Dear Journal
Authored by dark-halo-princess
:A Smallville fanfic:
Pairing: Clark Kent and Lois Lane
Genre: Romance, Drama and Humour
Rating: M (Content not suitable for younger ages)
Date last revised on: 27/05/09
Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville or any of its characters. This fanfic is created from my ramblings with the use of the characters from the show.
Chapter One:
Who's The Melancholy Birthday Girl?
Lois harrumphed, sighed and muttered to herself, pulling herself out of her beloved car. She really did not have a second to waste today but here she was at the Kent farm, dragging herself along to another, what was going to be an excruciatingly sombre party for her. She was certain that her cousin Chloe had no idea that she'd cottoned on to her so called surprise birthday party and was probably ridiculously happy for her on this memorable day. But to Lois, this day could not have been any more abhorred – hell, she was getting a year older – was that such a happy occasion? Granted, she wasn't so old or anything but come on, twenty four had to be considered a mile stone or something – she felt ancient.
So here she was at half seven in the evening, all dressed up in her latest new cocktail dress as Chloe had said to dress up a little. One of her heels caught at the crack in the ground, causing her to tug and swear random curses at no one but the darkening air. She felt like a fool and could not drum up a little cheeriness even for her awaiting cousin and oh yeah, Clark Kent – Smallville, to her.
Lois was truly grateful for being given such an attentive and loving cousin but really, on her birthday she did not need the fuss! It was not as if Lois' life this past year and half had been oh so great. In fact, if Lois was ever held at gun point – or rather her cousin was held at gun point – she would answer the honest truth, that the past year and half had been hell. The year had been a Lois nightmare.
From when she broke up with Oliver (whom she had thought at the time was going to be the one but had turned out to be just another person placing her second in his list of priorities), been kidnapped a couple of times (especially that time when the crazed jeweller had forced her under the truth detector with Clark as a spectator), having Lana make her reappearance, Chloe's wedding going haywire and her own life thrown out the window, Lois really did not have much to be thankful for. Not in her mind anyway.
But she had made a resolution – she was not going to wallow but meet whatever downfall appeared next head on. After all, she had landed herself a reporter's job at the Daily Planet, which was no easy feat and that must count for something.
So saying, Lois pulled herself together to brace the oncoming hugs and congratulations. She smiled to herself and told herself to suck it up before marching up the steps to the barn.
"Happy birthday!"
"Congratulations on reaching another year, eh Lane?"
"What you got under that dress?"
"Happy birthday! Not every day you turn twenty four is it?"
"Congratulations!"
"Nice dress!"
"Nice legs!"
Shouts and cacophony of laughter echoed off the walls of the barn, thrown at Lois as she pushed through the crowds, sliding past men from the Daily Planet and others she had never seen before. Women and men surrounded her, all around the walls until there was no place for her to retreat. Lois gritted her teeth and smiled at everyone, slapping the hand which not-so-innocently squeezed her bum.
Just as she was about to say thanks and move on, Chloe appeared through the throngs with Clark in tow. Clark was dressed in one of his signature suits (a new style since joining the Daily Planet – his blue and red worn very seldom these days) and Chloe was all glorious in her sparkling number. Clark and Chloe must have gone all out with this party as the lights jumped off walls, reflecting around the room, creating the disco look with the sleek decor in a barn. Food was plenty all around, drinks were being poured like there was no tomorrow, party poppers were going off at intervals and all around the guests were enjoying themselves.
Lois smiled to herself at the thought of her cousin and Clark arranging this behind her back like she did not know – she was not about reveal that the clues had been calling to her for the past week.
"You made it Lois, happy birthday!" Chloe hugged her cousin, also reaching up to whisper, "your dress is tucked in," causing Lois to hastily tug near her bottom – drat the man who had squeezed her bum.
Lois smiled looking over at Clark who had averted his gaze just before her head had turned.
"Yeah, thanks Chloe, it's not every day I turn twenty four is it?" Lois grinned, echoing words yelled at her earlier as she came in. Her gloom towards this occasion was suddenly dissolving into not exactly excitement but something close to it. She had her cousin here as well as Clark and so many other people she knew.
