The class hadn't arrived yet when Lana walked into the room. The distant sound of footsteps in the hallway felt too far away to matter. She sat slowly, resting her hands on the empty desk.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at nothing.
'We argued over something stupid.'
The thought came without weight, almost as if she were trying to convince herself. She took a deep breath, remembering the way she had spoken to Jason that morning… too fast, too harsh.
'He came back from France for me. For us.'
It was true. And yet, something inside her kept pulling back, like a subtle shadow she couldn't name. Lana closed her eyes for a moment.
'He didn't deserve to hear that. I overreacted.'
Her hand tightened on the edge of the desk.
'When I get home, I'll talk to him. I'll apologize. We'll try again. We used to be happy. I have to try… at least that.'
The bell hadn't rung yet, but the classroom began filling up little by little. Lana straightened in her chair, adjusting her posture as if trying to align her thoughts before facing the rest of the day.
The regret wasn't deep.
It was… moral.
The kind of decision made because one should, not because one felt it.
But still, it was enough to make her want to fix things.
---
Break – Main Hallway
Clark leaned against the wall, watching students walk past him like a current that didn't touch him. He waited for Chloe to appear — and she didn't take long.
She came toward him with a folder of notes pressed to her chest.
"Did you find Lana?"
Clark answered without hesitation.
"Not yet."
Chloe exhaled, frustrated. "I checked the Talon this morning and she wasn't well. I want to talk to her before this turns into another avalanche."
"I'll find her after class." Clark said calmly.
"I hope so." Chloe adjusted the strap of her backpack and lowered her voice. "Because now… there's something else."
Clark lifted his head slightly, though his face remained relaxed.
"Jason resigned."
Clark blinked once — slow, calculated.
"Resigned?" He repeated as if hearing it for the first time. "When?"
"This morning. I just confirmed it with the coach." Chloe spoke quickly, a mix of indignation and worry. "He just quit. Out of nowhere. No one knows why."
Clark stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"Strange for him to leave like that."
"I know." Chloe agreed immediately. "That's why I need you to find Lana before she discovers it on her own. She's already too unstable. If Jason disappeared like this, it'll break her."
Clark crossed his arms. "You want me to talk to her now?"
"Please." Chloe's voice softened. "I'm really worried, Clark. She's not talking to me. She won't let anyone near her. And I don't want her falling apart again."
Clark was quiet for a few moments. He knew exactly where this would lead.
And he also knew everything was unfolding exactly as planned — but none of that could show.
"I'll look for her after class." He said. "If she wants to talk, I'll listen."
Relief washed over Chloe's face instantly.
"Thank you." She touched his arm lightly. "Let me know if anything happens."
"Sure."
She walked away, blending into the hallway crowd. Her steps were quick, worried.
Clark stayed still, watching her until she disappeared from sight.
A simple, cold, precise thought followed.
'The day goes on. The rest is already handled. When Lana wants to talk… I'll be there.'
---
The school parking lot was already emptying when the last bell rang. Lana slipped out through the side door with her books pressed tightly to her chest, walking quickly as if she wanted to erase the day altogether. A light breeze swept the open space, matching her rushed pace toward the car.
Clark appeared a few steps behind, adjusting his stride to reach her without drawing attention.
"Lana."
She stopped out of politeness, not desire. Her gaze looked distant, tired.
"Hi, Clark. Sorry, I'm in a hurry."
"I know." His tone stayed gentle. "I just wanted to say that… if you need to talk, I'm around."
Lana gave him a small, almost automatic smile. "Thank you. Really. But I need to go."
"That's fine."
She was already opening the car door when she added:
"See you later."
"See you."
Lana got in, started the engine, and drove off quickly — as if staying still for one more second would shatter the fragile stability she was clinging to.
Clark watched until the car vanished around the corner.
Then he picked up his phone and called.
Chloe answered almost instantly.
"Clark? So?"
"I talked to her." His tone was calm and controlled. "She was in a hurry. Didn't want to talk. I did what I could."
Chloe sighed, frustrated. "Yeah… I figured. But thank you anyway. At least she knows you tried."
"Call me if anything comes up." Clark said. "I'm heading home."
"Okay. Clark…"
"Yes?"
"Thank you. Really."
He hung up, chuckled quietly to himself, and walked toward the truck, satisfied with his work. Everything was exactly where he wanted it.
