Act 5

Two weeks has passed since my accident. My father was on some military mission so he never got the chance to see me while I was incapacitated, and by the time he got word of what happened, I was already getting better. Thinking I was through the worst, he probably thought I didn't need him.

It sucks sometimes. Will Smith is right. There are parents out there who just don't understand.

That didn't bother me that much though. To my utmost appreciation, the Kent's and Chloe kept me company, and Lana showed up a couple of times.

Now that was weird. Seeing Lana, I mean.

But that's not something I want to dwell on. It was just a dream. I don't need to regret losing something I never had.

Then there's Clark, who I made great attempts at avoiding. I couldn't deal with it right away. Right now, things have gone back almost relatively normal between me and him. He'd say something. I'd get annoyed by it, and I don't mean annoyed but I'm amused kind. I mean, annoyed like I can't stand being around him literally kind.

He's nothing like the man in my dreams.

There's something I never thought I'd say.

Anyway, it's true. He's nothing like him. The smart, funny, selfless, patient, kind-hearted compassionate man who used his gifts to help people and asking nothing in return, and with the added bonus of being very good in bed, this Clark was nothing like the man I fell for.

There.

I admit it.

I fell in love with a hallucination.

A dream.

An alternate Clark that obviously doesn't exist.

I sighed inwardly. I could get committed for that. What am I thinking? It's definitely strange how well I remember the past two days. Two days I supposedly spent in a coma at Smallville Medical Center yet my memories shows a whole different set.

I really hate that hospital.

I should start drinking again.

Now here I am, back at my apartment above the Talon. Mr. and Mrs. Kent urged me to stay with them, but considering the awkwardness of it all, at least on my end, I convinced them that I'll be fine on my own. Besides, if I needed any help, I could always holler downstairs.

Suddenly, I hear a couple knocks on my door. I grab the two crutches that help me move. I broke my leg during the accident so now I'm in a cast. It's not fun at all, but I've got to make do with what I've got.

I opened the door and I'm surprised by who was on the other side.

"Bruce!" I let the crutches fall to the ground and I hop my way into his embrace. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled broadly, showing a bouquet of white lilies he kept hidden behind his back. I take it appreciatively, taking a moment to smell the freshness. He carries me inside and set me comfortably down on the couch.

"I took a break from Princeton when I heard that a friend of mine was in the hospital. How are you feeling?"

"Better now," I smiled sincerely.

"That's good. I would've come by sooner but - "

"It's okay," I assured. "You're here now, and that's what matters." A sudden thought sprung to mind. Is it possible? Out of my own awful curiosity, I take out my cell. "Hey cuz, it's me. I have a friend in town and I thought we could take him somewhere for brunch. Okay. I'll see you then." I hang up and Bruce looks at me suspiciously.

"Who was that?"

"My cousin."

Bruce's eyes go wide. "You mean, 'the' cousin. Chloe Sullivan." I nod, grinning. "So I finally get to me the cousin I've been hearing about all these years. I swear, whenever we're together, I felt like I was the third wheel."

I laughed. I do get carried away when I talk about me and my cousin's antics. I'd forgotten he knew about those.

"She's the best. You'll like her."

"If she's anything like you, I'm sure I will," he smiled.

Clark jogged his way down the stairs headed for the kitchen. When he got there, his mom was almost done preparing breakfast.

"Hey mom, how's Lois doing?'

Martha looked at her son oddly. "What do you mean? Is she okay?" she asked worriedly. Despite her protests, Lois was adamant to stay at the Talon by herself. Martha wanted so much for her to stay at the farm, if was safer for her and she'll always have company.

"No. She's okay." Clark opened the fridge to take out a milk carton. "It's just - I think she's avoiding me."

Martha smiled. "I'm sure it's nothing. She's had a tough couple of weeks. Give her time, before you know it, things will get back to normal."

Clark shrugged. "I hope so. It's getting a little too quite between us for my liking."

The screen door opens. "Did I just hear right or did our son just admit that he missed Lois?" Jonathan said as she walked into the kitchen with his gloved hands. "Morning, son."

Clark ignored his father's comment. "Morning dad. I'm gonna go do my chores now, I'm late this morning." Then he speeds off.

"What's the matter with him?" Jonathan asked his wife curiously.

"I think he's just worried about Lois, she hasn't really been acting the same around him."

"You think it's because of the accident?"

"I'm not sure. I don't think so. She acts the same around me. How about you?"

"The same, too." He gives his wife a quick kiss on the lips. "Clark's right though. It's been awfully quite in this house."

Martha smiled. She missed the noise too.

Later in the morning, Clark was waiting for Lana at the Talon when he noticed a burst of laughter coming from the corner. He looked over and was surprised to find Chloe laughing with a guy, and Lois besides her shaking her head like she just heard a story she wished she didn't have to.

His super hearing kicks up and he finds himself listening in.

"And then there was that time that we hitched a ride in Budapest," Bruce said and I grunt in response.

"Oh please, she doesn't need to hear this." My demeanor was practically urging him not to tell it.

