XYK
Chapter 22- "Yawn"
Lois walked around the Cascade ballroom, the turnout had been amazing. She mingled with press, new staff and associates, as well as occasionally posing for the odd photo. On the horizon she could see Lex doing the same; only his repertoire involved much more flirtation. Lois shook her head knowingly and smiled to herself. She declined an hor d'oeuvre offered to her to by the catering staff. She couldn't eat, she was too nervous. Before tonight the magazine had just been a concept, now it was palpable and she was running the show. Lois made a few rounds of the room until she came across a familiar sight that took her breath away.
There stood Clark, looking devilishly handsome in a made to measure tuxedo that she'd never seen before. Lois couldn't help but stare, he was beautiful. And so beautifully unaware of all the women watching him, silently wishing that he was their date.
He was standing by himself reading a mock first edition of the 'Lane' magazine. He wasn't aware of Lois watching him; he was far too engrossed in the mock up. Lois's heart skipped a beat, she didn't want to admit it to herself but she had hoped he'd come, and there he was, probably under some kind of reporter duress if she knew Perry White ,but that didn't matter, not tonight. Lois smiled a wide toothy uncontrollable smile.
She hadn't noticed she was staring in his direction until she heard a loud cough rubbing on her sub conscience and knocking her out of her reverie. Lois turned to see who was vying for her attention; it was Chloe holding two flutes of champagne. She handed one to Lois and took a sip from the other.
"You've done good, Cuz."Chloe smiled good naturedly.
Lois smiled at her cousin. "Thanks." They hadn't addressed their last arguments, but instead had opted for stilted pleasantries. "I'm glad you could make it tonight."
"I'm your cousin and I love you. I'll always support you" Chloe lowered her voice "Doesn't mean that I'll always understand, and I think Lex Luthor is a bona fide cretin..." Chloe shuddered, then took another sip of wine. "Is that Suzanne Chin from Marie Claire?"
Lois looked over and nodded.
"I loved her piece on Date rape last month. I'm going to go and talk to her. Do you mind?"
Lois shook her head "No.." Lois watched her cousin go over to Suzanne Chin and introduce herself.
Clark looked up and spotted Lois. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity. Lois didn't know whether to wave or look away. Instead she settled for a small nod of acknowledgement, Clark followed suite and did the same.
Clark was almost knocked out from the sight of her. She seemed to shimmer in her sparkling strapless red dress, and crimson lipstick. She took his breath away. Was it possible that he'd forgotten how beautiful Lois Lane was? No. But it hurt to have a devastating reminder.
Clark was knocked out of his thoughts by a soft hand on his elbow. Diana Prince had arrived and joined his side.
From across the room Lois felt her stomach drop and bile begin to rise in the back of her throat. She looked away and summoned the drive to make small talk with some east coast PR agents.
Clark turned to Diana.
"Sorry I'm late." She apologised. "You would not believe the traffic."
"When in Rome..."Clark joked, alluding to a conversation they'd had on the night of the first fire.
Diana's eyes twinkled with recognition "Exactly."
Diana stepped back and let Clark appraise her choice of outfit. The baby blue silk, short sleeved dress matched her eyes and made for an attractive sight. Her hair was in an chignon and in her ears, she wore aquamarine studs.
"You look absolutely amazing." Clark said sincerely.
Diana lit up like a Christmas tree. "Thank you."She blushed slightly. "I hoped you'd like it."
From the corner of the packed ballroom Lois tried to watched the two from the corner of her eyes, Lois couldn't believe that he had brought a date, on her territory. She was seething with anger. The ink was still wet on their divorce petition. Lois downed the rest of her champagne and grabbed another one from a passing waiter. She downed it in one gulp. "Excuse me." She said to the PR agents and exited to the balcony. Where she stood looking out at Metropolis's sprawling night skyline, praying to God to keep her anger in check and for the will to not break down.
"I'll go get us some drinks." Clark said to Diana.
Diana picked up a magazine mock up "Sure." She smiled.
"You brought a date?" Chloe asked incredulously. Slowly saddling up to her best friend at the bar.
"It's nice to see you too,Chlo." Clark said
Chloe either didn't hear his statement or just chose to ignore it because she asked her question again. "You brought a date?"
"No Chlo- I brought my friend who just happened to be free tonight."
