Graphic Design of Love
“Clark” a female voice called out to a tall dark haired young man working near a blazing fire.
“Wha” Clark said before turning and coming face-to-face with his professor.
“Clark, how’s it going?” The older woman asked Clark with a smile on her face.
“Fine” Clark said before grabbing the ring and showing it to his professor.
“Very nice, and the reason why you don’t major in art?” The woman asked wondering how on earth such talent could be in a different major.
“Uh” Clark didn’t know what to say; he had always figured that he was more of a math and science person and not an art and humanities person.
“Clark don’t worry about it” the woman said before walking over to where another student sat looking worried about her project for the class. Once Clark knew that she was far enough away he looked at the ring and the small hieroglyphs that were on the ring and a small smile gracing his lips.
“One day” Clark said before wrapping the ring up and locking it up before leaving the class.
~One Month Later~
“Lex” Clark said after taking a deep breath and letting it out. ‘Today is the day’ Clark thought before patting at his right pocket, checking to see if the item he placed there was still sitting there.
“Clark” Lex said with a warm smile on his face. Clark walked toward Lex and got as close as he could before digging in his pocket and bending down on one knee.
“Lex, you are my best friend and are part of my family. I want to make you an official Kent. Will you marry me?” Clark said holding out the ring that he had finished just a few short weeks ago.
“Clark” Lex said with a look of disbelief on his face.
“Lex” Clark said getting a bit worried when Lex didn’t answer right away.
“What made you this to do this?” Lex said still stunned that Clark had romantic feelings for him.
“I….I” Clark started out before realizing that Lex wouldn’t say yes, even with a reason.
“Clark” Lex said his voice taking on a hard edge to it.
“I thought that there was more” Clark said swallowing back the tears and humiliation he felt.
“Clark, we are just friends. We have to stay just friends or my father will do all in his power to keep us apart even as friends.” Lex said before shaking his head at the scene that Clark had made.
“So no Clark, I won’t marry you” Lex said before turning his back on Clark and picking up the phone to call a client. Clark watched Lex’s back before deciding that if Lex let his father run his life, then maybe he didn’t want to be with the older man.
“If you want to please your father that much Lex, then maybe we weren’t meant to be more than friends.” Clark said before speaking one last time for before moving toward the door.
“Right, sorry to have bothered you about this.” Clark said before making his way to the door trying to hold back the tears that were about ready to fall down his face, due to the humiliation and pain that he felt from Lex’s rejection.
“Oh and Clark…..” Lex said making Clark stop but not turn around.
“Yeah”
“Friends” was all Lex said before Clark walked out of the room and the building before allowing the tears to spill from his eyes.
“How stupid could I be? Why would Lex want to be with me, the freak dork?” Clark mumbled to himself as he made his way back to Metropolis University. Once he arrived back to his room and noticed all the things that Lex had gotten him for his first year of college, and he wanted to throw them against a wall but didn’t; knowing that he would return them to Lex if the promise of “friendship” didn’t happen.
~Two Days Later~
“May I speak with Lex?” Clark spoke into the phone.
“May I tell him who is calling?”
“Clark Kent” Clark said wondering on if this would be the end of their friendship.
“I’m sorry Mr. Kent, but Mr. Luthor is in with a client now. Would you like to leave a message?” A female voice asked Clark over the phone.
“Uh sure” Clark said while waiting for the woman to transfer him to Lex’s voice mail.
“This is Lex Luthor, leave a detailed message with a name and phone number and I will get back to you as soon as possible.” Lex voice said to Clark on the phone. A beep was then heard and Clark began to start speaking.
“Lex, its Clark I was just calling to see if you still wanted to go to the Fort Minor concert that is on Friday night. Let me know” Clark said before hanging up the phone and wondering on if Lex would really call him back; the next day Clark found himself beginning to wonder on if he should even try to contact Lex again about the concert, they had spoken at length about the concert and that Lex would actually be excited to go since Fort Minor was one of the groups that Lex liked from Clark’s taste in music.
Friday night before the concert Clark knew that Lex wasn’t going to come with him even after he had promised to come weeks ago, before his confession and proposal
“Guess I can take Ty with me.” Clark said mumbling to himself about who he should take since he had an extra ticket for the concert.
“Duuude” a male’s voice said outside of Clark’s door.
