HumbugGirl
19th April 2003, 01:05
completed
Title: Solace
Author: HumbugGirl
Email: humbuggirl@hotmail.com
URL: S t o r y v i l l e - http://www.geocities.com/peacefulempress/home.html or
Oddments – http://www.geocities.com/oddfiction
Pairing: Lex/Chloe
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Tempest
Summary: The events of Tempest have a bigger effect on the Lex and Chloe than could ever have been guessed.
Disclaimer: Okay so I haven’t had the chance to come up with a proper disclaimer yet so you’ll have to put up with the basic ‘none of the characters belong to me, this is a non-profit piece of work just written for fun with praise directed at the creators of Smallville’ kinda thing.
Feedback: Always appreciated.
1.
Someone had been industrious enough to spike the punch even under the watchful eye of its caretaker, a pig-eyed woman who worked in the school library when she wasn’t playing chaperone. Chloe wasn’t certain what it had been spiked with but she did know there was a warm, glowing feeling inside her from it that felt kind of nice as she sipped at her forth cup and savoured the taste in her mouth.
Someone had spiked the punch and it seemed to her that everyone was merrily dancing about without a care in the world despite the weather warning that had been announced and Clark wasn’t here. He’d gone missing. Vanished off the face of the planet and she’d only turned around for a second. There was some part of her that could have cited a verse of epic proportions on exactly what or rather who had caused him to disappear but there was a contrasting part of her that didn’t want to accept it. He’d said this was her night and she’d believed him as she always did with that unshakeable trust born of a wonderful friendship and maybe something a little more. Only now he wasn’t here and the reason for her abandonment was probably sat at home in front of a lovely warm fire, safe and secure because it was official that when bad things happened to Chloe Sullivan only good things could happen to Lana Lang. It had always been that way.
Chloe took another sip of the punch and tried to make the tears rising in her eyes subside. A disturbing sensation of unease had begun to rise inside of her. She was all alone and she was sure people kept glancing at her and this was not how this evening was meant to go. She didn’t have a Cinderella complex but she did have something worse – a fairy princess complex and for just once she wished that everything would work out wonderfully the way she had planned it and she wouldn’t have to kick herself for getting her own hopes up.
Absently Chloe reached for another cup from the refreshments table and drank it down. She collected another one feeling more than a little light headed but figuring that the night couldn’t actually get any worse than it already was. She couldn’t believe he’d left her here all alone at the dance. Damn his dimple faced innocence and hero complex.
Tonight was meant to have been so special. It had taken most of the money she had saved from her allowance to buy the dress but the moment that she’d tried it on Chloe had known it was the only one for her. The matching shoes had put her over budget and she’d been forced to borrow money from her father to make up the difference and her underwear… well that had been put on a credit card. Hopefully her father wouldn’t ask too many questions when he saw the name of the shop on the bill he was going to receive. The underwear had been the crowning point of the outfit, all skimpy pale pink satin with delicate laced edges, that made her feel so unbelievably sexy and she’d half been hoping that she wouldn’t by the only one to see it that night.
She’d somehow managed to finish another drink and picked up a fresh cup. Chloe turned back to the dance floor and to the happy couples there feeling an odd sense of anger growing in her. It didn’t seem fair somehow. Above the gym lights flickered bringing a rousing chorus of ‘ahs’ and giggles from the assembled teenagers.
Taking her drink Chloe marched from the gym. Maybe Clark was hanging around somewhere that she hadn’t looked yet. Even he would have second thoughts about going out in weather like this. The girl gave a little shake of her head realising that it was probably only hopeful thinking on her part.
She’d always been aware of the way in which Clark felt towards Lana. It wasn’t something that Clark was really capable of hiding as his eyes seemed to scream everything he was feeling. But for a while there she had thought that maybe he was getting over his infatuation with the beautiful brunette girl. Silently Chloe cursed the other girl’s boyfriend for going away and effectively making Lana available again just when it seemed Clark was ready to move on. Whitney really could pick his moments.
The school was eerily quiet even with music from the band playing in the distance. Chloe found herself feeling just the tiniest bit naughty as she wandered through the empty corridors knowing that no one was supposed to wander far from the gym tonight. In an almost unconscious action she wandered in the direction of the offices of The Torch, to her sanctuary and away from the almost certain embarrassment of being on her own at the biggest social event of the school year. She could almost imagine the pitying expression on Pete’s face now with the ‘you really should have expected it’ sentiments on his lips.
Chloe flicked the lights on in the room and instantly felt better. Slumping down in a seat she thought, this is more like it, this is me.
A sound broke through her melancholy thoughts and brought the blonde girl to her feet again. Quietly she crossed to the window and stared out in amazement at the approaching ambulance.
2.
Someone had called an ambulance. Lex could vaguely remember the housekeeper running into his study with a shocked expression plastered on her tired face and the incessant sound of her voice as she asked again and then again if he was okay and what had happened. Lex had pushed away from her feeling vomit rising in his throat as blood trickled down over his eye clouding his vision. He had never liked the sight of his own blood.
God only knew how long he had stood there staring at the still figure of his trapped father. Certainly long enough for the man to beg and plead with words that had so very nearly filled him with something near sympathy and certainly long enough for the older man to pass out. Then there had been people running around the room, dragging Lionel free of his imprisonment and casting querying, stunned glances at his son as he just stood there, as still as stone and almost as unresponsive.
Someone had helped him into the ambulance, placing their blood drenched and gloved hands all over his arm then wrapping a red blanket about his shoulders. He supposed it was intended to be a comforting. “You’re just in shock Mr Luthor. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.” And all the while the only thoughts that kept running about his head as he sat there, shivering slightly, was that he hadn’t been in an ambulance for years.
As they drove cautiously along the wind outside rattled the walls surrounding him dauntingly. The storm raged and Lex was reminded of childhood fears he had not even dared to admit to himself for a long time knowing they were foolish. Rain was loud on the roof, a ceaseless drumming sound pounding its way into his skull. It was giving him a headache or maybe that was the cut. Either way he wished it would stop. He wanted to think clearly and the constant ache wasn’t helping at all.
“Mr Luthor,” a voice called interrupting his thoughts and startling the young man. Lex looked up and into the eyes of the middle aged paramedic who was watching him with concern.
“Yes. What?”
“We’re going to have to stop. I’m afraid the weather’s getting too bad to carry on. The high school is just ahead and it should be still open so we can stop there. The Prom’s going on tonight you see.”
“Yes I know,” he found himself saying. He looked at his father laying unconscious still. “If you must.”
“We have to. Don’t worry Mr Luthor, your father’s stable for the time being.”
That wasn’t what I was thinking, popped into Lex’s head and he had to check the paramedic’s face to make sure he hadn’t said it out loud. Luckily it seemed he hadn’t.
The school appeared deserted as they pulled into the parking lot. There were cars dotted around all over the place but no other sign of life. They pulled up outside the front steps and waited while the ambulance driver rushed up the steps and opened the doors. Moments later the man had returned and they were carrying Lionel up the steps on the stretcher while Lex followed short way behind on foot.
3.
In his own way Lex Luthor had always scared her. There was something cold and demanding about him that made her feel the need to crawl away and curl up in a ball when she found herself under the scrutiny of his gaze. In Smallville Lex wasn’t God but he was damn near close to it and the young man knew it as well which only made the fact more infuriating. But at the moment the demi-god didn’t look much like he was in control. In fact he looked more than a little dazed and confused and there was an air of the ‘lost little boy’ about him that seemed completely out of place. Wasn’t it Clark that was meant to wear that expression?
On a stretcher Lionel Luthor looked like death. His head lay at an odd angle, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. There was a tiny trail of blood from the corner of his lips running down his jaw line. Chloe refused to look at his torso which was a mess of blood though from the unconcerned expressions on the faces of the paramedics she guessed that there wasn’t much bleeding out. Lex was staring at the prone man with something akin to fascination on his face. There was no anxiety there though; he didn’t appear to be upset in the least by the sight of his injured father.
As the young man glanced in her direction Chloe darted back into the shadows not wanting to be seen by him. At a distance she followed them through the school until they came to the cafeteria and entered. The older Luthor was laid on a pair of tables hastily pushed together and the two paramedics began to fuss over him with a speed and confidence born of experience. Lex was left to his own devices and eventually sat down at another table appearing to be somewhat dejected. Every so often he would look in the direction of his father and then turned away again with a look resembling disgust on his face.
Chloe stared at the man who was being blamed for the loss of her father’s job trying to make the resentment she had been feeling for most of the day grow again in her heart but only to find it flop and refuse to develop into anything substantial. It was useless. She couldn’t hate someone who looked like their entire world had just fallen apart.
“Mr Luthor?” the female paramedic said walking slowly, almost fearfully up to Lex.
“Yes?”
“I can take a look at that cut now if you want.”
Once again he glanced at the still form on the table. “I don’t want to be in here.”
The two paramedics looked at each other. “I can’t leave your father Mr Luthor,” she said. “In case there’s an emergency you understand.”
“I-I can do it.” The comment came out before Chloe even realised she had opened her mouth. The blonde girl stepped into the room nervously knowing that there was no way to get away now that she had announced her own presence.
Startled Lex demanded, “How long have you been there?”
“Not long.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea Miss,” the paramedic answered.
“I have a first aid certificate. If it’s not too bad I think I’d be able to manage.”
The woman still appeared unsure. “Would that be okay with you Mr Luthor?”
The young man threw his hands up in the air with look of resignation. “Why not?” He stood, pulling himself to his feet somewhat groggily and the action seemed somewhat strained. Chloe crossed the room quickly meaning to give him an arm to lean on but he pushed her away. “I can do it myself thank you very much.”
Suddenly it was a lot easier to hate him. “You can barely stand up!” she exclaimed feeling braver for the alcohol still running hot through her blood and taking hold of his arm in spite of his protests. “There’s a first aid kit in my office we can use that,” she told them and walked off pulling Lex along behind her.
4.
Chloe’s office turned out to be those belonging to The Torch. He supposed he should have realised that in advance. It was after all pretty obvious where she had meant.
Leaning back in the chair she had seated him in Lex carefully touched one hand to the injury on his head and winced. It still hurt but at least a little of the dizziness had passed now. For the moment Lex tried to forget about the pain and concentrate on the small blonde girl who was moving about the room collecting things together in order to clean and dress the cut on his forehead. Chloe Sullivan was the last person he had expected help from especially considering the fact that he, no Lionel, had just put her own father out of work.
In a way he had to admire her. Under her circumstances Lex wasn’t sure he could have been quite so civil. Then there was what he knew of her besides. She managed and ran the entire school paper, virtually by herself most of the time and wrote articles for the local newspaper in her spare time. His employee records suggested that she virtually ran her father’s household and still seemed to have time for a social life. That was more than he was able to do now-a-days.
Then again there were other ways to admire a person too.
The dress was pretty and it flowed around the blonde’s legs and the low cut was flattering to her figure. He’d always thought that the girl had a kind of naïve charm to her and it seemed all the more evident as she approached him with a stern, business like expression on her face placing the things that she had assembled on the desk beside him. Leaning forwards Lex sniffed the air before her.
“Have you been drinking?” he asked and strangely his voice sounded shocked. He didn’t know why he should be. After all at her age he had been regularly seen on the club circuit in Metropolis and alcohol abuse had been one of his lesser sins.
“Yup,” she answered dipping a cloth into the glass of water she had brought to the desk and moving it up to his cut.
Lex shot to his feet. “I’m not sure it would be a good idea for you to do this after all.”
She turned her eyes up at him. “I’m not drunk if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking,” he said, angry that she had dared to assume what was going on in his mind. Almost the instant that the words came out of his mouth he regretted them.
Chloe’s eyes lit up and it seemed that the girl took his words as a challenge. “First you’re thinking that I’m drunk and that I’m probably going to mess this up,” she said waving the damp cloth around in the air. The blonde put a hand on his chest making him wince as she touched fresh bruises he hadn’t even known he had and pushed him down into the chair again. “But I’m not. Secondly you know I’m a reporter and that I want to be one when I leave school, so you’re probably thinking that I’m fishing for a story. But I’m not. Thirdly you’re thinking that I’m a child but I think we both know that I’m more grown up than other people my age. If nothing else you’ll have got that impression from Clark. So there’s no reason to be paranoid Lex Luthor because I’m not going to go running to all my friends bragging that I saw Lex Luthor when he was at his weakest okay?”
For a moment he sat wide eyed and unable to say anything in reply. “I’m not…”
“Yes you are. You’re sat there with your own blood all over your face, clutching at your ribs and chest like someone has hit you, your father is injured and you’re hardly up to your usual verbal judo.” He smiled a little at her unconscious use of his own phrase. “So sit still and let me do this.”
