Title: Freedom of Information

Chapter Complete: December 27, 2002

"Remember that lovely creature Anna?" Pete over emphasised with his eyebrows.

Chloe sighed; pushing a piece of what she hoped was chicken around her plate with the fork. Like she had not heard enough about her.

Clark just gave an over zealous smile and knowing nod.

"Well," Pete stated with enthusiasm, "I had the greatest dream last night, with her in the starring role. And trust me this was no PG13 teen drama. We're talking triple X here," he raised his eyebrows again.

Chloe openly groaned at this, not wanting to hear another word about it. She knew there were perks to having guys as best friends…but at that moment she could not think of them. Come to think of it, she did not think of a time when there ever was any.

"I can top that," Clark almost burst with his smile.

"Then spill it Kent," Pete was intrigued by what news his friend had that could top the steamy mental love scene he had the night before.

"Anna was at MY house THIS morning," Chloe swore Clark was going to split at the seams with his news. His eyebrows bounding up and down on his face. One would think that Lana had just confessed undying love or something, she scoffed.

"Kent, you dawg," Pete laughed, "And you didn't tell me this right away? And I thought we were friends man," he faked hurt making Clark laugh and even Chloe cracked a smile.

"Now come on Clark," Pete continued, gesturing with his hands for more information, "Tell us all about how she couldn't get enough of ya."

"Argh!" Chloe groaned again. She had had enough, "Give it up you guys! She's like three years older too old for you and there's absolutely no reason to keep going on about her!" She snapped and blushed for it. She didn't like displaying how much of it got to her, how girlie-girl she really was. She was strong and independent – but that does not mean guys could ignore her. Would it kill them to give her a little attention?

But as usual Pete and Clark were not paying attention, they just continued.

"Actually, she was there with Mr. Luthor to pick up my mom," Clark smirked a little shyly and shrugged.

Pete nodded along with less enthusiasm, "But how was she?"

"She remembered my name," the super-boy added with the slight edge of pride.

Chloe rolled her eyes again. This little crush they had on her was too much. She turned away, giving the campus a once over from their table. There had to be something more interesting around here then a conversation about teenaged hormones. Even running into Lana would be better then this.

"Hey Clark," she interrupted the pair, "Lex is over there," she pointed over her shoulder.

"Hey Lex," Clark smiled as the man in question approached their table.

He simply gave a little smile and nod greeting to the teen trio.

"Um," the teen wonder had a confused look on his face as he looked up, "It's not like it's not good to see you Lex, but why are you here?" he remembered where they were and the fact that it was the middle of a week day. There usually isn't any reason to find Lex Luthor at Smallville High at noon, unless it has something to do with someone. Desiree came to mind.

"Actually, I came to speak to Miss Sullivan," the young millionaire turned to the young reporter.

Chloe almost choked on her cola. Why did Lex come here for her? She slowly turned to look up at him; the only clue she could get from him was a raised eyebrow from behind his sunglasses.

"Alright," she got up, pushing her lunch tray away and collecting her school bag, "what can I do for you?"

"Could we talk at the Torch?" he started off in the direction of the school doors.

She nodded and gave the wave off to the boys, "See ya," and took off after Lex.

"Hey Chloe," Pete waited until she was almost caught up to him before calling out, "Don't bother, he's gotta be at least three years too old for you."

She shot back a glare of death that promised to punish him later as her cheeks involuntarily went pink. She giggled nervously turning back to Lex, "I don't know what you want but it has to be better then what those two have been going on about," she rolled her eyes again, "Can you imagine almost an hour talking about –"

"—Anna Clarkson," he interrupted, taking off his sunglasses since they were now inside.

Chloe's jaw dropped slightly and she stopped short, "Excuse me?"

Lex stopped to face her, "I want you to look into her for me."

Of course! Chloe thought, he wasn't there for her, no one ever was. Stupid of her to have the slightest hope that he was. But at least this one was blonde too, instead of the tragic brunette. She flashed her winning smile, "Don't you have like a team of investigators waiting for your beckoning call for this?" she unlocked the Torch's office door, recharging her power. This was her turf.

He smiled in return, "Just thought I'd give you a chance to sharpen your keen investigative skills Miss Sullivan," he circled around the computer.

She just looked up at him with an unsatisfied eyebrow.

He chuckled, "Alright. You're also the most inexpensive. Free that is."

The young reporter teased, "Front page news. Lex Luthor Millionaire Playboy and Cheapskate."

"Just promise to keep that part secret," he leaned against the opposite desk, idly flipping through a stack of papers.

"Freedom of the press Mr. Luthor…no promises," she smiled at him before beginning to attack the keys to her computer. But to be honest with herself, she had already done a little digging on the mystery that is Anna Clarkson. One could call it curiosity…or even a little jealousy, but Chloe would call it journalistic intuition. She went though the usual channels, but deleted the history, cookies and everything else…call her paranoid but she wasn't going to have someone hack into her hard drive and steal her information. Or have proof that she was curious. She was all too aware of the X-Files connection to her life.

"Well," Chloe announced, "There's not a lot on her. Seems pretty clean. Far from perfect, but still clean," she leaned back in her chair as Lex leaned in beside her, reading the screen. "Middle name Alyssa. Born December 18th, 1981. That makes her a Sagittarius," She laughed a little, "Straight B student. No serious problems at her private school – until she left in the middle of her last semester," this part proved interesting to Chloe, "Only reason listed is 'illness', but she never returned." She leaned forward, coming cheek to cheek with Lex. Again she blushed a little as she brought up another page, "Says her father's a doctor, private practice in Metropolis. Well, up to last month anyway, when she came here. He also used to work for LuthorCorp." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye, no response from the information or her girlie slip.

"hum," Lex stared at the name of his family company on the screen.

"Doesn't say why he left," Chloe turned to face him, "But it was around the same time our girl got ill." She tapped the screen.

He nodded, "thanks," standing upright, but lost in thought, "I'll look into that," he started to leave.

"Lex, remember to share the info," she called after him, getting only a brush-off nod. She sighed, slumping down in her chair. What she wouldn't give for some real male attention – even meteor induced. And caffeine. She perked up, there was definitely one she could have, and rolled her chair off to the coffee machine.

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