Okay, updating this post to give this story a category. (New chapter is several posts below!
Category: Romance
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Title: Curbside Pickup
Rating: PG-13 (will get higher though)
Pairing: Chlex
Spoilers: Futureish (senior year for the gang) No real spoilers
Summary: Lex gets more than he bargained for when he finds Chloe stranded on the side of the road
Disclaimer: Not mine. No characters are, I'm just borrowing them for fun!
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Chapter 1
Chloe Sullivan breathed deeply of the night air, enjoying the warm breeze that still blew across her skin, even though the hour was late. Somehow, the twinkling lights of Smallville seemed hypnotic from her perch on the hill high above it. It really was a beautiful town, although the last thing she'd imagined doing on the night of her Senior Prom was admiring it from afar.
In another life, she would happily be on Clark's arm, his cherished and adored girlfriend, the king and queen of the prom. She would be wrapped in his arms, held tightly against his muscled body as they danced into the wee hours of the morning, lost in each other's eyes. Lana and Pete would have happily been accompanying them through dancing and then a late night snack at the Talon. Her father would be ecstatic, Clark's parents happy and all would be right with the world.
In another life.
But in this one, she found herself alone, no date for the Prom, having to live with the knowledge that this year, Clark had taken his girlfriend Lana. She wouldn't kid anyone and say it didn't hurt to see her best friend fawning all over the girl he'd been obsessed with for years. It hurt more because she knew, somewhere inside, that if Lana hadn't ever existed, she would have had a chance with Clark. But ever since the two had gotten together, she'd forced herself to try and get over her childhood infatuation with the boy she could never have. It wasn't easy and there were times she wanted to break down and cry out her fears and frustrations, but she'd stayed strong. And slowly, slowly the pain had begun to fade and she'd begun to realize that her destiny lay apart from Clark's.
But knowing that and accepting it were two different things. And she'd been doing so well this year. She'd managed to hide her hurt as Clark, Lana and Pete talked about Prom and what they would do. She, of course, had been included, they'd even tried to find her a date, but in the end, she'd begged off. Over their objections, she'd managed to convince them that she really didn't see why Prom was such a big deal. Instead, she'd told them she had arranged to spend the weekend with Lois in Metropolis.
She had to give herself credit, it was a great acting job. She'd almost convinced herself that her friends could see through her act, but then had bitterly realized that they were more relieved than anything. They didn't have to worry about Chloe being a fifth wheel at Prom. It hurt, but she could handle it. After all, she had always been the odd one out in the group, no matter how close she and Clark seemed.
In all fairness, she had made a half-hearted attempt to see if Lois would be around that weekend, only to be told that Lois was "entertaining" her latest boyfriend and really didn't want company at her apartment. Accepting defeat, she'd kept up the farce, refusing to let her friends know she now officially had no plans and nothing to do on Prom night. She'd even been conned into buying a stylish new dress by Lana, who had assured her that she needed something new for a "night out" in Metropolis.
She hadn't had the heart to refuse … which was why she now found herself dressed in the clingy blue strapless number that hugged curves most people were probably not aware she had. She'd smiled wryly looking in the mirror earlier, knowing that people might be surprised to see that Chloe Sullivan was not such a little girl anymore. In fact, she looked like a sophisticated young woman with her hair swept into a loose twist and the diamond pendant her father had given her sparkling at her neck.
All dressed up and nowhere to go.
She sighed morosely as she leaned back against the hood of her car. She'd had to get out of Smallville, knowing the last thing she needed was someone to see her and realize her Metropolis plans were a bust. She'd figured she'd drive into the city anyhow, get a room at one of the hotels and spend the weekend moping in front of satellite TV. Her father believed she was spending the weekend with Lois and she saw no reason to tell him otherwise. Besides, the farther away from Smallville she was, the less she'd have to deal with the sight of her friends having a wonderful time without her.
Some strange urge had made her put the dress on and do her makeup before leaving, although what she couldn't name. Everything had gone to plan until she'd reached the top of the hill several miles out of town and her car had suddenly sputtered to a stop. Several attempts later, she realized it was hopeless and that she was going nowhere for the moment. She bitterly realized she'd have to call a tow truck. So much for her dignified escape from Smallville.
Unfortunately, her cell phone refused to work and several frustrated attempts later she threw the phone to the ground. Stomping her foot, wincing at the pain the high heels she wore caused at the motion, she turned to look back over the town. It wasn't that far, she could probably walk… but not in heels.
Which meant she was stuck on the side of the road until someone came along to help. She could only hope it wasn't a rapist or mugger. She'd seen too many horror films to not know what happened to stranded young women alone on the highway.
