Chapter 21
She kept her eyes on the TV screen when she felt him walk in. He sat on the opposite end of the couch, but it still felt like he was too close. Why couldn't the Kent's have more than one TV?
Silently she reached for her fourth chocolate bar of the evening.
'Is that going to be your dinner?' He asked.
'According to you I'm already a big fat cow, why should I care?' She scoffed taking a gluttonous bite.
'I didn't say you were fat!' He said defensively. 'You look…' There was an uncomfortable pause as he chose his words: 'fine.'
She arched an eyebrow at him.
'Right…'
He let out an exasperated breath and focused on the flickering lights coming from the screen.
The ringing of her cell phone interrupted them.
'Oh, man…' Los muttered when she realised she'd left it in the kitchen. She really didn't feel like dragging herself back there.
Thankfully, Clark quickly offered:
'I'll get it.'
'Thanks.'
Seconds later he was standing in front of her; a stern expression on his face. Reaching for the small device she saw the name flashing – Oliver.
As she flipped the lid open to answer the call Clark left the room.
'Hello?' She said into the cell phone as she watch him stomp his way out the front door.
He didn't even bother to take his coat.
He swung the axe over his head hitting the log at his feet. If he kept this up they would end up with a pile of toothpicks and no firewood.
Right now, he didn't care. He had to find a way to get rid of this feeling that was constricting his chest and making it impossible to breathe normally.
Oliver.
Why was he calling her?
He swung again, successfully pulverizing the rest of the wood.
By the time he was done an hour had passed and it had started to rain, but at least the initially suffocating sensation had dimmed down to a slight sting in his chest. Dropping the axe he made his way back to the house.
'Finally, I was starting to get-' Lois stopped in mid sentence when she turned to see him standing in the middle of the living room.
His hair was soaked through and dishevelled, his clothes drenched and clinging to his body. It was her turn to swallow dryly. He had to have done that on purpose. He'd somehow figured it was about to rain and had gone out on purpose. All a devious plan to get her even more rattled.
She needed chocolate. Now!
'You should-' She cleared her throat when her voice came out a little too hoarse for her taste. 'You should get out of those clothes before you catch a cold.'
'I'll go shower.' He replied running his hand through his hair.
'Definitely on purpose.' She decided, turning to locate some chocolate.
Cautiously he entered the bedroom. He knew that she was downstairs, he could easily pick up her regular heartbeat. Even thought it was his bedroom it felt like he was invading her privacy. He was immediately struck by her scent when he stepped inside. It had taken over every inch of the room.
His lip curled sideways when he saw the tousled bed sheets but his mouth straightened when his eyes caught a glimpse of plaid peaking from underneath the comforter. Without thinking he reached for it and pulled out his shirt – the shirt. Much like the rest of the space her smell was also ingrained in the item he now held in his hand. She'd been wearing it.
He closed his eyes as a series of images flicked in his mind. He had to get dressed and get out of there before he found himself in need of yet another shower.
She was munching on her sixth or seventh chocolate bar when he came back down. As always her stomach did the frustrating flop the moment she looked up at him.
He wore a pair of ragged jeans and the traditional plaid t-shirt. He took his seat on the couch and they both sat there, watching some random TV show, neither of them paying any attention to it.
After a few minutes he spoke:
'How many chocolates can you eat, Lois?'
Her reply was immediate:
'How many showers can you take?'
That seemed to shut him up, unfortunately it also served to heighten the tension between them. This was getting ridiculous. Lois felt like the giant elephant in the room with them had just doubled in size. She began to fidget, restlessly shifting in her seat every couple of minutes.
'Are you ok?' He finally asked when she moved for the umpteenth time.
'I'm fine.'
That came out a little too quickly.
'Lois…'
Oh-oh, she knew that tone. She didn't like that tone.
'We need to talk.'
'I'm going to bed.' She sprang off the couch like it was on fire.
'Lois, we can't keep avoiding this.' He chased after her, catching up to her when she was halfway to the stairs.
'Whatever you wanna talk about, Smallville, it can wait till tomorrow.' She said dismissively but he was already blocking her way.
