To Meddle or Not To Meddle?
Merry Christmas to You! Part II
AN: Well, here's part two of chapter six. Oh, yeah and this slipped my mind last time. I'm in no way like Shauna. My name is not Shauna Williams. I am not her. Okay, read now.
XxxxxxxxxxX
"AC." Chloe said. "Nice to meet you again." Her eyes shifted to me and her pleasant smile turned to a nervous one. "Um…what brings you here?" AC shrugged and hugged Lois. Lois returned it and the hug went a little longer than I expected. I gritted my teeth as they separated and smiled at each other.
I cleared my throat rather loudly and Lois looked at me. "Oh, Shauna! This is AC and AC, this is Shauna Williams." I forced a smile on my face as we shook hands. Lois, forgetting about our previous conversation, led AC into the apartment. "I still can't believe you're here." Lois said excitedly. They both sat down on the couch, holding hands and I growled low. Chloe looked at me, sympathy in her eyes.
"AC is…"
"I know who AC is." He's the aqua man asshole who kissed Lois when he was here last time. Why me? Why me? I looked at Chloe. Confusion was written on her face. "Clark told me." She sighed
"C'mon, Shauna, cheer up. It's not like she liked him." I glared at her. "She's over him." She hastily said. I glared at her, angrier than before. She twisted her face in confusion. "She's not?"
"Maybe. I don't know." I grumbled. All I knew was that this situation was bad. Real bad. And on Christmas too. I looked over at the 'great' couple, talking animatedly to one another. Well, the best thing I could do was strike up a conversation. Like what Chloe said, I should cheer up.
She still likes Clark. Right?
"So, AC, that's your name right?" I said loudly. AC looked up at me and nodded. I stiffly walked toward them and sat down in front of them. Oh, yes, people. It was time for some Shauna interrogation. Chloe gave me a warning glance and I rolled my eyes. Please. It wasn't like I was going to kill him. I smirked at my own thought. That would cheer me up. (AN: Shauna is so evil!) "How did you meet Lois?"
Lois slightly blushed and I cringed. AC grinned and looked at her. "I saved her life." He replied. I nodded and although, AC had sent her an admiring look, I remained calm. Amazing, because I had the sudden need of getting a goddamn knife.
"Oh. Wow. Are you telling me, for the first time, Clark didn't save your life?" I looked at Lois, feigning shock. She gave me a stony look and stiffly nodded. I think she remembered our conversation. I smiled sweetly at her and continued my questioning. "So, you guys just hit it off right then and there?" I asked. Now it was AC's turn to blush.
"We…didn't…ah….well…"
"Help him, Lois, he's struggling." My sweet smile never left my face even if Lois was shooting daggers at me.
"We kissed once, Shauna." Lois said. "Nothing more."
"But you want something more, don't you Lois?" I asked. Chloe buried her face in her hands and AC's blush stood out more on his tanned face.
"Shauna…" Chloe murmured.
"What?" I ask innocently. "I'm just asking them a simple question. It's either yes or no, Lois. Just choose one."
"You know what, this conversation is over." Lois answered instead. I looked over at AC. There was slight disappointment on his face. I slowly smirked and nodded. That was okay, Lois. I got everything I needed. Hmm. Maybe AC's appearance wasn't going to be so annoying after all.
………………………………………..
I entered the florist shop, the next day. I put on my apron and called to Daniel that I was here. He came up to me, smiling. I smiled back, unsure of his actions. I glanced down at something in his hands. He lifted it up so that I could see it.
It was an invitation to the Talon's Christmas Party. I had heard about it earlier that day and Lana was so excited for the party to be underway. Before I even came to the florist, I saw the employees starting to put up the decorations. "You're going?" He asked. I looked at him and smiled comfortably.
"Yeah, I guess I should." I replied. "If I don't, then I'd feel too left out." He nodded and I could feel the awkward silence coming on. "So…." I try to start. "Are you going too?"
"Yeah, I am." Daniel answered. He smiled uneasily. "Uh, I was asking you if you were going so that I could see you at the party." After he made that statement, he twisted his face in confusion. "Did that statement make any sense to you?"
