************Part 9
Lana adjusted the porcelain mugs on the tray and quickly walked away from the table. She smiled absently at some passing Talon customers, but inside she wasn't in the mood for even the smallest friendly gesture. She glanced around her and wondered for the thousandth time if Lex ever planned to come back into the coffee house he owned part of.
It had been over a week since Metropolis and he hadn't so much as parked in front. She was glad not to have to face him, but it was like a sword hanging over her head and she wondered when it was going to come slashing down. Nell hadn't suspected a thing and had breezed back in from her romantic weekend without Lana having to explain anything. Chloe had been insistent, bugging her to share all the juicy details, but Lana would only say it went fine and change the subject.
Clark had been the worst of course, going on about how much fun her trip had to have been compared to his and that he was glad she and Lex were getting along again, since he was beginning to think Lana didn't even actually liked Lex anymore. She had tersely informed him she didn't have a problem with Lex and the trip had been fine. He must have gotten the hint from the cold in her voice because he finally stopped asking about it, but it didn't maker her guilt go away.
Well actually Clark, while you were thinking of me, and the great time I was having in Metropolis, I wasn't thinking about you. Actually I was too busy seducing your best friend. Lana didn't think that conversation would go over too well, but it played in her mind whenever Clark questioned her. She was glad when he finally stopped and she could concentrate on something else. Like Lex.
She might not have seen him but she couldn't get him out of her head. Every time the café doors opened she afraid it was him, and she dropped so many cups she stopped carrying coffee to any table. Even at night she couldn't get any peace, and fell into an exhausted sleep only to dream about him. Sometimes it was a replay of their night together, or parts of it. His hands on her body was a common theme.
Lana would wake up in the morning, more tired than when she went to bed. She couldn't concentrate in classes and forgot to turn in some assignments. Then she worried that he might say something to Clark, but deep down knew he wouldn't do that, if for no other reason than risk his friendship for what meant nothing, as he had put it.
The following Saturday after her Aunt announced that Lionel had called and was going to be in town the following week and wanted to take them to dinner, Lana couldn't stand any more, and knew she had to talk to Lex. She borrowed the truck and drove straight to Lex's, before she changed her mind or lost her nerve.
Lana told Vernon not to bother to announce her after he told her Lex was in his office. She followed the same path as before down the thick Persian rug and steadied her shaking hands before sliding in through the half open door.
Lana scanned the dimly lit room until a sleek movement to her left caught her attention. She turned and watched as Lex hit one ball, which this time bounced beside the pocket instead of into it.
"Damn" he hissed under her breath.
"Isn't this where I came in." she joked nervously, trying not to show how scared she was.
Lex straightened and stared at her with a mixture of shock and confusion on his angled face. He pulled slightly at the black sweater until it hung perfectly on his tall frame.
"What are you doing here?" he finally asked, his voice not betraying the shock he felt at seeing her standing in his study. Late at night hunched over this table he had thought once or twice he had caught a glimpse of her, but of course it wasn't ever Lana.
Ok so he wasn't going to make this easy she realized, but then she hadn't thought it would be.
Lana realized she was wringing her hands and consciously let them drop to her side. "I n-needed to talk to you and since you haven't been into the Talon, I thought." she went on hastily.
"I figured you wouldn't be too happy to have to serve me coffee Lana." Lex interrupted, continuing to stalk around the table lining up shots. He figured that standing there staring at her wasn't the best way to show he didn't care what she had to say, so better to keep moving.
"I.well.I.appreciate that, I guess. I needed to talk to you though." She shrugged when he continued to ignore her, his full attention seemingly on the pool table.
Lana took a few tentative steps further into the room and around the post that set off the table into its own glass enclosed alcove. Lex glanced up quickly, as she moved closer to him, and then quickly back down to the table.
"Lex, look it's important." but he didn't even bother to look up this time, just readied the pool cue for another shot. He has to be kidding, Lana thought her temper getting the better of her.
Before she thought what she was doing she reached out as the white ball raced across the table and plucked its target up. Lex slammed the pool cue down on the table as she did, "What? What is it Lana?"
"Finally. You're father called my Aunt this morning and is coming to Smallville and wants to take us to dinner." She didn't bother to hide her annoyance any longer, biting out each word.
