Chapter 9 'About Last night'
"So you're good?"
Chloe rolls her eyes as she continues to edit the layout for the latest edition of the Torch.
"I'm fine, Queen Industries has a great program and I actually got a call from Oliver Queen myself. My Mom is doing better and I can visit her whenever I need to. Now if you can find a way for me to tell my Dad that's advice I could use."
Lois shrugs as she walks over to the window.
"So has Clark said anything about…?"
"About your late night visits around the world?"
Lois sighs as she puts some of her books away in her bag.
"I'm a complete girl."
Chloe stops and looks up at her best friend.
"He's the same way, Lois this and Lois that. And you should have heard Lois yelling at the French cabby in Paris yesterday. It's enough to make me want to puke."
Lois laughs hugging her best friend.
"Aww Chlo have you talked to Lex recently?"
Lois was trying to be positive. The last thing she needed was to upset Chloe. She'd come to a resolve to let Chloe crush on Lex even if that meant her best friend could get her heart broken.
"Sure here and there, but the boy is as slow as molasses."
Lois laughs while closing her bag and swinging it over her shoulders.
"So take the initiative. Ask him out."
Chloe laughs at the idea as Lois walks to the door.
"How about you, have you told Clark yet about your promise to Jor-El?"
Lois froze, she had avoided talking about that. Her promise to Jor-El, she'd made it years ago. The summer before College when she finally turned eighteen she'd devote her summer to training at the Fortress. Three months she'd be away from her family and friends and now Clark. But she still hadn't told Jor-El about her transference of powers to Clark. The thought of her two worlds colliding sent chills up her spine. Chloe was cool with it, her parents still got uptight when she mentioned her birth Father. But Clark seemed to enjoy meeting him, now how was she supposed to broach the subject of spending the summer apart.
"Look Chloe, it's still early yet. I have months to tell Clark about the summer. Who knows where we'll be by the end of the year."
Chloe rolls her eyes looking back at some articles.
"He's already planning the summer, just talk to him Lo he'll understand."
"Right, you're right."
Chloe looks up smirking.
"Oh and about the other thing…he's thinking about it too."
Lois made a face and blushed at her best friend.
"Chloe!"
She laughs at Lois's embarrassment.
"All I can tell you is, there have been little fires all over the house, we had to take the batteries out of the upstairs fire detectors. My Dad swears he burnt dinner last night."
Lois closes the door as Chloe giggles to herself.
"She's just too easy."
As Lois steps out into the hallway rattled she runs right into Clark whose glasses fall, they both rush to catch them. Lois gets there first placing them on Clark's face. The two stare into each other's eyes for a moment before shaking off the attraction.
"Hey I was just…"
"Talking to Chloe I'm guessing, how's she doing today?"
Lois shrugs walking away from the Torch.
"Good, I mean you live with her, how has she been doing at home?"
"You mean when we got back on Sunday?"
Lois blushes, biting her lip for letting her emotions show.
"Right so were you going to talk to Chloe or?"
Clark shakes his head following Lois.
"No I was looking for you.. I've been thinking about this summer I thought…"
Lois stops her shoulders are set back as she becomes rigid.
"This summer, I have stuff to do."
Clark laughs to himself but stops short when he sees Lois isn't laughing. He rubs the back of his neck while following her into a classroom. He doesn't get a chance to discuss this further since the classroom is filled with other seniors who are lounging around during their free period.
"Stuff to do what does that even mean?"
It was the question Clark kept asking as he helped Pete weight train during practice.
"Did you ask her?"
Pete asked before straining to finish the last set.
"Yeah I tried, she avoided me all day after that. You don't have any idea Pete do you?"
Pete set the bar down on the poles before sitting up shrugging.
"I'm not getting in the middle of this; this is between Lois and you."
"So you do know?"
Pete stands up motioning to Clark to sit down and do some reps. Clark shakes his head as Pete sighs.
