Wow, Laura. Part 9! And another fabulous...and emotion driven part it was.
Okay, umm...
(and about 2 weeks later)
What? I am anxious to find out about Claude and what he has done with Lois's story...the LOUSE!
“What is my final task, Lexy?”
Lexy’s ice blue eyes never left Lois’ as she gave an innocent blink that fooled and hoodwinked all of Metropolis High.
“Why you need to seduce Mr. Kent, that’s what, Lois.”
Lois noticeably paled as the earth rocked around her. “Excuse me?” She meant to sound imperious but her damn voice betrayed her with a shake.
“You heard me, Lois. You’re obviously one of Mr. Kent’s favorites, so in reality, we’re letting you off easy.”
Now as juicy as that sounds, I am praying that Lois comes Clean with Clark. Apparently, Lexy is trying to compromise Clark's integrity...something Lex Luthor would do. I think that Lois is also surprised that someone has figured her out and her feelings for Clark.
“That’s the deal, Lois. Just how badly do you want to be one of us? Enough to compromise your favorite teacher? Though I have to say I think we went a little too easy on you. Who wouldn’t envy your assignment? You’re going to get some mind blowing sex.”
Darn skippy...she would. Now that's one dare that I would take...to seduce Dean...I mean Clark.
The knock echoed loudly and the sound startled Lois. Oh God, had she really knocked? Was she really going to do this? A black purse swung from her arm, though it seemed heavier than it should be with the weight of the camera inside. When the knob turned, she very nearly fled. Lois’ heart beat a rapid tattoo in her chest and sharp pains stabbed her stomach. And then, before she could rethink everything, it was done and Clark Kent stood in the doorway, blinking sleep and surprise out of his eyes.
So, Lois goes to Clark dressed like a hooker. She subconsciously knows that he doesn't go for that type, so maybe he would abruptly redirect her and she could tell Lexy that she was not successful.
“Lois?” His voice was incredulous, his hair mussed. He must have been napping, it was too early for him to have been in bed. She must have stood there quietly for a long while because Clark’s eyes focused and grew more lucid.
“Lois? Are you all right? Is everything okay?”
Oh God, he was acting nice. Why was he doing that? Couldn’t he see she was here to destroy him?
“I’m fine,” Lois said, willing her traitorous voice not to betray her. “It’s cold, can I come in?”
“Oh, um, yes, yes of course.” Clark stepped back to allow her to brush past him. He absently finger combed his hair as he shut the door after her.
“I’m sorry about the mess,” he said a little awkwardly. “I wasn’t expecting any company.”
So, Lois is up to no good and Clark is still being so sincere. He even tells her in so many words that he is alone...in his heart as well as physically.
“Why are you here, Lois? What are you trying to do to me?” His voice broke and Lois’ breath caught in her throat as she caught the desolate expression in his face.
“Do you need me to say it? Is that it? Is that what you want? Do you need to know the truth? To know that I can barely stand to look at myself in the mirror? That I’ve lied to my parents and lied to myself? That I can’t face my memories or come to terms with my future? You’ve vanquished me, Lois Lane and I don’t think you were even trying. I didn’t want to believe you were trying. But here you are, dressed like this,” Clark broke off and then continued, his voice growing stronger with each word. “I’m quitting. How can I work in that place anymore? How can I stand to live here, haunted by these memories? You had better leave. Please go home. I’m so angry I can hardly see straight but that’s not all.”
And Clark thinks that Lois wants to torment him, make him say what he feels when he was probably looking for a reason to tell her how he felt...so that she would know even if they could not act on those feelings.
Clark heaved a sigh, and visibly seemed to calm down. “Lois, since my wife passed away, I haven’t felt anything for anyone. I could hardly allow myself to feel because look at the risk associated with it. I thought if I kept my heart locked away, nothing would ever touch me again. That was a foolish notion. You came into my life and I have to tell you this. As soon as I do, I want you to leave,” Clark’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Please leave after I tell you this. You have nothing to fear from me. I just want you to be safe. I’m packing my belongings. I’m leaving Metropolis and you’ll never see me again. It’s better like this for you. But please, before I go, grant me this one thing.”
Her voice stuck in her throat and her eyes burned, tears stinging the backs of her eyelids. “Anything, Clark.”
“Let me tell you this: I love you. I know it’s so wrong and I regret the burden I’m transferring to you. I regret that, Lois, but I could never bring myself to regret the love in my heart. It’s shameful and vile, but please believe me when I say it’s sincere. I want you to forget me, but please keep the words in your heart and know that they were heartfelt. Let them comfort you when you’re sad. And when you find someone your own age who you can love back, remember them one last time and then forget. Forget me, Lois.”
Then Clark pours his heart out, all the while berating himself for having those feelings. He is so sad and alone.
