Chapter 10-Space Between

"Chloe, you home?" Clark asked as he walked through the door of their apartment.

"Yeah, I'm in here!" Chloe yelled from the kitchen.

Clark walked into the kitchen and gave her a hug. "I never thought I'd see the day when Chloe Sullivan cooked."

"Well, I don't exactly make enough money to be eating out all the time," Chloe said, as she took a spoon and mixed the noodles. "So, how do Beef Ramen noodles sound to you?"

"Sounds real good actually because I'm hungry," Clark replied, rubbing his stomach.

"So, how was the job interview?" Chloe asked.

"It went really good. I got the job," Clark said.

"Clark, that's great. What is it exactly you'll be doing?" Chloe asked.

"I'm just a sales associate at a book and coffee shop," Clark explained. He looked over and noticed a beautiful dress laid out on the couch. "Hey, what's with the dress?"

Chloe looked over at it. She had completely forgot that she had taken it out. "Um…it's what I'm wearing on New Years Eve."

"Where is it exactly you are going?" Clark asked curiously.

"To a ball," Chloe said.

"A ball? Sounds like something out of Cinderella," Clark said. "So, who is it you're going with?"

Chloe took in a deep breath. She hesitated before answering. "…Lex…Luthor."

She didn't even have to look at Clark to know his eyes were wide with shock. "Lex Luthor?"

Chloe turned around to look at him. "Yeah, he invited me…and…I said yes."

"You're going to a ball with Lex Luthor?" Clark said, he just couldn't comprehend it.

Chloe shrugged and with a happy smile, that she couldn't resist, said "Yeah."

"Is there something going on between you two?" Clark asked, though for some reason he just couldn't imagine it.

"Clark, I'm just accompanying him to a Ball that some company is throwing," Chloe said, and for some reason she felt like she was lying.

Clark just looked at her suspiciously for a few moments then decided that everything was fine. I mean really, Chloe and Lex? Ha, yeah right! "So, what did you do today?" Clark asked.

"I…um…ran some errands and…I hung out with…" Chloe gulped, "Lex."

The shocked look on Clark's face was back. "Chloe, you gotta admit this is sounding a bit strange."

Chloe sighed, "Why Clark? Why does it sound so strange?"

Clark shrugged. "You just seem to be…I don't know. Are you two dating or something?"

Chloe closed her eyes. She knew this confrontation would come sooner or later. Truth is she didn't even know the answer to his question. So she did the next best thing, be honest. "Clark, we talk…we hang out…and we're going to a Ball together. It's safe to say Lex and I are definitely friends."

Clark just nodded. Her answer seriously worried him. It wasn't exactly a straight answer. Sure, it was an honest answer, but it also showed that there was the possibility of something going on. Just by the look in Chloe's eyes he could tell she liked Lex. But, how seriously could Lex take any kind of relationship with her? She would just get hurt. He knew that much.

As if Chloe read his mind she said, "Don't worry Clark. Everything is going to be fine."

But, Clark knew his worried mind would not be put at ease anytime soon. Even if Lex had the best of intentions with Chloe it would make it harder for Clark to win her heart.

"Here have some Ramen," Chloe said as she handed him a bowl of noodles.

"Thanks," Clark said, still uneasy about their whole conversation.

Chloe sighed. "Clark, you're my best friend and I know you're always there for me. But, this is ridiculous."

"Chloe, it just worries me. Lex is…well…Lex…just doesn't seem like your type," Clark finally settled on saying.

Chloe put a reassuring hand on Clark's shoulder and said, "Clark, Lex and I are not getting married. It's just…well…" Chloe stopped to think of how to explain it to him.

Clark waited.

"OK, remember the prom?" Chloe asked.

Clark nodded, wondering what the point was.

"Remember when three guys asked me?" Chloe said, smiling at the memory. She remembered being shocked when she realized boys had taken a notice in her.

"Yeah. You said no and took that friend of yours…"

"Ben," Chloe said.

"Yeah, that's it," Clark said, remembering the guy. He had been a friend of Chloe's since before she had moved to Smallville. They stayed in touch and he took Chloe to the prom.

