Title: Graduation

Author: Lucy Mars

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Oh, if wishing made it so… Alas, they don't belong to me.

Chapter #6: Holding On.

"How about this?" Chloe suggested holding a simple blue sweater over Lex's chest. "I think I'll look nice on you."

            "No more," Lex groaned shaking his head, "I don't think that I can try on another article of clothing."

            Tossing his the sweater, Chloe moved on towards jeans. "Don't be a big baby."

            "We've been shopping for two hours," Lex moaned, following Chloe around the store, "I've purchased more clothes than I'll ever need."

            Smiling, Chloe pulled Lex along with her towards the change room and tossed him a pair of jeans that she knew he would look great in. "Get in there and try it on."

            "Chloe," Lex sighed, "I don't want too." This is what she resorted him too, a whining slip of a man.

            "Ever guy needs a good pair of jeans," Chloe smirked giving Lex an encouraging slap on the ass, "Get in there and try it on."

            Giving her a faux scowl, Lex shoved the bags he was holding into Chloe's arms and went into the change room. If only his father could see him now, being ordered around by a pesky reporter in the making. Papa would be proud.

            "Lex?" came Chloe's voice, "Are you laughing in there?"

            "No," was Lex's automatic reply.

            "Ahh, all right." Chloe laughed.

***

Skating circles around Lex, Chloe matched his scowl with a smile. "Come on, Lex. Catch me if you can."

            Watching her skate away and into the crowd of people that littered the large rink, Lex smirked to himself and skated off after her. Dressed in a pair of jeans, a bulky NYU sweatshirt and a knitted ski cap, he was just another face in the crowd. People paid him no attention and offered him no false sincerity. They saw him as just another guy spending the afternoon with his girlfriend. His girlfriend. That had a nice ring to it.

            Following the sound of her laughter and catching small glimpses of her red scarf, Lex dodged the children fumbling over their own two feet and the flying legs as aspiring skaters practiced their jumps and twirls.

            Skating hard, Lex finally caught a break as the crowd parted and opened up to a laughing and red Chloe. Speeding up, he had his arms around her before she could even push off and try to get away.

            Laughing and conceding defeat, Chloe wrapped her arms around a smiling Lex and grinned proudly. "Having fun?"

            Catching his breath and watching as sparkling puffs floated around them, Lex smirked softly. "It's entirely possible that I am enjoying myself whilst in your company."

            "Good." Chloe said snaking her hands down his back and tucking her cold hands into his back pockets, "How do the casual clothes feels? Weird?"

            Mirroring her actions, Lex happily deposited his cold fingers in her back pockets. "Good."

            Giving him a blinding smile, Chloe titled her head to the side to study his bright eyes. "I'm glad." 

            Kissing her cold cheek, Lex pulled back slightly to look at his watch.

            The gesture didn't go unnoticed by Chloe. "Why do you keep looking at your watch? Do you have somewhere to be?"

            "Not right now," Lex answered smoothly.

            "But later you do?" Chloe persisted.

            "It depends," Lex answered vaguely.

            "On what?"

            "On whether or not it goes through."

            Scrunching her eyebrows in confusion, Chloe didn't push. If Lex wanted to tell her, he would.

            "How about we go get some coffee," Lex suggested leading Chloe off of the ice rink, "I'm getting cold."

            Studying Lex, Chloe nodded silently and followed him. There was something going on, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

***

            Tucked comfortably in the backseat with Lex, Chloe was too engrossed in her conversation with Lex to realize where their cab was headed. It wasn't until they came to a sudden stop and Lex paid the driver did she notice their surroundings. Looking up at the massive hotel, Chloe gave Lex a bewildered look. He only smirked in return and led her in. Following Lex silently, Chloe took in their posh surroundings. Everything screamed expensive and don't touch.

            The elderly mad behind the main desk may have been surprised to see Lex dressed like a student but he was too smooth to let it show. "Mr. Luthor," he nodded, giving Chloe a small smile.  

            "Lex?" Chloe asked when he lead her into an elevator and slipped a key into the penthouse slot.

            "Patience," was all Lex said as they rode up silently.