Chloe looked over at Diana Prince who was now in deep conversation with another guest "Well, it looks like a date to me."
"Well, it's not."Clark said through clenched teeth.
Chloe looked up at him and tilted her head towards Diana "Does she know that?"
Clark ignored Chloe's question. "How long are you back for?"
Chloe shook her head but answered his question anyway. "Three whole days."
Diana came over to join the old friends, Chloe cordially extended her hand"Lovely to meet you." The two women exchanged smiles and shook hands.
Diana suddenly looked distracted. Clark could tell that she was tuning into below frequency sound waves,so low that even he couldn't hear them.
"An emergency?" Clark whispered.
Diana nodded. "I should go,I'm needed."
"Let's do this." Clark said,ready to adjust into superhero mode.
Diana put her arm out to stop Clark. "You're at work,I can handle this one on my own."
"Are you sure?" Clark gently touched her arm.
"Yes."Diana smiled,pecked Clark on the cheek then hurried out of the ballrooms entrance without looking back.
As the night wound down, Chloe decided that she could no longer fight the jetlag and needed to retire to her hotel room but promised Lois that they'd meet up for brunch in the morning.
Lex had also disappeared. You didn't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that he'd probably disappeared to some luxury suite with one of the models floating about.
At the back of the ballroom was a 6ft mock up of 'Lane's' first front cover, everybody had been invited to sign it. Clark hadn't had the chance earlier but he figured he should before he left.
The Initial front cover had five very different women, ranging from 25-40 years old. Each was a different race, religion and creed but all were united by their seeming intelligence, vivaciousness, successfulness and joie de vivre-everything Lois wanted the magazine to depict. In bold white letters read 'Lane'.
Clark smiled. He liked the name of the new magazine, it made sense. It had Lois written all it. He spotted Lois standing nearby chatting to a petite raven haired beauty.
"...Well its good luck. You have to keep it, Lois." The young woman said "It's your first front cover. Plus everyone's signed it."
"Oh...But it's huge." Lois said. "I have no idea how I'm going to get this thing home, or where I'd put it once I got it there. Besides I came by cab..."
"I can help." Clark stepped forward "I have my truck with me."
Lois looked up at Clark, surprised, she hadn't realised that he was still floating around. She'd seen Diana leave in a hurry on what was most likely some Superhero business and assumed that he'd followed, "I wouldn't want you to go out of your way."
"It's not." He lifted the miniature billboard mock up of Lane magazines front cover and manoeuvred past the last of the viewing parties' guests. Lois had no choice but to follow him through the lobby, down the stairs to the underground parking. Clark opened his truck and positioned the billboard.
"It fits."Lois said with a smile.
Clark didn't say anything but went over to the passenger side of his car and held the door open for Lois. He was a gentleman, right up until the end, something Lois had always loved about him.
"I don't know your address," Clark lied "you'll have to direct me."Clark added,strapping his seat belt on.
No effort was made on either part to make conversation,except for Lois's directions. Once at her apartment building,Lois lead the way until they reached her door. She opened up and side stepped,allowing Clark in first.
"Where do you want it?"
Lois put her keys down. "Just lean it against the wall, thanks."
Clark did as he was told. Once he had put the huge board down he realised that there was nothing to hide behind and the awkwardness set in. He looked around Lois's apartment. He was impressed; it was nothing like what had been theirs. The decor was all white, stilted –classy but cold.
So unlike Lois,he thought.
At the thought of him leaving, something compelled Lois to stop him. "Would you like a coffee?"
Clark was uncertain, he made a face.
"C'mon , it's the least I can do. You saved me from a lot of hassle tonight."
Deep down he had known that he hadn't wanted to leave. Despite his unfamiliar surroundings, Lois still felt like home to him. "Sure."
After coffees were made, the two sat and drank them in awkward conversations about Durga's wellbeing, and the sound of Lois blowing over the hot coffee to cool it down. Once drank, Lois yawned and reclined in her seat,it had been one hell of a day and finally the adrenaline was lowering. She slowly closed her eyes letting sleep claim her. Clark watched her, he reprimanded himself for not leaving but something magnetic held him to the spot he was seated in, and before he knew it, he too had reclined in his seat and was slowly closing his eyes.
TBC.
NB: Reviews, comments and feedback are very much appreciated.