---
Talon
The café door was slightly ajar when Lana arrived. She pushed it open gently, as if afraid of what she might find inside.
The place was empty, silent, still carrying the lingering scent of coffee despite the inactivity. And in the center, near the counter, Jason stood with two suitcases by his side.
He didn't turn right away. He just finished adjusting the zipper of one bag.
"Jason?"
Her voice broke the silence.
He glanced over his shoulder, expression neutral. "Hey."
"Are you… going somewhere?"
"Yeah." He finished closing the backpack. "I'm leaving."
Lana took two steps forward, confused. "Leaving? What do you mean? We didn't even—"
"I quit." Jason cut her off. "I'm going back to France."
She blinked fast, like she'd missed a step in the conversation. "But… why? We argued, but I was going to talk to you. I was going to apologize."
"No need." Jason replied without shifting tone. "I thought about what you said. And I realized you don't want this."
"That's not true." Lana protested, but her voice came out weak. "I… I was just stressed."
"Maybe." He shrugged. "But that doesn't change my decision. We don't work anymore."
The sentence hit Lana like an invisible blow.
She didn't cry.
She didn't raise her voice.
She just stood still — a stillness that hurt because of how controlled it was.
"That's it?" She whispered. "You're leaving just like that?"
"It's for the best." Jason lifted the suitcase handle. "For you. For me."
"Jason, I don't—"
"Lana." He said her name with, for the first time, something almost human in his tone. "I know when I'm holding onto something that isn't there anymore."
The words sliced with precision.
No drama.
No anger.
No affection.
Just truth.
And in that moment, she understood there was no room for arguing.
No apology that could fix anything.
No piece left to salvage.
Jason slung the backpack onto his shoulders.
"Take care of yourself."
Lana stood frozen as Jason walked to the door. She didn't step after him. She didn't call his name. She didn't try to say anything else.
She simply let him go, as if any attempt to stop him would fail before it even began.
The door opened, letting in the faint light of late afternoon.
Jason walked out.
And didn't look back.
Lana stayed still for long seconds. Her chest rose and fell slowly, as if any deeper breath might unravel her fragile balance.
'He really… ended it.'
Her throat tightened, but she didn't cry. Her body was too rigid, too stunned for emotion.
After a while, she finally moved, letting her hands slide along the edge of the counter as she tried to gather herself.
Lana took a long breath, placing her palms on the counter to steady herself. The silence inside the Talon felt bigger now, filled only with memories that no longer had a place.
She stepped back slowly, her legs finally responding.
The shock began to fade… making room for something else.
Something quieter.
Clearer.
'Maybe… it was meant to be this way.'
The thought came without pain — just clarity. Jason always wanted more than Smallville could offer. And she always carried too much fear to admit she wasn't ready for what he expected from her.
Lana ran her hand through her hair, smoothing it back into place. A brief, almost automatic gesture — but one that helped steady her mind.
'We were holding onto something that wasn't ours anymore.'
She walked slowly across the empty café. The still tables, the chairs stacked in the corner — everything felt like a witness to an ending that had happened long before Jason packed his bags.
'He wasn't wrong.'
She hadn't wanted to admit that this morning, but now… now it made sense. She walked toward the door, but didn't leave. She just stared at the sliver of light coming through the gap.
'Maybe I was trying to save what was left. Not because it was still love… but because it was familiar.'
The realization didn't hurt. It simply left her empty for a moment. Curiously, that emptiness hurt less than she expected.
Lana returned to the counter and picked up her phone. The screen lit up with recent calls, old messages — small reminders that she and Jason had been drifting apart for a long time.
'I think… I can move on.'
Not a liberation.
Not hope.
Just acceptance.
Something finally settling into place.
She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.
That was when the memory appeared — uninvited, clear, unexpected.
Clark.
Standing in the school parking lot with that calm, almost patient expression, telling her she could talk to him.
Her eyes opened, surprised by her own reaction.
'Clark always shows up at the wrong times… and somehow, the right ones.'
Her chest tightened in a different way — not romantic, not possessive.
Just… human.
A simple, steady warmth.
Lana slipped her phone into her bag and took another breath.
'Maybe talking… wouldn't be so bad.'
The Talon remained silent.
But she wasn't as lost inside it anymore.