"Listen man you have to at least pretend that you work for those guns."
Pete points to Clark's massive arms as he rolls his eyes before taking his turn on the bench and easily lifting the heavy bar without a spotter. Pete runs over trying to cover for his friend.
"You think I'm getting too serious? I mean she's right we still have eight months before schools over. I must seem like some obsessive boyfriend planning our summer together."
Pete tilts his head trying to keep Clark's bar from pumping up and down at an alarming speed.
"Eight months though Chloe, I thought I had time before he started talking about summer plans."
Chloe laughs while handing Lois her article back with red correction marks in the margins. Lois makes a face at the red ink.
"Oh come on Chloe you took out my favorite line."
Chloe looks over at the red line through one of Lois's sentences.
"Please Lois, the fact that the Teachers eat out instead of buying the cafeteria food is hardly grounds for calling in the Health Department."
Lois shakes her head trying to calm down.
"Chloe I have sources that confirm there have been several petitions from the principal to delay the state mandated inspections."
Chloe shakes her head smirking.
"Larry the night janitor is not a reputable source Lois."
Lois stands up tucking her pen in her right ear and swinging her jacket around her shoulders with ease.
"Who do you think empties his trash? I have copies Chloe which I've paid top dollar for."
Chloe stands up sorting through more articles one happens to be Clark's newest addition to the Sports section.
"Look, get me a copy of those petitions and we'll talk, but right now I have the principal breathing down my neck still about your cheerleader scandal. One more and he'll close the Torch down."
"Oh so we're not supposed to be reporting the truth? I've been feeding Larry my Mother's apple pie for a year to get close enough to a big story on the principal and now I can't run it. Maybe this story is too big for the Torch."
Chloe smiles as Lois holds her article in the air quirking her eyebrow.
"I think you have a point there, seems to me it may, with a little more investigating warrant a submission to the Smallville Gazette."
Lois wrinkles her nose at Chloe before heading out the door.
"But Lois, make the corrections before submitting it to him."
Lois nods, "I'm going to do more than that, I'm going to bring this up to Gazette level."
Chloe smirks, "Oh and Lo!"
She peaks her head back into the room, "Yeah?"
"I still need 500 words about the new lunch menu."
"Right."
"And something simple Lois, let's keep the exposes out of the Torch for a while okay?"
Lois nods before speeding out of the room.
Later that night Lois was typing furiously on her laptop in loft entering all her information for the Gazette article. She hears Clark land on the roof take a few steps and then hover right outside of the double doors facing the Lang house. With a smile and without taking her eyes away she sighs.
"Look Superboy you might want to come in before someone gets the wrong idea.
Clark dressed as Superboy with his red hoodie drawn over his head slides into the barn his feet gently meeting the wood floor.
"I just thought I'd stop by."
Lois smirks stealing a quick glance his way.
"Oh, out saving the world?"
He shrugs confidently while making his way over to her with his arms crossed.
"Maybe, helped an elderly lady cross the road, Smallville's pretty lax in the crime department."
Lois chuckles as she tilts her head getting a good look at him.
"That's why Metropolis is the place to be, seems there's always crimes to be stopped in the big city."
"So is that where you're going this summer?"
Lois took a deep breath closing the cover of her laptop.
"No, I've just made plans that I can't break for."
Superboy nods taking a seat across from Lois.
"Plans with whom?"
Lois grits her teeth for a moment before answering.
"With Jor-El, I promised him I'd train this summer. The summer I turn eighteen it was one of the conditions."
Lois looks up meeting Superboy's eyes knowing she might have revealed too much too soon. But he has an excited smile on his face.
"So we can train together, I mean I'll just tell the Colonel to hell with Germany this summer we can do this I'm sure…"
"No Clark, this is sort of a Kryptonians only deal. Something about right of passage or whatever."
Clark looks hurt for a second the realization dawning on him.
"You haven't told him about the transference of powers yet?"
Lois shakes her head.
