╔═══ . ݁✶⋆.˚𖥔 ܁ ˖🪐. ☽˚.⋆✶ ݁. ═══╗
ALL THE SMALL THINGS

"She allowed herself to shine without
the desire to be seen." —Unknown
╚═══ . ݁✶⋆.˚𖥔 ܁ ˖🪐. ☽˚.⋆✶ ݁. ═══╝

BEVERLY was starting to regret most of her choices and it was only half past ten in the morning. And what was worse was that it was Wednesday, halfway through the week. If only she could get to the weekend without needing to go crazy, it would do wonders for her sanity. If there's one thing she hates more than anything, it's being late for anything she considers extremely important. To her, it demonstrated disorganization, procrastination, inconsideration, unreliability, and a lack of responsibility.

None of which reflected Beverly Pierce.

Despite self-proclaiming herself to be a normal, sanely organized individual, nothing could have prepared her for the massive hangover she was currently enduring. Fortunately, Beverly was clever enough to leave the Naproxen Extra Strength pill specifically on the bedside table. Silently popping it in her mouth and drowning it with a bottle of water she found nearby. Maybe if it weren't for last night's party, which by some miracle, she managed to stay sober until crashing out in her bed.

Oh, right... Today's New Year's Day. New Year, New Me. Or was it new resolutions– whatever the saying goes.

Not to mention, it was also her birthday. Beverly couldn't differentiate whether having a birthday on a holiday was a blessing or a curse. Yet it wasn't long until the alarms she's been snoozing for the past half hour finally brought her to a state of half-consciousness. Beverly only wished now she hadn't drunk too much champagne since the fatigue was blurring her senses. Nonetheless, the ever-stubborn Beverly didn't bother waiting to recover or desire to recall the night before.

By the time she left her apartment, Beverly didn't think twice about hailing a taxi downtown. It would be completely stupid to take the metro or even drive her car when she's still recovering from the hangover. Promptly telling the cab driver directions to her meeting, only then did she glance inside her purse. But of course, there was always something missing that she'd forget to take. This time, it was her snacks she'd bring whenever the sudden need of hunger came down upon her at any given time.

At least thankfully, it wasn't her pocket journal– or else she would be livid for the rest of the day. The kind of journal where she could sketch or write anything when inspiration struck her. Whether it was writing down something for her wish list, a song title she recently heard and wanted to replay later, or simply a small reminder from her schedule. Beverly was fond of having control over her life, not in the sense of power, but rather it provided the tiniest semblance of peace.

The kind she needed ever since moving to Metropolis for a fresh start.

Eventually, Beverly grabbed her phone only to find it was currently blowing up with messages and missed voicemails from her friends and work. An immediate groan escaped her lips at the thought of it, desperately wanting to avoid another migraine before the afternoon. She had to mentally prepare herself before prioritizing who to call back first. Ultimately, she chose to focus on work-related emails instead, recalling she had to be at S.T.A.R. Labs to assist with an upcoming research paper.

Many businesses, varying from small to large corporations, would send an invoice to request her skills for an array of projects. Sometimes it would be a short article, providing fresh input, or simply alter or modify their brand for a new 'look'. And Beverly knew that she couldn't afford to waste time when it came to these kinds of things. Glancing at her watch briefly, she had less than ten minutes to arrive. Nevertheless, the blonde was never the type to worry, almost as if luck was on her side.

By the time she got to S.T.A.R. Labs, it was just a few minutes before the clock struck eleven. Beverly kindly paid the taxi driver and ensured she had everything prior to stepping out in front of the building. Quietly adjusting her white floral print blouse, then the light tan flare work pants, combined with her black heeled ankle boots. This wasn't her typical outfit, but she thought a new change wouldn't hurt anyone every once in a while. Not to mention, Beverly loved to wear her special heeled ankle boots.

The only issue Beverly had was that it did nothing to conceal her height, the sort where she stood out like a sore thumb. Being nearly five eleven definitely had its perks along with disadvantages– one of them was towering over nearly everyone. Nonetheless, it didn't bother her that much since she just walked inside towards the lobby for a visitor's pass. Waiting by the lounge room, she took the opportunity to gaze at a nearby mirror and pin her long hair into a messy bun with a claw clip.