How many times were they going to do this?
'No.'
'Yes.' She countered trying to walk passed him but he wouldn't let her. 'Smallville…' She warned him.
They glared at each other wordlessly.
'Look, I'm tired and… kinda queasy.' She added when she felt her stomach protest.
'I want to talk.'
'I don't!'
'Well, I-'
A knock on the door interrupted him. It was eleven o'clock at night. Who could that be? It was too early to be his mother.
Lois used the opportunity to escape Clark and quickly hobbled over to the door thanking whoever had decided to pay the Kents a visit at that hour. Her gratitude dissolved completely when she saw Abby standing at the threshold.
'Hi!'
Lois' reply was a curt nod.
'Abby? What are you doing here?' Clark asked coming up to them.
'I forgot my textbook.'
Lois rolled her eyes. That was had to be the most pathetic excuse she'd ever heard!
'Oh.' Clark mumbled a bit confused. 'It's probably at the barn. I'll go get it.'
It took only a glance in Lois' direction for Abby to pipe up:
'I'll go with you.'
Shaking her head in disgust, Lois watched as the two left.
Lois tapped her nails on the kitchen counter as she waited – ten whole minutes. What was taking them so long?
She tilted her head to see that the barn light was still on.
'Forgot her textbook, my ass!' She grumbled.
Five more minutes passed before she spotted them exiting the barn.
Finally!
Her hands closed into tight fists when she saw Abby wrap her arms around Clark's.
'Oh, give me a break!'
She tried to get her anger under wraps while she waited for them to arrive.
'It's really freezing out there!' Abby's annoying voice echoed in the kitchen as the two entered.
'Good thing Clark's body was so at hand to warm you up.' Lois mentally snorted.
'Yeah…' Clark agreed with his eyes focused on Lois.
She was staring daggers at them both adding to the tension in the silent room.
'Did you find the textbook?' Lois finally spoke.
Even though Clark was oblivious to the silent exchange between the two girls, they both knew exactly what was going on. Accidentally forgetting something was oldest trick in the book.
'Yes… thank God. I was getting kind of worried.' Abby replied.
'Yeah, how else would you be able to study in the middle of the holiday season?' Lois' voice dripped with sarcasm.
The three stood there completely aware of the painful silence that had once more settled between them. Lois, however, didn't seem too bothered by it.
'Do you want something to eat?' Clark blurted out when the strain became unbearable.
'Oh, no I just had dinner.'
'Plus you need to study, right?' Lois pointed out. 'I mean, why else would you come over in the middle of the night to get the textbook?'
'Yeah…' Abby forced on a plastic smile. 'I better get going.'
Before she even finished the sentence Lois was already holding the door open for her.
'Bye.' Abby uttered meekly.
'Good night.' Clark replied.
'Good luck studying.'
With that Lois swung the door closed.
Chapter 22
'What was that?!' Clark immediately asked following her as she plodded into the living room; crutches be damned! She was too angry to remember those.
Lois stopped and turned around to face him.
'She forgot her textbook? Oh, that's priceless!' She mocked.
'She was worried about it.' Clark argued. 'She wanted to check if it was here.'
'And she had to come over for that? That's why phones were invented.'
'My cell phone was off.'
'You're telling me that at eleven o'clock at night she gets a sudden urge to study?! Ha! That was a classic excuse to come see you.'
'And what if it was?' He countered. 'What would be the problem?'
'No problem. Just pathetic!'
Clark's eyes widened as his brain began piecing things together.
'You're jealous.' It wasn't an accusation, but more of a verbalized realisation.
'What?! Me? Jealous of grabby-Abby? You have got to be kidding!' She exclaimed aghast.
'Yes, you are!'
'I am not!' Lois insisted shocked. 'Why would I be jealous of her?'
'I don't know, but you are.'
'In your dreams…' She scoffed walking off.
He quickly trailed after her.
'Then why are you acting like this?'
'Like what?' She halted again to face him.
'Like you're jealous.'
'I'm not jealous! I just don't like her.' She defiantly narrowed her eyes at him.
