Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or You've Got Mail.
A/N: SOOOOO SORRY THAT I HAVEN"T UPDATED IN FOREVER! My computer broke down for a week and then it broke down again two days ago, so I've had trouble trying to put this up. Sorry that the last chapter was so sad. Unfortunately this one is sad too. But things will get better don't worry. And just to let you know, Lana and Clark did go out before they had the big fight. Thanks for all of the reviews! And special thanks to christopher i finks, smallvillechick25, oyijnoheolhc and twcklverl for always reviewing and saying such nice things! It really helps me!
twcklverl-Thanks for your thoughts on my friend. That was really nice and I really appreciate it.
Chapter 7: Till We Meet…
It was Saturday morning and Paige had left to the gym. After getting a good night sleep Tom felt much better. In fact he felt inspired.
He sat down at his desk and opened his e-mail. His hair was ruffled and he was still in his boxers. When his e-mail opened he hit the compose button and started typing. He wrote:
Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could pass all my zingers to you and then I would never behave badly and you could behave badly as much as you want and we'll both be totally happy. But then, on the other hand, I must warn you that when you finally have the wonderful pleasure of saying the exact thing you mean to say at the exact moment you mean to say it, remorse inevitably follows.
Tom thought for a little bit and debated with himself. Should he dive in and ask it or not? Finally he typed:
Do you think we should meet?
He hastily hit the send button before he could change his mind.
Come on Kent, it won't be so bad. He thought. Then he paused. He hadn't referred to himself as Clark Kent for a long time. There was something odd going on with him. He was calling himself his real name, using his powers, being bold, which he never is. Something about him was definitely changing.
Kristen's Apartment
"Morning sweetie." Scott said as she shuffled into the kitchen in her PJ's and Hello Kitty slippers. She went over to him and gave him a hug.
"Morning." She said as she then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Well I'm going to the gym? Want to go with me?" he asked.
"Nah…to tired." She yawned.
"Ok, well I'll go now then. I've got my cell if you need me." He said grabbing his car keys.
"Yes daddy," Kristen smiled, "Bye."
"Bye." Scott said shutting the door.
Kristen poured herself a bowl of frosted flakes and went to her laptop and dialed up. She sat in her chair cross-legged and bent over her cereal as to not spill any. She logged on and went to her mail. She recited, 'You've got mail.' And then she went to IL59's response. She read it laughing and smiling. Then she came upon the last sentence. Her jaw dropped and she covered her mouth with her hand.
"Meet?" she repeated in disbelief. She couldn't believe it. What should she do? Kristen paced around the room staring at the computer as if it held the answer to what she should do. She held her hand on her forehead, like a mom checking her child for a fever and sighed.
Come on Lana. You can do this, she thought, No, no, I can't. Kristen continued to battle herself until finally she her mind up and sat down. She slowly typed the response and read through it once. She then hit the send button swiftly before she could change her mind. Whoosh. Glad I got that over with. She thought as she went to take a shower.
About an hour later Kristen was dressed with make-up and everything. She wrote a note to Scott reminding him she was going shopping with Lois and Audrey. She heard a knock on the door and opened it to see Lois.
"Hey Lois." she said hugging her.
"Hey. You ready to go? My car's running."
"Yeah, let's go." Kristen said grabbing her purse.
"So, how's it going with Mr. IL59?" Lois asked as they pulled into a parking spot in the city.
"Really good actually. He's so funny" Kristen said reminiscing.
"Have you gotten any closer?" Lois asked getting out and paying a parking meter.
"Yeah, actually, he asked me if I wanted to meet with him." Kristen said.
"And!" Lois asked excitedly.
"And-" Kristen said. She told Lois her decision as a big moving truck passed by.
"And Scott doesn't suspect anything?" Lois asked.
"No and I feel ad. Should I tell him what's been going on?"
"No! He should be able to figure it out. For how over protective he is, he should be able to tell when you're cheating on him," Lois said, "Now, about those cute shoes in the window." They both laughed and started their long shopping trip.
