So sorry for how long it has taken me to get this chapter up… damn RL keeps getting in the way of my visits to Smallville. Which really sucks, because I like it there so much more. Hahaha And yes, Barbara I do feel better getting a review knowing someone is reading! Thanks. And now…
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Title: Surprises
Chapter Completed: March 5, 2003
"Said they'd be right down," Clark relayed to Lana. The brunette was staring at the stairs with a worried look and wringing her hands.
"I hope she's surprised."
"I'm sure she will be," he nodded and smiled that classic Clark Kent smile, looking over the brightly decorated sitting room. An abundance of balloons and pink streamers.
"I can guarantee she's not expecting this," Chloe looked around the same room in disbelief. She didn't believe that any room in Luthor manner could look like this, not even with Lana's help.
Lana clapped like a trained seal, "I think I hear them." She hurried the group from the entrance into the small, decorated room, closing the door behind them.
Anna and Lex were in fact descending the stairs. The pair had dressed and primped to hide any clues of their earlier liaison, only the silver chain sparkled against her skin.
"Are you mad?" she stopped at the bottom of the staircase, grabbing for his forearm, "Are you angry at me?"
He turned back to face her, giving a stiff shake of his head and almost nervously glancing over to the closed off room. He would rather not have the occupants over hear this personal matter.
She stayed where she was, a pout on her lips. The unresponsive reply didn't satisfy her. He seemed cold and distant and she was sure it was because of her.
He stood at the landing under her step making their eyes at equal standing. "I'm not mad," he had taken hold of her hands, his thumbs stoking the tops of them. He just wasn't used to an intimacy like this, the kind of daylight and emotions. The only relationship that came close was with his mother, and Lillian had been gone for far too long now.
The girl searched the stare of his steel blues orbs and the feel of his touch before nodding. She also wasn't used to this kind of relationship, not with a man like Lex. Not with the guarded emotions and the perpetual space and had to become used to it.
"We alright?" he pulled her hands to bring her down to his space, and learned his forehead to hers. She murmured a yes before his lips moved to touch her much softer ones. Pulling back pleased that the smile had returned to her face, "Good." The intensity of his eyes never wavering. He approached it like a business appointment, "Come here," he was leading her now to the pair of doors.
"Where?" the girl hung back a little, slightly uneasy about what could lye behind the oak.
He shook his head a little before pushing open the heavy dividers.
"Surprise!" was the chorus that rang through the opening, directed at Anna.
"Surprise?" she mouthed, looking between the four teens and Lex and the room. The look on her face expressing her disbelief.
"Happy Birthday!" Lana squealed, bounded over to engulf the older girl in over bearing hug.
Anna stumbled back, "ah…thank you…thank you…" trying to push off the over brunette. With one harsh shove she was free and crashed back into Lex's strong form.
"You were part of this," she gave him an accusing stare.
The smirk playing on his lips confirmed it for her, "It won't kill you," he gave her a little push back into the room, ignoring the glare he got in return.
She took a deep to endure Lana's abundance of cheery pink and purple. She even forced a stretched smile.
"Happy Birthday," Clark was the next to bound over to her, the wide smile on his face. He moved to hug her but stopped feeling uncomfortable and awkward. He settled for patting her back instead.
The older girl turned to Chloe now, who was trying desperately to hide her smile, "You knew about this." She pointed an accusing finger still sporting the stretched smile, "And I thought we were friends."
The younger blonde broke into a full laugh, soon joined by the other.
"Happy birthday," she handed a gift bag over, "A peace offering." She offered with a raised eyebrow.
Instantly she softened, "Aww, you so didn't have to." She was touched by the gesture, the present and the party the more she thought about it. It seemed that they really were accepting her and if she was going to stay here it wouldn't be that bad.
"It just seemed right for you," the younger girl shrugged at the sentiment but couldn't shake her happy smile.
Anna nodded, reaching into the bright blue tissue paper and pulling out a silver Torch key chain. Turning it over in her hand she saw the engraved back: friends. "Oh," she looked up at the other girl, holding the trinket close to her heart, "thank you." Her eyes were getting misty.
