"Blow the Candles Out"

A Smallville story by Xica

Characters: Clark, Chloe, Pete, Lana, Lex, and Mari

Disclaimer: The only character I own is Mari, everything else belongs to some very rich men who don't understand that the Chlark is what makes the Smallville world go round. Enjoy

***** To those who first read this story when it was entitled "Birthday" this is pretty much the same story. There were just some issues with the characters (namely my "Mary Sue" original character) that I felt needed changing. And I'd always intended on changing the title. I haven't changed any plot points and I am feverishly working to finish the fourth chapter. I hope you continue to like the story, and as always please read and review.

When Chloe and Clark arrived at Mari's house they found the party just starting to take off. There were cars everywhere and people milling around on the lawn and porch. Quite a few people greeted Chloe as she walked through the crowd and she noticed that she was getting a little more male attention than usual. Clark noticed too and he instinctively wrapped an arm around Chloe's shoulders in a move that conveyed "back off". Chloe was torn between feeling flattered and enraged, but decided to let it go.

"Hey guys what took you so long? Did you decide to have a private celebration or something?" Mari asked, coming up behind them. Chloe noticed that Mari was trying to look angry but there was a glint of hopefulness in her eyes.

"I was just going for fashionably late" Chloe replied, smiling happily and she saw Mari relax. She almost commented on the ferocity of Mari's mood swings, but thought it best not to insult the host.

"This is really great Mari" Clark said, surveying the twinkling lights and balloons scattered everywhere.

"I do my best" Mari said happily. "Now shoo! Go mingle be young have fun! And if you get thirsty do not hesitate to visit your friendly neighborhood bartender" she said, pointing her finger across the room where Pete stood surrounded by people. At this stage of the game Pete was the most popular guy in the room.

Suddenly loud music started booming and Clark and Chloe looked around for a DJ. But instead they found Mari standing in front of a large entertainment center, fumbling with a million knobs. After tuning them to her specifications Mari turned around and gave them the thumbs up sign and scurried off towards the kitchen.

"Remind me to find that girl a good therapist" Chloe said, laughing.

"Later" Clark said, surveying the crowd that had been drawn inside by the music. "Would you like to dance?"

Chloe made no effort to conceal her shock. "Clark Kent? Dance? Are you sure about that?"

"Listen Chloe, I told you that whatever you wanted you get. So if you want to dance, I will sacrifice my dignity and dance. I'll just try not to embarrass you".

"Alrighty then" Chloe said grabbing Clark's hand and dragging him out to the dance floor. The song switched as they approached the floor to "I Can Love You Better" by LL Cool J, which was slow enough for Chloe to get away with slipping her arms around Clark's neck as they danced. Or rather as she danced and Clark tilted back and forth keeping in the rhythm.

Feeling a little adventurous Chloe disengaged her arms from around Clark and turned around so the he was facing her backside. She grabbed Clark's hands and placed them on her waist as the slow groove was replaced with "Hey Baby" by No Doubt, which was a personal favorite it seemed of most of the partygoers. Mari's living room was now packed with increasingly sweaty gyrating teenagers. Chloe grinded into Clark who seemed a bit apprehensive at first but soon got the hint and grabbed Chloe a little tighter.

Meanwhile Mari was watching from the sidelines with a huge smile on her face.

"You look pleased with yourself", said a velvety voice and Mari shook inwardly.

"Lex", Mari said feebly, hoping that she sounded distant instead of nervous. "Do you make it a habit of crashing high school parties?"

Lex's lips turned up into his ever-present smirk. "You know as well as I do that Clark invited me. Although I must say that I was hurt to not receive an invitation from the hostess. I would never have guessed you to have such bad manners Ms. Wesley".

"Please forgive me Lex" Mari said sarcastically, " I had no idea you had such tender feelings".

Lex chuckled and said no more. Mari found herself grateful for Lex's silence. She was normally pretty stable but if there was one thing that sent her into a tizzy it was Lex Luthor.

She had first met him at one of the Metropolis society functions her parents had dragged her to. She had only been thirteen at the time and he had simply fascinated her. She like every other girl at her posh school was thrilled whenever someone had gossip about him. The tales of his hard partying and womanizing intrigued and enthralled her jaded classmates in a way that none of them quite understood. Lex Luthor was the epitome of everything they had always been taught to avoid, which made him all the more desirable. So it had quite the coo for Mari to come face to face with the man himself. Her parents had presented her to Lex and his father and in true lothario style Lex had reached out for her tiny hand and kissed it, bestowing upon her a wink that set off fireworks throughout her entire body. Mari fondly remembered the moment as her first recognition of her own sexuality. Luckily her parents hadn't really been paying attention to her or they would have noticed that she stood rooted to the spot staring in the direction Lex had gone to for minutes after.

