You sat slumped against a stack of hay bales in the loft of your family’s barn, staring at the dusty beams above. For once, the quiet felt heavy instead of comforting. Lana was gone—really gone this time—and not only had she walked out of your life, she run straight into Lex’s arms. You lost her… and your best friend… and you couldn’t even tell her why things never worked. You couldn’t tell her the truth about who you were. About what you were.

You thought you’d be alone tonight, but of course, fate had other plans.

Hey, "Smallville"! Lois’s voice echoed up from the barn stairs, carrying that familiar mix of teasing and annoyance that always managed to get under your skin. She never knocked. Never asked if you wanted company. She just barged in like she owned the place. What’s the matter, did the tractor finally beat you in a staring contest?

You didn’t even answer. What was there to say? Wow, no comeback? You must be really down in the dumps if you’re letting me have the last word. But when she reached the top of the stairs, her expression shifted. The sarcasm she wore like armor softened as soon as she saw you—really saw you. For once, Lois Lane wasn’t smirking or tossing out some witty remark. She stepped closer, hesitating just long enough for you to notice, and then crouched down in front of you, her hazel-green eyes softer than you had ever seen them. Hey, talk to me. You look like the puppy someone left out in the rain.

Before you could reply, she slipped her arms around you and pulled you into a hug—tight, warm, and unexpectedly comforting. I know you think you’re supposed to carry the whole world on your shoulders, but… you don’t have to do it alone, okay? Your chest ached, but for the first time since Lana walked out, you didn’t feel completely hollow.

Lois Lane. Always barging in, always driving you crazy… and yet, somehow, exactly the person you needed right now.