Switch-Up

   Lois sat down in her office chair with an unusually happy bounce, spinning the chair around a couple times with glee.
   Clark and Diana looked at each other, each with a raised eyebrow.
   "What's going on?" Clark asked.
   "Oh, nothing," Lois said playfully.  "I just may have landed the greatest story OF MY CAREER—so far—AND managed to get Luthorcorp FINALLY out of Metropolis's hair."
   Diana was a little skeptical.  "...And how did you manage that, exactly?"
   "Your ex, actually.  He found some tracking devices on the planes at the Academy, and we ran some tests.  Turns out they were Luthorcorp designs, and—"
   "Wait a second," Diana interrupted.  "Hal found them?"
   "He was the first one to notice them, yeah."
   Diana frowned.  "...Are you sure he didn't plant them there?"
   "Um... what?"
   "I doubt Hal is working for Luthor," Clark said calmly. "Why would he point out evidence that could potentially get Luthorcorp in trouble?"
   "Yeah, I guess..." Diana said reluctantly.
   Lois narrowed her eyes. "What exactly did he do to gain your spite, Amazon?"
   "He cheated on me."
   "...Oh."
   Lois and Clark sat in awkward silence for a minute before Lois remembered her train of thought.
   "So, anyway, we found out that Luthorcorp's been spying on government projects, and maybe even selling them to foreign countries.  Lucius and I turned over the evidence to the MSCU today, and they're starting up an investigation.  Oh, and I get first dibs on the story."
   "Wow, that's great, Lois!" Clark said. "That could land you a job at the Daily Planet!"
   "Oh, you bet on it, Smallville," she said with a wink.
   Clark's smile suddenly faded.  "Wait a minute... Lois... if your name's on that story, Luthor's going to come after you.  You could be in danger."
   Lois rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know, I've been told that already today.  Look, this is more important than me.  Besides, I'm not afraid of getting hurt."
   Clark put his hand on her shoulder and gave her his "resolute determination" look.
   "You won't be.  I promise."
   Lois couldn't help but sheepishly smile back.  She didn't know what it was, but something about him made her feel... different.  Like the tough persona she always felt the need to put on around others just didn't matter with him.  She felt... like she really mattered to him.  Like she was a princess.  Which was pretty ironic, considering that the other girl in the room was an actual princess.
   Diana regarded the other two with a certain sad realization.
   Lois's phone buzzed.  She flipped it out.
   "What? OH! Right, yeah, I'll be there in ten minutes. Bye."  She hung up and turned back to her friends.  "Sorry guys; I have an appointment at the Sharks Stadium.  Gotta run."
   Lois jumped up and zipped out of the room.
   Diana took a deep breath and sat down in Lois's seat, across from Clark.
   "Hey, um... I think we should talk."
   Clark suddenly felt a little nervous.  "Um... why?"
   She sighed.  "Clark, I... I don't think you should take me to the Christmas Formal."
   Clark was surprised.  "Why?"
   "...I know I was sort of aggressive in asking you out before.  I kind of put you in a bad position, what with Lois watching and everything.  I didn't even ask you if you wanted to come over for dinner and meet my mom; I practically ordered you to."
   Clark didn't want her to feel bad. "Hey, it's okay, I—"
   "No, Clark. It's not okay."  She smiled a little.  "You're just nice."
   Her smile faded a bit.  "Besides... it's pretty obvious that I'm not the one you really need to be with right now."
   Clark shook his head.  "Diana, I already promised that I'd go with you."
   "And I'm letting you go from that promise."
   She looked deep into his eyes. "You're meant to be with Lois, not me."
   Clark should have been happy to hear that, but he was concerned for his friend.
   "But what about you? Who are you gonna go with?"
   A gush of wind blasted through the room, and Diana suddenly felt someone leaning on her shoulder.  She looked up to see Bart, jokingly winking at her.
   "NO," she said adamantly, and shoved him across the room.