Chapter 10: *OhMyGodLexLuthorJustAskedMeOutAhhhhh!*

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"Hold on a second, Chloe," Lex paused as they passed the Kent Produce stall, "I'm going to make it up to you for not buying your pie." he said reaching for his wallet in his back pocket.

"I'm really not heart broken about it, Lex... It's not like it was the culinary invention of the century." Chloe stated, smirking. She was about to spend the afternoon with Lex Luthor, and she wasn't even interested in bringing her tape recorder. She was actually there because she enjoyed spending time with him. Not to mention the fact that he was the hottest guy in Smallville.

"Morning Lex, Chloe." Martha said with a bright smile. "What can I get for you?"

"A fruit basket?" Lex asked, looking to Chloe. Her cowboy hat nodded in approval.

"Okay... and for you, Chloe?" Martha asked, turning to the small girl.

"Uh... we're kind of sharing a basket." Chloe said, blushing a little. "You know... it's more economic that way."

"We're activists," Lex agreed, "We conserve fruit."

"Alright then," Martha said slightly confused as she added grapes and strawberries into the basket. "Any favourites?"

"We'd like green apples instead of the red ones, please." Chloe asked, peering through the different fruit.

"No... we'd like the red apples instead of the green ones," Lex insisted.

"The green apples are the best!" Chloe argued giving Lex a playful shove. He was the best person in Smallville to argue with.

"I happen to know for a fact that red apples are healthier!" Lex retorted, shoving her back.

Chloe back stumbled a little, then turned to him, narrowing her eyes, "Well you better check you sources again, because green apples are definitely healthier!" She poked his chest for emphasis.

"Is that what your team of scientists told you? Oh wait... you don't have a team of scientists!" The thought of poking Chloe's chest in return crossed his mind... but she probably wouldn't appreciate that.

"I don't *need* a team of nerds to tell me what to eat, I can figure that out myself!" Chloe retorted smugly.

Lex shook his head. She was the only person in town who felt confident enough to throw back such retorts to him, "Why don't we ask an expert, then... Mrs Kent?" he asked, turning to the woman who was visibly frazzled by the argument the two seemed to be having.

"Well... uh... I think they're both equally healthy," Martha stated, not wanting another conflict to ensue. She couldn't understand why Clark's two friends were acting so strange.

Chloe groaned, Mrs Kent: the peacekeeper. So that's where Clark got it from.

Lex grinned, "Fine then, we'll take both. I'll have the red ones, and Chloe gets the green ones, then everyone's happy" Lex decided handing over a few bills and taking the fruit basket. He placed his free hand on Chloe's back and led her away.

"Have a nice day!" Martha called out as she watched Chloe and Lex disappear in the crowd.

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"How about under this tree?" Lex suggested, a little annoyed.

"No... it's too bushy," Chloe answered undecidedly.

"They're all the same! They grow in the ground, and have leaves, what more do you want?" Lex asked dropping the basket to the ground.

"Do you even know what kind of tree this is?" Chloe asked accusingly.

Lex shrugged, "No... do you?"

Chloe paused, "Not really but-"

"Chloe! You've shot down every tree for the past mile! I'm sitting under *this* tree whether you like it or not!" Lex said leaning against the trunk and sliding to the ground.

"Fine, we'll get all dirty," Chloe said giving in.

"What are you complaining about? I'm the one wearing the suit," Lex smirked.

"Yeah, well I bet you have hundreds of them at home anyway," Chloe mumbled sitting down next to him against the tree.

"You know, this is nice," Lex said tilting his head back against the trunk. The warm wind blew across the grass with a silent rustle and Lex let out a long sigh, something he never usually did in front of others. "I haven't done this in a long time."

"Well I bet Luthor family picnics didn't involve sitting under a bushy tree eating out of a fruit basket." Chloe grinned, reaching for a grape.

"Actually I was talking about spending time in nature," Lex admitted. He watched Chloe inspect the purple grape before slipping it between her lips.

