Title: Strength, Reserve, Control
Part: 5/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Is anyone still reading this? A "yes" in the feedback section would suffice!
*~*~*~*
FIVE
The Beatles must have been a gift from God. Chloe was playing a copy of "Rubber Soul" she found in the glove compartment, and having a wonderful time.
Haircut had come first - she couldn't stop reaching up to touch the cut the hairdresser had given her. Now her hair was short, reminiscent of high school. Lionel did long hair better anyway.
Chloe let the top down.
She wasn't sure what she would find in Smallville. She wasn't sure what she wanted to find. There were several possibilities. She would spend a few days with her dad, who seemed to be happiest as a bachelor, she would visit the Kents, who seemed happiest all the time, and/or she would find a way to make things up to Pete - and Lana.
Chloe really felt bad over Lana. When Pete, Chloe and Clark went to Met U, Lana stayed behind, claiming she was not meant for college. Of course, Clark went back every other weekend to visit personal fairy princess, and on alternate weekends, hung out with Chloe and Pete.
But soon, Clark began to spend more weekends with his friends than with his girlfriend - and Lana, hurt, told him not to bother coming home. Clark took the manly route; he got drunk and slept with Chloe.
Clark, the upstanding fellow, immediately called Lana, told her everything then broke up with her. Clark, that perfect being, asked Chloe to be his girlfriend.
She answered in the affirmative.
Driving down the highway, Chloe felt the emotions play over her, just as the wind ruffled and smoothed her hair.
Two years later, at 21, they were engaged, and another year after that, she was standing at the altar with Lionel.
Chloe wondered at the absurdity of her life. She truly couldn't understand how it happened. There was a whirlwind of social events she had attended with Clark, as Lex's guests, and there was Lionel, looking at her from across the room.
When Clark disappeared for some unknown, yet urgent reason (she was sure he'd come up with a lame excuse later), Lionel strode over to her, asking for a dance.
*~*~*~*
"You look absolutely charming, Ms. Sullivan," he said frankly.
"You're too kind, Mr. Luthor," Chloe replied, wondering what ulterior motive was about to rear its ugly head.
"Not at all," Lionel said, letting his hand settle on her waist. "Please, call me Lionel."
"Chloe," she said, smiling. He returned it, and Chloe was a little thrown off by the openness. She had only ever seen Lionel guarded and closed. Granted, she hadn't seen him all that often.
They danced smoothly, and Chloe was immensely grateful she'd accepted those dancing lessons from Lex for her and Clark's engagement present.
"I hear you're marrying the Kent boy?"
"Yes," Chloe glanced around for her absent fiancé, "he's somewhere around here ."
"He left a few minutes ago," Lionel said, "but I'm sure he'll be back soon - although I must admit, I'm disappointed in a man who can leave his fiancée at a party without a word."
"I'm sure Clark has a good reason," Chloe said uncomfortably. "He thinks he's a superhero, you know."
"Well, I suppose he can be judged by the company he keeps," Lionel picked up the pace as the song changed to a mambo. "Tell me, Chloe, are you acquainted with Superman?"
"Not as well as Clark - they're good friends. I've really only seen him in passing. Superman tends not to stick around when he sees me," Chloe grinned wryly as Lionel swung her around. "I don't think he likes me very much."
"How curious," he said.
"You're telling me," she laughed. "I would love to get my hands on Superman - for an interview, of course."
Lionel smiled. "Perhaps Clark has been warning Superman away from you. I've heard you have an inquisitive nature. Superman may have some secrets."
"Clark would never do that," Chloe said, but secretly, she wondered if Lionel was right. Clark was always wary of her when she got into reporter- mode. Maybe he had told Superman about it.
"I would never do what?" Clark asked the dancing pair. Chloe pulled back from Lionel's grasp. "Lionel thinks you've been warning Superman to stay away from me, Clark."
"Why would you say that, Mr. Luthor?" Clark didn't deny it, Chloe noted.
"Consider it an old man's ruminations," Lionel said. "I just thought it interesting Superman is your friend, yet he seems to avoid Chloe."
"He's a busy man," Clark spluttered.
"So it has nothing to do with the fact that I want to interview him?" Chloe asked, crossing her arms.
"Absolutely not," Clark said, reddening.
"Your face says otherwise, Clark. I'm going now." Chloe walked out, ignoring Lex's stare from across the room.
"Chloe!" He caught up with her outside. "Chloe, don't be mad ."
"I'm not mad, Clark," she said, even though she was. "I just need to go home and relax. Call me tomorrow?"
"Yeah," he said. "I'll call you tomorrow. Love you, Chlo."
"Love you, too," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
*~*~*~*
A week later, the engagement was off.
Chloe couldn't take the lying, he was slipping away and she didn't want to hold him back. It was as much for his sake as for hers; and for a while she actually believed that.
And a week after that, Lionel offered her an interview as an application to the Daily Planet.