“Ty” Clark said with a smile on his face. Ty could always make him smile with his surfer lingo, even though he was born and raised in Kansas with no waves and no surfers.
“So where is baldy?”
“Busy, he can’t come to the concert. You wanna come?” Clark said holding out the ticket for Ty.
“You know it” Ty said grabbing the ticket and then following Clark out the resident hall.
~Two Days Later~
Clark sat in the library at a computer terminal wondering on if writing Lex an e-mail would do any better than the phone messages he kept leaving on Lex’s voice mail.
From: CJL0012@metu.edu
Subject: How are you?
Lex,
I haven’t heard from you in a while, have you been busy working things for your father? I just wanted to say that I miss talking to you these last few days and wanted to just say that I still want to be your friend and you don’t have to avoid me. I won’t do anything to you, I know how you really feel and I will respect that, but please just don’t shut me out. That is all I’m asking for.
Clark
Clark read the e-mail and knew that it sounded needy but with no response from Lex about his voice mails, Clark was willing to beg to get the older man to speak to him.
“I sound like such a dork in that e-mail” Clark said before opening up another web browser and looking at some colleges away from Metropolis and Lex. The next day Clark was sitting in the common room talking to Ty when Josh walked in with a paper in his hand and shock on his face.
“Luthor is sooooo lucky” Josh said while looking at the picture that was on the front page of the newspaper.
“What are you talking about?” Ty said wondering what had Josh all bent out of shape. When he took a look he knew, for there on the front page of the Daily Planet was Lex Luthor with a girl that looked suspiciously like Lana Lang.
“Hey Clark” Josh said while still looking and reading about the woman in the picture.
“Yeah”
“Do you know a girl named Lana Lang?”
“Sure, we went to high school together. Why?” Clark said knowing that he was not going to like the answer that Josh was about to give him.
“Well it seems that she and Luthor went to a gallery opening last night. Boy is she hot; if I had money like Luthor I would pick her too.” Josh said not noticing the color drain from Clark’s face at the mention of who Lex was with last night. Ty and Josh both got to talking about girls and who they would go with to events if they had money or were famous. Clark stood up and left the room, while mumbling to him self.
“Friends my ass” Clark said getting angry at himself for believing the words that Lex spoke.
“Should have listened to dad, Luthor never tell the truth” Clark said still mumbling to himself as he packed up all the items that Lex had given to him as gifts.
“Don’t want him to think I took advantage of him” Clark said snidely while throwing things into boxes while trying to hold back tears. It was while in mid rant about Luthors and friendships that the phone rang.
“Hello” Clark said hoping that Lex was on the other side so that he could prove to his father and himself that Lex was better than Lionel.
“Clark, dear” Martha said worried that he son would be hurt by the photo in the Daily Planet.
“Mom” Clark said slumping his shoulders and sighing deeply.
“Are you alright dear?” Martha asked worried even more that Clark was hurt deeply by the photograph.
“Fine mom” Clark said trying to lie to his mother about how he was.
“Don’t you dare lie to me young man” Martha said in her no nonsense mother voice. It was then that Clark broke down and began to cry.
“Clark, honey” Martha said hoping that her son would calm down enough to tell her what was going on.
“It hurts mom” Clark wailed out as the tears flowed freely.
“What does” Martha said already going towards the kitchen to get her purse for the drive to Metropolis.
“He rejected me and then, and then Lana of all people” Clark said not really making a lot of sense to Martha.
“Clark, calm down” Martha said sitting at the kitchen table willing her son to calm down
“Okay” Clark said taking another deep breath before letting it out again.
“Now honey tell me what is going on”
“I asked….I asked Lex to marry me and he said no, and if that wasn’t enough he said we could be friends but he won’t return my calls or e-mails. I don’t know what else to do and then today they are talking about how Lex went to a gallery opening and that the lady on his arm was Lana.” Clark said finally able to speak to someone about what Lex had done.
“Oh honey” Martha said not at all shocked that Clark had asked Lex to marry him. She had seen in Clark’s eyes the fire, happiness and love that would ignite when Lex was around.
“He said we could be friends….I could, I *can* live with that but …” Clark said trailing off not wanting to finish the rest of the sentence.
