XYK
Chapter 20- "Pretty young thing (P.Y.T)".
Today was Lois's birthday. That was the thought that occurred to Clark the moment he woke up.35 years old today! He hadn't wanted to acknowledge the day but he couldn't help it, laying in their bed his mind drifted back to last year. He'd woken her up with slow kisses starting at her thighs and slowly working his way up, until-. Clark immediately shook the memories away and headed to the shower, whilst in there he heard a knock at the front door. Dripping wet he wrapped a towel around his waist.
"Sign here please." The courier said, thrusting a clip board and pen at Clark.
Clark signed, closed his door and held the big brown envelope in his hand; he knew instinctively what lay inside. His guts dropped as he tore the top off of the envelope and turned the papers over. At the top of the first page read the words 'petition for divorce.'
X-O-X-O-X-O-X
Lana held out a pink cupcake with a yellow candle in the middle. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you..."She sang loudly, standing outside Lois's new apartment. Lois held the door wide open, leant over and blew the candle out.
"Thanks."She hugged Lana and pecked her on the cheek. Lana handed Lois the cupcake, and smiled as Lois took a bite.
Lana put down her travel bag and appraised the apartment "Not too shabby....Not too shabby at all.."
"I'm glad you like it." Lois said, pleased. "I couldn't stay with kat forever."
Lana looked over at the huge bunch of exotic flowers on Lois's mantle piece.
"They're from Lucy."Lois said, following her friends gaze "She couldn't make it back from Sweden."
Lana took off her jacket, hung it up and asked, "How are you holding up?"
"Michael Jackson's dead! How do you think I'm holding up?" Lois said seriously.
Lana shook her head, Lois knew full well Lana hadn't been alluding to that "Well, we're all trying to cope with the loss, but I meant about your current situation."
Lois shrugged "Life goes on..." and finished the last of her cupcake.
Lana nodded.
"Where are Pete and the baby?" Lois asked going into the kitchen to get some wine glasses.
"The baby is with Nell this weekend and Pete sends his apologies, but he's working on his campaign and can't get time off..."
"Bummer." Lois put the glasses down on the coffee table.
"Yeah, but in situations such as these, there's only ever one thing to do!"Lana said, hands on hips and a mischievous smile.
"What's that?"
"D-A-N-C-E..." said Lana reaching into her bag and pulling out a bundle of Michael Jackson and Jackson 5 CDs "I say we start with 'ABC' and then see where the mood takes us."
Lois clapped her hands together and squealed excitedly.
X-O-X-O-X-O-X
Clark sat fully dressed staring at the papers. He had read them, re- read them, and then read them once more for good measure. Lois's requests were highly reasonable and rational, almost clinical, and for some unknown reason it made Clark angry. In anger Clark picked up a pen and put it to the dotted line, he so wanted to sign it and be done with, he took a deep breath but the sound coming from the TV stopped him, he put his pen 1 were playing Tribute videos, and currently "Never can say goodbye." By The Jackson 5 was playing.
"I keep thinkin that our problems
Soon are all gonna work out
But there's that same unhappy feeling and there's that anguish, there's that
doubt
It's the same old did ya hang up
Can't do with you or without
Tell me why
Is it so
Don't wanna let you go..."
Clark stopped thinking and let the lyrics wash over him. The resonance was crippling, it was as though The Jackson 5 were singing to him, about him.
"...I can never can say goodbye girl
(never can say goodbye girl)
ou ou baby
(don't wanna let you go girl)
I never can say goodbye
no no no no no no no no no no no..."
Clark reached for the remote control and switched off the TV set.
X-O-X-O-X-O-X
Pete could hear the beat of 'Dancing machine ' down the phone line, "What are you doing?" Pete asked.
"Watching Lois do the White girl shuffle!" yelled Lana over the music and into her cell phone.
Lois stuck her tongue out "I could have been on Soul Train!"
Lana made a face and laughed "Hmmm mmhm."
Pete laughed "Are you guys drunk?"
Lana yelled over at Lois "Are we drunk?"
Still swaying from side to side, Lois took a sip of her glass of wine "Not yet!"
Pete laughed "Ok, you ladies have fun. Tell Lois I said Happy Birthday."
" Love you."
"Love you too, see you Tuesday."Pete said as he hung up.
Lana put her cell phone down and got up to change the song. "I'm taking requests, Birthday girl!"
"P.Y.T,Please!" Lois said full of glee.
"Good choice."Lana changed the song, stood up and kicked off her shoes "Let me show you how it's really done."