"I can't, he keeps going on and on about how with great knowledge comes great power and destinies. I don't think he could handle that I let a human keep my powers."
Clark stands up trying to process Lois's words.
"What some lowly human?"
Lois shakes her head standing up as well.
"That's not what I mean, Clark if he found out he'd take them away from you. He might be a voice in a cave to you but his powers aren't limited to that booming voice. Jor-El is a powerful man and…"
"And he's the type of man who doesn't look kindly to humans with Kryptonian abilities."
"I can't believe I'm actually defending him, but he's just a reflection of who he once was. I have to believe deep down if he understood the entire story he'd accept you but Clark…"
Superboy looked fragile, it was something Lois wasn't used to, in his jeans and red sweatshirt Clark had always held such confidence. But now he seemed rejected as if he wasn't sure he was super anymore.
"Look it's not a problem Lois, Father issues I understand I have that in spades why do you think I'm here."
Lois looks Clark in the eyes before taking a step towards him, but he backs away slightly. She stops, letting him retreat out of the barn, while floating in midair he looks back at her.
"We can't choose our parents Clark."
He nods sadly.
"No I know, I just need to be alone for a little while."
She tries to smile earnestly but can't hide a small tear as Superboy takes off at light speed into the air.
When Clark finally returns home a few hours later he doesn't notice the figure standing in the corner of his room until he flicks the lights on. Lois with a smile greets him, slightly shocked Clark recovers as he regains his balance.
"Lois!"
She quirks an eyebrow tossing a pair of boxers at Clark.
"Boxers, that answers that question."
Clark tries to stop from turning several shades of red as he quickly tucks the boxers in his drawer.
"What are you uh…doing here Lois?"
She sets her shoulders back taking her strong assertive stance that drives Clark crazy he keeps his eyes northward trying not to get lost in her fast moving lips.
"I realize that I should have told you sooner about the whole training thing. I guess I just wanted to keep you in good graces with the bio Dad."
Clark can't help but crack a smile before locking his jaw, something he had seen his father do many times.
"It's just Jor-El has done things in the past that don't really qualify as Father of the year material, and he's not exactly on my parent's Christmas list either. And yes, he has some reservations about humans. But Clark, he has a limited view of this world. He doesn't know you, you're kind and you want to help people. Sometimes I think you have a better handle on things than I do.."
Clark smiles again and Lois raises a finger at him.
"But if you ever repeat that to anyone I'll deny it. But you are Clark, my moral compass; you always see the good in people. You would never let these powers go to your head. But Jor-El doesn't get that, and I'm sorry but I can't defy him, not this time. Too many people could be hurt but I want to enjoy…"
She didn't have time to finish; Clark had rushed to her stopping her next words as he pulled her into a kiss that led them to his bed. With a crack the legs gave way as the frame collapsed with a thud. Chloe startled awake from her bed, burst into the room to find her best friend and cousin hot and bothered and also laughing. With Lois and Clark's jacket thrown across the room and their hair tussled it wasn't hard to see where this was going but the moment had passed.
Chloe not trusting the two alone insists they say goodnight as she walks Lois downstairs to the door.
"Lois what was that, you two broke the bed!"
Lois laughs waving her friend off.
"Don't worry it's not like it hasn't happened before, he'll just have to steel reinforce it."
She giggles at the thought as Chloe puts her hands on her hips.
"Look do I have to get Anna to invent some Kryptonite condom for you two? Or get you out of the country before you set Smallville history with 6.0 on the Richter scale? I'm pretty sure many women have said the earth moved but I don't think they meant it literally."
Lois was trying to contain her laughter as her best friend continues to ramble, she stops her with a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.
"Relax Chloe I'm not ready for THAT yet."
Chloe tries to take a deep breath.
"Well it certainly looked like you were ready for it a minute ago."
Lois smirks again as she steps out onto Chloe's porch.
"Besides a Kryptonite condom would probably kill me."