“Clark maybe you need to move on, now I know you don’t want to hear that but I think you should consider it. Lex has been a good friend to you for this time in your life, but it seems that feelings have developed that are not returned so maybe it is time to look into cutting all ties and moving on. And honey I know you don’t want to hear that, but I think it is something you must hear.” Martha said trying to make her son understand that he couldn’t make Lex return his feelings or even respond to him and if that was the case then Clark just needed to move on. Some friendships were just that way, and this seemed to be one of them even though she had thought that Lex was better than his father, Lionel Luthor.
“You know mom, I think…I *know* you are right. I was just packing up all the things that Lex gave me for graduation. I won’t keep them, I just can’t keep them.” Clark said looking at the stuff in the box that Clark had picked up one day while walking home.
“I know it hurts dear but I think it is for the best, at least for right now.” Martha said sighing due to the pain she could feel rolling off her son.
“Mom, I need to get away” Clark said sitting on his bed and wondering if going home in the middle of the semester was a good idea.
“Now young man you will not come back here and not finish your education. You will continue to go to school.”
“But where? We don’t have enough money to send me to college; the only reason why I am here is because my scholarship Lex made up for me.” Clark said regretting even more the confession and proposal that he did.
“Well have you thought about maybe going to Arcadia University at Neptune?”
“You think they will let me in now? It would be one semester in…” Clark said thinking about the merit of what his mother said.
“It would be, but the scholarship you got there was for something that you enjoy doing. I say go for it…” Martha said already thinking up things that Clark would really need if he was to go to Arcadia.
“I think I will write Dr. Mauro and see if that scholarship for me still stands.” Clark said almost excited about going to Arcadia.
“You do that and call us the minute you know something” Martha said before Clark and she said their goodbyes. As soon as Clark got off the phone with his mother he made a bee-line to the library to write Dr. Mauro about the scholarship.
From: CJK0012@Metu.edu
Subject: Scholarship still stands
Dr. Mauro,
This is Clark Kent from Smallville, Kansas, you met with me briefly during the first half of my senior year. You stated that if I ever changed my mind about colleges to just write you, so here I am writing you. I have been at Metropolis University and I find that it’s not what I am looking for. I would love to attend your University, but due to my financial situation I am unable to go any where I may want to attend. Is it possible that your scholarship still stands for me to come to your University?
Warm Regards,
Clark Kent
Clark smiled at the e-mail and hoped that the man would write back in a positive manner. It was while Clark was checking his e-mail one last time before leaving the library that he saw the response from Dr. Mauro.
To: CJK0012@metu.edu
From: Robert.Mauro@aun.edu
Subject: Re: Scholarship still stands
Clark,
Good to hear from you again. I had hoped that I would see you this fall but alas I did not, but I am going to try and rectify that immediately. The scholarship was not given to any one else, so in answer to your question; yes you can come here and receive the same scholarship that we offered you before you started your first year. You will of course need to apply for spring semester here, and I will send you the spring course listing so that you may choose your classes prior to getting here. I will let the Dean and Admissions know that you will be re-applying and will receive the scholarship.
If you don’t mind my asking, is there a reason on why you changed your mind?
Robert Mauro
Clark’s mouth dropped open at the reply. He had hoped that Dr. Mauro would give him the scholarship but he didn’t expect to get it due to it being in the middle of a semester.
“Wow” Clark said as he re-read the e-mail and got to writing a response.
From: CJK0012@metu.edu
Subject: Re: Scholarship still stands
Dr. Mauro,
I thank you for the opportunity you are giving me at your university. As for why I changed my mind, it is a mixture of things. The first is that Metropolis University does not have the excellent Graphic Design major that Arcadia has. I had honestly thought that I would like to major in journalism, but after taking a class in the major I decided that it wasn’t for me. I am more a graphics person as well as a computer person so when all you did is write, I found myself re-evaluating what I wanted to do. The second is that my best friend is residing in Metropolis. I had thought it would great to see them everyday, but alas I made a very stupid confession and now the friendship is no more. So I really don’t have much reason to still be in Metropolis. The third and final is that this is an amazing opportunity that is being given to me and I want to take it and show that I have the skill and talent it takes to make it in the computer graphic design world. I know some of my reasons are more personal than you probably wanted to know but hey they are my reasons.
See you soon!
