fidgety at breakfast. Jonathan was out in the fields already, so he wasn’t there to see it, but Martha was doing dishes, and having a mother’s fine-tuned senses, she knew something was different about today.

“Clark, is something wrong today?” Martha asked.

Not looking up from his fruit-topped oatmeal, Clark mumbled a hurried, “No, Mom.”

“Come on now, Clark. I’m your mother and I know when something is bothering you…only today, it’s different than what usually gets under your skin.”

Wondering how she always managed to read him so easily, Clark relented and said, “I need to borrow a truck today.”

“That’s not so unusual, Clark. What do you need it for?”

After finishing off another spoonful of oatmeal, and washing it down with a swig of milk, Clark said, “Today is the day.”

Looking for further explanation, Martha took a seat at the table and waited, her chin cradled in the palms of her two hands. When no more explanation was immediately forthcoming, Martha prompted, “The day for what?”

Very hesitantly, Clark said, “The day I ask Lana out.”

Surprised, Martha sat back in her chair and asked, “Isn’t she still dating Whitney?”

“Yes, but if everything goes well, she won’t be for long.” He finally looked Martha straight in the eyes. “I know this sounds harsh and somewhat selfish, but I’m tired. Tired of waiting, tired of putting my life on hold just because Whitney has some family problems. I want to take a chance with Lana. I can feel there's something between us every time we meet.”

Martha couldn’t disagree with the last part of his statement, for sure. Any time she saw Clark and Lana together, the chemistry between the two was palpable. Why they weren’t dating already was a mystery to her, but maybe Lana felt an obligation to Whitney, in which case Clark was headed for a disappointment. Still, it was his choice to make, so she said, “Since your chores are already done, you can take a truck.”

Hearing that, Clark’s face lit up with that grin that always reminded Martha so much of Jonathan. At times like that, it was hard for her to believe they weren’t genetically related.

Clark, meanwhile, raced through the rest of his breakfast. When finished, he placed his dishes in the sink and headed upstairs to shower and change into something presentable. He remembered, from the advice Chloe gave him before Lana’s birthday party, that he looked good in blue, so he pulled on a blue oxford and khaki Dockers. A quick buff of his shoes and Clark was ready to go…and then he realized that he was dressed for a date, which might be a bit too formal for just asking Lana out, so he changed into something more normal for him: a form-fitting red t-shirt and blue jeans along with white Nikes.

Taking a quick look at himself in the bathroom mirror as he tried to bring a semblance of order to his hair, Clark was satisfied. This was a slightly neater version of the way he looked every day. If Lana really liked him as much as he thought she did, then this would be enough.

Clark thanked his mom for letting him have the truck as he ran out the kitchen door. He was halfway to Lana’s before he decided to get something nice for her. He headed into town and bought a small bouquet of wildflowers at the floral shop in town not owned by Lana’s Aunt Nell. He already knew Nell didn’t look upon him with a friendly eye, so there was no point in letting her know who Lana’s flowers were from.

With the flowers sitting beside him on the bench seat, Clark headed to Lana’s. He was so nervous, that he drove past her driveway three times before he could make himself turn in. As he approached the porch with flowers in hand, Clark realized his palms were getting sweaty, so he stopped to dry them off on his jeans before knocking on the front door.

*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK*

Clark stepped back, flowers in hand, and waited. He felt like the condemned, waiting, with his head on the chopping block, for the death stroke to fall.

The door opened, but instead of Lana, Clark saw Nell. His spirits dropped and he quickly lowered the bouquet to his side, hoping she wouldn’t see it.

Nell was just as disappointed. She had the day off from the flower shop and had been helping Lana get ready for Whitney. That’s who she was expecting the visitor to be, and instead was faced with Clark Kent. A more-than-handsome boy, Clark bore no resemblance to his father except for being tall and strong, but whenever Nell saw Clark, she always saw the man that broke her heart, Jonathan Kent, walking in Clark’s shadow like a ghost.

Polite as ever, but without a hint of warmth, Nell said, “Hello, Clark. How are you today?”

“Just fine, Ma’am,” Clark replied. “And how are you doing?”

“I’m well.”

When she opened the screen door, she got a look at what Clark was holding down at his side: a bouquet of wildflowers. The sight of the flowers made Nell’s smile curdle, but Clark was so nervous, that he didn’t notice.

In a slightly squeaky voice, Clark asked, “Ms. Potter, is Lana home? There’s something I need to talk about with her.”

Forcing a polite smile back on her face, Nell said, “No, Clark, I’m sorry, Lana’s gone out riding with Whitney this morning.”

Clark looked like the air had been let out of him as he said dejectedly, “Oh.”

“If you call ahead next time, things like this can be avoided.”

Hearing the slight reprimand in her voice, Clark realized it would have been polite for him to have called ahead, only, he had been so excited that he had completely forgotten to.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Potter, I’ll call ahead next time.”

“You do that.” Nell started to close the door. “Goodbye, Clark.”

“Goodbye, Ms. Potter. Would you tell Lana I came by and that I need to talk to her?”

“Sure thing, Clark.”

Clark headed home, cursing his luck and wishing he had called before coming over. As he turned the truck down Hickory Lane for the short drive home, Lana came bouncing down the stairs in a royal blue tank top and blue jeans. She would've answered the door herself, but she had been putting her hair into twin braids to keep it out of her face while she rode.

While she pulled a pink jacket out of the hall closet, Lana asked brightly, “Who was at the door? Was it Whitney? Has he brought Tyson over already?”

Nell had stayed at the door to watch Clark leave. She turned quickly and said, “It was no one, Lana…no one at all.”

buddy232

09-29-2006, 03:50 PM

Great update!

Please continue soon!

SVsleuth

09-29-2006, 03:50 PM

:):) LOL - Clark was so nervous, he overdressed then had to change. :lol:

Nell lied outright to Clark, and didn't tell Lana he came by. That won't sit well with Lana. PPMS!

superman_lives_on

09-29-2006, 04:14 PM

Ooooh... Nell lied... :mad: Grrr... :mad: :mad:

I presume this is the horseback ride that takes place at the beginning of "Obscura", correct?

Cardinal

09-29-2006, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by superman_lives_on
I presume this is the horseback ride that takes place at the beginning of "Obscura", correct?

The very one.

NYC300Z

09-29-2006, 06:26 PM

wow who would have thought Nell would be a liar? How evil of her oh well Clark will just have to try again!

PPMS!

happycamper

09-29-2006, 10:41 PM

Oooh, Nell lied to both Clark and Lana. She dislikes Jonathan/Clark more than I would have thought. :mad:

Still, I think of this as almost a good thing...Lana's intrinsic loyalty would have made it very difficult to respond positively to Clarks request. :)

And I don't think Lana being unavailable is going to have a crushing effect on his psyche the way a rejection might have had. Still, he must be very disappointed... :(

:D :D

Cardinal

09-29-2006, 10:43 PM

Chapter 8 - Second Choice

Clark watched with the telescope in his loft as the light came on in Lana’s bedroom. She had just been checked out at the hospital after he saved her from Deputy Watts, who had tried to make his reputation as a cop by ‘solving’ her murder.

