French Toast
Lex looked back at his car, parked on the curb in front of a modest house, and turned on the alarm system. Come on Lex, you can do this. He sighed, feeling horrible for what he was about to do and shoved his hands in his pockets before heading up the walkway that lead to a wooden door - that door was all that stood between him and his goal, Lex was sure of it.
After a brief hesitation, Lex extended a finger to press the door bell. "It's open!" a chirpy voice called over the sounds of rock music blasting from within the house. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. He had been in this house before, many times infact - it was the home of the manager of his factory in Smallville.
Lex could smell something unusual coming from the kitchen and made his way there. As he entered the kitchen he saw Chloe standing in the corner flipping something in the frying pan. He took a moment to take in her appearance; a light purple medieval style top and form fitting jeans. Perfect. "Just the woman I wanted to see." Lex said smoothly leaning against the door frame.
Chloe turned suddenly and dropped the strange yellow object she was flipping on the floor. "Lex!" Stunned at the fact she had the handsome billionaire in her kitchen, she knelt to pick up the unfortunate thing that had fallen and threw it in the bin to hide some of the shock. "Take a seat, I was just attempting to cook."
"I noticed." He sat in one of the chairs by the table. "So I heard your dad left town for awhile. Why didn't you go with him?"
"Pch. Visiting family in England. Not my thing." Chloe answered, she waved her hands as if shoeing the idea away. "Why visit a strange family in another country when I have my own family of friends right here in Smallville?" she shrugged her shoulders. "They don't really like me anyway. Juice?" she poured him a glass as she spoke.
Lex, seeing he had no choice nodded. "They don't like you?"
The small girl shrugged again. "I ask questions. I'm a curious person." She put the juice in front of him. "Gram's has some theory that if information is supposed to be known then it would be told. No questions necessary."
"Good theory. What kind of questions to you ask?" Lex asked taking a small sip of his juice.
Chloe returned to her strange objects on the stove. "Not complicated ones. Just.I don't know! Nothing private, you know, like what positions do you do in bed." Lex choked on his juice and Chloe laughed. "I wasn't asking you!"
Lex nodded. "Right.well." Lex watched her pull a face at something she was stirring in a bowl before tipping it down the sink. He noticed that she hadn't asked what he was doing sitting in her kitchen on a Saturday morning; it was as if she almost expected people to drop by with no reason or purpose. They had talked some about her meteor theory, and traded comments on Lana and Clark's compatibility, but he didn't think they were on a 'stop-by-my-house-and-chat' basis. But he was content to just sit there and watch her attempt to cook.
She turned off the stove and placed the food on the table. It was an unsteady pile of yellow bread. She must have caught Lex's questioning look, as she pulled two plates out of the cupboard, sugar, two spoons, forks and knifes. Chloe evened out the pile between them and sat down opposite him smiling.
"What is it?" Lex asked delicately.
Chloe laughed, "French toast, Chloe style." She stood back up and crossed back over to Lex's side of the table. She opened the sugar and picked up a spoon. Chloe evenly spread the sugar over the toast and gave the wary man a knife and fork before sitting back down.
Lex looked at the food cautiously not wanting to hurt the girls feelings. But as he looked up at her, the smile had turned from one of friendship to one that dared him. Lex suddenly got the feeling that the toast was part of an initiation - if he ate it he would be accepted. He carefully broke off a piece and put the fork to his mouth, while remembering the toast dropped to the floor, the faces she had pulled and the stunned expression she wore now..he chewed slowly and swallowed. It actually wasn't as bad as he imagined.
Chloe nearly choked herself. "You ate it? Seriously? Wow!" She poked at her own food and said. "I might try mine now."
Lex laughed on the inside. It was a test. Not the kind he was used to though - she was testing to see if her food was edible. He nodded to himself, she would do perfectly.
~Chloe~ Okay, it's official - he wants something. Nobody, not even my dad or Clark (and that boy eats anything!) likes my cooking. Add in the fact that he has pretty much written all over his face that he is trying to be comfortable here and you have a recipe for the Lex we all know and don't love. Now to find out what.
Add a Little Spice
"So, Chloe." Lex took a long swig of his juice to rid his mouth of the awful toast, preparing to go in for the kill. "I was just thinking about taking a trip to Metropolis to see Hamlet performed by a new drama group and I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
Chloe was taken back by the thought of going out anywhere with a Luthor, "I thought you hired girls for that sort of thing." She said cattily.
Lex noted the comment and bit his tongue to hold back a scathing reply. Keep it friendly, Luthor. "Usually I would, but I am tired of having a conversation with a female with the IQ of a scone. Like it or not, you would be one of the few women I know that can match me."
"And Lana?" Chloe asked feigning innocence.
"I never liked repeating myself."
"Right." Well anything for a possible interview. "When do we leave?"