"Nope. But, you tried." I said, reassuring him. He nodded and turned to walk away. That was it? That was all he wanted to say? No way. "Wait." I told him. He turned around. "Are you sure you said everything you wanted to say to me?"
"Never miss anything, do you?"
"No."
"It's nothing." He replied.
"No, I'm interested in what the Ice King has in his evil mind to say to me." I told him, leaning on the counter. Daniel's grin became wider.
"Fine. I want to ask you out. Evil enough?" My eyes opened wide. I was so surprised. I mean, sure, I knew he was going to ask me out one day, I just didn't know it was going to be today. I bit my lower lip nervously.
"So, it's a date?" I asked. He stared at me for a while before shrugging.
"Only if you want it to be." Aww, there was a hopeful tone in his voice. That's so sweet…... no, I have to crush it.
"I don't." I said. He nodded and I sighed. I folded my arms and looked up at him. "I'll think about it though." I told him. He smiled at me and I smiled back
…………………………….
I sat down on the couch. My voice had left me. I rubbed my temples and stared at the girl in front of me. She was unbelievable! Actually, she was beyond unbelievable. She had turned jackass in front of my eyes. Chloe sat down beside me. "Shauna, are you okay?"
"I…I don't know." I answered. I looked up at Lois. "You didn't say yes, did you?" Lois folded her arms and nodded.
"Yes, I did." Lois said firmly.
"Why?" I scrunched up my face in confusion. Lois smirked.
"Just to show you that I don't like Clark." Lois answered. My shocked appearance became calm and relaxed. I smiled widely.
"Well, I expected better, Lois." I stated. That definitely wiped the smirk off her face. "You think that dating AC is going to make me stop?"
"No. I just wanted to show you that there is no chance in hell that I love Clark. I even told him that I had a date, being the good friend I am and he was perfectly fine with it. Therefore, he will never leave me for Lana. The love of his life." Lois rolled her eyes when she said that statement. She doesn't know how disgusted she is of that statement. I shook my head at her little speech.
"Do you think I'll actually believe that statement or believe that Clark is perfectly fine with it? You really don't know me, do you, Lois?" This seemed to make Lois angrier and I braced myself with what was to come.
But, instead, she smiled. "Excuse me but I have a date to get ready for." And with that, she left us. I narrowed my eyes at her retreating figure. She couldn't dare think that this was over. Trust me, the fight is already beginning. I took out my cell phone and dialed Daniel's phone number receiving a confused stare from Chloe.
Yes, I was desperate. I had no options left and this was the only thing that could work. I put the phone up to my ears. I heard Daniel's voice. "Daniel. I've thought about it and I want to go out with you." He said something about how great it was that I had accepted….blah, blah, blah. "Okay, meet you at the Cove." I said and hung up. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Chloe got up from the couch and opened it.
She smiled and gave way for the guest to come in. "She'll soon be ready. Uh…AC, you remember Shauna." Chloe said. I looked up at him and smiled grimly. AC frowned.
"Yeah, the interrogator from hell." He murmured. Chloe heard and slapped his arm playfully while he shrugged. I rolled my eyes and got up.
"I heard that." My voice sailed to the two causing them to stop laughing immediately. Chloe gave me a wry glance which I ignored. "I guess you don't like me at all."
"Shauna…"
"No, Chloe let me finish what I have to say. I don't like you either, AC. Surprise, surprise! So, if you try to take advantage of Lois, I will have your head for breakfast tomorrow morning." I told him a in a strict manner. He smirked.
"What if she takes advantage of me?" I rolled my eyes at his stupidity.
"Trust me," I told him scornfully. "She won't." Chloe snickered and AC's smirk grew smaller by the minute. Then, Lois's door opens and she walked over to AC and smiled.
"I'm ready now." She said. AC smiled at her. "Hey, what did you guys do when I was changing?" Chloe and AC remained silent. I smiled brightly.
"Oh, nothing. Just bonding with my buddy AC." I said sarcastically. AC and Chloe looked at me oddly. And although Lois looked at me suspiciously, she accepted this answer and they went away. Chloe closed the door and sighed.
"Shauna, you're mean." I shrugged my shoulders.
"Not my fault he's wedging into Lois and Clark's relationship." I answered.
