*Chapter Four*
POV: Lois Lane
"Come on Sir." I begged.
All I wanted was to post one tiny add in the paper, I even had it already done. Chief-in-Editor Editor Perry White was the only thing in my way. Perry was rather like a bear, with his massive frame and huge hands. He tousled his graying brown hair. "I'm losing sleep over you Lane." He growled. "All of this damsel and distress crap and now this, an ad for Superman?" I groaned. "Come on Mr. White. If I can get an interview with Superman then everyone will be reading the Daily Planet."
Perry rubbed his stubble. "So, you suppose that Superman reads the newspaper? And that he'll actually show up at the Daily Planet and allow a rookie to interview him?" I bit my lip. That was the one part of my brilliant plan that I hadn't considered. "Well, basically." I tried to sound as confident as I could.
After an awkward silence Perry began to chuckle. The chuckle rose to a gut wrenching laugh. "You have guts Lane. Go ahead and put your little ad in the paper, but if you're wrong and the Daily Planet becomes a laughing stock it's on you head." I couldn't help but grin and enthusiastically thank Perry. "You won't regret it." I assured him as professionally as I could. He just scowled in typical Perry like fashion. "Now, go on before I change my mind!" I grabbed my bag and turned to leave, only to run smack into Clark's chest.
"Clark!" He gave a small smile. "Hey Lois, sleep well?" I might have turned a little pink in the cheeks. "'Yes, thank you. Are you okay?" I asked, noting the dark bags under his eyes. He frowned. "I just had a visit from an old friend that didn't turn out the way I thought it would." He said. I barely even thought about Clark's problem.
"Guess what?" I asked excitedly. Clark tried to smile. "What?" I held up the Perry approved ad. "Perry said that I could put an ad in the paper. It's going to ask Superman to come to an interview with me!" Clark looked vaguely intrigued. "So you naturally assume that Superman reads the newspaper?" I smiled. "If not then I'm dead." Clark adjusted his glasses. "I'm sure you're going to be fine. Now, I have an article to write." Clark politely excused himself.
I shrugged off Clark's dismissal and dropped off the ad. I practically skipped out of Perry's office. Even the coffee-ink- and smoke smell that was prominent in the Daily Planet didn't bother me today. Cat Grant, the scandalous gossip and fashion journalist, paused with her hand on Perry's door knob. "Well hello Lois." She purred. "You're looking….happy today."
Cat Grant was not a favorite person of mine. She was a bit of a, well, skank. Cat wore her long blonde hair teased and high, with at least one Bumpette. She was one of those people who were thirty, but acted and dressed like they were a teenager. That was pretty obvious from what Cat was wearing. She had on a tight white blouse, unbuttoned enough for her pink pushup bra to hang out and a clingy pink skirt that was almost so short it was nonexistent.
"I am happy Cat. Why wouldn't I be?" I asked through gritted teeth. Cat steadied herself on her black stilettos and widened her make-up coated eyes innocently. She could pay for all the oil in the world with the money she used on her flaky make-up.
"I was just asking Lois. Gee, you're so hot headed." I frowned. "And you're so plastic and fake." Cat winked and adjusted her bra. "My chest probably cost more than your entire savings account." She grinned. "Well, got to jet. Well bye-bye babe." She breezed into Perry's office. Jimmy looked up from his cubicle and rolled his eyes. I gave a small smile and a shrug. Jimmy stood up and walked over to me.
"Hey, Chief wants me to get some pictures downtown at the cannery. Want to come?" I thought for a moment. "Well, why not?" Jimmy grinned. "Good. Knowing you, something intriguing is bound to happen." I crossed my arms. "Can it Olsen." He grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to tell Chief and then we're off." Most of Perry and Jimmy's encounters ended up being comical, as naïve Jimmy constantly called Perry Chief, even when asked not to. A few minutes later Jimmy surfaced from Perry's office. "Thanks Chief!" He called over his shoulder. I bit back a smile as I heard Perry groan. "Don't call me Chief Olsen!" He roared. Jimmy blushed. "That's right! Sorry Chief!"