"You were almost late. You're never late to anything." A female voice rang to her with a firm tone, but not a trace of seriousness on her face. Beverly didn't need to glance around to know what that was; she jokingly rolled her eyes at the comment. Her friend, Katherine Jones, stood there with a visitor's badge and lanyard outstretched towards her. "We value our time here at S.T.A.R. Labs. There's a saying around here that research waits for no one."

"And I'm not, I'm here now. Good morning and a Happy New Year to you, too." Beverly remarked calmly, turning around as she couldn't resist a tiny smile appearing on the corners of her lips. It wasn't long until Katherine also broke, letting out a sharp sigh, then shaking her head faintly. The S.T.A.R. scientist wore a long white lab coat over her matching gray pantsuit with dark brown leather boots for comfort.

"Right this way. You'll need a lab coat, which will be provided." Kat uttered curtly and professionally, mostly so no one was the wiser of their friendship. The blonde merely nodded her head and took the badge to place it around her neck, following closely behind. The blonde couldn't figure out why her friend wasn't experiencing any hangovers since they were out late last night for New Year's Eve. "Don't wander off."

"That was one time, Kat! And in my defense, you didn't give me clear directions back to the lab!" Beverly feigned an annoyed groan upon hearing Kat's warning. Crossing her arms defensively in all good fun before practically announcing it to anyone around them. "But honestly, how do you not have a crazy hangover? I'm dying of thirst right now–."

"Shh! Could you be any louder, Vee?" Katherine swiftly hushed her friend, yet it didn't help hide her burning cheeks when she saw her colleagues. The scientist briefly greeted them as they strode forward until stopping in front of the elevator. The brunette swiped her badge to access the elevator before facing her, "Do you want me to get fired or something?"

"Course not, I know how much you just love this job. But honestly... how are you not?" Pierce humored before whispering the last part just when the elevator door opened and both headed inside. Katherine pressed the floor number to her laboratory before pulling up her left lab coat sleeve to reveal eight white patches across her arm.

"Caffeine Patches. Best thing I ever helped invent. Well, second best." Kat replied proudly while tugging the sleeve down, a soft laugh escaping her lips before admitting the truth. "And yet— I still feel like shit."

"I knew it! I knew it!" Beverly exclaimed upon hearing Kat's admission of the aftereffects of last night's drinking. Yet that quietly went away when she sensed an incoming migraine, massaging her temples faintly. "...I swear this migraine isn't going away no matter how much I try."

"Usually, the patches remedy that. I'll get you one when we get there," Katherine offered a tiny smile, her professional self deteriorating whenever she was with Beverly.

"You're a lifesaver, Kat...." The blonde smiled warmly in appreciation, hearing the elevator ding to indicate their floor. Stepping out to stroll down a narrow hallway to find the storage room where all scientists and visitors needed to ensure PPE protocol. Then, they entered a small chamber where security would check their verification before being admitted to a sanitation area then lastly the laboratories. All were just necessary procedures to enforce compliance in a prominent facility as this one.

"Come on, time is a luxury scientists unfortunately don't have. By the way, I texted Ceci to meet us for lunch at that French Bistro around one." Katherine affirmed, walking alongside each other before indicating they were getting closer to her lab. Beverly wasn't much of a science major, but she understood food better than anyone. Not to mention, skipping breakfast didn't help alleviate her hangover.

"Wait— the place with the Beef Bourguignon? And the Chocolate Soufflés?" Beverly questioned her friend excitedly, only for her to nod silently. The blonde immediately pouted, trying to distract her mind with anything but food. "Kat, now you're making me hungry!"

"Not surprised," Katherine retorted bluntly and at last was at her private lab, swiping the badge to hear a faint buzz with a flash of green light. The scientist held the door open for them before heading to her desk to grab a caffeine patch. Beverly glanced around at all the vials and chemicals stored in cabinets or lying on the workbench. After the brunette found a patch, she walked back and silently rolled her friend's right sleeve to place one firmly. Lightly pressing it against the skin to have the patch attached so it seeps into the bloodstream eventually.

"You should feel better after half an hour. Give or take. Also, my boss will want to see you in an hour after his meeting. But luckily, you'll happily assist me with my research paper before I'm needed with the Board of Advisors." The female scientist stated in a matter-of-fact tone despite her face telling a different truth.

