~*~

A Week Later

~*~

The wedding had been beautiful, Lana had stood there looking all exotic in her white strapless gown…she looked like a princess and the way Pete was treating her it was no wonder. Chloe had stood beside her in the specially chosen teal gown that clung to her figure, her long blonde hair piled on top of her hair in a French twist. She had almost stolen Lana's limelight as she walked down the isle with Clark Kent on her arm. At least from his point of view anyway. He bowed his head to hide the smirk as she approached him, a champagne glass in each of her hands.

"Enjoying the party?" she asked winking at him. There it was the Chloe smile that he had blown off a meeting and two business dinners for, not that he would admit it of course.

He accepted the glass "Lana and Pete look happy" he said watching as the Ross's floated over the dance floor in perfect bliss.

Chloe nodded "Yeah they do" she said wistfully.

Lex noted the emotion "Missing Bruce?" he asked

Chloe shook her head "Actually Bruce and I broke up…I guess the advice from an old friend helped convince me of something I had known for a long time – we weren't meant to be"

Lex smirked raising an eyebrow "Is that so, he sounds like a smart friend?"

Chloe laughed "I didn't say they were a 'he' jumping the gun a little aren't you Lex?" her eyes rose to meet his.



"I thought you couldn't make it" she continued

Lex smirked "Well I also took the advice of an old friend…I guess I've realised that I can't hide forever"

Chloe smiled "Sounds like a smart friend" she quipped.



Lex laughed "When she wants to be" he bit back.

Chloe smiled "I'm glad you came" she said before being whisked away to dance with Clark.

Lex watched as Clark made her laugh. He had always had that ability, when he was around, the Chloe mega watt grin was on her face. *He's too tall for her* The thought had come from nowhere but still, looking at him rest his hands on the small of her back, he felt strange. Chloe deserved better then Bruce and she deserved better then Clark.

"So was it hard watching your high school sweetheart walk down the isle?" Chloe looked up at Clark's face.

"It was strange" he admitted, that farm boy charm working its way in "But not hard...Chloe you look…you look amazing tonight, Bruce is really missing out" he smiled.

Chloe laughed "Sure he is Clark…" she sighed and her eyes took on a sad glaze "No Bruce would probably more concerned with whether or not the press were taking our picture then whether I looked nice" they moved slowly to the music. That was the problem with slow songs. You couldn't escape conversation if you tried, well unless it was like your partner, in which case you could get all snugly and kissy…unfortunately Clark didn't fit into either of those categories anymore.

There was an uncomfortable silence and Chloe took it as her oppurtunity to confront him about something that had been bugging her all day "So how about an interview?" she asked playfully.

Now it was Clark's turn to blush "And why Chloe Sullivan would you like to interview me?"

Chloe shrugged and appeared nonchalant "Well as a matter of fact I met Superman today" she noticed Clark's eyes widen slightly.

"And I am still clueless Chloe"

Chloe lowered her voice and leaned in to whisper in his ear "Clark…its okay, your secret is safe with me" she pulled away and smiled at him, as his eyes widened and he smiled back at her.

Lex pretended to be interested in what Lois Lane was saying, it wasn't an easy feat, especially when it felt like she was questioning him for the Daily Planet. His eyes kept drifting to the dance floor where Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan were whispering to each other and smiling way too much.

"Lex are you listening?"

"Of course" Lex turned back to Lois, a cool smirk on his lips as she continued.

"What gave it away?" Clark asked confused

Chloe smiled…hmm toughie, could it be that Clark's costume hid none of his facial features? Sure there was the whole glasses act that Clark Kent put on but that smile…that Clark smile was such a giveaway.

"Clark, we were best friends all through high school, your telling me that some styling products and the lack of glasses would get me?" she winked "Although lycra…definitely wouldn't have picked you for the type" she teased.

Clark blushed "Yeah well mom designed the costume.."

Chloe smiled and reached up to give him a hug "See you are and forever will be Clark Kent international man of mystery...this is a wall of weird file that can officially be closed"

Clark narrowed his eyes "You had a file on me?"

Chloe hesitated "Well yeah, not on paper but you have to admit, some of the things that happened at good old Smallville high were pretty big coincidences and you always were disappearing on me and saving everyone"

Clark shrugged chuckling "I wouldn't have been able to do it without you Chloe…you were definitely the brains behind the operation"

Chloe blushed with happiness "Thanks Clark" she nudged her friend and looked towards Lex "Well since *we've* managed to work some stuff out…do you think it would be too impossible to go and talk to Lex?"

Clark stiffened "Chloe, I have nothing to say to Lex Luthor…he's bad news"

Chloe sighed "Clark-"

"Chloe you cant change my mind about this, don't try, I'm going to go and find Pete"

Still doing disappearing acts…Chloe stared at his back as he walked away. It looked like the old friendship of Clark Kent and Lex Luthor was a lost cause.

"You look like someone who just lost her best friend"

Chloe looked up to see Lex gazing at her "Yeah well I didn't…he just has some-"

"'Me' issues, he only decided to leave because I was walking over here Chloe"

"Oh" Chloe looked up at Lex "So uh was it such a bad party?" she asked.

Lex shook his head "Not at all, I'm glad I decided to attend"

Chloe laughed "I think you made Lana's year" she watched Pete and Lana staring lovingly into each other's eyes on the dance floor "She was thrilled that you made it you know"

Lex laughed "I know, she must of hugged me 5 times"

Chloe raised an eyebrow "I thought you don't hug?" she questioned.

Lex smirked "She hugged me…besides its her wedding day" he explained.

Chloe laughed "I better go and see what's happening over at the drink table, wouldn't want anyone to miss out on the pleasure of conversing with your truley" she smiled and turned on her heel walking away, her blue silk gown swishing around her.

Lex chuckled to himself before moving away to mingle.

The evening was breaking up before he cornered her again, she was talking animatedly with Pete and he approached with caution as Pete gave him a not so friendly look "I assume I'll see you around Miss Sullivan"

Chloe stood up "You're leaving already?" she asked, her eyes looked disappointed and he wondered what that could possibly mean.

Lex nodded and without hesitating reached out and hugged the tiny woman, Chloe smiled into his chest and pulled away "Someone once told me that hugging is for the weak, are you confirming your now 'weak' status Lex?" she said shaking her head looking up at him.

Lex smirked, charmingly saying "Only when it comes to blonde reporters"

He put an ivory finger to his lips "Don't tell anyone"

Chloe laughed and Lex exited, but she knew it wasn't the last time she would be seeing Lex Luthor.