By: janahjeanb
CHAPTER 3
At first, Clark was confident that the woman in front of her was Lois Lane nevermind the fact that the woman is blonde and is wearing a simple dress and boots. He stood up. He realized, he had been staring for several minutes with slacked jaw when Mike pointedly clear his throat.
"Hi. Do sit down please. Mike, can you give her a cup of coffee?" Clark babbled nonstop, evidently distress.
Loisa in an effort to not cause any extra attention quickly insisted, "It's fine. I don't need coffee, Sir."
Mike eyed the two as if both were weird. He give a nod at Clark and left his boss to his fate. He close the door.
The thin woman walk towards the chair facing Clark's desk. Clark belatedly realizing his manner almost run in an effort to help the lady seated.
"Is she or is she not Lois Lane??!" His mind was running in circle going slowly mad. He was grateful to be able to pull the chair and have the woman sit.
The woman look at him with almost amusement and mockery. /Really Smallville?// before she shut down that quick silver expression and replace it with earnestness.
Up close, Clark was dismay at how pale and thin the lady is. The woman had tuck a strand of her blond hair in one ear and the bones of her wrist is very thin and delicate. The lady was wearing a very cheap dress and an even cheaper perfume.
But the color of her eyes…
Clark went back to his seat and sit down. He tried to control his warring emotions and give the woman a small smile.
The lady tentatively smile back. Her smile was even smaller and
"I- first i mean my name is C-charlie," Clark introduce. He almost fall back to his Clark Kent persona with his high-pitch tone of voice and the stammering. Oh God! He squeeze his eyes close and took a deep breathe. "Sorry for earlier. I was expecting a man." Upon seeing her crushed expression he hastily added, "but i mean, I'm okey in hiring you. You're hired!"
The woman was alarmed.
Clark belatedlty realize that he sounded desperate and that there is actually a series of step he need to follow in order to screen job applicants- he break every rule. Clark sigh inwardly.
"Can we start all over again please?" He said, hoping the lady didnt run away from his weirdness. "my name is Charlie King, i'm the editor of this newspaper. What is your name?"
The lady relax. "My name is Loisa Keys."
"Can I have your ID please?" Clark said, beginning to relax as well now that they are following protocol.
Loisa nodded and fish out an driver license on her purse. She hand it across the desk. She bite her lower lip and folded her hand in her lap.
Clark was impress at how believable the id is. Seeing that he is scaring her off at the intensity and duration of his inspection, he look up and said cheerfully," "Been awhile since I'd visit Palma. How was the place?"
Loisa breathe out a huff. "It's pretty okey…"
Clark allow Loisa babbling to wash over him comfortingly. His heart was bleeding. This is a shell of the Lois Lane he knows.
He swallowed and asked huskily, "This will sound weird but can I hold your hand please?"
There's another flash of /You'd been weird from the start farmboy/ in the flash of Loisa's eyes before she put a hand out.
"Both hands." Clark order impatiently.
Clark should have been dead awhile ago, theres only so much his heart could take. For buried inside the scars, callouses,chewed fingernails, flaking manicure, he recognized the beat and familiar rythm of Lois's heart beat.
He stand and pretended to do a double take when he look at the clock. "Darn I forgot breakfast! Let's continue this while we eat, okey?" Without waiting for her reply, he fetch his wallet, keys and sunglass.
First order of business, to fatten Lois Lane and restore her health. Loisa helplessly allow Clark to pull her chair.
"Mike, take over. I'm taking a half day off."
Clark only see Mike half surprise half protest look before he slammed the main door close.
It was hot outside!
"There's something I have to tell you, Sir." Loisa began as Clark began to head for the parking lot at the back. "I have a son."
Clark stopped abruptly. Loisa collided at his back. Loisa was puzzled at the strange toneless casual way he said,"Of course. Lead the way."
Clark look at the car Loisa had and marvel at how it still work when it's just a patchwork of paint, mismatched patch of door and a broken window.
There is a whitesnake song playing and a pair of sneaker hangin out on the backseat window.
"Jon, turned it off!!!" Clark almost jump at the wrong name.
Jason quickly cut off the music, scrambled out of the door and flung himself at her mom. "So, are you hired, old hag?!"
Loisa turned red in embarassment especially at Clark's look of shock. "That's my new boss. Don't embarass me." She ordered between clenched teeth.
Jason flung his hand in the air. "Well, the last time I called you mom, you said I only call you that when I wanted a favor. Make up your mind, woman!"
"Hehe. Isn't he adorable?" Loisa address Clark while tryin to pinch Jason's side.
Clark marvel at the cheap dye job Jason was sporting. There is black roots over red dye hair. He got a feelin that unlike him, Jason possesses more abilities than he have right now. Judging by how unaffected he was by Loisa's pinching. The sun serve to only make Jason healthier in contrast to his mom.
"I'm Charlie. I hope you like pancakes." Clark introduce with a hand out.
CHAPTER 4
"Why isn't he not eating?" Clark said later half way in eating thru the orders. Jason had a seperate table on his own and Clark have a direct view of the boy sipping his can of mountain dew and playing with his food. Jason was also basking in the sunlight- he practically press himself in the window.
Loisa turn to glare at her son in her back, who chastisely eat a few mouthful. She swallowed her chocolate icecream before she shrugged, "He used to have food allergies. Sometimes, we both forgot that he can eat anythin he wants now."
Clark have a feeling, Jason had been substancing on nothing but sunlight and liquid. If only to save his mom a few dollars.
Clark wanted to cry.
Loisa excused herself in a little while and Jason took that moment to take his mom's place and sit in front of Clark.
Clark couldn't look at Jason in the eye, for as Lois had become shy and withdrawn, Jason is a mini Lois in attitude and form. "Sooo," the little boy drawl watching as Clark folded a napkin into little size. "Don't hurt my mom and second, don't let her hurt herself got it?"
(S)
Loisa give a snort when the door open and Clark came out. She blow a couple of smokerings expertly. "Well, it seemed it didn't take him long to read you the riot act. I aplogized."
Clark fished out a stick from his pocket and light it. "Yeah," he muttered. He doesn't have the energy to scold Loisa for smoking, not when he also turned to smoking to destressed.
"So where are you staying?" Clark hope he sounded casual as he drive them back towards the parking lot of the newspaper hq.
"I think I'm going to go back and booked at the motel that we passed by." Clark had found out that Loisa have travelled four hours straight to get here and the only reason she decided to apply is because she found the ad in a gas station on the outskirt part of the town and upon driving in, seemed to like the calm peaceful vibe the town have.
Clark shudder upon recalling the state of the dilapitated motel. "You could stay with me?" He offer.
Two pair of incredulous violet eyes look at him.
"Oh oh no." Lois said with a self-deprecating smile. "I need to rest, if you take us in, I might start cleaning right away." She chuckle as she absentmindedly scratched her inner wrist raw.
Clark bit his lower lip.
"I want you to report at the office at 10 am tomorrow okey?" He told the two as they made their way back in their car. "And you can submit your resume and pic anytime this week."he added.
Loisa was half-muttering curses as she tried to have the car switched on.
"You forgot this." Clark scared her when the tall man appeared on the window. She give a tiny shriek.
She seemed puzzle when she look at the takeaway paper bag. "I thought that that's yours."
Clark smile. He throw Jason a wink. "your boy and I made a deal. I'm just doing my part that's all."
Jason rolled his eyes. Clark pretended not to see it. Loisa take the paperbag with reluctance. "Okey?"
Lois and Jason were gone and yet Clark continued to stand in the parking lot, deep in thought.
An/ 05082017
Baby z first day of summer class in a new school.