Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or You've Got Mail.
A/N: I'm sorry I haven't updated for a while. One of my best friends died in a car crash a week ago. He was sixteen years old. So, I dedicate this story to my friend Cameran Menden.
otownroxx- Lois and Clark never knew each other before the Daily Planet.
JsBurnz- Tom doesn't know that Kristen is Lana and Kristen doesn't know that Tom is Clark.
Chapter 5: Taking It To The Mattresses
Kristen walked into work and Audrey started following her, taking notes.
"Audrey we need to get those surveys and find out the new budget from Gertie. I would like to start right away so let's get going." Kristen said walking into her office. She opened her e-mail from Il59 titled 'Mr. Nasty'. It read:
Do you ever feel you've become the worst version of yourself? That a Pandora's Box of all the secret, hateful parts- your arrogance, your spite, your condescension- has sprung open. Someone provokes you, and instead of just smiling and moving on you zing them. And you zing them bad. Hello, it's Mr. Nasty! Though I'm sure you have no idea what I'm talking about because you probably don't have a single mean bone in your body.
Kristen smiled. She started typing her e-mail when her Instant Messager popped up. It was IL59. It read:
I had a funny feeling you'd be on.
She laughed in amazement and typed back:
Wow, you just made my day.
How? He asked.
Well, my business is in a rut right now, due to publicity.
Really? What kind of business do you have?
Nope, no, remember-nothing personal.
Ok…how can I help you out them?
Can you help? I'm not sure you can.
Oh, come on, try me. He wrote.
Well, I need to know what I can do to get my business out of this rut.
Well, I suggest that it's time to take it to the mattresses.
What? I'm not sure I understand.
It's from the Godfather. It means play dirty.
What is it with men and the Godfather? She asked.
The Godfather is the I Ching. The answer to all questions. For instance: What do I take? 'Leave the gun, take the canoli'. What day is it? 'Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.' And What should I do? 'Take it to the mattresses'. And just remember it's nothing personal, just business. Remember that every time you think you're going to lose your cool.
That movie should be banned from basic cable.
Ha-ha. Did I help?
Yeah, a lot actually. Thanks.
No Problem. IL59 out.
They both signed off and Kristen smiled. He had given her good advice, which she might have to use. She sat there tapping her fingers in her silver topped desk and said, "Audrey!"
"Yeah?" Audrey asked rushing in.
"Change in plans. Get me surveys on people that read the Daily Planet 2 days ago and information on Tom Welling."
"Ok, but what are we doing?" Audrey asked puzzled.
"We're taking this Daily Planet fiasco to the mattresses."
Tom's Office
Tom laughed at smallgirl's remarks to his Godfather quotes. His mind flashed back to memories of Lana when they would constantly joke about the Godfather and the both agreed to never watch it. But, Pete had made him once and he couldn't help but like it a little bit.
Tom was snapped out of his memories when Michel came to his desk and said, "Tom you have a call on line 4."
"Oh, thanks Michel." Tom said picking up the phone.
"Hello?" he asked.
"Tom I need you to g by the market after work." Paige said.
"Why can't you do it?" he asked.
" I have a meeting and won't be back home until dinner, so I also need you to make dinner too."
"What? You know I hate cooking. Can't I just get takeout?"
"No. Tom don't complain just do it!"
"Ok, see ya tonight." He grumbled.
She's so annoying. She didn't even say goodbye. He thought.
"Tom, Lois needs to see you." Michel said.
"Ok," Tom said getting up and going over to her office.
Winston's Market
Kristen walked over to the produce section and saw that everywhere there were big signs saying "Happy Holidays". She sorted through the peaches to find the good ripe ones, when she saw someone she had been hoping to avoid for a while. Tom walked near the produce and she dodged the bread where she lost him for a little bit. But as she was picking up a bag of rolls he walked on the other side. She bent down on her knees and walked away as she pushed that cart. Then she was picking up a big box of cerealwhen he walked by. She was trapped. She covered up her face with the box and slipped pass him.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Good." She said in a deep voice.
Kristen was so distracted the entire time she was shopping. She waited in line to check out so she could finally leave. She was snapped out of the daze she had been in when the cashier said, "That will be $49.96. Debit or Credit?"
"What?" Kristen asked. The long line of agitated people behind her groaned.
"Debit or Credit?" she repeated.