'Why not?'
She was stumped for an answer.
'Because I don't.' She eventually blurted.
'That's not a reason.'
'I don't have to have a reason not to like someone.' Lois argued.
'Yes, you do.'
'Fine! You want a reason?'
He nodded.
'I don't like that phoney toothpaste commercial smile of hers, or that pseudo-angelic doe eyed look she tries to charm everyone with. She's too short and too skinny. And she frolics!' She finished.
'She frolics?' Clark repeated with a frown.
'Yes! Skipping all the way to the barn to see her man!'
'You can't say you don't like a person because of the way they walk.'
'Oh, yes I can.'
'Lois, that's ridiculous.'
'Ridiculous is the way she acts around you.'
'What way?'
'Like a cheerleader in heat! She's always grabbing you.'
'She didn't grab me.'
Tilting her head sideways she ridiculed Abby in a whiny tone:
'Oh, it's so cold, let me grab onto my strong farm boy! He'll protect me from the wicked cold.'
'You were spying on us?' Clark said in shock.
'I wasn't spying!' She denied vehemently. 'I just happened to look out the window and saw you. There is a big difference!'
'You were spying on us.'
'No, I wasn't!'
'You were spying on us because you were jealous.'
'If you say that one more time I'm going to hit you.' She threatened.
'You're jealous.' He repeated boldly.
Her fist was halfway to striking him in the chest when his hand grabbed a hold of it and effectively deflected the blow. She held her breath as she found herself in an awkward position – her body was flush against his, her arm trapped behind her back.
'Let go.' She gritted when she found her voice.
'Admit it.' His tone was low and she could feel his heart pounding just as furiously as her own.
'I don't care if you and toothpaste girl elope and have two point three babies together.' She snorted raising her chin up at him.
She anxiously waited for his reaction agonizingly aware of just how erratic her breathing was. What he did next shocked her – he let go of her. Just like that.
'Fine.' He grumbled turning around and heading for the door.
'Whe-where are you going?'
'See if I can find Abby.' He said just before storming out and slamming the door behind him.
She was left stunned in the middle of the living room, a sharp pain in her chest.
He was going after her.
A lump slowly formed in her throat forcing her to draw out every breath.
Without thinking she began to hobble towards the door; her crutches forgotten in the kitchen but she didn't care. She had to-
She froze when the door abruptly flew open and with ground eating steps Clark closed the distance between them in under a second. Wrapping his arms around her he smashed his mouth against hers.
Out of its own accord her body immediately reacted to his, her hands earnestly gripped the back of his neck, diving into his wet hair, desperately trying to get closer while his own tightened around her waist.
Their lips and tongues moved ravenously, urgently trying to deepen the kiss. She strained upwards on the tip of her toes until she felt herself being lifted clear off the floor, her legs automatically wrapping themselves around his waist. She let out a content mewl when she was finally able to freely kiss him without any effort.
She hadn't realised just how much she'd been craving this until she had tasted it. She couldn't stop holding onto him, couldn't stop kissing him; even though her lungs ached for air she refused to let go of his mouth. Eventually, as the sting became too intense she tore her lips from his and gasped for air.
Panting and avidly gulping down breaths she looked down to see him staring up at her with large eyes and just as winded as she was.
He waited anxiously for her reaction. This was usually the part where she would run off.
She didn't.
Taking one last breath she dove in and captured his lips once again. She felt his fingers dig into the flesh of her thighs; a wave of relief washed over him.
As they continued to battle with their tongues, her brain eventually registered that she was no longer standing but laying on something soft while Clark's body was draped over hers. Lazily she forced her eyes open when his mouth abandoned hers to find her earlobe.
The whole two seconds she managed to keep them focussed she was able to assess that they were actually lying on the couch. It seemed impossible to keep her eyes open while he was doing that to her ear.
God, that felt…
She moaned the hand on her neck forced her to tilt her head sideways to give him better access.
Burying his nose behind her ear he inhaled sharply. How could her smell do that do him? How could it drive him insane?