“A little bit of alcohol seems to give you an awful lot of courage Miss Sullivan.”
“Chloe.”
“What?”
“My name is Chloe and you’re Lex so now that we’re not being formal anymore do you want to tell me what happened?” At the look in his eyes she added. “Off the record of course.”
After a moment in which he decided there was no use avoiding her question he said, “There was an accident at the manor. My father and I were involved in it. We were on the way to the hospital when the ambulance driver suggested that we stop here because of the storm.”
“It’s a good job too.”
“Why?”
“There was a tornado warning.” She lightly placed the cloth against his forehead and began to wash away the blood.
“You’re not serious?”
“It was earlier tonight and hence the big ol’ storm.”
Lex laughed a little. “It never rains it pours,” he said. If it wasn’t his father stopping him taking over the factory then it was a natural disaster getting in the way.
“How do you mean?” she asked putting aside the now pink cloth and picking the antiseptic bottle.
“Nothing.”
“Ouch!” the girl suddenly exclaimed as she gained her first clear look at his cut and as she took a step closer to him her dress brushed against his knees. “You know this might need stitches or something.”
Lex found himself wincing as she soothed cotton wool covered in the antiseptic over the cut. “Sometimes I think my either life needs stitches.” She’d stopped at his words and he looked up into her eyes and wondered what she saw when she looked at him.
“It can’t be all bad,” she said softly.
“You wouldn’t believe it. Do you know something Chloe Sullivan?” he said with a small laugh. “I’m being forced out of my own life. Every single day I have to fight that little bit harder for control and one day there’s going to be no fight left in me and do you know what I’ll become when that happens? The cone of that bastard through there.”
“You know I don’t think that I’m the person that you should talk to about this. I’m not exactly unbiased.”
Lex nodded. “I’m sorry about your father’s job. If I could do anything about it then I would. I knew nothing about the decision to close the plant. It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to everyone else.” The blonde looked sceptical. “I don’t need to be judged right now Chloe.”
“Its hard not to but I’ll try. I think we should change the subject though. Keep your head still.”
“Okay. Perhaps you’re right. So, what happened to Clark? I thought you and he were coming to the dance together.”
She bit her lip, looking adorable as she did and a slight pink blush came to her cheeks. “He decided to disappear on me right after the tornado warning. As far as I know he’s gone looking for Lana.”
“Ouch.”
“That’s about what I was thinking.”
Lex gestured to the cup on the table. “And that prompted the drinking?”
“Actually someone spiked the punch but it was kinda convenient.” She paused again. “You’re his friend Lex; feel like explaining why he can be such an asshole sometimes?”
“I always thought that Clark was a fairly decent sort of fellow.”
Chloe frowned. “Well he’s not,” she said and pouted. Lex could suddenly see tears rising in her eyes. The blonde girl sat on the desk and put her hands on her lap. “What have I done that’s so wrong?”
There was an uncomfortable silence as tears began to roll down the pretty little blonde’s face. Lex struggled with himself. He’d never really had many female friends, there had always been plenty of women in his life of course, the prospect of bagging one of the most eligible bachelors in the country had always made sure of that, but there had been very few actual friends. Awkwardly he stood and reached forwards and clasped her hands in his own.
“Listen to me Chloe, I’m sure there’s nothing to wrong with you. Clark’s just young and he can see what an accomplished, intelligent and beautiful young woman you’re going to be – that you are even now. For the time being he’s still dazzled by the thought of dating the town prom queen. It’s a stage every boy goes through but he’ll get over it. Lana’s a very pretty girl but she can be a little lacking in the personality department sometimes.” He noticed a small smile hinting on her lips but it disappeared again as she seemed to catch herself. “Clark will realise that sooner or later,” he continued. “He’ll figure there’s more to someone than how good they look in a gym slip or how vacate looking their smile is. You’ll just have to wait for him to come around.”
She hugged him suddenly and Lex almost recoiled; years of not being allowed comforting human contact kicking in. Gradually however he relaxed himself into the tiny blonde reporter’s arms and put his own about her shoulders.
She was warm against him, pleasantly so in fact and Lex soon closed his eyes and lost himself in a scent that was uniquely feminine despite the alcohol. The girl in his arms was soft and yielding and possessed an innocence that was both endearing and comforting. He tightened his hold on her, not wanting to let go of the refreshing creature still clinging to him as the small fit of sobs that had racked her body passed. Finally though the blonde pulled away and looked up at him. To Lex’s surprise she reached up slightly and brushed delicate lips across his. When he raised an eyebrow she said, “I figure I should get at least one kiss on my prom night. Thank you for listening Lex.”
“You’re welcome and the thanks are returned.” Leaning down he pressed their mouths together again and felt her give a little gasp. Pulling away again he added, “It should at least be a proper kiss.” Chloe blushed deeply and stepped away from him clearly flustered. Lex smiled a little noticing the way that the girl’s chest was heaving slightly and finding he was pleasantly surprised by the fact.
5.
“Hey Chloe you’ll never guess whose here… or maybe you will.”
The blonde girl felt her eyes widen in shock as she spun towards the door and saw her friend stood just inside the office. “Pete!” she exclaimed and the blush that had blazed across her face deepened. “I was just… Lex… He… Okay start again. Lex hurt his head and I patched him up.”
He stared at the older man with hostile eyes. “Well there’s a paramedic running around looking for him everywhere.”
Lex stepped up to her side and walked passed her, brushing her bare arm as he went. As he did a shiver ran through her. Not once did he glance back in her direction, he didn’t even look at Pete as he walked by, head held high with that arrogance that Chloe had come to expect from any Luthor male. It was all she could do not to put her fingers to her lips and see whether the tingling sensation that remained from his kiss was really there. All of her sudden her body remembered the way that he had felt when they were up close and could not stop herself from letting out a sigh. For some reason she didn’t seem to be able to stop blushing.
Quickly she turned away from the door and hoped that Pete hadn’t noticed. She reached forwards to take hold of the pink tinged glass of water she had been using to clean up Lex’s cut and promptly knocked it over. “Shit!” she exclaimed frantically moving papers aside to protect them.
“Are you okay?” her friend said grabbing hold of the blood stained cloth and mopping at the spill. “Did he upset you?”
“No Pete. He didn’t upset me. Believe it or not but I don’t think he’s entirely evil like you do.”
“Entirely being the operative word in that sentence. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes!” she snapped. “He was hurt. I was helping him. We talked. It was nice. There you go, that’s what happened. Are you happy now?”
The young man held up his hands. “No need to bite my head off.”
She sighed slumping into a chair suddenly feeling physically exhausted. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired.”
He nodded, apparently accepting her explanation. “What happened to Clark?” Chloe shot him a glare. “What, another touchy subject? Come on what happened?”
“He ran off to find Lana.”
“Oh.” He paused. “I’m sorry Chloe.”
“There’s no need to be. I’m fine. Really I am.”
“You’re obviously not.”
“Pete! Really I am. I’ve already talked it though and had a wonderful reassuring speech and now I don’t even want to think about it okay?”
“Sure. Who did you talk to?”
She wiped a strand of hair out of her eyes and said quietly, “Um, it was Lex.” She could almost hear the cogs turning over in his head.
“As in the guy who just walked out of here?”
“Yes.”
Pete chuckled. “I would never have figured him to be the comforting type.”
“Well you don’t know him.”
“And you do?”
“No but… Damn it Pete lets not get into this.”
“Okay I give up. Hey, did you know someone spiked the punch?”
Chloe picked up her cup and waved it in front of him. “I’ve already fully taken advantage of it.”
His eyes widened slightly. “How many of those have you had exactly?”
She shrugged. “I lost count.” The blonde girl pushed herself to her feet. “And I feel like another one so why don’t you escort me back to the ball Prince Charming?”
He smiled and offered her his arm. “I can think of no greater honour.”
6.
It all seemed just a little unfair somehow. For the longest time they had been uncertain about whether or not the old man would live or not and then when they finally decided to say for definite that he was going to die he went and lived. Granted he was still confined to his sick bed, unable to work, even weeks after the accident ensuring that Lex had almost complete control over the company but it still didn’t seem fair somehow. The fact was that Lex knew that one day the old man would be well enough to take the reins again and then, then it would probably spell the end of his days in Smallville. On reflection, he thought, it might spell the end of his days anywhere considering the fact he was pretty certain that Lionel was convinced that he would have just left him there to die without ever offering assistance.
As he sipped at his coffee Lex reminded himself that he wasn’t too sure himself what he would have done in the end. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
They’d barely spoken since his father had regained consciousness, granted they hadn’t spoken all that much before but now it even less so. Lex could still clearly see the look of fear in the older man’s eyes as he had seen his son for the first time since the accident. It had made him smile at the time. Even now there was always a look of cautiousness, nervousness in Lionel’s eyes whenever they talked, as if Lex would suddenly try to smoother him with a pillow. It was one of the reasons that the younger man had been unable to figure out why his father insisted on being treated at home, in Smallville no less. The biggest mystery of all though was that the senior Luthor had decided to keep the plant open.
“You look pleased with yourself?”
Lex looked up to find himself faced with Clark. There was a smile on the boy’s face displaying brilliant white teeth. You should be on a commercial for toothpaste, Lex thought silently. Behind the tall boy was the slight form of Chloe. She peered at him nervously from around her friend and when they caught each other’s eyes she blushed.
“It just feels good to be alive and in Smallville,” he replied. “Why don’t you take a seat?”
“Thanks,” Clark answered quickly, manoeuvring the blonde girl into a chair despite the protest that had been on the tip of her tongue meaning that she ended up looking more than a little flustered. “Your usual?” he asked her.
“Sure.”
“What about you Lex? Need anything while I’m up at the counter?”
The older man shook his head and Clark wandered off towards the counter. When he reached it he smiled broadly at the dark haired girl stood there who smiled back brightly. There was something in her actions, the way she casually leaned against the counter as he talked and nodded vacantly at the young man that screamed something had changed between them. Glancing over at Chloe Lex saw her watching them too with avid interest. There was an almost wistful expression on the young girl’s face. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who saw the budding relationship between the two youngsters.
“I’m sorry,” he said to her finally.
Chloe turned bright eyes on him. “I’m not. I mean, I am but the way I see it I’d rather he was happy with her than miserable with me.”
“That’s very noble.”
“I prefer to think of it as more tragic than noble.”
The billionaire’s son nodded in agreement. “It could be that too.”
A sign escaped her. “I wish it wasn’t,” she said leaning back firmly into the purple cushioned chair. For the briefest moment Lex though he glimpsed a hint of cleavage as the dark green shirt she wore gaped. It was gone again quickly and he looked up to her face before he was caught staring. The thought of soft, seeking lips suddenly flashed into his head.
“What?” she asked and Lex realised he had been caught. The reported brought her fingers up to brush away some hair from her face and smiled nervously at the same time. Her entire face lip up. Clark’s an idiot, he found himself thinking.
Lex returned the smile. “You look quite charming today is all.”
Chloe laughed a little, the sound ringing out even in the constant chatter of the cafe around them. At the counter Clark glanced around in their direction as his conversation with Lana was interrupted. “You’re smooth aren’t you?”
“I try to be.”
“Somehow I don’t think that it takes much trying.” Her eyes widened. “I-I don’t know where that came from.”
“I’m sure it was meant as a compliment,” he answered, amused by her reaction. You’d think the poor girl didn’t know how to flirt harmlessly. “Have you decided if you’re going to do anything about that?” the young man asked gesturing briefly to where Lana was standing with a sweet vapid smile on her face as Clark rambled on about something, ignoring the other customer present and as yet not served. It had only been a matter of time until they got it together and while Lex was pleased for his young friend he couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret for the girl sat at the table with him.
“I think a bit of breathing room might be in order. The idea of being a third wheel on their love wagon doesn’t feel all that appealing.”
Lex raised an eyebrow. He’d half expected her to say she was going to fight for the young man who was supposedly the love of her life. Chloe Sullivan had never struck him as a quitter. “An admirable decision,” he said finally. “It shows strength.”
She seemed to brighten slightly, her posture straightening a little. “You think so?”
Taking a sip of coffee he answered, “Yes.”
“This is one thing I never thought I would hear myself saying but you should watch out Lex Luthor or I might end up running to you whenever I need emotional support or an ego boost. Ever thought of becoming a therapist?”
Lex chuckled surprising himself. “Somehow I don’t think I would remain very sympathetic for long. There are very few people that I can imagine listening to for any length of time.”
She gave him a strange little look out of the corner of her eye that seemed to be both curious and full of realisation. For a second he held her eyes wondering at the depth of intelligence he saw there then glanced away as a shadow loomed over them. Across from where he sat Clark slid into a seat with almost surreal grace.
“Hey, what you guys been talked about?” the new arrival asked placing cups down on the low table.
