Lois wasted no time in making the calls. It was just after dinner, assuming the families ate at a decent hour. The first number she called nobody was at home. She got the right one on the second try. "I'm looking for the family of Eric Smith, who's been reported missing."
"This is her," the woman said slowly and cautiously as if expecting her to reveal a ransom. She was sure the phone line was tapped.
"My name's Lois Lane. I go to school with your son. His girlfriend is in my sorority."
"Do you know something?"
She could hear the hope in her voice, if only she could give it to her. "No. I wish I did, but I'm writing an article for the school paper to bring campus awareness." It was the first thing to pop in her head as a reason to call. She was sure she could submit an article to the campus newsletter and make it true. "I myself just found out about it, and I think the more people who know, the more leads it might bring for the police."
There was silence. "Ma'am, are you still there?"
"That is such a great idea. I'd be happy to answer any questions. I'm going to be in the city tomorrow. How about we do lunch at Blue Bird's Coffee and Bakery; do you know it?"
"It's a staple here. That'd be great. And I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I know they're doing everything they can to find him."
"And I'm thankful there are people that want to help. Let's say 1:00?"
"1:00 it is. See you tomorrow."
She hung up, and he was staring at her with such focus that it was disconcerting. "What?"
"Nothing, you just seem good with people."
"Ha," she said. "Ask anybody. I'm not."
"You care about what happened to Eric, and his mom sensed that. That's why she agreed to lunch."
She squirmed and glowed at the praise at the same time. Needing a distraction, she pulled the cap off the dry erase marker. It was her roommate's, but she was sure she wouldn't mind. They got along, mostly because they stayed out of each other's way. "Let's go over what we do know. I clocked them as being under the water for half an hour." She wrote 'thirty minutes under water'.
"That's longer than any known record. You sure scuba gear wasn't involved?" He leaned forward as he waited for her answer.
"I'm sure, but that wasn't the weirdest part. They came out of the water and the water evaporated instantly." She wrote 'instant evaporation'. She made a mental note as well that he'd said known record. He knew more than he was telling. She was now sure of it.
"We also know they're fast in the water, breaking records," he added.
"That caught my attention too," she said. "One team has all Olympic level girls on it after a long history of a crappy swim team. That's some good recruiting. Where did they find them?"
"That is the question."
"It's like they stumbled into a town of them. Or there's something they're doing to get powers. Water witches?"
He quirked his head. "Now that's an interesting thought."
"Witches exist, believe me. I'd really like to know where Lori is from. What her family's like, and what she knows about Eric. Things she's never going to tell me."
"You never know until you ask," he said with a shrug. "I'd be willing to talk to her."
"She's not going to talk to me unless it's to throw digs and threats my way. And she didn't seem to take an instant liking to you over dinner either."
"Then who?"
She bit her lip in thought and pulled out her phone. "Maybe she'll talk to Clark." She took a seat on the corner of the bed as she typed.
"I thought he was head over heels for Lori. Why would he help?"
"Because he cares about people. Even people he doesn't know like Eric. He's not going to think she had anything to do with it probably, but he won't be afraid to ask her hard questions."
She texted 'need 2 talk when u get chase.'
Phone back in pocket, she turned her attention back to the handsome man in front of her. "You seem so invested in all this, and don't feed me honeyed lies. I mean I know you're studying marine biology."
"I am also interested in it because of that. And as a future marine biologist, I can tell you that we haven't begun to document all the life below the water. There are places even the best equipment can't go, and it's just such a vast place."
"So you think she could be a water dweller too? My cousin thinks I'm a nut. The only way I could make her think I was crazier was if I told her I believe in extraterrestrials."
"And do you?" he asked with a chuckle.
"Yes," she said with an answering smile and flushed cheeks.
"I think only a brilliantly intelligent person would open themselves up to the possibility of the seemingly impossible. What I think is you're on the right track. Trust what your gut is telling you."
He looked at her as if she were more special than any mermaid or alien. It was intoxicating, and they leaned in for a kiss. His lips were surprisingly dry and a little cool, but she forgot that in the pull of his lips. It didn't last long though as they were interrupted.
She looked up, expecting to see her roommate. She'd hung the scarf on her doorknob, their signal for there was a guy in their room. Why was she ignoring it? Instead, there was Clark standing in the doorway, not looking at all happy at having caught them together.
She pulled away at once and stood up. "Hey, Smallville," she said, trying to sound casual and like she hadn't just been caught making out. She was feeling all kinds of confused. Why was she so embarrassed about this? He was the one who had just barged into her room.