Lex picked up the cue again and rolled it in his large hands, before answering, "and you want me to do what exactly?"
Lana knew he was being dense on purpose and really wanted to scream but didn't, instead she bit out each word. "Well if I remember correctly, and believe me, I remember every single second, I ran into your father and sort of.well.told him off."
She didn't think she had told him about running into Lionel, but he didn't look too surprised so she guessed she must have said something. She wanted to throw the ball she was holding at him when Lex just smirked at her.
"Every second? Really?" he teased her softy, as she felt her face grow red under his serious gaze. "My father, hmmm what did you tell him? I'm guessing it must be something you don't want your Aunt to know." Lex continued to tease her, but inside wanted to tell her to get out. It was only the realization that this part might actually be fun that made him stop.
He had wondered if Lana would eventually seek him out, since Lionel had left a message about flying into Smallville next week. Initially he had thought of using it as an excuse to see her, but decided to wait and see what Lana would do, and if she came to him. Lex had already decided he wasn't going to play the good guy so easily again.
Lana stammered and looked away, as she remembered the words she had said to Lionel. Nell would understand some of them, especially if Lana told her Lionel had hit on her, but she didn't think Nell would let go of the fact that she had said Lex was sexy. God had she actually said that?
"He hit on me and I told him.no." Lana rushed on ignoring Lex's amused grin. "I said it a lot meaner than that though and now he's coming here and wants to see Nell. Why? He's going to tell her he saw me." She concluded.
Lex turned his attention back to the table and let Lana stand there for strained minutes. "So Nell doesn't know you went to Metropolis with me?"
Lana wished they wouldn't get off topic; she was having enough problems just having one conversation with Lex right now, without adding another to the mix. But she knew she had to answer him, she needed him to help her with this, and make Lionel go away, "No she doesn't. I lied." She finished through gritted teeth.
"Lied? Lana you lied? I'm amazed." Lex teased and was rewarded with a small hidden smile from her.
"Ok yes I lied and I don't want to talk about it anymore, but what about your father." She knew she couldn't stand here and make jokes with Lex; it was too confusing to the barriers she had been erecting all week. Just being in the room with him was making her stomach fluttery and her hands shake.
"I wouldn't worry about that, I think I remember he's going to be pretty busy next week, so I doubt he'll be here after all." Lex planned to have the box and serum delivered next Friday, just in time for Lionel to use it on the prowl. He was absolutely sure Lionel would be pretty busy the next week or so.
Lana let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and laid the ball back on the green felt. "Oh! Great. Ok."
"You should have just come and asked me Lana, not gotten so worried about it." Lex walked around the column opposite her and to the glass desk. Lana swung after him, unsure of what to say now.
"I didn't actually think.well.that you'd be too.happy to help me." She answered weekly, "I need to go. Thanks, I.uh.was worried about Lionel." She finished but didn't make a move to leave.
Lex watched her shift uncomfortably and itched to have her in his arms, but instead picked up a pen and started to fill out some forms, he knew he should be paying attention to before he signed, but wasn't.
"Uhm, Lex, I didn't get a chance to say.I mean about what happened between us." Lana wanted to say she was sorry and that she hadn't meant to hurt him or use him or whatever she had done, but he glanced at her and she lost her nerve. His face was cold and distant and he was looking at her like she was bothering him.
"Well I wanted to ask you not to say anything to Clark, or a-anyone about.you know." She finally stammered out.
Lex clenched the pen and counted to ten, while he wondered who had come up with something so stupid, it certainly wasn't making him any calmer.
"Clark, not say anything to Clark?" he finally looked up at her his voice soft and sharp, "Well of course Lana, that's exactly what I plan to do as soon as I get a free second." He pushed back the chair, not noticing it bounce against the far wall, as he stalked toward her.
"Oh yea Clark, by the way did I tell you that when I took Lana to Metropolis I made sure to sleep with her, a lot, and she liked it and wanted it." he hissed in her face.
"Stop it, that isn't what I meant." She threw back at him, unwilling to back down.
"Oh it isn't well gee thanks for that. I'm not going to tell him so don't worry about it. Now if you don't mind I have things to do." And he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving her standing there open mouthed.
