Just a little note...this phone conversation between Lois and Paul actually took place with me and a guy of my past, one night while I was at work, in February, 1988. I remember it so vividly, like it was yesterday and though I am past it, I will never forget it. Hopefully, you will be able to get a feeling for Lois' feelings.
Super Friends 5/?
Continued...
Vicky had kept Lois abreast of the happenings between her and Bruce so the wedding came as no surprise to Lois. Lois arrived to Gotham on Thursday before the Saturday wedding. She would have dinner with Bruce, Vicky and Clark that evening, at 7 o’clock.
A dinner party for the four was to be at Wayne Manor, compliments of Alfred. Bruce wanted to meet and get to know Lois, the maid of honour, Vicky’s best friend, and he and Vicky wanted Clark to meet Lois. Vicky had explained to Bruce how relationships had become non-existent with Lois after Paul had broken their engagement. As Lois’ friend, Vicky wanted Lois to be as happy as she was. Clark seemed lonely, too, sort of, in a way. Bruce and Vicky thought that Lois and Clark could do each other some good. Both Clark and Lois were oblivious to the alternative motive that Bruce and Vicky had in mind.
When Lois arrived from the 300 mile drive from Metropolis all she had time to do was take a shower and change. The dinner attire was Sunday dress and she had to hurry. It was still warm in Gotham so Lois chose a Black sleeveless knee length dress with a square neck and a white shadow around the neck. She also donned sheer black pantyhose and black leather pumps. She wore pearls around her neck and matching earrings. Her hair was a dark shoulder length bob, but tonight she would wear it up in a French roll.
After staring at herself in the mirror, Lois thought that she was running late and it would just have to do, but this dress just made her look too fat…and maybe it was her nose…too pointed…that lipstick just didn’t do it… This was an ongoing battle that Lois fought with herself every time she looked in the mirror. Why couldn’t she just be half as pretty as Vicky? Paul had done a number on her.
Lois was a petite dark haired 26 year old, about 5’5” and 105 pounds, and normally outgoing. She was beautiful though she had trouble accepting it due to being previously stripped of her self esteem. She had decided sort of suddenly to move to Gotham after a very emotional relationship dissipated. Lois had been engaged to Paul, a physical therapist. Just three weeks before their wedding Paul had told her that he decided that he didn’t want to marry her. He felt that he should be able to sample ‘the goods’ before buying them. He constantly reminded Lois that there were other women out there who would have sex with him without hesitation.
Lois thought that this would all pass the closer they got to their wedding date but she was wrong.
The fateful phone call came to Lois one night while she was at work. Paul broke off their engagement and told her that she wasn’t really worth waiting for. She had tried to explain to him that she wanted their first time to be special and he had initially agreed to wait for their wedding night. But now he was saying that he would be homicidal if he waited for her and she turned out to be a lousy lay. That phone call haunted Lois almost daily.
“Hello…"
“Lois…”
“Paul, what’s wrong? Don’t worry, everything is going smoothly. The gowns…”
“Lois! There isn’t going to be any wedding.”
“Paul? What are you saying?” Lois said with tears threatening through her voice.
“Lois, I can’t marry you. You obviously don’t love me or you’d show me. You won’t make love to me…”
“But, Paul, I wanted it to be special, you know, on our wedding night…” Lois choked out.
“Well, it wouldn’t have mattered which night it happened if you really loved me,” Paul grated out.
“Paul, I wanted to save myself for…you know…so that…”
“Lois, there are lots of women out there who wouldn’t have to be asked twice…I can have any of them I want. I don’t know what your problem is but they find me attractive enough…”
“Paul, I…”
“Oooh…I know. You think since you’re fat and ugly and should be grateful that I even had any interest in you in the first place, people think the same of me. Well, you’re wrong! The truth is I wasn’t going to marry you in the first place. I just…felt…sorry for you. You see, I don’t have a problem attracting women…right Miriam…”
Lois heard a woman moan in Paul’s background.
“…and don’t think for a minute that someone else is going to bore themselves with you and your ‘I want to save myself’ speech. God, Lois, you’re 26 years old. Grow up!”
“Paul…” Lois started, sobbing.
“Bye, Lois. Oh…Jenny Craig has a special going on.” Then Paul just hung up the phone.
By then the charge nurse had approached Lois and pretty much deducted what had just happened. She just grabbed Lois’ report sheet and told her to go home. Lois did just that without saying another word. The tears told it all. Lois didn’t return to work for a week and when she did, she took frequent breaks to the bathroom to just get her cry out.