Despite not being a girlie-girl, Chloe too became misty at how touched her friend was, "It's nothing."
Anna moved to hug the girl much more freely and affectionately then the way with Lana. She just felt close to Chloe, as she did to her.
"Girls," Pete shook his head as he snapped a picture of the pair. He had been designated photographer by Lana the party dictator. He had been snapping various one's all through the set up.
"We weren't supposed to give present yet," Lana interrupted their moment with gritted teeth. She hated not having things go her way and not being at the centre of attention. She did all the planning and organising of this party. It only happened because of her. "But oh well," her fake smile plastered on her face as she held out a brightly wrapped package toward Anna, "Open mine next."
"Okay," Anna felt it best not to comment on how Lex had already given her his in a fear that the girl might explode on hearing the news. Careful to put the key ring back in its gift bag she took the package, "Thank you." She laid the box onto a tabletop to begin opening it. Tearing off the paper, not surprisingly pinkish, she opened the gift box.
"Hope you like it," Lana was unable to stand still, shifting between her feet in anticipation as she watched the girl lift the box's lid.
Trying to control the reaction on her face she pulled out the pretty pink sweater, it's v-neck and soft texture characteristic of the girl who gave it to her. "Wow," was the only thing she could say, completely taken aback by it and how inappropriate it was for her. She could hear Chloe try to surpress the laugh the sweater supplied her with and wanted to avoid the same reaction. "Thanks," she was braced for anther hug from the brunette.
Lex was amused by the scene, the whole event actually. It helped him understand the woman he loved by watching her, it could be like watching a version of himself.
"Clark, I'm surprised your parents allowed you here," he turned to the boy beside him.
"Actually, they think I'm a Pete's," his eyes twinkled with the slightest pleasure with his trickery.
"I'm surprised," and the millionaire was, "that Ross would go along with that. Considering." He sipped at a straight cola that was provided for the clean, little gathering.
"He was happy to do it," he too drinking the same sweet liquid happily, "Even to be here. He had a crush on Anna the first time she was here," he hid his own crush on her.
Lex was smug, even with any teenaged threat, "I don't think he's here for her." He was watching Pete and Chloe interact. The two speaking very closely and the lusty sparkle in their eyes.
Clark followed the line of sight and felt uncomfortable. "Oh," was all he could say as his best-friends flirted. He felt out of place and left out and for the first time he really missed Chloe's smile. He watched in a horror as Pete touched her. "Excuse me," he was still transfixed on them as he walked away.
Shaking his head Lex was happy to have Anna join him again.
"Thought you said this wouldn't hurt," she was accusing in tone, "That time with Lana was torture," She complained.
"It couldn't have been that bad," he soothed her, his hand moving around her waist.
She glared at him, "I have to try this on," she held up the sweater like a dead rabbit.
Unable to control it, he laughed.
The girl let her arm fall limply at her side, "Just promise me something," she waved her other index finger at him, "that when I stay, you won't make me spend a lot of time with her."
He could chuckle at her dislike of Miss Lana Lang and fear of time with her, but that was when her words registered, "Does that mean you've decided to stay with me?" The arm around her pulled her closer and the other hand picking up the chain that lay around her neck.
She smirked, not answering him, "I have to go try this on," She rolled her eyes, releasing herself from him she left for the stairs.
Lex smiled, he was content. And really should have known better then to fall into it.
"Isn't Pete supposed to be taking pictures," Clark sulked over to Lana.
She was going over the bowls and plates of snacks. Making sure each was perfect, as if anything less would show imperfection in herself. "I think he's having fun," she commented, seeing him and Chloe both laughing and smiling.
Clark huffed.
"You're not jealous, are you?" she dropped a bowl, nervous that all his attention hadn't been on her. And scared that the blonde might actually win the farm boy.
He groaned now, turning away to the portable stereo Pete insisted they bring. He flipped on whatever CD was in it, "Jealous, huh!" He was mumbling to himself. He wasn't jealous, he was angry. But why? He turned to the pair again, because he had lost her.
The music and thoughts running through his head had distracted Lex, but not enough to block the voice.