"Kat, I love you, but you know I don't know much about your research thesis. Much less what you're trying to do in those procedures." Beverly interjected with another pout. Despite her best efforts to appear exasperated, she always held a bright smile that could brighten anyone's mood. "It's amazing what you do— but science isn't really my thing."

"I know, Vee. I just want you to revise and edit my work. Simple as that." The brunette reassured her as she grabbed her rough draft from her workbench before handing it to her friend.

"Alright, just don't blame me if you come across so many red markings." The blonde teased, glancing at the stack of papers. Aside from the fact that it was double-sided and double-spaced with nearly fifteen pages, this was almost nothing compared to all those assignments she had back at her university. The two women spend time doing their different tasks, hoping to be productive before they see each other until lunch.

"So, what's your New Year's resolution?" Beverly randomly asked, faintly chewing the top of her red pen while concentrating on reading the thesis.

"...Definitely a promotion, a better apartment, find a new hobby, and eventually a boyfriend. You?" Katherine listed her resolutions from the top of her head while Beverly couldn't help but glance at her intriguingly. The female scientist paused on what she was doing, which consisted of scribbling down notes and analyzing some microscope slides. She gave a sheepish smile upon realizing her rather quick response, a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Yeah... now that I think about it— that sounds almost desperate."

"Not necessarily, that's better than not having a clue. And as for me... I've been thinking of starting a blog. Aside from freelancing, I just don't know what I could write about." The female writer admitted, still biting the red pen briefly.

"For what it's worth, anything with literature is your god-given gift. That or music." Kat responded honestly, offering a kind smile that deviated from her usual phlegmatic expression.

"I'll think about it. Well, gotta go see your boss... wish me luck. And I'll text you when I'm done." Beverly nodded her head gently; her watch beeped to indicate it was nearly time. She let out a tiny sigh to mentally prepare herself while gathering her belongings, waving goodbye silently. Katherine gave an encouraging wink as they'd split up to their respective meetings.

Beverly was met with Dr. Silas Stone in his office, no doubt due to her close relations with the government, partially from her father's contacts. She knew that he was a highly respected individual but never knew much of his 'glory days' for numerous reasons. Nonetheless, Beverly understood that they were rather close friends and Dr. Stone needed a favor from him. Unexpectedly taking longer than expected after coming to an agreement, she headed out only to find out it was past 1 pm and knew that her friends were probably at the French Bistro.

Without missing a beat, Beverly hurriedly went to the lobby and returned the visitor's badge before exiting S.T.A.R. Labs. Thankfully, it was a relatively short walk around six blocks northwest, briskly sending a message to the group chat. All the girls' profile pictures were them dressed up as Totally Spies girls for Halloween one year. A few seconds later, she received a notification that they were already seated and to simply ask the waiter for their reservation. The blonde woman merely sent a short 'okay' before making her way downtown.

If there's one thing she knew... her friends always had something up their sleeves. By the time she arrived, it only confirmed her suspicion when she was escorted to the table. It was an open-air seating restaurant, highlighting the beautiful scenery from downtown Metropolis. Noticing Katherine sitting beside Cecilia, having a chat and shared giggles until they noticed Beverly arrive. Cecilia was the first to stand up and hug Beverly before pulling out a small gift bag behind her seat. "Before I forget... happy birthday, Vera!"

"Ceci! You know you didn't have to." The blonde exclaimed happily once she saw the perfectly wrapped aqua blue gift bag with a large white bow. Cecilia Louvett never failed to give a gift no matter the occasion, wanting to splurge on her friends. 

"I know, but I did," Cecilia reassured her with a bright smile, gently nudging Katherine to also hand over the gift. The scientist rolled her eyes discreetly before handing a small box to Beverly, although the surprises were just beginning. The redhead gleefully called out to their server for their drinks in hopes of celebrating. "We already ordered your food and don't even worry about dessert. We got everything covered!"

"Honestly, you girls are the best... what would I do without you?" Beverly uttered, knowing how inseparable their bond is.

"Oh, please! You'd still be perfectly fine without us! But I hope you definitely don't abandon us when you do get a boyfriend." Katherine replied in a sardonic tone yet her eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief. The server came back with their Rosé wine bottle and served it along with the appetizers, before leaving for their meals.

"Not unless that said boyfriend is likely Superman," Cecilia muttered while raising her glass as a silent toast to the girls before gulping it down. Already wanting another glass of Rosé since it was happy hour– or at least, somewhere there was. After being in a courtroom as an Attorney all morning, this was something to help get her mind off it.

