A/N2: April 12, 2013: Hey all, here's another edit. This one is quite different from the original in that it has so much more detail added to it. I think it turned out quite nicely. Hope you like.
Old A/N: Hi again. Sorry for the long wait again. I was really busy with finals. Anyways here's the next chapter. I hope you like it. Please R&R!
Disclaimer: I do not own Smallville.
Chapter 12: Fly Me To the Moon:
Clark shot Lana a surreptitious, or so he thought, look from across the table. Her eyes darted here and there as if she couldn't get enough of the fancy décor around them. Everything about the place screamed elegance, from the crystal chandeliers above each table, to the long white tapered candles, whose light bounced off the chandeliers to create intricate patterns across the room.
The restaurant she'd chosen was the best one in town. In fact, Lex had offered on more than one occasion to set him up with reservations so he could do just what he was doing right now, take Lana out. Funny how she was the one to actually take him out.
Her gaze drifted back to his, as if she knew he was thinking about her. She gave him a smile and he instantly became tongue tied.
"So…" Clark attempted to speak, failing.
"So…" Lana echoed.
Having just put in their dinner orders, they were now waiting patiently for it to arrive, listening to some catchy tune by Frank Sinatra—the only thing that didn't fit the French theme. Clark knew that the food would take some time. He needed to fill the silence with some conversation; still, he was struggling. The quiet that ensued between the two of them was uncomfortable and troubled them both.
Lana gazed at Clark longingly; he was watching her with nervousness in his eyes, like he had no idea what to do next. They'd had dinner together before, it had never felt like this, strained and full of tension.
After one more round of 'so's' they eyed each other uncertainly before each burst into laughter.
"What's wrong with us?" Lana asked as their laughter died down. She gave him a warm, reassuring smile that seemed to have its desired effect.
Clark finally smiled back, seemingly at ease now. "I know what you mean," he replied sheepishly.
"We hang out all the time. Why should now be any different?" she inquired.
Because this time it's a date, a voice in her head decided to point out. She blushed slightly. Ok, so it was a date, but it was still them, Lana and Clark…
Chancing a glance at Clark, she could see he was blushing too. She knew he was thinking the same as her.
Before either of them could say anymore a voice interrupted both their thoughts. "Dinner is served."
Lana looked up to see their waiter, who also happened to be a student in their biology class, with their food.
"Thanks, John," Lana said when he'd finished putting the plates in front of them.
"No problem, Lana," John replied, except he wasn't looking at Lana, he was watching Clark with a big grin on his face.
Lana caught the look and she couldn't help but notice that it was of the love struck variety. It was no secret at school that John had a crush on Clark. Well, except to Clark of course; sometimes he was the definition of clueless.
"Yeah, thanks, John," Clark finished, eager for the boy to go away so he could be alone with Lana again.
John quickly looked from Clark to Lana and back to Clark; a sheepish look overcame his face as he realized the two of them were out on a date.
"You're um welcome… if you guys need anything else, let me know," he said quickly and nervously backed away.
Lana started to chuckle at the confused look on Clark's face. He didn't understand why John got so anxious all of the sudden. Or for that matter, any time he spoke with him. From the look on Lana's face, it seemed she knew.
"What?" he asked.
"He likes you," Lana informed.
Clark's mouth dropped open in surprise. "You mean… John? Nah, no way…" he denied, trailing off as he thought about the looks he'd caught the boy throwing his way occasionally.
"It's sweet. Don't you think?" Lana asked, clearly amused.
Clark fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment. "Yeah, I guess…"
He clearly never thought he'd be the object of another guy's affections. Anyways, it didn't really matter; Clark only had eyes for one person. And currently she was eyeing him with a happy smirk on her face.
"What's wrong?" Lana teased.
"Nothing. Nothing whatsoever."
She was here with him. Everything was right in the world as far as he was concerned. He gave her a bright smile that convinced her of that.