Lois had been devastated. The worst part is that she believed Paul‘s insults. She believed that she was fat and ugly.
There had been a time when Lois often thought about maybe trying to get back with Paul and offer a sexual relationship to him. And if Paul had offered to get back with her, she would have readily accepted. That was thinking with her heart. But fortunately her rational mind kicked in and guided her down the more secure path. She decided, then, that she’d never let another man hurt her again. She’d keep her distance.
After eight months, after finding out that Paul had been a jerk all along and had been sleeping around all along, Lois still found herself depressed and crying a lot. She knew that she had to get herself together and start living again. She was just so afraid of getting close to anyone else ever again. She was afraid of getting hurt. A new start is what she needed and Vicky being in Gotham helped to encourage Lois in that direction. So, when Lois was accepted into Gotham University’s Nurse Anaesthesia program, she accepted without hesitation.
After the mental review of that awful phone conversation, Lois reoriented her bearings. She found herself still standing in the mirror looking at herself, but with tears streaming freely down her cheeks. She quickly dried her tears and reapplied her makeup to cover the streaks. This was Vicky’s time and she was going to be happy for her and have a good time.
Lois had gotten directions to Wayne Manor from Vicky, but decided at the last minute that maybe it would be better if she took a cab. She didn‘t want to risk getting lost. Vicky had offered Alfred for Lois’ transportation per Bruce’s suggestion but Lois declined.
The cabby went directly to Wayne Manor. It wasn’t hard to find being a mansion. As they approached, Lois noted that Wayne Manor sat sort of back on a hill in the center of multiple acres, surrounded by a rod iron gate. It seemed almost intimidating. The gate opened. As the cabby drove Lois through the gate the massive structure seemed to become bigger and come to life as they got closer. Lois thought to herself that Vicky must have literally hit the jackpot with this guy. He was rich, in love with Vicky and from his pictures very handsome.
Once the cab reached the foot of the multiple marble steps to the door of Wayne Manor, Lois gathered her hand clutch and proceeded to the door. The door opened as she approached and a very proper Englishman, dressed in a black cutaway styled tuxedo, greeted her then announced her arrival.
“Ms. Lois Lane,” he said as he led her into the dining room.
Bruce whom Lois recognized from pictures that Vicky emailed her and the gorgeous gentleman sitting across from Bruce stood as she arrived. Vicky met her on foot and hugged her, so happy to see her.
“Lois, I’m so glad you came!”
“I wouldn’t have missed my best friend’s wedding for anything.”
“Lois Lane…" Vicky started as she lead Lois by the hand, “…this is Bruce Wayne, my fiancé.” Bruce brought Lois’ hand to his lips and gently kissed it as he abbreviated a bow.
“So nice to finally meet you Lois. I’ve heard a lot of great things about you from Vicky.
“So nice to meet you, too, Bruce,” Lois returned, smiling.
“And this is Bruce’s best friend and best man, Dr. Clark Kent…” Vicky announced as Clark softly kissed Lois’ on her cheek.
“Clark, please, and it’s a pleasure to meet you, Lois,” Clark responded as he released a megawatt smile. Clark pulled a chair out next to him for her to sit. Lois accepted the invitation.
Clark was the most handsome man Lois had ever met and had the most beautiful smile. But chances are he is a jerk in spite of the first impression that Lois got of him. He was educated but not condescending. He seemed confident but not cocky. And he had manners…old manners.
Again, Lois started to daydream of Paul and their breakup. This had all happened 10 months ago and Vicky had been her rock through it all. But now Lois didn’t completely trust and her self esteem was shot…wait, Clark was saying something.
“So, Lois, Vicky tells me that you’re a friend of hers from nursing school. What moves you here to Gotham?” Clark inquired.
“I got accepted into nurse anaesthesia school. And since Vicky asked me to be her maid of honour, I just moved a little early.” Lois responded, smiling but not making eye contact with Clark.
Clark made a mental note that Lois’ smile did not reach her eyes. He wondered what hurt she was harboring deep down inside. Clark thought Lois to be the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He was immediately attracted to her but just couldn’t help but wonder why she seemed so defeated. She was obviously smart and ambitious. If there was such a thing as love at first sight, this was it for him.
“So, Clark, what kind of doctor are you?”
“I’m a veterinarian, second year resident,” Clark responded showing that megawatt smile again.
Lois just smiled in return.
