Author's Comment: This chapter was such fun to write...and potentially inspired by the FABULOUS chocolate cake I baked last week. Seriously. Most amazing cake ever. I will probably never be able to repeat that miracle even if I try.

B.S.S.


--6--

It was strangely--even unnervingly--easy to forget the trouble Chloe was evidently in as Oliver watched her that afternoon. She was so carefree and lighthearted and so like the little girl he'd known growing up.

"No!" she said stubbornly.

"Try it," he told her, waving the fork in front of her face.

"I have never liked anything banana flavored nor will I ever like anything banana flavored.," she said, turning her nose up at the banana cake he was offering.

"Try it," he repeated, smirking. "Just because you didn't like it when you were three doesn't mean you won't like it now."

"Mm-mm," she said, turning her mouth away when he brought the fork closer.

"It's really good," he said. "Come on. One bite."

She rolled her eyes. "If I take a bite will you shut up?"

He nodded, pressing his lips together in an attempt to stifle laughter. Chloe snatched the fork impatiently from his hand and with no further prelude, shoved the bite in her mouth, distorting her face in disgust. Then she actually chewed, her expression fading a bit.

"Well?" he prompted.

She swallowed. "It was...fine."

He quirked an eyebrow at her. "You loved it."

"I said it was fine!" she protested.

"You loved it, didn't you?" he smirked.

She heaved a dramatic sigh and stabbed another bite of the cake indelicately. She closed her eyes as she ate it. "Okay. You were right. That's really good."

"I told you."

She opened an eye to look at him. "You are such a child. But anyway, I'm not having a banana cake at my wedding. That would be absurd."

"You could have one layer of banana cake and the rest could be something else," he pointed out.

"No. I want something simple. Like chocolate. Or vanilla."

"Or red velvet?" he suggested.

She gave an exasperated laugh. "You never give up, do you?"

He shook his head.

"Why don't I do a marbled cake? Is that exciting enough for you?"

He shrugged. "Hardly. But it's your wedding."

"I'm so glad you're still aware of that," she said sarcastically. "Now would you mind actually helping me with what I asked in the first place? I wasn't concerned about flavors, just the style."

He sighed amusedly. "If we must."

"Thank you," she said, pulling the book back in front of them. "And no more samples," she added to him, noticing his eye wandering back over to the case.

"You are just no fun at all, you know that?" he mocked.

"And you are such a distraction!" she accused. "Now what do you think of this one?"

"It's terrible. I hate it," he said, barely glancing at the picture in the book.

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't even look at it!"

"What's the theme or whatever for this wedding of yours anyway?"

"It doesn't really have a theme," she said thoughtfully. "Just...what suits us."

Did they have a cake that looked like it was made of sunshine on one side and dripping in blood on the other? he wondered. Probably not. "Well you're very elegant in my mind. So I don't like that one because it's too trendy and modern looking," he said.

She turned pink, but carried on as though she weren't flattered. "See now, that actually helps." She flipped through a couple more pages before stopping again. "What about this one?"

He vocalized his distaste. "Ugh! No way! Too frilly. Here," he took the book from her hands, ignoring her protests. He flipped several pages before finding something simple and modest, but still very attractive. It had light pink flowers drawn in icing around the base of each layer, and it had lace and a little butterfly ornament thing on top. It seemed to suit her...not that he was really one to pick out stuff like this. "Here," he said, turning the book to show her. "I like that one."

A little crease formed between her eyebrows and she chewed on her lip, studying the photo. "That's...really pretty. I like that. I'd have to have yellow flowers instead of course...to match the color scheme but..." she tilted her head. "I really like it." She looked up at him in surprise. "Good job."

He narrowed his eyes, smirking. "You say all that like you were expecting me to be no help whatsoever."

"That's because I was expecting you to be no help whatsoever," she teased, taking the book to go talk to the woman behind the counter.

He leaned back in his chair, listening to her talk.

"Oh, I love that one," said the woman. "Did your fiance pick it out?" she asked, glancing at Oliver, who strategically looked out the window.

"Oh, no!" Chloe said, and he could hear the embarrassment in her voice. "Ollie's not my--I mean, he's just my friend. My fiance couldn't be here this morning, so Ollie's standing in."

"Ooh, honey! You sure you picked the right one?" she laughed, teasing Chloe. Oliver tried not to look too pleased with himself. Silently he thanked the woman.

"Oh trust me," Chloe responded, and Oliver had to force himself not to turn around and look at her facial expression, but he could almost picture her twisting her ring absentmindedly as she spoke. "I did. But Ollie's a great guy, just not the guy for me."

"I'll take him," the woman joked in response.

When Chloe came back to Oliver her smile faded slightly. "What's the matter?" she asked.

He raised his eyebrows in innocent confusion.

"Huh. Never mind. You looked very...far away for a moment there," she said with a shrug.

"Get the cake all squared away?" he asked her, standing up and shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Uh huh," she said, beaming smile returning instantly. "I think the one you found is just perfect."

He gave her half a smile. "So," he said, energy returning. "Can I take you to a late lunch?"

She laughed. "You just stuffed yourself with cake!"

"So?"

She shook her head, chuckling. Then she grabbed his wrist to his surprise and looked at his watch. "Sure, why not?" she said. "But let's make it quick. I should really be getting back soon."

She lightheartedly slipped her hand in the crook of Oliver's elbow, indicating for him to lead her away, and Oliver hated how right it felt. He also hated the fact that she was apparently oblivious to how right it felt. 'A great guy, just not the guy for her?" He wanted to demand to know exactly what was wrong with him, but he held his tongue.

When they were sitting down in a restaurant, though, and they'd already placed their orders, he found he couldn't resist one question that had been plaguing him since he'd seen her with Luthor at the reunion.

"Chloe?" he said, leaning forward and looking her directly in the eyes, "Don't fly off the handle at this question because I'm just honestly curious. What exactly do you see in Lex Luthor?"

Chloe sighed, smoothing the napkin in her lap before answering.