Here comes another 'set-up'

Chapter 5: The Guitar Hero Night

"Hey sis. Happy belated birthday," came a ridiculously cheery voice.

"Luce. Nice of you to call," Lois replied, sarcasm evident in her tone.

"Hey! I'm trying here."

Lois stuck her tongue out at the phone. "Sure you are Lucy." Lois sat down on the couch and dropped her head backwards. When the line went quiet she raised her eyebrows, waiting. Her free hand felt behind her blouse and pulled out the heart necklace.

"Look, can I come over. We'll spend some time together, mend some bridges. Please?" Lois sighed and closed her eyes. She sounded genuine. Suddenly Lois felt like she was seven years old again; playing with her baby sister, mothering her, teaching her, showing her the fun that could be had climbing the gigantic tree in the back field on base.

"Okay. Guitar Hero tomorrow night?" Lois gulped in fear.

"Sounds great. Can't wait."

Lucy hung up but Lois was left with the phone still to her ear. What if this goes wrong again? We've tried this so many times. She lowered the phone and dropped it to the couch next to her. Bringing both hands back up she fingered her necklace again. Clark? He's a calming influence. I'll invite him round.

Lois smiled and stood up ambling into the kitchen. Actually, an evil glint entered her eyes. Lucy is a really nice girl. It's just that ... well ... we're sisters and we have this rivalry thing. Getting past that ...

She filled herself a glass of water and turned around, resting herself back on the sink.

Clark and Lucy. It's possible. And I'd get to be related to Smallville then.

At that thought a sudden, excited feeling stole into Lois's heart. Related to Smallville!

Turning back suddenly she slammed down the glass.

Nope, that's what you're trying to avoid. Brother-in-law is close enough.

Clark raised his hand to knock and then dropped it. What lame excuse can I use this time? Quickly making a decision he lifted his hand again then knocked.

While waiting for Lois to come to the door he spent a few moments pondering the strange day he'd had. Lois had been so confusing. She asked for his help in mediating an evening with her sister but then she'd made the strangest of comments and given him the weirdest of looks. He caught her staring at him on many occasions over the course of the day but he could not figure out her thoughts.

When the door swung open he was all ready to produce his excuse for being late but, instead of Lois standing there, it was Lucy.

"Oh, hi Lucy." Clark smiled. It had been a couple of years since he'd last seen her. She looked quite different; shorter hair, not quite as heavy makeup. There was also an air of maturity that hadn't been there when she'd last been in town. Maybe time has helped her to grow up?

"Clark." She drew out his name lingering over the 'ar'. She smiled and tipped her head to one side. "You're late." She reached out her hand and pushed his chest with her forefinger.

"Um, yes." He smoothed his shirt back down with his palm. "Sorry about that." He glanced down to his shoes and then adjusted his glasses. "You see ... there was ... um," he stammered.

Lucy cut him off when she grabbed his arm and dragged him in. "Oh, Clark. You are such a dork. I was only teasing." Once he was inside she let go of his arm and then closed the door behind. Clark stopped in shock when he saw Lois exiting her kitchen. She had on a pair of cut-off denim shorts and, what Clark suspected was one of his old checked shirts. His mouth dropped open and he blinked in surprise.

"Clark. Felt like being fashionably late did you?" Lois's quip brought him back down to earth.

"Um, there was an accident ... um ... traffic's backed up all the way down town."

"Accident?" Lois put down the can she held in her hand and rushed to her window. "Anything that big must be newsworthy. Did Superman show up?" She turned back to Clark.

"Um. Yes." He tried to sound nonchalant.

Lois picked up her can and took a drink then put it back again. "Luce?" she queried then nodded towards the plastic guitars abandoned in front of the TV.

"Wait up sis. Our guest here needs a drink first." She rested her hand on Clark's arm and he turned to look at it. "You sit yourself down, Clark." She led him over to the couch and, mild-mannered farm-boy that he was, he allowed her to sit him down. She leant over to look him in the eye. "So, what can I get ya?"

"Um, a beer is fine, thank you Lucy." Clark felt uncomfortable but didn't really know what to say. He glanced over to Lois hoping for help but she was fiddling with the controls on the TV.

"Come on Luce. I'm seriously kicking your butt here and you're just trying to avoid more embarrassment." Lois shouted loud enough for Lucy to hear in the kitchen.

"In your dreams, Lo." Clark jumped when he heard the voice in his ear. Lucy was directly behind him and crouched down. Her mouth was only inches from his ear. She stretched out her arm and passed the beer over to Clark then stood and walked round the couch to join her sister.

Lois peered through the crack she had created by opening the kitchen door a tiny amount. She grinned and squealed to herself. Lois Lane you are a genius.

She hadn't even said anything to Lucy. She'd actually gotten carried away with 'making up' and it had gone surprisingly well. Maybe it's a good thing that Smallville was late. Gave us all that extra time.

But, the moment Lucy had laid eyes on Clark she had been flirting outrageously with him. Lois chuckled to herself at how uncomfortable he looked. He'd even widened his eyes in terror once or twice but after a while he'd settled into the 'ambiance'. Maybe it's the beer. How many has he had? Enough to be 'mellow' or maybe enough to be 'reckless'.