"Um…" she said as she searched through her wallet. She had neither. "Um, can I just give cash?" she asked politely.
"No." the cashier said flatly.
"I only-" Kristen started.
"Did you not read the sign lady?" a rude Brooklyn man behind her said. She then saw a large sign that said 'Debit and Credit Only!'
"I'm sorry, I just-I don't have either. Can I just give you cash? Or maybe a check?"
"No! Debit or Credit?" she asked angrily. Everyone behind her moaned and groaned. But suddenly a familiar man came behind her.
"Excuse me, but what seems to be the problem?" Tom asked.
Kristen sighed and thought, This is just what I need.
"This annoying lady doesn't have credit or debit in a credit or debit only line and it's really starting to piss me off." the man said from behind her.
"Excuse me, what's your name?" Tom asked the man.
"Frank," he replied, "Well, Frank, I don't believe I was talking to you. I was speaking to...Rose." he said reading the cashier's nametag.
"Oh, Rose, what a beautiful name. So, Rose, she obviously is very distracted and simply didn't look. And as you can see all of these people are waiting very impatiently, so could you just be so kind as to just take cash?" he finished up.
"Well, I'd like to," she smiled, "but I have no cash machine and no change either."
"Ok then. Credit." Tom said taking out his card and swiping it.
"No, no, that's really not necessary." Kristen said.
"Oh, but it is. And it's to late now." Tom said finishing up his transaction.
"Well, here you go Kristen," Tom said handing her her groceries, "And happy holidays Rose. Happy holidays Frank."
"I bet you got a kick out of that." Kristen said as she pulled her coat tighter. They emerged from the doors into the cold winter air.
"Of course I did." Tom said grinning. Even though he despised her there was something that she had that made him smile.
"Why do you have to do this to me? Can you just leave me alone?" she asked.
"Now where's the fun in that?" he asked back.
"Taxi!" she yelled, "I'm leaving for home and please don't follow me."
"I'm not your personal stalker." He said as she shut the door. The cab pulled out and Tom walked down a few blocks. As he slid his card to open the door he saw Kristen drive by in the cab.
He walked into the apartment building and walked into the mailroom. He went to the box with the address IL59. He took out their mail and walked to the elevator.
"Hi Harry." Tom said looking at the elevator man.
"Hey Tom. The elevator's broken again, so you'll have to take the stairs. Sorry." Harry said.
"That's ok. See ya later Harry." Tom replied.
After walking 6 flights of stairs he walked in his front door. "Hey Pete." He said patting his dog on the head. He set down the groceries and threw the rotisserie chicken he bought on a plate. He then turned his laptop on and went to his e-mail. As the words chimed out he recited them with it, "You've got mail." He saw that he had a response from smallgirl. Anxiously he opened it and started reading. It read:
No, I know exactly what you mean about Pandora's Box and I'm completely jealous. What happens to me when I'm provoked is that I get tongue-tied. My mind goes completely and utterly blank. Then…then I spend all day and night long tossing and turning trying to figure out what I should have said. What should I have said, for example, to the bottom-dweller who recently belittled my existence. Even now, days later, I can't figure it out.
Tom started to write a response to smallgirl when the phone rang. He jumped ten feet in the air. He was always jumpy when he was e-mailing smallgirl. He just had the feeling that somehow Paige knew what he was doing. She was scary that way. He turned off his computer and answered the phone, "Hello?"
"Tom, I'm on my way home. Is dinner ready?" Paige asked.
"Um, almost." He said clinging pots and pans together to make it seem like he was really cooking.
"Ok, well I'll be there in 10 minutes," Paige said, "Bye honey."
"Bye." Tom said hanging up.
Well, I guess I better start working. He thought as he warmed up the meal he had bought.
Kristen's Apartment
Kristen sat down and continued to work. She had just had dinner that Scott had made. She started to type furiously. She was working on what she was going to say at the News appointment she had the next day. Kristen wanted to let the public know about Tom and how he lied. She couldn't have the Daily Planet write anything on Tom and she swore to Lois to never affiliate with the Metropolis Inquisitor, so the next stop was Channel 7 News.
Kristen let out a long sigh. She was so stressed because of the millions of things she had to do. She had to write her speech for tomorrow, do more researching, and added to that she had to do all her budgeting and designs. She put her head in her hands and thought. But then se started typing heatedly again.