Lois ran into her bedroom and grabbed what appeared to be a hairbrush and a pair of curling tongs; she handed the tongs to Lana and kept the hairbrush for herself "I want to love you!" Lois sang into her makeshift microphone .
"P.Y.T, PRETTY YOUNG THING!..." Lois and Lana bumped and two stepped all the while singing along and laughing.
"You Know Billie Jean has to be next."Lana said twirling around. As the song finished the two collapsed laughing.
"Thanks for this."Lois looked into her friends eyes.
"You're my friend, Lois."Lana smiled "I would never let you spend your birthday alone."
"It not just that..."Lois said, before relaying the events of the past couple of weeks, culminating in yesterday at the hospital.
Lana listened intently "So what did you do once you saw them with the baby?"
Lois bit her lip. "Nothing.I left.I don't even think they noticed me."
"Wonder Woman, huh?" Lana asked "I never liked her."
Lois looked down and swallowed hard "What do I care anyway. Before you know it Clark and l will be free agents..."
Lana looked disbelievingly at Lois "Once more with feeling."
"I know the whole dance to Thriller." Lois jumped up, eager to shake off the overwhelming sadness and change the subject.
Just then there was a knock on the front door. Lois reached for the HiFi remote and turned the music down; she got up and straightened her clothes out, then raced to the door. She opened it to find a courier standing at the door smacking gum. "Lois Lane?"
"Yes."Lois replied
The courier thrust a clipboard into Lois's expectant arms and handed her a pen. Lois signed on the dotted line, and watched as the courier handed her what appeared to be a gift bag. Lois closed the door and set the bag down.
"Who's that from?" Lana asked, getting up to stand besides her friend.
Lois just shrugged.
Clark. She'd wanted to say but didn't want to give voice to her optimism. Lois opened the gift bag and grabbed the white card. She read it out loud.
Happy Birthday, Lois. Prepare to embark on the greatest adventure of your life.-Lex.
Lois shook away her disappointment and reached into the box again and pulled out what appeared to be a turquoise Tiffany box. She opened the box and was almost blinded by the light and deafened by Lana's ecstatic squeal. There lay an expensive diamond necklace. Lois immediately shut the box and took a breath.
"That must have cost a huge chunk of change!" Lana exclaimed grabbing at the box.
"Tell me about it." Lois let Lana admire the gift for a few moments then took the box back "I can't accept this. It's too extravagant."
At precisely that moment the phone began to ring. Lois answered. "Hello?"
"It's Lex."
Lois looked over at Lana. Lana immediately grabbed the phone and put it on loudspeaker.
"What are you doing tonight?"
Lois twirled the phone cord "Just hanging with a friend, drinking wine and dancing to Michael Jackson's entire back catalogue."
"Sounds like fun."Lex chuckled "I'd love to take you both out to dinner to celebrate your birthday."
"Umm...I don't think.." Lois began
"We'd Love too."Lana said stepping forward, she looked at Lois and shrugged.
If Lex was surprised at being put on loudspeaker or the presence of another person in their conversation, he certainly didn't show it.
"Settled. I'll pick you up in an hour." He said.
Lois fake scowled at Lana who was now laughing whilst mouthing 'sorry' at her friend.
"Oh and Lois..." Lex said "...wear the necklace."
X-O-X-O-X-O-X
Clark had deliberated over the papers for a good long while. His chest hurt. If he was being honest with himself this was not what he wanted. In his mind's eye he replayed all the events that had led up to this moment, the moment in which he had come close to signing divorce paper from the only woman he had ever truly loved. The only woman he loved right now. Clark put his pen down and took a deep breath. He quickly grabbed his coat and left the quiet apartment, he had to see Lois one last time, just to let her know that he was prepared to fight for her, for them...
Clark rounded the corner of Lois's apartment. En route he had begged Pete to tell him Lois's new address. As he reached her floor he saw a familiar face. The face of his arch nemesis-Lex Luthor. Clark stopped in the shadows and watched Lois, who was dressed in a figure hugging couture dress and diamonds, lay a soft kiss on Lex's cheek, and then hug him. She stepped back and invited him into the apartment.
Clark couldn't believe what he was seeing and couldn't feel past the pain. He turned around, completely dejected and made his way home. Once inside his apartment he went over to the table, where familiar papers and a blue biro pen lay.
In one fell swoop Clark signed all four sheets of the divorce petition and immediately sealed the envelope. It was officially over.
Clark picked up his phone. "Hey Diana, wanna have dinner tomorrow?"If Lois could move on so soon, then so could he.
TBC
NB: Reviews, comments and feedback are very much appreciated.