Day by day he tried to let his feelings show, but subtly - carefully - never pushing too much, never being more than just a caring best friend.
LOIS:

He just wants to be friends…
Suddenly he remembered. He was supposed to have washed his neck.
Oooh!
What was she thinking now? It would still be there, yet he'd claimed to be going to wash it off.
He could claim it’s like permanent marker?
Returning, less than a minute later, he had fallen into his usual routine whenever a 'bathroom break' was used as an excuse.

Also, photo opportunity!
Considering that she had noticed, but said nothing, and was clearly trying to hide some kind of emotional reaction, she was happy to leave him sporting a blue mark all day. Her respect for him knew no bounds!

He often allowed himself to dream that her friendly manner was concealing a changing heart, but her lack of respect for him was clearer than usual today.
Oooh! This is a completely new approach!

A moment before touching he drew it back, remembering her avoidance at the car, and dropped it, his heart dropping in tandem.
I wonder if she’ll realize. And when Mayson shows up, oh boy

"Didn't you go back at the office before we set off?" she whispered incredulously.
Small bladder?
He stopped, unable to continue. He stared at the line. The mark. Lois' mark.
Really, Clark?
the general public would easily have wild speculations about Superman if he was seen in this manner.
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/midi/verschiedene/b075.gif)
Human nobility is said to be blue blooded. What if Kryptonian nobility has blue…well… /points at There's Something About Mary/
Clark reasoned with himself that there was little chance of the muggers seeing the pen mark. They'd run at the first opportunity.
MUGGERS: Braveheart!

Striding into her kitchen, she yanked open the refrigerator door and reached for a carton of milk.
"Ugh." She let out another frustrated sound once she was done, returning the milk to its home and closing the door.
So…milk gone bad by now?
Lois glanced down at the evidence of her wandering mind. At least she'd managed to check her romantic wanderings at 'Lois' this time, rather than ending up scribbling 'Lois Lane-Kent', or worse 'Lois Kent', all over the page - right when Clark was there to see it.
So…now Clark will think she’s totally self-obsessed?

Making a snap decision, she raced into her bedroom and changed into a dark, comfortable outfit.
Her night work clothes?
Keeping an eye on Lois Lane was a major part of every day for Clark Kent. It was also a major part of every 'patrol' period for Superman.

That's where the two fires had taken place, on two consecutive early mornings.
Thankfully it was late evening, not early morning, or Clark would have been having a panic attack thinking that Lois was hoping to put herself at the heart of a third fire, looking for the front-page exclusive.
What if the fires are meant to clean up the traces of the past night’s activities? That would mean Lois would get right into the middle of it.
He gazed back down at her one last time then told himself that it was time to move on.
Cue ominous music.
It was much too dark to see. Letting go with one hand she tried to reach out into the dark with the other, shining her torch.
/waits for Lois to splash into the cold and dirty harbor waters/
The one hand still holding onto the deck went numb. It slipped. She pitched forward. Closing her eyes she readied herself for the bitter cold of the ocean.
Or maybe she’ll get rescued by a flying alien…
On to the next one!

Michael