"No it's not. Such as shame though isn't it? I'd love to stay this same age all my life – somewhat like immortal, huh?" Chloe wondered aloud. "Anyway, I say we should start worrying when we're nearing our thirties – now that would be dreadful!" Chloe laughed above the music playing loudly in the background.
"I wouldn't be so sure Chloe," Clark voiced, "I mean, look at her, she looks somewhat closer to thirty than twenty four."
"Ooh that's nasty!" Chloe chuckled just as Clark received a swift punch to his shoulder from the ever faithful Lois.
"I wouldn't look so smug Kent as you're number's about to be up," Lois warned.
"All talk Lois, that's all you are."
"Remind me on Monday that you've got three rounds of photocopying to do and the lunch orders. Oh and I almost forgot, you can also collect my laundry," Lois smirked. "You are my errand boy after all."
"Don't go getting your hopes up Lois, find another errand boy, I'm your partner in crime."
"Partner? Yeah right! You sit by the desk all day while I chase up the stories, yelling at you to drag your ass out of that poor chair. And the rest of the time I can't even find you," Lois spluttered.
Clark flicked at her nose in response and wished her happy birthday with a tentative hug.
Chloe coughed beside them and smiled to herself. Her own worries with Jimmy and Davis Bloom had been pushed resolutely to the back of her mind for this night. It was her cousin's special day and she would make it the best. Lois had given her the best wedding reception ever, even if the whole wedding had crashed and burned and the aftermath had not been so good. It was all the preparation that counted and Chloe would be forever grateful.
"Come on, let's get this party started!" Someone yelled above the loud chatter, giggles and music, turning up the music another notch.
Through the next few hours the barn rocked with music and lights, a passerby on the road from a mile away would have heard all the music pumping and the loud laughter. It had been a happy, fun filled evening, turning into a very long night – no one seemed to want to leave. Men and women around the barn were caught up in the music, some couples heading out onto the fields and into corners to make out.
"You look so gorgeous Lois; no one would ever guess you were over twenty!" Chloe, now drunk on her fifth glass, shouted over the noise, dancing haphazardly along with the thumping beat, shaking Lois's arms up and down.
"Ha ha Clo. You're drunk as the drunkest Irish man and that's saying something," Lois laughed but inwardly she was a tad concerned. "How many glasses have you had?"
"Not many, not many, not many," Chloe repeated, "maybe I'll get another one, they're soooooo tasty," she ended with a giggle.
"Yeah, they're tasty alright Chloe and I've had my fair share." Lois glanced around the barn, "when are this lot planning to leave? Because it's well past two in the morning now and we've got work tomorrow," she groaned at the realisation.
"I'm not goin' to work. I'm going to lounge around aaaaall day and drink and party!" Chloe sang as she twirled on the make-shift dance floor.
Lois rose to attention, herself dancing around on the floor, one of her heels threatening to snap off. She snapped her head up, frantically glancing around for Clark so that he could take Chloe home, otherwise there would be disaster soon – Jimmy had chosen not to come today she'd learned since Chloe was obviously attending.
Lois' eyes eventually locked on Clark as she held Chloe by the waist and arm, attempting to pull her to one side of the barn. Clark was obviously enjoying himself, wrapped up in one of those blonde haired women seeming to be lost in his own world – or that was what Lois had ungraciously thought when his head snapped up, his piercing blue gaze locking on hers.
Lois involuntarily gulped, a visible swallow, forcing her gaze elsewhere but Clark had seen that plea in her eyes and had hopefully missed the hurt. He arrived at her side no later than ten seconds helping her with Chloe's weight.
"What is it Lois?"
Yeah, straight to the question – no messing with Lois, not when it was serious.
"Can you take Chloe home as she's a little drunk and I'll help throw this lot out and clear up? I want to head home, it's getting really late."
"Yeah sure," Clark answered, although his probing gaze was met with the side of Lois' head as she'd turned away.
When Clark came back an hour later, no one remained and the barn seemed eerily silent with no music and laughter. He entered the barn to find that Lois had pretty much cleared up the excess and was working on collecting and throwing away the remains from here and there – she must have worked very quick to get all that done. He had only been gone and hour after all, even if in that hour he had whisked Chloe home in her car, helped her into bed and then super sped back home.