Lana adjusted the porcelain mugs on the tray and quickly walked away from the table. She smiled absently at some passing Talon customers, but inside she wasn't in the mood for even the smallest friendly gesture. She glanced around her and wondered for the thousandth time if Lex ever planned to come back into the coffee house he owned part of.
It had been over a week since Metropolis and he hadn't so much as parked in front. She was glad not to have to face him, but it was like a sword hanging over her head and she wondered when it was going to come slashing down. Nell hadn't suspected a thing and had breezed back in from her romantic weekend without Lana having to explain anything. Chloe had been insistent, bugging her to share all the juicy details, but Lana would only say it went fine and change the subject.
Clark had been the worst of course, going on about how much fun her trip had to have been compared to his and that he was glad she and Lex were getting along again, since he was beginning to think Lana didn't even actually liked Lex anymore. She had tersely informed him she didn't have a problem with Lex and the trip had been fine. He must have gotten the hint from the cold in her voice because he finally stopped asking about it, but it didn't maker her guilt go away.
Well actually Clark, while you were thinking of me, and the great time I was having in Metropolis, I wasn't thinking about you. Actually I was too busy seducing your best friend. Lana didn't think that conversation would go over too well, but it played in her mind whenever Clark questioned her. She was glad when he finally stopped and she could concentrate on something else. Like Lex.
She might not have seen him but she couldn't get him out of her head. Every time the café doors opened she afraid it was him, and she dropped so many cups she stopped carrying coffee to any table. Even at night she couldn't get any peace, and fell into an exhausted sleep only to dream about him. Sometimes it was a replay of their night together, or parts of it. His hands on her body was a common theme.
Lana would wake up in the morning, more tired than when she went to bed. She couldn't concentrate in classes and forgot to turn in some assignments. Then she worried that he might say something to Clark, but deep down knew he wouldn't do that, if for no other reason than risk his friendship for what meant nothing, as he had put it.
The following Saturday after her Aunt announced that Lionel had called and was going to be in town the following week and wanted to take them to dinner, Lana couldn't stand any more, and knew she had to talk to Lex. She borrowed the truck and drove straight to Lex's, before she changed her mind or lost her nerve.
Lana told Vernon not to bother to announce her after he told her Lex was in his office. She followed the same path as before down the thick Persian rug and steadied her shaking hands before sliding in through the half open door.
Lana scanned the dimly lit room until a sleek movement to her left caught her attention. She turned and watched as Lex hit one ball, which this time bounced beside the pocket instead of into it.
"Damn" he hissed under her breath.
"Isn't this where I came in." she joked nervously, trying not to show how scared she was.
Lex straightened and stared at her with a mixture of shock and confusion on his angled face. He pulled slightly at the black sweater until it hung perfectly on his tall frame.
"What are you doing here?" he finally asked, his voice not betraying the shock he felt at seeing her standing in his study. Late at night hunched over this table he had thought once or twice he had caught a glimpse of her, but of course it wasn't ever Lana.
Ok so he wasn't going to make this easy she realized, but then she hadn't thought it would be.
Lana realized she was wringing her hands and consciously let them drop to her side. "I n-needed to talk to you and since you haven't been into the Talon, I thought." she went on hastily.
"I figured you wouldn't be too happy to have to serve me coffee Lana." Lex interrupted, continuing to stalk around the table lining up shots. He figured that standing there staring at her wasn't the best way to show he didn't care what she had to say, so better to keep moving.
"I.well.I.appreciate that, I guess. I needed to talk to you though." She shrugged when he continued to ignore her, his full attention seemingly on the pool table.
Lana took a few tentative steps further into the room and around the post that set off the table into its own glass enclosed alcove. Lex glanced up quickly, as she moved closer to him, and then quickly back down to the table.
"Lex, look it's important." but he didn't even bother to look up this time, just readied the pool cue for another shot. He has to be kidding, Lana thought her temper getting the better of her.
Before she thought what she was doing she reached out as the white ball raced across the table and plucked its target up. Lex slammed the pool cue down on the table as she did, "What? What is it Lana?"
"Finally. You're father called my Aunt this morning and is coming to Smallville and wants to take us to dinner." She didn't bother to hide her annoyance any longer, biting out each word.
