Even when she's not around he gets this big goofy grin on his face when he talks about it, like when he warned Ollie to watch for Lois because she'll pin an apron on him and give him a fairytale character name. *g* (Loved that scene!)
Awww that's true! :) I need to get better at remembering those moments and not worrying too much about his inscrutability in scenes with her. ;)

She's great with many things, but this isn't her area of expertise. I mean, she even listened to *Jimmy's* advice.
Hee! Poor dear! She does get confused.

don't think he'd be willing to lead her on for whatever reason, even compassion, because if nothing else he's a close friend and he doesn't want to see her hurt again
Yeah, I think you are right. And I realised I was being unfair to Clark, because while that might have been true in the past he actually *has* given someone a firm no this season: Maxima. And I think that's an important shift. (Ok, she was a psycho, but she DID appeal to him in all the classic 'destiny' ways!)

I truly believe he's scared and has no idea what to do, so he's holding back. Not only did his relationship with Lana end badly, but Clark didn't have a say in it. Lana just left, and he has no idea why.
Awww. Now you've made me feel for him! He really is in the passive girl role, wanting someone else to take charge and hopefully not leave him this time...

Him and Lana need to talk things through first. He needs to understand why she left, why it didn't work out between them and they need a mutual closure to that relationship
I agree with you! I don't feel he's got that closure yet.

Thank you--your comment helped a lot. I think I'm just so inside Lois's head with this stuff, I get pretty confused myself!