To Meddle or Not to Meddle?
Merry Christmas To You!
AN: ♪ Merry Christmas to you!♪ Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter! Hope you enjoy this chapter! It is kinda short. But I have an explanation at the end.
Christmas. Isn't it wonderful? Could anything be better than Christmas? I don't think so. It's the one season where the warmth is as abundant as the snow. It's the one season when you realize just how important your family is. It's the one season where love can really bloom. Isn't it beautiful the way love blooms in Christmastime? It's almost magic.
Then why am I sitting in Clark's kitchen, looking through the window and dreading, no, cursing the concepts of a Christmas romance? The answer?
Clark and Lana kissing...in front of me.
You'd hate to be in my place right now, wouldn't you?
I looked at them sucking their faces off, and shuddered. I am going to kill Chloe for even suggesting this! She told me that this was the only way of observing Clark and Lana's relationship. But, really, this was punishment for following Clark that night to the warehouse. "Guys." I said to them. They didn't hear me. I cleared my throat. "Guys? Guys? GUYS!"
They turned to look at me, shock written all over their faces. Aww, they thought I had disappeared? They thought they were in their own world? Their own paradise?
They need lives!
I smiled pleasantly at their shocked faces. "We need to finish this report, Lana. Could mind giving Clark and I some alone time?" My smile became wider when she observed me suspiciously. Don't worry, Lana. I'm not attracted to daft men. "Please?"
"She's right, Lana. We really have to study." Clark said. Oh, so he finally supports me after he's finished sucking the life out of her? Pathetic.
"Oh, and I'd just be in the way?" Lana put her arms akimbo and looked at us, suspiciously. I rolled my eyes at her stubbornness. You know what? No more Mr. Nice Shauna! (That sounded wrong a while ago, didn't it?)
"Yeah, Lana, you would be." I told her. My voice was dripping with impatience. She raised an eyebrow at me. Whoa. That shouldn't have come out the way it did. Why was I acting like a little bitch? Lana had done nothing to me. Only that she was barrier between Lois and Clark's relationship and that she was a nuisance to Clois fans alike. Yeah. She hadn't done a thing to me (you do know this a sarcastic remark right?).
Lana lips pursed together as she got up from the table. She stared at Clark, hoping to get a response from him. He was silent. He finally realizes that a few hours away from Lana won't kill him. After a few moments she folded her arms. "Fine. I guess some people just don't want me around." She stated, her teeth clenched. Don't want her around? I want you to disappear off the face of the earth, honey. So, the least you could do for me is leave the house. She looked at Clark once again, this time using her 'I'm so vulnerable, boohoo!' gaze.
Leave already!
She sighed and grabbed her jacket and exited the kitchen. I rolled my eyes. I really needed a break from all of this. Clark looked at the door from which Lana had exited and shook his head. Gosh. I almost feel sorry for the guy.
Almost, people.
"Clark." He turned to me. I bit my lower lip and looked down. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone on like that. I may have overreacted a little." Or been brutally honest. I raised my eyebrows as he shook his head at my statement. Was he disagreeing with me? Oh my God, Clark is turning smart!
"No…you were right. I wasn't getting anywhere in my studies when Lana was around. But, I'll admit, when Lois was here I was actually progressing. Believe or not, you may have done the right thing shooing Lana away." I smiled at him.
Yay me and my bitchy brutal honesty!
……………………………………….
"So, after that little speech he gave about being in agreement with me and such, we talked about getting Lois to help him again! Isn't it exciting! And now that they're friends, it will be easier." I told Chloe on the phone. She was on her way home for the Christmas holidays but I couldn't wait to tell her. "The last plan was a success, Chloe! A great success!" Chloe chuckled.
"I'm glad you're enjoying this. Especially since those heart-breaking couple of days you had." She replied. I nodded and drank my coffee. This was one the most relaxing and best days I've had ever since I got here. "Well, I've got to go. See you soon." I said my good-byes and we both hung up.
