A.N: This is winding down, two chapters left. I decided there will be a sequel. I'm stifling through titles right now. I know where its going but there's so many cool names out there lol...

Chapter 14

Clark picked up the application from Lois's desk and narrowed his eyes in confusion.

Lois watched him from across the room and regarded him sadly. She shook her head and walked toward him. Dumping some files on her desk she sat down hard on her chair and swiveled toward her computer, completely ignoring him.

"Lois?"

"Hmm", she absentmindedly answered.

"You want to fill me in on this", he asked holding up the sheet of paper.

Her eyes widened and she snatched it from him.

"That's private Smallville", she screeched, "Were you going through my stuff?"

"It was on your desk, Lois", he said softly, "You're quitting?"

"Not exactly", she said.

"Then what it is it exactly", he asked.

"I'm exploring my options as a journalist", she looked at him sarcastically.

"But you love the Planet", he said softly.

"I love… something else more", she said swallowing hard, "And the Planet just reminds me I can't have that… something…"

"Lois…"

"No, Clark", she smiled, "It's not about you."

"Oh."

She smiled turning back to her computer.

"So when are you quitting", he asked.

"When I get the job", she smiled, "Which reminds me... I need an audition partner…"

"Audition partner?"

She nodded smiling and he groaned.

Lois smiled brightly, "Good morning Metropolis! I'm your host… Lois Lane."

Clark's widened eyes and reluctant face stared into the camera, "And I'm your co-host, Clark Kent."

"And we're here to make the start of your day", Lois stopped smiling at him.

Clark stared at the camera dumbfounded. Her smile wavered.

"A little bit brighter", she smiled tightly at the camera, "Right Clark?"

"Right", he nodded and said softly, "A little bit brighter…"

Lois rolled her eyes.

"Could we start over", she said looking off-camera.

The producer, an older woman, smiled and pushed down on the intercom button.

"Not a problem", she said, "Just let me know when you're ready…"

Lois smiled and snapped her neck to Clark.

"What the hell was that?"

"There's a reason I went into writing journalism, Lois", he sneered, "I don't like performing in front of a camera."

"So you do have performance anxiety", she nodded, "Wow… that explains a lot actually…"

He glared at her.

"Clark, can you at least try not making an ass of yourself right now", she said softly, "This is important to me…"

"I am trying!"

"Not hard enough!"

"Lois, I'm doing this for you", he was exasperated, "I'd say I care about you if I didn't think you'd throw it in my face."

"Like you cared when you lied to me", she asked.

"I didn't lie, Lois, I didn't tell you about Oliver because I knew you'd blame yourself…"

"I don't blame myself", she glared.

"Oh", he said, "Could have fooled me."

"I don't blame myself", she repeated, "Because I blame you…"

He looked at her sadly and nodded.

"Okay then", he said removing the microphone from his shirt and standing up.

"Tell you what, Clark, if you really want to do something for me", she said angrily, "Care enough to nail this next line."

The studio lights came up and an applause was heard from the producer's room.

"Thanks guys", she smiled, "That'll do."

"Oh we weren't", Lois said, "Can we try again… one more time please?"

"That's it for today", the producer shook her head, "But let's say you give it a whirl bright and early Monday morning…"

"I thought that's when you wanted the new host to start", Lois said slowly.

"That's when you start", the producer smiled, "Congratulations, you got the job."

Lois beamed and jumped up to hug Clark tightly.

"Guess this means you're not angry anymore", he smiled from over her shoulder.

"Let's just say I won't forget you when I go national", she grinned at him.

"Actually, we want both of you", the producer said crossing her arms.

Lois turns to the sound booth window.

"He was just here to help", Lois shook her head, "He's not really auditioning…"

"Yeah", Clark nodded quickly, "I'm more of a behind-the-scenes guy…"

"That's too bad", she shook her head, "It's a packaged deal. Either you both stay or you both go…"

Lois looked at Clark widening her eyes. She wanted him to accept and he knew it. He sighed defeated and looked back at the sound booth.

"What's our first assignment?"

Lois jumped back into his arms excitedly and he smiled holding her close.

Chloe smirked watching her best friend sit down in a leather chair at his desk rubbing his eyes.

"So I take it the audition went well", she asked smiling.

He groaned.

"Lois got the job huh", she asked thinking that's what he was so upset about, "Look Clark, it's not like you'll never see her… she is my cousin… and one of your best friends even if she's really mad at you…"

"I got the job too, Chloe", he cut off her ranting.

"Run that by me again", she said shaking her head.

He handed her the TV release form he said standing to walk to the copy machine.

"I got the job with her", he said, "They'd only have us as a team…"

"You're leaving the Planet", she asked following him.

"I don't want to", he said, "But I don't want Lois to either and maybe this is the only way I can convince her she belongs at the Planet anyway… with me…"

Chloe smiled knowingly placing the paper on a nearby desk.

"What's your plan", she asked.

"Don't have one", he shrugged.

"Okay", she nodded, "What's your first assignment?"

He snorted.

"Online dating", he said.

"Oh that's cool, you'll be covering online dating and people that meet on it", Chloe nodded.

"No", he shook his head looking at her, "We're going on blind dates…. Through online dating. They want us to talk about it on the show…"

Chloe bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

"Which is why you're here", he sighed sitting down again at his computer, "I need help with my online dating profile."

She couldn't hold back any further. She broke down laughing.

Oliver drove around the streets of Star City looking for her. He pulled up to the curb when he found her and her muscle man about to hit her.

"Hey, I won't pay top dollar if the merchandise is damaged", he said quickly.

The big man looked at him in his car and glared at the young girl, lowering his hand, "Bring back some real money."

She glared and watched him leave, sauntering over to Oliver in his car. She leaned into his window seductively.

"Nice wheels."

"Nice leather", Oliver smirked.

"Still", she shrugged, "Nothing compares to Lamborghini's Classic Miura Model…"

"You know your cars", he nodded.

"Did you know Miura was named after Spanish bulls famous for their attack instinct?"

Oliver was impressed. She couldn't be more than eighteen but she was obviously too smart for the streets.

"And you learn that from life out here on the streets", he asked obviously impressed with her.

"All I know is I could definitely attack the streets in one of those…"

Oliver smiled and slid over to the passenger seat, tapping the driver side. Mia brightened up instantly.

"Really?"

He grinned and winked.

"Ole'."

Mia smiled and jumped in speeding off.

Mia sped through the streets of Star City dodging in and out of traffic at record speed.

"Woah there, Speedy", Oliver said smirking, "I'm trying to get away from life in the fast lane?"

"Then why are you cruising for company?"

"Actually, I'm not looking for company", he said turning to her, "I was looking for you."

His face turned serious.

"We need to talk, Mia."

Mia glared at him, "Did my dad send you?"

"I don't know your dad", he shook his head, "I saw you in Metropolis. You were in an underground fight club."

"First rule of fight club… you don't talk about fight club."

"Then let's talk about you", he turned the conversation, "From what I can see you have speed and strength… you're talented, Mia."

"I knew a two hundred pound drag queen who taught me how to fight", she shrugged, "Also picked out these boots. What do you care anyway? You some bookie looking to fix a match?"

"No", he shook his head, "I want to help you fix your life. I want to train you. Get you off the streets."

"My hero", she smirked sarcastically, "What's your name hero?"

"Oliver", he said.

"Okay, Ollie", she smirked, "What's this help going to cost me?"

"Twenty four hours", he said, "Let me prove you can trust me."

"Whether we do it or not", she said coolly, "You still got to pay me for my time…"

Oliver pulled out his money clip, "Do you take cash?"