I grabbed Jimmy's arm and pulled him into the elevator before he could completely loose his internship. "What was that for?" He asked innocently. I snorted. "Jimmy, what really is your age?" He looked confused. "You know that I'm seventeen, only a year younger than you." I shook my head uncertainly. "Okay. I was just making sure." He smiled, having already moved on. Jimmy dressed like he was from a different generation, with his argyle vest, which was today green, and a red bowtie.
Jimmy's watch shined in the light. Superman had given it to be a signal watch, and it was used in emergencies to call Superman. Jimmy looked up, catching me frowning at his Superman embellished wrist watch.
"Oh come on Lois. Are you still cross with him?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes Jimmy, I am still 'cross' with him." I rolled my eyes. Where did the kid get his vocabulary, an old radio drama? Jimmy gave me a small smile. "Sometimes Lois, I don't know why we're friends." I pouted. "It's because I'm so hot." I said teasingly. I flirtatiously batted my eyelashes and gave Jimmy a sultry smile.
"Uh, I, umm" Jimmy stuttered. I laughed. "I'm obviously kidding Jim." He nodded, blushing so hard he was purple. "Lighten up!" I nudged him. He snorted. "It makes no sense. Lois Lane is finally in a good mood."
The elevator doors slid open. I marched out, Jimmy tailing behind me. "Keep talking like that and I won't be mister." I called over my shoulder. Jimmy laughed and ran to keep up. I had long, and if you asked me awkward legs that I had recently grown into. My stride could definitely pass Jimmy's.
I paused at the curb and flagged a taxi. "Where are we going?" I asked. Jimmy pulled a rumpled piece of paper out of his pocket and scanned it quickly. How he saw through his constantly fogged horn rimmed glasses was beyond me. Jimmy sighed. "I have to get pictures at the city cannery." I frowned as I gave the Cabbie the destination. "Wow Jimmy. I'm sure glad that I left the Daily Planet to come with you to the cannery." I said sarcastically. Jimmy shrugged. "I told you where we were going Lois." He got a funny smile. "But like I said earlier, knowing you something adventurous is bound to happen." I rolled my eyes. "Jimmy." I sounded a bit like a reprimanding parent. He held up a hand in surrender. "What?"
I groaned as the cannery rolled into view. The flat, long building stretched down the road. It was a primarily grey paint chipped building and was now in vast disorder. After a decade or so of abandonment, it was clear that the canary had seen better days. "Why do you need pictures of this again?" I asked after Jimmy paid the cab driver and came to stand next to me. Jimmy shrugged. "Something about how chief, erm Perry wanted to show some of Metropolis's history." I nodded. "So, you got stuck taking pictures of something that nobody else cared about." Jimmy laughed.
"That's a meaner way of saying it." But I knew that Jimmy would still treat it with upmost importance. If he wanted to keep taking pictures of stuff like Superman then he would need to ace little things like pictures of canneries as well. Jimmy started to wander around and take pictures, muttering to himself about 'lighting' and the 'rule of thirds'. I on the other hand decided to keep myself occupied with exploring. I ambled around the crumbling buildings, poking and pushing on the old doors. They remained sealed and closed.
"How can I get in?" I quietly asked myself. By now, I couldn't even see Jimmy and thick clouds had moved in. With a sigh I leaned against the wall. No explorer Lois for me apparently. Suddenly, there was a loud crack and the wood behind me gave through.
My arms flailed as I tumbled backwards into the cannery. An old bit of information drifted through my head.
The cannery is actually built underground as well, and the first floor you see above ground is really not the first story.
I shrieked as I fell, once again, towards the bottom floor of the cannery. Above me there was a dull light shining through the roof tops cracks and as the light got further away I couldn't help but think I might have been wrong about not needing Superman. Before I could further expand my thought I felt myself smack onto a concrete ground and blackness covered the roaring pain.