Summary: A soul-tormented groom, a lovesick maid of honour and a small town church packed with wedding guests. Three lives are torn asunder and brought together by secrets, hurting, murder and betrayal. Would he be able to believe in love again? Would she have the chance to fulfil her romantic dreams? A Chlex version of Promise with a big twist.
Rating: PG-13 or a little higher
Author: lexie
Disclaimer: all Superman and Smallville characters belong to DC Comics and Gough & Millar. No Infringement's intended.
THE REAL THING
CHAPTER 1: True Colours
The wedding day had finally arrived and Smallville´s church was packed with guests, who- with the exception of the closest family- were mostly business acquaintances of the groom. The interior of the temple had been garlanded with deep pink and purple flowers- the bride and the husband-to-be´s favourite colours.
Chloe had done her hair up and was donning a strapless silver blue dress. Her eyes were fastened on the groom´s nervous profile and her stomach was in knots with apprehension. She wasn´t coming.
Stealing a glance at the best man, Chloe sneaked out of the altar and left the church by a side door. Her red Beetle was parked round the corner, and she rushed to the driver´s door, cursing the high heels, which sunk in the wet lawn.
Damn Lana Lang and her indecisive nature. Chloe had stepped aside to let Clark have the princess- not that the farm boy had ever looked at her the way he looked at the brunette, but there had been times when the reporter had thought she stood a chance. However, Miss Pompom always had to spoil it all for everyone involved. It seemed she was constantly playing ´He loves me. He loves me not.´ and making half of Smallville´s masculine population pine for her. Not even the coolest male specimen in town had been able to resist her charm and was now about to taste the bitter cup of disappointment; he was being jilted at the altar by the most self-centred girl Chloe had ever had the misfortune of meeting.
Speeding had never been a character trait of Chloe´s; still, she wanted to arrive at the mansion in time to wring the Princess´ neck. How dare she? How dare Lana throw overboard the one thing Chloe would have given her life to claim hers? It wasn´t fair. None of it was fair. Chloe got to the wrought-iron gates of Luthor Mansion amidst a cloud of dust, surprising the guard at the sentry shelter. She drove her Beetle up the driveway at a breakneck speed and screeched to a halt in front of the steps leading to the entrance. She killed the engine and, taking a deep breath, got out of the vehicle and headed straight to Lex´s study.
As she had suspected, Lana was sitting in an armchair writing on Lex´s monogrammed paper when the blonde barged into the room taking her by surprise. The brunette jumped off her seat and tried to stash away the note she had been scribbling, but Chloe was faster and managed to snatch it away from her hands.
¨Why aren´t you wearing your wedding gown, Lana? And what´s this? ¨shouted Chloe, perusing the contents of the note.
¨Give it to me, Chloe! You have no right! ¨screamed Lana, trying to retrieve the accusing missive.
¨How can you, Lana? What are you thinking? Leaving Lex with a note! Of all the things you could do, this really takes the cake. I´ve always known you were a self-centred witch but... this... ¨ exploded Chloe, waving the piece of lilac paper, ¨this is the lowest you could stoop to. ¨
¨Who are you to judge me, Chloe? ¨cried a red-faced Lana. ¨You don´t know what it feels like to feel trapped... ¨
¨Who´s trapped who, Lana? Let´s be honest here... You knew damn well what you were doing when you came running to him. You´ve been playing with his feelings and Clark´s all along. Lex may not be an innocent soul like our mutual friend Clark, but he doesn´t deserve this from you. How could you write the words you´ve written in this note? For God´s sake! ¨
¨It´s the truth, Chloe, ¨she said bitterly.
¨He´s let you in when he keeps everyone at arm´s length and still, you don´t know him, Lana. ¨
¨I do know him, Chloe. That´s why I cannot stay, ¨pouted Lana.
¨You can´t do this to him. You´ll destroy him, ¨said Chloe chokingly.
¨Watch me, ¨snapped the brunette, picking up a suitcase and grabbing her handbag from the piano.
¨Tell me it isn´t true. Tell me that what I saw in Metropolis last week was a figment of my imagination. ¨
¨What are you talking about, Chloe? ¨frowned the former cheerleader.
¨You know what I´m talking about, Lana. Don´t play dumb. ¨
¨And what if it were? ¨she responded, tilting up her chin. ¨Lex will never be half the man he is, ¨she spat defiantly.
¨Bitch! ¨shouted Chloe with glassy eyes, slapping Lana hard across her face, and getting her cheek scratched by the brunette.
¨You´ll regret this, Chloe. Believe me, ¨said Lana menacingly.
¨Don´t try your fake-Luthor threats on me, Lana. You´re way out of their league. ¨
¨You can keep him, Chloe. It´s what you´ve wanted all along, isn´t it? ¨ she responded wryly. ¨I pity whoever falls in love with Lex Luthor for he doesn´t know how to love, ¨she stormed out of the study.
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