"Well, I took Ben because I know Ben. Ben is a friend and I knew I'd have a great time. If I had taken a guy who asked me, it would've been a real date. Then you have all these pressures; does my hair look good? Will he think I'm weird? Should we kiss? Blah blah," Chloe rolled her eyes as she went on.

Clark nodded and put a hand up to stop her from saying the rest. "I get it, Chloe. There are no pressures if you take a friend."

"Exactly," Chloe exclaimed, happy that Clark understood. In reality, Chloe didn't understand herself. She knew why she took Ben to the prom and she was trying to convince herself that going to the Ball with Lex is the same situation as the prom. Truth is, she was already feeling the pressures of the night to come. Millions of questions flowed through her head; how will I fit in with his crowd? Is the dress I'm wearing classy enough? Will I look weird? Will Lex think I'm a twit? Is this a date? Chloe felt like she could scream!

"So, this ball thing is just Lex taking a friend?" Clark asked.

"Well, yeah," Chloe responded, though she just didn't know what the hell she was saying anymore. Lex was filling her mind again.

Clark sighed. He wanted to believe Chloe and if anything he did believe Chloe, but somehow he just wished she would rethink what she believed. Did she really think Lex was taking her because he'd feel pressure with a date? Lex could take a super model he met five minutes before and feel no pressures…no insecurities. But, when Lex took someone he knew it was different. Not only that, but Lex's interest had gone deep enough for him to hang out with Chloe on a regular basis.

Clark decided that there was definitely more than meets the eye when it came to Lex and Chloe's relationship.

**

The Next Day…

Chloe wrapped her scarf around her neck as she bustled out of Metropolis Bank. She checked her watch and then made sure she hadn't forgotten her backpack. She quickly looked through it for her things.

"Chloe."

Chloe jumped at the sound of someone else's voice. She turned around quickly to see Lex smiling at her. Her hand clutched her racing heart. "Lex, you scared me. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. You must have been in another world," Lex said, laughing.

"Just had a lot on my mind. I was trying to make sure I had my school voucher," she explained.

"Voucher?" Lex inquired.

Chloe looked over at his car then back at Lex. "Hey, do you think you could give me a ride to the University book store?"

"Of course," he said and gestured for them to go to the car. He opened the car door for Chloe as she climbed into the passenger seat. He got in the driver's seat and started the car. "So, which one are we going to?"

"Go to the one on Bruton Street," she said.

Lex nodded and started driving off. "So, explain to me what a voucher is."

"The voucher is like a gift certificate," Chloe began to explain. "See a few years ago I got a summer internship at the Daily Planet. And since I kept a 4.0 GPA and my major is journalism they decided to pay for my schooling and books. They gave me the voucher so they get billed when I buy my books and supplies."

"Sounds like a good deal," Lex commented.

"It really is. It was really the only way I could go to college. My dad started a college fund for me when I was younger but it wouldn't have been enough for even two Semesters at a University," Chloe told him.

"Well, all I can say is you're going to be a great journalist," Lex said with a smile.

"I hope so. I want to push the limits," Chloe said.
"I don't think you'll have any problem doing that, Ms. Sullivan," Lex told her.

"Well, you know me."

"I hope so."

Chloe reached over and started picking a few pieces of lint off his Armani jacket. Then smoothed it out so it'd look perfect.

Lex glanced at his now fixed suit. "Thanks."

"Your welcome," she chirped.

Lex parked in front of the bookstore. Chloe grabbed her book bag and opened the car door. She leaned over and gave Lex a quick hug then said, "Thanks so much for the ride. If it hadn't been for you I'd have been walking in snow."

Lex just stared at Chloe's creamy-colored face and rosy cheeks. He was seeing that shimmer in her eyes and though she always had it, he was kind of hoping it was the result of being around him. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. Chloe smiled a dreamy smile.

"Lex," Chloe whispered.

"Yeah?" Lex whispered back.

"You smell good," she said, then giggled a little. "Like…vanilla."

"Well, so do you…except you kind of smell like Kiwi," he told her.

