Title: Wanna Bet?
Author: Color Me Chlex (aka Amber)
Rating: light R (for later chapters, and occasional cussing)
Category: Romance/Some Angst/Humor, 100% Chlex
Summary: Chloe makes a bet with herself that she can forget all about Clark by focusing on none other than the infamous Lex Luthor.

Disclaimer: Well, I was playing poker with some guys I didn't recognize. I thought nothing of it until the man who was losing threw a contact on the table. I looked it over. "Ownership of Smallville Television Show," was printed on the top! This must be my lucky day! I thought. When I won that hand (again), I was so excited! I was the official owner of my favorite t.v. show! Then, it kinda got to my head and I tried my luck at another hand. I put everything I owned down on the table; I had a good hand and I knew I would win. I'll show them big boys, I thought. Well...it ended up they showed me. The man that had lost his ownership of the show won that hand...and Smallville. Ugh! But I did own it for a few minutes! I swear!

Notes: I really appreciate reviews... They make me update faster. Also, this is my very first fan-fic of anything, let alone Smallville. So don't be too harsh, but I do enjoy constructive criticism. Also, if by some wild chance you'd like to post my fan-fic on your website, just e-mail so I know where it's going! Chances are that I will say yes. Oh, by the way, the story jumps from Chloe's side to Lex's side throughout the entire story, but later, there may be other characters input in as well.

Chapter One: Setting It Up
* * * * * * * * * *

Not again, Chloe Sullivan thought. She sighed. She had just walked into the Talon when she spotted the infamous Clark Kent gawking at the oh-so-perfect Lana Lang. Will he ever just ask her out and stop torturing me? She scurried over to a booth in the back and plopped down. She sighed again. It had become a routine, the sighing thing. Ever since she had told Clark she had feelings for him she had noticed more often how much he was in love with Lana.

It doesn't make any sense! I have always been his best friend, but he never even noticed me! What does Lana have that I don't? Well, besides the beauty, kindness, and being friends with everyone? Uh, nevermind. I guess I just answered myself. She knew she had to get over Clark, but she wasn't sure if it was as easy as she made it sound. She had been in love with him for years, how was she supposed to suddenly forget him? Was it even possible?

Thats when she decided what she was going to do. The next male to walk in through the doors of the Talon was the one she was going to focus her entire attention to. Unless he's hideous looking or way old, she added. She would devote everything to him for two weeks and not devote anything but what friends normally do to Clark. If she won (by not liking Clark anymore), she would treat herself to as much coffee as she wanted. But if she lost, she would convince her dad to take her to one of those boring LexCorp conventions in Metropolis. She knew how boring those things were and that would definitely be a punishment. She smirked slightly when she realized that this might actually work. But her smirk quickly turned into a frown when she realized who was about to walk through the door.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lex Luthor had about the worst possible day ever. Holy shit! That was the most boring meeting I have ever attended! How can people talk about fertilizer for two and a half hours? he asked himself. He definitely needed some black coffee. Good thing he owned a coffee shop. He pulled his red Porsche over in front of the Talon and put it in park. He climbed out with the grace and agility he had been taught as an adolescent and sauntered into the coffee shop.

He spotted Clark watching Lana again and smirked. Whenever he saw Clark he always seemed to be following that girl around. Not that it seemed she minded. Young love..., he thought as he walked up to the counter.

"Hello Clark. How are you doing today?"

"Lex, hey. I didn't notice you came in." Of course you wouldn't, Lex thought, you were too busy ignoring the rest of the world. Lex watched him smile sheepishly in that innocent farm boy way. After Lex nodded, he continued. "I'm doing alright. How's the company going?"

He smiled. "Isn't that usually a question I hear from Ms. Sullivan?"

"Oh! I didn't mean it like that, Lex. I was just wondering for your sake. You seem kinda beat."

Lex sighed. He was beat. He wished he could just snap his fingers and make the business disappear. Of course, that wasn't possible, but he could always pay everyone to go away. Ha. I'm sure Dad would just love that, he thought sarcastically.

"Yeah, it was a tough day. And boring, if I might add. Whatever you do, Clark, don't get into the fertilizer business. Trust me."

Clark was about to respond when Lana walked over. "Hi Lex! Can I get anything for you?" She smiled whole-heartedly at her employer. Lex wondered if she was ever not smiling. Probably not.

"Yeah, a cup of strong, black coffee."

"Coming right up!" was her only response.

That's when Lex noticed Chloe in the corner of the back of the shop. She seemed to be muttering and ranting. Almost as if she were lecturing herself about something she had done wrong. Hmm...that's odd. But, then again, it is Ms. Sullivan.

He looked over at Clark and saw that he was back to his gawking stage and decided that he probably wouldn't even notice if he left. So he made his way over to Chloe's booth. He couldn't help but notice how she was blushing and trying to hide when he started over in her direction.

* * * * * * * * * *

Oh God! How could this happen? Of all things! Of all people! Humph. She could feel the blush reaching her cheeks, which made her blush even more. She even tried to hide from him, but it didn't work. Nothing passed a Luthor.

