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: I finally will admit the truth: I do not own Smallville.

Chapter Seven: Meanings
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After explaining the entire situation to Lana, Chloe was exhausted. She knew that she shouldn't get so worked up about it, but he had really hurt her. He'd acted like she were a child to him. He was just like a light switch, so easy to turn on and off. Ugh!

But she didn't want to think about that right now. She was so tired. Lana had been such a great friend listening to her mope like that. And she was so supportive. She was glad that they had become good friends now, just like she were one of the family.

Slowly, Chloe drifted off into sleep.

[Two hours later]
"CHLOE! Oh my gosh! Get your butt down here!" Lana screamed as she bounded up the steps. Chloe groaned. What? What's wrong? Oh yeah, I'm awake, that's what's wrong.

Lana stormed into Chloe' bedroom, almost falling on her friend. "You'll never guess what just happened!"

"Hmm. Then how about you just go ahead and tell me." She laid back down on the bed, ready to go back to sleep.

Lana rolled her eyes. "A delivery just came for you. Flowers and some sort of book, I think. It's all wrapped up." Okay, Chloe was awake now.

"Flowers? Book?" Well, maybe not awake, but at least she was interested.

"I think they're from Lex. But I'm not sure."
"Lex? Flowers? Book?" It takes Chloe a while to get up, if you can't tell.

Lana grabbed Chloe by the hand and dragged her down the stairs and to where the presents were awaiting her. Wow, those are the most beautiful hyacinths I have ever seen! They were a deep purple color and in full bloom. She went over and smelled them.

Lana cleared her throat. "Well, open the card already!" Chloe smiled as she opened the envelope and pulled out the card.

She read what it said out loud, " 'Look it up, -Lex.' Well, hey, at least it's romantic," she remarked sardonically. Lana rolled her eyes and handed her the wrapped book.

"Oh."

Chloe ripped off the wrapping paper to discover a book titled The Meanings of Flowers. She turned to the index and scanned for the word "hyacinth." When she found it, she flipped over to the page it indicated. There, she found a sentence that was previously highlighted. It read, "Sending someone a vase of purple hyacinths represents the strongest apology you can give." Next to the sentence was "Call me if you accept mine," written in the margin.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lex was beginning to think that Chloe wasn't going to call. He had been staring at the phone, daring it to ring for 30 minutes now. No, she must not have accepted my apology.

Suddenly, the phone rang, startling him. He picked it up and said into the receiver, "Lex Luthor."

"That's a weird way to pick up the phone. You would think that if someone were calling you on your private office number then they would expect you to pick it up."

"Chloe! Did you receive the flowers I sent you?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to assume that you also accept my apology."
"Nice assumption."
"Thank you. I try."

"But really, that was extremely sensitive and thoughtful of you to send me the flowers. And very mysterious with the whole 'look it up' thing. On a scale of one to ten, I give it a nine."

"A nine on Chloe's scale is a rare thing to come by! I'm truly proud and honored that I rank so high."
"Not you, dimwit. The apology."
"Oh, so you don't think I'm a nine?"
"No. I don't," she answered simply.
"Oh, Chloe. I'm hurt. How could you wound me so?" he asked, feigning distress in his voice.
"It's easy. You should try it some time. It's called telling the truth." Ouch!

When Lex didn't say anything, Chloe chuckled. "Have I left the infamously eloquent Lex Luthor speechless? Why, yes, I think I have."

He laughed along with her. "That was only a sample of what you will never have." Oh shit, that sounded wrong. I meant she can't have the ability to leave me speechless, not that she can't have me! I hope she didn't take it the wrong way.

"Oh, but Lex! Be prepared to be left speechless, for the ones you never expect can, always do." Good, she understood what I meant.

After a pause, Lex began talking again. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go to the movies tonight with me," he asked. "As friends."

"Sure," Chloe replied. "That sounds great. Pick me up at 7:00??"

"I'll be there."