She looked back to the crack and smiled whilst watching Clark try to play Guitar Hero with Lucy. It had taken quite a bit of convincing on both their parts to get Clark up from the couch but now he was giving it his all. Poor Lucy, thought Lois. She was doing her best to sway 'seductively' to the music but Clark was fully focussed on the TV and on trying to win. Lois could even see the 'concentration' wrinkles on his forehead.

Ok. How long have I been gone? Lois tried to think whether it would be too obvious if she stayed away much longer. She glanced at her watch. Hmm, a couple more minutes.

Clark split his concentration into two. While continuing to play Guitar Hero, which he had to admit he was enjoying, he also listened for Lois. She's been gone for quite a while. It doesn't take that long to get a drink.

His concentration wavered momentarily when he realised that he could actually hear her heartbeat. It was pounding away steadily from somewhere off behind him ... the kitchen.

"Yay!" came a shout from beside him and he turned to see Lucy with her hands in the air, guitar above her head while she jumped up and down. "You lose, Clark." She stopped her bouncing and 'bumped' into him. "Better luck next time." She smiled through her lashes then twirled away making her hair swish into his face.

Clark sighed and dropped his head. Placing down the guitar he stepped over to his drink. Thankfully, or maybe not, the alcohol didn't affect him.

Suddenly his hearing buzzed and he honed in on the sound of screams. Twisting to look out of the window he gulped.

"Uh, Lucy. I'm just going to pop to the bathroom." He rushed off and, the moment the catch shut on the bathroom door, he sped out of the bathroom window.

Lois gripped three bottles in her hand and shook out her hair then nodded to herself. Ok, go work the situation, Lois.

She strode through the kitchen door and back into the living area. "Hope you two are getting along and not hitting each other over the head with the guitars."

She dropped her shoulders when she just saw Lucy. Clark was nowhere in sight and Lucy was leant over a chair and looking out of the window into the night sky.

"Clark's visiting the little hunk's room," Lucy commented idly. Hunk? Lois raised her eyebrow. She placed the drinks down on the table and wandered over to stand next to Lucy. "Lois, you've met Superman haven't you."

Superman, where did that come from?

"Yeah!" She smiled a little to herself. "He's saved me once or twice. Why'd you ask?"

"Oh, he just flew by." Lucy turned away and rested her elbows on the window sill. "So, what's the deal with you and Clark then?" She grinned suggestively at her sister.

"Me?" Lois pointed at herself. "And Clark!" She laughed. "Oh, we're just good friends. But I notice you've been throwing yourself at him all evening."

Lucy pushed off and walked over to pick up one of the guitars. "Not that it's done me any good." She turned back and shook the guitar towards her sister. "Lois, is he as naive as he makes out, cause sometimes I think he's the nerdiest hick on the block and then other times. God!" she melted down onto the couch. "I look behind those glasses and behind the stiff shirts and I can just imagine the body he has, and I can just feel his strength of character."

Lois blinked a little. This was what she was hoping for so why did she feel like there was a fire-pit in her stomach.

"And these last few years, since the last time I saw him. He's so much ... more ... both of those things." She sat up and glared at Lois. "How come you've never seen it?" Lucy seemed shocked at the thought.

Lois gulped. "Who's ... who's to say I haven't. But Smallville and I, we're best friends, and colleagues. And that's how it should stay."

"Great." Lucy smiled and bounced up and down on the couch.

Lois turned to peer out of the window just as a streak of red and blue went by.

Clark strode into the living area adjusting his shirt carefully.

"Ladies!" he spoke, announcing that he'd returned.

"Clark," Lucy shouted and jumped over to him. "Come play with me again. See if you can come out on top this time." When he looked down at Lucy's face to see a ridiculously adoring look on her face he coughed.

"I think, uh, that Lois should get another go. It is her game." He paused. "And her apartment, and her 'evening'". He turned and gave Lois a 'help me' look. She grinned at him and shook her head.

"Oh, no. It's too much fun watching you two. I'll just sit and commentate."

Clark glared at her in frustration. What is Lois doing?

"So, I think we should watch a movie after this game. What do you think Smallville? Shall I go make some popcorn?" Lois asked but didn't wait for an answer. She just got up off the couch and headed for the kitchen, leaving him alone with Lucy ... again.

Closing the door till just a sliver was left she peered through as before, hoping to see the progress.

Come on Clark. You've downed five, maybe six beers. How come you're not more relaxed? Every time Lucy touches you ... you jump like a scared cat.

She sighed and turned away to put some popcorn in the microwave. As the popping sound gradually increased she felt her frustration level rise in tandem.

This isn't as easy as I thought. Finding Smallville a date, finding him a partner, a relationship, is going to be more challenging than I expected. Well, nobody would ever say that Lois Lane is one to back down from a challenge.

She pulled the popcorn out of the microwave and tipped it into a dish. Stopping to peer through the crack once more she struggled to work out what was happening for a moment. As she popped a piece of sweet popcorn in her mouth her eyes widened.

Lucy was advancing on Clark and he was backing away. She dropped her guitar and took his from his hand and then flung it away. Bringing her hands up to his chest she murmured something. Her hands travelled further up and touched his glasses. Clark jerked away at that movement, but Lucy grabbed his shirt and pulled him back.

Lois saw Lucy begin to rise up on her tiptoes and her mouth dropped open when she realised that her baby sister was about to kiss her best friend.

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