Clark Kent
With that Clark sent off the e-mail and made his way back to his dorm room to finish filling the box for Lex. The next day Clark made his way over to building where Lex’s penthouse was location.
“May I help you?” A woman said looking over Clark and the box he had in his hands.
“I would like to drop this off for Mr. Luthor.” Clark said raising the box in question.
“Let me call Mr. Luthor’s and see if he is home” the woman said before dialing a number and waiting for an answer. A moment later the woman spoke:
“Someone will be down for you” the woman said with a smile. 5 minutes later a tall Italian looking man came toward Clark.
“Mr. Kent” the man asked Clark with a serious tone in his voice.
“Yes” Clark said worried that the man was going to physically remove him.
“Come with me” the man said walking away from the front desk and toward the elevators that would take them to the penthouse.
“I just wanted to give this stuff back” Clark said lifting the box to show the other man.
“I know; you will need to give those items to Suzanna.” The man said while they rode the elevator up to the penthouse.
“Oh okay” Clark said and then rode the rest of the way to the penthouse in silence. The ding of the elevator woke Clark out of his thoughts of whether or not Lex would be there.
“Clark” a woman said in a warm tone and with a smile on his face.
“Hi, Suzanna” Clark said coming over to where the woman stood.
“What’s this?” Suzanna asked looking at the box and the items within.
“I’m returning these items to Mr. Luthor” Clark said with his voice breaking at the end of the sentence.
“Oh my” Suzanna said looking over to the tall Italian. The man nodded his head with a sad look on his face.
“Enrique could you take Clark into the den so that we can see what he is returning?” Suzanna asked before making her way to the kitchen, so that she could calm herself down from the anger she had toward her employer.
“Of course” the man said before leading Clark and the box of items into the den. Once they arrived to the den, Clark sat down in the chair and waited for Suzanna to come back. It was a few minutes later that Clark asked about where Lex was.
“Where is L..Mr. Luthor?” Clark said stumbling over Lex’s name.
“Master Lex is in a meeting and can’t be disturbed.”
“Oh okay” Clark said clearly not believing what the man in front of him had just said.
“Okay then” Suzanna said as she wiped her hands on the apron that was wrapped around her waist.
“How about you show us and we can put them where they should be” Suzanna said thinking that Clark had borrowed the items and was just returning them.
“Suzanna” Clark said already knowing what she was thinking,
“Yes” Suzanna said hands reaching into the box for a peek.
“I am not returning these because I borrowed them. I am returning them because L…Mr. Luthor gave me these items and since we are no longer friends I am returning them, I don’t want him to say that I took advantage of him.” Clark said sadly, knowing that Suzanna would go crazy once she heard the complete explanation.
“What!” Was yelled by the small framed older woman.
“I don’t want to repeat myself” Clark said in a whisper hoping that Suzanna would just let things drop and let him leave in peace.
“Unacceptable” Suzanna said before dropping the subject and looking at what Clark had brought back. It was twenty minutes later that Clark got to the last item that he was going to return.
“This is the last thing” Clark said pulling out of the cell phone that was in his pocket. Lex had given it to him during his junior year at Smallville High, but Clark would not keep it.
“Clark, your cell phone?” Suzanna asked wondering on what had happened between the two that Clark would be returning all of the gifts that Lex had given him since the beginning of their friendship.
“Le….Mr. Luthor pays the bill and I don’t want him to think that I am taking advantage of him, since we are no longer friends.” Clark said his voice cracking to the point that Suzanna and Enrique both wanted to go over to Clark and comfort him.
“I understand” Suzanna said taking the phone and setting it with the accessories that she had already been given.
“I’ll miss you” Clark said hugging Suzanna and then backing away and towards the door.
“Let Enrique let you out” Suzanna said with tears running down her face. She couldn’t believe the nerve of Lex to do something like that to Clark. She had always thought that if someone would get Lex out of following his father’s footsteps it would have been Clark, but it seems that not even Clark was safe from Lionel Luthor and Lex trying to please him. Clark waved to Suzanna as he opened the door with Enrique following behind quietly.
“I want to say thank you Enrique” Clark said shaking the quiet Italian’s hand.
“It was a pleasure to see you when you were here.” Enrique said in a think accent.
“I must say that I will miss both you and Suzanna, but I will try and keep in touch. Kay?” Clark said as they both made their way to the front desk of the building.