In the car, Chloe sighed. She wondered what her life would be like now if she hadn't taken Lionel up on his offer. If she worked for the Daily Planet, she'd probably be living in a dingy apartment, constantly on the go, chasing after famous names and figures before coming home to an empty refrigerator, and if she was lucky, a bag of popcorn.
Instead, she had money, power, prestige, and really great clothes. People sought after a Sullivan interview - which, if one was an actor, could make a career, or if one was a politician, would bring reelection.
Chloe was wanted. And it was a new sensation. It was quite far from her roots as a high school journalist, when she had to make an effort to get information - now, people laid it at her feet.
It was success.
But the cost was almost too much to bear. She was estranged from her friends, missed her father, and spent the majority of her time with a man many considered to be the devil's own.
It had been a long time since Chloe had been excited about a story - the chase, the excitement, the frenetic typing on the keyboard, the reporting.
But then again, her Daily Planet fantasy never would have come true - Lex made sure of that. She wasn't sure how Lex did it, but after Chloe broke her engagement, the Planet only hired Clark, claiming they had one spot and he was better qualified.
That was a bitter day. It burned to think about it. Clark achieved HER dream. Clark, who would never have considered journalism if she hadn't forced him to write an article for the Torch; Clark, who stole what she wanted and made it his.
Or maybe she should just blame Lex. Of course, he was acting out of loyalty to his best friend, and Chloe had trouble arguing with loyalty. Perhaps because she had seen so little of it in her life - Lex's devotion to Clark and vice versa were admirable.
He destroyed her dream, but in a way, he made it possible for her to be where she was now. She was happier with her own paper than she would have been at the Planet.
Besides, it was hard to hate someone who looked out for their friends.
Route 8 approached, and she was nearly there. She should probably go to her dad's house first - spend some time with the man she loved dearly, but had never been too close to. They were getting better at the father- daughter thing now, and she no longer felt like being elsewhere when she was around him. It was a good thing.
Chloe stopped at the Talon to get some coffee - and to see Lana. Hopefully she'd be able to straighten things out with her.
She walked into the old place - it looked the same as ever, a bit shabbier, but in that chic way. Kids were crowding into booths, laughing, having the time of their lives, and not even knowing it. Chloe could remember the days she spent at the Talon, drinking endless cups of coffee to hurry along maturity while giggling about silly things, writing up interview questions, or discussing the many heartbreaks of a teenager's day.
Lana was behind the counter laughing silently over some joke. With Lex.
*~*~*~*
tbc
Part: 5/?
Author: Cam
Author's Email: camerada2006@yahoo.com
Pairing: Chloe/Lionel, Clark/Lois, Chloe/Lex
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I'm not making anything off of these great characters. Honestly!
A/N: Is anyone still reading this? A "yes" in the feedback section would suffice!
*~*~*~*
FIVE
The Beatles must have been a gift from God. Chloe was playing a copy of "Rubber Soul" she found in the glove compartment, and having a wonderful time.
Haircut had come first - she couldn't stop reaching up to touch the cut the hairdresser had given her. Now her hair was short, reminiscent of high school. Lionel did long hair better anyway.
Chloe let the top down.
She wasn't sure what she would find in Smallville. She wasn't sure what she wanted to find. There were several possibilities. She would spend a few days with her dad, who seemed to be happiest as a bachelor, she would visit the Kents, who seemed happiest all the time, and/or she would find a way to make things up to Pete - and Lana.
Chloe really felt bad over Lana. When Pete, Chloe and Clark went to Met U, Lana stayed behind, claiming she was not meant for college. Of course, Clark went back every other weekend to visit personal fairy princess, and on alternate weekends, hung out with Chloe and Pete.
But soon, Clark began to spend more weekends with his friends than with his girlfriend - and Lana, hurt, told him not to bother coming home. Clark took the manly route; he got drunk and slept with Chloe.
Clark, the upstanding fellow, immediately called Lana, told her everything then broke up with her. Clark, that perfect being, asked Chloe to be his girlfriend.
She answered in the affirmative.
Driving down the highway, Chloe felt the emotions play over her, just as the wind ruffled and smoothed her hair.
Two years later, at 21, they were engaged, and another year after that, she was standing at the altar with Lionel.
Chloe wondered at the absurdity of her life. She truly couldn't understand how it happened. There was a whirlwind of social events she had attended with Clark, as Lex's guests, and there was Lionel, looking at her from across the room.
When Clark disappeared for some unknown, yet urgent reason (she was sure he'd come up with a lame excuse later), Lionel strode over to her, asking for a dance.
*~*~*~*
"You look absolutely charming, Ms. Sullivan," he said frankly.
"You're too kind, Mr. Luthor," Chloe replied, wondering what ulterior motive was about to rear its ugly head.
"Not at all," Lionel said, letting his hand settle on her waist. "Please, call me Lionel."
"Chloe," she said, smiling. He returned it, and Chloe was a little thrown off by the openness. She had only ever seen Lionel guarded and closed. Granted, she hadn't seen him all that often.