"Now." Lex replied, standing.
"I'm not ready 'now'!" Chloe said incredulously. There was no way that she would go into her old home town like this.
"But I like what you're wearing." Lex commented.
"Hair? Make-up? Any of these words ringing a bell?"
"It starts at two. Its ten now, I suggest you hurry."
Standing outside the theater, Chloe felt horribly out of place wearing the clothes Lex had insisted she wore - but she had compromised and he allowed her to change into a short skirt. All the women around her had neck lines that would have made J.Lo shudder and skirts shorter that Britney's. Chloe turned on her DocMartain heal and headed back to the car. Lex caught her half way there and hooked her arm through his and patted her hand patronisingly. "You're fine." They were headed back towards the doors to the building when Lionel Luthor headed them off. Lex smirked, here we go.
"Lex." Lionel's mouth was a grim line. "We need to talk." And walked off expecting his son to follow.
Lex gave Chloe's hand a quick squeeze and promised his return before he headed off in the direction his father had taken. Chloe took a few seconds to curse her inner-reporter and discreetly followed. The men had headed to the alley beside the theater and spoke in hushed voices. Chloe positioned herself so she could hear what was going on but couldn't be seen.
"What are you doing here with the Sullivan girl?"
"She's a friend."
Chloe smiled with pride at the smooth way Lex delivered the line - she like being associated with him, even if it was only as a friend. She could only love single life so much before it got boring.
"You brought a Smallville TEENAGER just to piss me off didn't you?"
"Did it work?" Chloe was stunned. He didn't like her after all; she was simply a source of revenge.
"And she's dressed like that, it might be okay in Smallville but this is the big leagues. A Luther shouldn't be seen with a farmgirl."
"Well then, there goes my reputation of being a man of beautiful women then." He didn't even think she was pretty? Chloe was stung.
"Alexander if you bring her into that theater there will be hell to pay."
"Well I guess we'll see you in there!" Chloe heard Lex's footsteps approaching her hiding place and hurried back to where he had left her, blinking back tears as she again cursed her instincts. She had just regained control of her emotions as Lex stepped into view. Chloe smiled brightly and gave him a little wave. Two can play at this game.
~Chloe~
So Lex thinks he can use me. I'll show him what a pissed off Smallville TEENAGER can do to him.
And a Little Shakespeare
Lex took hand and as they entered the large structure and Chloe let him. Most of the people in there stared as they passed and Chloe made as if she was happy and figured she was doing a pretty good job of it as Lex gave a little wave to his father as they passed, but her mind was working overtime, thinking of all the ways to extract revenge on the a$$hole that Clark somehow remained friends with.
By the time she was seated, Chloe knew just how. It was mean, it was loud and it was embarrassing - but she was willing to sacrifice her dignity for this and if she knew Lex, he wouldn't even sue. Lex put his arm around her as the lights dimmed and his father sat behind them. It was gonna work perfectly.
Chloe had almost forgotten her plan as she grew involved in the play. She fidgeted as she wondered if she should even go through with it. Lex placed his hand on her thigh, just under the hem of her skirt to stop her from moving. Chloe figured this was her chance, she took in a breath and stood up. "NO! I will not have sex with you!!" she yelled storming off.
Lex's head shot up and stared at her with an open mouth. Chloe ran out of the box seat area and out or the theater. She paused half way down the street, feeling sick. She had just disgraced the Luthor name and her best friend's best friend. She felt sick.
He deserved it! A voice in her head screamed. He called you and ugly farm girl with no dress sense. He used you! No one messes with Chloe Sullivan. But Chloe just couldn't make herself believe it.
Suddenly heavy footsteps sounded behind her and Chloe resumed walking, wiping tears from her eyes. Lex grabbed her arm and turned her around. "What the hell was that all about." The cool demeanour was gone and Lex was just.angry. "Why the hell did you do that?!?!"
Chloe whirled on him building up all her anger. "You were using me! You never wanted to go to Hamlet with me. I was just a means for revenge against your stupid fight with your father!"
Lex took a step back, his stony face back in place. "You heard." He stated.
"Yeah I heard. I'm a freaking reporter! You should have known better!" Chloe accused.
"I didn't mean it the way it came out. I was just letting him think that. I did want to be with you."
The miserable girl just hugged herself, wishing she could actually see what Lex was feeling instead of looking through his compassionless blue eyes. "I wanna go home."
"I'll take you." Lex said and he turned, as if father had a few hours earlier expecting Chloe to follow.
"I'll take the bus." Chloe turned the other way, she knew the bus station was in the direction Lex was headed but she didn't want to follow him.
Lex turned and watched her walk away. He shook his head sorrowfully, he, Lex Luthor felt horrible. The damage she caused in the theater was repairable; his dad would take care of that. But the hole in both of their hearts could never be filled.
