Disclaimer: None of the characters that appear below are of my creation. They're all the property of D.C. Comics, the W.B., and its affiliates.
"Lois! Hey, Lois!" Chloe Sullivan hurriedly called out to her cousin Lois Lane late one Sunday evening. The two young women had just left the second football game of the season, Smallville's team veritably kicking Grandville's ass with ease. It was, of course, in no small amount thanks to Clark Kent, the new quarterback to Smallville's High School's football team.
Lois turned around and waited for her petite, blonde cousin to catch up with her. Chloe's crimped locks bounced as she ran to catch up to the tall, stunning brunette who stood waiting impatiently with one hand on her hip. Chloe envied Lois for a moment as she approached her. Lois was tall, statuesque, and stunning. Her long chocolate tresses, which were pulled back in their usual half bun, swayed gently in the autumn evening breeze, and the denim jeans and buttery motorcycle jacket that she wore suited her to a T.
"Hurry up Chloe, I can't wait here forever. And I really don't wanna see Clark come over here and smirk over how great he was in the game."
"You know," Chloe said as she stopped right in front of Lois. "Clark really isn't one to smirk. Or bloat. Although I'm sure that you'd love him to, just so you could shoot him down."
"What can I say?" Lois smiled charmingly. "Smallville's fun to tease."
"Yeah..." Chloe replied, feeling not just a tiny hint of jealousy at Lois' sudden comfort with the guy of Chloe's dreams.
But hey, Lois was her favorite and closest cousin, so jealousy be damned.
Right?
"So...is everyone heading over to the Falcon or something tonight?" Lois asked, turning and heading back towards her car.
"The Talon," Chloe corrected. "And yeah, pretty much everyone. The football team. Clark. Lana."
"Lana too, huh?" Lois asked, glancing at her cousin a moment. The young woman unlocked the doors to her red convertible and got in, Chloe herself sticking her messenger bag in the backseat before sliding into the passenger seat. Lois had met Lana a few days ago, and had instantaneously felt whatever sparks had been there between Lana Lang and Clark Kent. It was scary, the way those two had such strong sparks between them.
And just a little upsetting too.
Lois had to admit though, she couldn't quite blame Clark. Lana was, after all, what could only be described as a delicate, perfect beauty. In another lifetime she could have been Snow White. Sadly, given the way Lois was feeling, although she'd never in a million years admit to it, that would make her the Wicked Stepmother in this tale.
The young woman shrugged off this train of thought casually and revved up the engine. "So...the Talon," She said, backing out of her spot. "God, I'm gonna need a cigarette for this."
Lana Lang consciously pulled down the back of her cashmere turtleneck, wishing she'd opted for something longer to wear over her knee-length skirt and boots. The tattoo that had branded itself onto Lana – she had an idea of where it was from, but didn't want to admit it to herself because the idea was just too creepy – made Lana feel extremely uncomfortable. She hadn't shown it to Jason yet, and wasn't sure how he would react. In any case, she was sure it wouldn't be pretty.
"Hey, Lana, you okay?" Jason asked as the two entered the front double doors of the Talon, instantly letting go of each other's hands and separating by a foot.
"Me?" she asked, looking into Jason's too-sexy-to-be-true blueberry eyes. "Great. Just...in a need of a caffeine fix? It's been a long day."
"Yeah...you've been cooped up at home working on that term paper of yours all day."
"Well...you know how it is," Lana replied a little uncomfortably. "Last year of high school. I really need to get good grades."
"And you are," he said tenderly as the couple approached the coffee bar. "I mean...study any harder and I won't see you even for the couple of hours a day that I already get to."
"Oh, Jason..." Lana said affectionately as she gently patted his hand. "I am sorry...and I will make it up to you. Soon."
Jason smiled down at her before ordering a cappuccino for himself and a vanilla latte for Lana. The young woman nearly swooned as he did so. Lana had met Jason Teague in Paris, France a few months ago and the handsome blonde American had been so smitten by the small town girl that he followed her back halfway across the world just to be with her. That was one of the things that made Lana care for him so much. Jason was warm, understanding, and open. It was that last thing that meant the most to her. Especially due to her last couple of relationships. Whitney had been sweet, but there's had been the typical high school relationship. Football player and cheerleader. Clark on the other hand...he would have been the perfect boyfriend. If only he hadn't been so secretive all the time.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Jaye, one of the girls who worked at the Talon, set Lana's coffee cup down in front of her. Lana thanked Jaye gracefully and took a tiny sip of the warm, foamy drink, letting its warmth seep through her.