He came up to her and asked, "May I join you, Ms. Sullivan?" He smiled at her, but she mistook it as the sort of smile a person gives to a child or an inferior. The blush passed.

"If you want to, I guess I don't mind, Mr. Luthor" she answered non-chalantly. But inside she was screaming, I CAN'T SIT WITH HIM NOW THAT I'VE DECIDED TO FOCUS MY ENTIRE ATTENTION TO HIM! Oh well, Sullivan, tough it out, you made the bet! He slid into the seat across from her and became slightly saddened.

She watched him frown and she knew it was because she had called him 'Mr. Luthor.' She also knew that he hated it. "Ms. Sullivan, how many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Lex' and not 'Mr. Luthor?' "

"Why do you want me to call you 'Lex' if you are always calling me 'Ms. Sullivan?' "

"Well, you never asked otherwise," he stated, matter-of-factly. A small smirk played across his face, showing his obvious, yet annoying, logic to the situation.

"Humph. Well, I suppose I could call you 'Lex.' " She looked at him as he smiled and realized how handsome he truly was. Sure, he may be bald, but it only intensified his already intense features; his smooth complexion, his striking eyes, his strong-willed expressions. And those were only his facial features, let's not get into his sexy build and strong composure.

"Oh, how very gracious of you, Chloe." He accentuated her name, making it sound more beautiful than she had ever heard. This might not be as bad as I thought. I mean, YES IT IS! Ugh. This can't be happening.

* * * * * * * * * *

Chloe sure is acting strange. Maybe its because of Clark. He knew he shouldn't ask, but he went ahead anyway. "Chloe, is something wrong? Maybe having to do with a certain clueless farm boy?" His question was innocent but he could tell that it brought upon the wrong result with Chloe. She seemed sad and mad at the same time. Most likely annoyed.

"Gosh! Why does everyone think that when something's going wrong its because of Clark? There are other things to this world besides the famous Clark Kent! Am I the only one who realizes this??" Her reply seemed to be a whisper and a shout at the same time. It was quiet in sound yet forceful like a shout. She lowered her head into her hands and sighed. Oops, wrong subject.

"Chloe, I'm sorry to have upset you. My intentions were nothing of the sort," he replied truthfully. She looked up at him, and he could see the obvious pain and sorrow etched across her face. She was too damn beautiful too look so sad. He thought that when she smiled it was like coming face to face with the mighty wonders of heaven itself. Of course he would never tell her that, well maybe one day.

He reached out and took her hand, which shocked both himself and Chloe. He smiled innocently and continued, "Chloe, you are much to beautiful to appear so sad. It's a Friday night; definitely not a time for worries. Just cheer up and I'm sure that whatever is bothering you will pass and you will be able to move on to better things. 'Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years,' " Lex quoted intelligently.

He saw Chloe smile, and she quickly finished the quote, " 'If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.' " She smirked at her knowledge of the Mary Hemingway quote.

"You've heard it before." Lex knew she was smart but had never expected her to know the quote. But then again, this was Chloe Sullivan he was thinking about. Of course she knew the quote.

She nodded slightly and continued to smile. She then realized that Lex was still holding her hand, and she looked down at it. When he followed her gaze to their touching hands, he became uneasy and pulled his arm back. What he wouldn't give to know what she was thinking right now.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wow. That wasn't weird, I swear, she told herself sarcastically. She uneasily smiled and pulled her hands into her lap. Lex was being so gentle and kind, it was a side of him that she had never seen before. She had never pinned him as an evil person, but neither as a sensitive romantic that he was showing now. She knew that he was helping Clark win over Lana, but she had presumed it was so he would stop gawking at her and just ask her out.

Too bad he would never be interested in a child like me. Wait! What am I saying? I'm no child! Of course it would be ludicrous if he did reciprocate the already budding desire Chloe was feeling for him. But who knows? Anything could happen in Smallville!

Lex sensed her insecurity, and began talking again. "Chloe, how would you like to accompany me to dinner tonight? Nothing fancy, only something my cooks can come up with at such a short notice...but I'm sure it will be desirable. You look like you could use some tasty food now. And of course, if you are feeling up to it, some of the usual verbal judo that we love to engage upon?" He smiled whole-heartedly at her, and when she looked at his face there was no way she could decline.

"Why Lex! I thought you would never ask!" She faked a southern belle accent and placed a hand over her heart for dramatic emphasis. He laughed, a fun, cheery one at that, and she smiled back at him. He stood up and took her by the hand to escort her to his "carriage" waiting outside.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lana and Clark watched the couple leave arm in arm. They exchanged glances and turned to look back at Chloe and Lex. How odd, the both though. Lana placed her unserved strong, black coffee down on the counter realizing that he wasn't going to come back for it.

* * * * * * * * * *

So what do you all think? Good enough to continue, or bad enough to delete? I love feedback and it's always greatly appreciated! Thanks for taking time to read this! I hope you enjoyed! Oh and this was the chapter including the teenage angst of un-requited love! But next chapter will be humorous and fun...I promise!