“Please do, I don’t think that Suzanna will take no for an answer on that.” Enrique said with a small smile on his face about the small framed woman.
“And you make sure to tell Suzanna how you feel, maybe ours will work out better than mine.” Clark said a sad smile on his face at the thought of someone finding love that wasn’t him. He had so hoped that Lex had returned his feeling, but he had sadly been mistaken.
“I will” Enrique said before pulling Clark in a hug and then letting him go.
“Good bye Master Kent” Enrique said for last time.
“Bye Enrique” Clark said before turning around the leaving the penthouse building without a backwards glance. Clark knew if he looked back that he wouldn’t want to walk away and that was what he couldn’t do, stay. Clark continued going to class at Metropolis University hoping that he could finish up his semester and then move on without having Lex contact him. It seemed that Chloe Sullivan on the other hand, had other ideas of him leaving quietly.
“Clark” Chloe called to him while in the common area that was in the main building for the university.
“Chloe” Clark said with a small smile on his face. If Chloe was good for one thing, it was making Clark smile.
“Have you seen the Daily Planet today?” Chloe asked her friend wondering on how Clark would react to the headline that was printed on the front page.
“No” Clark said before wincing at the reaction he would be getting from Chloe.
“No, and you are going to be a journalism major? That is just unacceptable.” Chloe said hands on her hips and staring at Clark as if he had a second head.
“Ummm” Clark said not wanting to break the news of his transfer to Chloe quite yet.
“We will talk about that later, but the front page” Chloe said changing the subject back to the headline that she just couldn’t believe was true.
“So what’s it say?” Clark said wondering on if this had something to do with the Lex and Lana Luthor headlines that seemed to be more and more common. Chloe grabbed her copy of the paper and slammed it down on the table that Clark was at studying for finals. Once the paper was down Clark saw what had Chloe in a tizzy, for there on the front of the Daily Planet were the words; ‘Lex Luthor to wed small town princess?’ Clark at this point wasn’t surprised, so when he spoke his words it was an amazed Chloe that greeted his response.
“So? This isn’t anything new”
“You mean it’s true?” Chloe said with hope in her voice that she would now have a chance to set Clark up with other guys since Lana had taken Lex off the market.
“Couldn’t tell you, I haven’t spoken to Lex for over two months”
“Two months? Has he been busy or something?” Chloe said getting confused by the lack of emotion that Clark spoke of not only Lex but of not speaking to the older man.
“Chloe” Clark said with a sigh, he really didn’t want to get into why he and Lex were not on speaking terms but if this would end her idea that if he saw her as more than a friend he would be in love with her, than it would be almost worth the hurt that he was bound to inflict on both himself and Chloe.
“Come on Clark you can tell me anything, we are best friends” Chloe said sitting down at the table and wondering on what was going on between Lex and Clark.
“Lex and I are no longer friends” Clark started out, only to have Chloe cut in.
“What, why?”
“Well I did something that I shouldn’t have and the result was us no longer being friends. Even after the; we’ll still be friends.” Clark said hoping that Chloe wouldn’t ask him what he did, but knowing she would ask.
“What did you do that would be so bad as to end your friendship with him?” Chloe ask confused on how anyone would end a friendship with Clark.
“I made a confession that was not well received” Clark said knowing that Chloe would put one and one together.
“You mean you finally told him you are in love with him?” Chloe said knowing that this would be the only thing that would end their friendship.
“How….what…..yeah” Clark said stunned that Chloe already knew the answer.
“Clark, I love you….like a brother that I never had so when I notice my brother in love I figure out who it is with. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that it was Lex.” Chloe said shaking her head at the pain that she could see written on Clark’s face at the mention of Lex.
“Chloe” Clark said before reaching across the table and squeezing her hand.
“Clark” Chloe said watching as Clark averted his eyes. She knew that he had done something, now it was just a matter of figuring out how to get what it was out of Clark.
“Clark” Chloe said again watching as Clark shook his head in a ‘no’ pattern.
“Clark tell me” Chloe said now worried that Clark was going to do something stupid because of his rejection from Lex.
“Chloe….after this semester I will not be a Met U freshman” Clark said before sighing at the look of horror on his best friend’s face.
“What? Are you stupid?” Chloe said standing up and bringing attention to the two of them.
