Hello! You may have seen and/or contributed to the #Creators4Comics auction that war-time general Kami Garcia recruited me, Sam Humphries, Brian Michael Bendis, and Phil Jimenez to run, benefitting the Book Industry Charitable Foundation, which is providing direct aid to comic shops and independent bookstores and their employees who’ve been hit hard by COVID-19. It was successful beyond our wildest imaginings, because the book and comics communities made it that way. The auction is over and we’ll be releasing more about that EXTREMELY soon, but you can still donate right here.
As one of my own auctions, I offered a set of my Lois Lane series, along with the outline I did for a potential book four. I also offered to write a new Lois and Clark chat scene–the first one after the end of book three–if we hit a certain number. The generous Michele Tepper hit that number and has given me permission to share that scene here.
IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BOOK THREE, THERE ARE SPOILERS. If you liked the first books, I think you’ll love book three, by the way. I layered it with delights for the reader.
Haven’t read any of them? You could pick up the series from Bookshop.org and help benefit indie bookstores at the same time!
And now for the extra scene! Which is complete fan service and I had a blast writing it and so thank you to Michele for giving me an excuse to revisit these two. And…again SPOILERS FOR BOOK THREE.
Lois and Clark Extra! Extra!
I shut my bedroom door, more out of habit than secrecy. Not that I want anyone in my family watching me making swoony expressions at my computer. They tease me enough about Clark already as it is.
Clark. Just his name sends a tingle down my spine all the way to the ends of my fingertips as I type in my ridiculously long password to join him in chat.
It’s been four days since he and his parents headed home from Metropolis—they had to get back to the farm. And these four days have been excruciatingly long, since we haven’t been able to do more than exchange quick messages. I wouldn’t want Nellie the cow to be lonely, but I do wish I’d had more time in person with my SmallvilleGuy.
But I’ll take our usual long-distance happily.
There it is, I’m already grinning a ridiculous grin at my screen. Good call on the closed door.
The cursor blinks beside my handle as I wait.
His username pops up just as the clock in the corner of the screen hits 10 p.m.
SmallvilleGuy: Hi.
SkepticGirl1: Hi.
So… I guess we’re both feeling a little shy. I scrunch my nose up and try to think of something normal to say. I settle on the safest of our usual topics. Our messages appear at the exact same time.
SmallvilleGuy: You’ll be glad to know that Nellie is fine. I snuck her a treat in your honor.
SkepticGirl1: How’s Nellie?
Jinx.
I shake my head, smiling.
“Rest of the trip go okay?” I type.
SmallvilleGuy: Just long. No more roadside attractions, at least.
We sit in a word-free silence for a moment.
SmallvilleGuy: I miss you already.
I melt into a puddle as quick as an ice cream cone on a sunny day. Great, now I want ice cream.
SkepticGirl1: You do?
SmallvilleGuy: I was wondering… I talked to my folks and… I’m a little nervous about asking.
The truth hit me right then.
SkepticGirl1: WE ARE IDIOTS!!!
SmallvilleGuy: Uh, we are? I just wanted to…
My fingers fly across the keys.
SkepticGirl1: Yes, we are. SUCH IDIOTS.
SmallvilleGuy: Lois…why are we idiots?
SkepticGirl1: I’ll show you why.
SmallvilleGuy: Um, okay.
I fumble around my desk and find my phone, and scroll down to his name. I press it. Clark Kent.
He picks up on the second ring.
“Hi,” he says.
“Hi,” I say.
We’re so good at being awkward we could medal in it.
“So, you were right,” he says. “As usual.”
“What do you mean?” I love hearing I’m right almost as much as being able to hear his voice. We can talk to each other now. We know each other now. In real life.
“We are idiots,” he says and laughs.
The best sound in the entire world.
“What did you want to ask me?”
Clark hesitates. Then, “I’m still nervous. But okay. So I asked my parents, and they said that even though we can’t come back to Metropolis so soon…that, well, if you were taking a summer vacation, you guys could come here. To Smallville.”
I don’t want to be overly dramatic, but my heart basically explodes in my chest.
“I can meet Nellie?! And her baby cow!”
“Um, yeah. Is that a yes, you might talk to your parents about it?” The relief in his voice is clear.
“Clark,” I say and press the phone closer to my cheek, to feel as near to him as possible, “I miss you too. It’s a yes.”
I’m going to Smallville. And once I get there, I’m finally going to learn all Clark’s secrets.
Swoooon!!!
Thank you Gwenda!!