* * * * * * * * * *

Chloe calmly hung up the phone and placed it on it's charger. She casually walked over to Lana and smiled. And that's when all hell broke lose. "LANA! Oh my gosh! Lex just asked me to go to the movies with him, but only as friends, which really sucks but he's going to pick me up at 7:00 and its 5:45 right now which means that I only have an hour and 15 minutes to get ready but I don't have anything to wear! I can't go out to the movies naked! I should call him back and cancel. Don't you think so? Okay, good, I'm glad you agree. Be right back!" She ran back to where she left the phone, but Lana grabbed her.

"Breathe Chloe, breathe." She did what she was told. Many, many times.

"Okay. Don't fret about the 'only as friends' part, its not that big of a deal. An hour and 15 minutes is plenty of time if we get started right away. If we can't find anything in your closet that you want to wear, then we'll find something from my closet. Now let's go get ready."

[An hour and 10 minutes later]
Chloe looked up and down at herself in the full-length mirror. Not to shabby, she thought. Lana had remembered that when she had gone shopping in Metropolis she'd gotten a shirt that was cute, but didn't look right on her. Luckily, it looked great on Chloe. It was a classy but casual looking sleeve-less top that wrapped over the front diagonally. It had a black and white abstract print on it. She also wore a classic black belt and a pair of tight, dark denim hip huggers. Lana had let her borrow some black sandals that matched the outfit perfectly. To say the least, it was a spectacular ensemble.

"You look amazing! Lex is going to flip out when he sees you like that." Lana complimented her.

"Are you sure I'm not wearing to much makeup? I'm not used to it."
"Chloe, you're only wearing tan eye shadow and blush."
"So? That's more than I usually wear!"

*DING DONG*

Chloe jumped. He was here. Ahhh.

* * * * * * * * * *

Lex waited patiently after he rang the doorbell. He had actually dressed like a normal guy tonight. He was wearing khakis and a button down, blue and white striped shirt. He was afraid that Chloe would think he looked ridiculous, but he assured himself that she wouldn't.

The door flung open as Chloe appeared grabbing her purse and screaming at Lana, "See you when I get back! Tell Clark I said 'hey!' " She bounded outside. "Wow, Lex, I like the khakis!"

"Really? Are you sure they aren't too..."
"Normal?" She smirked at him.
"Oh, thanks a lot."

He looked down at Chloe as they walked toward his Porsche. He definitely liked what he saw. Don't get carried away Luthor. Keep your thoughts rated PG. The other Luthor argued with him, PG? There's a beautiful, sexy woman walking next to me and you want my thoughts to be PG? It's going to be hard enough to keep them R for Pete's sake!

"You look amazing, Chloe," he told her earnestly.

She looked over at him and smiled, "Thanks Lex. That means a lot to me."

* * * * * * * * * *

[At the movie theatre]
"So, what movie do you want to see?" Chloe asked him as they stood in line. Just about every citizen of Smallville had done a double-take when spotting Chloe and Lex together. They weren't even holding hands or any of that sort of drama, but the people here sure could act like they were.

"Hmm..'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. What's that about?"
"It's about this girl who's destined to kill vampires or something, and she ends up falling in love with a 100 year old one. It's about killing, magick, and forbidden love, I think. I heard it's really good."

"So, do you want to see it?" he asked her. Personally, that's what he had planned on seeing. He was really into the sci-fi/horror stuff. He hoped Chloe wanted to see it too.

"If you want to..." she said, in a voice that hinted, 'please-please-please-want-to-see-it!'.

Lex walked up to the ticket booth, "Two adults for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, please." He handed over some bills and the woman exchanged them for the two tickets.

Chloe hit him in the side, "Lex!" she whispered. "I would have paid for my own."

"I have no doubt that you would, but you're not going to. I am." He smirked at her. She rolled her eyes and groaned. They walked into the part of the theatre where it was showing the movie they had just paid for and sat down.

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I hope you liked this chapter! The next chapter will start after the movie! Extra good Chlexy moments are next!