"The food looks delicious doesn't it," Lana remarked, picking up her fork. He nodded his head. "Well then, let's eat."
Lex watched Chloe curiously as she stared out the windows of the helicopter they were travelling in. She looked totally transfixed by the sight. He had to admit it was a great one, all the lights in Metropolis against the darkening sky. It looked like someone had tossed a fist full of diamonds into the air. But, he'd seen it a hundred times before and was, admittedly, not partaking in the view. Instead, his eyes were taking in her every reaction and move, every twinkle in her sparkling eyes… She was beautiful.
His growing admiration for her beauty, among other things, was startling to him. It made him wonder why he hadn't noticed her long before now. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they'd been running into each other more and more of late. That's how he'd also known that the petite blonde had a brain that quite possibly could match his own. An intriguing possibility.
"Have you ever been in a chopper before?" Lex asked conversationally, even though the way she was pressed close to the glass gave him his answer.
Chloe had a hand on the cool window, as if she were reaching out to take hold of the vast universe.
"No, this is my first time," she admitted. Lex noticed her cheeks pinking. "The view just takes your breath away, doesn't it?"
"It does," he replied, still not paying any mind to the dimming sky. There were far more enchanting things inside the vehicle to consider.
For the moment, he was glad that she was too transfixed by the sights going by to notice his appreciation. He didn't really know what to make of it himself. Not yet. He needed time to sort through his thoughts and feelings and he didn't want to confuse her while he did.
As if realizing his gaze was glued to her, she finally turned to face him. Silently, she fixed him with a long, hard stare that he was surprised to find he could not read.
Mysterious. He'd have to add the word to her growing list of previously unknown to him attributes.
"What?" he wondered, shifting slightly under her gaze.
"Why?" she asked vaguely
.
"Why what?" There were any number of things she could be asking the why of. Why did he ask her to stay for dinner the other night? Why did he allow her to manhandle him into watching such an atrocious movie? For that matter, why did he foresee himself watching many more atrocious movies just to please her?
"Why do you want to go to a club, with me?" is what she wanted to know.
He let out a sigh before giving her a straight forward answer. "I had a difficult day today. I feel like having a good time, now that it's over… And you looked like you could use a little excitement, so I asked."
"Oh," she replied, seemingly unsatisfied. He wondered what kind of answer she was expecting.
"Let me ask you a question now," he said. "Why'd you say yes? For all you know, I could be out to corrupt your innocence or something."
He kept his tone light and teasing, but he really wanted to know.
Shrugging her shoulders, she replied, "I don't know... I like to dance and I haven't been to a club in ages…. And I guess you were right, I'm in desperate need of some excitement." She gave him a smile. "And, you know, I'm not as innocent as you think…"
She punctuated that last statement with a wink; Chloe was becoming more and more intriguing by the minute, a definite delightful surprise.
He turned his gaze outside, needing a moment to gather his meandering thoughts. Chloe was still a young woman, he needed to remember that. She was not one of his usual conquests. And despite how much he wanted to ask her how corrupted her innocence really was, he refrained.
Chloe was first to break the silence. "I never imagined you as the clubbing type. I mean, I know you were, back in the day. But…"
"Back in the day?" he echoed, laughing. "I'm only twenty-two, Chloe, not forty."
She blushed prettily. "I know."
"I still like to go once in a while. Does that answer your question?" he asked, good-naturedly.
"Sure. Just one more piece of information to add to my article," she joked.
He smiled, amused and so very much entertained by the lovely reporter.
That's it for this edit, definitely much better than it was before. More to come soon.
Old A/N: Not my best chapter, I know. But I promise the next one will be much better and have more Chloe/Lex parts at the club.
Someone pointed out to me that there's a story out there that has the same name as this one, The Project, and that it is pretty similar to my own. I checked it out; I thought that it had some similar ideas. But I don't know… Anyways check it out, it's by a person named imcharmed and let me know what you think.
But also let me know what you think about this chapter too. Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