Now that Lana and Chloe were both safe, Clark could turn his thoughts back to what had been on his mind before the gas explosion. Namely, asking Lana out. His wildflower bouquet had wilted with the wait, but Clark couldn’t wait any longer, he had to ask her out now.

Minutes later, Clark was standing beneath her bedroom window tossing pebbles to try and attract her attention. At least this time the light’s still on in there, he thought.

Lana slid her window open and smiled radiantly to see her very own guardian angel out on the lawn. The last time he had gone to such extreme measures, he had missed her birthday party and had wanted to make up for it. This time, she owed him her life and she wondered what he wanted.

“Hi, Clark,” Lana said, as she pulled some hair out of her face, “thanks again for saving my life.”

“It’s like you said earlier this year, Lana, ‘I’m always there when you need me.’”

Nodding her head in agreement, Lana said, “True…very true.” I also remember what else I said then, Clark. ‘Clark Kent. He’s not always there when you want him.’ Are you finally going to be there, now that I want you so badly or are you still after Chloe? “That doesn’t explain what you’re doing here tonight though.”

“I wanted to see you…I needed to see you…and I couldn’t wait any longer.”

Her curiosity piqued, Lana leaned forward a bit and asked impishly, “Can you see me now?”

“Better than you can imagine,” he said under his breath. Then louder, “Could you come down here? There’s something I need to ask you.”

“Sure. Give me a minute.” Lana was still dressed, so she took a minute to check her hair and makeup in the mirror before telling Nell she’d be out front for a while enjoying the night air.

Both were still wearing the same clothes they had been wearing at the carnival grounds. Lana had on a white, crew-necked blouse that just touched her dark blue jeans. On top of that was a dark pink button-up sweater that was completely unbuttoned. Clark wore a dark blue jacket, red t-shirt, and blue jeans.

When Lana came outside, Clark said, “Thanks for coming.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Wanting to be away from the house where Nell might see them, Clark led Lana over by the stable. When he stopped and turned to her, Lana just waited, knowing that it was his place to speak.

Breaths were suddenly hard to come by for Clark as he neared his moment of truth. He had carefully planned what to say, but now that Lana was standing in front of him, giving him an earnest, supportive look, he couldn’t remember any of what he had planned.

Finally, Clark said, “I don’t know of any other way of doing this, so I’ll just ask.” Having committed himself, Clark was able to gather himself a bit before asking, “Lana? Will you be my date for the Spring Formal?”

Lana’s eyes danced and her mouth widened into an uncontrollable grin as what she had waited for ever since the blood drive had finally happened. Clark Kent asked me out! She almost blurted out a happy, ‘Yes!’ until she remembered…she had already promised to be Whitney’s date to the dance.

Damn, Lana thought, not now! Why couldn’t he have asked before I went riding with Whitney? Damn, damn, damn! I thought he was still chasing Chloe. But then, on the bright side, maybe this means I’m his first choice now.

Clark saw the joy spread across Lana’s face, followed immediately by sorrow. Unsure of how to take that, he waited apprehensively.

“I would love to go to the dance with you, Clark, problem is, Whitney already asked me… and I said yes.” Her eyes pleading with him to understand, Lana added, “I can’t back out on him now, it’s too close to the dance.”

Clark felt like he’d been sucker punched. Even to his eyes, it was obvious she wanted to go with him, but instead, Whitney got there first.

Seeing the dismay on Clark’s face, Lana rushed to assure him that she wanted him. “If I had a choice, I would choose you, Clark.”

“I can‘t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that from you,” Clark said sheepishly. “I’ve wanted that for so long.”

“You aren’t mad at me?”

“Nope. Why would I be? The last time we talked about me and dating, I told you I was going after Chloe. Why shouldn’t you accept an invitation to the dance from Whitney? I’m just mad at myself for not asking you sooner. I tried to ask you early on the morning of the gas explosion, but Nell said you had already left to go riding with Whitney. Of course, that likely wasn’t early enough to ask you either.”

Lana had a sudden suspicion enter her mind, and if it was true, she wasn’t going to be a happy camper. “What time did you come by that day? Was it before 10 in the morning?”

“Yeah, I came by just after breakfast and knocked on the front door. Nell answered, and, after telling me you were gone, she promised to tell you I had come by. But that was before all the excitement of the gas explosion.”

Lana was steaming mad now. The knock on the front door that morning while I was been braiding my hair was Clark coming to ask me out, Lana thought furiously. Nell lied to him about me not being home, and then hid the truth from me about who was at the door. No one…no one at all, huh? I’ll show you ‘no one.’ Nell, you are so dead! Lana had to struggle to keep from telling Clark exactly what had happened, but she really didn’t want those two at each other’s throats, so she said, “You must have just missed me, Clark.”

Clark exhaled heavily and said, “Looks like I’ll have to sit this dance out, too.”

“Don’t do that! Isn’t there someone, anyone, you could go with as friends? After all,” she said coyly, “I still owe you a dance from homecoming. That’s a dance you can’t collect unless you show up.”

“The only other person I’d care to go with is Chloe, and asking her under these circumstances isn’t fair to her. I can’t ask her to do that.”

Lana could have gone all day long without Clark mentioning Chloe’s name in conjunction with a date, but she pressed on. “What if Chloe asks you? Would you go then?”

“Yeah, I think I would, though I’d still be worried about getting her hopes up.”

“Look at it this way, Clark. I’m going with my second choice and if Chloe asks you, like I think she will, you’ll be going with your second choice. If not Chloe, well, you could always go stag.”

Having accomplished as much as he could tonight, and with Lana not wanting to stay outside long enough to bring Nell out while she was with Clark, they mutually decided to head back to the house.

Clark stopped Lana after a couple of steps and asked, “Umm…Lana?”

“Yes, Clark?”

“Can I…can I hold your hand? Just over to the house?”

A warm smile enveloped Lana’s face and she said, “Yes, Clark, you may hold my hand.”

For the first time, Clark and Lana held hands as they walked back to the house, interlinking fingers…and hearts.

SVsleuth

09-29-2006, 10:44 PM

:) Yay! Clark finally got up the courage to ask Lana out. I'm glad Lana made sure Clark knew she'd prefer to go with him. Can't wait for him to collect the dance she promised him.

Sweet ending, with Clana holding hands. Thanks for the 2x posts today, Card. Those are rare. PPMS!

happycamper

09-29-2006, 10:47 PM

:) 2

For a second there, I thought I had missed something, then finally figured out that you were just skipping all the non-consequential non-Clana moments...:lol:

And for shame! Trying to trick me by posting again right after I made my own post!! :mad: Fortunately, a spy told me about your despicable act. ;) Although I did notice that this anonymous source waited until after she had made her own post!

