October 19, 2015. Monday. 07:34 am.
• • •

A blueberry squished between my teeth and juice oozed as I chomped down on a bowl of fruit as I waited for my coffee to heat up.

The TV hummed lightly in the background recapping news from the night before, not catching anything until a woman appeared on screen in a live feed. Kahina Ziri had lost her family during the attack, and she was one of many spearheading the trial to question Superman.

The attack itself was a few months back that left civilians dead in Khandaq. Superman had entered their airspace, and he was prohibited too. The worst part is that everyone assumes that Superman knew he wasn't allowed.

There's a hearing going on, and I wished not to follow it because watching them tear apart the one man who has saved countless people's lives was unsettling. Though he should be praised, it's wholly justified as of why people are so angry. Just who does he answer to and how does he choose who to save?

Intrigued, I turned the volume up.

"They say that Superman is a hero. Okay, but whose hero?"

"If Superman were here right now, what would you want to say to him?" A reporter asked her.

"That my family, too, had dreams. To look him in his eye and ask him how he decides which lives count. And which ones do not."

• • •
October 19, Monday. 08:50 am.
• • •

When I arrived at The Planet, my purse was slipping off my shoulder threatening to jerk to my elbow violently. I balanced a stack of reports and notes, three coffees from Starbucks in a tray on top of that, and the Danish Lois had requested. When I had called Jimmy on my way in asking if he wanted coffee since I realized I hadn't eaten enough breakfast, I didn't count my small bowl of oats and blueberries; this is not what I had in mind.

Jimmy had raddled off his order only for Lois to step in and say I was 'the greatest for getting her a cherry Danish.' The other two drinks were for Clark and Perry. I was successfully juggling my load and waiting for the elevator tapping my foot in impatience.

"Annie?" Clark looked down at me shocked.

"Oh, hey, Clark," I responded with a smile and an odd head nod. I couldn't do much there were coffee tops glued to my chin.

"Here, let me help," he said taking the tray.

I sighed in relief, "Thank you so much. I was starting to get a strain in my neck," Clark smiled down at me his glasses sliding from his nose only for his long finger to push them back up. He seemed to notice the large stack of folders in my arms but didn't know how to ask about them.

"I'm doing research," I spoke up as the elevator doors opened and we stepped to the back. Dozens of people shuffled in after Clark and us, and I was shoulder to shoulder, well more like shoulder to elbow. He towered over me.

"That's a lot of research,"

"I don't want to disappoint, so I did my homework," I told Clark.

"Doing research is always good, maybe next time only bring in one folder?" Clark joked nudging my elbow.

"Superman's been busy, and I wanted to be thorough." The elevator came to a halt, and the doors slid open.

"So you're who Perry's got to take over the Superman interview," Clark smiled at me. We followed the crowd down the hall, most departing for accounting before we reached our office doors.

"I'm surprised you didn't want to do it, Clark," we stopped at my desk, and he handed me the tray of coffee, "Thank you," He nodded and sat down at his desk across from me.

"I've never been interested in interviewing him," Clark said glancing at his computer screen.

"Oh, I guess some reporters aren't," I placed his cup on the corner of his desk and he smiled and thanked me and told me I didn't have to do that.

"Westmore," Perry barked from his office.

"Duty calls!" And with that, I quickly placed Lois' Danish on her desk and handed Jimmy his latte.

Perry was surprised as I handed him his coffee, "What's this for?" He asked walking back around his desk.

"It's a thank you," I responded sitting down.

"You're Welcome. Now the interview isn't until next week, but I hope you're doing your research," Perry clasped his hands over his distended stomach, and I nodded telling him I have.

"Good. All we need is for you to ask about Superman's recent savings and all the press time he's been getting lately,"

"I thought I was going to be able to ask about the battle three years ago,"

"That's already been covered, Ms. Westmore,"

"Yeah, by Lois two years ago. It's different now. People aren't seeing him in the same light, especially after what happened a few months ago in Khandaq. People are mad, and you saw that one vid, Perry," I rambled off, my hands flying everywhere as I spoke.

"Lois will print out the questions she wants you to ask. Maybe she already has those on there, you never know," Perry told me turning his attention to his email. He glanced up at me when I didn't move.

"I'm dismissed?"

Perry only nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Back in the office, I found Lois at her desk, her fingers clicking loudly against her keyboard.

"Perry said you had typed up some of the questions you were going to ask?"

She pulled away from her computer and picked off the first folder in her stack.

"Everything you need is in there," Lois chirped her eyes snapping back to the screen, and I took that as a sign to leave her alone.

"Thanks for the Coffee, Annie. I'll be sure to treat you next time," Jimmy expressed as he passed me clapping me on the shoulder. I laughed at him and turned my attention to the coffee pot. Settled, I quickly checked my email and saw that I had a message from my mother.

'Hey, Annie!