“How terrible Lex would be as a counsellor,” the blonde by his side said instantly and then reached for her drink. She paused with it near her mouth taking a deep breath that reminded Lex oddly enough of himself first thing in the day.
As she spoke however there appeared on Clark’s face an anxious look that did not pass until he glanced at Lex and realised his other friend had not taken offence. “Um, yeah,” the dark haired youth said obviously having to think about his reaction.
“And on that note I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you,” Lex said pushing himself to his feet. He smiled at the pair and wondered not for the first time exactly why he enjoyed their company so much. “As usual it’s been a pleasure. Chloe, Clark, I hope you have a good day.”
The blonde girl smiled at him endearingly over the rim of her coffee cup while Clark flashed another toothpaste ad smile. “You too Lex,” the boy said as his friend turned to leave. Lex glanced back letting his eyes longer on the pretty blonde for a moment then left the coffee house.
7.
As Lex left Clark turned and smiled in a way that somehow managed to be innocent and yet full of suspicion. To sum it up Chloe was suddenly sure that there was a myriad of thoughts running through the young man’s brain and he was just waiting for the chance to say something. Chloe narrowed her eyes at him and sipped nervously at her coffee.
They continued to sit in silence for what seemed like an eternity until Lana appeared with a sunny smile and took the seat that Lex had been occupying. “That looked like an interesting conversation you were having,” the dark haired girl said.
“We weren’t saying anything,” Clark answered.
“Not you two. I meant Chloe and Lex.”
The blonde could not but help appear startled. She had been completely unaware that anyone had observed her conversation with Lex but herself and Clark. That Lana had been able to tear her eyes away from the dark haired farm boy was amazing but that she had actually thought that there was something to observe went beyond amazing and into the realms of wonder. “We weren’t really saying anything,” she told her mirroring her friend’s words unconsciously. Lana did not appear convinced and instead put a small, conspiratorial smile on her face that made Chloe lower her eyes and suddenly begin to be very interested in the bottom of her coffee cup.
Clark’s eyes brightened as a thought occurred to him and Chloe found herself wishing that Lana had just disappeared off the face on the planet and never spoken. “So, Chloe, what do you think of Lex now you’ve had the chance to get to know him better?”
It was all she could do not to choke on the sip of coffee that she had been taking. She seriously doubted that Clark had any idea exactly how much better she now knew his friend. “He’s okay. He’s not exactly the cold, heartless bastard I thought he was.”
The comment seemed to satisfy any curiosity that Clark had been maintaining and instead the conversation now turned to other matters leaving the blonde girl the opportunity to zone out. The truth was that whatever her reservations had once been about Lex Luthor they had all but disappeared recently. Today had been the first time since the night of the prom that she had actually seen him to speak to and to her surprise it had evoked a whole range of emotions that she had never thought possible about the cold young man. No that was wrong, he wasn’t nearly as cold as people supposed. There had been genuine sympathy for her in his eyes when they had been discussing Clark and Lana and the manner in which he had reassured her hadn’t been at all distanced or cold.
It wasn’t the most comforting of thoughts in spite of whatever stupid comment she might have made to him about therapy. The memory of that little event nearly made her groan out loud. There were very few people alive that ever made Chloe feel stupid and unfortunately Lex Luthor was one of them. She didn’t know why it was, how sometimes he could make her end up feeling like a gibbering idiot when they talked and yet still be uplifting to the point she would come away feeling good about herself. All part of the mystery man image she thought with a small smile.
“So what do you think?”
Chloe looked up and in Clark’s direction. “Huh?”
“I think Chloe was a little distracted,” Lana said. “We were talking about driving to Metropolis this weekend - you, me, Clark and Pete if we can tear him away from whichever girl’s he’s dating this week.”
“It’ll be fun,” Clark promised obviously elated with the idea of spending the entire weekend in the company of the girl he adored. “Please?”
She felt herself relent and nodded at him eliciting pleased expressions from both of the other teenagers.
“We can share the cost of a room!” Lana exclaimed and Chloe felt her heart fall at the thought. An entire weekend in the same room as Lana Lang without throttling some of the niceness out of her… Nope. Not possible. Silently she cursed herself. Hadn’t she just got through telling Lex she’d be giving the happy couple space?
Clark was stood up, pulling himself to his full height, still with that pleased expression plastered on his face. “Now that’s sorted I guess I can get going – chores to do and all that,” he explained. He turned large eyes on Lana and added, “Maybe I’ll call by again later?” As usual his voice was filled with quiet hopefulness.
“I’ll see you then,” the dark haired girl answered. When Clark had left she turned to Chloe and said, “We haven’t really had much of an opportunity to talk lately.”
When do we ever, the blonde thought but said out loud, “No we haven’t. Was there something particularly you wanted to talk about?”
A flash of nervousness danced across Lana’s face. “Well really it was about me and Clark. Are you okay with it?”
Chloe fought to keep her face impassive. “It doesn’t really have anything to do with me,” she answered resisting the urge to breathe a sigh of relief when the sentence came out without betraying the rush of emotions that accompanied it.
“That isn’t exactly what I meant.”
“Lana, Clark will do what Clark wants to do irrespective of what I think. I’d never let a friend of mine be miserable because of me.” It hurt to say those words to the cheerleader who stared at her with such an open face full of honesty and indecision. Still Chloe could almost feel the wave of relief that washed over from the other girl as some of the tenseness slipped out of her shoulders.
“I really do care for him,” Lana confided. “And I promise you that I won’t ever hurt him.”
Gritting her teeth Chloe answered, “I suppose that’s all I can ask for.”
Lana smiled slightly. “We’re going to be friends Chloe. I can feel it.”
8.
She really should have guessed that Lana would like pop music Chloe thought as yet another upbeat song began. She should also have guessed that the boys would let the petite brunette dictate what radio station they should tune into. Around her the others were chatting companionably while Chloe hunched over the wheel and fought the urge to scream in frustration at the midday Metropolis traffic. At either side traffic streamed by while the lane they were in seemed only able to stand still.
“You know maybe we should have taken the other route,” Clark said suddenly gazing around him out of the windows while Chloe gripped the steering wheel all the tighter to stop herself from turning around and hitting her friend. Her fingers were slowly turning white. Now he realises, she thought, when we’ve been sat in traffic for the last three quarters of an hour with no end in sight.
“Really Clark, whatever gave you that impression?” she snapped. “Was it that asshole who keeps driving around in circles trying to get into this lane right in front of me every time or the other asshole behind who obviously believes that we should all drive bumper to bumper?”
There was a sudden deafening silence in the car except for the sound of yet another pop princess singing about love and some impossible dream boy.
“You’re doing a great job Chloe,” Lana offered. “I’m sure this will clear up soon.”
The blonde growled under her breath as another car began to edge its way out in front of her. “Oh that is it!” she exclaimed. The other passengers in her car found they were thrown back in their seats as their petite friend floored the accelerator and dove out into the fast moving traffic. For a terrifying ten minutes they clung on for dear life until she found some free space and slowed to a sensible pace.
Pete cracked an eye open. “You’re been spending too much time with Luthor,” he said. “You’re starting to drive like him now.”
She shot a glare at the young man sat in the front passenger seat beside her. “Would you rather be still sat in the traffic? No? I didn’t think so.”
“The turnings just a head on your right,” Clark told her his voice only slightly hesitant. Chloe turned the car without saying a word.
The hotel that Lana had picked was as nice as anything Chloe would have chosen herself. If there was one thing that the reporter would be willing to admit about Lana Lang it was that she had innate good taste and an uncanny ability to track down reasonable prices. As she looked up at the friendly, five story building with its sunny exterior Chloe was filled with an impending sense of doom as the prospect of spending the entire weekend with the group of overly happy people stretched out in front of her. This had been a really stupid idea.
They parked her car in the hotel’s tiny parking lot around the back of the building then struggled around the front with Clark and Pete insisting on carrying all the bags while the two girls out distanced them. Inside the hotel a matronly woman behind the check in counter gave them a look that was both curious and amused on their arrival. When the two boys entered, bantering with each other she raised one greying eyebrow at Lana and Chloe and smiled at them all.
“So is it two rooms?” she asked, peering at them over the top of her half moon glasses.
“Yes,” the dark haired girl replied leaning ever so lightly on the reception desk. “Chloe and I will be sharing while Clark and Pete will be in together. That’s going to be alright isn’t it?”
“Oh!” the woman exclaimed and seemed to be a little relieved. “Certainly.” She turned to the computer on her desk and tapped away for a second. “We’ve got rooms free on the third floor, three-oh-five and three-oh-seven. Would that be okay? There’s a connecting door.”
Lana glanced around at the other three for confirmation and then said, “I think that will be fine, thank you.”
“Okay then, if you’ll just sign the register then I’ll get someone to help you with your bags.” She lifted up a large ledger onto the counter and handed Lana a pen.
“That’s okay,” Clark said as the woman turned to the back office. “We can manage. There’s no need to get anyone.”
“Clark man,” Pete exclaimed. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
The dark haired youth sighed. “Hand them over.”
Pete grinned at him then passed him one of the bags and readjusted the ones he was still holding. “Why do we need so much stuff anyway?”
Chloe rose at eyebrow at him and shook her head gently. “You’re travelling with two girls Pete and as much as I hate to conform to social stereotypes I have to admit that this time it’s the truth that we tend to take a lot of things and that begs the question of what else did you think would be the reason?”
“When you put it that way it does seem a little obvious.”
“Are we all done?” Lana asked. At the nods she received all around then she plucked the two room keys from the counter.
“Thank God!” Pete exclaimed. “An elevator.”
Clark looked at the suitcase that his friend was carrying then glanced at the ones in his own hands. “I really don’t see what you’re complaining about.”
“Will you guys stop acting like big babies?” the blonde reporter said stepping into the waiting elevator car and holding the door open for the others as they piled in. “If its that big a deal then I’ll just carry my own things.”
“You can’t possibly do that,” Lana said in mock outrage. “It’ll hurt their feelings. They won’t get to feel all manly.”
Surprised at her humour Chloe turned to the other girl with a grin on her face. “We certainly can’t have that,” she replied. “I can imagine the temper tantrums now. They’d never shut up!”
Looking over the top of the heads of the two girls Clark said to Pete, “Do you get the feeling that someone’s talking about you?”
“Strangely enough I do.”
There was a loud ping as they reached the right floor. The four teenagers poured out, chattering excitedly at the prospect of seeing their rooms for the first time. Lana handed over a set of keys to the boys and then unlocked the door to the room that she would be sharing with Chloe. With an encouraging smile Clark handed over their suitcases and then shooed them both inside before disappearing into his own room.
It was nice. There were two twins beds up against one wall, a dressing table with a stool and a free standing wardrobe all made from dark wood giving the room a luxuriant atmosphere. Two large windows were situation in the far wall with drapes flanking them and bright sunlight shined through them highlighting a low coffee table with a padded chair near by. Chloe dropped her bags on the floor without a second thought and jumped on one of the beds, bouncing up and down slightly as she landed. Lana smiled at her and wandered around the room. She disappeared through a doorway them appeared again. “Bathroom,” she said acknowledging Chloe’s questioning look.
“That must be the door to the other room then,” the blonde said gesturing to the one that was as yet unexplored. “Want to take a look?”
Lana shook her head. “I’m sure they boys will check it. This is nice isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
She sat at the dressing table on the stool facing the other girl. “Chloe, have I done something to upset or irritate you or make you angry with me? I thought we were okay after that chat the other day.”
The blonde resisted the urge to let out a groan. They hadn’t been alone together for two minutes and already Lana was trying to be all touchy feely, lets talk about our feelings and be best buddies. This was what she had been dreading. Why couldn’t Lana just understand that she didn’t like sharing how she felt all the time? Chloe took a deep breath and dipped her head slightly so that the brunette wouldn’t see her expression.
“Everything’s okay,” she said finally.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure.”
Lana’s head cocked to one side and for a moment the girl closely resembled a cocker spaniel. “Positive?”
“Yes!” the girl exclaimed and the strange thing was that Chloe realised it was true.
The adjoining door flew open and Clark appeared. “This is just… Wow!” He smiled at Lana and placed a gentle kiss on the girl’s head. “You’re so clever.”
Lana turned a brilliant smile on Clark. “So what do you want to do now?”
“I’m getting a little hungry,” the tall, dark haired young man admitted.
Chloe glanced at her watch shocked at the way the time had rushed by. It suddenly seemed to her that there was an empty pit where her stomach should have been. “I noticed a restaurant a couple of blocks away. “We could go there.”
“I’ll just get my purse,” Lana said.
9.
