Beyond the Sun

10

Laying on the porch, Annie rested her legs over her windowsill and looked up at the sky. She'd not that long come back from school, her first week back was eventful. It consisted of being ignored some more, getting into pointless squabbles and bunking off lessons because she simply couldn't be bothered. The school had alerted her parents to the ever increasing problems, and they in turn informed them that family life wasn't going well. The word 'divorce' became an actual thing. Annie's family was breaking apart and there was nothing she could do, and there was no one she could talk to. She was alone.

Her father had moved back to Gotham, and her mother was increasingly up and down and pretty spaced out, and the only person she truly wanted to talk to and see was still missing in action. Shutting her eyes, she sighed, frowning when there was a knock on the door she scrambled over to the edge of the porch and looked down. "Lang? What the heck are you doing at my house?" Annie asked while Lana moved back and looked at her.

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"I mean face to face."

"I'm comfortable here." Annie said, no way was she moving from her space. This was her thinking space. And she certainly wasn't moving for the sake of Lana Lang.

"Fine." Lana said while pushing her long hair over her shoulder. The redhead seemed adamant on not moving. It was an impasse, a stubborn impasse of two redheads and somehow Annie found herself relenting. If it was important, she'd move. Mainly because right now in her life, there were bigger problems than having a conversation with her classmate.

"What is it then?" Annie rested her chin against her hand and looked down at the girl. They weren't friends, they barely exchanged words at school; so, it was naturally a mystery as to why the girl was now on her porch wanting to talk to her.

"I want to talk about Clark."

This caused Annie to perk up. "Really now?" Annie frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Is this another attempt like your little friends to get me to join in gossiping about him apparently moving the bus? Pfft, come off it." Annie said dryly while sitting up and swinging her legs over the edge of the porch. Admittedly she almost kicked Lana in the face from this and the girl dodged out of the way with a glare.

"Come on, Annie."

"What? I am not joining in with your little gossip circle." Annie said while leaning her elbows against her knees, she placed her chin in her hands and frowned. "Did you honestly come here just for that? Seems sort of pointless when you think about it."

"Come on, Annie, you're just being silly."

"What? What do you want me to say? Clark saved my life, that was it. I certainly didn't see any...what was it your little mates called...well whatever they called it, I didn't see no kid push a bus up and out of the water." Annie looked at her sceptically. "How hard did you hit your head that day, Lana?"

"Annie, stop it! He moved the bus, you know it, we all know it, so why are you lying?"

"You're all high on something..." Annie mumbled and took to inspecting her nails. "Can you leave me alone now? Believe it or not, I do have bigger things to concern myself with other than you and your effort of...whatever this is..." Annie waved a hand around and stood up and made her way back to the windowsill.

"There's something up with Clark Kent, and everyone knows it!" Lana exclaimed from down below, Annie mimicked her while laying back down and placing her legs over the windowsill again. "I'm not saying anything bad, Annie...but there's something not right. You're his best friend, and seemingly the only person he ever talks to. So, if anything is up, you'd know, right?"