"We're a fifteen minute walk away from the town and a five minute walk away from a farmer's market. This isn't nature." She stated closing her eyes as rays of the sun speckled down through the leaves. She loved being outside, especially when it was in the company of a certain bald billionaire who'd been willing to dish out thousands of dollars for her pie.

Lex watched her in her peaceful silence, not wanting to disturb her calm. With her crooked cowboy hat falling over her eyes, she looked like she was about to fall asleep.

Chloe's eyes snapped open, "Were you watching me?"

"No." Lex turned away, a little embarrassed.

"Liar."

"Well, it was between you and the field and frankly, I'd rather look at you."

"It's nice to know you find me more attractive than dead grass,"

"I find you more attractive than most dead things, Chloe." Lex said, then winced when he heard his own words.

Chloe let out a light laugh, "You really know how to flatter a girl, Luthor."

"What can I say, it's in the genes..." He said, watching Chloe stretch lazily and give a wide yawn.

"I'm not boring you to death, am I?" Lex added smirking.

"I'm sorry, I'm just really tired all of a sudden." she admitted. "I haven't had coffee in four hours, that must be a record."

"Well come over here," Lex ordered, grabbing her shirt and pulling her down to the ground so that her head rested on his lap and the rest of her lay across the bouncy grass.

"I could get used to this," Chloe said after the initial shock had worn off. Lex was infinitely more comfortable than her pillow... "How about we have that talk?" she asked looking up at him.

"Talk?" Lex asked confused, looking down at Chloe's soft features.

"Yeah... about what happened in Metropolis?"

"Ah, yes... the Adventures of Drunk Chloe."

She laughed again, "I'm trying to have a serious conversation here, would you please tell me what happened... and don't leave anything out, or I'm going to be mad." she added removing her hat and spinning it between her fingers nervously.

"We wouldn't want that to happen," Lex said taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves. He resisted the urge to run his fingers through Chloe's golden hair as she lay so still before him. "You turn into a real ice princess when you get mad."

Chloe rolled her eyes and pulled her hat onto Lex's head. Needless to say he looked... well... sexy, especially with those arms...

Lex smirked, "You want me to wear a cowgirl hat with the Italian suit?"

"Yes. Now stop changing the subject and get on with it." Chloe took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Well? I'm waiting?"

Lex lowered his voice a notch, "I'm going to tell you a tale... a tale about a beautiful young reporter who just got onto the wrong side of the tracks..."

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"No..."

"Yes, I'm afraid it's true."

"Eight thousand dollars?"

"Yep, but don't worry, the Sheep Herders Association sent me a nice thank you note."

"And I bit you?"

"Yep. See? I still have a little scar."

"Ugh... I'm sorry."

"Don't be... it's kind of like a morbid memento."

"Thanks a lot..." Chloe trailed off, still lying on Lex's lap. She groaned and covered her face with her hands. "I feel so stupid."

Lex gave her a half smile, even though she couldn't see it, "Alcohol lowers many an IQ, but for the billionth time, it wasn't your fault."

Chloe shut her eyes tighter, hoping to mask her flushed face. She didn't even want to *imagine* what Lex Luthor thought of her now.

"It's... it's late." Chloe said sitting up without turning to look at him.

"It's five in the afternoon. On what planet is that considered late?" Lex asked sighing. He knew this was going to happen.. She was freaked again, just like she had been when they first returned to Smallville, when she'd avoided him. He couldn't bear to let that happen again. not now.

"I-I should get back home... school's starting in a couple of weeks and I still haven't-"

"You're doing it again," Lex said propping himself up on one elbow. He took hold of Chloe's arm and pulled her gently back to him.

"D-Doing what?" Chloe asked, fully aware of what he was talking about. His eyes betrayed a hint of disappointment as his hand traveled up her arm to her face.

"Going into emotional shut down about what happened. I know that I do it all the time... I just never realised how frustrating it can be for the other person!" Lex stated. "Will you just relax and talk to me? What's the problem?"