            Frowning, Chloe felt like reminding Lex that patience wasn't exactly a virtue she possessed, but one look at his face told her that he had a surprise up his sleeve.

            Her eyes following the blinking lights as their elevator climbed to the top level of the hotel, Chloe gave Lex one last bewildered look before the elevator doors slid open to reveal an entire penthouse suite covered in candles and lilies.

            Stepping into the fragrant foyer, Chloe was mesmerized by the sheer amount of flowers that littered their surroundings. This was like nothing she'd ever experienced before. Spinning around to face Lex, Chloe wanted to ask him what this was all about but she didn't have the words. For once in her life, Chloe Sullivan was speechless.

            "Miss. Sullivan," Lex grinned slowly advancing on Chloe, "would you like to join me for dinner?"

            A soft smile of understanding spreading over her face, Chloe took the hand that Lex was offering and nodded shyly. "I'd love too."

***

            Nestled comfortably together that night, a tangle of arms, legs and sheets, Chloe finally remembered to ask Lex, "When did you have time to pull all of this together?"

            His face buried in her hair, Lex whispered softly, "A Luthor never revels his secrets."

            Laughing lightly, Chloe gave Lex a small shove. "Come on, tell me. We spent all day together. When did you have time to get this all ready?"

            His eyes shinning brightly, Lex propped his arm up and gazed down at Chloe's still flushed face. "Who said that I just planned this today."

            The piece falling together, Chloe looked up at Lex with an expression of wonder. He was wonderful man. "You planned this a long time ago," she whispered, her voice laced heavily with emotion, "That's why you're here early, to surprise me."

            "Maybe,"

            Her emotions getting the best of her, Chloe wrapped her arms around Lex and hugged him tightly. "That's the most romantic thing anyone has every done for me."

            "Well it wasn't all for you," Lex smirked, reminding her of their current state of undress.

            Rolling her eyes, Chloe pointed out the obvious. "You didn't need to go to all the trouble to get here and we both know it."

            "But," Lex whispered brushing Chloe's hair out of her glittering eyes, "I wanted to see that look on your face."

            "What look?" Chloe asked leaning into his touch.

            "The look you gave me when you spun around," Lex murmured kissing her neck softly, "The smile that made me feel like the most amazing man in the world."

            Her fingers gliding over his head with feather light touches, Chloe kissed him softly. "That's because you are the most amazing man in the world."

            "Can I get that in writing?"

            Laughing, Chloe pulled Lex close and kissed him soundly. She didn't think that she was ever going to let go.

***

            Twirling his pen absently, Lex found his mind wandering back to the most amazing weekend of his life, a weekend full of laughter, smiles and warmth. A weekend where he had Chloe all to himself. Now how could he not enjoy that? He hadn't wanted it to end, but as Chloe had so bluntly pointed out, they couldn't hide in the penthouse suite forever. He was willing to try but she wasn't willing to miss class, especially with midterms coming up. His thoughts didn't want to stay anywhere that wasn't Chloe related. Even as he got dressed this morning, he found himself reaching for the casual clothes that she had chosen for him, instead of his usual dress pants and crisp shirt.

            Every aspect of his life seemed Chloe infested. He even found himself taking his coffee the way he knew she liked it. He had it bad. Very Very Bad…and the worst part? It didn't scare him anyone. If anything, he was beginning to embrace it.

            "Mr. Luthor?"

            Looking up at his private secretary, Lex nodded swiftly to grant her permission to enter the room.

            "You have a letter."

            Arching an annoyed eyebrow, Lex looked at the envelope that his secretary was holding. "A letter?"

            "I was addressed to your private mailbox," she clarified handing him the simple letter.

            Recognizing the familiar scrawl, Lex smiled briefly and dismissed his bewildered secretary. Ripping the envelope open, like a child opening a present on Christmas morning, Lex watched as a single slip of paper fluttered down onto his desk. Picking up the fragile sheet of paper, Lex felt his face split into a blinding smile.

            I, Chloe Sullivan, declare Lex Luthor to be the most amazing man in the world.

Love,

Chloe.

p.s. You thought that I wouldn't, but I did. Frame this for prosperity.  

"Hey Lex."

