After the Prom

Lois and I went for a walk outside after partying for an hour. I had the greatest time of my life. Not even a natural disaster or Jor-El could take this moment from me. As we walk on the empty road, I give her my jacket so she could stay warm. She tried to protest but I would have none of it. After that, we stayed silent for a good few minutes until I started a conversation.

"So how long will you be staying in Smallville this time?"

She paused and looked at her sterling silver wrist watch before answering. "Two hours," she says, surprising me.

"Two hours?" I repeat, not quite believing what I'm hearing.

She explains. "I have finals in the morning. I figured if I stay till at least midnight, I can scrape half an hour from my drive back to Metropolis and catch a few hours sleep"

"Wow," I utter softly, low enough so she didn't hear, but with the smile that graced her face, I already knew she did. "I didn't realize you went through all the trouble. I'm sorry for the short notice"

"Why? I'm the one who decided to come." She nudged me on the arm. "Besides, I had a good time"

My face broke into a smile. "You did?" My maturity level isn't as high as it should be when I'm around her.

She chuckled and it sounded like music to my ears.

"To be honest, I never made it to my Senior Prom"

I look at her curiously and wonder out loud, "What happened?"

She grinned. "That's for me to know and for you never to find out," she replied playfully but still very honestly.

"Would it be presumptuous of me to ask when you're coming back? I'd really like to see you again." We stop walking and my feelings are open for the world – or more importantly – for her to see.

"Clark – I didn't come here to start anything – I came so – "

"Don't even bother finishing that," I say disappointedly. I turn around to avoid her eyes. I should've known this weren't meant to be anything serious. Just another girl I'm meant to be friends with.

Then why do I feel like I lost a part of myself when I barely really know her?

"Clark," she speaks again and I still keep my back to her.

"Look, I don't have a lot of experience in this. I can barely figure out my own life but – " I return to facing her. "… I enjoy being with you if that makes any kind of sense"

She kept her face showing a calm façade, but I can practically hear her heart beat loudly against her chest and I knew right then and there that she was holding back.

"You and I – and this thing – whatever it is we've got going – it's nice but it's not – "

I cut her off. "We can try"

She laughs but not in the funny way I was used to seeing her do. "You can't be serious," she stays sternly. "You said so yourself, you've barely even been in a relationship before let alone a long distance one"

"So you're thinking about it," I say in a hopeful tone.

"What?" she looked like she was taken off-guard. It's about time she did so too. "No. Of course not."

"You don't sound very convincing"

"You're making something out of nothing"

"Is it because I'm younger than you?" I ask, trying to figure out exactly what she's afraid of. "I know I'm only seventeen but I'll be eighteen soon"

"It has nothing to do with your age, believe me"

"Then what?" I pursued. "Is it the long-distance idea? Because, I can make that work." Seriously, I really can. "I'm pretty fast on my feet." Again, I'm not lying but she didn't have to know that I meant that in the most literal sense.

"I don't think you get it. It has little to do with you and more to do with me. Clark, I'm not ready for…" she gestures between her and me. "This."

"Why not?" It's an honest question and I hope she gives me an answer.

"For a lot of reasons," she says and I sigh. Not the answer I was hoping for.

I could only think of one. "It is because of Lex?" I have to at least give myself credit for covering all bases.

She looks offended. "I told you the truth before; my life isn't controlled by what Lex wants and doesn't want for me"

"He can be very persuasive," I argued. Why is she being so stubborn when it's obvious there's something good going on between us?

"Now you're crossing the line"

"I'm sorry, I'm just – you make me feel things and it's leaving me confused half the time"

"You and me both," she replied honestly.

The two of us laugh at the situation we find ourselves in.

"Oh God"

"This is not how I pictured the night ending"

She smiled. "How'd you expect it to end?" She paused and took it back. "Nevermind, don't answer that"

"But I want to"

She lifted an eyebrow. "You never give up, don't you?"

I throw her my Kent smile. "It's a first for me, and I kind of like it"

"Oh great, that doesn't help my defense," she teased herself.

"Like I said, we can try"

"Clark, please," she pleaded softly.

I look away from her and stare at the empty street. "I got into Met-U the other day," I reveal to her. I can hear her surprise by the soft sound she made just as she was going to say something. I continued. "That's why I was hoping we could give this a shot. In a few months, you and I will be sharing the same campus." I turn to face her and this time; it was Lois that was avoiding eye contact with me.

"Lois, please say something"

"Uh – Con – gra – dula – tions"

I frowned, she's a total enigma. "Is that all?"

Her face turns serious. "I swear, you better have not chosen to go to Met-U because I was there," she pointed her finger at me and I find myself stepping backwards as she closed in.

I hold my hands up. "I didn't I swear"

"Good," she relaxed and her next words were soft and caring. "I just – I don't want you doing something that wasn't your choice to begin with. If you go to Met-U, go because you want to, not for some false obligation to someone"

"It's always been my school of choice, Lois. You just happened to be a bonus"

"Oh, so now I'm just a prize?" she humored me.

"Grand prize," I bantered confidently in return.

She breathed in deeply. "Let's just try being friends first and see where that leads us, what do you say?"

I kept myself from reacting negatively, but if that'll give me the opportunity to know her more, than it's an opportunity that I'm going to make.

"Stay till one and you've got yourself a deal"

She grinned widely, seemingly impressed. "You drive a hard bargain, Smallville"

The next three hours were spent starting their 'real' friendship.

To be continued…