Tom's Apartment
Tom walked into his living room and sat down at his laptop. He has taken a shower and he felt good. He went straight to his e-mail and smiled when he saw that smallgirl had written him a response. He thought on whether he should open it, What if she doesn't want to meet? What if she's offended and doesn't want to e-mail me anymore? What if... what if she has a boyfriend? Oh well then too bad for her, his other side thought. He cautiously opened the e-mail as if it were about to explode. Ok, you can do this. He reassured himself taking a deep breath. He looked at her response. It read:
I would love to meet you. I was wondering the same thing. If you want to see me sometime soon then this Tuesday night at 8:30 at Port City Java on 22nd Street. I'll be holding a copy of Pride and Prejudice with a white rose. See you then!
Tom sighed in relief and wrote back:
I guess I'll be seeing you at 8:30 at Port City Java on 22nd Street with your Pride and Prejudice and white rose. I can only hope that we will have an excellent time drinking coffee and talking about anything and everything. Till we meet... -IL59
As soon as he finished typing he heard Paige walking to the door. He turned off his computer and jumped on the couch and opened a book.
"Hey honey. How you doing?" Paige asked as she walked in.
"Good. You?" he asked.
"Good. Listen, I feel bad about how I've been treating you lately, so how about we go to lunch and catch up." she asked rubbing his shoulder.
"Sure. Sounds good to me." he smiled.
"Ok, sounds great. I'll take a shower and then we'll go." she said walking into their bathroom.
That's so nice, Tom thought, She wants to apologize.
But what Tom didn't know was that Paige not only felt bad for how she had treated him, she also felt bad for flirting and almost cheating on him with a man named Scott at the gym and work.
Pink Ice
Lois and Kristen were trying on clothes while Audrey had joined up with them at Pink Ice a half hour ago.
"Want anything new to try on?" Audrey asked.
"No, we're done." Lois and Kristen answered.
"Ok. So what are you guys going to do at this date?" Audrey asked Kristen as they walked out.
"Coffee," Kristen answered leaning on the small door, "I'm nervous though."
"Nervous? We'll fix that." Lois said coming out. She assumed the same position as Kristen started talking, "Ok, well, if he asks you about your personal life answer honestly."
"Not about Scott though. We'll leave him out." Audrey said.
"Yes. Whenever he tries to kiss you, don't just let him, kiss him back."
"And when he puts his hands around your waist, lay your head back on his shoulder and put your arms on his." Audrey said as she and Lois started getting excited.
"When he whispers in your ear, giggle and he'll think he's funny." Lois smiled.
"Ooh, and if you want to cuddle with him, tell him you're cold and he'll automatically move closer to you."
"And if he's stupid then he'll say "Me too" or he'll give you his jacket." Lois added.
"When he tells you that he loves you-" Audrey started.
"Thanks guys but this is just a simple blind date." Kristen said.
"Oh, right." Audrey and Lois said in unison.
"You know what? I'm hungry. Why don't we go get something to eat?" Kristen asked.
"Yeah. But let me buy this first." Lois said holding up a skirt.
Gregorio's
"What do you want? My treat." Tom offered.
"I think I'll just get some pasta." Paige said. She looked pass him and pointed at someone.
"Isn't that your boss Lois?" she asked.
Tom turned around and spotted her. And then his heart sank. Kristen was with her. Shit. He thought.
"No I don't think that's her." He said trying to move on.
"Wait, yes it is. Let's invite her over. Lois!" Paige waved.
"No! No trust me, she won't want to-"
"Hey Swelling. What's up?" Lois asked coming up next to him.
"Hi Lois." Tom tried to smile.
"Lois, so good to see you! And who are your friends?" Paige asked.
"This is Audrey and this is Kristen." Lois introduced.
"Hi, nice to meet you." They both said.
"You know Tom was just talking about an annoying woman named Kristen but I'm sure it wasn't you. You're much to nice." Paige smiled. Tom sunk down in his chair. He tried to hide from Kristen and luckily enough she was hiding from him too. Lois and Paige continued to ramble on and on about nonsense. It was the most uncomfortable awkward things ever and finally when Tom thought he was about to hit Paige and Lois for talking so much, they said their goodbyes and Lois left.
That has got to be some of the most excruciatingly embarrassing 8 minutes of my life. Tom thought.