Chloe smiled and shook her head. "So. You have a date with Daniel." I rolled my eyes at her. Nice name, huh? Daniel."
"You've been talking to Lois, haven't you?" Chloe nodded and I sighed. I didn't want everyone to think that I had a little crush on Daniel. He was just my boss. My boss! "Where are Lois and AC going?" I asked trying to change the conversation.
"The Cove…" Chloe's smile faded. "Oh, my God!" She looked at me. Now it was my turn to smile. I feigned surprise. "Shauna--"
"Really?" I said, slyly. "I guess we'll meet them there." I was about to open the door when Chloe came in front of me.
"Shauna if you destroy this date…"
"Relax, Chloe. I'm not going to ruin it." I smiled at her. She still stood at the door and I sighed. "I won't okay? Now, please let me out." Chloe bit her lip and nervously moved away from the door. I smiled as I exited the apartment and walked down the hall towards my own. Don't worry, Chloe. I won't ruin their date.
Much.
……………………………………………
Daniel and I entered the Cove and the first thing that I saw was Lois and AC laughing and talking and looking like theywere havinga swell time! Okay, Shauna. Calm down. Don't be angry. Clois forever. I gasped inaudibly when I felt Daniel's arm wrapping around my waist. I looked up at him and he seemed to be looking the other way. I cocked an eyebrow up at his actions. He wanted to get closer to me?
(snort) Not in this lifetime.
"Why don't you order for us, Daniel?" I told him slipping out of his arms and giving him a big, charming smile. "I'll go find us a table." He seemed a little disappointed by the sudden separation but I wasn't. I was thanking God that I had made it safely out of his arms.
I made my way through the tables silently making sure I was unnoticed by Lois and AC…."Watch out!" Someone called out. Huh? I turned to look at him when a waiter collided into me. He had a tray full of plates so just imagine the amount of noise that made. Before I could even look at the damage, I glanced up to see if Lois and AC were looking at me. I sighed heavily as I saw two widened eyes stare at me.
They were.
"Shauna." Daniel came running to me. "Are you okay?" I nodded and helped the waiter up. I mumbled my apologies ad before we could progress to a table, I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
I don't even have to tell you who did.
"Shauna, what are you doing here?" She demanded. I turned around and smiled at her. "If this is one of your schemes, then forget it."
"Calm down, Lois. I didn't know you were going to be at the Cove until Chloe told me. I'm here on a date. My whole life doesn't revolve round you, you know." I told her. Daniel found us a seat—oh; he's good—behind Lois and AC's table. Lois and AC exchanged nervous glances when they saw us settling down. I smiled up at them. "Don't mind us, Lois. Keep on talking."
Lois narrowed her eyes at me before presuming to her regular activities with AC. I looked over at Daniel, staring at me. I smiled nervously. Here comes the strained, awkward conversation.
Joy.
"So, Daniel. How have you been?" I tried. Notice strongly the word, 'tried'. He nodded his head indicating that everything was okay. Our food finally came and we dug into it feverishly. This was the only thing we had to do. Conversation was hopeless and intimacy…are you crazy?
"Lois….you don't know how much you mean to me." I stopped eating and leaned in to hear the conversation taking place better. "Believe it or not…I like you." Why was I dreading the feeling that she was about to say the same thing?
"I like you too, AC." Oh, yeah. Because she's stupid! I didn't have to see their faces to know that they were beaming at each other. Although, I had a feeling that Lois's smile didn't have much brightness.
"And I know that you don't like Smallville." AC continued. "So, why do you stay here?" He asked. Boy, no matter how annoying he is, he does seem to ask the right questions. That's bad.
"Shauna?" I looked up at Daniel, startled that he was still there. "You haven't finished eating your food." I looked down at my half-eaten meal.
"Oh…right." I bit my lip as I pushed it away from me. "I guess I'm not that hungry."
"Okay." Daniel said, nodding. "You know, Shauna I'm really happy that you came here with me." I smiled at Daniel. Great. Another gushy moment. "I thought you were put down by the fact that I'm your boss….."
"I want us to get to know each other. Really know each other." AC was saying. I leaned back a little more. Where was he leading all of that?
