Echoes of Evening

by TheGryfter

It was just a phone call. One of many she'd had with The Blur. But after breaking up with Clark, can Lois hide her pain from the man she's supposed to turn to in a crisis? And can Clark keep up the facade, when he knows he's the reason for her tears?

1. Prologue

…echoes of evening…

…prologue…

Friday Night

"Lois! Come back here!"

"Make me!"

"Oh, that's mature!"

"Screw you!"

"Again, the perfect adult response. I gotta say, you're handling this brilliantly."

"Save it, Clark. Why don't you just go pluck a cow, or milk a chicken, or something?"

"I think I'd get arrested."

"And I'd cry myself to sleep tonight."

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere but here!"

"We have to talk about this!"

"No, we don't!"

"Lois…"

"Stop that!"

"Stop what?"

"You don't get to say my name like that! Not anymore!"

"I'm trying to explain…"

"I don't need your explanations. I don't need your excuses, and you know what, Clark? I don't need you."

"You're angry. I understand…"

"I don't think you do."

"I just think this is for the best…"

"Oh, that is such a…"

"What?"

"You're a coward."

"I'm trying to do what's best for both of us!"

"And this is it? This is your idea of a better way?"

"Yes! If we can just… sit down, and talk about it for two minutes. This doesn't have to be some big thing. We're still partners. We can still be friends."

"No, we can't. I can't even stand to look at you right now."

"You don't mean that."

"Oh, yes I do. You sicken me."

"Lois, please…"

"We were happy, Clark! Okay? We were happy!"

"I know…"

"So what changed? What happened between last night and this morning that ripped that apart?"

.

.

.

"Great… that's just… great. See you around, Smallville…"