Scott came up behind her and started massaging her shoulders.
"You feel tense," he said, "Maybe I can help." He bent down and started kissing her but she turned her head away and said, "not now Scott. I'm overloaded with work."
"Oh, ok, well I'm going to watch the game and go to bed. If you need any help with anything, just ask me. I'd be glad to help." Scott said leaving the room. Kristen smiled at him. He was so nice to her. Sometimes she felt guilty for e-mailing IL59 and having a secret affair behind his back. She shook her head like an Etch-A-Sketch to clear all the thoughts she didn't want. And then started typing into the long night.
The Daily Planet
Tom yawned as he shuffled into the office with his coffee the next morning.
"Morning Welling. Caffeine not kicking in?" Lois asked. He shook his head. After setting all his stuff down on is desk he shuffled to the coffee machine for more coffee.
There was a big crowd of people standing around the TV nearby and he decided to see what was going on. And then he saw it. His jaw dropped and he couldn't believe it.
"Told you publicity would be bad." Lois said walking up next to him. There on TV was Kristen Kreuk with Channel 7 News.
"Tom Welling is a horrible man. He writes cruel articles that are inaccurate and he lies to almost everyone he talks to." Kristen said. She continued bashing him on live television, which he was sure millions of people were watching. He couldn't take it anymore. He had to leave. He went over and sat at his desk and punched it hard. Crack!
Oh, shit. he thought. He had punched a little too hard and the end of his desk cracked off. even more frustrated he decided to get some air.
But he didn't want to be in the busy city streets. It was too far to Spence Park, but he really wanted to go. So he sneaked in an ally and when no one was looking he super-sped to Spence Park. He felt horrible for using his powers, but he decided it was better that he got his space before he hurt someone.
Almost an hour later Tom emerged through the Daily Planet doors calm, cool, and collected. He felt fine and normal and didn't have a care in the world. That was until he saw her. His day had just gotten ten times worse. There, ten feet away from him, was Kristen walking to Lois. As he walked towards them he heard Lois saying, "I'm sorry Kristen. I can't fire him. Only Perry can. But I'll talk to Perry."
"Thanks Lois. I've got to go, but I'll talk to you later." Kristen said. She looked back and waved at Lois. But when she turned around she ran into Tom.
Oh crap! kristen thought.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the destroyer of the news." Tom said.
"And same to you." Kristen said.
"What gives you the right to go on public television and bash me? You didn't even have the proper evidence." Tom said starting to lose his cool.
"First of all I am an American citizen and I can do whatever the hell I want. And second, I did have evidence." Kristen said pulling out a neatly organized manila folder.
"Let's see... over 450 people read the that you wrote. And more than half of them thought it was cruel." Kristen said.
"And the other half thought I was right didn't they?" Tom asked sarcastically.
"No actually, they thought that you were messed up," Kristen said smartly, "And, hmm, lets see... this is not your only mess up. Last year you wrote an article that was inaccurate and people read it and said it was preposterous. Would you like me to continue?"
"No, I think I've got the point."
"Good. And next time, think before you write." Kristen said turning around and leaving.
Tom punched his fist into his palm. He felt so frustrated and mad. His day, so far, was horrible and he hoped it wouldn't get any worse, because if it did he was afraid to think what might happen. He had to leave and this time for good.
"Lois, I don't feel all that well. I'm going to go home." Tom said.
"What? My never-missed-a-single-day-of-work guy? You're never sick."
"I just don't feel myself." Tom sighed.
"Ok Welling. See you next week." Lois said.
Tom felt so relieved when he arrived home. He changed into his sweats and flopped onto the couch and started watching football. It was a college game. The Metropolis Sharks up against Kansas State. Though Tom had gone to Kansas state, he couldn't help but cheer for the Sharks. He had dreamed of playing on their team in his senior year of high school. He even had received a scholarship there. But, wanting to stay close to his family and Lana he went to Kansas State, But after the fight Lana went to NYU and his parents had died. He couldn't help but think if his life would be a lot different if he had decided to go to Met U. He slowly started falling asleep on his thoughts and soon he was in a deep sleep with pleasant dreams of him and Lana.
A/N: Ok, so I know this chapter wasn't that happy, but it will get better. Trust me. Hope you enjoyed it and now go review, review, review!