After a few minutes of reading the Smallville Torch, I got up and made my way to the counter for a quick re-fill of my coffee. I stopped short when I saw who was serving. Crap. It was Lana's shift now. Nice, friendly Ana was gone. It was now mean, annoying, seemingly innocent Lana serving. Crap. Didn't I say that already? I bit my lower lip and slowly continued my way to the counter. I sat down and cleared my throat. Lana turned and started scowling at me.
"What do you want?" She answered in a low deep voice. I raised one eyebrow at her. Was she still angry with me for that? Oh, my God can these people get more pathetic? But I still remained calm.
I pointed to my empty cup. "Re-fill." She grabbed the cup from me and poured some coffee for me. She slammed the cup on the counter in front of me and it was a damn miracle some of the coffee didn't spill over. She then avoided any further eye contact with me. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples. There was one disadvantage of this job (hobby, actually): I had to be on friendly terms with every person involved. That meant the ones that were in the way. Annoying, yes. But in the long run, it worked.
"Lana, I'm so sorry for the way I acted…."
"Look, it's obvious you don't like me around Clark, right?" Lana said scathingly. I opened my eyes and tried to protest but she put her hand to stop me. "Please, let me finish." She said, forcefully calm. "But, what I don't get is why?" She continued. She then hesitated. "You don't like Clark, do you?" My eyes jolted wide after this response. But she remained calm, secretly searching my eyes.
"Are you crazy, Lana?" I exclaimed and got up, nearly spilling my coffee. "Look, I'll admit he's good-looking but he's all for you. I didn't come here searching for a guy but for an education and I am appalled that you would think I would go after your man." Heh. I might be the only real human being these guys ever met. Lana nodded slowly, digesting it all. "But, hey, what's the point? You're going to leave Clark for Lex because you don't love him." I sat down and quickly drank down my coffee. "God, this is good! Re-fill?" I looked up and saw Lana's eyes widen with surprise and utter shock. My face became twisted with concern. "Are you okay?" I asked.
"What did you say awhile ago?" She asked.
"Re-fill." I repeated. She shook her head quickly.
"No, no. The sentences before."
"God, this is good?" I asked. "Why does everyone keep on telling me to repeat what I say? Lana, maybe you should lie down." I said. She looked up at my concerned face and nodded. Just then, Lois came downstairs.
"Uh…Lois. Could you take over for me? I'm taking a little break." She gave the apron to Lois before she could reply. Lois shrugged her shoulders and gave me a re-fill of my coffee. I smiled at her and happily drank down my coffee.
"I think I'm in love with Clark Kent." Lois whispered to me. WHAT? I nearly choked on my coffee. She smirked and gave me a napkin. I coughed a while before I could retrieve my voice. "That's what you want me to say, don't you?"
"What?" I rasped out. She's…got….to…be…joking. Already? She shook her head and took the cup away from me.
"I know what you and Chloe have been doing. It was so obvious. How could I have let that information pass me that easily? And when I asked Chloe if she and you were trying to get Clark and me together and she became uneasy, I knew it was true." She leaned in closer to my shocked, jaw-dropped face. "That explains everything."
I'm seriously laying off the coffee.
Remain calm, Shauna. It was inevitable that she would find out. One of them would eventually. Know matter how daft they are. I too in a deep breath. "Lois, that doesn't mean…."
"Don't lie to me, Shauna!" Lois snapped.
"I'm not going to." I said, still trying to remain calm. "Look, Lois, I admit that I am scheming with Chloe to get you and Clark together but with good reason." I hastily added that last part when she glared at me angrily. "You and Clark have a strong, special bond. I've noticed it and I know you and Clark feel it. But you guys are too daft to see it!" I exclaimed. Suddenly, it was my turn to get angry.
"Excuse me? But haven't you noticed? Clark has a girlfriend!"
"And haven't you noticed that they'll soon split apart?" I retorted back.
"How do you know that?" Lois sneered at me.