The tears weren’t staying behind her eyelids any longer. They streamed down her face silently and she could hardly bear to look into Clark’s face. The face of the man she had almost destroyed without another thought in her head. She chanced looking up into his eyes and they seared into her soul, a sad mixture of regret and anguish. She had to tell him the truth, the whole truth. Her job didn’t matter anymore. The kids at school didn’t matter. Lexy, Jill, their ridiculous gang. Nothing mattered.
Nothing except the man in front of her. The man who was offering, no demanding, to uproot his life and destroy his soul and memories for her. The words spilled out of her, and she had no control over their eloquence.
“Clark, I have to tell you something too. And please promise to hear me out. Do you promise that?”
Clark gave a tiny nod, though he seemed a little emotionally burned out. The anger and passion had left his eyes and now they appeared merely soft.
“You have to let me finish. No interrupting?”
“Yes Lois. I promise,” Clark said. His voice when he spoke was ragged.
But, Lois has a secret, too. All of the times that Clark has rescued Lois, she is about to become his savior. Lois is about to save Clark from himself.
“I’m 23 years old. I graduated from college with a journalism degree. When I got here, high school was just the same as I remembered. The cliques. The homework. The conversation. It was all things I could handle. But I didn’t count on you, Clark. You were that bit that never truly fit in with my plans. From the very beginning, I found myself looking forward to your class in a way that didn’t fit with my carefully laid plans. Did you know that your class is the only one I actually did my homework for?” She looked at him, a weak smile on her lips, but Clark’s face was stone. She swallowed nervously and continued. “And by and by, I got closer and closer to the gang. I stole test answers and manufactured fake IDs. I kept up the charade with them, but with you everything was so different. I was a different person around them, but around you, Clark, I was me. It was my outlet for all the stress of having this dual life. I felt connected with you. I don’t know if you can believe me, or if you’re repulsed by me, but Clark, please believe me when I say I love you too. I love you back. I’ve fancied myself in love before, but it’s never been this.”
So, Lois tells Clark that she is in love with him and that she has never felt anything like this...this wonderful before. She can feel their connection.
The words finally stopped. Clark was leaning against the sofa, his face still grayish pale beneath his tan. Finally, after a long while, he spoke. “You’re… oh God. You’re not 17?”
Lois shook her head and watched as an internal war raged in Clark’s mind.
“I—I hardly know what to say.”
Oh, yeah, Clark is definitely relieved.
Clark gave her a small smile. “Give me a minute; this is a lot to take in. I can’t believe this. I…” His expression changed. “It’s still meaningless. I still had feelings for you when I believed you were 17. It’s not right. I still need to go, Lois.”
Lois slapped him across the face. “How can you say that this is meaningless? Yes you had feelings for me when you thought I was younger, but news flash, Clark Kent! I’m not underage. I didn’t act that way around you. I didn’t finish the illusion. I have to wonder if my subconscious didn’t just want you to find out. You fell in love with me, Clark and I fell in love with you. The age thing isn’t an issue anymore.”
“The fact that it was an issue in the first place means something important, Lois,” Clark said, setting his jaw mulishly.
“You’re being so,” Lois sputtered for the right word, “stupid!”
Clark is berating himself again, punishing himself with guilt. Maybe he is asking Lois to tell him that he is not wrong or perverted. Maybe he is asking her to ask him to stay.
Still on edge and nervous, Lois didn’t have the patience for such good-natured teasing. She grabbed his T-shirt and yanked him down to her level. “I’m going to kiss you, Clark Kent, and you better not run away.”
Lois is asking Clark not to leave her, physically or emotionally.
“I’m not going to run,” he said softly. He took her hand and pulled her onto his lap on the couch. “But you have to explain something to me.”
And Clark is answering Lois and telling her that he isn't going to run in either guise...and that he is ready to take the next step.
“And then last night I got my last test. My test was…” Lois broke off and stood. It was just too intimate sitting there. She paced for a moment and finally convinced herself to just say it. “My last test was to seduce you, Clark.”
Okay, I can see Clark's moth hanging open.
He's going to help Lois to pull this off. I just know it. Maybe they will have mind blowing sex, but it'll never leave their room. Together, Lane and Kent...
Oooh, Lois, don't forget to tell Clark about the camera!
Never once did Lois call Clark Mr. Kent and not once did Clark correct her. Humm?
I can see Lex Luthor in Lexy. I have made a connection here and I don't know if anyone else has or not. She comes across as being so sincere except to those who can see through her. She is the leader of a gang who puts her "goons" up to do her dirty work. She has money and connections. She hates Clark because he wouldn't be fooled by her deceit so she tries to discredit him. Am I getting warm here?
Laura, this was...just...breathtaking. I just got so wrapped up in this. Oh man...
~Sheila
Oh, I have to say...I had a crush on our priest growing up. He was young and gorgeous as 90% of Roman Catholic Priests are. I was a teenager. Every Sunday at mass I would just look at how beautiful he was and then condemn myself to hell for it. I often said to my mother when I got older and wouldn't get smacked for it..."Father ***** is such a beautiful man and it's such a waste for women that he cannot get married." And to my surprise she agreed.