Chapter 6:

Earlier

Lois was relieved to escape into the cool night air. It had been a long day. As soon as she had entered the Kent's home she had been whisked away, first by Chloe to meet a few of Clark's friends, then by Mrs. Kent to do the awkward family introductions.

But her greatest test had come from evading the Chloe Inquisition. Her little cousin was just too damn curious for her own good. Lois had begged off the questions by promising to fill her in later.

She'd finally had enough of the sideways glances and the lame attempts at discreet staring, and it definitely didn't help having her cousin and Clark joining in. It was disconcerting. She wasn't a person who looked to be the center of attention. She had better things to do.

Like stop thinking about a certain farm boy and their day in Metropolis. Not to mention how she was going to explain all that to Chloe. She wondered if they both had been affected by one of those crazy meteor rocks. Or drugged, or…

Actually, the more she thought about it…this was all Chloe's fault. And Mrs. Kent's. They were the ones who thought it would be a great idea for her to get Clark off the farm to do all the party preparation stuff. Since she was no Martha Stewart she had become immediately expendable.

It had been Chloe's bright idea for her to ask Clark out on a 'date'. But she had allowed herself to be talked into it. The thought of throwing him off-balance and leaving him a little suspicious and paranoid had seemed like a fun idea at the time. Especially after his last prank.

Now look where it had gotten her: unsettled and confused. Definitely not something she wants to deal with.

"Hey" Clark said softly, joining her along the veranda.

Lois jumped. "What are you doing here?" It came out harsher than she intended.

He sighed. "Fresh air."

She turned to face him, eyebrows arched.

"And to see how you were doing" he amended. "You were pretty quiet in there."

"Yeah, well, see how you do with a bunch of strangers giving you weird looks all night, trying to figure out what exactly my relationship is to you. Thanks for that by the way."

Clark winced. "I'm trying to block that. Although you're not the only one getting the weird looks, my mom and dad and Chloe… it's disturbing."

Lois smiled.

He grinned. "So, Chloe told me how my mom and her roped you into getting me off the farm."

"Yeah, those two are a dangerous tag-team."

Clark nodded his agreement. "So… this whole day was just…" he trailed off, unsure what exactly he was trying to say.

"An obligation?" Lois finished for him. "No, I did it because I wanted to. I won't lie; it took a fair bit of convincing. I definitely thought I was the wrong choice, but your mom and Chloe were persistent. Not to mention getting out of the baking, decorating…you get the idea – all stuff I rather avoid. Plus, I figured it would be fun messing with your head a little."

"Smart. I was so preoccupied with figuring out what elaborate trick you were up to that I didn't even clue in to mom's excessive baking-and-cleaning kick she'd been on for the last few days."

"Yep, I knew you'd never believe the whole date thing. But you should've seen your face!" She burst out laughing.

Clark just watched her in amusement. He leaned forward, mimicking her pose.

"Yeah, well, you kind of caught me off-guard. You were being freakishly nice, not to mention the last time you gave me that look I had to go make out with Mandy," He reminded her.

Lois smirked. "Yes, having to make out with a cheerleader, poor baby."

"Umm…speaking of making out" Clark hesitated. As soon as he spoke Lois' walls were back in place. He took a steadying breath. "What do we do now?"

Lois turned away, focusing on the open fields. "Nothing. It never happened."

"I can't do that Lois," he said firmly. "And it would never work. We see each other every day. We both hang out with Chloe; we play crib with my parents… We have to figure out something. Everyone already suspects…something."

Lois turned to him, arms crossed defensively. "Fine, Smallville, what do you suggest?"

He smirked, his confidence rising at her defensive posture. "What are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid of anything" she retorted.

"Prove it."

"Fine."

Clark closed the distance between them, their eyes locked in challenge, both too stubborn to give in or retreat.

He reached out, tracing the contour of her face with his fingertip.

Lois tensed but didn't back down.

He snaked his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her forward ever so slowly, daring her.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, her voice more breathless than she would have liked. Her body was slowly betraying her.

Clark grinned impishly, "I'm proving it," he said before his lips came crashing down on hers.

"Oh, shit," she mumbled.

This time there was no teasing or playing. He knew what he wanted—what had eluded him all day—and he went for it without reservation or doubt.

"Oh my God!" They heard Chloe exclaim.