I was wrong (well it does happen even to me, if very infrequently :lol: ), Lana seems more anxious to go out with Clark than I would have thought. And now that she knows who is responsible for her missing out, are we going to see any fireworks?

I just hope that Clark can resist leading Chloe on, even if by accident! :(

:D :D

superman_lives_on

09-30-2006, 08:16 AM

Sheesh... So Lana and Clark both know they'd rather go with each other to the Spring Formal--heck, they'd love to! And Lana knows about Nell's cruel dishonesty... There's going to be heck to pay on that woman's part!

I just hope Clark can avoid getting Chloe's hopes up...though I don't know if that's possible... :(

Oh, and hc--give it a rest, eh? :rolleyes:

that girl

09-30-2006, 09:35 AM

I'm gone for, like, nine hours and when I get back there are two great updates! Yay! :D

Nell lied to Clark and Lana. :mad: Do you have something against Nell, Cardinal? She seems to be very antagonistic whenever she shows up in one of your fics. *shrug*

Anyway....I'm really glad Clark and Lana have it all out in the open. It's too bad that they're not gonna be able to go to the dance together, but I think it'll all work out okay in the end. I just hope Chloe doesn't get burned too bad by all this.

And I really like how you basically skip over all the actual episodes, it's nice to see what was going on between them, at least in Clanaland. :p

PPMS! :D :D

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

09-30-2006, 09:45 AM

gr8 updste card!!! post,more whenever you can!

LetMeGo

09-30-2006, 09:50 AM

Chole is bound to get hurt no matter what he does. Poor girl. :(

On the bright side... loved the updates! It's great that Clark is taking some initiative! PPMS! :)

Clana227

09-30-2006, 11:25 AM

great update, love the clana updates, and the last lines

maitriniazngurl

09-30-2006, 03:43 PM

Great updates Card!! I'm so glad to see Clana... After knowing Clana is pretty much doomed from everyone this is really good outlet... keeping the Clana hope alive!!

clark&lanafan06

09-30-2006, 04:28 PM

Great Updates ! I can't believe Nell did that , I hope Lana gives her a piece of her mind. PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

NYC300Z

09-30-2006, 05:09 PM

That was such a cute and innocent moment. It was so good! I wonder how the dance will go with both of them with other people, but knowing they want to be together it will be a lot of akward moments lol

PPMS!

Clana227

09-30-2006, 08:19 PM

Hey Card, I knowyou're in here pleeeeeeeeeease update this story just keeps getting better with every update.

Dr. Jeckyll

09-30-2006, 08:43 PM

This story is awesome Card. I like how you look back on the early days. Clana was just pure innocent and cute back then. That’s when I fell in love with the show. Too bad Smallville didn't grew up the way I wanted...

Anyway, I hope Lana tells Nell exactly what she thinks of her actions. The spring formal ought to be awkward now. Let’s hope they get a dance together.

ajfinn

10-01-2006, 07:33 PM

Card, I just caught up.

I agree, it is so wonderful to go back in time and remember falling in love with Clana :) Sigh. I just want to smile and cry, and laugh and cheer, and it takes me away from the present day mess we call Smallville. Or, ummm, the CW calls Smallville, I mean. Who knows where our REAL show went? :D

Thanks for the great read!

Cardinal

10-02-2006, 12:03 AM

Chapter 9 - Rejection

The walk over to the porch had been slow and silent. Neither Lana nor Clark wanted their time together to end, and both of them were thinking about what they had to get done.

Lana knew she had to officially break it off with Whitney, and do it soon, but she didn’t want to hurt him any more than she had to. How to do it was the question. She had never had a long-term boyfriend before and Nell liked Whitney so much, that asking her for advice was out of the question. Thoughts of Nell also made Lana’s temper flare as she thought over how Nell had decided to interfere in her love life. She could see Nell stepping in if the guy she wanted was dangerous or something, but this was Clark, the nicest, sweetest, most considerate guy on the planet. What could be wrong with him?

As for Clark, he was thinking of ways he could attend the dance. After all, he had to collect that dance that Lana owed him. Asking Chloe was out because it would send her the wrong signal and he didn’t know if he could slow down her view of their relationship fast enough to pull off a friend-friend date like she and Pete had done for homecoming. If she asked, he would say yes…maybe a counter-offer of going Dutch treat would send the right signal.

If Chloe didn’t ask like Lana thought she would, maybe he could see if Pete’s date, Erica Fox, had a friend that needed a date. Doubling with his best friend wasn’t the best thing in the world, but it beat the heck out of going stag.

Finally reaching the front steps, Clark turned and took Lana’s other hand, holding the fingers of both of her hands lightly. He glanced up at the house, half expecting to see Nell standing there, and said, “I think I’d better say goodbye here.”

Knowing he wanted to avoid a replay of what happened at the end of the blood drive, Lana agreed. “Okay, but don’t say ‘goodbye.’ That sounds too much like you’re leaving me forever. I’m definitely going to see you again, so just say, ‘see you later.’”

Speaking cautiously, as though trying out the words for the first time, Clark said, “See you later, Lana.”

Lana smiled. Such a silly little thing to be pleased with, she thought, but all he ever does is try to make me happy. “See you later, Clark. Thanks for asking me to the dance.”

“My pleasure. Umm, I’ll see you later.”

Lana giggled and said, “You said that already, Clark.”

“Oh. I guess I did.”

With a stupid grin plastered to his face, Clark finally stepped back into the shadows and watched Lana enter the house. His eyes didn’t leave her until the door closed with a soft ‘click.’ Then he turned, stuffed his hands in his pockets and headed for home. He walked the whole way, and did so slowly, so he could take his time, savor the moment, and indelibly etch the memory of tonight into the deepest recesses of his mind.

Once Lana had closed the door, she headed to the stairs wanting nothing more than to write to Miss Lonely Hearts and tell her of this miraculous change of events. She was so happy that she had forgotten about Nell until she heard Nell call out and ask, “Did you enjoy yourself outside?”

Oh yes, very much, was Lana’s first thought, but close on its heels was another, much less happy thought: You! You lied to Clark and to me! Lana whirled around and followed Nell’s voice until finding her aunt in the kitchen, going over some bills.

“Nell? We need to talk.”

Not looking up from her paperwork, Nell asked, “Can’t this wait, Lana? I’ve got the bills from the shop to do tonight.”

Lana stood there, fists on hips, not about to be denied. “No, Nell, I want to get this out of the way while I’m good and mad!”

Using a finger to keep her place, Nell looked up at Lana through the half-moon lenses of her reading glasses and asked, “Mad? Mad about what, Honey?”

“Care to tell me about ‘no one’ again?”

“Huh?”