“What?! No, sit down” Clark whispered to the standing Chloe. Chloe sat while waiting for Clark to answer her.
“I’m going to Arcadia University at Neptune, like I should have done from the
beginning” Clark said now proud to be leaving Metropolis and Kansas behind for
his education.
“Arcadia…isn’t that the place that has the awesome graphic design degree that you wanted?”
“Yeah” Clark said glad that Chloe had remembered when he had spoken for days about the college and the degree. Lex had taken a passing glance at the college deemed it unworthy of Clark’s attendance and had “created” a scholarship that would keep Clark close to him. Clark should have seen the signs that Lex only wanted control over him, but he had been so in love with Lex that he didn’t notice or chose not to notice. Clark wasn’t sure which, but he knew that; that had to be the reason why Lex had done what he had.
“So when do you leave?” Chloe said sad and happy that Clark was doing something for him for once.
“After my last exam, I am going back to Smallville and then to Arcadia a few days after the New Year.” Clark said remembering the letter that his mother had read to him over the phone about when and where he would need to arrive.
“Good for you” Chloe said with her mind already thinking of ways to be close to Clark while he was gone.
“Well you do have the laptop to keep in touch right?”
“No” Clark said looking at the table top as he answered.
“What? Clark what in the world is going on?” Chloe said now really confused.
“I was not going to keep that or any of the stuff Lex gave me. I don’t want him to say that the only reason why I was his friends was because he had money.” Clark said knowing that Chloe knew how Lex got when people only wanted to be in his life for his money.
“Good call, I think” Chloe said before remembering an item that she so hoped he hadn’t returned.
“You didn’t return the cell phone did you? Please tell me you didn’t.” Chloe said looking at Clark with her best puppy dog eyes. Clark had to laugh because she really did look like a sad puppy.
“That too” Clark said watching as Chloe face morphed into anger.
“I’m going to kill him” Chloe said thinking of a way to kill Lex without getting caught.
“No you won’t, he isn’t worth it” Clark said watching as Chloe’s face changed from angry to pensive.
“So how are we going to keep in contact? Do I need to add you to our plan?” Chloe said wondering if her dad would be cool with them adding Clark so that they could keep in touch.
“It would be nice, but mom and dad might already have some thing in the works.” Clark said shrugging his shoulders.
“We’ll see, so do you really think that they are you know…..together?” Chloe said changing the subject to that of Lana Lang.
“Dunno, but I think things will end badly for both when that time comes.” Clark said straighten the pile of notes he had for his second exam of the week.
“Why do you say that?” Chloe asked truly curious on what Clark’s thoughts were on the matter.
“Well, Lana wants to be with Lex because a) he has millions or if you believe Forbes Magazine billions, b) he will get her out of Smallville and into the posh life she so thinks she deserves and c) she thinks that it will make whoever she is trying to make jealous actually jealous. As for Lex, well a) because it is a woman and his father would approve, b) because it is a hit at me since I was to be “in love” with her and c) to gain his father’s approval. Lex has told me on multiple occasions that Lionel feels that Lana Lang would be the perfect wife, well it seems that Lex is taking that advice.” Clark said shaking his head at the reasons he just gave Chloe and how right they felt saying them.
“Clark” Chloe said with her mouth hanging open before snapping it shut. It was while they both sat there thinking of the words that were spoken that one of the people in question arrived to their table with a huge smile and on diamond around her neck.
“Lana” Chloe said knowing that Clark wouldn’t greet the woman that had stolen Lex from him.
“Chloe, Clark so good to see you both. I have been just so busy with events that Lex takes me to that I haven’t really had a chance to sit down with you both and tell you the news that I am seeing Lex.” Lana said with a smile on her face that made both of then want to vomit.
“Well congratulations” Chloe said hoping that Clark would say something to Lana.
“Thanks” Lana said before looking to Clark for some sort of encouragement from him.
“That’s great news” Clark said hoping that Lana wouldn’t want much else because he really wasn’t in the mood to stroke her overly large pink ego, right now.
“Thanks Clark, it means a lot to me.” Lana said watching Clark to see if there was any jealousy in his eyes at the relationship she had with Lex. Clark only nodded his head and continued reading for his exams.
“We should do something together, just the four of us” Lana said hoping that Chloe and Clark would agree.
