Chloe - Wild and Shy (PG13) updated 8/09/08

[superag]

Title: Chloe, Wild and Shy (AU based on Sabrina)

Author: Superag
Rating: PG-13

Disclaimers: All Smallville characters belong to Warner Bros. or DC Comics. The idea for this belongs to Barbara Benedek and David Rayfiel, the screenwriters for the movie Sabrina. This fic is simply meant as entertainment, nothing more. Also, xevaral started a piece similar to this but I will be taking my own liberties. Some will sound the same since we are following the same script so to speak but the characters will play out differently.

Premise: A love story that follow the movie Sabrina. Chloe has always loved Lucas but while away Lucas falls for someone tied to the family business. She returns to find Lucas interested in her and Lex intervenes to make everything right.

A/N – If you have seen the movie Sabrina, you will immediately see some of the same lines and situations. However, I am not French and I’m not pretending some parts of the story will change. The premise remains the same. There are some character assignments you must be versed in first.

- Lex and Lucas are brothers but live together with Lionel (happily) in the same home
- Gabe is the family driver and Chloe lives above the garage with her father
- This is futurefic somewhat b/c Lucas and Chloe would be about 21 and of course Lex would be his older self
- James (Jimmy) is older and more accomplished here, about 25 (Nonky wins the age battle for sake of writing here)
- The rest you’ll figure out as it plays

Feedback: YES! It feeds me.


Chapter 1 – The Girl in the Tree

Once upon a time on a hill outside of Metropolis, there was a very, very large mansion, almost a castle, where there lived a family by the name of Luthor. There were servants inside the mansion and servants outside the mansion and six crews of gardeners, two for the solarium and four for the grounds. There were specialists for the indoor tennis courts and the outdoor tennis courts, the indoor pool and the outdoor pool. And over the garage lived a chauffeur by the name of Sullivan, who had a daughter named Chloe.

Chloe was the typical young adult with dreams and fancies. She had long sandy blonde hair that seemed to flow everywhere when not pulled back. She didn’t dress as fashionably as some wished she would, sticking mainly to crop pants and shirts, more a teenagers style than a young woman’s. Chloe wiped down the Rolls in the driveway complacently while the light jazz filtered over the high hedges from the main grounds of the mansion. This was the normal occurrence or the nightly routine in the life of a chauffeur, and Chloe was the doting daughter that helped. But tonight was different. Chloe walked away, following the melodic soft beats to the disappointment of her father. Chloe climbed the same elm tree that she always did, feeling that in her tree she could be right there with the Luthors.

Among other things, the Luthor were noted for the parties they gave. Few people anymore gave parties the way they did. It never rained on the night of a Luthor party. The Luthors wouldn’t have stood for it. There was Lionel Luthor, who inherited the corporation from his father when he passed away on the thirteenth hole at Pebble Beach.

“Sweetheart, go talk to General Lane – he looks bored.” Lionel spoke to one of his assistants as he milled from person to person, dressed to the nines in his Armani. “Senator, I have got someone I want you to meet.” Lionel led the man over to the General.

Lionel was on the cover of Fortune. There was Lex, the older son. He graduated from Yale at 19. Then he took his father and the family on a trip on the fiber optic highway and turned a one hundred million dollar family business into some serious money.

Even at parties Lex tied himself to his phone. “Well, I just don’t feel like buying any more networks this year. There just never is anything good on. I said the offer expired at 10:00, and it’s now 10:08.” Lex hung up the phone and casually slipped it back into his pocket. He looked over the rest of the invitees in boredom. His father just had to have a birthday party.

Lex was on the cover of Time.

But most of all, there was Lucas, the younger son, who was in and out of many schools and even more relationships. He was handsome and charming and funny and romantic.

Dancing with the beautiful red head dressed in white, he pulled her in closer to whisper in her ear, “It’s so rare to meet such a beautiful woman, with your sense of humor and irony and poetry and … haircolor.” Lucas smiled the whitest of smiles at the raving beauty while Chloe watched in disappointment.

Lucas did a Gap ad.

“Chloe, Chloe come down,” Gabe pleaded with his starry-eyed daughter. Chloe leaned back in the tree and reacted to Lucas’ move on the young woman. Sighing, she placed her hand on her chest and almost whimpered.

“Oh, she made him laugh.”

“Honey, you have to finish packing.”

Chloe turned and looked down at her father from her place in the tree, “Am I witty?”

“I wonder if London is far away enough,” Gabe said to himself but was overheard.

