Lois found herself looking forward to lessons because it was a break from Alicia chatting on about nothing.

At lunch on the first day the interrogation about Clark started.

"So Lois, I hear you and Clark hate each other." Alicia remarked.

"Hate is a strong word, more like rub each other up the wrong way." Lois smiled, thinking she only rubbed him up the right ways these days.

"So what's he done to you?" she asked.

"Nothing Alicia, it is probably just a personality thing." Lois suggested.

"He is a bit uptight and so easy to wind up. I remember when I teleported into his bedroom, not that he was complaining until his dad caught me sitting on him."

Lois just looked at her. "Look, Alicia. I really don't want to know about his sex life."

"Sorry, Lois but don't worry, there is nothing to say on that front, well not yet anyway."

"Too much information. Can we talk about something else." Lois asked.

"Ok, then. Why are you living with the Kents? What about your own parents?" Alicia inquired.

For some reason, Lois was starting to find Alicia easy to talk too. She just hoped she was not opening up too much.

"My mom died of cancer when I was six and my dad is an army general born and bred. He ran his family like a military academy. The Kent's are like a breath of fresh air."

"All I could think about was hurting my parents. They locked me in a lead lined room as a young child as they feared me. It was lonely, all those long hours spent alone."

Lois felt for her. "That must have been hard. Are you going to see your parents again?"

"They don't want to see me again. I am lucky I have my aunt who is willing to take me, but she has made it clear that it is not a long term solution."

Lois knew she shouldn't ask but she was interested. "So what attracted you to Clark?"

Without thinking, she replied. "I think it is because we are so alike, we know how each other feel."

Lois was puzzled. How could a teleporting meteor infected girl think she had anything in common with a plaid wearing farmboy.

"How are you alike?"

It was then that she saw Alicia's barriers shoot up. "Nothing Lois...I just meant that we get along really well and we both like astronomy."

Lois could see she was hiding something, but decided not to probe further. She was starting to see why Alicia had turned out the way she had.

"Can you still teleport?"

"No, I have a lead bracelet on that stops me transporting. I have to keep it on to stay out of Belle Reve."

The bell went so they headed off to their lesson. Lois realised that Chloe had been hanging with Lana all day and giving Alicia a wide berth. Then again who could blame Lana for avoiding someone who tried to kill her.

Lois had arranged to meet Clark after school so she could have a lift, or more precisely Clark had promised to show her a shortcut through the woods on the drive home.

Alicia waited with Lois until Clark pulled the truck up. "Hi Lois...Alicia."

"Hi Clark, well I will let you get home." She looked a bit lost.

Lois felt sorry for her. "Clark, can we drop Alicia off at her aunt's farm?"

Clark could not say no to Lois, so he decided to agree. "Ok, Alicia jump in." He had hoped that Lois would sit in the middle, but Alicia jumped in before he had a chance to ask her.

Clark made conversation. "So how was your first day at school? Did you survive a full day with Lois."

Lois sneered at him. She would make him 'pay' for that comment later. "What do you mean by that, Smallville?"

Alicia intervened. "Actually Clark, she is a good listener if you give her half a chance."

Clark laughed. "We must be talking about a different Lois."

Lois stretched past Alicia and thumped Clark on the knee. Clark was beginning to wish she hadn't touched him. It was having the opposite effect on him. He started to drive a little quicker.

Five minutes later, they pulled up at Louisa Brewer's farm. "Here you go, Alicia."

"Thanks Clark, See you tomorrow, Lois." Alicia said in her little girl's voice.

Clark drove back up the driveway. "So Lois, what now?"

There was a glint in her eye. "I thought you promised me a guided tour of the Smallville woods."

"Ok, if you insist."

Ten minutes later, they were driving along a dirt track. "Here we are. Not much to see." Clark remarked.

"I don't know about that..." as she climbed onto his lap and started to undo his shirt...

An hour later on the way home, Clark looked at Lois. Her hair was dishevelled but she still looked gorgeous. "Your definition of slow is definitely different, Lois."

"Are you complaining?"

"What do you think, Lo? I don't exactly put up a fight, do I." He teased.

"I just hope that Alicia doesn't cause any trouble." Clark suggested.

"I don't know what it is about her, but deep beneath all that psychopathic behaviour in the past, I think there is an innocent little girl who has missed out on her childhood through no fault of her own. After all how many people have been affected by the meteor shower."