"I happen to like ‘no one’ a lot. He's very special to me. So the next time ‘no one’ comes over, I would appreciate it very much if you would tell me about it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lana didn’t know if Nell was truly clueless tonight or if she was just playing, but Lana’s temper got the best of her so she shouted, “CLARK KENT!” Nell jerked in surprise and scattered papers all over the floor. Giving up her paperwork as a lost cause, she finally gave Lana her undivided attention as Lana said, more calmly, “He's the 'no one' at the front door you wouldn’t tell me about the day of the gas explosion. You know, the ‘no one’ that just saved my life…again!”

Nell had the good grace to blush at having been caught, but she couldn’t understand why Lana was so worked up over a freshman farmboy, when she already had the most eligible guy in school. “But…what about Whitney? He’s the kind of young man I’ve always envisioned you being with.”

“What about Whitney? Don’t get me wrong, Nell, I like him a lot, but that’s as far as it goes with him, and it’s as far as it will ever go with him.” Then Lana got a dreamy look on her face and said, “But with Clark, I feel like anything is possible.”

“So, you’re not dating Whitney anymore.”

“Well…I still am, officially anyway. It’s too late for me to back out on the Spring Formal, thanks to you, but after that I’ll break up with him.”

Nell sat back in her chair, took her glasses off, and rubbed at the sore spots they always left on the bridge of her nose. She took this time to think. So, Lana wants Clark now instead of Whitney, does she? Well, what fifteen-year-old girl ever truly knows what she wants from one moment to the next anyway? Next week she’ll be wanting Whitney back. Oh well, I tried to help her, but she has to make her own mistakes.

“Okay, Lana. I’m sorry I lied to you about Clark the other day. I was just trying to help you.”

Lana readily accepted the apology and quickly helped Nell pick up and reassemble her paperwork for the shop. Once the paperwork was back in order, Nell asked, “So tell me, Lana, when did this fascination with Clark begin?” Lana’s answer was nothing Nell had been expecting.

“Years ago for me…and probably longer than that for Clark. As kids, he always looked at me in a way that made me feel special, like there was no one else in the room but me. But he was so shy, that anytime I tried to talk to him, he’d get really nervous. Then he’d either fall down or get sick. Only this year, has he finally worked up the nerve to talk to me, and we’ve already become really close friends. I can talk to him about anything and know he won’t judge me or tell my secrets to anyone else. And when I look at him, well, I think he’s just the handsomest guy ever.”

“Okay. Well. If you’re sure Clark’s who you want, then I won’t stand in your way any longer. Just be careful.”

As the two women hugged, Lana said, dutifully, “I will, I promise.”

Clark, meanwhile, was finishing his walk home. He headed in through the kitchen door to find his parents in light-hearted conversation as they ate warm apple pie ala mode and drank coffee. After enthusiastically greeting his parents, Clark headed into the living room to watch television, but he had no more than sat down before he was up again and heading back into the kitchen. He was just too excited to sit still.

“Son,” Jonathan said, “where have you been? Your mother had a plate of leftovers ready for you an hour ago. We thought for sure you’d be wanting to eat as soon as you came home from the carnival grounds, but when I went out to the barn to get you, you were gone.”

“Oh, sorry,” Clark said sheepishly, “I forgot to tell you but I walked down to Lana’s.”

“Is she all right?” Martha asked worriedly.

“Yes, Mom. Lana’s fine.” Oh God, is she ever! “I didn’t go down there to ask about her health and mental well-being.” Clark sucked in a big breath and then released half of it. “I went down there to ask Lana to be my date to the Spring Formal.”

Jonathan and Martha exchanged incredulous looks. Martha had told him about Clark’s intentions the other day, but when Clark had come home without even asking her out, they had thought he had changed his mind.

Turning back to his son, who was smiling like a loon, Jonathan asked, “Can I assume, from the circus clown grin on your face, that she said yes?”

“Nope. She turned me down.”

Now they were really confused. Clark just got turned down by the girl of his dreams, and yet he looked happier than they could ever remember seeing him. They both thought, What’s wrong with this picture?

As Clark microwaved his leftovers, Martha asked, “Would you care to explain that to us, Clark?”

Clark pulled the steaming plate out of the microwave and sat it on the table, having grabbed a flatware table-setting on the way. He wanted to enjoy the feeling of sharing this secret with Lana, and no one else, for just a little while longer, so he said, “Not really,” and turned back their inquiring looks with a smug grin.

Two days later, Clark was mucking out the stalls in the barn when Chloe came walking in.

“Your mom told me you’d be out here,” Chloe said, flashing a megawatt smile as she crossed the barn floor.

Clark turned from his work and lowered the tines of his pitchfork to the ground. As he walked over to where Chloe was standing, he said, “Hey, I haven’t seen that smile in a week. What’s up?”

Chloe stepped closer and said proudly, “Well, I’ve got good news. The Daily Planet called and I got an internship.”

Truly excited for Chloe, Clark let go of the pitchfork with one arm to wrap her in a shoulder hug as he said, “That’s great!”

“Yeah!”

“Wow,” Clark said as he released the hug, “you didn’t even have to interview.”

“I know. Well, they read my article in the Ledger on the kidnapping cop, and I guess my work spoke for itself.”

“Congratulations.” Clark really meant it. It was great to see one of his closest friends taking the first step in her intended career.

“Thank you.”

Looking for something more to say, Clark ventured, “So, I guess that means you’ll spend the summer in Metropolis.”

“Yeah…will you come visit me?” she asked hopefully.

“Yeah, of course! I would never pass up an opportunity to see you in your natural habitat.”

After staring up into Clark’s big, blue-green eyes for a few seconds, and wondering what thoughts were going on there, Chloe stammered out, “Well, I…I just wanted you to be the first to know, so, um, I’ll see you. Bye.”

Chloe gave him a little half wave and headed slowly for the open barn door. Clark just leaned on his pitchfork handle and sadly watched her go. He wished he could be what she wanted him to be, but right now, Lana was the one he wanted…and nothing Chloe wished would change that.

Chloe reached the doorway, and as if remembering something at the last minute, she turned back to face Clark. Curious to see what else she had to say, Clark’s face perked up as he strained to catch whatever she said.

“Clark? I don’t know how, but Ryan was right. I have picked out a pink dress and I do want to ask you to the dance.” Drawing herself up to her full height, Chloe asked formally, “Clark? Will you go with me to the Spring Formal?”

Knowing he had to be very cautious, Clark thought over what he had come up with to say. “I’d like that, Chloe…with just one condition.”

“What’s that?”

Clark took a deep breath and said carefully, “That we go Dutch treat.”

Chloe was crestfallen. Clark had said ‘yes,’ but in such a way as to give her no doubt that this was not a date. All of her fragile, spun-sugar fantasies of how the dance would go had shattered into a million pieces. She felt like crying, but she was damned if she was going to cry in front of Clark.

“Okay, Clark,” she said weakly, “I guess I’ll talk to you about it at school.”