Two years later when her parents sent and her grandmother to Smallville she had been a little more than shocked to find out that Lex had suffered pretty much the same fate. Fast-forward two years and here they were again, two outsiders looking in. Only now Mari was the one who should belong, but she felt more isolated than ever. A disappointed growl came from one end of the room and snapped Mari back to reality. With Lex following close behind Mari headed towards the group. She was less than surprised to find that the disturbance was over the apparent lack of remaining alcohol. The keg was empty.

"Seems like that was the shortest 'Mr. Popularity' reign in Smallville high history" Mari snarked.

"What can I say, Pete is best taken in moderation. Otherwise people just overdose. They can't handle the Pete!" Pete grinned, his apparent lack of popularity not diminishing his high spirits.

"Pete your Jack Nicholson needs work" came a voice from behind and the group turned to see that Lana Lang had arrived. As the eyes of most of the male contingent in the room, including Lex and Pete, gave Lana the once over Mari wondered if it would be in bad taste for the hostess to start projectile vomiting. As she eyed Lana's standard issue tight jeans, cowboy boots and peasant blouse Mari wondered how it was possible that Lana lived in a world where it seemed as if the evolution of the push-up bra and the navel as a fashion accessory didn't exist.

Barely taking notice of all the extra attention Lana surveyed the party. "Congratulations Mari, this is quite the turnout".

Mari mumbled something vaguely resembling "thanks" followed by a few choice words that only Lex could hear. Lex laughed and for the first time Pete realized that he was there. Pete immediately scowled and opened his mouth to speak, but Mari cut him off.

"Umm Pete could you help me in the kitchen please? I think we've got a few more bottles of something we could drag out", she said grabbing his arm and dragging him away before he could refuse.

"So where is the birthday girl?" Lana chirped.

"I believe I last saw her in the middle of that mass of misspent youth".

"You mean she was dancing?"

"If that's what the kids are calling it these days".

"What about Clark?"

"What about him?"

"Well is he here yet?"

"Yes" Lex replied as his eye rested on something that caused him to smile, "I'd say that Clark has most definitely arrived".

Confused, Lana followed his gaze and quickly saw what Lex had been smiling at. Clark and Chloe were now entangled in a serious bump n' grind to an old school Foxy Brown song and Lana felt herself paling. The way Clark was looking at Chloe, a mix of adoration combined with a healthy dose of sexual undertones unnerved her slightly. She looked to her right, hoping that Lex hadn't noticed her reaction and realized that he had disappeared. "Great" Lana mumbled to herself as she realized that she was in the direct eye line of a visibly drunk football player. Taking one last look at the makeshift dance floor Lana scurried off towards the stairwell, hoping to find an empty room to hide in.

Having set Pete up with the absolute last alcoholic beverages in her house Mari wandered around her house. The party was an unequaled success. But truth be told Mari couldn't wait until the damn thing was over and done with. Her whole motivation had been to get Clark and Chloe together and as it were that they hadn't left each others side's all night, that situation seemed a little more than under control. Nodding to herself Mari figured now was as good an opportunity as any to sneak away for a little peace. She quickly made her way towards the stairs and ascended to the second floor of her home. As she passed the bedroom that belonged to Lina her grandmother, she heard muffled moaning and female giggling. Shuddering Mari made a mental note to have the room properly fumigated before Lina returned on Sunday night. Continuing on Mari traveled past the two guest rooms, which seemed to be occupied as well. She wondered if she could get a cleaning crew to come as soon as the party was over. Finally reaching her own room she noticed that there was a soft light coming from underneath the door. Feeling furious that someone had invaded her sanctuary Mari angrily threw the door open.

From his perch on the bed Lex Luthor looked up at Mari, slightly startled by her hasty arrival. Seeing her reaction the smile drifted from his face only to be replaced by his patented smirk. Mari was rendered essentially speechless. In her fantasies she'd always been a lot more suave when this time came, but circumstances being what they were she wasn't exactly sure how to proceed. As Lex stared at her obviously amused Mari struggled, her mind frantically searching for any type of witty response but all she could come up with was one phrase that summed up everything that was happening to her right now.

"Oh shit".