“What about you, what area of nursing do you work in?”
“Pediatrics, mostly ICU, you know the really sick ones. It‘s kind of funny…I always enjoyed the kids and hated adults and Vicky, over there always hated kids and favored adults. To me, kids are just so innocent.”
“Yea, animals are innocent and helpless, too. I really enjoy them,” Clark responded.
Lois got a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach sitting next to Clark. There was just something about him. But her rational judgment kicked in and the fort went on lockdown. She really couldn’t afford to have another relationship in this lifetime, especially with starting anaesthesia school. But there was something…so sincere…so innocent in Clark. He was such a gentleman. But he was probably just like all other men…out to get a quick lay. Some guys used cheap lines, Clark used old manners.
Dinner went well. The four friends talked touched on general conversation, their different careers, and the upcoming nuptials and baby. Clark spent most of his attention on Lois, finding idle conversation to involve her in. Lois felt the favored attention and it frightened her. Lois was careful, wanting to keep distant…she didn’t want to be to disclose too much to this man who was already stirring up emotions in her that she thought were long dead.
Clark noticed Lois mentally distancing and gently touched her hand.
“You, okay?” Clark whispered with concern in his voice.
“Oh…yeai’mfine,” Lois hurried as she snatched her hand from Clark’s touch.
The electricity from Clark’s touch was just too much and Lois found herself jerking her hand away almost scornfully. She didn’t mean to be so…abrasive…but…
Clark thought that he must have really been repulsive to Lois, the way she snatched her hand away from his. Maybe she could tell that he wasn’t human.
Vicky and Bruce witnessed the whole event because the conversation mumble suddenly ceased and there was complete silence. Vicky understood what had just happened and squeezed Bruce’s hand, a subtle gesture she used to imply that she knew what had just happened and would explain later.
Clark felt a need to apologize to Lois, so he started to speak. Lois, at the same time, felt the need to apologize to Clark and started to speak.
“Lois…”
“Clark…”
They both started to laugh at each other. Being the gentleman, Clark said, ‘You first.”
“Clark, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…I was just startled. It’s just been…well…I’m tired, the drive from Metropolis and all. Please, don’t take offense,” Lois said, her eyes pleading for forgiveness.
“None, taken,” Clark assured Lois with a smile. “I shouldn’t have startled you. I just…I was wondering…you just looked preoccupied…I was concerned that…” Clark fumbled, with the deer in the headlights look.
Lois just smiled and patted his hand.
“It’s okay, Clark,“ Lois assured him.
Soon the atmosphere became relaxed again and conversation flowed freely. Before long, the clock struck midnight. Lois realized that she needed to call it a night. She was really having a good time if she were honest with herself and the time just flew by. Clark must have had an idea that Lois was ready to call it an evening because he stood and so did Bruce.
Clark held out his hand to Lois as she stood from her chair. Lois used Clark’s hand as assistance to get up. She looked up at him and smiled.
“Thank you, Clark.”
Clark smiled back at Lois, but then asked, sort of in an unsure way, “Can I drive you home? Or did you drive?”
“No, I didn’t drive, but I can call a taxi. I don’t want you to go out of your way…”
“Lois, you live in the apartment building directly across from the one that Clark lives in and I used to live in,” Vicky interjected.
“Lois, please, don’t call a taxi. I’d love to take you home. I really don’t mind.”
Lois looked over at Vicky for that subtle reassurance. Lois noted a very slight affirmative nod of Vicky’s head, then she smiled.
“Okay, Clark. Thank you. You really don‘t mind?”
“My pleasure,” Clark reassured Lois.
Before Lois could say anything else Clark had placed his suit jacket around her shoulders. He placed his hand in the small of her back and proceeded to the front door with Bruce and Vicky in tow. Lois gave Clark a puzzled look.
“It’s a little chilly outside at night here.” Clark answered her look with a smile.
Clark and Lois said goodnight and proceeded to Clark’s gray Toyota 4Runner. He opened the passenger door for Lois and buckled her in then went around to the driver’s side and got in. They left Wayne Manor.
Bruce and Vicky stood in the doorway of Wayne Manor as they watched Clark and Lois drive off. They looked at each other and smiled, knowingly. They were thinking the same thoughts. With a little nudge this could be the beginning of something wonderful for their friends.
“He loves her,” Bruce stated.
“I know…but she’s gonna fight it.” Vicky responded.
“Why?” Bruce inquired.
“Because of Paul. He really did a number on her.”
tbc...