Chloe smiled mischievously, "that's my lotion."

"Well, it's a good one."

Chloe took in a deep breath then said, "Well, I gotta go buy my books for next semester."

Lex got out of the car at the same time as Chloe.

"Lex?"

"I'm not going to let you walk home with tons of books in your hands," he told her.

Chloe jogged over to him and linked her arm with his then smiled and said, "That's why I like you. You're just so damn cool."

"I try," Lex said, standing up straighter.

Chloe laughed.

They walked into the bookstore and immediately started roaming the isles for books. "Let me see the list," Lex said.

Chloe handed him the list of books and continued looking herself.

"Oh, you're taking Economics. Well, if you need any help with that you can call me," Lex told her.

"Thank you. You know I will. Last time I took Economics it was literally a disaster," Chloe told him. "I had a teacher who's name was Eisenhower, but everyone called her Eisenhitler. My goodness, I swear I had economic nightmares."

"Well, Economics was my strong suit."

"What a surprise," Chloe joked. "I'm sure speech was as well."

"Why do you say that?" Lex asked. "I think I found the Economics book."

Chloe looked at the incredibly thick book and said, "I feel faint."

"Seriously?" Lex asked then realized it was a joke. "Oh!" He started laughing.

Chloe laughed at him. "Anyway, I just think you were good at Speech just because you're so eloquent when you talk about some issue. Your thoughts always seem so organized, like you did your research the night before."

Lex eyed her as if she knew some big secret of his then said, "That doesn't mean I did well in speech class."

"Oh come on! Tell me your grade," she said and poked his side.

He clutched the spot she poked and laughed then stopped and tried to look serious. Chloe picked up on this.

"Oh my! Lex Luthor has a ticklish spot!" Chloe exclaimed and poked him again.

"No, I don't!" He said, clutching the spot and trying not to laugh.

"Yes, you do you baldheaded liar!" She said and continued poking him, while laughing herself.

"No…I don't! Stop!" He said, now laughing.

Chloe put one arm around him so he couldn't get away and continued to poke and tickle him.

"Stop…Chloe…No!" Lex's knees buckled and he and Chloe both fell to the ground.

Chloe, who had been laughing also, now stopped and just watched in amazement as Lex laughed. Lex tried to catch his breath and stop laughing. He looked at Chloe, who was watching him. As if reading her mind he said, "I don't laugh very often."

Chloe nodded, "Probably like once every few years?"

"How'd you know?" Lex said with a smile.

"I just know," she said and fixed his tie and jacket. "It's amazing someone hasn't thrown us out of here yet cause you sure laugh loud."

"I do not!" Lex exclaimed and started laughing with her again.

"I call 'em like I hear 'em," Chloe said.

Lex chuckled at her comment and replied with, "Whatever."

"'Whatever'," Chloe imitated and made a goofy face at him.

"What's that?" Lex asked, pointing to a spot on her shirt.

"What?" Chloe asked and looked down.

Lex brought his finger all the way up to her nose. "Got yah."

Chloe huffed, "Oh I hate that! My dad always did that to me and I fell for it every time!"

"You look cute when you're frustrated," Lex commented.

Chloe blushed.

"Come here," Lex gestured with his finger.

"What?" Chloe smiled and got closer to him.

"Closer."

She got closer to him with a smile that said she knew what was going to happen.

She closed her eyes as Lex rubbed her cheek tenderly and kissed her softly on the lips. The kiss grew deeper and neither noticed the person walking up to them. They broke apart slowly when the person cleared their throat to get Lex and Chloe's attention.

"This is not a place for making out," the man scolded them.

Lex and Chloe both scrambled to their feet. Chloe cleared her throat and said, "Sorry."

Lex grabbed her hand and they both hustled outside of the store, laughing their butts off.

"You're trouble, Chloe," Lex joked.

"Me?" Chloe said in surprise. "You were the one laughing up to volume 10."

"I was not!" Lex said, pretending to be offended.

Chloe just laughed.

Lex pulled her to him and quieted her with a kiss.

To Be Continued…