When he had lived in Metropolis it had seemed like heaven. Everything he wanted, no matter what it was, what time of day or night it was, was always on hand. It had been good to be known as the bad boy, to be held in awe and to have known that if anyone even thought of laying a hand on him then they could count on retribution. But the best part had been the sense of freedom that he felt the city had provided him with. He’d thought Metropolis had been the only place on earth for him.
Now as he sat waiting for the board member sat in front of him, a Mr Danilov who was firmly in his father’s pocket, to finish what was clearly a previously prepared speech on a subject that he’d already memorised on the flight to Metropolis from Smallville Lex found his thoughts turning back to the sleepy little town. He found himself remembering tiny little details about the house and the town and all the people and realising that although he’d only been back in the city a few hours he seemed to miss the place. It was, he thought, a favourable sentiment that had been developing for quite some time.
The man had finally finished speaking and was watching Lex expectantly while he appeared to consider his reply. The proposal was of course ridiculous and he had already decided that his would answer it in the negative. Instead what was really running through his mind was the question over why his father had insisted that he attend this meeting and indeed why it had to take part in Metropolis. Absently Lex wondered whether he was letting his paranoia do the thinking for him.
“I’ll think about it and run over the numbers,” Lex said pushing himself to his feet. The man seemed to take the hint and also stood holding his hand out. Reluctantly Lex shook his hand, finding the flesh clammy with perspiration. It was all he could do not to wipe his hand on his trouser leg when they separated.
Left alone Lex returned to the desk that normally belonged to his father and rubbed his eyes. Lionel had to be up to something. He was always up to something and that fact had helped Lex developed fine survival instincts. After a few moments silent contemplation he called in his personal assistant and dictated a memo to her to forward onto Danilov with strict instructions to delay it a day or so in order to maintain the fiction that he had thought the proposal over. There would be no use angering board members, even ones as unimportant as Danilov, by seeming dismissive of their ideas.
For a moment he though about calling the house back in Smallville then changed his mind. It would look too much like he was nervous and that would be seen as a weakness that could be exploited.
It didn’t take too long to decide to leave the paper work on his desk for the day. The thought of spending the rest of the day pouring over it held no appeal what-so-ever and although Lex knew that he would probably regret leaving it later he was not in the particular frame of mind that cared at that point. His personal assistant looked up abruptly as her boss left his office still in the action of pulling on a coat.
“Mr Luthor!” she exclaimed. “What do I say if anyone calls?” Waving away her question Lex made for the elevator and then down to the parking lot.
10.
One thought had begun to rotate in Chloe’s mind – she couldn’t believe they were more sickening happy that ever here in the city. Absently she twirled the straw in her cola and watched Clark and Lana over the table as they shamelessly stared into each other’s eyes with a look of complete contentment. Maybe if she exposed herself for long enough then she’d become immune. The thought was not a welcome one. It didn’t help that Pete had wandered off. Glancing around, she saw that he was currently leaning over the counter talking to one of the waitresses who appeared to be very interested in what he was saying.
Great, she thought, here I am the odd one out again and this time it’s my own stupid fault. In a vain effort to start a conversation she said, “So what do you want to do this afternoon?”
“I don’t know,” the other girl answered.
“Um, whatever,” Clark replied reaching for the hamburger on the plate in front of him. As Chloe watched Lana reached across and stole a fry from his plate and popped it into her mouth. At the rate she was going Chloe was beginning to wonder why she hadn’t just ordered a plate for herself instead of the salad sat before her. Oh, the problems of being Little Miss Perfect and having to worry about you perfect figure. Or at least appear to worry about it and hence the salad.
“Come on this is Metropolis, the city where anything and everything can happen. You must be able to think of something?”
Clark shrugged again.
Feeling a fresh wave of irritation she said, “You know something I think I’ll go get some air.”
Chloe pushed away noisily from the table and marched out of the restaurant, ignoring the curious looks directed at her by the other patrons. On reaching the outside of the building she felt as if a huge load had been lifted from her shoulders and realised that she had been holding her breath. Chloe let it out as a long rush of air that startled a man walking by her. It was at times like this that she wished she had taken up smoking or some other vice that would have allowed her to lean against a wall looking cool, calm and collected. Preferably one that wouldn’t get her arrested or in her looking like an immature school girl who was apparently unable to keep her temper in check. That was a little how she was feeling at the moment actually.
Realising that she had perhaps behaved foolishly the blonde girl turned around and stared in the large plate glass window. To her disbelief the couple had returned to eating as if nothing had ever happened. Beside her the door to the restaurant opened and Pete appeared.
“What’s the matter?” he asked and to Chloe it sounded as if he was none too pleased at having been pulled away from his conversation with the waitress.
She cast a wry look at him and gestured through the window. “I might as well have not even existed.”
Pete sighed and leaned against the wall for support. “You have to stop this.”
“What?”
“This obsessing. They’re together now for better or worse. You can’t keep… Oh forget it.”
“No, what were you going to say?”
He hesitated again and met her eyes. “Chloe you’re one of my closest friends – you always will be – but you have to move on now.”
“Don’t you think I’m trying?”
“I think that your head’s telling you that you are but your heart isn’t in one hundred per cent agreement.”
For the first time in a long while Chloe really looked at Pete wondering when he’d turned into the fountain of all knowledge. Her mind ran briefly over what she had said to Lex about keeping her distance and realised that she should have kept to her decision and yet all it had taken to alter it had been one pleading glance and her heart had taken control of the good ship Chloe again. After all, she’d never denied Clark anything before; it had probably wondered what was so different about now.
“Pete I think I’m going to take a walk. Can you tell the love-birds?”
He looked sceptical. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I spent my childhood in Metropolis; I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then. Meet you back at the hotel later?”
“Sure.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
11.
There was something relaxing about driving. It always managed to help him think for some inexplicable reason. Even the Metropolis traffic could do nothing to disrupt the connection. After five minutes behind the wheel he could string mental sentences together. After fifteen minutes his thoughts had started to order themselves. After half an hour Lex found he was able to come to reasoned, rational conclusions even if he had to say them out aloud to fully grasp them and by the time fifteen more minutes had passed he was one again able to make leaps of intuition and understanding such as he was known for.
His father wanted him out of the house and away from Smallville which suggested that he was planning something. This had been established with very little difficultly. That the ‘something’ in question was significant was also obvious and the only thing Lionel could do in his present condition that would warrant getting Lex out of the way was inviting someone to the house. This thought firmly in his mind Lex telephoned one of the less respectable members of his private work force and had them track down all flights coming into airports around and near Smallville and subsequently the passenger lists. Perhaps there would be a name he would recognise. On a second thought he made a note to have the security tapes for the manor reviewed in case his father had forgot about them and the evidence they could present his son with. That was a long shot. If Lionel had been planning this for a while then he would already have covered such small details.
He felt some of the tension that had been building in his shoulders ease out. It may not be perfect but at least he could hazard some guess and maybe forget about his troubles for a while.
A blonde flash caught his eye and Lex slammed on the brakes. He was thrown forwards by the force of the car screeching to a halt and felt his chest constrict as the seat belt locked into place. The sound of more tires skidding behind him was vaguely audible over the noise of his heart beating quickly in his ears. Lex sat staring at the girl stood in front of his car while panting in an effort to catch his breath. His wits partially regained the young man unfastened his seat belt and flung open the car door. Only a second later he was stood, leaning against the roof for support.
The girl was still stood in front of the car in the middle of the road though thankfully someone had gone to help her because she was trembling violently and didn’t look as if she would be able to keep on her feet for much longer.
“What the hell did you think you were doing?” an irate man said climbing out of a car that had halted at an odd angle behind Lex’s. He lumbered forwards carrying his rather extensive waistline with him with surprising ease. Lex took one look at the man’s reddened features and turned his back on him. “Hey I was talking with you! Hey baldy!” A hand grabbed at Lex’s shoulder and spun him around.
“Don’t do that,” Lex warned.
“Now listen…” the man said, trailing off as he met the young man’s eyes.
“Whatever grievance you have I’ll deal with in a moment but first I’m going to see how the young woman I nearly hit is. If you have a problem with that then I suggest that you shove it up your ass because it will probably do more good there than anywhere near me.”
Lex spun on his heals and stalked off towards where the girl had been sat down on the curb. The woman who had helped her eyed Lex suspiciously but didn’t say anything. When he reached them Lex bobbed down beside her. “Chloe?” he asked. “Chloe are you okay?”
She turned pale eyes to him, her skin an unhealthy shade and her lower lips still trembling ever so slightly. Her hands were clutched together tightly, resting in her lap and Lex thought that she seemed to be hunched over as if trying to make herself smaller. “Lex?” She glanced at the car and then back at him. “Don’t tell me that was you! What are you trying to do – wipe out the entire teenage population of Smallville?” The young man felt a smile drift onto his lips. If she could snap at him then she was probably fine. “Don’t grin at me mister. You scared the life out of me!”
“Says the girl who wasn’t looking where she was going,” he replied though there was little irritation in his voice as he spoke. Her eyes shone lighting up her face and Lex could see her winding up for another scathing reply. If anything Lex realised that it was good to see the small blonde.
“You know him?” Chloe’s rescuer asked, her face betraying the confusion that she obviously felt over their exchange. When the woman looked at Lex her features we stance showed that she was still more than a little protective of the blonde girl sat on the curb.
“Sure,” Chloe replied and to Lex it seemed there was a little more confidence to her voice than there had been before.
Standing Lex held his hand to her and pulled Chloe up after him. As she still seemed a little unsteady on her feet he kept his arm out for her to hold onto and was a little surprised to find she accepted the aid without any argument. “Come on,” he said. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital or something.”
The blonde shook her head. “No, don’t do that. I’m fine and it’d only mean you getting in trouble.”
“Your consideration is very welcome but it’s no problem.”
“Lex! Seriously I’m fine. Just great. I could do cartwheels but I won’t because that would look stupid.”
A horn erupted at some distance. It was closely followed by the sound of another and then another as more drivers grew increasingly irate at the hold up. She couldn’t have chosen a back street to step out in front of his car she had to choose a busy one.
“Shit,” Lex hissed under his breath glancing up at the line of cars reaching back down the street. He gestured to his car. “Get in; I’ll take you back to wherever it is you’re staying.”
Moments later Lex was behind the wheel again having dealt, somewhat loudly perhaps, with the other driver who had been hassling him. The other man had gone away with a sullen if slightly baffled expression on his face and the slight feeling that somehow he had been convinced into believing that he hadn’t been outsmarted. Once they were moving Lex found himself asking her twice where she was staying. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at her and found that the blonde had slumped in her seat and had her eyes closed.
“If its okay with you I don’t really feel like going back there just yet,” she said and to Lex’s ears it sounded like a plea.
Feeling a little foolish the young man said, “You need to rest Chloe. You’ve had one hell of a shock.”
“I don’t want to go back to the hotel. Clark and Lana might be there being all gooey eyed and I’ve had about as much of that as I can stand for one day. Plus I’ve got to share a room with her and she’s all sunshine and happiness at the moment. One more ‘let’s be friends Chloe’ talk off her and I swear that I will not be responsible for my actions. The worst thing is I know she means well which only gets me angrier because I feel like such an ass for being so hostile.”
Lex felt surprise course through him as he listened to her rant. She might as well have been oblivious to his presence. It was a most adorable tendency of hers that he had discerned from their few conversations together and as he listened Lex felt amusement well in him. “You’re here with Clark and Lana?”
Beside him the blonde girl ducked her head slightly and became very interested in what was outside of the window. “Clark kind of…”
“Asked?” Lex surmised bluntly.
“Am I that easy to read?” she said. “I’m not the only one who seems to hang on his every word sometimes you know.”
“That’s entirely different. He saved my life. I owe him.”
“He saved my life too,” she shrugged. “So that’s no excuse.”
“He’s the only person who gave me the time of day when I moved to Smallville,” Lex pointed out.
“Hey! What about me?”
He gave her a charming little smile. “If I remember correctly then you were as suspicious of me as everyone else.”
“No I… Okay well maybe a little.”
Glancing out of the corner of his eye again Lex saw an irritated expression on her face. The sense of honesty that Smallville seemed to ingrain itself on to most of its town’s people had obviously worked its magic on Chloe too. It was a shame really; if the girl really did want to be a journalist one day then she’d have to learn that half truths were sometimes necessary.
“So where are you whisking me off to?” she asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“My apartment. Seeing as you won’t go to the hospital and you don’t want to face your friends yet it seems like the next best place. I take it you have no objections?”
Chloe shook her head. “You’re joking right? The opportunity to have a nosey around Lex Luthor’s place… oh the possibilities!”
For a moment he was startled and wondered whether she was serious or not. One glance in the blondes direction showed him the mischievous little quirk of her lips and reassured him she hadn’t been.