At least the night was warm and there was very little chance of being accosted by a criminal on these roads. Now a meteor freak was something else. She shivered at the thought of some of the things and people she'd seen over the past few years.
Sighing, she closed her eyes and decided to examine her life now that there was nothing but the open air to distract her. She wondered how she'd gotten to the point she was lying to her friends about almost everything. She hated the awkwardness that was now between her and Clark, and the unspoken guilt she knew Lana felt at being unable to control her own feelings for Clark. Sadly, she'd rather spend time apart from them than try to deal with the tension in their presence. She could only thank whomever for the fact that she had been accepted to Metropolis University and planned to start with summer classes. Anything to get out of Smallville and away from her past.
It was sad to suddenly feel like an unwelcome visitor in the place she called home. Although to be honest, she'd never really felt she fit in. No matter how you tried, she figured it was harder than most thought to take the Metropolis out of a girl.
Her ears suddenly perked up at the sound of an engine in the distance. Saying a quick prayer that urban legends stayed just that, she moved to the side of the road and waited for the car to appear. She debated for a moment whether she should try the "show a little leg" trick that seemed to work so well in the movies. Then again, there was always the possibility the movies never examined, that the oncoming car could simply run over the outstretched leg. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry she settled for the tried and true distress call for one stranded on the side of the road. She began waving her arms and yelling "stop!" as a pair of headlights came into view. A sigh of relief emerged from her throat as the lights slowed and the car slid to a stop in front of her.
She closed her eyes as she realized that only one person in Smallville would be driving the state of the art vehicle now stopped next to her. It figured.
"Chloe?"
"Hey Lex, feel like playing hero tonight?"
She knew it was cheesy, but it seemed to fit the moment. She unconsciously held her breath as his tall figure emerged from the car. Her breathing stopped as she took in the fact that Lex was wearing a dark suit that framed his broad shoulders to near perfection. The soft glare of the headlights gave him an almost supernatural aura, his dark eyes piercing through the blackness of the night into her own, his bald head reflective in the headlight's glow. He was overpoweringly masculine as he stared at her and she suddenly felt herself the true hopeless female. She also found herself wondering when Lex had become so attractive.
"Chloe, what happened? Are you okay?"
She forced back sudden tears as she heard the true concern in his voice. It was something she hadn't heard from any of her so called friends in months, and it was a welcome sound. But she couldn't break down, not in front of Lex at least. She had to be strong.
"My car kind of stalled. I can't get it to start and my cell phone is dead here. So, can you give me a ride?"
She bit her lip unconsciously as she saw him studying her form, feeling a not unpleasant shiver run down her spine as his gaze traveled her body.
"Of course. And where might I ask are we going?"
She sighed, realizing there was no way he'd take her to Metropolis, but knowing she couldn't go home. She truly had nowhere to go now and the thought was depressing.
"Chloe, it's not brain surgery."
She remained quiet, knowing Lex needed an answer, but too conflicted to decide. She didn't want to go home and face her father and her friends, but where else could she go?
"Okay, I'm going to assume from your outfit you were either on your way to a hot date in Metropolis, on your way back to a hot date in Smallville, or simply looking for a hot date by dressing up like a knockout and hoping a handsome stranger would rescue you from the side of the road."
Chloe couldn't help but laugh at his final option. Although she had to admit, she'd pretty much accomplished the "handsome stranger" rescuing her scenario, only without the stranger. Still, she figured he deserved the truth.
"Wrong on all counts. I was actually headed to Metropolis to wallow in self pity while the rest of my friends enjoyed their Senior Prom."
She sighed at the confused look Lex gave her.
"You were headed to Metropolis to wallow in self pity dressed to the nines? Interesting form of self-pity Chloe."
She smiled at the light amusement in his voice, realizing she suddenly felt a bit better.
"I had to tell them something so they wouldn't think I was sitting at home on Prom night, pitying myself."
Lex's laughter sent another pleasant tingle down her spine.
"Well, I'll say one thing for you Chloe Sullivan, you know how to indulge in self-pity. Very prettily I might add."
She felt a blush rise to her cheeks at Lex's compliment. Looking over at his amused face she couldn't help but smile in return. She already felt better.
"Thanks Lex, I knew I could count on you to understand. Now tell me, why are you so dressed up? Hot date in Smallville yourself?"
His laughter seemed to warm some part of her she hadn't even realized had been cold.
"Actually, I'm headed home after a meeting from hell with my father. And all meetings with Lionel Luthor are in full business dress."
She smiled and leaned against the front of his car, eyeing him the way he'd eyed her earlier.
"Well, allow me to say full business dress looks good on you Lex. Not that most everything doesn't."
She muttered the last words, but she suspected he'd caught them if the amused twitch of his lips was anything to go by.
