Act 3

We sat on a blanket in front of a warm crackling fire. After the incident with the 'almost' drowned child, we ended up walking halfway to the next village, and deciding to set up camp for the night before going any further. We wouldn't be able to see anything at this time of night anyway.

The fire spurned to life and it leaves me wonder how he got it started in the first place. His possessions were light, in addition to what he wore; he walked around with nothing but a backpack.

I may be a woman, who needs a lot of things, but I've camped out many times and I know for a fact that travelers carry more than one piece of luggage.

I've only been here a little over a week and I still feel I didn't pack enough.

Anyway, with the fire burning bright and the birds sounding off around us. It gave off a kind of romantic vibe that I can tell is making my newly found companion nervous.

"Are you okay?"

He turned, startled at the question. "I'm fine. Thanks."

It's strange to see him actively avoiding me. That's not something I'm use to unless I'm doing the same thing. It's driving me mad with curiosity.

"Am I crowding you, because I could leave?"

Now he's looking at me all shocked and angry. Make up your mind, buddy! I wasn't even being mean about it.

"No!" he answered. "I was just thinking."

"Well do you have to look cranky?"

"I'm not cranky"

"Fine. You're morose"

He sighed exhaustedly. "It means the same thing"

"Did I do something to offend you, because I seriously don't know what I did to obviously get on your nerves?" And normally, I do, but this time, I really don't.

I'm clueless.

Out of the loop.

Oblivious.

"You said you were here to find out about the guy going around saving people."

"Yeah, so? You said you didn't know him, case closed. There's nothing I can do about it till morning, and even then, I probably won't find anything."

"What have you found so far?"

"That he's a white male with dark hair carrying a back pack." I paused, staring at Clark like an anvil just fell between us. Impossible. Even he's not that lucky. "Are… you… that… guy?"

He opened his mouth to answer when I interrupt.

"You know what, stupid question. Sorry. You can't possibly be the only white male around here that fits the description."

He sighed frustratingly, why does he keep doing that?

"Lois, this place is dangerous. You shouldn't be here."

"Clark. I respect you and all that but don't tell me what to do. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Besides, whoever this guy is, if he's real, then I've got nothing to worry about."

"How do you know that?"

"Because if he's what everyone says he is, he won't hurt me, but that's not to say that I wouldn't like to get a quote because I do."

"You never give up, do you?"

"It's not in my nature"

I stumped him on that one because he's smiling now. "It's really good to see you."

I had to agree because I felt the same way.

"It's really good to see you too"

The next hour by the fire went by rather quickly. Clark and I were playing rock, paper, scissors, and for every time one of us wins, we get to ask a question and the loser has to answer truthfully.

He chuckles loudly when he wins twice in a row.

"Tell me something I don't know about you"

I grinned. Which could I choose without ruining my reputation?

"I'm ambidextrous."

He shook his head in the contrary. "No you're not."

"That's because you haven't seen me use my other hand."

"That's because you've never showed me."

"Exactly!"

He laughed. "I can't believe I never noticed."

"Did you know that the word 'ambidextrous' is derived from the Latin ambi meaning 'same' and the root dext meaning 'right.' So really, ambidextrous literally means right on both sides."

He was actually smiling pretty widely at that. Who knew it took something so little to impress the farm boy.

"Have you become a savant now?"

"Is that your next question, cuz you haven't won the next round yet."

He grinned. "I can make it three in a row," he said confidently.

"I wouldn't let you."

He puts his fist forward and waits for me.

Clark Kent is actually challenging me. That's a first.

Without another word, we start the game all over again. After three like tries, he gets me on the fourth one, and my pride is slightly shattered.

"Now. Where were we?"

"Going to sleep?" I make a lousy educated guess for which he paid no attention to.

"Are you a savant?"

"Do you have to say it all seriously like that?"

"Lois"

"All right. All right. Pushy." I sighed, accepting defeat. "Yes," I answered rather reluctantly.

He chuckles. "Are you being modest?"

"No."

He was taken aback. "You're being serious?"

"I'm smart, Clark. I always have been. It's just, no one has ever really asked."

He didn't know what to say and I got a good idea of what's going on in his mind right now. He probably has a thousand questions to ask me that I'm not really looking forward to answering, but I do consider him a friend, and I never lie towards people I care about.

So he could ask all the questions he needed.

"Go ahead. I know you're dying to ask"

I can tell I made him nervous, because now he got suddenly all shy. I've forgotten how innocent he can be even though we find ourselves four years older and in such a harsh environment. There are some things that even time can't change.

Like his eyes.

It still holds that wonder I've always seen even from the very first time I met him.

Then I had to remind myself again who he is. It's hard to imagine sometimes how the present and my dreams seem to mirror each other perfectly, it makes me wonder what could've been and that's not something I do.

It's dangerous thinking like that.

It sets you up for disappointment.

"Let's get some sleep," he says in a quiet whisper, surprising me just as I surprised him.

He was right, I'm a bit tired.

He adjusted himself on the ground, preparing to sleep. "Lois," he whispered.

"Yeah?"

"Goodnight"

I smiled, snuggling inside my sleeping bag besides the fire.

"You too"

For the next hour, I couldn't sleep. I look over and notice that Clark was out like a log and I envy his gift for falling asleep so quickly and effortlessly. It didn't matter where he was, he could always sleep in whatever environment.

I sat up and take a couple of minutes just watching him.

The flames shaded him slightly, bating him in its glow and I think back to those two days I spent in my mind, where I was in the arms of a Clark Kent that only existed there. At least, that's what I believe.

I would be lying to myself if I claimed that the Clark I'm watching now was nothing like him.

Truthfully, I see parts of him in him. I try not to but it's there. I can't deny that even if I wanted to. And I have. I've even fought it, as ridiculous as it may sound. Sometimes I hate him for it.

I hate him for making me believe.

Making me believe in love…

...and believing that a man can fly.

Crazy, huh?

Yet, I can't hate him for longer than a few minutes. He's impossible to hate. Dislike, sure, but hate? No. It doesn't last very long nor is it worth it.

What's that saying?

'It's better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all.' or something like that.

Against better judgment, I move to kneel by his side. I tapped on his shoulder and he barely even wiggles.

"Clark?" I whispered. "Are you awake?" he growled in his sleep in response, flipping his head over. "Clark," I continued restlessly.

"Hmm," he murmured. "Five more minutes."

I almost laughed out loud. "Clark!"

"Whoa. What? Are you okay?" he sat up suddenly, a worried look all over his face. "Lois," he realized. "What's wrong?"

I shrugged, embarrassed now that I woke him completely up.

"I couldn't sleep," I admit with great difficultly.

"Anything I can do?"

At this point, I'm amazed he hasn't fed me to the lions yet. I disturbed his peaceful slumber and he wasn't even upset about it.

"Actually, I was going to ask you if you didn't mind the company"

He raised his eyebrows with obvious confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean… can I… can I sleep… next… to… you."

"Oh."

"If you don't mind?"

"No. No, of course not." He moved over to make room for me. He was shaking and so was I. I felt like a nervous school girl. Not good.

"Clark?"

"Yeah"

This is gonna be hard. "Do you mind if - "

Before I could finish, he moved sideways letting his one arm drape around me closely, scooping me in. He felt so warm.

"I'm way ahead of you," he whispered by my ear.

"Thank god," I admit and he chuckled softly.

"Goodnight Clark"

He smiled, brushing some loose strands of my hair out of my face.

"Goodnight, Lois."

To be Continued…