Title: Solace
Author: HumbugGirl
Email: humbuggirl@hotmail.com
URL: S t o r y v i l l e - http://www.geocities.com/peacefulempress/home.html or
Oddments – http://www.geocities.com/oddfiction
Pairing: Lex/Chloe
Rating: NC-17
Spoilers: Tempest
Summary: The events of Tempest have a bigger effect on the Lex and Chloe than could ever have been guessed.
Disclaimer: Okay so I haven’t had the chance to come up with a proper disclaimer yet so you’ll have to put up with the basic ‘none of the characters belong to me, this is a non-profit piece of work just written for fun with praise directed at the creators of Smallville’ kinda thing.
Feedback: Always appreciated.
1.
Someone had been industrious enough to spike the punch even under the watchful eye of its caretaker, a pig-eyed woman who worked in the school library when she wasn’t playing chaperone. Chloe wasn’t certain what it had been spiked with but she did know there was a warm, glowing feeling inside her from it that felt kind of nice as she sipped at her forth cup and savoured the taste in her mouth.
Someone had spiked the punch and it seemed to her that everyone was merrily dancing about without a care in the world despite the weather warning that had been announced and Clark wasn’t here. He’d gone missing. Vanished off the face of the planet and she’d only turned around for a second. There was some part of her that could have cited a verse of epic proportions on exactly what or rather who had caused him to disappear but there was a contrasting part of her that didn’t want to accept it. He’d said this was her night and she’d believed him as she always did with that unshakeable trust born of a wonderful friendship and maybe something a little more. Only now he wasn’t here and the reason for her abandonment was probably sat at home in front of a lovely warm fire, safe and secure because it was official that when bad things happened to Chloe Sullivan only good things could happen to Lana Lang. It had always been that way.
Chloe took another sip of the punch and tried to make the tears rising in her eyes subside. A disturbing sensation of unease had begun to rise inside of her. She was all alone and she was sure people kept glancing at her and this was not how this evening was meant to go. She didn’t have a Cinderella complex but she did have something worse – a fairy princess complex and for just once she wished that everything would work out wonderfully the way she had planned it and she wouldn’t have to kick herself for getting her own hopes up.
Absently Chloe reached for another cup from the refreshments table and drank it down. She collected another one feeling more than a little light headed but figuring that the night couldn’t actually get any worse than it already was. She couldn’t believe he’d left her here all alone at the dance. Damn his dimple faced innocence and hero complex.
Tonight was meant to have been so special. It had taken most of the money she had saved from her allowance to buy the dress but the moment that she’d tried it on Chloe had known it was the only one for her. The matching shoes had put her over budget and she’d been forced to borrow money from her father to make up the difference and her underwear… well that had been put on a credit card. Hopefully her father wouldn’t ask too many questions when he saw the name of the shop on the bill he was going to receive. The underwear had been the crowning point of the outfit, all skimpy pale pink satin with delicate laced edges, that made her feel so unbelievably sexy and she’d half been hoping that she wouldn’t by the only one to see it that night.
She’d somehow managed to finish another drink and picked up a fresh cup. Chloe turned back to the dance floor and to the happy couples there feeling an odd sense of anger growing in her. It didn’t seem fair somehow. Above the gym lights flickered bringing a rousing chorus of ‘ahs’ and giggles from the assembled teenagers.
Taking her drink Chloe marched from the gym. Maybe Clark was hanging around somewhere that she hadn’t looked yet. Even he would have second thoughts about going out in weather like this. The girl gave a little shake of her head realising that it was probably only hopeful thinking on her part.
She’d always been aware of the way in which Clark felt towards Lana. It wasn’t something that Clark was really capable of hiding as his eyes seemed to scream everything he was feeling. But for a while there she had thought that maybe he was getting over his infatuation with the beautiful brunette girl. Silently Chloe cursed the other girl’s boyfriend for going away and effectively making Lana available again just when it seemed Clark was ready to move on. Whitney really could pick his moments.
The school was eerily quiet even with music from the band playing in the distance. Chloe found herself feeling just the tiniest bit naughty as she wandered through the empty corridors knowing that no one was supposed to wander far from the gym tonight. In an almost unconscious action she wandered in the direction of the offices of The Torch, to her sanctuary and away from the almost certain embarrassment of being on her own at the biggest social event of the school year. She could almost imagine the pitying expression on Pete’s face now with the ‘you really should have expected it’ sentiments on his lips.
Chloe flicked the lights on in the room and instantly felt better. Slumping down in a seat she thought, this is more like it, this is me.
A sound broke through her melancholy thoughts and brought the blonde girl to her feet again. Quietly she crossed to the window and stared out in amazement at the approaching ambulance.
2.
Someone had called an ambulance. Lex could vaguely remember the housekeeper running into his study with a shocked expression plastered on her tired face and the incessant sound of her voice as she asked again and then again if he was okay and what had happened. Lex had pushed away from her feeling vomit rising in his throat as blood trickled down over his eye clouding his vision. He had never liked the sight of his own blood.
God only knew how long he had stood there staring at the still figure of his trapped father. Certainly long enough for the man to beg and plead with words that had so very nearly filled him with something near sympathy and certainly long enough for the older man to pass out. Then there had been people running around the room, dragging Lionel free of his imprisonment and casting querying, stunned glances at his son as he just stood there, as still as stone and almost as unresponsive.
Someone had helped him into the ambulance, placing their blood drenched and gloved hands all over his arm then wrapping a red blanket about his shoulders. He supposed it was intended to be a comforting. “You’re just in shock Mr Luthor. Everything will be fine. Don’t worry.” And all the while the only thoughts that kept running about his head as he sat there, shivering slightly, was that he hadn’t been in an ambulance for years.
As they drove cautiously along the wind outside rattled the walls surrounding him dauntingly. The storm raged and Lex was reminded of childhood fears he had not even dared to admit to himself for a long time knowing they were foolish. Rain was loud on the roof, a ceaseless drumming sound pounding its way into his skull. It was giving him a headache or maybe that was the cut. Either way he wished it would stop. He wanted to think clearly and the constant ache wasn’t helping at all.
“Mr Luthor,” a voice called interrupting his thoughts and startling the young man. Lex looked up and into the eyes of the middle aged paramedic who was watching him with concern.
“Yes. What?”
“We’re going to have to stop. I’m afraid the weather’s getting too bad to carry on. The high school is just ahead and it should be still open so we can stop there. The Prom’s going on tonight you see.”
“Yes I know,” he found himself saying. He looked at his father laying unconscious still. “If you must.”
“We have to. Don’t worry Mr Luthor, your father’s stable for the time being.”
That wasn’t what I was thinking, popped into Lex’s head and he had to check the paramedic’s face to make sure he hadn’t said it out loud. Luckily it seemed he hadn’t.
The school appeared deserted as they pulled into the parking lot. There were cars dotted around all over the place but no other sign of life. They pulled up outside the front steps and waited while the ambulance driver rushed up the steps and opened the doors. Moments later the man had returned and they were carrying Lionel up the steps on the stretcher while Lex followed short way behind on foot.
3.
In his own way Lex Luthor had always scared her. There was something cold and demanding about him that made her feel the need to crawl away and curl up in a ball when she found herself under the scrutiny of his gaze. In Smallville Lex wasn’t God but he was damn near close to it and the young man knew it as well which only made the fact more infuriating. But at the moment the demi-god didn’t look much like he was in control. In fact he looked more than a little dazed and confused and there was an air of the ‘lost little boy’ about him that seemed completely out of place. Wasn’t it Clark that was meant to wear that expression?
On a stretcher Lionel Luthor looked like death. His head lay at an odd angle, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. There was a tiny trail of blood from the corner of his lips running down his jaw line. Chloe refused to look at his torso which was a mess of blood though from the unconcerned expressions on the faces of the paramedics she guessed that there wasn’t much bleeding out. Lex was staring at the prone man with something akin to fascination on his face. There was no anxiety there though; he didn’t appear to be upset in the least by the sight of his injured father.
As the young man glanced in her direction Chloe darted back into the shadows not wanting to be seen by him. At a distance she followed them through the school until they came to the cafeteria and entered. The older Luthor was laid on a pair of tables hastily pushed together and the two paramedics began to fuss over him with a speed and confidence born of experience. Lex was left to his own devices and eventually sat down at another table appearing to be somewhat dejected. Every so often he would look in the direction of his father and then turned away again with a look resembling disgust on his face.
Chloe stared at the man who was being blamed for the loss of her father’s job trying to make the resentment she had been feeling for most of the day grow again in her heart but only to find it flop and refuse to develop into anything substantial. It was useless. She couldn’t hate someone who looked like their entire world had just fallen apart.
“Mr Luthor?” the female paramedic said walking slowly, almost fearfully up to Lex.
“Yes?”
“I can take a look at that cut now if you want.”
Once again he glanced at the still form on the table. “I don’t want to be in here.”
The two paramedics looked at each other. “I can’t leave your father Mr Luthor,” she said. “In case there’s an emergency you understand.”
“I-I can do it.” The comment came out before Chloe even realised she had opened her mouth. The blonde girl stepped into the room nervously knowing that there was no way to get away now that she had announced her own presence.
Startled Lex demanded, “How long have you been there?”
“Not long.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea Miss,” the paramedic answered.
“I have a first aid certificate. If it’s not too bad I think I’d be able to manage.”
The woman still appeared unsure. “Would that be okay with you Mr Luthor?”
The young man threw his hands up in the air with look of resignation. “Why not?” He stood, pulling himself to his feet somewhat groggily and the action seemed somewhat strained. Chloe crossed the room quickly meaning to give him an arm to lean on but he pushed her away. “I can do it myself thank you very much.”
Suddenly it was a lot easier to hate him. “You can barely stand up!” she exclaimed feeling braver for the alcohol still running hot through her blood and taking hold of his arm in spite of his protests. “There’s a first aid kit in my office we can use that,” she told them and walked off pulling Lex along behind her.
4.
Chloe’s office turned out to be those belonging to The Torch. He supposed he should have realised that in advance. It was after all pretty obvious where she had meant.
Leaning back in the chair she had seated him in Lex carefully touched one hand to the injury on his head and winced. It still hurt but at least a little of the dizziness had passed now. For the moment Lex tried to forget about the pain and concentrate on the small blonde girl who was moving about the room collecting things together in order to clean and dress the cut on his forehead. Chloe Sullivan was the last person he had expected help from especially considering the fact that he, no Lionel, had just put her own father out of work.
In a way he had to admire her. Under her circumstances Lex wasn’t sure he could have been quite so civil. Then there was what he knew of her besides. She managed and ran the entire school paper, virtually by herself most of the time and wrote articles for the local newspaper in her spare time. His employee records suggested that she virtually ran her father’s household and still seemed to have time for a social life. That was more than he was able to do now-a-days.
Then again there were other ways to admire a person too.
The dress was pretty and it flowed around the blonde’s legs and the low cut was flattering to her figure. He’d always thought that the girl had a kind of naïve charm to her and it seemed all the more evident as she approached him with a stern, business like expression on her face placing the things that she had assembled on the desk beside him. Leaning forwards Lex sniffed the air before her.
“Have you been drinking?” he asked and strangely his voice sounded shocked. He didn’t know why he should be. After all at her age he had been regularly seen on the club circuit in Metropolis and alcohol abuse had been one of his lesser sins.
“Yup,” she answered dipping a cloth into the glass of water she had brought to the desk and moving it up to his cut.
Lex shot to his feet. “I’m not sure it would be a good idea for you to do this after all.”
She turned her eyes up at him. “I’m not drunk if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“You don’t know what I’m thinking,” he said, angry that she had dared to assume what was going on in his mind. Almost the instant that the words came out of his mouth he regretted them.
Chloe’s eyes lit up and it seemed that the girl took his words as a challenge. “First you’re thinking that I’m drunk and that I’m probably going to mess this up,” she said waving the damp cloth around in the air. The blonde put a hand on his chest making him wince as she touched fresh bruises he hadn’t even known he had and pushed him down into the chair again. “But I’m not. Secondly you know I’m a reporter and that I want to be one when I leave school, so you’re probably thinking that I’m fishing for a story. But I’m not. Thirdly you’re thinking that I’m a child but I think we both know that I’m more grown up than other people my age. If nothing else you’ll have got that impression from Clark. So there’s no reason to be paranoid Lex Luthor because I’m not going to go running to all my friends bragging that I saw Lex Luthor when he was at his weakest okay?”
For a moment he sat wide eyed and unable to say anything in reply. “I’m not…”
“Yes you are. You’re sat there with your own blood all over your face, clutching at your ribs and chest like someone has hit you, your father is injured and you’re hardly up to your usual verbal judo.” He smiled a little at her unconscious use of his own phrase. “So sit still and let me do this.”
“A little bit of alcohol seems to give you an awful lot of courage Miss Sullivan.”
“Chloe.”
“What?”
