Beautiful *Chapter Four*
A/N: I hope you all like this next chapter. Again I beg you to tell me what you think. Does bribery work?? If it does than no reviews, no updates.
*****
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she finished telling Lex her tale. Before he could even realize what he was doing, Lex's hand was tenderly wiping them away. In a soft voice he began to comfort her. "It'll all be okay. I'm here now. If you ever need me I'll be here for you, all you have to do is call. You've been through a lot -more than anyone should ever have to go through- but it'll all be okay. I'll help you."
Chloe leaned into his touch, needing desperately the comfort it provided. She closed her eyes and began to relax.
Then, abruptly, she pulled away, anger flashing in her eyes. "You see!" She exclaimed, "This is exactly why I didn't tell anyone about this. I've told you once and I'll tell you again; I don't want your -or anyone else's for that matter-, I just don't want your pity, okay? I don't need anyone; I'm fine by myself."
Confusion raced through Lex. Why was she closing up? Didn't she want comfort? Then, it hit him. She was exactly like him. She hated to show weakness, even if it was entirely appropriate. He thought of how he would respond to this and then decided on the best course of action. He'd have to show weakness, say that he was the one who needed help. Not her. "Maybe you don't." He replied, praying to God that this would work. "But I do."
She cocked her head slightly. Now it was her turn to be confused. "What do you mean?" She inquired quietly.
He smiled slightly, a not-so-happy smile. "I'm lonely. I don't have very many friends. And I doubt I have any real ones. You don't seem to be the least bit interested in my money, so you would make the best friend. So what do you say? Are you up to it?" He challenged her, knowing full well that once he did that she would have to take him up on the challenge.
She stuck out her little hand for him to shake, "Friends?"
"Friends." He answered, now genuinely smiling. He now had a way to make sure that she was okay without her getting angry with him plus, he was getting a chance to get to know her better and have a real friend. He hadn't been lying when he had told her that he was lonely. Sure, he had his college buddies but all they wanted to do was carouse and go to strip clubs. None of them could even hold a decent conversation. He missed the verbal judo he had become so familiar with in Smallville. And now, finally, he had his sparring partner back. "So?" He began. "What do you want to do?"
*****
A very groggy Chloe blinked her eyes and stretched. She took in her surroundings. She must have fallen asleep on the couch. She felt the warm body next to her and looked over to see Lex Luthor sleeping peacefully next to her. They had spent the night watching television and talking. She had found out that his favorite color was purple -I know, huge shocker there- and the reason that it was his favorite color was because it was his mom's favorite (he had told his father that it was his favorite because it was the color of royalty). She also found out that he did, in fact, own a pair of jeans and a pair of sweatpants. Chloe didn't believe him so he promised that he would wear one next time. That she couldn't wait to see. She also found out that he was horrendously deprived. He had never been to a baseball game or bike riding or gone to the movies or done anything that normal people had done by the age of six. She had made him a promise that night, too. She swore that she would catch him up on life; make him experience the joys of being normal.
He was still here and yet, Chloe still couldn't wait for the next time they met. They were going to meet once a week starting now. They were also going to take turns picking what they did. This week was Chloe's week.
Lex stirred beside her. "How long have you been up?" He asked her, obviously still tired. Apparently, Chloe wasn't the only one that wasn't a morning person.
"Only a few minutes." She answered. "Do you want to get coffee? Because if you don't, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I need my caffeine." She explained this with an apologetic smile.
Lex smiled at her. "Sure. Do you know what time it is?"
Chloe looked up at her clock, one of those cats whose tails swung and eyes moved. She knew it was tacky, but she loved it in spite of and -most likely- because of that. "Uhh. It's twelve. Why?"
Suddenly Lex was up like a shot. He ran around the room, scooping up his stuff. "Shit!" He exclaimed. "I've never slept that late, never! Shit! Shit! Shit! I've got to go, Chloe, sorry, but I have a meeting in an hour. I can't believe I slept that late. See you next week."
Chloe smiled as she watched him run out the door and out of the apartment building.
*****
Work dragged by for Chloe, she couldn't wait for her shift to end. Not only because she hated it, but also because tonight she and Lex were having their first weekly meeting. Knowing that it was only hours until she was able to talk to him again was the only thing that kept her going.
She hadn't had a decent conversation since she'd left Smallville. The girls she worked with were sweet but mostly not all that bright and nobody that she had met seemed to be able to hold their own to her. She was so glad she could finally have intelligent conversation again.
*****
Work dragged by for Lex. He knew it was only hours until he was going with Chloe to wherever it was she was taking him, and it was killing him. He had never been a patient person and this was driving him crazy. It was the first thing he had had to look forward to in months. And it was taking its time in coming, that's for sure.
Finally, it was 5:00. Chloe would be here in a half an hour. He turned off his computer and went into his room. He took a shower and then went to find some clothes. He dug a pair of jeans out of the back of his closet and a casual shirt. 'Hah.' He thought to himself. 'And she didn't believe I had one.'
Chloe showed up a couple of minutes later also sporting a pair of jeans, her's -however- seemed a lot more worn than his. She was wearing a t-shirt and a hat, both had a logo on it that he couldn't recognize; Kansas Blaze. She noticed his inquiring gaze and answered his question. "They're the baseball team that we're going to watch tonight. When you mentioned last time that you hadn't ever seen a baseball game -which is horrible, by the way- I knew that that was where we were had to go tonight."