Grimacing slightly at the thought of the pain he knew he was causing Chloe, Clark replied, “Sure thing, Chloe. I’ll see you then.”

SVsleuth

10-02-2006, 12:03 AM

:) Poor Chloe, having her hopes dashed again - and yet, I'm glad Clark is determined not to mislead her about his intentions.

Glad Nell came around after talking with Lana. Lana seems to know what she wants and is ready to go after it - good for her.

The scene with Joanthan and Martha was cute - Clark wants to hold on to his secret with Lana. It must look so strange to them to have him looking so happy when he said Lana turned him down. Knowing that she wants to be with him makes all the difference.

Clark & Lana were so cute together as they said "See you later" yet seeming to linger, having a hard time parting.

I wonder if Lana will now get to writing that letter to Miss Lonely Hearts? PPMS!

happycamper

10-02-2006, 03:05 AM

2

Yeah, what SVsleuth said! :)

Lana and Clark were so perfect and innocent together, in the way I first got to love them...

I was also surprised that Lana was so forgiving, although for her during the first season, this probably was the equivalent of a major temper tantrum. :lol:

I'm also glad that Clark made his intentions known to Chloe. While she didn't get her wonderful week, knowing from the start that she never had Clark is probably better for her psyche than what happened on the show... :(

:D :D

Oh, and three (!) updates - are you trying to make the rest of look lazy? :mad:

Originally posted by ajfinn
... the present day mess we call Smallville. Or, ummm, the CW calls Smallville, I mean. Who knows where our REAL show went?
Actually, all of us in Hawaii won't be seeing Smallville this season. :mad:

Somehow the CW and our own cable monopoly here failed to come to an agreement, so we are doing without. I guess I'm boycotting the show whether I want to or not... :mad: :\

So I'm depending on you, Card, to personally give me the fix I need!!

Not that I'm trying to pressure you or anything, though... :lol:

Cardinal

10-02-2006, 07:02 AM

DirecTV or Dish Network.

Otherwise, It's approximately 345 days until the Season 6 DVDs come out in the stores. Of course, this way, you get to avoid Lexana, so maybe you're coming out ahead. :)

that girl

10-02-2006, 07:29 AM

Awww. Poor Chloe. :( I'm always the one who feels bad for Chloe in the midst of Clana goodness, and I guess this is no exception. Can we get some Chlete, maybe, Card? That would make it better. ;)

Meanwhile, Clark and Lana are just too cute. I can't even think of anything more to say about that, they're so cute.

Nell needs to butt out. :mad: She should definently leave it up to Lana to make her own "mistakes." Who is she to decide what Lana wants? :mad: :mad:

Anyway, great update Cardinal, PPMS!

PS. happycamper that is truely uncool. I agree with Cardinal, spring for another provider unless you'd like to avoid the Lexana. *that girl shrugs and leaves the conversation before proving that she has no idea what she's talking about.*

:D

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-02-2006, 07:57 AM

what is dutch treat? and gr8 update!

Cardinal

10-02-2006, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by *#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*
what is dutch treat? and gr8 update!

I thought someone might ask that. It's where two people going out each pay part of the cost. It's often done on a blind date or when friends are going out.

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-02-2006, 08:08 AM

FRIENDS......thanks for the definition!

ajfinn

10-02-2006, 09:24 AM

Very cute, Card. :)

Ahhhhh, what I wouldn't give for sweet Clana again!!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-02-2006, 10:13 AM

same here like in the frist and second epi of season 5 we all wish that we could go back to that way forever!

superman_lives_on

10-02-2006, 10:13 AM

I think we all miss the glory days of Clana, when there was no darkness and stupidity and angst--dang, I HATE that stuff! :mad: But that's all the pale shadow of Smallville that now runs on the CW will give us. :( Thank goodness for authors like you and aj, who know how to do it RIGHT! :D

I loved how Clark and Lana seemed to have a hard time even just saying "see you later" and parting for the night. Those two are cute. :)

Lana was pretty mad at Nell, and rightly so--that woman needs to learn to drop her stupid prejudice against Clark! But at least Lana was willing to forgive her once she apologized. And I loved how Lana described the way she and Clark have become close. :)

I also loved the first scene at the Kent farm--Jonathan and Martha must be so perplexed! :lol:

As for the scene in the barn... Well, it's a good thing that Clark let Chloe down right away--better for her psyche, like hc said. Oh, and I grinned at the mention of Ryan--man, I love that kid! :D

I look forward to what happens next...

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-02-2006, 10:14 AM

same here!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-02-2006, 12:36 PM

ppms

clark&lanafan06

10-02-2006, 03:04 PM

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NYC300Z

10-02-2006, 09:38 PM

Well at least Chloe has the right message! Hopefully it will help Clark fell a bit less akward. I can't wait to see what happens at the dance when/if Lana and Clark dance

PPMS!

superman's my hero

10-03-2006, 05:26 PM

Wowza! I just started reading this today and I'm completely hooked. You managed to take this and make it the perfect clan-licous story that it was meant to be. PPMS!

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-03-2006, 06:53 PM

hooorah!

ginnyfan

10-07-2006, 10:39 PM

OK... You had me up until Chapter 8. At which point my heart sank. I hoped and hoped that Clark would just let it die and that Chloe wouldn't ask... but then chapter 9 came along. I... I'm ashamed to admit it... but I cried. I mean I just imagined Chloe's beaming face and... having the courage to actually ASK CLARK! That's even bigger than it was in the actual episode... Chloe never puts herself in a position to just be rejected like that. She was really putting herself out there to ask... In the actual episode I don't think she would have had the courage to ask so...

My heart went out to Chloe in a huge way. It's so unfair. After all her years (ok not that many...) of pining after Clark... he starts to show a little interest and be more encouraging...

Chloe would NEVER have had the courage to put her heart out there and ask Clark if he hadn't held her hand! ARRRGGH! It's so not fair!

I hope Chloe says no and doesn't go. :(

Or at least... Lana HAS GOT to break up with WHITNEY!!!! Yes! After his father has just died and he tells her he's going to the military and asks her to wait for him. She'd better do it!

OK now that I got that out of my system...wait... no I'm not done!

And there had better be Clana like we've never seen it before!!! There had better be some Clana BLISS!!!!

OK... I'm done. :)

Cardinal I just enjoy your writing so much. It is so easy to read. Just goes down easy. :) I really think you understand the charm of Smallville in its early form better than some of the Writers of Smallville did. LOL!

There are so many things I loved about this story! Clark answering these girly letters is just so HOT!!!

I'm convinced that Nell really did jeopardize Clana in some way during Season 1.

I LOVED Pete's letter. Your writing really makes me miss Pete ALOT! Your characterisations are spot on... I really want Lana and Clark to be happy. :)

Great job! And your prologue is canon IMO. That's exactly how it happened in my Smallville world. LOL!