"Too many..." Clark sounded guilty.

Lois noticed Clark's sad expression. "Did I say something to upset you?"

"No, I was just thinking the effect it has had on people I know." He grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

Lois and Clark were fooling around in the loft that night. Lois sat down and Clark sat down and put his arms around her.

"Lois, I think we should thank Mike."

"Why?"

"Without him, we would still be bickering. I think we needed a push in the right direction."

Lois kissed him. "I guess so..."

"I think dinner is almost ready. Shall we go in?" Clark stood up and pulled her up.

On the way out Clark heard Lana approaching. He let go of Lois's hand.

"Clark, your parents said you were up here studying with Lois. Can we talk for a few minutes, it's important."

"I'll see you in the house." She smiled at Clark.

"What's wrong Lana? You seem upset."

"Clark, I have split up with Jason." Lana announced.

"Don't you think Chloe is the one you should be talking to about this."

"Not really, seeing as it involves you."

"I'm confused Lana, what do I have to do with you and Jason."

"He thinks I am still love with you." Lana got closer to him.

"Well, easily solved. Tell him you're not."

She got even closer, making Clark feel uneasy.

"That's the problem. I do still love you, and I am willing to give you another chance, just don't mess things up this time." She kissed him.

Clark was just about to push her off when Alicia arrived. "Am I disturbing you two?"

Lana glared at her. "Get away from me. I'll call the police."

Alicia remained calm. "Lana, go ahead."

Lana tutted and stormed off.

"Sorry for interrupting you or by the look of your face, saving you." Alicia grinned.

"I'm popular tonight."
"You don't seem to mad that I sent your girlfriend away."

"I'm not mad and for the record she is not my girlfriend and never will be again."

Alicia looked at him. "What has she done to you?"

"Nothing...No-one is to the blame. We were just incompatible. I fell out of love with her."

"You've changed. What has happened to you? You are so confident and know exactly what you want."

"I am the happiest I have been in a long time." Clark said confidently. "How about you Alicia? What are you planning to do?"

"I just biding my time until I am free to travel out of the state. I have a few more months before I can travel. So looks like you'll be stuck with me a bit longer." Alicia remarked.

"I am pleased that you want to pull your life around. You have so much going for you." Clark smiled.

"How about us?" Alicia asked.

"I would like to be friends."

"What about Lana?"

"You must understand why Lana is wary of you. I can be friends with both of you." Clark smiled.

"Thanks Clark. You are the only one that has ever given me a chance. It means a lot. You understand what it is like to be different."

"Look I have to go in for dinner now. I will pick you up in the morning if you need a lift. You can keep me and Lois from killing each other." He joked.

"That'll be great. One thing, why don't you give Lois a chance. She is a nice person." Alicia expressed.

"I will, I promise." Clark replied.

"See you tomorrow."

Clark watched Alicia drive off and turned to notice Lois looking out of the window.

"Clark, get washed up for dinner." His mom said as he came in the door.

They all sat down. Lois looked at Clark. "You're popular tonight."

Clark nodded. "You wouldn't believe it. Lana came to tell me we were getting back together and that implied I should be grateful she was willing to give me a second chance."
Lois laughed. "That's nice of her."

"What about her and Jason?" Martha asked. "I thought they were serious."

"She said they've broke up."

"Well, she'll get back with him now you turned her down." Lois exclaimed.

"I haven't turned her down yet, call it bad timing from Alicia." Clark replied.

"Don't tell me she is after you as well. I will have to make an appointment to spend time with my own boyfriend."

Jonathan looked at the two of them and laughed. "I must admit I was against you two dating and living under the same roof but it seems more stress free than Clark dating either of those two." He had no idea how wrong he could be.

"Actually Alicia is worrying me. She told me to give you a chance because you are a nice person. I think she has gone over the edge." Clark joked.

When they had finished dinner, Jonathan offered to wash the dishes asking Clark to help him. Clark knew this was one of those father-son chat ambushes.

"Ok, dad spill." Clark said once Lois and his mom were out of earshot.

"You know me too well. Your mom and I are worried that you may feel pressured into taking the next step with Lois and that you might be unprepared."

"Dad, we will be careful if that's what you mean."

"But we don't know what effect your powers could have?"

"Dad, just trust us please."

Jonathan looked at his son and realised by his look that he was too late with his sermon.

"Ok, Clark. If you are worried about anything let me know. I can see how happy Lois makes you."

