Chapter 3

Clark pulls out his keys and inserts the key into the lock, then turns the doorknob and enters his apartment. He locks the door behind him, then walks over to the couch. He sits down and pulls out the mail that he had stuck in his jacket pocket. He's about to open the first envelope when there's a knock at the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me, C.K."

"I'll be right there," he calls out to him; tossing the mail onto the coffee table and then walking back over to the door and opening it. "Hey, Jimmy," holding the door open so he could come in. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd check up on you before I went over to Chloe's," he remarks as he sits down on one of the stools in front of the kitchen counter.

"First off, I'm fine," closing the door. "Second, why are you going to Chloe's? I thought the two of you broke up a long time ago?"

"Just because it didn't work out romantically doesn't mean we couldn't be friends?" arching an eyebrow.

"I guess that's true," walking over to the refrigerator. "Want a beer?" opening the door.

"Sure," Jimmy replies. "Do you have any Miller Light?"

"Of course I do," pulling out a couple bottles. "Here you go," handing one to him and popping off the cap of the other.

"Thanks," twisting the cap off and taking a gulp. "So are you sure you're okay?"

"Why do you keep asking me that?" sitting back down on the couch with his beer.

"Well, considering that your ex-girlfriend was murdered today, I figured that maybe you would want to talk about it," Jimmy replies.

"I really don't want to talk about her," taking another swig of beer.

"It's not healthy for you to keep your feelings about Lana bottled up inside," walking over to the couch and sitting down next to Clark.

"I am perfectly aware of my feelings about her," he retorts.

"I don't think you are," says Jimmy as he places the bottle on the coffee table.

"Could you at least use a coaster?" sliding one under the bottle.

"You really are your mother's son," chuckling a little.

"That's right," finishing off his beer and tossing it across the room.

"Don't you recycle?" watching as the bottle flies through the air and lands in the garbage.

"Ehh," shrugging his shoulders.

Jimmy just shakes his head as he picks up his bottle again and takes another sip. "Alright, so you don't want to talk about Lana. What do you want to talk about?"

"I don't know," leaning back against the couch. "You pick something."

"Alright," putting the bottle back down. "I was listening to the news on my way over here and they were announcing the inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."

"Really?" his ears perking up. "Did they finally get in?"

"Nope. Sorry," laying his hand on Clark's shoulder.

"Son of a b*tch!" slamming his fist on the coffee table. "It's bad enough that I had to miss their concert tonight, but now this? It is such a slap in the face."

"I know," Jimmy replies. "You have to look at the bright side."

"What bright side?" glaring at Jimmy.

"If they were inducted, would they even attend the ceremony?"

Clark stares at Jimmy. "You know something? You're absolutely right. They're way too cool to show up."

"That's right," smiling at Clark. "They do make the music of the universe after all - right?" a twinkle in his eyes.

"You better believe it," grinning back at him. "So who are the inductees anyway?"

"I don't remember all of them, but I do know that Alice Cooper and Neil Diamond were on the list."

"Alice Cooper? Not bad. As for Neil Diamond, well, I guess he's okay. I like his song Solitary Man."

"Me too," Jimmy replies while pulling out his phone. "It's Chloe," reading the text message. "She called an order in for a pizza and I have to pick it up," standing up.

"Don't they deliver?" asks Clark.

"Apparently not today because their delivery truck broke down," walking over to the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," walking over to the door and opening it. "I appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. Okay?"

"Okay," stepping through the doorway. "If you change your mind-"

"I'll call you," holding the door open. "Good night, Jimmy."

"Good night, C.K." winking at him as he walks away.

He starts to close the door when an arm suddenly appears. "Lois," a frown on his face as she pushes the door open and steps inside the apartment. "What do youwant?" closing the door and leaning back against it.

"I thought that maybe we could just hang out for awhile," plopping down on the couch and flipping off her shoes.

"Since when do you want to just hang out?" his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Since now," unzipping her jacket and taking it off. "How about we order a pizza and watch a movie?"

"I don't feel like watching a movie - nor do I feel like having a pizza," he snaps.

"So what do you feel like doing?" she asks.

"I don't know, but I certainly don't feel like talking right now," opening the door yet again.

She walks over to him and rests her hands on both sides of him on the door. "I'll do the talking," her lips dangerously close to his.

"You're invading my personal space right now," gulping thickly while trying to get off the subject.

"I am, huh?" coming even closer.

"Yes," he replies firmly.

"I'm going to stay right here until you talk to me about what's bothering you."

"Nothing's bothering me," his arms crossed against his chest.

"What about Lana?"

"Not you too," rolling his eyes. "Jimmy was just here. He thinks that I bottle up my feelings."

"That's true," she remarks. "You've been bottling them up ever since you and Lana broke up. I've never seen that back up on you. Don't you have any feelings of loss?"

"Nope," ducking under her arms and walking back towards the kitchen.

"You are such a liar," following him.

"Think what you want," pulling out another bottle of beer. "You want one?"

"Sure," she replies.

"Get it yourself," a smirk on his face as he goes back into the living room and sits down in his dad's old recliner.

"You really are an arrogant son of a b*tch sometimes," a frown on her face as she grabs a bottle and sits back down on the couch.

"Takes one to know one," he quips as he turns the television on.

"You've suffered a loss today, so I'm going to let that one go - for now," twisting the cap off.

"Whatever," flipping the channels.

She reaches out and swipes him on the back of the head. "What the hell is with you anyway?"

"You really want to know?" getting up and staring down at her. "I just want to be left alone tonight. I'm not in the mood for talking - so can you please leave?" getting up from the couch and holding the door open.

"Fine," slipping her feet into her shoes and putting her jacket back on. "When you're ready to talk-"

"Yeah, yeah, I know where you are."

She just shakes her head as she walks over to where he's standing. "Sooner or later, you're going to want to talk about it - and when you do, I'll forget that you acted like an ass tonight," leaning forward and pressing her lips against his cheek.

He looks at her with surprise. "Why did you do that?"

"Believe it or not, you're my friend and I care about you. That's why," giving a small wink before leaving the apartment.

He closes the door and leans back against it. His hand reaches up to touch the spot on his cheek where she kissed him; unaware of the smile that slowly appears on his face.

TO BE CONTINUED…