"Like that will ever happen." Beverly countered the statement, not wanting to entertain the idea.

"You know, I once spotted Superman in my boss' office," Katherine admitted, shrugging her shoulders like it was nothing out of the ordinary. The redhead gaped her mouth upon hearing those words, wondering why her friends always held back secrets.

"Superman? Like– the Superman?" Ceci repeated herself as if what she heard was unreal; even Beverly was surprised by the statement.

"No, Ceci... it was Mr. Terrific. Of course it was him! He's the only one to wear blue with a red cape!" The scientist deadpanned, taking a sip of the Rosé with a knowing look that only Cecilia knew.

"Didn't Superman save you like six times... since like the last four months?" The corporate attorney recalled with a knowing smile, hearing the brunette snicker faintly under her breath. Beverly playfully glared at her, grabbing a bite of a piece of baguette while attempting to hide her flushed cheeks. Cecilia caught on rather quickly, teasing the blonde relentlessly. "You're such a danger-magnet, Vera. But hey, it must be nice to get a superhero saving you once in a while. Wait... don't tell me you got a crush on Metropolis' hero?"

"Oh, she's totally blushing...." Katherine remarked, a warm laugh escaping her lips. They only heard about it from her but never witnessed it, nor ever really saw Superman unless it was on live news.

"Of course I don't! And if I was, I mean– who wouldn't?" Beverly retaliated, no longer holding back a slight eye roll. A blush crept up her face from the girls' comments, wanting to deny everything about him.

"You are so hopeless!" Kat taunted with another loud chuckle as their meals had arrived just in time. Beverly got the Beef Bourguignon she wanted, but at that moment, she was feeling less hungry and more bashful.

"Am not!" The blonde weakly rejected, shaking her head at how her friends weren't going to quit with the relentless remarks.

"I think Kat meant helpless," Ceci butted in, causing the scientist to let out a full-on laugh while Beverly sat there enduring everything. Despite people being around, no one would question a group of women enjoying their lunch and a silly crush on Superman.

"I hate you both," Beverly mumbled, loud enough for her friends to hear her. Deciding to try to enjoy her meal in the meantime, knowing they would split up after their lunch break.

"Yeah, yeah, we hate you too. We were totally messing with you... for the most part." Katherine reassured until the last part, causing them to laugh at the moment. It was times like these that Beverly appreciated, although she would have preferred fewer jokes about her. They spent the rest of their lunch break indulging in their meals and desserts, sharing some chats here and there. And when it was time to pay the bill, Cecilia and Katherine split it so she wouldn't have to spend anything on her birthday.

The girls were about to leave when Cecilia mentioned taking a picture together for Beverly's birthday. Asking a random stranger kindly to have the background be in front of the restaurant, posing casually with a few occasional silly ones. They collectively selected the best ones to send to the group chat, knowing it was nearly time to return to work. The girls were saying their farewells along with birthday wishes to her, a sudden city alert blared throughout downtown to warn civilians of an incoming attack.

Just when her day was getting better, too.

Everyone around them hurriedly started running in the opposite direction; the girls didn't think twice about escaping. Incoming flying objects were hurled randomly towards nearby buildings or civilians, screams erupted and people rushed to get away from the chaos. That was until a flash of red and blue appeared above them, an unknowing smile appeared on Beverly's lips. Thinking they were just about to be safe inside by heading towards a subway entrance, the ground shook. The girls weren't worried as much since it was a rather common occurrence.   

Katherine and Cecilia ran close together and Beverly right behind them, being the first to make it down the steps. Just when the blonde was getting there, she saw a shadow of a car grow exponentially bigger towards her. Without a second thought, Beverly stumbled backwards until a red blur appeared in front of her... with Superman holding the car in preventing her from getting crushed. They shared a brief eye contact, Beverly gave a tiny smile with him nodding silently in exchange. It seemed she tended to attract danger but knew how he was always around to save the day.

And this counts as seven times now.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Here's the long-awaited chapter so I hope you all enjoy it! Also, don't know if you noticed but in the first portion, the girls passed the Bechdel test lol. I purposely did that to give you a taste of how dialogue might usually go. Soon, Beverly and Clark will finally met! Anyway, you can always suggest what you would like to see and I swear I love them so much! Until then everyone and take care!