Title: Should the Teacher Stand So Near?

Part: 1/?

Author: Cam

Author's email: Camerada2006@yahoo.com

Pairing: Chloe/Lex

Summary: Lex tutors Chloe

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em

A/N: The title comes from an old jazz standard, "Teach Me Tonight." The line goes, "But one thing isn't very clear, my love / Should the teacher stand so near, my love?"

*~*~*~*

Chloe cried.

Lex never imagined that happening. Lana, yes. In fact, he had seen her break down from stress once, just before the Talon opened. Mrs. Kent, perhaps, but only if something happened to one of her boys. Chloe, never.

When he walked to the Torch office, it was late – even for a layout night. He was hoping to catch Clark and offer him a ride home. His day had been monstrous, and listening to Clark's chatter was a good way to relax.

As he approached the door, he thought he heard high pitched, gasping laughter. The door was ajar, and the only one present was Chloe. Sitting before her green iMac, Chloe's shoulders were shaking and her hands covered her face.

She wasn't laughing.

"Chloe?"

She jumped up, dashing the tears quickly from her face before looking him in the eye.

"Lex!" she said, over-bright. "How are you?"

"Fine . . . are you – were you . . ." At this point Lex wasn't quite sure what the hell he was doing.

"Oh," she laughed unconvincingly, "just cleaning some toxins from my system."

"Stress or sadness-induced toxins?" Lex asked, feeling like whatever comfort he was attempting to offer was woefully inadequate.

"Um," she started putting some things in her army-green messenger bag. "Can I help you?"

"I was looking for Clark, actually," he paused, watching her fingertips brush over and linger on a yearbook shot of the man in question. "His mother said he was here."

"Just missed him," she said, shoving the photo away from her, before grabbing some more folders to put in the bag.

Chloe picked up a coat which was lying on a chair. Lex thought it looked a little thin for the cold Kansas winter.

"Uh, Lex, I'm leaving now." She looked at him expectantly.

He was standing in the doorway. "Right, let me walk you to your car."

*~*~*~*

"Battery's dead," Chloe said simply, after attempting to start the car a few times. "The cold killed it."

"Oh," Lex said. "You have jumper cables?"

"Nope."

"Me neither."

"Damn," Chloe said softly. Lex watched the white steam rise from her mouth in a tiny cloud.

"Come on," he gestured to his car.

They didn't say much on the ride to her home. As he made the turn onto her street, Lex decided to ask.

"Why were you crying, Chloe?"

He expected to be told to mind his own business, but she answered almost immediately.

"Clark helped Lana with her math homework," she said, shaking her head a little. Lex couldn't decide if she was shaking it at him or herself. "I've been begging him to explain asymptotes for a week now, but he conveniently forgot when the fairy princess showed up."

"Why is it so imperative that Clark help you, Chloe?"

"Clark's a math genius."

Lex pulled the car over beside her house, then turned to look at her. "And?"

Chloe bit her lip and looked down. "And it's frustrating to see him do everything for Lana, except change her pad."

Lex laughed suddenly. Clark did go out of his way to be Lana's knight in shining armor.

"I can help you with your math."

"Lex–" Chloe started.

"Yes?"

"Well, it's more than just a one-time thing. I'm seriously deficient."

"Then, we'll have one hour tutoring sessions on the days of your choice."

"You're SO busy."

"I can make time. Besides, high school math would be a welcome break."

"Lex, are you sure?"

"Yeah, I am." And he was.

"Thank you so much!" She thought for a moment. "Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at five? Or is that too much–"

"That's perfect. Tomorrow's Tuesday; we can meet at the Talon." Although the denizens of the town were beginning to trust him, Lex wasn't sure that having a 16-year-old come to his house three nights a week was such a good idea.

The porch light came on.

"My dad," Chloe got out of the car quickly.

Gabe Sullivan stepped onto the front porch dressed in pajamas, a robe, and what looked like some variety of stuffed animal attached to his feet.

"Hi, Gabe," Lex called from his car. "I was giving Chloe a ride home . . . her battery died."

"Gee, thank you Lex," Gabe shouted back. "Chloe, stop taking up Lex's time and get to bed."

"G'night, Lex," Chloe said.

Her hair was whipping around her face, and her nose and cheeks were pink. Lex was struck with the sudden thought that she was absolutely breathtaking.

"'Night, Chloe."
___________________

Part Two coming soon, please read and review!