Your transitioning between events and dialog from the actual episodes into the fan fic are so seamless. I never got that Pete was into politics (while watching the episodes) but that's really cool.

Yeah read this in one sitting. Wonderful job. You're a fantastic writer. Never thought I'd have this much fun reading Clana. But its magic. :)

PPMS :D

Clana227

10-08-2006, 04:12 PM

ppms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kewl

10-11-2006, 08:52 AM

super cool updates card! keep em up! ppms!

SVsleuth

10-12-2006, 07:16 AM

Hey there, Card, it's time for the dance here, isn't it? I know you've been busy with all kinds of sideline stuff ;) but even I'm beginning to get impatient for more LH. :p

Cardinal

10-12-2006, 09:49 AM

I'm working on it. There are probably only 4-6 chapters left in this, depending on how wordy I get. :(

kewl

10-12-2006, 10:00 AM

can't hardly wait for ur next update card! ppms!

Cardinal

10-13-2006, 01:11 PM

Chapter 10 - Realization

A few days after Chloe asked Clark to the dance, Whitney surprised Lana by taking her out for a picnic. He wanted to thank her for staying with him through everything that had happened this year. She let him know that she would never abandon him when he needed her, but her next thought was, Now that you’re doing better, Whitney, I need to start living my own life again.

So when Whitney said, “There’s something I want to tell you,” and then started rummaging through his backpack, Lana panicked. She was afraid he was getting ready to up the ante in their relationship, and she needed to stop him before he said something that would require her to break his heart.

Waving the rose Whitney had just given her like she didn’t quite know what to do with it, Lana said, “Whitney, you know, maybe we should…” Whitney finally found what he was looking for and handed her a carefully folded piece of paper. Looking cautiously at the paper once it was in her hands, Lana asked, “What’s this?”

“Read it,” Whitney replied.

After a quick glance, Lana’s surprised question was, “United States Marine Corps?”

Whitney’s face was filled with pride as he said, “I enlisted.” Lana was shocked, and was having a hard time wrapping her mind around this. Seeing this, Whitney pressed on. “I think it’s the right thing for me to do…when I found my dad’s medals, I felt he was telling me which path I should take.”

“You can’t do this for your father.”

“I’m not. I’m doing it for us.”

Lana’s eyes opened wide as she refocused on Whitney. That statement of his was getting close to what Lana feared: Whitney saw them as having long-term possibilities together.

“Please, don’t be mad,” Whitney said, placatingly.

Flustered, Lana looked back down at Whitney’s enlistment papers and replied, “It’s just so fast. You know? I need some time to process it.”

While Lana tried to think of something more to say, Whitney jumped in and said, “I don’t have a lot of time.” Lana looked back at Whitney, wondering what he could mean. “I ship out for basic training right after graduation.”

Lana was getting visibly upset. This was affecting her more than she would have thought it would.

As earnest as can be, Whitney said, “The only thing I’m gonna miss in Smallville…is you.” He gathered himself and then came to the main point of this show and tell. “Will you wait for me?”

Lana knew it was time, she couldn’t let Whitney go on thinking there was something between them any longer. Steeling herself for the distasteful task, Lana said, “No, Whitney. I can’t wait for you. It’s too early for me to be making a decision like that. I’m only fifteen and you’re asking for a commitment that would take me clear into college…” Lana looked away for a second, gathering the strength to tell him the rest, and the composure to let him down easy. Returning her gaze to his eyes, she added, “…besides, I don’t feel the same way about you that you seem to feel about me. I’m sorry, Whitney, but that’s the way it is.”

Whitney had known Lana might not react well to his enlistment, but this was more than he’d bargained for. He felt like he’d just taken a blow to the solar plexus. He definitely couldn’t speak. Even a simple task like breathing was almost beyond him right now.

Lana waited patiently as it was now Whitney’s turn to need some time to do some processing. Finally, he asked, “So, are you breaking up with me?”

“Umm…yeah,” Lana said reluctantly. “It’s not that I don’t like you, I really do, but…I don’t love you and I don’t think I ever will.”

They spent the rest of their time together talking. Even though he had just been dumped, Whitney still wanted to go to the dance with Lana for old times’ sake. Besides, he already had the tickets and the photo package paid for. Lana was happy to be his escort. She wanted to try to make his last school social event a memorable one.

The next day was Monday and Clark learned after school from Chloe that her dad was seriously considering moving them back to Metropolis in the aftermath of the abrupt closing of the LuthorCorp plant. Clark had offered to allow Chloe to back out of their ‘friends date’ to the Spring Formal, but she wouldn’t hear of it.

Truth to tell, Chloe had thought about canceling, but even knowing Clark still didn’t quite feel about her the way she felt about him, the fact that they were going to the dance together was a definite improvement over the way things had been between them, and Chloe knew she wasn’t the type to give up easily, so she decided to go through with it.

Later that night, Clark was wandering the streets of Smallville, thinking about Chloe’s announcement. While he didn’t want to date her, she was one of his closest friends. True friends were rare and thus very precious to him. Right now, that list had three names on it: Lana, Pete, and Chloe. Losing one-third of his inner circle wasn’t something he wanted to contemplate. Subconsciously looking for comfort, Clark ended up at the Talon where Lana had the late shift.

Seeing Clark’s rugged body leaning against a wooden doorframe, Lana straightened up from wiping down a table and said, “Clark. Out wandering the streets of Smallville?” She could tell he was distracted by something as he walked toward her. “What is it?”

“I just found out that Chloe might be leaving for good,” Clark replied as he walked over to the stairs and sat down. “I’m not sure I really believe it’s true.”

Lana followed him over, sat on a comfy loveseat, and said, “I know what you mean.”

“You do?”

Lana searched for the right words before finally saying, “Whitney’s going off to join the Marines.”

Taken aback, Clark said, “That’s intense.”

“He told me he was doing it for us…asked if I‘d wait for him.”

Even though he thought he knew she liked him, Clark’s heart was in his throat as he asked, “Really? What did you say?”

Looking up at the new guy in her life, Lana said, “I told him I was too young to make that kind of commitment…and then, I told him that I don’t feel the same way about him that he feels about me.” Lana shrugged her shoulders, “Finally, we broke up.”

“It’s weird,” Lana added. “One day he’s worried about his English paper and the next he’s putting on a uniform and saving the world.”

“When’s he head out?”

“The day after graduation. I think he‘s in a hurry to get started on the next phase of his life.”

“Are you two still going to the dance together?” Clark asked.

“Yeah, we decided to go as friends…just like you and Chloe.” Lana thought about the fact that both of their dates were moving away and said, “I can’t believe that both Whitney and Chloe are going to be out of our lives.”

“Me neither.”

“I guess we get left behind, Clark.”

The next day after school, Clark skipped out on the Torch because he had a lot to do at home in addition to his normal homework load. He knew his dad needed him to start work on putting in a new fence and he also needed to handle his Miss Lonely Hearts duties.