They danced smoothly, and Chloe was immensely grateful she'd accepted those dancing lessons from Lex for her and Clark's engagement present.
"I hear you're marrying the Kent boy?"
"Yes," Chloe glanced around for her absent fiancé, "he's somewhere around here ."
"He left a few minutes ago," Lionel said, "but I'm sure he'll be back soon - although I must admit, I'm disappointed in a man who can leave his fiancée at a party without a word."
"I'm sure Clark has a good reason," Chloe said uncomfortably. "He thinks he's a superhero, you know."
"Well, I suppose he can be judged by the company he keeps," Lionel picked up the pace as the song changed to a mambo. "Tell me, Chloe, are you acquainted with Superman?"
"Not as well as Clark - they're good friends. I've really only seen him in passing. Superman tends not to stick around when he sees me," Chloe grinned wryly as Lionel swung her around. "I don't think he likes me very much."
"How curious," he said.
"You're telling me," she laughed. "I would love to get my hands on Superman - for an interview, of course."
Lionel smiled. "Perhaps Clark has been warning Superman away from you. I've heard you have an inquisitive nature. Superman may have some secrets."
"Clark would never do that," Chloe said, but secretly, she wondered if Lionel was right. Clark was always wary of her when she got into reporter- mode. Maybe he had told Superman about it.
"I would never do what?" Clark asked the dancing pair. Chloe pulled back from Lionel's grasp. "Lionel thinks you've been warning Superman to stay away from me, Clark."
"Why would you say that, Mr. Luthor?" Clark didn't deny it, Chloe noted.
"Consider it an old man's ruminations," Lionel said. "I just thought it interesting Superman is your friend, yet he seems to avoid Chloe."
"He's a busy man," Clark spluttered.
"So it has nothing to do with the fact that I want to interview him?" Chloe asked, crossing her arms.
"Absolutely not," Clark said, reddening.
"Your face says otherwise, Clark. I'm going now." Chloe walked out, ignoring Lex's stare from across the room.
"Chloe!" He caught up with her outside. "Chloe, don't be mad ."
"I'm not mad, Clark," she said, even though she was. "I just need to go home and relax. Call me tomorrow?"
"Yeah," he said. "I'll call you tomorrow. Love you, Chlo."
"Love you, too," she said, kissing him on the cheek.
*~*~*~*
A week later, the engagement was off.
Chloe couldn't take the lying, he was slipping away and she didn't want to hold him back. It was as much for his sake as for hers; and for a while she actually believed that.
And a week after that, Lionel offered her an interview as an application to the Daily Planet.
In the car, Chloe sighed. She wondered what her life would be like now if she hadn't taken Lionel up on his offer. If she worked for the Daily Planet, she'd probably be living in a dingy apartment, constantly on the go, chasing after famous names and figures before coming home to an empty refrigerator, and if she was lucky, a bag of popcorn.
Instead, she had money, power, prestige, and really great clothes. People sought after a Sullivan interview - which, if one was an actor, could make a career, or if one was a politician, would bring reelection.
Chloe was wanted. And it was a new sensation. It was quite far from her roots as a high school journalist, when she had to make an effort to get information - now, people laid it at her feet.
It was success.
But the cost was almost too much to bear. She was estranged from her friends, missed her father, and spent the majority of her time with a man many considered to be the devil's own.
It had been a long time since Chloe had been excited about a story - the chase, the excitement, the frenetic typing on the keyboard, the reporting.
But then again, her Daily Planet fantasy never would have come true - Lex made sure of that. She wasn't sure how Lex did it, but after Chloe broke her engagement, the Planet only hired Clark, claiming they had one spot and he was better qualified.
That was a bitter day. It burned to think about it. Clark achieved HER dream. Clark, who would never have considered journalism if she hadn't forced him to write an article for the Torch; Clark, who stole what she wanted and made it his.
Or maybe she should just blame Lex. Of course, he was acting out of loyalty to his best friend, and Chloe had trouble arguing with loyalty. Perhaps because she had seen so little of it in her life - Lex's devotion to Clark and vice versa were admirable.
He destroyed her dream, but in a way, he made it possible for her to be where she was now. She was happier with her own paper than she would have been at the Planet.
Besides, it was hard to hate someone who looked out for their friends.
Route 8 approached, and she was nearly there. She should probably go to her dad's house first - spend some time with the man she loved dearly, but had never been too close to. They were getting better at the father- daughter thing now, and she no longer felt like being elsewhere when she was around him. It was a good thing.
Chloe stopped at the Talon to get some coffee - and to see Lana. Hopefully she'd be able to straighten things out with her.
She walked into the old place - it looked the same as ever, a bit shabbier, but in that chic way. Kids were crowding into booths, laughing, having the time of their lives, and not even knowing it. Chloe could remember the days she spent at the Talon, drinking endless cups of coffee to hurry along maturity while giggling about silly things, writing up interview questions, or discussing the many heartbreaks of a teenager's day.
Lana was behind the counter laughing silently over some joke. With Lex.
*~*~*~*
tbc