Chapter 2 - Making Through a Night

"Good morning. Please pass, in your row, the papers you wrote up to the front. If not typed, please refrain from passing them in and type them by tomorrow. Thank you." Clark tried not to use his superhearing but couldn't help hearing that voice babbling again.

"Do you think this was a stupid assignment? I did." Then he found her giving her hand to some man next to her. "Lois Lane from Metropolis." The man next to her gave her a look and Clark cursed under his breath.

Why couldn't I be down there - that guy doesn't care to listen to her.

Clark didn't realize how long he had been staring at her and then looked down at his watch. The entire hour had passed before his eyes. They were dismissed and people began leaving before he realized. He started to get up.

"Hello again...Are you there?" She was standing there.

"Yeah, I'm just not feeling all that great today. Studying too much already I guess." He got up and started out of the aisle.

"Well, looking at your paper, you didn't get the notes. Come with me." She pulled on his shirt as he followed behind her.

"Where are we going, Lois?"

"We're going somewhere to get you caught up. How did you know my name, did I tell you? Oh, we're getting a study group together to edit and all - interested?"

"Sure. And I kind of heard you talking to the guy in the aisle down. Your voice kind of carried." Clark looked amusingly at her remembering another particular girl from Smallville that was somewhat like her.

"Oh, let's go to the library," she started walking toward a tall building in the center of campus.

Clark stopped and tapped on the young woman's shoulder, "My room is closer and I have another class in an hour."

"Fine, where do you live?" They walked in a daze to Clark's room. He put the key in the door and opened it. "This is it? You like living in a closet?"

"It's not great, but I'm the only here for a few weeks." Clark threw his stuff down and excused himself. He peeked around the door and saw Lois going through his stuff.

She's a snoop.

He started coughing coming out of the bathroom, seeing her suddenly move away from the desk. "Comfortable? I have some water if you would like?"

"No thank you. I just need you to get the notes. The first meeting is tomorrow night about the first paper. It's at my place. I'll draw you a map. You copy these." She handed him the notes. Clark hunkered over the notes and copied then 'quickly'. Lois finished the map up at the same time. "How did you do that?"

"I knew most of it already. Thanks, I'll let you know about tomorrow, but I have."

"A class, I know. Nice meeting you ... uhhh."

"Clark."

"Nice meeting you Clark." He walked her to the outside door where she abruptly walked off in a frenzy. He shook his head and giggled slightly. I thought I was the only one that caused a whirlwind when leaving a room. I'm going to be late for this class now. This woman I don't know is already causing me problems. He picked up his books and went out the door.

Wednesday night had come quickly and Clark was happy for that. He dressed pretty casual thinking that the study group would be just hanging out together. He picked up his books and walked out the door. He arrived at a nice apartment where a young woman was coming out of the door.

"You must be here for the study group. Lois is inside; you can go make yourself at home."

"Thanks."

"My name is Lucy. I'm Lois' sister." Clark shook his head and looked back at her as he went into the apartment. Lois met him at the door. Clark stood looking at Lois in her small shorts and tank top, almost missing what she said to him.

"I guess you met Lucy. There are a few people here already. Go in and make yourself comfortable. There are some eats and drinks on the table." Clark felt strange watching her walk upstairs again, like a lovesick child. The meeting started a few minutes later, with Lois sitting across from him.

"Clark what topic did you get?" Clark pulled out his project sheet and read it.

"War with France. It's sounds kind of dull. What about you?" The rest of the room was talking to each other.

Lois looked at her sheet, "Another stupid topic...how I am going to write on this. 'You are a writer for a low end tabloid paper - write a believable article depicting an alien landing in Nebraska.'" Clark looked at her nervously and then realized he had nothing to worry about.

"You could have a lot of fun with that Lois. But we could trade if you wanted. Take this one then." Clark handed her the political piece, thinking he could ham it up for a tabloid paper. Besides, he felt 'close' to the topic.

"So, how's everyone enjoying the class?" Lois wasn't much for small talk. The group continued to talk well in to the night. Lucy came downstairs to see that Lois, Clark, and Brenda were still talking.

"Guys, you ever going to get any sleep?" Brenda looked at her watch.

"I have to go, but I'll see you two in class." Brenda left and Lois walked her to the door. Clark still sat in the living room watching Lois, knowing what he felt couldn't possibly be a good thing. Lucy broke into his thoughts.

"You want to get something to drink?"

"Oh yeah..whatever." He followed Lucy into the kitchen, catching himself trying to look at her. He leaned against the counter as she handed him the drink. They smiled strangely at each other. Clark suddenly felt something come over him.

"Goodnight Clark." Lucy put her glass away and kissed Clark lightly on the cheek before she walked up the stairs.

"Put your jaw back in. I love her but she will break your heart. Besides, she's more worldly than I am so I know she's more than you can handle."

"And what makes you think that I'm not?" Clark put his glass in the sink and followed Lois back into the living room.

"No offense but you're from Kansas. You don't exactly fit in. Where exactly in Kansas anyway?" Lois asked as she sat back on the couch and Clark sunk down into the armchair.

"Smallville." Clark watched as Lois' mouth dropped and started laughing. "What's so funny?"

"You have got to know my cousin, Chloe." Lois and Clark both looked at each other stunned. Lois jumped up and exclaimed, "Oh, my god! You're Clark?! I've heard about you – how funny!"

Clark sat motionless in the chair as Lois slapped him on the knee and continued laughing about the connection she had made. Realizing that Clark's enthusiasm for the situation was not quite the same, Lois quieted down and sat.

"Yes, I know Chloe. We worked on the Torch together," Clark spoke calmly, trying to keep his composure.

What did Chloe tell her about me?

"Well, she's been married to that high school rag since junior high. Bet she made one hell of a good editor." Lois and Clark laughed thinking about how she would boss people around.

Lois yawned and softly said, "I have to be getting to bed, so..."

"I'm going. Thanks for tonight Lois and for your story," he smiled and went out the door. Lois watched him walk down the street toward the school.

Lucy, why do you always get the ones that I think I might like. And Chloe – wow – when you said you had a looker working with you in high school, you weren't kidding.

With that, Lois decided to go dream about her new man and hoped that he might be around longer than the summer.