Chapter 14: Unfinished Conversations*

Clark had barely made it a block away from Lana's hotel when the weight of the evening settled heavily on his chest. The encounter with Lana had been more tense than he'd expected. Walking her back to her hotel had stirred up old feelings—ones he thought had long been put to rest. But it was her sudden kiss that had thrown him off balance.

Now, as he walked through the quiet streets of Metropolis, his thoughts circled back to Lois. He needed to tell her the truth about what had happened, no matter how awkward it might be. The last thing he wanted was for something like this to create unnecessary distance between them.

He pulled out his phone and scrolled to Lois's name. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment. *Just be honest, he thought.

Clark: Hey. Are you home safe?

The message sent, and for a few minutes, there was no response. Clark shoved the phone back in his pocket, nerves gnawing at him. His mind raced. *Was she upset? Had something changed?* Before he could spiral further, his phone buzzed.

Lois: Yeah, made it back. Bart tried to talk me into a Monster Truck rally on the way home. Mark it on your calendar, I'm busy on the 25th next month.

Clark couldn't help but smile at her reply, despite the tension lingering in the air. He took a breath and steeled himself. He couldn't keep this from her.

Clark: Good call. Bart can be persistent with that stuff. But I wanted to check in… and tell you something.

There was a brief pause before her reply came.

Lois: Okay… what's up?

Clark's fingers hesitated for a moment. He hated the idea of doing this over text, but he needed to be transparent.

Clark: When I walked Lana back to her hotel, she kissed me.

He watched the three dots appear and disappear multiple times. His heart pounded, unsure of how she'd respond.

Finally, her message popped up.

Lois: Did you kiss her back?

The question hit him hard. He typed his response as quickly as he could, wanting to put her mind at ease.

Clark: No. I didn't. I stopped her right away. I told her I've moved on and that I'm seeing someone else.

There was another pause. The silence stretched out, making Clark's nerves worse.

Lois: Good to know.

Clark exhaled slowly, sensing the tension in her reply. She wasn't outright angry, but something was off. He knew Lois wasn't the type to hold grudges, but the weight of her words still hung between them.

Clark: I didn't want to hide it from you. I care about you too much for that. I wanted to be upfront.

Lois: I appreciate that, Smallville. Really. It's just… I don't know. I guess it's just hard when someone like Lana's around. There's so much history between you two. It's a lot to handle sometimes.

Clark stopped walking, leaning against a nearby building. He could feel the weight of her words, and he hated the idea of Lois feeling like she had to compete with the past.

Clark: There is history, but that's all it is. I don't feel that way about her anymore. I'm with you, Lois. And that's where I want to be.

The pause this time felt longer. He stared at his phone, willing her to believe him.

Lois: I know. It's just… I'm not used to feeling like this. I don't get jealous. But with Lana, it's different. She was a big part of your life, and it makes things more complicated.

Clark's heart sank a little, understanding where she was coming from. He hadn't meant for Lois to feel like she was in competition with someone who wasn't even a factor anymore. He wanted to make sure she knew that.

Clark: I understand. But you don't have to worry about her. What we have... it's different. It's real. I wouldn't be with you if I didn't feel that way.

There was a pause, and then Lois's response came through.

Lois: You sure know how to smooth things over, Smallville.

Clark chuckled softly, some of the tension easing. He could picture the smirk on her face as she typed.

Clark: Just speaking the truth.

Another pause. He waited, unsure if there was more to say. Then her message came again.

Lois: Thanks for checking in. Tonight was... a lot. But I'm glad we're good.

Clark smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. That was what he needed to hear.

Clark: Always.

He was about to put his phone away when it buzzed again.

Lois: Just one more thing...

Clark grinned, leaning against the brick wall, knowing Lois always had a sharp retort up her sleeve.

Lois: Next time, I get to be the one walking away with you. No more surprise kisses from exes. Deal?

Clark smiled at the message, his heart lighter than it had been all night. He typed his final reply.

Clark: Deal

Clark: Sleep well, Lois.

Lois: You too, Clark.

He slipped the phone back into his pocket and started walking again, the city lights of Metropolis glowing softly in the distance. Tonight had been complicated, but Lois had a way of grounding him. Even though their relationship was new and still developing, it felt solid. Strong.

As he made his way back home, Clark felt grateful—grateful for Lois's honesty, for their ability to talk things through, and for the future they were beginning to build together.