He grazed his teeth over the column of her neck eliciting yet another strangled gasp from her. Hearing her mewl like that sent a chill down his belly and he quickly moved to claim her lips again.
His hand travelled from her neck down her side until it settled on her thigh bringing her leg around his hips while he continued to kiss her.
He let out a throaty grunt, his eyes rolling back under closed lids when she ground her hips up against his.
Her mind was a delicious haze as she pushed back all the annoying question that would probably plague her the moment this was over. She didn't want to think about what this meant or worry about the repercussions of what they were doing. She didn't want to dissect her feelings or whether of not this was allowed, if it was right or wrong. The truth was it felt right and all she wanted was to keep kissing him; never stop.
She frowned slightly when an annoying ringing sound filtered into her daze. Was that her phone?
'Please let it be something else!'
But the more it rang, the more recognizable it became that it was in fact her cell phone.
Someone out there had a lousy sense of timing.
With great effort she pulled away from his lips, but he wouldn't let go of her, trailing warm, open mouth kisses down to her earlobe.
Oh, not that! How was she supposed to fight that?
Craning her eyelids open she looked over to the table to see the blurry image of the small device lighting up. Reluctantly she placed her hands on his shoulders and pushed.
'Clark…' She choked out the words under his ministrations but he didn't notice. Summoning all of her strength she groaned out: 'Clark… my pho-Ah… My phone.'
Slowly, he seemed to realise her intentions. Puzzled and flushed he looked up from her throat.
'My phone.' She pointed behind him.
With a foggy mind he looked over his shoulders to see the device on the table.
Grudgingly, he pushed himself off of her and reached for it.
It felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach when he saw Oliver's name flashing in front of him. Swallowing dryly he handed her the phone and stood up.
'Clark, wait.' She called out.
'I'll be in the kitchen.' He mumbled leaving her alone.
With a heavy sigh she flipped the lid open.
'Hello?'
He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this nervous. It was agonizing to wait for her to finish her call and not listen in. What did he want? Again.
He was in the dark on this one. And his mind wasn't helping as it provided the most gruesome of scenarios. He couldn't be trying to get back together with Lois, could he?
Of course he was! Who in their right mind wouldn't want to be with her?
He ran his hand over his damp and messed up hair while he frantically paced around the kitchen. He could see her sitting on the couch. She was smiling. That couldn't be good. He felt another blow to the gut.
He froze solid in place when he saw her flip the lid of the cell phone closed. She was getting up and walking his way. He had to find something to busy himself with. He reached for the first thing he could find – a towel. He despaired when he realised there were no dishes to dry, so he ended up in the awkward position of standing in the middle of the kitchen with a towel in his hand when she finally entered.
'Hey…' She said coyly.
Lois was never coy.
'Hi.'
There was a long excruciating pause before he asked:
'What did Oliver want?'
Even though he dreaded the answer he needed to know.
'It wasn't him.'
He held his breath.
'It was your mom. She forgot her cell phone and she wanted to let us know that she was going to be a little late.' Lois explained fidgeting with the cell phone much like Clark was now doing with the towel.
'Oh.'
They stood there, a few feet from each other, neither daring to say a word. Eventually he spoke, swallowing dryly:
'And what did he want before?'
'That was also your mom. She was just checking up on us. She was worried you would starve to death.' Lois forced out a nervous laugh.
And yet another moment of silence settled between the two.
It was driving her insane! The questions that she'd managed to push back only a few minutes ago were now back in full force.
Taking in an encouraging breath she spoke:
'Well… I better go… to bed.'
His heart sank at her words.
Were they back to that? Back to ignoring everything?
He watched as she hesitantly shifted in her spot, like she was stuck between leaving and staying. She was about to take a step back when something inside her snapped.
'Screw it!'
With a brisk stride she quickly crossed the kitchen towards him griped him by his shirt and pulled him down for a hard kiss.
His eyes widened in shock at her move. He was paralyzed and by the time he'd snapped himself out of it she'd let go.
'Good night.' She mumbled tensely before scurrying out of there and leaving him completely flabbergasted in the middle of the kitchen.