When he got home, Jonathan hadn’t come back from the lumber yard with the posts and rails, so Clark headed up to the loft to once again become Miss Lonely Hearts. By now, he was much more comfortable with this job. It had almost become a routine, but he always gave his best effort when it came time to answer the letters. He felt the girls deserved nothing less. Going through the letters one by one, Clark came upon another letter from “Lonesome Lori.” Always eager to hear from her, Clark settled in to read.

Dear Miss Lonely Hearts,

I’m so excited that I hardly know where to start. Miracle of miracles, Corey’s mine!

He came over tonight and asked me to the Spring Formal, right out of the blue. I thought he was still going after Carol, so I had given up hope, but he changed his mind.

I’ve always said that ‘Corey’s not always there when you want him, but he’s always there when you need him,’ and it’s true. Now that I need him, he’s come through for me again.

Thank you for all your advice, Miss Lonely Hearts, you’ve helped me realize that Corey is the guy I really needed to be with. I wish I could meet you just once so I could say ‘Thank you,’ but I guess this letter will have to do.

Yours,

Lonesome Lori

Clark was in a mild panic. When the letter mentioned that ‘Corey’ had come over to ask ‘Lori’ to the dance, he had started to wonder, but when she mentioned the bit about ‘Corey’ always being there when she needed him, the realization that he was a moron hit him like a ton of bricks. ‘Lonesome Lori’ was actually Lana!

Clark rapidly went through each of ‘Lori’s’ letters, looking for clues he might have missed. He slowly beat his forehead against his desk when he saw how clear the parallels were between the Will-Lori-Corey triangle and the triangle between Whitney, Lana, and himself. Clark was berating himself. The names even start with the same letters! How stupid can I be?

And then her second letter, where she was all broken up over the fact that he was going after Chloe, should have been enough to clue anyone in. Anyone, Clark thought, except for the most clueless guy in the universe.

Knowing those letters were from Lana, Clark opened up the rings in the pink folder and took them out. Her letters were then carefully stored in his desk. Those are love letters of a sort, Clark thought, and I want to keep them.

Once the letters were secured, Clark thought back to what they said. This time, he smiled to know that Lana felt the same way about him that he felt about her. It makes everything so much easier for me, Clark thought. I don’t have to worry about rejection. Then, Clark considered his next step. Since Lana poured her heart out to me, it’s only fair that I return the favor. She deserves to know exactly how I feel about her. Maybe I can write a love letter to her.

His duties as Miss Lonely Hearts temporarily forgotten, Clark worked on that first love letter until his dad showed up with the load of lumber.

LuvClana

10-13-2006, 01:34 PM

AMAZING update! I loved it!

superman_lives_on

10-13-2006, 01:58 PM

HAH! Clark finally figured it out! Nice humor! And he's going to tell Lana how he really feels about her... Awww, a love letter...too cute. :) :D

I'm glad that Lana came right out and ended things with Whitney. That's one less sticky situation to worry about. :)

I hope you can post the next chapter soon!

SVsleuth

10-13-2006, 02:01 PM

Super chapter, Card! So Clark realizes he's been a moron, does he? Cool that he'll write Lana a love letter. I wonder how she'll take the news that "Corey" is Miss Lonely Hearts?

So glad Lana and Whitney are over. And Clark and Lana must be SO devastated that they will be left alone to develop their relationship unimpeded. :p ;)

PPMS! Can't wait for the dance...

happycamper

10-13-2006, 02:16 PM

I'm glad Clark finally got at least a bit of a clue. :lol:

But still, Clark and Lana are positioned much better this time around - no mixed feelings or worries about other partners.

And if Clark can continue with at least some honesty, the tornado may lead to a quicker realization of the whole truth.

A truly good job, Card!

:D :D

deanyouk

10-13-2006, 02:42 PM

Brilliant update cardinal

*#~ ClAnAfAn99210~#*

10-13-2006, 03:14 PM

holy crap clark finally got some sense and realized lori was lana!!!

great update card!

NYC300Z

10-13-2006, 06:45 PM

Clark finally gets it lol took three letters and that quote to get it lol oh well it will be cute for him to send a love letter to Lana I bet she'll love it!;)

PPMS!

Nemu

10-13-2006, 07:02 PM

omg! that was good!!!!!

Finally Clark gets it... cant wait for the love letter... and i wonder if he will tell Lana that he is in fact Miss Lonely Heart...

Great chapter Card... PPMS :D

clark&lanafan06

10-13-2006, 07:22 PM

Great Update ! PPMS !!!!!!!!!!!

Cardinal

10-13-2006, 11:03 PM

Chapter 11 - The Dance

Clark and Chloe made their way to the dance in Chloe’s vintage red Ford Falcon due to the fact that Clark’s truck had exploded while he was working on the new fence. They looked resplendent, with Chloe in her dark pink faux Vera Wang strapless gown and Clark in a black tuxedo with black tie and cummerbund.

They hurried to get inside the school building, as the wind from the approaching storm front was really beginning to pick up. Once inside, they met Pete and his date Erica. When Pete asked Chloe to take their picture, Clark leaned back against the wall and watched. Just at that moment, Whitney and Lana came scurrying in. Whitney, like Pete, was dressed in a black tux with a red tie and cummerbund. But it was Lana that commanded Clark’s full attention. She looked glorious in a blood-red spaghetti-strapped dress that ended at her knees. Clark had been taken completely by surprise and could not stop staring at her as she and Whitney walked up to say hello.

“Hi, Clark,” Lana said cheerily. “You look nice tonight.”

Before Clark could manage to come up with a reply, Chloe saw Lana and dragged her off so Pete could take a picture of them.

Whitney stayed back with Clark and sized up the guy he had seen as his main competition for Lana all year. Finally, he said, “Hey, Clark, I’m glad you could make it to this dance.”

“Yeah, me too,” Clark replied, “though that is a lot easier when I’m not tied up like a scarecrow.”

“Listen, Clark. About that. You and I have had a weird year. I started out thinking you just wanted to steal Lana. I’m not trying to make excuses, but, I did some things I’m not proud of.” Holding his hand out, Whitney said, “I’m sorry, Clark.”

Clark could hear the sincerity in Whitney’s voice, so he clasped Whitney’s hand, and, as he shook it, said, “I appreciate that.”

The girls made their way back to their dates, and seeing the handshake, wondered what that was all about. Using different words but meaning the same thing, the guys took their dates by the arm and, as they led them to the gymnasium, said roughly, “Nothing much, just guy talk.”

Lex had originally planned to have Remy Zero play as live entertainment, but they had to bow out the day before when their singer came down with laryngitis. Ever resourceful, as only the truly wealthy can be, Lex immediately arranged for the top DJ in Metropolis to take Remy Zero’s place and had the man’s equipment trucked to Smallville and installed in plenty of time.