With a laugh and a wink Lois shot into the air feeling like a normal teenager despite her air maneuvering capabilities.
"Dude we're not talking about it!"
Pete screamed as Clark smirked, with a shudder Pete stopped in front of the jewelry store across from the Talon trying to shake the vision of Clark and Lois together. Lois was like a sister to him and Clark was his best guy friend. To him it was weird thinking of the two… He tried to clear his mind as he noticed this year's class rings. Shaking his head in disgust he walked away from the window. Clark stopped for a second to catch what he was looking at before hurrying to catch up with his friend.
"Class rings Pete, we should get one no-one has them yet at school."
Pete laughs, nods and keeps on walking.
"That's because our school's so cheap they've been using Red Kryptonite."
Clark stops trying to process the new information.
"There's red Kryptonite?"
Pete laughs patting Clark on the back.
"Listen Lane, there's a lot about Smallville that you have no idea about. One of them is the many varieties of Kryptonite buried all over this town."
"And all of them affect Lois?"
Pete smirks remembering Lois on red Kryptonite before leading his friend into the Talon.
"Oh yeah, trust me don't get Lois anything made from a rock or mineral. Just, trust me on that."
Clark smiles, clueless as they find the girls sitting in their usual corner booth. He locks eyes with Lois and with a goofy grin sits across from her. A voice next to them clears her throat as the mood shifts to an icy chill.
"Hey Clark, Lois… and other people."
Lana addresses the group with a huge grin trying to maintain earnest.
"I've just opened a homeless shelter outside of town and we're having a local food drive."
She passes out invitations to donate a non perishable food item to each of them before sighing.
"Oh, also we're holding a Winter Ball to benefit the Metropolis Pediatric Cancer wing and I hope you all can make it. Invitations of course will be in the mail. I just made a sizable donation to Smallville General in the name of my Father."
She pauses putting her hand on her heart before wiping a single tear from the corner of her eye.
"Lois, I just hope you and your friends could come, I'm trying to start anew here."
She gives everyone a smile goodbye, stopping at Clark she winks before taking a deep breath and walking away.
"She seemed almost human."
Pete replied when Lana was out of ear shot.
"Yeah, she actually acknowledged my presence I mean we used to be friends, but I can live with other people."
Pete smirked as Lois narrowed her eyes. Clark tried to appease her with a smile.
"Look maybe she does feel bad for all that has transpired in the last few years, you can't say she's supporting a bad cause."
Lois looked down at the flyer for the new homeless shelter. Before biting her lip and cracking a smile.
"I'm not going to fall for Lana Luthor's tricks anymore. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to help support a good cause either. Besides I've come out of the lion's den unscathed before."
Clark smiles encouragingly, as their waitress comes over to take their order.
Lois and Clark are walking alone together down Main Street. The sun is high in the sky as they emerge fresh from the movies, their usual Saturday afternoon ritual.
"But you called him though, right?"
Clark nods swallowing a mouthful of roasted pecans.
"I did, he's on leave for the Holidays."
Clark sighs taking another handful of nuts and tossing them into his mouth. They were walking side by side her close proximity was killing him. He cursed his hunger, his hand should be free to hold hers.
"What about your sister?"
Clark smiles at Lois for her concern.
"I talk to her all the time online; he called her as well she has no idea what our plans are."
The Holidays made Lois nervous; she always wanted it to be perfect for everyone else. She broke into tears one Thanksgiving when it rained. Clark spending the Holidays without his Father and sister ate her up inside.
"So this is what you meant the other day about Father issues."
Clark blushed smiling as he threw the wax bag in the garbage can as they passed by. They hadn't rehashed the discussion regarding their summer plans; Clark decided to focus on the here and now.