“Sure why not” Chloe said kicking Clark under the table so that he didn’t make any bad comments about Lana and Lex.
“Okay, well let me check with Lex and give you a call” Lana said before waving and making her way to the penthouse in what was Clark’s opinion.
“Well wasn’t that nice of her?” Chloe said with a smirk on her face. She had seen the look that Lana had been giving Clark.
“Sure, whatever” Clark said pulling on the thin chain that held the ring that Clark had made Lex.
“What’s that?” Chloe questioned pointing to the ring and chain.
“Uh” Clark said not wanting to say anything about the ring since Chloe would really know what had happened between them both.
“It’s too late to lie to me Clark, what is it?” Chloe said while watching as Clark pulled the semi-long chain out of his shirt before she noticed a ring on it.
“Clark” Chloe said looking at Clark confirming what she was seeing.
“It’s the ring that I asked Lex to marry me with, didn’t go so well obviously.” Clark said with a sad smile on his face and making a weak laugh come out of his mouth. He had hoped that Lex was in love with him as completely as Clark was with him, but he had been proven wrong or at least he now knew that Lionel Luthor’s approval meant more to Lex then true love.
“Clark you didn’t” Chloe said tears forming in her eyes for her friend.
“Yeah, don’t worry though. I have exactly three days before my days as a Met U freshman are done.” Clark said before getting up and waving to Chloe as she sat stunned in a chair at the table.
“What have you done Lex Luthor?” Chloe said before her eyes narrowed at the thoughts that ran through her mind. Oh she would make him pay and in the worse way, for she knew that Lex would realize that Lionel Luthor would never be happy with his son but when Lex realized that, he would want to find Clark and apologize. Well if Clark was not at Met U or even in the town of Smallville, Lex would have a manhunt for the younger man and that is where Chloe would slow him down. She didn’t want Clark jumping back into Lex’s world only to be pushed aside again when the betrayal of Lionel Luthor would hurt Lex. With those thoughts Chloe nodded her head before standing up and making her way to her dorm room to study for the rest of her exams.
~Clark’s Dorm Room~
“Clark, when did you return everything?” Martha Kent asked her son over the phone.
“A week ago” Clark said his voice cracking just a bit, having to talk about what he had done a week ago still hurt.
“And the ring” Martha said hoping that he son would recover from the blow that Lex laid on him.
“Around my neck on a chain” Clark said while grabbing the chain and ring in question.
“Honey” Martha said wanting to hug her son.
“I’ll be okay” Clark said trying to sound strong for his mother.
“No you won’t, but that’s okay you will be” Martha said before changing the subject to the going ons in Smallville.
“Love you” Martha said before hanging up the phone and then hoping that Clark would not let Lex get him down too much. Clark hung up the phone with a sad smile on his face, he would miss being so close to his parents but he couldn’t stand to be so close to not only Lex but it seemed Lana now as well. Clark was thrown from his thought by his phone ringing again.
“Hello?”
“Clark” Lana’s voice came through the phone.
“Hi Lana” Clark said sighing about the girl on the other side.
“I just got off the phone with Chloe and wanted to invite you to the small get together at Lex’s.” Clark could hear that she was grinning and it made Clark want to cry all the more.
“Oh sounds great, but I am going to have to check with mom to see if we don’t have something going on.” Clark said hoping his mother would be able to help him out on this.
“Oh Martha already knows and has accepted so you should come.” Clark swore under his breath before saying be would think about it and then getting the pink princess off the phone as soon as possible. Clark waited to call his parents for a couple of hours hoping that he could figure out whether or not he should go to the party.
“Clark” Martha said surprised her son was calling back so quickly.
“Lana called and told me about some party at Lex’s….” Clark trailed off at the end, he didn’t need to tell his mother that he didn’t want to go but he didn’t want to be rude and not go.
“Yes, she invited us. It almost seemed that she knew that if we were not going that you would not show up.” Martha said thinking on if Lana Lang was smart enough to do something like that.
“Well I don’t think I am going to go” Clark said making it final on not going.
“That’s fine dear; I will make your excuses then.” Martha said understanding the pain she could hear in her son’s voice.
“Thanks mom” Clark said before getting off the phone with the thought of studying on his mind to get rid of the pain that he felt in his heart.