            Momentarily startled, Lex looked up surprised. "Clark, what are you doing here?" Lex asked, discreetly slipping the note into his pocket.

            "Wow," Clark laughed walking into the brightly lit study, "it's nice to see you too."

            "I didn't mean it like that," Lex grinned getting up from behind his desk, "I'm just surprised to see you, that's all. Playing hooky from school?"

            "I'm home for a couple of days." Clark explained, "Are you busy?" Clark asked noticing the pile of paperwork spread out across the massive desk, "I can come back later."

            "No, no." Lex said leading Clark to his bar. He wasn't getting any work done anyway. "I'm actually in desperate need of a break. How's school? How's life in the big city?"

            "Busy." Clark chuckled taking his drink, "It's really different from Smallville, that's for sure. How about you? How's everything."

            "Good," Lex grinned, "Great actually."

            Studying Lex's blinding smile, Clark crossed his arms. "There's something different about you."

            "What do you mean?" Lex asked leading Clark to the sitting area.

            "You look happy."

            Laughing, Lex sipped his water. "Business is good."

            "It's more than business," Clark accused, "If it was business, you'd be smirking. You're smiling, Lex."

            "I do do that from time to time."

            "Never like this," Clark said sitting down beside Lex.

            He'd never been in love before, that's why. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

            "Liar."

            "How's Lana?" Lex asked hoping to change the subject.

            "She's good," Clark said without his customary smile and blush.

            Raising an amused eyebrow, Lex leaned back in his seat. "Can it be possible? Has Clark Kent's undying love for Lana Lang…died?"

            "Don't you think you're being a little dramatic?" Clark laughed.

            "So you're still pining away for her?"

            "Well, no."

            "Does her smile still make you weak in the knees?"

            "Not really," Clark admitted, surprised to hear himself say it, "No."

            "Does her mere presence make your heart beat faster?" Lex asked, thinking about a particular snarky and caffeine addicted someone.

            "No," Clark answered, regarding Lex strangely.

            "Does her stubbornness make you want to strangle her and kiss her at the same time?"

            "Okay," Clark said sitting forward and putting his drink down, "Spill."

            "Spill what?" Lex asked, snapping out of his Chloe induced haze.

            "Who is this mystery woman."

            "What mystery woman?"

            "Okay, usually you're a really good liar," Clark smiled, "but you've got this silly grin plastered across your face, Lex. So, who is it?"

            "I have no idea what you're talking about." Lex lied, calmly drinking his water.

            "So you're not going to tell me?"

            "There's nothing to tell."

            Giving Lex a skeptical look, Clark was about to back off when his cell phone rang. Usually Clark wouldn't have given the sound a second thought, but by the way that Lex choked on his water, Clark knew that this was it. This was his chance. Lunging for the phone, Clark grabbed it before Lex even had a chance to blink.

            "Clark," Lex said reaching for his special cell phone, "give it back."

            Holding the shrieking piece of technology firmly in his hand, Clark couldn't help but grin. "If there is no mystery woman, than what's the big deal?" 

            "Clark…"

            Flipping the cell phone open with a triumphant grin, Clark greeted in a playful voice, "Hello?"

            "Okay, I'm really starting to freak out here. This is the third day in a row that Lou hasn't been to work. God, I hope he's okay. He'd better be! I'm going through some sort of hotdog withdrawal here. I swear, the moment he gets back I'm going to have one of his hotdogs tested to see what he puts in it. The other ones just aren't the same, Lex. Lex? Hello?"

            His mouth hanging somewhere around his knees, Clark looked up at Lex horrified.

            "Hello?" Chloe snapped impatiently, "Lex? Are you there? If you're purposely screwing with me and my impatient self, I'm going to strangle you the next time I see you…but if you're a good boy I'll just tie you up…"

            "Chloe!" Clark yelped, his face suddenly burning with embarrassment, "Too much information."

            Her end of the line feel dead, as Chloe clutched her phone, frozen with horror in the middle of the busy New York sidewalk. Oh my god. "Ohmygod…"

            "Yeah," Clark agreed, looking up at Lex's carefully blank face.

            "Clark?" Chloe squeaked.

            "Yeah,"

            "Ohmygod," Chloe muttered.