"Yeah, but this is the way it's always been. The Colonel sent Lucy to boarding school five years ago; she's the talented one never took to being an army brat. I guess this is how he raised us, to be self sufficient. "
Lois took Clark's hand squeezing it lightly; she smiled to herself at a thought. She never had to be careful with Clark; with him she could be free. With everyone else a simple hug or handshake had to be carefully controlled but with Clark. She leans over and kisses him on the cheek as they round a corner. Clark smiles tucking his glasses higher on the bridge of his nose he gave her hand a gentle reciprocating squeeze.
"So, how do you think the Crows will fair at tomorrow's game?"
Clark's mood lifted and Lois knew she had used the magic words. Football had been Clark's dream, with his powers he was never able to play. There were many nights where he'd toss long passes to himself, but when he had that Kryptonite strapped to his chest he was just like everyone else. The team had been doing really well and tomorrow's game would decide their fate in the State Championships.
"I think we're going to eat us some Mongoose tomorrow."
Lois smirked as she threads her entire arm through Clark's.
"So you guys win this game and then it's the State championships on Friday?"
Clark nods, he was excited and also nervous. They had beaten the Topeka High Mongooses earlier in the season, but if they won they'd be playing the day after Thanksgiving. With the Holiday looming he was hesitant. His last possible football game ever and he wanted just one thing, for his father to be there and see him play.
"Well I'll be there Clark, and I'm hoping you can join me and my family for Thanksgiving too. Chloe and her Dad always come over, Pete's usually in Topeka with family but the more the merrier."
Clark nods happily as they turn another corner and into the alleyway. Lois raises her eyebrows and takes off into the air leaving Clark behind for a nanosecond. With a smirk he takes off after her. Laughter can be heard in the distance as they race to their destination.
"What number is Clark again?"
Martha asked as she hugged her coffee thermos shivering against the metal bleacher. John was sitting next to Pete's parents on the other side of Martha while Lois snuggled next to her Mother and Chloe.
"He's number six, the wide receiver."
Martha nods squinting as the players take the field.
"Oh he's the tallest on the team that'll be easier to spot him."
Lois smiles as she looks to the field in anticipation of the game.
After the game it seemed the entire town was crowded around the Lang farm for the victory celebration. Lois couldn't help but laugh to herself watching Clark shake everyone's hand as he held onto the game winning ball. Sometimes he'd toss it to Pete or Lex. As he made his way through the crowd he spots Lois with a pat on the shoulder of an aging man, he excuses himself to the corner with her.
"There you are, I've been wading through the party trying to find you."
He kisses her on the cheek laying his forehead on hers before meeting her lips. Lois can't help but purr silently to herself a smile stretching across her face.
"Yes, well everyone wants to congratulate the man who caught the game winning pass."
They lean in to kiss again laughing as they escape the crowd outside to the patio numbing the music to their sensitive ears.
Lois laughs mid kiss while taking gulps of air Clark tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Clark what are we doing?"
He smiles kissing her quickly before answering.
"We're spending some quality time outside."
She laughs kissing him again before speaking.
"No I mean, what is this I feel like we're progressing."
She put her hands on his chest looking up into his eyes which widened in surprised. Lois smiles taking his glasses off and leaning towards him their foreheads meet again as they stagger their breathing in between kisses.
Another laughing pair of voices separate the couple, as Lois gently floats back to the ground slipping Clark's glasses back on. Lex and Chloe mid embrace notice they have an audience.
"Oh hey guys."
Lex smiles embarrassed as Lois tries to smile taking Clark's hand.
"Hey we were just…"
Lex had let go of Chloe awkwardly.
"You guys enjoy the moonlight we're heading inside for something to drink."
Clark gave Lex a pat on the shoulder as Lois lead the way back into the house.
As the evening wound down Chloe found Lois waiting to say goodnight to Clark who was busy with the team in Lex's game room.
"Hey Lo."
Chloe smiled leaning against the wall with Lois.
"So I'm guessing Lex finally made a move?"
Lois asked deadpanned making her best friend squirm a little.
"Actually I walked right up to him."
Lois smirked shaking her head.