“No, really, do you think I’m funny?” Chloe threw her legs over the branch of the tree and looked at her dad for sincere honesty.

“Hilarious, you should host a talk show. Chloe, the full time observation of Lucas Luthor is not a recognized profession. Get out of that tree.” Gabe was now ordering her as she looked at him disappointedly. Turning back around, she watched as Lucas made his final move away from the dance floor with his latest woman of the night.

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Gabe looked in on the party and shook his head in disgust, leaving Chloe to her tree and her magnificent dreams. Chloe watched as Lucas’ date left and he strolled gladly across the grounds. Picking out one bottle of champagne and two of the finest flutes, he tucked the flutes into his back pockets and headed out of the party. Chloe quickly exited the tree just in time to scare him almost to death. Landing almost on top of him, Lucas took a step back and gasped.

“Oh, it’s just you Chloe.”

“Hello Lucas,” she barely breathed out.

Looking up in the tree and then back at Chloe, he adjusted his tie. “I thought I heard something.” Continuing to look in the tree, he walked away, swinging the champagne bottle merrily.

Sadly, she remarked to herself, “No, it was nobody.” The band started a requested song as Lucas headed to the solarium. Chloe followed him and watched through the glass as Lucas danced and drank in private with his date. Saddened, Chloe ran back to the house.

Passing by the living room of the place above the garage, her father called, “Chloe?” Returning back to the living room, Gabe closed his book and looked at her, “You’ve spent more of your life up that tree than you have on solid ground.” Sulking, her father continued. “You know how lucky we are that Mr. Luthor has friends that have a job for you so that you can have this European experience? The tie in London will be so good for you. If your mother were alive, she would be so happy – it’s what she always wanted for you.”

“What if he forgets me?”

“How can he forget you if you’re not someone that he knows exists?” Chloe looked down disappointed as her father approached her in the doorway. “I didn’t mean that Chloe. I just meant there’s much more to you than this obsession with Lucas. I hope you know that.”

She nodded halfway, “Thanks dad. Goodnight.” Chloe breathed a sigh and walked to her room as her father closed the door and shook his head in dismay. Sitting in her room, she could still hear the song play and knew exactly the steps that Lucas took from all the nights she had spied on him. Feeling overwhelmed by his ignoring her last night at the mansion, she went to the kitchen and took a bottle of Sherry and headed from the main house. Chloe, returning upstairs to her room, drank straight from the bottle as she threw random clothes and shoes into bags preparing for her departure the next morning.

----------

“Where are you going – it’s early?” A man stopped Lex as he winded his way through the party of people.

“It’ll take me half an hour to just get out of here. I still have to check on the Tokyo Market before it closes. Goodnight.” Lex thanked everyone for coming and continued through the throngs of people before being stopped by his father.

“Lex, Andrew Colson just told me you fired his son.” Lionel briskly walked to keep up with his overworked son.

“He’s an idiot,” Lex replied without any thought.

“But Lex he was a groomsman at my wedding. He’s one of my best friends that is not in business.” Lex stopped mid-tread and looked at his father. He knew his dad meant well, but he had gotten soft in his older age, something that Lex could not let interrupt business.

“Look, it’s business dad. I’ve got to drop something off in Lucas’ room. When he surfaces from this week’s love of his life, tell him I put his suspenders back in his closet.”

“You’re not leaving now. You’ll miss my fireworks,” Lionel seemed almost disappointed.

Smirkingly, Lex retorted, “It’s ok dad – I had a pony ride and I got my face painted.” Lex hinted at a laugh as he shook his father’s hand. “Goodnight.” He left and went up to Lucas’ room.

---------

From her bedroom window, Chloe watched as the light in Lucas’s room turned on. Still slightly buzzed from the Sherry, she contemplated how she should just make a move. The worst he could do was reject her. Heading up the stairs in the main house, she dawdled, teetering back and forth on whether to continue her pursuit. And then just went for it.

Lex walked around the smaller bedroom of the mansion and shook his head, picking up wads of clothes from the floor and complaining about his little brother. With all the money and servants in the world, there was no answer to helping his brother mature. He walked into the oversized closet and looked around for a hamper.

Knocking on the door of the bedroom, she heard a man say she could enter. Lex was still arranging his brother’s closet. She stood stoic in the doorway, almost frozen. Fear and passion both covered her face and her words barely could escape her lips. It was her turn finally to be noticed by Lucas.

“I came to say goodbye.”