"That was nice." Paige said.
"Hmm, ok let's eat." Tom changed the subject.
3 Days Later…
"Welling? Welling? WELLING!" Lois shouted standing next to him.
"What?" Tom asked oblivious as to what was going on.
"Are you ok?" she asked/
"Yeah, I'm fine…" he trailed off.
He was too distracted to think. He was nervous, excited, happy, and a whole other plethora of emotions. He couldn't wait until tonight. It couldn't come any sooner and yet it couldn't take any longer.
"Welling!" Lois snapped at him.
"Oh yeah." He said coming back out of his thoughts.
"Do you have something special planned with Paige tonight?" she asked.
"No." he said.
"Anything else?" she continued.
"Well…" he started. Should I tell her? He thought, She could handle it. He just had to tell someone. It was killing him keeping all this stuff to himself. He hadn't told anyone else. Well, except Pete, but he told Pete everything.
"Yes?" Lois asked again.
"Well I've been e-mailing this girl and we've never met before. I don't even know her name. And tonight we're finally going to meet." He confessed.
"Really? Cool."
"Yeah. And I'm really nervous. I don't think I can do it."
"Well, how about I go with you. Like I'll walk you there and then I'll leave. Help you out, so you don't leave the poor girl there all by herself." Lois suggested.
"Wow, that's really nice. I think I actually might take you up on that offer."
"Ok. When is it?"
"8:30 at Port City Java. But you should probably come by at 8:15 because I'm walking."
"Ok. See you then." She smiled leaving. Wait. That sounds familiar. Am I sure he hasn't told me this already? Because I have definitely heard this before. Lois thought. But as she was about to think on it more Michel came up to her with a million things to sign.
Kristen's Apartment
"Eat!" Audrey yelled at Kristen.
"I can't. I'm too nervous." She responded. She started wringing her hands nervously like she always does.
"Stop! Eat!" Audrey said slapping her hands.
"Ok." Kristen agreed as she dug into her Chinese food.
Scott was out of town on a business trip and Audrey had come over to calm Kristen's nerves and help her out. It was 6:00. 2 and a half hours. Kristen thought. Just thinking about him made her heart flutter and her stomach flip-flop. Kristen ate a few more bites here and there and shoveled her food around her plate like a little kid not wanting to eat their peas and broccoli. Finally she gave up and said, "I can't eat, I'm gonna go shower."
"Fine. I'll just sit here and eat and watch TV." Audrey said flipping on the TV to Friends.
As she finished up her shower nervous thoughts ran threw he mind. What if he's a jerk? What if he hates dark hair? What if he's ugly? What if he has a girlfriend? What if he's 30 something and a failure that still lives with his mom? NO. NO, stop thinking that. He'll be fine and I'll like him. We wouldn't have gotten this far if there was something about him I didn't like. She convinced herself.
Around 8:00 Kristen walked out of her apartment with Audrey.
"Well you sure you can do this by yourself? I'd be happy to go with you." Audrey offered.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. You go home and do something fun. I'll see you tomorrow." Kristen said hugging her.
"You look great. Knock him dead." She winked.
"You too." Kristen waved as Audrey got into a cab. After watching the cab until she could no longer see it, she decided to go. Port City Java was only a few minutes walk from her apartment so it wouldn't take long. She glanced at her watch. 8:10. Ok, so she'd get there early, but at least she was going. Kristen thought it was better to be early so that she could think of things to talk about and such, since she hadn't even thought about it.
When she arrived at Port City Java she sat down and ordered herself a double espresso with mint and sat down. She opened her book and held her flower as she sipped her coffee. Ok. You can do this. It'll be perfect.
"I can't do this. We're leaving." Tom said as he and Lois walked down the street.
"Oh yes you can!" Lois said grabbing her arm and turning him around.
"I hope she's good looking. Or maybe I don't," he said, "Why am I even compelled to meet her!"
"Because you obviously like her a lot."
"I am. I'm madly in love with her. And I don't even know her! I've barely scratched the surface!" he declared loudly.
"Why is that so bad?" she asked.
