Chloe was sitting at the table with the two men she had brought for dates. Lois' date was Richard White. His uncle was Perry White, a reporter who worked at the Daily Planet. Perry had been to Smallville before at a not so great time in his life. Anyway Chloe had met Richard through Perry. Her date was a Jimmy Olsen. He was a sweet kid but younger than Chloe. He was a copyboy. When Lois came through the door, Jimmy was rambling about how his dad's career affected his childhood. (I feel kind of guilty that I can't remember what his dad did for a living. What makes it worse is that though we never really hit it off in a romantic way, he became and still is very good friends with Lois and Clark. They worked together for years, so I should know this. I'm tempted to ask Lois and Clark what it was Jimmy's dad did but they haven't come back out. They're either fighting or apologizing and either way I wouldn't want to interrupt.)

Lois sat down at the table and Richard began a polite conversation with her, while Jimmy continued his talking with Chloe. However, Chloe wasn't listening to him because she was more interested in how her cousin was hitting things off with Richard.

(Lois and Clark have just come back out and they're cuddling. It doesn't surprise me. Their fights never last very long. You don't become an elderly couple without knowing how to make up. Although, they bicker in a playful manner more than anyone else I know. I ask them about the Jimmy thing and Lois says he was a military brat like her. His father was some sort of spy. I can get back to my story now.)

Richard was telling Lois how he went to school at Yale.

Lois looked bored to death, as she stirred her coffee. Richard saw this and attempted to perk her interest by telling her he could fly.

Lois looked up and with a sparkle in her eye asked, "like Peter Pan?"

Richard never cracked a grin, as he said, "no. I have a pilot's license."

Lois immediately became bored again. What was the fun in teasing somebody if they didn't know they were being teased?

Richard reached out and placed his hand over Lois'.

(I'm interrupted by a growl from Clark. He's spying on my story again. Lois doesn't need to look to guess what part of the story I'm at. She suggests going into the kitchen to get ice cream. They do and avoid another fight.)

"I'm hoping to get a job at the Daily Planet, when I get out of school. Although I'm exploring my options as a news broadcaster," Richard said.

Lois yawned and pulled her hand out from under Richard's. "It's getting late for me. I think I'm going to turn in."

"Can I drive you home?" Richard asks.

Lois's eyes widen, "no! That's okay. I don't live very far away."

Chloe gets a strange cough and Lois gives her an evil look like only Lois can give.

"Where do you live?" he asks picking up on the nonverbals.

"She lives in Smallville," Chloe says not wanting her to go back to work.

Chloe pushed her chair further back in expectation of Lois' kick.

Chloe's cell phone went off.

"Hello?"

"Miss Sullivan, I have a way for you to move up the reporter's ladder. Meet me in 30 minutes in front of the abandoned toy warehouse," said a raspy voice and then hung up.

(Of course, I wasn't going to say no to a potential story.) Chloe stood up and announced she had to go. Lois knew Chloe better than that and insisted she would accompany her where ever she was going. Their dates reminded them they were the ones with cars. So it looked like she was going to have 3 companions to the warehouse whether she wanted them there or not.

TBC