“What?” Lex dropped the rest of the stuff on the floor and walked toward the door. As Lex came around the doorway of the closet, she stopped him.

“Don’t come out.” Lex stopped in his tracks, confused of the strange situation. “If I look at you, I might not be able to get though this.” Taking a breath, she walked further into the room and ran her hand along his bed. Lex stood listening at the door still somewhat bewildered. “Please don’t say anything. I’m leaving tomorrow for London, and I’ll be away a long time. While I don’t expect you to think about me while I’m gone, you never thought about me while I was here. I just wanted to say, I think I know you better than anybody else. Whatever they think or say, I know the truth. That you’re a wonderful person – kind and generous – and for what it’s worth, know someone very far away is thinking of you. So if there is anything that I can ever do –“ Chloe ran her hands along his bed nervously as she stopped for an answer.

Lex had listened in confusion and then amusement. Still not quite sure if the eloquent speech had been for him or for Lucas, he answered her question as plainly as possible. Coming around the corner, he looked at her and answered plainly, “You could pick me up one of those Wedgewood dishes for my keys.”

Chloe looked up and saw Lex and stared in embarrassment and shock. Before Lex was even finished she repeated Oh my God several times and ran out of the house, disappearing back to her room while the fireworks, both in the sky and in the solarium, played on.


TBC - maybe...

[tiger04]

I am very excited to see your new story. One of my favorite movies. Are you going to follow the movie closely or are you going to put your own twist too it (besides the Chlex). Hope you will update again soon.

[westwingwolf]

No maybe about it, you started it so you've got to finish it. And I really need to watch Sabrina when I get the chance. Well if Chloe is going to dream about a life with someone who isn't Lex, at least it's Lucas and not Clark. Lex is such a bastard, he should have stayed behind that closet to save Chloe the embarassment. Now I know there is more to this plot and I know you've got more pages so start posting.

[hfce]

Yeah another story but boo you haven't finished the other story yet.
I can't wait to see your version of Sabrina. So far it is good.

[lexie]

Well, girl, you´ve beaten me at the game. I already had my Chlex version of Sabrina drafted on my mind. I guess I´ll have to swallow it.

I´ve seen both versions of the film- you´re following Harrison Ford´s- and being a sucker for romance and happy endings Sabrina is one of my favourites. You´re doing a great work. I´m looking forward to seeing how you manage to deviate from the script to make the story your own.

Until next update, then.

[kimmie]

lovin this already, Sabrina is such a fab romantic movie and it works perfectly with Lex and Chloe as the leads!!!

Can't wait for more, come back soon with an updatw!!!


-K-

[superag]

A/N - thank you for all the quick reviews. For those wondering if this is going to veer off course somewhere, yes, it will to an extent. It's in the plans. As far the Chlex in it, if you've seen the movie, you know that our central characters have some building of their own before they actually get together. So on with the family drama.


The European Girl – Chapter 2

Chloe sat timidly outside an office where an old man was yelling at several men. She gritted her teeth and looked down her at her clothes, the same ones that she had worn the night of the party. As expected, her father had been the only one to see her off, as if no one even cared that she left. She watched as people in business suits sat engrossed at desks researching the latest story. She had written for a small school newspaper, but the Luthors had found her a job at the London Times.

Seeing the editor eye her from his office, she tried to break a smile. Another younger woman opened the door for her and asked her to enter. “Welcome to the London Times. Are you versed in any languages?” Chloe eyed the woman and shook her head no. The older man came out of the office and greeted her.

“Chloe Sullivan, come with me.” Chloe grabbed her bag and followed the man who was obviously in a hurry to get back to his real job and not worry about taking care of the little girl he had been sent. Walking briskly, he pointed things out as he spoke incoherently. “There’s the research department, stacks, microfilm, photolab, classifieds, lifestyle, newsdesk, sports, my office, and your desk.” Chloe looked at the man and then at her desk. Spying only a computer and no instructions, she sat down and stared at the desk while the entire room stared at her. The older gentleman walked away and left her alone.

On her first assignment, the style editor dragged her to a photo shoot at the fountain at Piccadilly Circus. He shouted orders as what seemed to be women wearing next to nothing for a ‘What to Wear in Fall’ spread. She stood at the table and listened as four different people hollered orders at her. She had officially been given the title of go-fer. Frustrated, she waved her hands back and forth, trying to complete the tasks that all the different crew gave her from finding an accessory for the model to getting coffee from the street vendor passing by. She stopped and covered her ears to put in perspective which to do first.