Lex looked back at his car, parked on the curb in front of a modest house, and turned on the alarm system. Come on Lex, you can do this. He sighed, feeling horrible for what he was about to do and shoved his hands in his pockets before heading up the walkway that lead to a wooden door - that door was all that stood between him and his goal, Lex was sure of it.
After a brief hesitation, Lex extended a finger to press the door bell. "It's open!" a chirpy voice called over the sounds of rock music blasting from within the house. He pushed open the door and stepped inside. He had been in this house before, many times infact - it was the home of the manager of his factory in Smallville.
Lex could smell something unusual coming from the kitchen and made his way there. As he entered the kitchen he saw Chloe standing in the corner flipping something in the frying pan. He took a moment to take in her appearance; a light purple medieval style top and form fitting jeans. Perfect. "Just the woman I wanted to see." Lex said smoothly leaning against the door frame.
Chloe turned suddenly and dropped the strange yellow object she was flipping on the floor. "Lex!" Stunned at the fact she had the handsome billionaire in her kitchen, she knelt to pick up the unfortunate thing that had fallen and threw it in the bin to hide some of the shock. "Take a seat, I was just attempting to cook."
"I noticed." He sat in one of the chairs by the table. "So I heard your dad left town for awhile. Why didn't you go with him?"
"Pch. Visiting family in England. Not my thing." Chloe answered, she waved her hands as if shoeing the idea away. "Why visit a strange family in another country when I have my own family of friends right here in Smallville?" she shrugged her shoulders. "They don't really like me anyway. Juice?" she poured him a glass as she spoke.
Lex, seeing he had no choice nodded. "They don't like you?"
The small girl shrugged again. "I ask questions. I'm a curious person." She put the juice in front of him. "Gram's has some theory that if information is supposed to be known then it would be told. No questions necessary."
"Good theory. What kind of questions to you ask?" Lex asked taking a small sip of his juice.
Chloe returned to her strange objects on the stove. "Not complicated ones. Just.I don't know! Nothing private, you know, like what positions do you do in bed." Lex choked on his juice and Chloe laughed. "I wasn't asking you!"
Lex nodded. "Right.well." Lex watched her pull a face at something she was stirring in a bowl before tipping it down the sink. He noticed that she hadn't asked what he was doing sitting in her kitchen on a Saturday morning; it was as if she almost expected people to drop by with no reason or purpose. They had talked some about her meteor theory, and traded comments on Lana and Clark's compatibility, but he didn't think they were on a 'stop-by-my-house-and-chat' basis. But he was content to just sit there and watch her attempt to cook.
She turned off the stove and placed the food on the table. It was an unsteady pile of yellow bread. She must have caught Lex's questioning look, as she pulled two plates out of the cupboard, sugar, two spoons, forks and knifes. Chloe evened out the pile between them and sat down opposite him smiling.
"What is it?" Lex asked delicately.
Chloe laughed, "French toast, Chloe style." She stood back up and crossed back over to Lex's side of the table. She opened the sugar and picked up a spoon. Chloe evenly spread the sugar over the toast and gave the wary man a knife and fork before sitting back down.
Lex looked at the food cautiously not wanting to hurt the girls feelings. But as he looked up at her, the smile had turned from one of friendship to one that dared him. Lex suddenly got the feeling that the toast was part of an initiation - if he ate it he would be accepted. He carefully broke off a piece and put the fork to his mouth, while remembering the toast dropped to the floor, the faces she had pulled and the stunned expression she wore now..he chewed slowly and swallowed. It actually wasn't as bad as he imagined.
Chloe nearly choked herself. "You ate it? Seriously? Wow!" She poked at her own food and said. "I might try mine now."
Lex laughed on the inside. It was a test. Not the kind he was used to though - she was testing to see if her food was edible. He nodded to himself, she would do perfectly.
~Chloe~ Okay, it's official - he wants something. Nobody, not even my dad or Clark (and that boy eats anything!) likes my cooking. Add in the fact that he has pretty much written all over his face that he is trying to be comfortable here and you have a recipe for the Lex we all know and don't love. Now to find out what.
Add a Little Spice
"So, Chloe." Lex took a long swig of his juice to rid his mouth of the awful toast, preparing to go in for the kill. "I was just thinking about taking a trip to Metropolis to see Hamlet performed by a new drama group and I was wondering if you would accompany me?"
Chloe was taken back by the thought of going out anywhere with a Luthor, "I thought you hired girls for that sort of thing." She said cattily.
Lex noted the comment and bit his tongue to hold back a scathing reply. Keep it friendly, Luthor. "Usually I would, but I am tired of having a conversation with a female with the IQ of a scone. Like it or not, you would be one of the few women I know that can match me."
"And Lana?" Chloe asked feigning innocence.
"I never liked repeating myself."
"Right." Well anything for a possible interview. "When do we leave?"