"Hey, be right back," Jason said to her as the football team started to come in through the front doors of the Talon.
"Yeah, sure," Lana said understanding completely. Jason was assistant coach to the Smallville High football team, and as such probably wanted to congratulate his team again on their victory. He turned to go but Lana quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him back, kissing him on the cheek. "I'll be right here."
Jason flashed Lana an award-winning smile before walking away, nearly bumping into an ebony haired young woman as he did so.
The ebony haired young beauty that Jason had nearly bumped into smiled gently at him as he gave an apologetic look and then went on her way again. She took a seat next to the young woman to whom he had been speaking and ordered herself a mocha-caramel macchiato as she set her magenta-and-silver fedora down in front of her. She then turned and glanced at the crowd around her.
She noticed, with some silent glee, that a lot of the guys in that room were checking her out. She smiled at one or two of them before turning around again, not wanting to attract too much attention to herself. She was after all, new in this town, and didn't suddenly want to be the hot topic there. Still, just to be sure that there was nothing weird on her face, she pulled out a compact from her clutch.
Everything seemed to be okay. Well, better than okay. She looked perfect. Her ebony tresses were still pulled back in a semi-high ponytail, and her small, stylish pompadour hadn't gone all flat on her. Dark, iridescent eyes glittered out from beneath her naturally long lashes, and her almost-full, petite lips (which shone with a sheer gloss) parted in a slight smile. Yeah...she looked good tonight.
When the waitress – Jaye was her name - came back with her drink, she asked if there was anything else this new girl wanted. "Actually, yeah," she replied, in a slight whisky voice. "I was wondering who I could ask for a job around here."
Jaye pointed to the young woman seated right next to her, who at the same time turned and looked at the new girl.
"Me," Lana replied, giving out a dimpled smile. "Hi...I'm Lana Lang. I pretty much run this place."
"It's beautiful," the young woman offered, taking in the Luxor-style décor and the crowd of people crammed inside what seemed to be the high school-and-college-going crowd's main hang out.
"Yeah...well...we try our best."
"It's certainly amazing."
Lana nodded her thanks and studied the young woman for a moment, as the young woman glanced around the Talon. She was dressed, well, unlike most Smallville girls. The young woman was wearing a pair of denim cropped trousers that were rolled up a little. Underneath those were magenta fishnet stockings and silver strappy stilettos. She was also wearing a pale blue camisole embroidered and bejeweled with a dragonfly, and a magenta velvet mini-blazer. There was no doubt in Lana's mind that half the men in that room were attracted to this mysterious newcomer, which frankly was a small relief for her. She had had enough of freaky men checking her out and then either kidnapping her and trying to brainwash her, or kidnapping her and trying to kill her. While she didn't bear this girl any ill will, she was glad that at least a few guys – and hopefully some of the girls – would divert their attention away from her.
"We get that a lot," Lana replied charmingly, acknowledging the girl's compliment with a nod. "So...you were looking for a job?"
"Yeah...I'm new here...starting at Smallville High School tomorrow. I'm also kind of looking for a job? You know, might help me get into the social scene. And this definitely looks like prime social scene."
"You could say that. Well, we could definitely use some more help around here. Jaye's leaving soon because she's found an internship with the local radio station, and we need a perky somebody to fill her shoes."
"I'm your girl," the young woman replied.
"Do you have any experience, though?"
"I worked at the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for a couple of years."
"Perfect! So, when can you start?"
"Tomorrow?"
"How about you get settled in first? Let's say...Wednesday."
The young woman nodded, her glossed lips parting once more in a warm, nymphet's smile. "Wednesday works. See you then."
"And at school," Lana replied. "I go there too...my senior year."
"Really? Same here." The girl said, genuinely surprised. "I would have taken you for college freshman or something. So...see you at school maybe."
"Yeah, definitely. And if you need someone to show you around, get to know a few people, well, I have a great group of friends."
"I'd like that. Thanks," she smiled gratefully as she slid off of her seat, and then turned to leave.
Lana turned back to her coffee, and then suddenly realized something, and said, "Hey...wait. I didn't quite get your name."
"Oh, yeah. Sorry...my mind's still not totally here tonight. I'm Zatanna. Zatanna Zatara."