            "Yeah," Clark agreed.

            "What the hell are you doing with Lex's phone?!" Chloe demanded angrily, trying to mask her embarrassment by being hostile.

            At a loss for words, Clark stuttered incoherently. "I…it…I…it rang…I…"

            "Clark," Chloe snapped, her voice full of annoyance, "Shut up."

            "Okay," Clark nodded, swallowing hard.

            "Is Lex there?"

            Looking up at the silent man, Clark nodded dumbly until he realized that Chloe couldn't see him. "Yeah, he's here."

            "If he's there," Chloe seethed through gritted teeth, "why are you answering his phone?"

            "Because…"

            "Because?" Chloe echoed angrily.

            "Hey," Clark frowned, "Why are you pissed? You were the one offering to tie Lex up!"

            Now that had the effect that Clark wanted. Lex's composure slipped just the slightest.

            Groaning, Chloe put her hand over her face. Was there a hole somewhere she could crawl into? Who was she kidding? This was New York. There were potholes everywhere.

            "Chloe?"

            "Give the phone to Lex," Chloe sighed, not in the mood to fight with Lex.

            Handing the phone over wordlessly, Clark was surprised when Lex got up and moved over to the other side of the room. Too bad for Lex, Clark had really good hearing.

            "Hey," Lex greeted in a gentler voice than Clark had ever remembered hearing before.

            "Hey," Chloe answered, "Well…it was bound to happen, right?"

            "Right," Lex agreed.

            "Are you mad?"

            What the hell? "Why would I be mad?"

            "I don't know," Chloe sighed, "I don't know what I'm supposed to say. I don't know if we were telling people or not. I don't know if you wanted Clark to know…"

            "Why wouldn't we be telling people?" Lex demanded, suddenly angry that Chloe wouldn't want to tell people about them. Was she ashamed of him?

            "Because," Chloe answered, her voice smaller than he'd ever heard it before, "You're Lex Luthor, businessman and rich guy. Who am I? Chloe Sullivan, student at NYU and one day reporter. It doesn't exactly have the same ring."

            "Chloe," Lex said his voice softening, "you're more than that."

            Laughing humorlessly, Chloe pressed her phone to her ear and waded through the millions of people trying to get through the congested streets. "Sure,"

            "You are," Lex told her adamantly, "You're funny, you're smart and you can snark like no other woman I've ever know."

            Now her laughter was genuine. Only Lex would find her snarking abilities as a reason to love her. "So I guess Clark knows now."

            "He does."

            "Are we going to tell other people?"

            "You can tell whoever you want."

            "Well," Chloe chuckled, "Lola already knows."

            "I think she knew before we did." Lex smiled, turning around to find Clark watching him with avid interest, "You know, you've left me here to deal with Clark."

            "I know," Chloe chuckled, "Have fun with that."

            "Thanks."

            "Lex, I've got to tell my dad before he hears it from someone else."

            Oh, that wouldn't be fun. An overprotective father…who also happened to be his plant manager. "Are you going to tell him in person, or call him and tell him?"

            "Spring break is coming up," Chloe said mentally counting the days, "I guess I could come home and tell him."

            "Good, that'll give me time to brace myself." Lex teased.

            "Deal with Clark before you start worrying about my father," Chloe advised him.

            Slipping his hand into his pocket, Lex lightly fingered the note that he had in there. "I got your note."

            "Yeah?" Chloe asked her face lighting up at the memory of the weekend that they share.

            "Yeah. I love it."

            "I'm glad." Chloe whispered, "I've got class."

            "I'll call you tonight," Lex promised.

            "Okay. Bye."

            "Bye." Lex said ending the call and turning around to face Clark. "So, I guess you've got some questions you want to ask me."

            "Yeah," Clark nodded his face full of genuine curiosity.

"Ask away," Lex said taking the seat across from Clark.

Sitting forward, Clark clasped his hand together and regarded Lex seriously. "When exactly did you fall in love with my best friend?"

"I don't know," Lex answered truthfully.

***

TBC.

            I know, I know. It's been forever since I've updated, but I am now! ;]  And I'll try to keep it up.

-Lucy