“My name is Chloe and you’re Lex so now that we’re not being formal anymore do you want to tell me what happened?” At the look in his eyes she added. “Off the record of course.”
After a moment in which he decided there was no use avoiding her question he said, “There was an accident at the manor. My father and I were involved in it. We were on the way to the hospital when the ambulance driver suggested that we stop here because of the storm.”
“It’s a good job too.”
“Why?”
“There was a tornado warning.” She lightly placed the cloth against his forehead and began to wash away the blood.
“You’re not serious?”
“It was earlier tonight and hence the big ol’ storm.”
Lex laughed a little. “It never rains it pours,” he said. If it wasn’t his father stopping him taking over the factory then it was a natural disaster getting in the way.
“How do you mean?” she asked putting aside the now pink cloth and picking the antiseptic bottle.
“Nothing.”
“Ouch!” the girl suddenly exclaimed as she gained her first clear look at his cut and as she took a step closer to him her dress brushed against his knees. “You know this might need stitches or something.”
Lex found himself wincing as she soothed cotton wool covered in the antiseptic over the cut. “Sometimes I think my either life needs stitches.” She’d stopped at his words and he looked up into her eyes and wondered what she saw when she looked at him.
“It can’t be all bad,” she said softly.
“You wouldn’t believe it. Do you know something Chloe Sullivan?” he said with a small laugh. “I’m being forced out of my own life. Every single day I have to fight that little bit harder for control and one day there’s going to be no fight left in me and do you know what I’ll become when that happens? The cone of that bastard through there.”
“You know I don’t think that I’m the person that you should talk to about this. I’m not exactly unbiased.”
Lex nodded. “I’m sorry about your father’s job. If I could do anything about it then I would. I knew nothing about the decision to close the plant. It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to everyone else.” The blonde looked sceptical. “I don’t need to be judged right now Chloe.”
“Its hard not to but I’ll try. I think we should change the subject though. Keep your head still.”
“Okay. Perhaps you’re right. So, what happened to Clark? I thought you and he were coming to the dance together.”
She bit her lip, looking adorable as she did and a slight pink blush came to her cheeks. “He decided to disappear on me right after the tornado warning. As far as I know he’s gone looking for Lana.”
“Ouch.”
“That’s about what I was thinking.”
Lex gestured to the cup on the table. “And that prompted the drinking?”
“Actually someone spiked the punch but it was kinda convenient.” She paused again. “You’re his friend Lex; feel like explaining why he can be such an asshole sometimes?”
“I always thought that Clark was a fairly decent sort of fellow.”
Chloe frowned. “Well he’s not,” she said and pouted. Lex could suddenly see tears rising in her eyes. The blonde girl sat on the desk and put her hands on her lap. “What have I done that’s so wrong?”
There was an uncomfortable silence as tears began to roll down the pretty little blonde’s face. Lex struggled with himself. He’d never really had many female friends, there had always been plenty of women in his life of course, the prospect of bagging one of the most eligible bachelors in the country had always made sure of that, but there had been very few actual friends. Awkwardly he stood and reached forwards and clasped her hands in his own.
“Listen to me Chloe, I’m sure there’s nothing to wrong with you. Clark’s just young and he can see what an accomplished, intelligent and beautiful young woman you’re going to be – that you are even now. For the time being he’s still dazzled by the thought of dating the town prom queen. It’s a stage every boy goes through but he’ll get over it. Lana’s a very pretty girl but she can be a little lacking in the personality department sometimes.” He noticed a small smile hinting on her lips but it disappeared again as she seemed to catch herself. “Clark will realise that sooner or later,” he continued. “He’ll figure there’s more to someone than how good they look in a gym slip or how vacate looking their smile is. You’ll just have to wait for him to come around.”
She hugged him suddenly and Lex almost recoiled; years of not being allowed comforting human contact kicking in. Gradually however he relaxed himself into the tiny blonde reporter’s arms and put his own about her shoulders.
She was warm against him, pleasantly so in fact and Lex soon closed his eyes and lost himself in a scent that was uniquely feminine despite the alcohol. The girl in his arms was soft and yielding and possessed an innocence that was both endearing and comforting. He tightened his hold on her, not wanting to let go of the refreshing creature still clinging to him as the small fit of sobs that had racked her body passed. Finally though the blonde pulled away and looked up at him. To Lex’s surprise she reached up slightly and brushed delicate lips across his. When he raised an eyebrow she said, “I figure I should get at least one kiss on my prom night. Thank you for listening Lex.”
“You’re welcome and the thanks are returned.” Leaning down he pressed their mouths together again and felt her give a little gasp. Pulling away again he added, “It should at least be a proper kiss.” Chloe blushed deeply and stepped away from him clearly flustered. Lex smiled a little noticing the way that the girl’s chest was heaving slightly and finding he was pleasantly surprised by the fact.
5.
“Hey Chloe you’ll never guess whose here… or maybe you will.”
The blonde girl felt her eyes widen in shock as she spun towards the door and saw her friend stood just inside the office. “Pete!” she exclaimed and the blush that had blazed across her face deepened. “I was just… Lex… He… Okay start again. Lex hurt his head and I patched him up.”
He stared at the older man with hostile eyes. “Well there’s a paramedic running around looking for him everywhere.”
Lex stepped up to her side and walked passed her, brushing her bare arm as he went. As he did a shiver ran through her. Not once did he glance back in her direction, he didn’t even look at Pete as he walked by, head held high with that arrogance that Chloe had come to expect from any Luthor male. It was all she could do not to put her fingers to her lips and see whether the tingling sensation that remained from his kiss was really there. All of her sudden her body remembered the way that he had felt when they were up close and could not stop herself from letting out a sigh. For some reason she didn’t seem to be able to stop blushing.
Quickly she turned away from the door and hoped that Pete hadn’t noticed. She reached forwards to take hold of the pink tinged glass of water she had been using to clean up Lex’s cut and promptly knocked it over. “Shit!” she exclaimed frantically moving papers aside to protect them.
“Are you okay?” her friend said grabbing hold of the blood stained cloth and mopping at the spill. “Did he upset you?”
“No Pete. He didn’t upset me. Believe it or not but I don’t think he’s entirely evil like you do.”
“Entirely being the operative word in that sentence. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yes!” she snapped. “He was hurt. I was helping him. We talked. It was nice. There you go, that’s what happened. Are you happy now?”
The young man held up his hands. “No need to bite my head off.”
She sighed slumping into a chair suddenly feeling physically exhausted. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired.”
He nodded, apparently accepting her explanation. “What happened to Clark?” Chloe shot him a glare. “What, another touchy subject? Come on what happened?”
“He ran off to find Lana.”
“Oh.” He paused. “I’m sorry Chloe.”
“There’s no need to be. I’m fine. Really I am.”
“You’re obviously not.”
“Pete! Really I am. I’ve already talked it though and had a wonderful reassuring speech and now I don’t even want to think about it okay?”
“Sure. Who did you talk to?”
She wiped a strand of hair out of her eyes and said quietly, “Um, it was Lex.” She could almost hear the cogs turning over in his head.
“As in the guy who just walked out of here?”
“Yes.”
Pete chuckled. “I would never have figured him to be the comforting type.”
“Well you don’t know him.”
“And you do?”
“No but… Damn it Pete lets not get into this.”
“Okay I give up. Hey, did you know someone spiked the punch?”
Chloe picked up her cup and waved it in front of him. “I’ve already fully taken advantage of it.”
His eyes widened slightly. “How many of those have you had exactly?”
She shrugged. “I lost count.” The blonde girl pushed herself to her feet. “And I feel like another one so why don’t you escort me back to the ball Prince Charming?”
He smiled and offered her his arm. “I can think of no greater honour.”
6.
It all seemed just a little unfair somehow. For the longest time they had been uncertain about whether or not the old man would live or not and then when they finally decided to say for definite that he was going to die he went and lived. Granted he was still confined to his sick bed, unable to work, even weeks after the accident ensuring that Lex had almost complete control over the company but it still didn’t seem fair somehow. The fact was that Lex knew that one day the old man would be well enough to take the reins again and then, then it would probably spell the end of his days in Smallville. On reflection, he thought, it might spell the end of his days anywhere considering the fact he was pretty certain that Lionel was convinced that he would have just left him there to die without ever offering assistance.
As he sipped at his coffee Lex reminded himself that he wasn’t too sure himself what he would have done in the end. The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
They’d barely spoken since his father had regained consciousness, granted they hadn’t spoken all that much before but now it even less so. Lex could still clearly see the look of fear in the older man’s eyes as he had seen his son for the first time since the accident. It had made him smile at the time. Even now there was always a look of cautiousness, nervousness in Lionel’s eyes whenever they talked, as if Lex would suddenly try to smoother him with a pillow. It was one of the reasons that the younger man had been unable to figure out why his father insisted on being treated at home, in Smallville no less. The biggest mystery of all though was that the senior Luthor had decided to keep the plant open.
“You look pleased with yourself?”
Lex looked up to find himself faced with Clark. There was a smile on the boy’s face displaying brilliant white teeth. You should be on a commercial for toothpaste, Lex thought silently. Behind the tall boy was the slight form of Chloe. She peered at him nervously from around her friend and when they caught each other’s eyes she blushed.
“It just feels good to be alive and in Smallville,” he replied. “Why don’t you take a seat?”
“Thanks,” Clark answered quickly, manoeuvring the blonde girl into a chair despite the protest that had been on the tip of her tongue meaning that she ended up looking more than a little flustered. “Your usual?” he asked her.
“Sure.”
“What about you Lex? Need anything while I’m up at the counter?”
The older man shook his head and Clark wandered off towards the counter. When he reached it he smiled broadly at the dark haired girl stood there who smiled back brightly. There was something in her actions, the way she casually leaned against the counter as he talked and nodded vacantly at the young man that screamed something had changed between them. Glancing over at Chloe Lex saw her watching them too with avid interest. There was an almost wistful expression on the young girl’s face. Apparently he wasn’t the only one who saw the budding relationship between the two youngsters.
“I’m sorry,” he said to her finally.
Chloe turned bright eyes on him. “I’m not. I mean, I am but the way I see it I’d rather he was happy with her than miserable with me.”
“That’s very noble.”
“I prefer to think of it as more tragic than noble.”
The billionaire’s son nodded in agreement. “It could be that too.”
A sign escaped her. “I wish it wasn’t,” she said leaning back firmly into the purple cushioned chair. For the briefest moment Lex though he glimpsed a hint of cleavage as the dark green shirt she wore gaped. It was gone again quickly and he looked up to her face before he was caught staring. The thought of soft, seeking lips suddenly flashed into his head.
“What?” she asked and Lex realised he had been caught. The reported brought her fingers up to brush away some hair from her face and smiled nervously at the same time. Her entire face lip up. Clark’s an idiot, he found himself thinking.
Lex returned the smile. “You look quite charming today is all.”
Chloe laughed a little, the sound ringing out even in the constant chatter of the cafe around them. At the counter Clark glanced around in their direction as his conversation with Lana was interrupted. “You’re smooth aren’t you?”
“I try to be.”
“Somehow I don’t think that it takes much trying.” Her eyes widened. “I-I don’t know where that came from.”
“I’m sure it was meant as a compliment,” he answered, amused by her reaction. You’d think the poor girl didn’t know how to flirt harmlessly. “Have you decided if you’re going to do anything about that?” the young man asked gesturing briefly to where Lana was standing with a sweet vapid smile on her face as Clark rambled on about something, ignoring the other customer present and as yet not served. It had only been a matter of time until they got it together and while Lex was pleased for his young friend he couldn’t help but feel a bit of regret for the girl sat at the table with him.
“I think a bit of breathing room might be in order. The idea of being a third wheel on their love wagon doesn’t feel all that appealing.”
Lex raised an eyebrow. He’d half expected her to say she was going to fight for the young man who was supposedly the love of her life. Chloe Sullivan had never struck him as a quitter. “An admirable decision,” he said finally. “It shows strength.”
She seemed to brighten slightly, her posture straightening a little. “You think so?”
Taking a sip of coffee he answered, “Yes.”
“This is one thing I never thought I would hear myself saying but you should watch out Lex Luthor or I might end up running to you whenever I need emotional support or an ego boost. Ever thought of becoming a therapist?”
Lex chuckled surprising himself. “Somehow I don’t think I would remain very sympathetic for long. There are very few people that I can imagine listening to for any length of time.”
She gave him a strange little look out of the corner of her eye that seemed to be both curious and full of realisation. For a second he held her eyes wondering at the depth of intelligence he saw there then glanced away as a shadow loomed over them. Across from where he sat Clark slid into a seat with almost surreal grace.
“Hey, what you guys been talked about?” the new arrival asked placing cups down on the low table.
