"Well, Smallville, I guess this is goodbye. I know you're overcome with sorrow at the prospect of my leaving, but try not to get too weepy, okay? It's embarrassing." Lois teased her companion as she punched him lightly on the arm and grinned.
Clark rolled his eyes. "You know, it would be a lot easier for me to contain myself if you would leave just a little bit faster. If there's anything I can do to help that along, just let me know."
Lois laughed. She and Clark had done their share of friendly (and not so friendly) bickering over the years she'd lived in Smallville, and while they'd never become the best of friends, there was something about him that she was going to miss. Not that she'd tell him that. Ever. Under threat of torture.
Looking past her, Clark saw his mom struggling to get through the front door of the Talon with the last box of Lois's stuff. He ran up to Mrs. Kent to relieve her of it, and she smiled in thanks at her son before turning her attention on the woman who was almost like a daughter to her. "Now, Lois, I went ahead and packed some warm sweaters in your suitcase. You know how it cold it can get at this time of year, especially in the evenings, and I'm not sure that you packed enough to stay warm. I don't want you to get chilly. I also left a box on the passenger seat with some sandwiches and things in it, in case you get hungry on the road. Are you sure you have everything you need? I could…"
Lois laughed and shook her head, interrupting what was sure to be a long list of things Mrs. Kent was more than willing to provide 'just in case'. "Thanks, Mrs. Kent, but I'll be okay. I'm going to Metropolis, not Nepal. And even if I were going to Nepal, I've been there before. I'll be fine." She ran up to the worrying woman and enveloped her in a big hug. "Thanks so much, Mrs. Kent. I'm really going to miss you."
She felt the sting of tears she was too stubborn to release and squeezed her mother figure a little tighter before letting go. When she saw that Mrs. Kent wasn't too proud to let her emotions show, Lois almost caved. But then Mrs. Kent said, "Well, I'll leave you two to say your goodbyes now. Remember you're free to visit any time you want, Lois. You're always welcome at our house." Turning, the redheaded woman went inside, and Lois was left alone with Clark, who had a very uncomfortable look on his face.
"So," Clark began, but then he trailed off, at a loss for something to say. Lois sympathized. She didn't know what to say to someone who was no longer quite an enemy but wasn't quite a friend either. "I'll miss you" seemed trite, not to mention a little false. There was a lot about Clark that she was more than happy to leave behind. Still…there was also a thing or two she couldn't quite say she wouldn't regret losing. Even though the tendency he carried to this day to occasionally overindulge in self-pity drove her crazy, there were times when he made her laugh, too. And, while she'd protested once, years ago, about the effect his blue eyes had on her, when he laughed at something she said and looked her way, there was something inside her that almost melted. Almost.
Eager to get this over with and on her way, Lois said briskly, "You know, I've never been that good at goodbyes. Maybe we should just leave it at 'see you later' and save ourselves the strained silence."
"Yeah, maybe," Clark agreed. Then, as if steeling himself for an unpleasant task, he stepped forward and enveloped Lois in a quick hug. "See you later, Lois."
"See you, Smallville." Lois smiled at him, hopped in her car, and sped away. Only one quick glance in her rearview mirror, and she muttered, "Metropolis, here I come."