Chloe giggled excitedly. "Hell yeah, I do!" Meteor rock induced Gatorade aside, I don't think I've ever seen her like this. And Bruce seemed more than happy to oblige. Now I'm beginning to regret introducing them.

But they looked like they were hitting if off.

Great… I'm clairvoyant now, but at least my cousin is enjoying herself. I only ever see her really happy when she's writing a story or she did something really good to impress her editor at the Daily Planet.

My heart suddenly sank.

The Planet.

I worked… or at least, at some point, I'm going to work there. Me. Lois Lane. A reporter.

Not a chance.

Or maybe…

"Will you excuse me ladies," Bruce said, getting up. "I've got to make a phone call."

Chloe nodded without a problem and I smiled. She turned to me with a look of pure amazement on her face. Why did she have that? Nevermind. I had a feeling she's about to tell me.

"Why didn't you tell me about him? He's amazing." She looked at the direction that he left. "And very good looking." She turned her attention back to me. "You've been hiding out on me, cuz."

"I. Was. Not."

"I can't believe you know Bruce Wayne," she said in that awe-struck voice of hers. "And you talk about me with him. You should've warned me or something, Lois. I feel like a school girl around him."

I almost chocked on my bagel. "Sweetie, you are a school girl"

And Chloe playfully smacks me on the arm and I'm reminded of all those times I've abused Smallville. I should stop doing that; I'm becoming such a bad influence on my cousin.

"Bruce's a great guy. A little dark and depressing sometimes, but he's a good man. The best I've ever known."

Chloe raised her eyebrows, no doubt curious. "How long exactly have you two known each other?"

"Pretty long," I answered. "I was fifteen when we met. The General has a friend who works for NUMA and I spent a month with them one summer on the Niger River."

"NUMA?"

"National Underwater and Marine Agency. Basically, they salvage treasures lost in sea." I munched on my bagel, careful not to swallow too fast. I don't want to go the hospital again "I was a guest."

"So that's where you met him." Chloe looked definitely surprised. "I knew you were in Africa one summer but I didn't know you did all that."

"It was a long time ago." I paused before continuing. "We've been friends ever since."

"Are you telling me you two never dated?"

I grinned. "I know nothing."

Chloe laughed. "Liar."

From the corner of my eye, I can see Clark watching us. He wasn't exactly making it hard for people to notice. I sighed, not amused in the least.

"What do you want, Smallville?" I yelled across the room.

He looked away like he wasn't aware of what he was doing and I had to laugh at that. He is so easy to rile up, sometimes, it isn't even funny. Then I roll my eyes as he awkwardly heads to my table.

"Hey," he greeted as if nothing was wrong.

I adjusted the way I sat and leaned back against my seat, smirking at him as my eyes wonder up and down his body. My gesture was obviously making him uncomfortable but it amused me like no other.

"You listening on us, Smallville? Not everyone has super hearing, you know."

Clark looked like he was hit by a truck or an anvil and I wonder what I said that made him react so strongly. He looked to Chloe, who was equally shocked looking. The quiet yet intense exchange was a little baffling.

"Lois, how did you - " Chloe tried to ask me something when Bruce came back.

"Did I miss anything?" Bruce asked just as he was about to take his seat. He looked at Clark and held out his hand. "Hi. I'm Bruce."

"Clark," he replied, still pretty shell-shocked looking.

I ignored his strangeness for the betterment of my mentality. I'm much too tired and crippled to try to decipher his weirdness at the moment.

"I'm sorry I've got to cut this short," Bruce looked to me, "but I just got off the phone with Alfred. Seems like there's trouble brewing at the office. Call you this weekend?"

"You better," I smiled.

Bruce turned to Chloe. "It's a real pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Sullivan."

"Please. Call me Chloe," my cousin said.

She was positively glowing. This didn't seem like a bad idea after all as long as Bruce keeps certain embarrassing stories to himself.

"Chloe," Bruce replied with a smile. He said goodbye to Clark as well before leaving.

Chloe sat back down. She looked like she was on cloud nine and Clark continued to stand there looking like an idiot. It's no wonder why I don't see him as anything but a friend.

"Clark, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"What?" He seemed to finally snap out of it. "Nothing," he said.

"Right, well, if you could excuse me, I'm gonna go upstairs and watch reruns of Firefly." I grab by crutches and prepare to leave.

"Do you need any help?" Chloe asked.

"Psst," I scoffed. "Just keep your cell handy in case I need a stretcher, okay."

Chloe chuckles, but Clark still had that 'dear in the headlights look' he is without a doubt a lost cause.

"Did you tell her?" Clark asked Chloe, concern and panic all over his face and unaware that he just hurt his best friend's feelings.

"Of course not!"

"Then how did she know?"

"I haven't got a clue. She was probably joking."

Clark took a deep breath. "You're right. She probably did."

From up the stairs, I watched my cousin and Clark converse in quiet whispers. At first, I didn't really think anything of it but then I remember what happened before Bruce came back and I can't help wonder what got them suddenly so secretive.

It's probably nothing.

To be Continued…