"Because if this woman is even remotely attractive I will be so crazy as to ask her to marry me."
"Wow."
"Oh man we're here. And we're early."
"Only a few minutes. So, why don't you go in there?" Lois asked puzzled.
"Will you just look at her for me? Please?" Tom pleaded.
"Alright. Ok, what does she have? A book and a white rose?" she asked peering through the window at the door.
"Yes. Pride and Prejudice." He said sitting down on a bench.
"Ok, I see the girl. And she's beautiful."
"Yes!"
"But she doesn't have a book."
"Lois!"
"Alright, alright. Ok…" Lois trailed off. She stared at the woman with the book. No it couldn't be. But it was and now it made perfect sense. The reason why Tom's plans sounded so familiar was because Kristen had the same plans. This is not good. Well…maybe they can out their problems aside once they realize who they both are. Lois thought.
"Yes? What does she look like?" Tom begged.
"Oh, she's beautiful. Very beautiful."
"Hot damn! I knew! I knew it, because she had to be beautiful!" he said going a little crazy.
"You know, she almost has the same coloring as Kristen Kreuk."
"Kristen Kreuk? Who cares about her right now?"
"Didn't you say that she was pretty?"
"Yes, she's very pretty but she's a pill."
"Heh, well, if you don't like Kristen, I don't think you're going to like her." Lois said warily.
"Why?" Tom said suspecting something.
"Because she is Kristen." Lois finally said. Tom ran to the window and looked in. Sure enough it was Kristen. What am I going to do? He thought.
"I can't stay. I'm leaving." He finally declared.
"Wait, you can't go." Lois stopped him.
"Why? So she can dig up more dirt on me?" he questioned.
"No, because it's really mean and harsh to just leave."
"You're just saying that because you're her friend." He said haughtily.
"No, I'm saying it because it's the right thing to do."
Kristen sat there hopefully. She heard the door open and immediately perked up. But she saw it was simply two teenage girls gossiping with each other.
"Are you using this?" a guy asked holding the chair opposite if her."
"Yes, yes. I'm expecting someone." She replied. You could see the look of concern and sadness on her face as she stressed over whether or not he would show up or not.
"Would you like another one miss?" the waiter asked.
"Yes please. And heavy on the caffeine if you could." she responded. She heard the door open and perked up. But she instantly recoiled, opened her book, and covered her face with her hand. Please, dear God, don't let him come over. Kristen thought as she hid from Tom. And then, what she was dreading happened.
"Well, well, Kristen. Kristen Kreuk. What a coincidence. Fancy meeting you here." Tom said. She simply waved her hand not bothering to look at him.
"Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"Yes, yes I do mind. I'm meeting someone." She said angrily.
"Ah, Pride and Prejudice. I bet you just love that book and you read it every year and you just love that Mr. Darcy and your sentimental heart just beats wildly at the thought that he and…well, whatever her name is are truly and honestly going to get together." He said.
"Here's your coffee ma'am. Would you like something sir?" the waiter asked Tom.
"No, no, he's not staying." Kristen said
"Yes, I'd like a double mocuccino, decaf, non-fat." Tom said sitting down.
"Please don't sit down." Kristen begged.
"I'll just stay until your friend gets here. Gee, is he late?"
"The heroine in Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeth Bennett, who is one of the most well known and honored heroines on all of literature. But I wouldn't expect you to know that." Kristen spat.
"As a matter of fact, I've read it."
"Oh, well, good for you."
"I think you'd discover a lot of things if you really knew me." Tom hinted.
If I really knew you, you know what I would find? Instead of a brain a cash register and instead of a heart a bottom line," she then gaped, "I've just had a breakthrough. And I have you to thank for it. For the first time when I've been confronted with a horrible, insensitive person, I've been able to think exactly what I've wanted to say and say it."
"I think you have a talent for it, it was the perfect blend of meanness and poetry."
"Meanness! You want to know about meanness-"
"Don't get mad at me, I'm complimenting you." Tom said. The door opened and Kristen peered over Tom and they both saw that it was only two old ladies. Kristen sadly lowered back down. Could this get any worse? She thought.