"Well then, since you have no place to go, and I happen to be free, how about I take you to a fabulous dinner and make you forget about your high school prom night from hell?"
She felt her heart begin to pound at the look in his eyes and at the thought of having dinner with Lex Luthor. Not that she hadn't been around him before, their verbal judo had become the highlight of her week lately. But there was something different tonight. A tingle in the air of a mutual, if unacknowledged attraction. It was different than anything she'd ever felt around Clark. And she suddenly realized she liked the feeling.
"Lead on my self appointed, if somewhat tarnished white knight."
She smiled again at his laughter as he moved around the car to open the door for her. She caught a whiff of the scent that was uniquely Lex and it sent another delightful tingle down her spine. She unconsciously allowed her body to brush against his as she slid past him and into the driver's seat. As she turned to look at him as he shut the door, she thought she caught a flash of something heated in those dark eyes. It sent a wave of what she could only call desire through her body.
Something told her it was going to be a much better night than she'd planned.
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Lex found his gaze kept returning to the young woman seated next to him in the close confines of his Porsche. He nearly hadn't recognized her until he'd brought the car to a complete stop and found himself gazing into her familiar eyes. It had still taken him a moment to reconcile the image he had of Chloe Sullivan, Smallville's ace reporter, Clark's best friend, with the beautiful young woman flagging his car down from the side of the road.
He'd known for sure that it was Chloe when he'd heard her soft drawl as she didn't even bother to wait for him to get completely out of the car. Pushing his surprise down, he'd managed to get out of her what she was doing there, trying not to let his gaze become a leer as he noted the way the blue dress hugged her curves and brought out the rose in her complexion. This was definitely a Chloe Sullivan he hadn't expected to see and he had suddenly found himself with an insane desire to know her better.
That desire was what had prompted him to invite her to dinner. He wasn't accustomed to hanging out with Clark's high school friends. But somehow, tonight, he'd sensed something kindred in Chloe. Something that told him that no matter who her friends were, she still felt alone and almost an outsider in this small town. Not unlike the way he felt most of the time when he was not with Clark or the Kents'.
Then there was the fact that Lex Luthor was definitely not adverse to spending an evening with a beautiful woman. And in Chloe's case, a beautiful woman who could hold her own with him. He was surprised to admit he found their frequent bouts of verbal judo during his numerous stops in the Talon exhilarating. He found it extremely refreshing that she argued instead of agreed with him, like most everyone he knew did. He liked the fact that she didn't seem impressed with his name or who he was. At times, it was a little frustrating to be honest. But still, she held a hidden fascination he hadn't wanted to admit until this moment.
He smiled to himself as he wondered when she would realize they were headed for his home instead of a restaurant. He'd meant it when he'd said he wanted to take her to dinner. He just hadn't mentioned the dinner would be at his home, specifically prepared by his personal chef. A quick call that Chloe had assumed were to make reservations had taken care of the matter and he knew things would be ready when they arrived.
He refused to acknowledge the spark of desire he felt at the knowledge he would be alone with Chloe in his home. But he prided himself on his control and he was pretty sure that no matter how attractive he found this slip of a girl, he wouldn't act on that attraction. Even though she was technically of age at 18. He forced his mind to put those thoughts out of his head as he turned down the road to what Clark referred to as his "castle" and saw Chloe sit up a little straighter in her seat.
"Umm, Lex, why are we headed for your castle?"
He smiled at her reference to his home and at the slight unease in her voice as he pulled up to the gates and punched the button to open them.
"I told you I'd take you to dinner and dinner it will be. My personal chef happens to be preparing it, if that's okay with you?"
He couldn’t help but feel relief as after a moment of hesitation, she smiled at him.
"Well, I suppose I'm grateful. If we'd gone somewhere in Smallville, my cover would have been blown. Not to mention your reputation."
He felt a slight touch of hurt that she thought he'd be concerned about being seen with her in public. But then, he sometimes forgot who he was, especially around the blonde spitfire.
"Heaven forbid my reputation be ruined."
His dry reply earned a laugh from her as he pulled to a stop in the driveway. He quickly jumped from the car and walked around to the passenger side, pleased that she remained in her seat until he opened the door for her. Ever the gentleman, he offered her a hand as she made to rise from her seat.
He jumped at the electric tingle that ran up his arm as their palms touched. He could see she felt it as well as her all too expressive eyes flew to his. For a moment, he lost himself in her gaze and the tingling sensation in his arm. Without realizing it, his fingers twined with hers as he pulled her gently from the car. He felt a rush of pleasure as she didn't try to pull away, but instead tightened her grip on his palm and smiled up at him as he shut the door and led her inside.
This night was definitely shaping up to be better than he'd planned.
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More to come soon!
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