"What an interesting way for a man of your age and status to spend an evening son," Lionel had appeared behind him, not amused by the kiddie style party his son was a part of. Obviously exemplifying his miraculously returned sight.
"Dad," he spun around to face him, "What are you doing here?"
"I won't pull you away from your little party," his father brushed him off, being sure to condescend as he started toward the stairs.
He squared his jaw and stood in front of the path, "You haven't told me why you're here."
The other guests began to become aware of the added body in the house. They were watching the father and son, without directly doing so. All but Clark. His attention was still drawn to Chloe and Pete with a furrowed brow.
Lex directed them all to ignore this.
Out of frustration Lionel's shoulders slumped when he spoke, "I just need something I left in my room."
"I'll get it," the son was defending his turf by not allowing his father free reign in it.
"Please," the senior Luthor directed the younger to move to the side by placing a hand on his arm. "Now that I can see it makes more sense for me to just go fetch it. The car is waiting and I'll be right out of your, ah, hair." The comment was made by a forked tongue as he took the steps up the stairs. Avoiding the railing to exhibit his recovered strength.
Lex had turned away, not wanting to give his father the satisfaction of having an audience to show off for and to calm his blinding rage. By turning away he missed the events playing out on the top landing.
Anna came bounding out to the top of the stairs. Fairly light footed for feeling out of self in the pink sweater. She was pulling at it to stretch the shape, but stopped still as death when she looked up to find the face of nightmares in front of her.
"Anna," Lionel smiled at her, taking full advantage of his regained sight by looking over the girl. Visualising what he had already had in flesh. He could tell it was her by that scent. A twisted smile formed on his lips.
She gasped at the look that she had become far too familiar with, stepping sideways to pass him without having to get any closer to him.
"Not even a hello, and I thought we were close," he was finding far too much amusement in her pain. As he passed her he could not resist the last temptation, to touch what he could now see. His hand moved to grace the skin on her stomach left bare by the sweater.
The feel of his hand on her again terrified Anna, sending a sick feeling through her. She had to get away from him, out of his reach. In a frantic move she shoved him away and jumped back. Her foot slipped, missing the step. And now out of reach, she fell down the great mahogany staircase in a cry of surprise.
Dumbfound by the force of the girl Lionel stumbled back against the wall. Unable to recover fast enough to reach for her.
The cry grabbed the attention of the room, all turning and moving to see the stairs.
"Oh god!" Chloe screamed, covering her mouth with her hand as she watched her friend's form fall.
Lex stood silent, her name on his lips but no sound escaping. He couldn't move, never fast enough, he just had to watch, a sense of fear paralysing him.
To Clark the scene played out in slow motion. He could see each time her body made contact with a stair, the horrified expressions and even he moved slow. He was too afraid to use his gift of speed – too many witnesses and not nearly enough explanations. Internally he was torn between two rights. Between the two things his parents had taught him to do: Help and hide. And he was left, too afraid of his own secret to help. The slowed time giving his too much time to think, to doubt. Human time returned for Clark as the name left Lex's mouth.
They all rushed to the collapsed figure on the floor. Lex kneeled down beside her, his expression still but eyes raging in panic as he swept the hair away from her face, "Anna? Can you hear me?"
She groaned in pain and in answering him before passing out from the intensity and shock.
"We have to call for help," Lana's voice was quaky and shrill as she searched desperately for a phone in the grand hall they were gathered in.
"The car's out front," Lionel offered, now coming down to join them. Lex shot him a threatening glare as he moved closer to Anna, "It will be faster then waiting," he backed away.
Clark nodded, moving on instinct now, he crouched down to raise Anna in his arms, effortlessly carrying her toward to the door.
Ignoring the tear falling down her cheek and shaking hands Chloe dug through her bag for keys, "We'll be right behind."
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A/N: Please be patient, it will take me a while to get these chapters up…but I don have the in my head. So don't worry, they will be coming soon.
Also, I was reading a book while researching, go figure, and came across something I found interesting:
Anna: a waning or dark moon…ripe with wisdom, patroness of secrets, prophecy, divination, inspiration, power.