When the newcomers entered the gym, the music was already going and the students were dancing to a pulsating beat. The guy would play anything, from House to Techno, from Alternative Rock to Country. Anything went as long as it was danceable.

The guys were looking for their friends and for the refreshment tables, but the girls pulled them out onto the floor for some brisk-paced dancing. A few songs later, Chloe and Clark left the dance floor to get some punch and talk to friends. Clark saw Lana chatting animatedly a few feet away. She felt someone’s eyes on her and looked around slowly, smiling when she saw Clark.

Clark’s hand involuntarily pressed up against the outside of his tuxedo jacket, feeling for the reassuring presence of the white envelope that was stashed there. Inside that envelope was a letter that he planned on giving to Lana tonight, a letter that would tell her everything he thought and most importantly, everything he felt about her.

The next hour was one of exquisite torture for Clark and Lana. They were attentive to their dates, but were always on the lookout for a momentary glance and a quick smile before moving on. Finally, Clark slid next to Lana as she stood by the punch bowl and said, “Make sure you're free for the next song.”

Playing dumb, Lana asked, "Why would I ever want to do that, Clark?”

“Because, Lex told the DJ that I would be asking for a special song and that it would be worth his while to honor my request. I just went up and asked, and the song, my song, and hopefully our song, is up next. So I’m coming to collect that dance you owe me.”

Whatever Lana had been thinking about before that moment went straight out the window. All she could think about now was her Prince Charming…even if their budding relationship was still on the sly right now.

When the fast-paced song currently being played ended, Clark walked up to Lana on cue, held out his hand, and asked, “Lana, may I have this next dance?”

Even though this was all pre-arranged, there was still an element of fear in his eyes that Lana could plainly see. She found that to be endearing, and she replied, “I thought you’d never ask.” Linking hands, they walked onto the dance floor with Clark using his larger body to clear a path for her. Once they reached a somewhat-open piece of the dance floor, they turned to face each other, and months of anticipation came to a head.

Clark’s strong, sure farmer’s hands, hands that always seemed to know what they were doing, were confounded when presented with Lana’s petite red-clad body. He felt like nothing more than a fumble-fingered little boy in her presence. Lana took pity on him as the music started, placing his right hand on her waist, and placing her right hand in his left one as her left hand snaked up his right bicep to rest on his shoulder. The song was slow and soft, and Lana recognized it immediately. Clark had asked for “Everything” by Lifehouse.

“Everything” - Lifehouse

Find me here, speak to me
I want to feel you, I need to hear you
You are the light that's leading me to the place
Where I find peace again
You are the strength that keeps me walking
You are the hope that keeps me trusting
You are the light to my soul
You are my purpose
You're everything

As the song worked it’s way through the first verse, Clark and Lana were in their own little world. Their eyes had fused, jade green to hazel, as they took the first tentative steps of their new relationship.

Clark had a small confession to make as they danced. “You know, Lana, this is the second time we’ve danced to this song.”

“Huh?”

“I’m not kidding. We danced to this song in my loft on the night of Homecoming after I wasn’t able to get to the dance on time. You saved a dance for me and came up to see that I got it.” Seeing the slight confusion in her eyes, Clark then added, “Of course, that was all in my mind while I heard you get dropped off at home after the Homecoming dance was over.”

“Oh,” Lana said dreamily, “it sounds like you have the best imagination.”

“Not really. My wildest dreams are only pale shadows of what I’m feeling right now.”

As they continued to circle slowly, Lana replied, “I think you’re right. Wishes and dreams are only second best.”

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
You calm the storms and you give me rest
You hold me in your hands
You won't let me fall
You still my heart, and you take my breath away
Would you take me in take me deeper now

As the song progressed, they pulled each other close, Lana nestled her head onto the front of Clark’s shoulder, and Clark adjusted his grip, wrapping his right arm completely around Lana‘s back in an unconscious statement of possession.

They weren’t the only ones focused on their dance. Both Chloe and Whitney were watching intently and after less than half a song, they both came to the same conclusion: whatever that indefinable ‘it’ is, Clark and Lana have ‘it,’ and they have ‘it’ in spades.

Whitney just kind of shook his head. Here’s another reason Lana dumped me, he thought. She looks at Clark in a way that she has never looked at me before. He thought he ought to be mad, but curiously, he wasn’t. He knew that while Lana had been there for him during his father’s long illness, Clark had been there for her. He had been her boyfriend in all but name, and now, it appeared he was adding the name.

Besides, Whitney realized Lana was right. It had been selfish of him to want a high school freshman to make the most important decision of her life. Maybe he’d come back after his five-year commitment was up and see if she was still the girl he wanted. They might both be drastically different by then.

Chloe was less willing to let Clark go, but even she couldn’t fight what was right in front of her face. She teared up, knowing that she would have to wait in line behind Lana once again.

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

Cause you're all I want,
You're all I need
You're everything…everything

You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything…everything

You're all I want
You're all I need
You're everything…everything

You're all I want
You're all I need
Everything…everything

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better any better than this

And how can I stand here with you
And not be moved by you
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this

When the dance finally ended, Lana’s head stayed on Clark’s shoulder and he was in no hurry to get rid of her. Other couples moved around them, but they just stayed in place. The DJ was taking a ten minute break, but neither Clark nor Lana knew or cared. Eventually, Lana raised her head and pulled back just enough to see Clark’s eyes again.

“Why aren’t we moving?” she asked, her mind trapped by the sparkling jade of his eyes.

Clark was just as caught as she was. Her hazel irises held him spellbound as he said, “I don’t know, but I like it.”

Not only were they not moving away from each other, but, almost imperceptibly, they were edging closer. Bit by bit, they moved in until one person’s breath out was the other’s breath in. Their eyes fluttered closed, and their breaths were shallow and ragged in anticipation of their first kiss. They weren’t disappointed.

It was soft, warm, and sweet with just a hint of passion. It lingered long enough to satiate their immediate hunger, but was short enough to leave them plenty to explore in the future. When they came up for air, Clark finally led Lana to the side where they took a pair of seats as far from everyone else as Clark could manage.

“What are we doing over here, Clark?”

Fear of Lana’s possible reaction to what he was about to say caused Clark’s heart to try and hammer its way out of his chest. He was surprised she wasn’t able to hear its pounding from where she was sitting.

“There’s something I need to confess to you, and I need to do it tonight.”

Curious, but sure Clark hadn’t done anything bad, Lana asked, “What?”

“Umm…well, Corey likes Lori just as much as she likes him.”

“Run that by me again, please?”

Lana was sure she had heard correctly, but couldn’t believe that Miss Lonely Hearts would've told Clark if she had figured out who Lori was…unless Miss Lonely Hearts was Chloe, but then, Chloe would’ve told her to forget about ‘Corey’ and stick with ‘Will.’

“Please don’t get mad until I explain everything,” Clark begged, “but, I am Miss Lonely Hearts.”