"Just be careful Chlo, I don't want to see you get hurt."
Chloe grimaced and then turned to Lois.
"Why because you think he's still caught up on you?"
She looked dumbstruck at Chloe before rolling her eyes.
"No, because I have no idea what Lex's intentions are and I just don't want to see you get hurt. You've had a crush on him for a long time I'm trying to look out for you."
Chloe smirked letting out a sarcastic dry laugh.
"You have all these superpowers Lois; you can fly, x-ray vision, move clouds with a deep breath and shoot fire from your eyes. But, the one thing you can't protect me from is matters of the heart. Sometimes you're just going to have to let go and let me fall even if it's for the wrong guy."
Lois laughs as Chloe turns towards the noise filled room that housed the entire football team.
"Let you fall huh?"
Chloe smiles, laughing at herself.
"Well not literally I still expect Supergirl to catch me from a burning building or something."
With a smirk Lois winks at her.
"You forgot super strength."
Chloe gave her a serious look before breaking the façade and smiling. With a sigh Lois spoke again.
"I'll be there."
They stand in silence for a minute before Chloe speaks up again.
"So you told Clark about the summer then."
Lois nods smiling.
"You don't think we're together because of the whole…"
Chloe squints trying to guess what Lois is talking about.
"Oh the whole super thing."
Chloe clarifies waving her hand around.
"You are talking about sex, aren't you Lo?"
She reddens nodding at her friend.
"Yeah, but that's not why I feel this way right?"
Chloe thinks about it for a second shaking her head.
"No, I mean you were attracted to Clark before you found about his powers."
Lois nods feeling self assured.
"Right, and just because it's convenient that has nothing to do with, the attraction."
"I'm sure it helps."
Chloe smiles devilishly as her friend blushes even deeper.
"Can you see yourself with Clark even without his powers?"
Lois closed her eyes for a moment imagining Clark in some three piece suit just being normal bumping into desks clumsily smiling as he realizes she was watching him. She opens her eyes shrugging.
"Yeah I could."
Chloe nods.
"There you go, and we both know he's been head over heels for you for years with or without Supergirl so…"
"So I should just get over it and talk to him about it."
Chloe smiles, "Exactly."
"Oh and Chloe can I get Lucy's number?"
Chloe looked shocked.
"My Lucy, Lucy Lane?"
Lois nods, "Yeah I have to talk to her."
End of Chapter 9
Preview of Chapter 10
Clark walks into the Torch while Chloe is putting the final touches on the Sports section. Clark, Pete and Lex are on the front page holding up the game winning football. She looks up as Clark stumbles over his own left foot making Chloe burst into laughter.
"Something tells me you talked to Lois this morning."
Clark's eyes darted up at the mention of Lois the back of his neck was still red with embarrassment and anticipation.
"She told you?"
She nods as he sets his bag down on a chair before settling himself next to it.
"Of course we're BFFs, and if we can't talk about these sort of things who will she talk to?"
Clark eases a bit shaking some of the anxiety off his shoulder.
"So you agree with her that we should slow down then?"
Chloe looks up biting her lip before answering.
"I don't think she wants to screech to a halt but Lois has been pushing guys away for years. You're the first one she's let in, I think she looses a bit of control when she's around you."
He beams thinking about Lois in his arms as his cousin goes on.
"Besides you know how she loves to be in control, as long as you're both on the same page I'm sure things will go a lot smoother."
Clark makes a face at his cousin who tries to hide a sly smirk.
"You mean let her hold the reins?"
She closes the mock up of the next Torch lifting one eyebrow at him.
"Lois is my best friend and you're my cousin Clark but I'm not going to help you get into her pants. I will tell you though that she's confused, pretty much ready but needs time."
He shifts in his seat smirking at his cousin.
"You guys talk about this?"
She shrugs picking up the book and walking towards the door.
"I'm dropping off the book at the printer I'll see you later Cuz."
Clark sits smiling in his seat alone.