I know you didn't want me to set you up on another blind date, but I have someone for you. Martha's son works in the big city too, and she said he's in need of a date or two! Like I always do(or don't) I'm not giving you his name so don't ask for it, it adds to the mystery! Martha says he's a catch, but he doesn't know it. So, he's a sensitive hunk who doesn't realize he's a hunk.

She told me a few things about him. He likes to write (look at that-a similar hobby!), and he loves the stars. He's shy but very devoted to those he cares about. Martha showed me a picture of her son after I didn't quite believe that he was a 'catch' (I did that just for you) and he's gorgeous.

You can't back out of this date. I would be so angry if you did. I'll call you later on today with all the details.

Love you'

I rolled my eyes at her email and didn't bother responding. I had too much work to dwell on my mothers wants for her last daughter to get married and have kids before the age of thirty-five. And the dates and 'perfect matches' have been so frequent as of late that I'm honestly getting tired of a man paying for my meal. I sighed and set the thoughts of horrible dates aside and got to work.

Highlighters ready and notepad on hand I dived into my many folders. Most of today was doing research, setting up my questions and finishing all the other small projects I had. I didn't even bother looking at the questions Lois gave me.

• • •
October 19, Monday. 10:35 am.
• • •

"Kent. You're sports today," Perry told him coming out of his office. I took a break from my research to swivel in my chair.

"I want you to go to Gotham, follow up on football. "Underdog Dreams Dashed: Ten Yards Between Gotham and Glory." Oh, um watch yourself over there in Gotham. Don't let them take your lunch money," Perry jokes to a still scribbling Clark.

Clark cast his eyes landing on me, and I suppressed a giggle as he shook his head.

"Hey. Are you guys watching this?" Jenny asked unmuting the tv; all eyes turned to what she was referring to.

On the screen was a reporter standing behind the freshly vandalized Superman monument. City workers could be seen working hard to scrub off the words 'False God' in red letters across the chest of Superman.

"Emergency responders quickly created a precautionary perimeter around Heroes Park while they brought the man down from this beloved monument,"

An angry man with no legs was being carried off by cops and put into a cop car as he struggled in their hold, his voice loud with anger.

"The suspect has been identified as Wallace Vernon Keefe,"

Wallace was yelling that he worked for Bruce Wayne as the cameras zoomed in on him.

"He'll be arraigned on charges of vandalism, resisting arrest, and the felony charge of making terrorist threats. That carries up to forty years in prison,"

"Poor son of a bitch," Perry voiced from his spot at Clark's desk, "Jenny. Headline: "End of Love Affair with Man in the Sky, "question mark."

"Woah, Perry isn't that a bit premature?" I asked.

"You said it yourself, Annie. People aren't happy with him anymore. Maybe it's time he starts answering for his wrongs," Perry replied before doing the rest of his rounds.

When he moved from in front of me, I caught Clark looking at me intently. He seemed lost in thought only for him to tear his eyes away and gather his things for Gotham.

• • •
October 19, Monday. 5:09 pm.
• • •

Now, I was glad to be closing up a bit after five. Usually, I didn't get out of here before eight. Clark was still here, tapping away on his computer. He had returned from Gotham a few hours ago and had been glued to his seat since.

"Clark?"

He glanced up at me as I stood next to his desk, "You're not going home?"

"Not yet, I've got to finish this article,"

I frowned, "You didn't finish it earlier?"

"No, uh, I had to step out,"

"You do that quite a lot, Clark. Stepping out for a girl?" I suggested teasing him.

He blushed and shook his head," None of that," he ducked his head, and my heart swelled, "I don't have many dates,"

I'm not sure why that startled me, but it did. Clark was tall, attractive and looked like he worked out. I could see the way his shoulders and arms fit into his suit. I mean he did have an awkward quality about him. He was always tripping over things, but he was good at heart and a gentleman.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better any woman, I included, would be lucky to have you as their date. You beat out all these pricks any of us have ever dated. I mean, your looks alone are to die for, and your personality is a plus too. Don't worry Clark. Your perfect woman will come along,"

Clark was watching me intently.

And I shifted on my feet. He seemed to be thinking hard about something.

"Clark?"

He blinked, and his cheeks flushed, "Sorry, uh, do you-,"

My phone went off in the middle of his sentence, and I looked at him apologetically before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Are you home yet?"

"Mom? No, I was just about to leave. Why?" I moved away from Clark so I wouldn't annoy him with this phone call.

"Your date! It's tonight at 7, did you not get my other emails?"

"No, I was working,"

"Get back home pronto, missy. You need to get ready,"

I sighed and glanced back at Clark who was watching, a small smirk on his lips, his shoulders were slumped. I mouthed an apology and walked out of the office.

"What do you mean my date's tonight?" I snapped stalking into the elevator.

I hit the ground floor button with a sore thumb and waited for a reply.

"Martha said her son could make it tonight, that's why,"

"Mom, no more, okay? This is it,"

"I'm sure it will be," my mother laughed, "Wait till you see this guy. Call me after your date," She hung up, and I sighed shoving my phone into my purse. The elevator dinged and the doors opened.

Let's get this over with.

• • •

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