Chapter 5 – Friends Forever

Inside the Talon, laughter was heard everywhere. Clark, Lana, Chloe, Pete, Lex and Lila were gathered around in a corner of the Talon, talking and laughing. Clark and Lana were sitting side by side on the loveseat, holding hands. Chloe and Lex were sitting on the couch opposite them, with a coffee table in between them. And Lila and Pete each sat on an identical pair of sofas at the other two ends of the coffee table.

After talking for several hours, Lila had become fast friends with Clark, Lana, Chloe and Pete. They talked like they knew each other for years. Lex smiled one of his rare smiles, ecstatic that they had taken a liking to Lila.

"So Lila," Chloe said after taking a sip of her coffee. "how did you end up best friends with our resident billionaire playboy? Lex told you our stories, isn't it time you tells us yours?"

"Well, Lex and I have been friends for a very long time. I've known him since I was four. And he was seven at the time."

Lila remembered the first time she and Lex met.

~ A little girl wearing a bright yellow flower dress stood in the library, looking around for something to play with. She sees a porcelain doll on one of the bookshelves, and tries to reach for it. But she was too small. She clumsily pushes a chair beside the bookshelf, and tries to climb on to the chair with great difficulty. Suddenly she feels two hands grabbing her by the waist and pulling her up on the chair. She didn't scream, and once she was on the chair she turned around and stared at the boy who pulled her up with big bright eyes. She immediately forgot about the porcelain doll and concentrated all her attention on the stranger.

"Hello." She said sweetly.

"Hi." Replied the boy.

She stared at the boy and giggled. "You don't have hair." She simply stated. The boy frowned a little. The girl continued. "I remember when I was younger I didn't have much hair either. I looked like a boy." She giggled again.

Lex smile, he looked at the little girl and asked softly. "My name is Lex. What's yours?"

"I'm Lila." Replied the girl with pride and confidence.

"Ah. So you are Mr. and Mrs. Li's granddaughter."

Lila's eyes widened. "Do you know my grandparents?" she asked.

"My father is doing some business with them, and they told me I could wander around the mansion."

"Come." Lila said. She grabbed Lex's hands and jumped down from the chair, dragging him to the door. "I'll show you around."

With that Lila and Lex walked down the halls of the mansion, hand in hand. ~

"And we've been friends ever since." Replied Lila nostalgically.

"Aw…that was such a sweet story." Lana replied. "It really is." Chloe agreed.

"He's been like the big brother I never had. Always looking out for me. So it's my turn to look after him now. With his horrible taste in woman and all." She smirked.

"Well, I need a refill." Lex did not want to start out on the subject. "Would anybody else like some?" Lex asked.

"I need more caffeine." Chloe replied. "I'll come with you."

Lex and Chloe left their friends to chat and headed towards the coffee maker.

"I'm sorry about what I said about Victoria, it really wasn't any of my business." She said as she stared into her empty coffee cup.

"It's alright." Replied Lex with a smile on his face. "How much do you know about what happened several years ago?" he asked as he tried to work the espresso maker.

Chloe glanced at the group of friends, making sure they can't hear her. "I know that Victoria was sleeping with you to gain information on LuthorCorp." Lex handed her a new cup of coffee. Chloe continued, "And I know that you turned the tables on her and took over Sir Harry's company instead."

Lex glanced at Chloe with wonder. "But what I really want to know is how you found out about it. No one knew, except maybe my father."

Chloe gave Lex a bright smile. "I'm a reporter. I have my sources." She said and winked at him. "But I don't know why you were going to marry Victoria. Care to fill me in?" she asked playfully.

"Well," replied Lex, "finally something Chloe Sullivan doesn't know about me." He teased.

Chloe rolled her eyes. "Okay, change the subject if you want. But I will find out sooner or later." She took her newly filled cup and walked back towards the group of friends.

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