"……and I just want to see if this is right for us." Daniel continued.I smiled at Daniel again and he smiled back before he went on with his ranting.
"So, I was just thinking, that maybe, you could come with me…."
"WHAT!" I screamed out. Daniel, Lois, AC, hell, the whole damn restaurant looked at me. I smiled sheepishly at the rest of them but once I turned to Lois and AC, I got a little ugly. "Are you kidding me? She's got her family and friends here. How dare you try to rip her apart from them?" AC looked at me speechless.
"Shauna…"
"And if you think she'd prefer living with you, well, you're just in for a big surprise, buddy boy!" I spat at him. Suddenly, I felt someone grabbing my sleeve and dragging me towards the hallway.
'"Shauna, what the hell do you think you're doing!" Lois asked enraged. She didn't even wait for an answer. "Look, no matter what you say or do, Clark will always, always love Lana. He will only, only consider me as a friend. Now, you better shut up about all of this or I will take AC's offer!" I blinked a couple of times. Damn. This girl was dead set on me ditching the whole thing.
Okay, alright.
I'll make her think that, happy?
"I'm sorry, Lois." I whispered. I was acting like a five year old who had just been caught taking a cookie from the cookie jar.
"I know you are." Lois said. We both hugged and smiled at each other. She walked down the hallway toward AC but when I was about to follow her, I stopped short.
Crap. Daniel.
I looked up and saw Daniel's hurt eyes.
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"Well, you should feel bad." Chloe said. I handed her the star for the Christmas tree and she placed it on the top of it, flawlessly. It was just hours away from the Christmas Party and the whole place was abuzz with excitement. She climbed down the step ladder and helped me with the packing of the boxes. "You did break his heart."
I groaned. "But, he knew that I didn't want it to be a date and did he really take it seriously?" Chloe rolled her eyes and I dreaded the next statement.
"Uh…yeah?" I sighed. "Shauna you used him." Chloe continued. I sat down on a chair. "There's no excuse for that." I nodded my head slowly. She was right. Was Chloe ever wrong? "You should apologize."
"I can't. He doesn't return my calls; he basically avoids me at work."
"Is he coming to the party?" Chloe asked. I shrugged my shoulders. I didn't think so. Not after the incident. Chloe looked at me intently before asking, "Why don't you just act on your feelings, Shauna?"
I sighed and looked down. "Even if I explained it to you ten times, you still wouldn't get it." I replied. Chloe furrowed her brows in confusion but never prolonged the subject. Clark walked up to us, a cup of coffee in hand. We looked at him as he observed the tree.
"Looks great." He replied. We smiled and he smiled back. His eyes shifted to a section in the room and his smile suddenly turned into a frown. We looked to where he was looking. I smirked as I saw Lois cuddling up with AC on a small sofa. Well, well, well.
Let's see if Lois's statement of Clark is true.
"Clark." I turned back around to look at him. "What's the matter?" I asked innocently. Clark still stared at the couple. His jaw was slightly clenched. Chloe and I looked at each other and our smiles grew wider.
"How long have they been…?"
"Together?" Chloe finished for him. He shifted his eyes to her.
"Yeah."
"For a while now." She replied. "Didn't you know? Didn't she tell you?"
"No. The last time she mentioned AC was when she told me she was hanging out with him." Clark answered. God, if our smiles got any wider, our faces would burst!
"No. She was going out with him. As in, she had a date with him." I told him. Clark looked down for a moment before looking up at the couple in discussion. "Are you okay, Clark?" I asked concerned.
"I'm…fine." He answered. "I've gotta go. Lana said she wanted to see me." He hastily walked away before we could say anything else.
"So, she didn't tell Clark she and AC were dating." Chloe concluded. You're getting there, Chloe.
"Meaning?" I prompted her.
"Meaning that she still likes Clark." Chloe replied.
"And?"
"She wants Clark to think that she doesn't like him."
"Because?"
"Because she has a gut feeling that Clark likes her back."
"But?"
"She doesn't want to act on it for fear of losing Lana as a friend." Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! I smiled at Chloe and she smiled back. "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?" I nodded my head.
"Yeah, Chloe. It is."
---------------------------------------------------
Baby, all I want for Christmas is you!
You, baby!