"Let's just say that I have evidence that, if revealed, could break up the famous 'unbreakable' Lana and Clark couple." I told her. She looked taken aback and raised her eyebrows at me.
"What…?" Before she could even finish her sentence, Lo and Behold, who entered the Talon but Clark Kent himself. Lois rolled her eyes at his appearance and turned away. Of course. She couldn't bear looking at him when she was having this kind of conversation. He came over to us and his contented expression suddenly became a frown when he noticed Lois' anger.
"Lois, are you okay?" He tried reaching out to her but she gave him the cold shoulder. She looked at me, her stared stabbing knives into my eyes.
"We'll talk about this later with Chloe." She ordered. I nodded half fearing that she might behead me with an axe if I didn't agree. She managed to look up at Clark. "I'm fine, Clark. Thank you for asking." She was being more polite than friendly. Heh. What can you say? She was new to the whole 'be friends with Plaid King' thing. Clark nodded and after Lois went to serve another customer, turned his attention to me.
"Have you seen Chloe yet?" He asked, conversationally. But you could see he was still worried about Lois. He kept giving her worried glances. it was that obvious.
"No." I replied. "But she said she would meet me in the Talon." Yeah, she would not only meet me but meet Lois's wrath. I shuddered when I thought about it.
…………………………………..
"What the hell were you thinking?" Lois exclaimed as Chloe and I entered her apartment. Chloe sighed and closed the door. She made her way over to her cousin.
"That's the problem: we weren't thinking." Chloe said. I looked at her like she was crazy. She was the one who wasn't thinking. I, on the other hand, was thinking fine. "We're so sorry, Lois. But, Shauna said that you two had a bond…"
"Since when do you listen to anyone?" Lois angrily cut her off. Chloe, unfortunately, didn't have an excuse for that. Well, I can be pretty persuasive. "Look, I want you guys to stop it now. The only 'bond' Clark and I have is friendship. A polite friendship. Nothing more, nothing less."
Chloe folded her arms and looked really apologetic. "We're really sorry, Lois." She said solemnly. Are you kidding me? Lois nodded. And she's falling for that?
"I still can't believe you guys would plan all those stunts!" Lois exclaimed. "If I wasn't mad at you, I'd be impressed." Lois and Chloe cracked a small grin at each other. But, I hadn't said a word. I knew that Lois was angrier at Chloe than me. True, Chloe should have known better but...how could Chloe resist my persuasive charms?
"Well, it was all Shauna's doing." Chloe said, proudly. I looked up at her, stunned. She's really taking this calmly, isn't she? Chloe sighed again and looked at me sympathetically. "Well, Shauna. I guess we're finished, right? I mean, Lois blew our covers." The eagerness in her face was sickening.
I smirked and my eyebrow flew up in mock surprise. "We are?" Chloe looked at me confused. I chuckled. "Please." I continued. "Since Lois brought up a new revelation, it's just only the beginning." My low, calm response made the smiles of both Chloe and Lois fade.
"What did I bring up?" Lois's voice sounded fearful.
"The way you acted when I told you that you and Clark had a special bond confirmed my suspicions. Don't be in denial, Lois; it doesn't look good on you." I replied. No one spoke and after I few minutes, I opened the door to leave when Lana nearly collides into me.
"Lois," She began to smile. "There's someone here for you." She moved to he side and tall man around 6'2 with brown, spiked hair and a l4an figure smiled at the surprised Lois. Chloe smiled just as brightly as Lana and I just looked at the guy in utter shock. Oh, no. No! Not when I'm on a roll! (whimpers) No!
Lois walked over to the man. Her surprise was replaced with her regular broad, calm smirk. "Hello, AC."
AN: I didn't want to end it there, but I want to make the special thing (okay, SUCH a big giveaway to what is going to happen) occur during the last days of the month. So, yes, there will be around….two more chapters posting in this month until I can use your idea, ThisIsWhereMyNameGoes. Expect the next chapter next week.