“Hey, can you get that?” Chloe looked at the man irritatingly and turned on the large fan set up for the shoot, as if they needed it that particular day. The weather sucked as it was – kind of like her first day on the job.

“Hey, my contact,” a woman screamed and glared at Chloe as she cut off the fan. The entire staff stopped and glared at her and then at the ground. Her older woman mentor then broke into a fit of laughter as the group looked for the woman’s contact. Chloe walked away and sat out of the way from attention of the now irritating eyes. She felt alone and out of place.

The older woman, Margaret, sat down beside her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “James is very good at his job, and he is demanding. But he mentored me and now I am mentoring you. Soon, you will be just as versed in all aspects of the newspaper and will mentor someone else. You’ll see – give it time.” Chloe heard the words but could only think of home and of him. At least there, she wasn’t noticed at all.

Even as the days passed, the work didn’t get better and her mood got worse. She sat in her small empty apartment and listened to the crowds walk by and talk outside her window while talking to her father on the phone.

“You’ve only been there two weeks; I doubt that everyone there thinks that you are idiot.”

“Only because I haven’t met them all.”

“Chloe, you are being much too hard on yourself. Give it a chance. Remember you were the one ordering others around to make things just what you wanted at your newspaper and you’ve been away from it for a couple of years. What matters is that you are away from here, experiencing new things, getting another view of the world, finding new friends. And not constantly thinking about you know who.”

But she was thinking about him; he was all she thought about. Hearing her father’s voice reiterate the point, she stared at the Gap ad she had on the wall. The one solid reminder of home and what she wanted so desperately to return home for.

*********

Gabe entered the kitchen and sat down with the help. They all stopped and wondered how her trip was going. The one-sided love affair with Lucas Luthor was not a secret among the staff; she had grown up with the obsession. Frustrated, Gabe sat down at the table as the housewoman brought him his breakfast.

“She’s fine. She hasn’t adjusted completely.” Gabe started shoving food in his mouth to avoid the inquisition, but it came anyway.

“She’s miserable,” the gardener threw in.

The maid shook her head, “I told you not to send her.”

The newest staff member that Lionel had the heart to save from some immigration scandal said with a thick Spanish accent, “Mr. Gabe, maybe it is not my place, when I first come to this country, I was alone like Chloe.” The staff all rolled there eyes at her beginning her soapbox, “So I just asked to God, why am I here, but I say why God. But there is no answer. So, I stopped crying but it takes eleven years.”

The housewoman rolled her eyes and continued, “Did she mention Lucas?”

“Just that her life without him is a hopeless ending filled with misery and despair. I believe those were her words.”

*********

Chloe followed the same crew from the Times everyday. Today, she again followed James to a press event for the style section of the paper. After working on the high school newspaper, she never cared to do any more stories on the in’s and out’s of the fashion or popularity world, but she at least was getting some exposure to a major market newspaper. She watched as he interviewed one of the women one an upcoming television show and almost missed the question.

“Have a drink with me.” He turned around and looked at her and smiled. He was handsome but much more defined older features than his age would dictate. He dressed casually, which made her feel more at ease in her dress.

“Me?”

Chloe and James sat at a café and talked for hours. She took in everything he said from explaining the culture in his beloved England to the intricate details of her job and what would make her accomplished in whatever facet of the newspaper she ended up going into. She was mesmerized by him. He smiled at her, showed an interest in her. The first person besides her father to do that and she was hooked.

Witty and funny, he took her out several nights after work, and they danced. He would tell her jokes and she would laugh like she hadn’t laughed in years. Returning one night after a club, she flopped on the bed and looked at the menu that she had taken from the restaurant as a souvenir. She stared at it happily and hung it on her wall. She looked at her picture of Lucas and carefully moved the menu to cover one corner of the ad.

**********

Lex, dressed in his trademark suit with crisp blue shirt, marched out to the limo as Gabe opened the door for him. Pulling his phone out to make a call, Lucas chased him out of the house dressed ready for a tennis game.

“Hey Lex.” Lex put his phone down and rolled his eyes, looking at his very out of place brother. “Got a minute?”

“Lucas, does it ever occur to you that you are an officer of Luthorcorp?” Lex pulled out his phone and again continue to dial.

“Lex, listen. I met someone.”

Still not listening, Lex continued, “Do you recall the address of our building – it’s 380 Luthorcorp Avenue in Metropolis.”

“Hey, I’m not kidding,” Lucas pleaded for him to listen to no avail.