Chloe sighed and looked back at him, "Did I really kiss you? On the lips?" she asked. His hand felt so warm and comforting against her face... but she had to do something before her feelings got out of hand. Quickly, she snapped back to reality and jumped up, releasing herself from his contact. She regretted the decision immediately.

"Oh yeah, we kissed," Lex said, getting up too and dusting off his clothes, "Is that what was bothering you? It was a very nice kiss, Chloe." he stated with a smug look. "You're a pretty good kisser."

"Was that before or after I threw up in you car?" she asked, refusing to blush.

"After." he confirmed.

"I threw up after kissing you?" Chloe asked with her own smug look, "The kiss couldn't have been that great."

Lex's eyes sparkled as he stepped closer to her. "Is that a challenge?" he whispered.

"Uh... well..." Chloe gulped as Lex's sleek form inched closer to her.

"Chloe!"

The two sprung apart at Clark's voice. "I've been looking for you two every- " Clark paused when he saw Lex and Chloe standing not-so-comfortably beside each other.

"Is something wrong?" Clark asked. Sometimes he wished that his X-ray vision could see into minds... because he sure as hell didn't understand people half the time.

"Uh... nope, nothing's wrong." Lex stated, noticing how close he was standing to Chloe. He gingerly stepped to the side.

"Chloe thought she had something in her teeth and I was just checking for her," Lex grinned weakly, earning a scowl from Chloe.

"Oh, is that all?" Clark said smiling. He walked up to Chloe and x-rayed her mouth. "Nope, all clear."

"How could you tell, my mouth was still closed." Chloe said with a nervous laugh.

"I...I... well, you've always had good teeth." He mumbled.

"Thank you Dr Kent," Chloe said rolling her eyes. She glanced back at Lex, still trying to shake the feelings that were consuming her from the inside. Lex had almost kissed her... Lex had-

"Almost kissed you." Clark stated.

Chloe's eyes widened, "What did you say!?"

"I almost missed you... while I was walking around, trying to find both of you...?" Clark looked at Chloe quizzically, "Are you okay?"

Chloe wasn't in any condition to answer that question. She felt like she was going insane, and it was all Lex Luthor's fault! Why couldn't it have been just another stupid crush like she'd had on Clark? No... it had to be a fervent attraction. There. She'd admitted it to herself. She was attracted to Lex Luthor..... maybe even cared for him.

Lex cleared his throat uncomfortably, "She's just been out in the sun for too long, we should get back." He couldn't let Chloe find out what he'd truly felt in that moment. It was too complicated.

Clark grinned widely, "I hope you two aren't too tired though. The outdoor dance starts in an hour which gives us plenty of time to go home and change first. Then we meet back here at approximately six fifteen." Clark rambled, "Everyone's going to be there... Pete, Erika, Lana..."

Chloe and Lex looked at each other and laughed.

"What?" Clark said frowning.

"If you were any more transparent, you'd be invisible, Clark." Chloe stated. "You've planed your evening out already to woo a certain Miss Lang, didn't you?" she hinted, grinning wickedly.

Clark began to speak, but couldn't really come up with the right words.

"I think it's a brilliant plan... but what do you need us there for?" Lex asked.

Clark looked down at his shoes timidly, "Well... um. There's this dinner thing too, and it would be less awkward if we all sat in a group, you know?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, "If you don't tell her you're in love with her soon, I *swear* It's going to be the headline for the next issue in the Torch: Clark Kent harbours secret passion for Lana Lang."

Clark's eyes widened in terror, but Lex slapped him on the back, "Relax, Kent. She was just joking. We'll be there to give you moral support... that's of course if Miss Sullivan is willing accompany for the evening?" He asked with half a smile.

"I think I could tolerate your presence for a few hours." Chloe replied offhandedly. *OhMyGodLexLuthorJustAskedMeOutAhhhhh!*

"It's settled then," Lex stated. "We're going to the Smallville Farmer's Market Dance. Here, everyone have some fruit for the road," he opened the basket again.

Clark walked quickly, munching on a banana while his two friends strolled behind. Lex, biting into a green apple and Chloe into a red one.

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