Lois was in a hurry and he was sure that it was not only her need for waking up early tomorrow. However, Clark chose to remain silent on that point.
"Did you enjoy today then?" He asked – a safe question he was sure.
"Yeah I did, as much as you can when getting a year older."
"Good."
"Yeah."
Lois realised that their conversation was stilted but chose to ignore it – she just wanted to go home, soak in a hot bath and enjoy a deep, heavenly sleep (uninterrupted). This day had worn her out and she would have to reflect on it another time – there was no time left for reflection tonight.
"You suit that dress," Clark tried and then added hesitantly, "it looks good."
Lois' attentions had been grabbed at his remark but she tried valiantly not to show it and responded with a terse, "thanks."
Clark and Lois worked around the room another half hour in silence, both keeping conversation to a minimum and eyes averted.
"We're almost done, you can go back to the Talon Lois and I'll see you at work tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah, sure – make sure you're there bright and early," Lois quipped and then inwardly cursed herself. She was back to cracking jokes now? So saying, Lois grabbed her purse and walked out of the barn heading for her car when a hand grabbed at her arm.
Clark winced at his abrupt action and dropped his arm but said, "come in for a snack, you haven't had anything to eat all evening."
"How would you know?" She replied, and did not add that he had been anywhere but near her but it was running through both their minds, when all off a sudden a tell tale grumble sounded from somewhere suspiciously near Lois' stomach.
Clark grinned – a flash of white teeth and that cheeky tilt of the lips.
"Fine, whatever – it's not like I don't have food at the Talon where I could have easily made myself a sandwich before bed," Lois muttered under her breath.
She followed Clark back to the house, up the stairs and into the warmth of the kitchen. Without Mrs Kent here it seemed lonely at times like now when Lois wanted someone else and not only Clark for company. He was not on her favourite's list at the moment.
"So what'll you have? Bacon sandwich sound good to you?" Clark asked as he moved around the kitchen, pulling open cupboard doors and the refrigerator.
"It's night time, does it look like I'm going to eat bacon?" At the sight of Clark's raised eyebrows, she added, "fine Smallville, I'll have whatever you're having." "God," she muttered aside, "what a jerk."
"You talk a lot Lois."
"Compared to someone who doesn't talk a lot, I might add."
"I'm not going to get into this argument again."
"You started it," Lois grumbled as she kicked one of her heeled feet against the kitchen island, resounding in a satisfying thump sound.
"You're pretty surely today, something got your tongue?"
"Keep the questions to yourself Smallville."
"Actually about before –"
"Yeah, I forgot, I have to talk to about tomorrow. I thought we'd try and chase up on the magician suicide if we can. I'm sure another story's going to pop up tomorrow with you keeping an ear on the police scanner and all," Lois rambled.
Clark picked up on Lois' change of subject but answered her question. "I'm not sure about the magician's suicide – it doesn't seem like a suicide to me so there's no need to cover that."
"Exactly Smallville, that's the whole point don't you see it," excitement sparkled in her eyes as she continued, "someone must have killed him and is he really a magician or something else? I really want to cover that and Tess okayed it so we're good to go."
"Lois, the story is a month old; we won't be able to chase up any leads that far back."
"Trust me Smallville. I'm a master of chasing up leads no matter how old. Have you forgotten that?"
The truth was he had not forgotten and that was the point. He had a bad feeling about this story and he would try to keep Lois far away from it but it seemed as though now he would have a hard time closing her eyes from it. Once Lois got it into her head about something she never let it go. He was at the end of one of her chases, so he should know – the red and blue blur.
Somehow he guessed that he would be lucky if she did not find him – her superhero in disguise.
End Note: Hey everyone! The first chapter to this new story is here. Hope you enjoy! The next few chapters will arrive shortly, although I haven't even written them yet but I'm sure I'll get there. As you can see, like I said, this story will be made up of Lois's diary entries and then these chapters. There's lots of excitement to come (crazy, I hope, something to keep you on your toes).
Also, I've updated I Want You, so check that out.
Please read and review!
See ya!
