Good Night, Lois – Tinkerbell
Lana smiles at me. “I can't believe I’ve found you again.”
She reaches out and squeezes my hand lightly. I take a shaky breath and look at our hands clasped together, her thumb stroking the back of my hand.
Maybe her words wouldn't feel so odd if we'd just met again. But it's been almost three years since we ran into each other on the campus of Midwestern University.
It was good seeing her again, talking to someone who knew my parents, who knew my life before everything fell apart. I enjoyed catching up on things that had happened in Smallville while I was gone. She invited me to stay with her during a visit, and though it was rather painful to return, it also brought me some sense of closure.
With the way she looks at me now, grips my hand a little tighter, her statement is loaded.
“Yeah,” I rasp.
Shifting in my seat, I'm not sure how my dinner invitation has suddenly turned into a date. It was supposed to be a comfortable dinner between two friends in a new city. There are a lot of things to consider when it comes to dating a woman.
I'm not sure I’m there yet.
I wish I could ask Dad for advice.
Sam Lane doesn’t seem like a good choice.
“I'm so glad you moved to Washington with me.” Her heart is beating a little faster, she swallows hard and her breathing is just a tad erratic.
Something is going on here that I didn't see coming. I feel the sudden urge to withdraw my hand from her grip.
She's getting things wrong.
My moving to Washington had little to do with Lana. I was planning on moving to Metropolis and apply for a job at the Daily Planet. But with Sam Lane viewing me as a surrogate son, I decided that it would be better to keep my distance. I wouldn't want to fuel the conflict between Lois’ parents. So when Lana got a job in Washington I merely tagged along, figuring it’d be easier in a new city if I wasn't all alone. Besides, Washington is a good place for a reporter.
It seems though that Lana is reading a lot more into this. And right now she leans in ever so slightly and then waits, as if she's expecting me to close the distance and kiss her. My own heart is pounding in my ears.
The doorbell saves me from having to make a decision.
I flash Lana a sheepish smile. “I guess I should get that.”
Forcing myself not to hurry toward the door, I can't help the surge of relief at the interruption. But my heart soon drops as I realize who's standing outside.
Lois seems small with the large bag slung over her shoulder, almost listing to the side under its weight. A myriad of emotions flash across her face, ranging from fear over sadness to joy at seeing me.
“Clark!” There's a slight hitch to her voice as if she's been crying recently.
“Lois!” Did she come all the way from Metropolis? By herself? “Come in. How did you get here?”
“By bus. Can I stay with you?” Her lower lip quivers.
She drops her bag that gives a thud so heavy I can't help but think she's planning on moving in with me.
“What happened?” I ask her softly.
She gives half a shrug, her lips tight and she slings her arms around me, burying her face against my chest.
“That bad?”
She nods.
Her voice is muffled by fabric. “I thought it would get better now that Mom and Dad are going to divorce.” She pulls back a little and the words just tumble out of her mouth. “But they can't decide with whom Lucy and I are going to stay. Dad said that we should stay with him because Mom is drinking again. But Mom won't have it. She said that Dad already took everything else from her, he's not going to get her kids, too. I couldn't stay there, Clark. Lucy's spending the night with a friend. And I needed one, too. Can I please stay with you?”
“Who is this, Clark?” Lana comes around the corner, frowning.
Great! I completely forgot about her. “Lana, this is Lois. She's…” How do I explain Lois to her? “I used to babysit her when she was younger.”
Lois purses her lips, studying Lana like perhaps one would study an insect, curious, but also with a hint of disgust.
“Lois, this is Lana. She's a childhood friend of mine.” And about to turn us into something more.
I wish Lana weren't here. It's obvious how much Lois needs me right now. Not to mention I feel more comfortable in the presence of this twelve year old girl. If Lois were my age, I wouldn't think twice about starting a relationship with her. But I really shouldn't go down that train of thought.
A forced smile appears on Lana’s face. “How nice of you to visit Clark. Are you and your parents in Washington for a vacation?”
I suck in a sharp breath. “Do Sam and Ellen even know you're here?”
Lois bites her lip, looks down and shakes her head.
“You're here all by yourself?” Lana cries. “Have you lost your mind?”
Lois flinches and I pull her into an embrace.
“Hey, it's okay, kiddo.” I rub her back and hope it will soften the blow. “But I need to tell your father you're here, okay? He’ll be worried sick already.”
“He won't,” Lois mutters.
Lana folds her arms in front of her chest and pulls a face. Our evening is officially over, which would be for the best, if it weren't for Lois. I can't very well bring her back to Metropolis tonight, not without revealing my superhuman abilities.
With a heavy lump in my throat I turn to Lana. “Lois will have to stay the night. I'd be more comfortable if you stayed as well. It’d be better if her Dad knew she's not all alone with a guy. I wouldn't want to give him false ideas.”
Lana purses her lips, but there's a gleam in her eyes betraying her delight at my proposal. I have a feeling I'm going to regret this. She leaves me dangling for appearances sake, but then nods.
I pretty sure I haven't heard the end of this, though.
***
While Lana is in the bathroom I sit down next to Lois on the couch that will be her bed for tonight.
“She doesn't like me very much, huh?” Lois asks.
I heave a sigh. “No, I guess she doesn't.”
“Are you two dating?”
“We're friends, but I think she wants us to be more than that.” Am I really about to discuss my relationship with a twelve year old girl?
“I don't like her, either,” Lois says quietly. “She's a bit like Tinkerbell, don't you think?”
I raise my brows. “What makes you say that?”
“Well, she's clearly jealous of me. And she's mean.”
Well, Lois isn't wrong about that. “She just didn't expect our dinner to end with a houseguest.” I wrap an arm around Lois’ shoulder. “You know how much I love having you here, but you really shouldn't have run away. Your father called the police. He was so relieved to learn you were all right. ”
She leans her head against my shoulder. “I didn't think they would notice. All they ever do is fight.”
“I know it's tough.” I give her shoulder a light squeeze. “And I wish I could promise you that it will be getting better. Perhaps with time their wounds won't be quite as fresh.” From my pocket, I pull out a paper with my new phone number. “Next time you need me, give me a call.”
A smile spreads across her lips and she's holding the paper like a treasure. “Thank you, Clark. You know, I really wish you'd go back to Neverland and not grow older until I'm caught up.”
I place a kiss on her forehead.
Sometimes I wish I could do that, too.
“Good Night, Lois. Sleep well. I'll be right outside camping on the floor of my bedroom.”
“Good Night, Clark.”
Last edited by bakasi; 12/13/24 01:15 AM.
Poor Clark, lol. Nice job capturing Lana's predatory nature with just a few thoughts from Clark!