“Your office is on the 48th floor.”

“She’s really a somebody.” Lex gave in and decided to listen to his little brother’s new acquisition, wishing he could acquire businesses like women.

“So what’s the problem?”

“Well, I have invited her for dinner her on Friday and I don’t want you and dad to – look this girl is really smart, like really smart.”

Lex walked away smirking at Lucas’ statement, “Well, that certainly hasn’t come up before.” He continued punching keys on his phone.

“Lex, she’s a real woman, not a you know…”

Les turned and laughed at him, “Transvestite?”

“She’s not a bimbo. She’s a doctor, a surgeon actually.” This raised Lex’s hopes and interests enough for him to look at Lucas.

“How did you meet her?”

“I was at this party and the host started having a heart attack and I rushed him to Metropolis General and she was the resident on duty and we just hit it off.” Lex went back to complacency, not seeing this relationship lasting.

“How did the host make out?” He tried to be put up with the conversation.

“Listen Lex, when you guys meet her just try to make me look good. I mean I know I look good, but try to make me sound good. Mention my accomplishments, my qualities. You can be creative.” Lex eyed his little brother with a smirk of disgust. Nodding his head, Lex rolled his eyes. “Lie, ok? She says her folks know you.”

“What’s her name?

“Bryce. Helen Bryce.”

“As in Bryce Industries?”

“I don’t know,” Lucas looked at Lex as if Lex thought he would know such things. Lex looked at the ground as Lucas bounced a tennis ball. Lex started scheming as his father walked out to join the two.

“Which one works for a living?” Lionel added drolly as he got into the limo. Lex entered after his father and rolled his eye, pretending nothing else was up his sleeve.

“Bring her around, we’ll try to make you look good.”

Completely oblivious to Lex’s statement, Lucas looked at Lionel and questioned, “So you guys work Sundays now?”

“It’s Wednesday Lucas,” Lex answered as he shut the car door. Lex waited patiently as Gabe pulled away from the mansion grounds and then made another call. This was the perfect play, the perfect plan, and Lucas of all people had laid it in his lap. “Guess what dad? Lucas is taking out Stanley Bryce’s daughter.”

Without reading his father’s expression, he knew his father was already interested in the thought of a possible professional and personal relationship. “Mac, get me Harvey,” Lex ordered over the phone as he pulled up the latest stock numbers for Bryce Industries. “Harvey, I want you to start buying up chucks of Bryce stock, not too much at one time to notice. That’s it.” Lex hung up the phone and looked at his father approvingly. Lucas would not screw this one up.

“Well, I sure hope she doesn’t look like Stanley,” Lionel tried to joke.

***********

At dinner on Friday, Lionel was pleasantly surprised at Lucas. “For once your father didn’t lie, you are lovely.” Lionel greeted Helen, kissing her hand gently.

“Thank you,” she politely replied as she shook hands with Lex. “I have heard wonderful things about you from my father.”

Lex, still skeptical, asked, “So you really are a doctor?”

“No, he made that up,” Helen dropped jokingly.

“She was just named to the Thoracic Surgeon Team and I told her the hospital could count on us for a couple million dollar donation.”

Lionel groaned, “Lucas,” but let it drop.

Already trying to lay on the charm, Lex uncharacteristically grabbed him by the shoulders, “Is he a world class philanthropist or what?” In the back of his mind, Lex knew that hell or high water this relationship was going to work.

************

Chloe walked around the London streets on her day off in a daze. She had a lot to think about. Lucas, who was miles away, didn’t give her the time of day without her asking first. But James, in all his seriousness about work, never once neglected to see to her needs. When working with James, she actually felt like a competent person. Stopping and looking up at the building that she worked in, she decided to check in on James.

Seeing someone in his office, she sat down at her desk and went through the new mail that arrived since the night before.

“Chloe, come here and bring those folders.” Chloe looked up from her still sparse desk and smiled as James closed his door. He had an … office. He was somebody, and he treated her like a real person. Walking in the door, she looked down at the voluptuous woman sitting on the couch in a barely there skirt and suddenly felt inadequate.

“Thanks. This is Bridgette. We’re all going to lunch together to prep for the prince’s polo match. I honestly don’t see how these things are newsworthy but regardless.” James picked up his satchel and camera bag. “Shall we get going?”

Chloe continued to stand numb in the office, on the verge of tears. Bridgette smiled softly at her and walked out of the door first. “Chloe, is everything ok? If you would rather skip lunch, James and I would completely understand.”

