It was ten years ago, today. Ten years ago, he had been seventeen, heartbroken, and completely and utterly stupid. Lana's insistence that he needed her more than she needed him had been like acid under his skin, and so he'd opened his mouth and turned the insult into a wager.
Ten years. It had seemed like such a long time. Ten years, and then see who had the better partner, the better relationship, the better life. The outcome seemed obvious.
He was applying for colleges at the time, and had a decent idea of what he wanted to do with his life. He knew what kind of job he wanted. He knew what kind of woman he wanted to marry, even if the identity of his future wife turned out to be a wrong guess. From where he stood, he could just about see the future, with its picket fence and kids playing in the yard with their dog, while Lana remained unpleasable and alone.
But that had been ten years ago.
Two months after that day, he'd woken up a foot above his bed and realized that the future was less predictable than he'd realized. He'd traveled the world. He'd moved to Metropolis. He'd become a celebrity do-gooder with a surprisingly positive reception. He'd done everything except get a girlfriend who could outclass both Lana and whatever sucker she'd gotten to fall for her.
The letter stared up at him from his kitchen table. Her plane would be arriving in two days. She hadn't forgotten the bet, and she still intended to collect.
It would be one thing to come clean about his deepest secret when spaceships were just the stuff of conspiracy theories. If she told anyone, who would even believe her? But now... He eyed the pile of fanmail Superman had gotten just yesterday. Half of it was requests for interviews and movie deals, with some not-inconsiderable incentives attached. And since Lana had been perfectly willing to betray him for free...
Clark shook his head. This wasn't a bet he could afford to lose anymore. He needed help.
***
Lois looked up suspiciously at the offerings being placed on her desk: next to her usual coffee sat a box with a German name stamped on the lid. Her eyes met Clark's. "What's this?"
"It's...I... I need a favor." Clark leaned closer, lowering his voice. "A huge one. If you help me, I will be more than happy to bring you one of these every month for the rest of your life."
She lifted the lid, exposing neat little rows of round chocolates. Most of them were dark to the point of nearly black. When she bit into one, its exquisite bitterness gave way to a burst of creamy sweetness that nearly had her making inappropriate sounds at work. "Wow. Do you need a kidney or something? This is amazing!"
He took a deep breath. "My old girlfriend from high-school is in town, and I need her to think that we're dating."
A sip of coffee went down the wrong pipe. Lois sputtered a bit before staring up at her partner. "Excuse me?!"
Clark winced. "I know it's crazy. I made a stupid bet when we were kids, and...look, I will do anything to make it up to you, but please help me Lois."
"Kent, are you crazy?! As if I would ever..." Her gaze drifted to the chocolates again. One smelled faintly like coffee when she picked it up, and notes of espresso melted on her tongue. "You said one of these every month?"
"Absolutely." Clark had the audacity to look hopeful.
Lois leaned back in her chair, arms crossed as she studied the man in front of her. "What's so important about this bet, anyway?"
Her partner cringed. "Let's just say that it's for something she really can't have, especially now." In spite of her glare, he gave no further information.
With a twinge of regret, Lois pushed the box of insanely wonderful chocolates aside.
His hand came down over the box. "Okay, fine. I bet her my deepest secret, and she knows me well enough that she'll know if I don't actually give it. If I try to go back on our deal, everyone in Smallville will find out that I have something to hide from them. But please trust me when I say that telling her is absolutely not an option."
The complete seriousness in his voice caught Lois off-guard. "Well, come on, Clark, how bad could this secret be? I mean, did you kill a man or something?" She chuckled.
He didn't. "I never killed anyone, no. But this is just as serious, and frankly, I'd rather not tell you either."
Lois gaped at him. "What?! But I thought I was your best friend!"
"You are."
"So what's your secret, then?" She pinned him with another glare.
Clark grimaced. "Lois, please just trust me that it's something that can't ever get out."
"You want me to pretend I'm your girlfriend, though."
He nodded. "Yes. Please."
She looked at the box. She looked at him. "Clark, if I'm going to do this, then..."
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What will Lois demand in return?
Please post your answers below.
