"Lois, go out with me again, please. I'll be a changed man. I won't touch another drop or pill. I swear I won't," Oliver pleaded.

Lois looked unsettled by his sudden outburst, not to mention his sudden arrival at her apartment.

He took her hand and said to her in a softer voice. "Don't you remember all the good times we had?"

Lois thought about it. She remembered her confession to Clark not too long ago, 'I don't want to be alone anymore'. Who was she waiting on? The Blur? Clark? Then she mentally shook her head. That wouldn't be fair to her or Oliver to settle for somebody she didn't want to be with. It'd be better to go through life alone. But then she thought about his promise to leave off the alcohol and pills. He was wasting his life and if he didn't slow down, he was going to be dead before he made it to 25. Maybe he needed a break to reexamine his life and if going on a few dates cleaned him up long enough to take another look, who did it hurt? "Okay. Maybe a date or two, but I'm not making any promises and you had better keep yours about cleaning yourself up."

How was she to know that Clark would ask her out the next day?

"I'm—I can't."

"Oh," he said. She could tell he was disappointed and a little bit humiliated.

"Clark, I would, honest, but—"

"I don't need any excuses. I understand," he said, trying to focus on his computer.

"No, you don't. It's Oliver. He—"

"Oliver?" he questioned. She could hear the note of jealousy in his voice.

"He needs me. I—"

Before she could finish, Oliver came into the Daily Planet with not so impeccable timing. He brought with him her favorite candy and flowers.

Lois reluctantly stood up to take the gifts and Oliver brought her into a hug and kissed her on the cheek. He had been aiming for her lips, but she turned her head just in time.

"Clark," Oliver said with a polite nod of greeting.

"Oliver," Clark returned the reply, not politely at all.

"Are you ready for that date?" he asked Lois. "I have big plans for us."

Lois wasn't ready at all. She wanted to explain the circumstances to Clark so that he would know why she was going out with Oliver. "You were supposed to meet me at my apartment, not here," she told him.

"I know, baby, but I couldn't help myself. I was too excited."

"Are you going to be driving?" Clark asked Oliver.

"Of course," came Oliver's cavalier response.

"On your motorbike?" he asked more harshly than before. He stood up and looked rather intimidating.

Lois put her forehead on her palm. Some of their coworkers were watching the exchange of Clark acting like her father. Only they knew as well as she did, there was nothing fatherly in his intentions. This would no doubt make for some ugly gossip.

"Yes, on my motorbike. You got a problem with that?" Oliver asked, losing his patience.

"I do when you have a drinking and speeding problem and my partner is riding behind you."

If she didn't intervene, it looked like things would get physical. They may never have been best friends, but they had been friends. She had no idea how things had deteriorated so far between them. She quickly changed her mind about telling Clark. If they got into another argument, who's to say that Clark wouldn't let it slip to Ollie the real reason why she was dating him and that would ruin everything. She would have to tell him after she helped Oliver.

"I think that's enough of the big brother routine, Smallville," Lois said. "I can handle myself. I've got enough sense to put us both in cabs if there's any drinking on our date."

"Come on, Lois," Oliver said.

Lois followed him out, but she glanced back at Clark who looked like he was trying to calm down and keep it together. Two men fighting over you was never as romantic as it seemed in the movies.

TBC