“How terrible Lex would be as a counsellor,” the blonde by his side said instantly and then reached for her drink. She paused with it near her mouth taking a deep breath that reminded Lex oddly enough of himself first thing in the day.
As she spoke however there appeared on Clark’s face an anxious look that did not pass until he glanced at Lex and realised his other friend had not taken offence. “Um, yeah,” the dark haired youth said obviously having to think about his reaction.
“And on that note I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you,” Lex said pushing himself to his feet. He smiled at the pair and wondered not for the first time exactly why he enjoyed their company so much. “As usual it’s been a pleasure. Chloe, Clark, I hope you have a good day.”
The blonde girl smiled at him endearingly over the rim of her coffee cup while Clark flashed another toothpaste ad smile. “You too Lex,” the boy said as his friend turned to leave. Lex glanced back letting his eyes longer on the pretty blonde for a moment then left the coffee house.
7.
As Lex left Clark turned and smiled in a way that somehow managed to be innocent and yet full of suspicion. To sum it up Chloe was suddenly sure that there was a myriad of thoughts running through the young man’s brain and he was just waiting for the chance to say something. Chloe narrowed her eyes at him and sipped nervously at her coffee.
They continued to sit in silence for what seemed like an eternity until Lana appeared with a sunny smile and took the seat that Lex had been occupying. “That looked like an interesting conversation you were having,” the dark haired girl said.
“We weren’t saying anything,” Clark answered.
“Not you two. I meant Chloe and Lex.”
The blonde could not but help appear startled. She had been completely unaware that anyone had observed her conversation with Lex but herself and Clark. That Lana had been able to tear her eyes away from the dark haired farm boy was amazing but that she had actually thought that there was something to observe went beyond amazing and into the realms of wonder. “We weren’t really saying anything,” she told her mirroring her friend’s words unconsciously. Lana did not appear convinced and instead put a small, conspiratorial smile on her face that made Chloe lower her eyes and suddenly begin to be very interested in the bottom of her coffee cup.
Clark’s eyes brightened as a thought occurred to him and Chloe found herself wishing that Lana had just disappeared off the face on the planet and never spoken. “So, Chloe, what do you think of Lex now you’ve had the chance to get to know him better?”
It was all she could do not to choke on the sip of coffee that she had been taking. She seriously doubted that Clark had any idea exactly how much better she now knew his friend. “He’s okay. He’s not exactly the cold, heartless bastard I thought he was.”
The comment seemed to satisfy any curiosity that Clark had been maintaining and instead the conversation now turned to other matters leaving the blonde girl the opportunity to zone out. The truth was that whatever her reservations had once been about Lex Luthor they had all but disappeared recently. Today had been the first time since the night of the prom that she had actually seen him to speak to and to her surprise it had evoked a whole range of emotions that she had never thought possible about the cold young man. No that was wrong, he wasn’t nearly as cold as people supposed. There had been genuine sympathy for her in his eyes when they had been discussing Clark and Lana and the manner in which he had reassured her hadn’t been at all distanced or cold.
It wasn’t the most comforting of thoughts in spite of whatever stupid comment she might have made to him about therapy. The memory of that little event nearly made her groan out loud. There were very few people alive that ever made Chloe feel stupid and unfortunately Lex Luthor was one of them. She didn’t know why it was, how sometimes he could make her end up feeling like a gibbering idiot when they talked and yet still be uplifting to the point she would come away feeling good about herself. All part of the mystery man image she thought with a small smile.
“So what do you think?”
Chloe looked up and in Clark’s direction. “Huh?”
“I think Chloe was a little distracted,” Lana said. “We were talking about driving to Metropolis this weekend - you, me, Clark and Pete if we can tear him away from whichever girl’s he’s dating this week.”
“It’ll be fun,” Clark promised obviously elated with the idea of spending the entire weekend in the company of the girl he adored. “Please?”
She felt herself relent and nodded at him eliciting pleased expressions from both of the other teenagers.
“We can share the cost of a room!” Lana exclaimed and Chloe felt her heart fall at the thought. An entire weekend in the same room as Lana Lang without throttling some of the niceness out of her… Nope. Not possible. Silently she cursed herself. Hadn’t she just got through telling Lex she’d be giving the happy couple space?
Clark was stood up, pulling himself to his full height, still with that pleased expression plastered on his face. “Now that’s sorted I guess I can get going – chores to do and all that,” he explained. He turned large eyes on Lana and added, “Maybe I’ll call by again later?” As usual his voice was filled with quiet hopefulness.
“I’ll see you then,” the dark haired girl answered. When Clark had left she turned to Chloe and said, “We haven’t really had much of an opportunity to talk lately.”
When do we ever, the blonde thought but said out loud, “No we haven’t. Was there something particularly you wanted to talk about?”
A flash of nervousness danced across Lana’s face. “Well really it was about me and Clark. Are you okay with it?”
Chloe fought to keep her face impassive. “It doesn’t really have anything to do with me,” she answered resisting the urge to breathe a sigh of relief when the sentence came out without betraying the rush of emotions that accompanied it.
“That isn’t exactly what I meant.”
“Lana, Clark will do what Clark wants to do irrespective of what I think. I’d never let a friend of mine be miserable because of me.” It hurt to say those words to the cheerleader who stared at her with such an open face full of honesty and indecision. Still Chloe could almost feel the wave of relief that washed over from the other girl as some of the tenseness slipped out of her shoulders.
“I really do care for him,” Lana confided. “And I promise you that I won’t ever hurt him.”
Gritting her teeth Chloe answered, “I suppose that’s all I can ask for.”
Lana smiled slightly. “We’re going to be friends Chloe. I can feel it.”
8.
She really should have guessed that Lana would like pop music Chloe thought as yet another upbeat song began. She should also have guessed that the boys would let the petite brunette dictate what radio station they should tune into. Around her the others were chatting companionably while Chloe hunched over the wheel and fought the urge to scream in frustration at the midday Metropolis traffic. At either side traffic streamed by while the lane they were in seemed only able to stand still.
“You know maybe we should have taken the other route,” Clark said suddenly gazing around him out of the windows while Chloe gripped the steering wheel all the tighter to stop herself from turning around and hitting her friend. Her fingers were slowly turning white. Now he realises, she thought, when we’ve been sat in traffic for the last three quarters of an hour with no end in sight.
“Really Clark, whatever gave you that impression?” she snapped. “Was it that asshole who keeps driving around in circles trying to get into this lane right in front of me every time or the other asshole behind who obviously believes that we should all drive bumper to bumper?”
There was a sudden deafening silence in the car except for the sound of yet another pop princess singing about love and some impossible dream boy.
“You’re doing a great job Chloe,” Lana offered. “I’m sure this will clear up soon.”
The blonde growled under her breath as another car began to edge its way out in front of her. “Oh that is it!” she exclaimed. The other passengers in her car found they were thrown back in their seats as their petite friend floored the accelerator and dove out into the fast moving traffic. For a terrifying ten minutes they clung on for dear life until she found some free space and slowed to a sensible pace.
Pete cracked an eye open. “You’re been spending too much time with Luthor,” he said. “You’re starting to drive like him now.”
She shot a glare at the young man sat in the front passenger seat beside her. “Would you rather be still sat in the traffic? No? I didn’t think so.”
“The turnings just a head on your right,” Clark told her his voice only slightly hesitant. Chloe turned the car without saying a word.
The hotel that Lana had picked was as nice as anything Chloe would have chosen herself. If there was one thing that the reporter would be willing to admit about Lana Lang it was that she had innate good taste and an uncanny ability to track down reasonable prices. As she looked up at the friendly, five story building with its sunny exterior Chloe was filled with an impending sense of doom as the prospect of spending the entire weekend with the group of overly happy people stretched out in front of her. This had been a really stupid idea.
They parked her car in the hotel’s tiny parking lot around the back of the building then struggled around the front with Clark and Pete insisting on carrying all the bags while the two girls out distanced them. Inside the hotel a matronly woman behind the check in counter gave them a look that was both curious and amused on their arrival. When the two boys entered, bantering with each other she raised one greying eyebrow at Lana and Chloe and smiled at them all.
“So is it two rooms?” she asked, peering at them over the top of her half moon glasses.
“Yes,” the dark haired girl replied leaning ever so lightly on the reception desk. “Chloe and I will be sharing while Clark and Pete will be in together. That’s going to be alright isn’t it?”
“Oh!” the woman exclaimed and seemed to be a little relieved. “Certainly.” She turned to the computer on her desk and tapped away for a second. “We’ve got rooms free on the third floor, three-oh-five and three-oh-seven. Would that be okay? There’s a connecting door.”
Lana glanced around at the other three for confirmation and then said, “I think that will be fine, thank you.”
“Okay then, if you’ll just sign the register then I’ll get someone to help you with your bags.” She lifted up a large ledger onto the counter and handed Lana a pen.
“That’s okay,” Clark said as the woman turned to the back office. “We can manage. There’s no need to get anyone.”
“Clark man,” Pete exclaimed. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
The dark haired youth sighed. “Hand them over.”
Pete grinned at him then passed him one of the bags and readjusted the ones he was still holding. “Why do we need so much stuff anyway?”
Chloe rose at eyebrow at him and shook her head gently. “You’re travelling with two girls Pete and as much as I hate to conform to social stereotypes I have to admit that this time it’s the truth that we tend to take a lot of things and that begs the question of what else did you think would be the reason?”
“When you put it that way it does seem a little obvious.”
“Are we all done?” Lana asked. At the nods she received all around then she plucked the two room keys from the counter.
“Thank God!” Pete exclaimed. “An elevator.”
Clark looked at the suitcase that his friend was carrying then glanced at the ones in his own hands. “I really don’t see what you’re complaining about.”
“Will you guys stop acting like big babies?” the blonde reporter said stepping into the waiting elevator car and holding the door open for the others as they piled in. “If its that big a deal then I’ll just carry my own things.”
“You can’t possibly do that,” Lana said in mock outrage. “It’ll hurt their feelings. They won’t get to feel all manly.”
Surprised at her humour Chloe turned to the other girl with a grin on her face. “We certainly can’t have that,” she replied. “I can imagine the temper tantrums now. They’d never shut up!”
Looking over the top of the heads of the two girls Clark said to Pete, “Do you get the feeling that someone’s talking about you?”
“Strangely enough I do.”
There was a loud ping as they reached the right floor. The four teenagers poured out, chattering excitedly at the prospect of seeing their rooms for the first time. Lana handed over a set of keys to the boys and then unlocked the door to the room that she would be sharing with Chloe. With an encouraging smile Clark handed over their suitcases and then shooed them both inside before disappearing into his own room.
It was nice. There were two twins beds up against one wall, a dressing table with a stool and a free standing wardrobe all made from dark wood giving the room a luxuriant atmosphere. Two large windows were situation in the far wall with drapes flanking them and bright sunlight shined through them highlighting a low coffee table with a padded chair near by. Chloe dropped her bags on the floor without a second thought and jumped on one of the beds, bouncing up and down slightly as she landed. Lana smiled at her and wandered around the room. She disappeared through a doorway them appeared again. “Bathroom,” she said acknowledging Chloe’s questioning look.
“That must be the door to the other room then,” the blonde said gesturing to the one that was as yet unexplored. “Want to take a look?”
Lana shook her head. “I’m sure they boys will check it. This is nice isn’t it?”
“Sure.”
She sat at the dressing table on the stool facing the other girl. “Chloe, have I done something to upset or irritate you or make you angry with me? I thought we were okay after that chat the other day.”
The blonde resisted the urge to let out a groan. They hadn’t been alone together for two minutes and already Lana was trying to be all touchy feely, lets talk about our feelings and be best buddies. This was what she had been dreading. Why couldn’t Lana just understand that she didn’t like sharing how she felt all the time? Chloe took a deep breath and dipped her head slightly so that the brunette wouldn’t see her expression.
“Everything’s okay,” she said finally.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure.”
Lana’s head cocked to one side and for a moment the girl closely resembled a cocker spaniel. “Positive?”
“Yes!” the girl exclaimed and the strange thing was that Chloe realised it was true.
The adjoining door flew open and Clark appeared. “This is just… Wow!” He smiled at Lana and placed a gentle kiss on the girl’s head. “You’re so clever.”
Lana turned a brilliant smile on Clark. “So what do you want to do now?”
“I’m getting a little hungry,” the tall, dark haired young man admitted.
Chloe glanced at her watch shocked at the way the time had rushed by. It suddenly seemed to her that there was an empty pit where her stomach should have been. “I noticed a restaurant a couple of blocks away. “We could go there.”
“I’ll just get my purse,” Lana said.
9.