Ana handed me some eggnog and I went to find Chloe. It was a full house for the Talon tonight. Many people had attended. I could hardly walk through. Many people were dancing, singing to the song or just sitting down and talking happily with their friends. "Shauna! Over here!" I followed the sound of that voice and walked over to a table where Chloe and Lois were.
"Hey, guys! Merry Christmas and free eggnog for all of us!" They gladly took the eggnog from me and I sat down. "Isn't this a great party?"
Before Chloe could answer, Lois did. "Yeah, if you don't breath." She answered. Chloe and I roll her eyes at her. "You can suffocate in a place like this."
"Well, you can't escape now." I said while we waved at Clark's parents.
"Yes, I can." Lois said proudly. "AC and I are going on a date tonight." My face fell but I remained casual.
"Where?" I asked. She looked at me. Her sharp eyes never missed a beat.
"I'd rather not tell." Oh, c'mon! She still didn't trust me? "So, what about you, Shauna?" Lois asked. "Are you going on a date tonight too?"
"Nope." I answered. "I'm done with men in my life."
"Speaking about men in your life…" Chloe said, pointing to the young man that had just entered the doorway. Daniel. "Make him listen to you. You owe him an explanation and an apology." I nodded determinedly and walked toward him. I looked above him and saw a mistletoe hanging above the ceiling. I smiled.
I suppose I owe him a kiss too, right?
"Daniel." I called out. He turned and when he saw me, he was about to turn back. But I held his arm and he had no choice but to look at me. "Please, let me explain…"
"There's nothing to explain." Daniel cut me off. "You used me. I liked you and you used that to get your little boyfriend jealous. And when that didn't work, you ignored me like a piece of trash." My eyes opened wide.
Boyfriend! AC!
The next reaction? I slapped his cheek. I slapped it really hard. He held it, wincing at the pain. "Don't you ever assume anything about me ever again!" I hissed at him. "The only reason I freaked out was because I didn't like the guy! I hate the guy!" Third reaction? I kissed him. Short but lingering. "And that. That was for the mistletoe. Not because I like you. But I do like you." I pointed to the mistletoe above us. I then walked away. He didn't follow me. He didn't ask. Thank God!
I sat back down, ignoring the stare Chloe was giving me. "You slapped him and then kissed him. I think you handled that very nicely."
"Me too." I answered. We then burst out laughing. "Where's Lois?" I asked, looking around. Chloe sobered.
"She went to get some eggnog…"
"What I do with AC is none of your business!" We heard Lois's voice shout out. Even with the loud music and crowded place we could still hear her. Chloe and I followed the sound of the voice. We stopped in our tracks when we saw Lois and Clark seething at each other under a…yes people.
Mistletoe!
"Why couldn't you just tell me the truth, Lois? Why did you have to lie?" Clark retorted. I could see real hurt in is eyes. He didn't even know how much this was affecting him. "I thought we were friends. What? You don't want to be friends with me? Is that it?" Great. The idiot put her friendship with Clark on the line because of that damn AC. Forget keeping my cool, I'm going to stab him for all he's worth!
"I don't think they see the mistletoe, Shauna." Chloe stated. "Care to point out the error of their ways?" We both smiled at each other and I walked toward them.
"Guys?"
"Of course I want to be friends with you but if I told you the truth, you would act jealous and overprotective like the last time AC was here." Lois told him. I cleared my throat.
"Guys?"
"I wasn't jealous!"
"Yes, you were!" Lois shouted at him. "You were jealous that somebody saved my life before you, why?"
"Don't you dare turn the questions to me, Lois."
"Just answer the damn question, Clark, why the hell were you jealous?" Lois sneered.
"Guys!"
"What!" They both shouted at me. I didn't seem fazed by that outburst. I just simply pointed to the mistletoe. They looked up also and then slowly at each other. I smiled. This is it! The moment I had been waiting for!
"No way." Lois muttered and walked away. What….?
Clark soon walked away. My jaw fell. It fell as far as it could.
Tell me….that didn't just happen.
AN: Wow, I think that chapter sucked. Well, tell me what you think. I won't be posting for a little while. Christmas is too near. I will be posting new years like around new years. So…be safe this Christmas. Bye for now.