"Please. Please leave I beg you." She said on the verge of tears. Amazingly he obliged and got up with his coat and coffee. She smiled until she saw that he sat down right behind her.
She opened her compact mirror and took out her hankie. She pretended to wipe her mouth while she spied on Tom. But it didn't last long, because he turned around and caught her. She snapped her mirror shut angrily.
"You know what that hankie reminds me of? First time I met you." Tom said.
"First time you lied to me." Kristen snapped.
"I didn't lie to you."
"Yes you did."
"No I didn't."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yeah, yeah you did. I thought you were so funny and charming."
"No, I told you who I was."
"Tom? Just call me Tom? You call that telling me who you are? It's like those 19 year old girls, 'HI I'm Kimberly, Hi I'm Janice.' Don't they know that you're supposed to have a last name? It's like an entire generation of cocktail waitresses!"
"Look," Tom said getting up and sitting across from her again, " I am not a 19 year old cocktail waitress."
"That is not what I meant!" Kristen retorted.
"And when I said that your fashion was bad, that's not what I meant."
"Oh, you poor, sad, multimillionaire. I feel so sorry for you." She said. Just then the door opened and they both looked over at it. A strange man in a top hat and red magician's cape walked in gallantly. Kristen sank down sadly.
"I'm gonna take a wild guess that's not him either?" Tom stated, "So who is he I wonder? Certainly, I gather, not the world's best living expert on Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. But somebody else entirely different. And will you be mean to him too?"
"No I will not," Kristen said, "Because the man who is coming here tonight is completely unlike you. The man that is coming here tonight is kind and funny- he's got the most wonderful sense of humor-"
"But…he's not here."
"Well, if he's not here, he has a reason, because there is not a cruel or careless bone in his entire body. Thought I wouldn't expect you to understand anybody like that. You with your cruel, multi-level, homogenize the world newspaper articles. You've deluded yourself into think that you're some sort of benefactor, bringing news to the masses. But no one will ever remember you Tom Welling. And maybe no one will remember me, but plenty of people remember my work and they think it's fine and that me and my people are something special. You are nothing but a suit." She finished up coldly.
She looked at Tom and saw that he was hurt. His stunning blue-green eye had pain in them and he looked like a lost puppy. There was an odd silence and suddenly Kristen felt horrible for what she had said and done. Tears started to come, but she held them back. Tom took out his wallet and put some money on the table.
"That's my cue," he said standing up, "Good night."
She stared at him as he left the café. The tears were too fast now and they started coming out voluntarily. She felt horrible.
Almost an hour later she walked home. As she out her purse down she walked over to the trashcan and threw the white rose away. It made her think of the time that she thought she had seen Clark at the airport and all she found was a rose from him. It made her sad and she went over to the computer and signed on. She went to her mail and saw that there was none. Her tears poured out now, like a faucet, and she went over on her bed and cried about everything. She cried about IL59 not showing up, about how mean Tom had been, about how mean she had been to him, about her parents, about Smallville and how much she longed to be back in the high school halls, where Clark drooled over her. And she cried about Clark. Why did her life have to be so horrible? Why did everything have to go wrong?
Tom's Apartment
Tom skulked in his apartment. Paige was there and she started talking about something about an annoying client in work. But Tom wasn't listening. He hung up his jacket and shut the door. He felt like crying. He wished Paige wasn't there. He just wanted to be alone and cry. He made an excuse that he had to shower and went in the bathroom, turned one the shower, and sat down and cried by himself. He didn't like crying for people and the only people he had cried for openly were his parents and Lana. He wished his parents were alive so he could talk to them. He wished things were better between him and Lana so he could cry for her. But he was alone. So he cried about Kristen, he cried about life, he cried about his parents, he cried about Smallville and how he yearned to be back with Pete and Chloe chasing meteor freaks and how he fawned over Lana. And then at the thought of Lana he sobbed. Why couldn't they work it out? Why did it have to be so complicated? And why did he not have the guts to tell her his secret?
When he was finally cried out he crawled in bed and slept, hoping his dreams were pleasant so he could forget everything that happened.
A/N: Ok, I know that this chapter was super sad, but trust me, everything will be fine. It'll all turn out good in the end.