Chloe wouldn’t let this woman intrude on her only chance for a happy time in merry old England. Getting a grip on her emotions, Chloe raised her head and smiled at the woman again. “I’m fine. Let’s get going.”

The three sat through what Chloe admitted was a fairly simple and uneventful lunch. Chloe watched James as he continued to watch her mannerisms around Bridgette. Chloe made sure to be polite to the woman but secretly wished the woman’s hair would suddenly fall out or breasts to deflate. This wasn’t fair. She finally thought her and James had something going. She was his pick for every assignment; her work was becoming more used in the newspaper’s fashion section and her name was actually known in the newsroom.

James had gotten her to that point and now he was gallivanting with another woman right in front of her.

“Chloe, I’m going to go powder my nose; would you like to join me?” Bridgette smiled sweetly enough but Chloe couldn’t stomach spending alone time with the woman.

“Thank you, but I’m good,” Chloe responded wondering if Bridgette was insinuating that Chloe needed to clean up or she wasn’t pretty. She gritted her teeth and tried to smile as Bridgette walked away after kissing James on the cheek.

James turned to Chloe and stared at her. “What’s wrong?”

Chloe thought for a moment not to actually answer the question but figured that she might as well. “It’s just Bridgette – I don’t know. I guess I’m just al little stressed.” James watched her reactions when Bridgette’s name left her lips and let out a laugh.

“You’re jealous.”

“No, I’m not. There’s nothing between us; there’s no reason to be jealous.” Chloe was now getting more aggravated.

“Yes, you are. You’re jealous of my niece.” Chloe’s eyes widened at the statement. Trying to open her mouth to apologize, nothing came out. James reached over and took her hand in his, “Chloe, you didn’t actually think I was that callous to your feelings? Bridgette is in from Milan for a fashion shoot and asked us to lunch. She wanted to meet you.”

“Us?”

Leaning in closer, James wrapped both hands around Chloe’s and nodded in dismay. “She asked if I had finally found someone my own type to hang out with. I know she meant romantically, and I explained as a matter of fact I had. That’s why she suggested to have us all go out.” Running a hand through her hair, he smiled. “Now, can you loosen up a little and enjoy the rest of the day? I think actually she was taking you somewhere after this; maybe you could actually enjoy yourself while I get to the polo match.”

“I thought you needed me for that.”

“Chloe, that was a ruse to get you to go out. You looked like you were going to spit daggers at Bridgette and needed your mind on work to convince you to go.” James squeezed Chloe’s hand one more time and sat back in his chair as Bridgette walked up to the table.

“I’m glad to see things have been settled a little better. I’m sorry Chloe, I thought he had told you about me. Lord knows all I hear about you.” Bridgette sat down and examined the bill. Pulling her credit card out, she looked at Chloe and smiled perfectly. “Are you interested in some ladies pampering or do you want to go watch men be men at a polo match?”

“I would very much like the pampering, no offense James.” James laughed and waved her to go ahead. Getting up from his seat, he rubbed his hand down her long hair and smiled at Bridgette. “Be good, and don’t let her cut it all off,” he told Chloe before walking out of the bistro.

“Shall we?” Bridgette stood a mere three inches taller than Chloe but was much more beautiful. Chloe followed her to places all over town, trying on clothes and getting makeovers. When asked by retailers who obviously knew of her, Bridgette would simply answer that Chloe was her friend and that she should be treated just the same.

Chloe returned home that night to her sparse apartment with a new above the shoulder bob cut and make up that actually showed that she had beautiful cheekbones. She wished she would never have to wash it off, afraid that she couldn’t make it look the same again. She laid in her bed and looked at her bulletin board. Peering back at her, it seemed the smile from Lucas’s face on the ad was saddened, disappointed. For the first time, though, Chloe didn’t care. Jumping up from her bed, she resigned that she had to get to bed soon in order to have time enough to make herself look stunning for James in the morning.

TBC

[westwingwolf]

Well it's good to see Chloe not all caught up in an unrealistic dream of Lucas, but I wonder if James is worthy of her. Lucas is such an idiot but if Helen likes him then so be it. And scheming Lex is fun, I like his enthusiasm.

[lexie]

So far so good. Still I hope you won´t stick that close to the script. I´m looking forward to your original spin to the story. I´ve read Starting Over and Trust Me and I truly believe you can pull it through nicely.

[hfce]

I love this update. I can't wait to see where this goes.