"Now." Lex replied, standing.
"I'm not ready 'now'!" Chloe said incredulously. There was no way that she would go into her old home town like this.
"But I like what you're wearing." Lex commented.
"Hair? Make-up? Any of these words ringing a bell?"
"It starts at two. Its ten now, I suggest you hurry."
Standing outside the theater, Chloe felt horribly out of place wearing the clothes Lex had insisted she wore - but she had compromised and he allowed her to change into a short skirt. All the women around her had neck lines that would have made J.Lo shudder and skirts shorter that Britney's. Chloe turned on her DocMartain heal and headed back to the car. Lex caught her half way there and hooked her arm through his and patted her hand patronisingly. "You're fine." They were headed back towards the doors to the building when Lionel Luthor headed them off. Lex smirked, here we go.
"Lex." Lionel's mouth was a grim line. "We need to talk." And walked off expecting his son to follow.
Lex gave Chloe's hand a quick squeeze and promised his return before he headed off in the direction his father had taken. Chloe took a few seconds to curse her inner-reporter and discreetly followed. The men had headed to the alley beside the theater and spoke in hushed voices. Chloe positioned herself so she could hear what was going on but couldn't be seen.
"What are you doing here with the Sullivan girl?"
"She's a friend."
Chloe smiled with pride at the smooth way Lex delivered the line - she like being associated with him, even if it was only as a friend. She could only love single life so much before it got boring.
"You brought a Smallville TEENAGER just to piss me off didn't you?"
"Did it work?" Chloe was stunned. He didn't like her after all; she was simply a source of revenge.
"And she's dressed like that, it might be okay in Smallville but this is the big leagues. A Luther shouldn't be seen with a farmgirl."
"Well then, there goes my reputation of being a man of beautiful women then." He didn't even think she was pretty? Chloe was stung.
"Alexander if you bring her into that theater there will be hell to pay."
"Well I guess we'll see you in there!" Chloe heard Lex's footsteps approaching her hiding place and hurried back to where he had left her, blinking back tears as she again cursed her instincts. She had just regained control of her emotions as Lex stepped into view. Chloe smiled brightly and gave him a little wave. Two can play at this game.
~Chloe~
So Lex thinks he can use me. I'll show him what a pissed off Smallville TEENAGER can do to him.
And a Little Shakespeare
Lex took hand and as they entered the large structure and Chloe let him. Most of the people in there stared as they passed and Chloe made as if she was happy and figured she was doing a pretty good job of it as Lex gave a little wave to his father as they passed, but her mind was working overtime, thinking of all the ways to extract revenge on the a$$hole that Clark somehow remained friends with.
By the time she was seated, Chloe knew just how. It was mean, it was loud and it was embarrassing - but she was willing to sacrifice her dignity for this and if she knew Lex, he wouldn't even sue. Lex put his arm around her as the lights dimmed and his father sat behind them. It was gonna work perfectly.
Chloe had almost forgotten her plan as she grew involved in the play. She fidgeted as she wondered if she should even go through with it. Lex placed his hand on her thigh, just under the hem of her skirt to stop her from moving. Chloe figured this was her chance, she took in a breath and stood up. "NO! I will not have sex with you!!" she yelled storming off.
Lex's head shot up and stared at her with an open mouth. Chloe ran out of the box seat area and out or the theater. She paused half way down the street, feeling sick. She had just disgraced the Luthor name and her best friend's best friend. She felt sick.
He deserved it! A voice in her head screamed. He called you and ugly farm girl with no dress sense. He used you! No one messes with Chloe Sullivan. But Chloe just couldn't make herself believe it.
Suddenly heavy footsteps sounded behind her and Chloe resumed walking, wiping tears from her eyes. Lex grabbed her arm and turned her around. "What the hell was that all about." The cool demeanour was gone and Lex was just.angry. "Why the hell did you do that?!?!"
Chloe whirled on him building up all her anger. "You were using me! You never wanted to go to Hamlet with me. I was just a means for revenge against your stupid fight with your father!"
Lex took a step back, his stony face back in place. "You heard." He stated.
"Yeah I heard. I'm a freaking reporter! You should have known better!" Chloe accused.
"I didn't mean it the way it came out. I was just letting him think that. I did want to be with you."
The miserable girl just hugged herself, wishing she could actually see what Lex was feeling instead of looking through his compassionless blue eyes. "I wanna go home."
"I'll take you." Lex said and he turned, as if father had a few hours earlier expecting Chloe to follow.
"I'll take the bus." Chloe turned the other way, she knew the bus station was in the direction Lex was headed but she didn't want to follow him.
Lex turned and watched her walk away. He shook his head sorrowfully, he, Lex Luthor felt horrible. The damage she caused in the theater was repairable; his dad would take care of that. But the hole in both of their hearts could never be filled.