When he had lived in Metropolis it had seemed like heaven. Everything he wanted, no matter what it was, what time of day or night it was, was always on hand. It had been good to be known as the bad boy, to be held in awe and to have known that if anyone even thought of laying a hand on him then they could count on retribution. But the best part had been the sense of freedom that he felt the city had provided him with. He’d thought Metropolis had been the only place on earth for him.
Now as he sat waiting for the board member sat in front of him, a Mr Danilov who was firmly in his father’s pocket, to finish what was clearly a previously prepared speech on a subject that he’d already memorised on the flight to Metropolis from Smallville Lex found his thoughts turning back to the sleepy little town. He found himself remembering tiny little details about the house and the town and all the people and realising that although he’d only been back in the city a few hours he seemed to miss the place. It was, he thought, a favourable sentiment that had been developing for quite some time.
The man had finally finished speaking and was watching Lex expectantly while he appeared to consider his reply. The proposal was of course ridiculous and he had already decided that his would answer it in the negative. Instead what was really running through his mind was the question over why his father had insisted that he attend this meeting and indeed why it had to take part in Metropolis. Absently Lex wondered whether he was letting his paranoia do the thinking for him.
“I’ll think about it and run over the numbers,” Lex said pushing himself to his feet. The man seemed to take the hint and also stood holding his hand out. Reluctantly Lex shook his hand, finding the flesh clammy with perspiration. It was all he could do not to wipe his hand on his trouser leg when they separated.
Left alone Lex returned to the desk that normally belonged to his father and rubbed his eyes. Lionel had to be up to something. He was always up to something and that fact had helped Lex developed fine survival instincts. After a few moments silent contemplation he called in his personal assistant and dictated a memo to her to forward onto Danilov with strict instructions to delay it a day or so in order to maintain the fiction that he had thought the proposal over. There would be no use angering board members, even ones as unimportant as Danilov, by seeming dismissive of their ideas.
For a moment he though about calling the house back in Smallville then changed his mind. It would look too much like he was nervous and that would be seen as a weakness that could be exploited.
It didn’t take too long to decide to leave the paper work on his desk for the day. The thought of spending the rest of the day pouring over it held no appeal what-so-ever and although Lex knew that he would probably regret leaving it later he was not in the particular frame of mind that cared at that point. His personal assistant looked up abruptly as her boss left his office still in the action of pulling on a coat.
“Mr Luthor!” she exclaimed. “What do I say if anyone calls?” Waving away her question Lex made for the elevator and then down to the parking lot.
10.
One thought had begun to rotate in Chloe’s mind – she couldn’t believe they were more sickening happy that ever here in the city. Absently she twirled the straw in her cola and watched Clark and Lana over the table as they shamelessly stared into each other’s eyes with a look of complete contentment. Maybe if she exposed herself for long enough then she’d become immune. The thought was not a welcome one. It didn’t help that Pete had wandered off. Glancing around, she saw that he was currently leaning over the counter talking to one of the waitresses who appeared to be very interested in what he was saying.
Great, she thought, here I am the odd one out again and this time it’s my own stupid fault. In a vain effort to start a conversation she said, “So what do you want to do this afternoon?”
“I don’t know,” the other girl answered.
“Um, whatever,” Clark replied reaching for the hamburger on the plate in front of him. As Chloe watched Lana reached across and stole a fry from his plate and popped it into her mouth. At the rate she was going Chloe was beginning to wonder why she hadn’t just ordered a plate for herself instead of the salad sat before her. Oh, the problems of being Little Miss Perfect and having to worry about you perfect figure. Or at least appear to worry about it and hence the salad.
“Come on this is Metropolis, the city where anything and everything can happen. You must be able to think of something?”
Clark shrugged again.
Feeling a fresh wave of irritation she said, “You know something I think I’ll go get some air.”
Chloe pushed away noisily from the table and marched out of the restaurant, ignoring the curious looks directed at her by the other patrons. On reaching the outside of the building she felt as if a huge load had been lifted from her shoulders and realised that she had been holding her breath. Chloe let it out as a long rush of air that startled a man walking by her. It was at times like this that she wished she had taken up smoking or some other vice that would have allowed her to lean against a wall looking cool, calm and collected. Preferably one that wouldn’t get her arrested or in her looking like an immature school girl who was apparently unable to keep her temper in check. That was a little how she was feeling at the moment actually.
Realising that she had perhaps behaved foolishly the blonde girl turned around and stared in the large plate glass window. To her disbelief the couple had returned to eating as if nothing had ever happened. Beside her the door to the restaurant opened and Pete appeared.
“What’s the matter?” he asked and to Chloe it sounded as if he was none too pleased at having been pulled away from his conversation with the waitress.
She cast a wry look at him and gestured through the window. “I might as well have not even existed.”
Pete sighed and leaned against the wall for support. “You have to stop this.”
“What?”
“This obsessing. They’re together now for better or worse. You can’t keep… Oh forget it.”
“No, what were you going to say?”
He hesitated again and met her eyes. “Chloe you’re one of my closest friends – you always will be – but you have to move on now.”
“Don’t you think I’m trying?”
“I think that your head’s telling you that you are but your heart isn’t in one hundred per cent agreement.”
For the first time in a long while Chloe really looked at Pete wondering when he’d turned into the fountain of all knowledge. Her mind ran briefly over what she had said to Lex about keeping her distance and realised that she should have kept to her decision and yet all it had taken to alter it had been one pleading glance and her heart had taken control of the good ship Chloe again. After all, she’d never denied Clark anything before; it had probably wondered what was so different about now.
“Pete I think I’m going to take a walk. Can you tell the love-birds?”
He looked sceptical. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
“I spent my childhood in Metropolis; I’ll be fine.”
“Okay then. Meet you back at the hotel later?”
“Sure.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
11.
There was something relaxing about driving. It always managed to help him think for some inexplicable reason. Even the Metropolis traffic could do nothing to disrupt the connection. After five minutes behind the wheel he could string mental sentences together. After fifteen minutes his thoughts had started to order themselves. After half an hour Lex found he was able to come to reasoned, rational conclusions even if he had to say them out aloud to fully grasp them and by the time fifteen more minutes had passed he was one again able to make leaps of intuition and understanding such as he was known for.
His father wanted him out of the house and away from Smallville which suggested that he was planning something. This had been established with very little difficultly. That the ‘something’ in question was significant was also obvious and the only thing Lionel could do in his present condition that would warrant getting Lex out of the way was inviting someone to the house. This thought firmly in his mind Lex telephoned one of the less respectable members of his private work force and had them track down all flights coming into airports around and near Smallville and subsequently the passenger lists. Perhaps there would be a name he would recognise. On a second thought he made a note to have the security tapes for the manor reviewed in case his father had forgot about them and the evidence they could present his son with. That was a long shot. If Lionel had been planning this for a while then he would already have covered such small details.
He felt some of the tension that had been building in his shoulders ease out. It may not be perfect but at least he could hazard some guess and maybe forget about his troubles for a while.
A blonde flash caught his eye and Lex slammed on the brakes. He was thrown forwards by the force of the car screeching to a halt and felt his chest constrict as the seat belt locked into place. The sound of more tires skidding behind him was vaguely audible over the noise of his heart beating quickly in his ears. Lex sat staring at the girl stood in front of his car while panting in an effort to catch his breath. His wits partially regained the young man unfastened his seat belt and flung open the car door. Only a second later he was stood, leaning against the roof for support.
The girl was still stood in front of the car in the middle of the road though thankfully someone had gone to help her because she was trembling violently and didn’t look as if she would be able to keep on her feet for much longer.
“What the hell did you think you were doing?” an irate man said climbing out of a car that had halted at an odd angle behind Lex’s. He lumbered forwards carrying his rather extensive waistline with him with surprising ease. Lex took one look at the man’s reddened features and turned his back on him. “Hey I was talking with you! Hey baldy!” A hand grabbed at Lex’s shoulder and spun him around.
“Don’t do that,” Lex warned.
“Now listen…” the man said, trailing off as he met the young man’s eyes.
“Whatever grievance you have I’ll deal with in a moment but first I’m going to see how the young woman I nearly hit is. If you have a problem with that then I suggest that you shove it up your ass because it will probably do more good there than anywhere near me.”
Lex spun on his heals and stalked off towards where the girl had been sat down on the curb. The woman who had helped her eyed Lex suspiciously but didn’t say anything. When he reached them Lex bobbed down beside her. “Chloe?” he asked. “Chloe are you okay?”
She turned pale eyes to him, her skin an unhealthy shade and her lower lips still trembling ever so slightly. Her hands were clutched together tightly, resting in her lap and Lex thought that she seemed to be hunched over as if trying to make herself smaller. “Lex?” She glanced at the car and then back at him. “Don’t tell me that was you! What are you trying to do – wipe out the entire teenage population of Smallville?” The young man felt a smile drift onto his lips. If she could snap at him then she was probably fine. “Don’t grin at me mister. You scared the life out of me!”
“Says the girl who wasn’t looking where she was going,” he replied though there was little irritation in his voice as he spoke. Her eyes shone lighting up her face and Lex could see her winding up for another scathing reply. If anything Lex realised that it was good to see the small blonde.
“You know him?” Chloe’s rescuer asked, her face betraying the confusion that she obviously felt over their exchange. When the woman looked at Lex her features we stance showed that she was still more than a little protective of the blonde girl sat on the curb.
“Sure,” Chloe replied and to Lex it seemed there was a little more confidence to her voice than there had been before.
Standing Lex held his hand to her and pulled Chloe up after him. As she still seemed a little unsteady on her feet he kept his arm out for her to hold onto and was a little surprised to find she accepted the aid without any argument. “Come on,” he said. “Maybe I should take you to the hospital or something.”
The blonde shook her head. “No, don’t do that. I’m fine and it’d only mean you getting in trouble.”
“Your consideration is very welcome but it’s no problem.”
“Lex! Seriously I’m fine. Just great. I could do cartwheels but I won’t because that would look stupid.”
A horn erupted at some distance. It was closely followed by the sound of another and then another as more drivers grew increasingly irate at the hold up. She couldn’t have chosen a back street to step out in front of his car she had to choose a busy one.
“Shit,” Lex hissed under his breath glancing up at the line of cars reaching back down the street. He gestured to his car. “Get in; I’ll take you back to wherever it is you’re staying.”
Moments later Lex was behind the wheel again having dealt, somewhat loudly perhaps, with the other driver who had been hassling him. The other man had gone away with a sullen if slightly baffled expression on his face and the slight feeling that somehow he had been convinced into believing that he hadn’t been outsmarted. Once they were moving Lex found himself asking her twice where she was staying. He glanced out of the corner of his eye at her and found that the blonde had slumped in her seat and had her eyes closed.
“If its okay with you I don’t really feel like going back there just yet,” she said and to Lex’s ears it sounded like a plea.
Feeling a little foolish the young man said, “You need to rest Chloe. You’ve had one hell of a shock.”
“I don’t want to go back to the hotel. Clark and Lana might be there being all gooey eyed and I’ve had about as much of that as I can stand for one day. Plus I’ve got to share a room with her and she’s all sunshine and happiness at the moment. One more ‘let’s be friends Chloe’ talk off her and I swear that I will not be responsible for my actions. The worst thing is I know she means well which only gets me angrier because I feel like such an ass for being so hostile.”
Lex felt surprise course through him as he listened to her rant. She might as well have been oblivious to his presence. It was a most adorable tendency of hers that he had discerned from their few conversations together and as he listened Lex felt amusement well in him. “You’re here with Clark and Lana?”
Beside him the blonde girl ducked her head slightly and became very interested in what was outside of the window. “Clark kind of…”
“Asked?” Lex surmised bluntly.
“Am I that easy to read?” she said. “I’m not the only one who seems to hang on his every word sometimes you know.”
“That’s entirely different. He saved my life. I owe him.”
“He saved my life too,” she shrugged. “So that’s no excuse.”
“He’s the only person who gave me the time of day when I moved to Smallville,” Lex pointed out.
“Hey! What about me?”
He gave her a charming little smile. “If I remember correctly then you were as suspicious of me as everyone else.”
“No I… Okay well maybe a little.”
Glancing out of the corner of his eye again Lex saw an irritated expression on her face. The sense of honesty that Smallville seemed to ingrain itself on to most of its town’s people had obviously worked its magic on Chloe too. It was a shame really; if the girl really did want to be a journalist one day then she’d have to learn that half truths were sometimes necessary.
“So where are you whisking me off to?” she asked in an attempt to change the subject.
“My apartment. Seeing as you won’t go to the hospital and you don’t want to face your friends yet it seems like the next best place. I take it you have no objections?”
Chloe shook her head. “You’re joking right? The opportunity to have a nosey around Lex Luthor’s place… oh the possibilities!”
For a moment he was startled and wondered whether she was serious or not. One glance in the blondes direction showed him the mischievous little quirk of her lips and reassured him she hadn’t been.