"She does."

Clark woke up to the sound of his parents rushing around. He got off the sofa and staggered through to the hive of activity in the kitchen.

"What's going on?" He asked, noticing the packed bags.

"Clark, your dad has booked four days in New York for my birthday." Martha said excitedly.

"I didn't even know about it." Clark remarked.

His dad smiled. "To be honest Clark when I heard Alicia was back I almost cancelled. But since we found out about you and Lois, I can see how happy you are."

"You can trust us." Clark tried to sound convincing.

"Clark, I do trust you, but I know what I was like at your age, so I am not going to say anymore. You have our number if you need us." His dad smiled at him.

"See you." Martha kissed him. "Say bye to Lois for us, will you?"

"Of course, Have a great time." Clark replied.

Once his parents had left, he wasted no time in going up to his room to tell Lois the good news.

She was fast asleep so he climbed onto the bed next to her. She started to stir.

"Clark, are you mad? Your folks will kill us if they find us in here together."

"Lo, they are driving to the airport as we speak to go to NYC for a few days. Do you know what that means."

Lois didn't reply, she just smiled and pulled him into a passionate embrace.

Later they headed over to pick Alicia up as arranged. She was waiting for them outside her aunt's house.

"Hi Clark, Lois.." Alicia gave one of her megawatt smiles. Even Lois considered her to be pretty. She just hoped she was not being sucked in by some nice girl act that Alicia was putting on. She had a gut feeling that Alicia was being genuine so she decided to go along with it.

Alicia climbed into the truck beside Lois.

"Ready for day two of Smallville High." Lois asked.

"Definitely." Alicia remarked. "I don't know if Clark is ready though. You have to face Ms. Lang after that kiss last night."

"What kiss?" Lois interrupted without trying to sound jealous. Clark had not told her about a kiss.

"Lana kissed me, remember Alicia." Clark corrected her.

"Yeah I know. I would love to see her face today when you tell her you're not interested. And even I must admit that you were convincing when you told me you didn't have feelings for her last night." Alicia replied.

Lois decided to ask Alicia more later when they were alone. Once they arrived at school Clark had to go straight for football practice, so the girls headed to the canteen.

Chloe and Lana came in and started to wave Lois over.

She looked at Alicia. "I wonder what she wants." Lois got up and walked over to Lana.

"What's wrong Lana?" Lois asked.

Chloe smiled. "Lana has a favour to ask you."

"If this is about dumping Alicia, you know I can't." Lois announced.

"No, nothing like that." Lana smiled annoyingly. "I've just seen the Kent's in town picking up some last minute supplies for their trip to New York."

"Yeah and how does this affect me." Lois asked curiously.

"I want to take the chance while they are out of town to get closer to Clark, if you see what I mean. I have arranged for you to stay at the Talon all week to give us some privacy."

"What Lana?" Lois could not believe what she was suggesting. "You're dating Jason, aren't you?"

"Not anymore. I have decided to get back with Clark."

"How do you know if he wants to get back with you, Lana? I think you will find that he has moved on..." Lois said.

Lana went red. "I knew it. He is dating that ***** isn't he?"

Before Lois had a chance to reply, Lana stormed off to confront Clark.

Chloe looked at Lois. "Good one , cuz. I am glad I'm not Clark right now."

"I'm sorry to say this, but Lana is crazy. Why does she think she can snap her fingers and Clark will come running. He is so over her." Lois replied.

"And you don't see anything wrong with what Clark is doing?" Chloe asked.

"No, I don't Chloe. He is not some object to be fought over. He does have a mind of his own." Lois snapped.

"Oh my god. I see it now..." Chloe exclaimed.

"See what?" Lois was panicking in case Chloe knew about her and Clark.

"You are falling for the act Alicia is putting on. That is a big mistake, Lo. Leopards can never change their spots."

"We'll see..." Lois was relieved. She said goodbye to Chloe and headed back over to Alicia.

"What did she want?" Alicia asked.

"She told me that she wanted me to move out while Clark's parents are out of town. She wants to get back with him. What exactly went on with Lana and him in the barn last night?"

"Lois, I understand now... those two may be blind, but I can see it. You are in love with him aren't you?" Alicia suggested.

"What do you mean?" Lois asked.

"You love Clark!" Alicia asked.

"Don't talk rubbish." Lois said, trying to act shocked at the suggestion.

Alicia's decided not to push the matter further but she knew she had to act.