Lex picked up the cue again and rolled it in his large hands, before answering, "and you want me to do what exactly?"
Lana knew he was being dense on purpose and really wanted to scream but didn't, instead she bit out each word. "Well if I remember correctly, and believe me, I remember every single second, I ran into your father and sort of.well.told him off."
She didn't think she had told him about running into Lionel, but he didn't look too surprised so she guessed she must have said something. She wanted to throw the ball she was holding at him when Lex just smirked at her.
"Every second? Really?" he teased her softy, as she felt her face grow red under his serious gaze. "My father, hmmm what did you tell him? I'm guessing it must be something you don't want your Aunt to know." Lex continued to tease her, but inside wanted to tell her to get out. It was only the realization that this part might actually be fun that made him stop.
He had wondered if Lana would eventually seek him out, since Lionel had left a message about flying into Smallville next week. Initially he had thought of using it as an excuse to see her, but decided to wait and see what Lana would do, and if she came to him. Lex had already decided he wasn't going to play the good guy so easily again.
Lana stammered and looked away, as she remembered the words she had said to Lionel. Nell would understand some of them, especially if Lana told her Lionel had hit on her, but she didn't think Nell would let go of the fact that she had said Lex was sexy. God had she actually said that?
"He hit on me and I told him.no." Lana rushed on ignoring Lex's amused grin. "I said it a lot meaner than that though and now he's coming here and wants to see Nell. Why? He's going to tell her he saw me." She concluded.
Lex turned his attention back to the table and let Lana stand there for strained minutes. "So Nell doesn't know you went to Metropolis with me?"
Lana wished they wouldn't get off topic; she was having enough problems just having one conversation with Lex right now, without adding another to the mix. But she knew she had to answer him, she needed him to help her with this, and make Lionel go away, "No she doesn't. I lied." She finished through gritted teeth.
"Lied? Lana you lied? I'm amazed." Lex teased and was rewarded with a small hidden smile from her.
"Ok yes I lied and I don't want to talk about it anymore, but what about your father." She knew she couldn't stand here and make jokes with Lex; it was too confusing to the barriers she had been erecting all week. Just being in the room with him was making her stomach fluttery and her hands shake.
"I wouldn't worry about that, I think I remember he's going to be pretty busy next week, so I doubt he'll be here after all." Lex planned to have the box and serum delivered next Friday, just in time for Lionel to use it on the prowl. He was absolutely sure Lionel would be pretty busy the next week or so.
Lana let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and laid the ball back on the green felt. "Oh! Great. Ok."
"You should have just come and asked me Lana, not gotten so worried about it." Lex walked around the column opposite her and to the glass desk. Lana swung after him, unsure of what to say now.
"I didn't actually think.well.that you'd be too.happy to help me." She answered weekly, "I need to go. Thanks, I.uh.was worried about Lionel." She finished but didn't make a move to leave.
Lex watched her shift uncomfortably and itched to have her in his arms, but instead picked up a pen and started to fill out some forms, he knew he should be paying attention to before he signed, but wasn't.
"Uhm, Lex, I didn't get a chance to say.I mean about what happened between us." Lana wanted to say she was sorry and that she hadn't meant to hurt him or use him or whatever she had done, but he glanced at her and she lost her nerve. His face was cold and distant and he was looking at her like she was bothering him.
"Well I wanted to ask you not to say anything to Clark, or a-anyone about.you know." She finally stammered out.
Lex clenched the pen and counted to ten, while he wondered who had come up with something so stupid, it certainly wasn't making him any calmer.
"Clark, not say anything to Clark?" he finally looked up at her his voice soft and sharp, "Well of course Lana, that's exactly what I plan to do as soon as I get a free second." He pushed back the chair, not noticing it bounce against the far wall, as he stalked toward her.
"Oh yea Clark, by the way did I tell you that when I took Lana to Metropolis I made sure to sleep with her, a lot, and she liked it and wanted it." he hissed in her face.
"Stop it, that isn't what I meant." She threw back at him, unwilling to back down.
"Oh it isn't well gee thanks for that. I'm not going to tell him so don't worry about it. Now if you don't mind I have things to do." And he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, leaving her standing there open mouthed.