*****
Lex was sitting upright, watching the game intently. Adversely, the girl next to him was booing and hissing and chanting and making every other imaginable noise to show everyone just how she felt about the game. The other team, The Mississippi Mudslides, was up at bat. One of their better players was up. He hit a homerun, right into the stands. Chloe was not too happy about this. She was so upset that she started a chant. "Throw it back! Throw it back!" She yelled. Soon, it seemed the whole stadium was cheering right along with her (With the exception of Lex, of course. He was still sitting there properly, not sure what to do.) and finally, the guy that had caught the ball threw it back onto the field. Again, the stadium was cheering right along with Chloe, this time triumphantly.
Eventually, she sat back down next to him. "Do you want food?" She asked, motioning towards the venders walking around the bleachers. "Of course you do." She answered for him before he actually had the chance to respond. She motioned for two of the venders to come and was handing Lex his beer and his hotdog within seconds. "Want mustard?" She asked him as she slathered her own dinner with the yellow goop. He nodded his head dumbly and she took a couple more packets from the vender.
"That'll be $10." The vender told her. Lex reached for his wallet but his hand was slapped off course.
"Oh no you don't. It's my week. I'll pay." Chloe explained as she handed the vender a bill. "Next week, you can pay, but this week it's my turn."
Lex smiled a little and then decided to change the topic. "So, what exactly is this?" He asked, motioning towards his meal.
A/N: I hope you all like this next chapter. Again I beg you to tell me what you think. Does bribery work?? If it does than no reviews, no updates.
*****
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she finished telling Lex her tale. Before he could even realize what he was doing, Lex's hand was tenderly wiping them away. In a soft voice he began to comfort her. "It'll all be okay. I'm here now. If you ever need me I'll be here for you, all you have to do is call. You've been through a lot -more than anyone should ever have to go through- but it'll all be okay. I'll help you."
Chloe leaned into his touch, needing desperately the comfort it provided. She closed her eyes and began to relax.
Then, abruptly, she pulled away, anger flashing in her eyes. "You see!" She exclaimed, "This is exactly why I didn't tell anyone about this. I've told you once and I'll tell you again; I don't want your -or anyone else's for that matter-, I just don't want your pity, okay? I don't need anyone; I'm fine by myself."
Confusion raced through Lex. Why was she closing up? Didn't she want comfort? Then, it hit him. She was exactly like him. She hated to show weakness, even if it was entirely appropriate. He thought of how he would respond to this and then decided on the best course of action. He'd have to show weakness, say that he was the one who needed help. Not her. "Maybe you don't." He replied, praying to God that this would work. "But I do."
She cocked her head slightly. Now it was her turn to be confused. "What do you mean?" She inquired quietly.
He smiled slightly, a not-so-happy smile. "I'm lonely. I don't have very many friends. And I doubt I have any real ones. You don't seem to be the least bit interested in my money, so you would make the best friend. So what do you say? Are you up to it?" He challenged her, knowing full well that once he did that she would have to take him up on the challenge.
She stuck out her little hand for him to shake, "Friends?"
"Friends." He answered, now genuinely smiling. He now had a way to make sure that she was okay without her getting angry with him plus, he was getting a chance to get to know her better and have a real friend. He hadn't been lying when he had told her that he was lonely. Sure, he had his college buddies but all they wanted to do was carouse and go to strip clubs. None of them could even hold a decent conversation. He missed the verbal judo he had become so familiar with in Smallville. And now, finally, he had his sparring partner back. "So?" He began. "What do you want to do?"
*****
A very groggy Chloe blinked her eyes and stretched. She took in her surroundings. She must have fallen asleep on the couch. She felt the warm body next to her and looked over to see Lex Luthor sleeping peacefully next to her. They had spent the night watching television and talking. She had found out that his favorite color was purple -I know, huge shocker there- and the reason that it was his favorite color was because it was his mom's favorite (he had told his father that it was his favorite because it was the color of royalty). She also found out that he did, in fact, own a pair of jeans and a pair of sweatpants. Chloe didn't believe him so he promised that he would wear one next time. That she couldn't wait to see. She also found out that he was horrendously deprived. He had never been to a baseball game or bike riding or gone to the movies or done anything that normal people had done by the age of six. She had made him a promise that night, too. She swore that she would catch him up on life; make him experience the joys of being normal.
He was still here and yet, Chloe still couldn't wait for the next time they met. They were going to meet once a week starting now. They were also going to take turns picking what they did. This week was Chloe's week.
Lex stirred beside her. "How long have you been up?" He asked her, obviously still tired. Apparently, Chloe wasn't the only one that wasn't a morning person.
"Only a few minutes." She answered. "Do you want to get coffee? Because if you don't, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. I need my caffeine." She explained this with an apologetic smile.
Lex smiled at her. "Sure. Do you know what time it is?"
Chloe looked up at her clock, one of those cats whose tails swung and eyes moved. She knew it was tacky, but she loved it in spite of and -most likely- because of that. "Uhh. It's twelve. Why?"
Suddenly Lex was up like a shot. He ran around the room, scooping up his stuff. "Shit!" He exclaimed. "I've never slept that late, never! Shit! Shit! Shit! I've got to go, Chloe, sorry, but I have a meeting in an hour. I can't believe I slept that late. See you next week."
Chloe smiled as she watched him run out the door and out of the apartment building.
*****
Work dragged by for Chloe, she couldn't wait for her shift to end. Not only because she hated it, but also because tonight she and Lex were having their first weekly meeting. Knowing that it was only hours until she was able to talk to him again was the only thing that kept her going.
She hadn't had a decent conversation since she'd left Smallville. The girls she worked with were sweet but mostly not all that bright and nobody that she had met seemed to be able to hold their own to her. She was so glad she could finally have intelligent conversation again.
*****
Work dragged by for Lex. He knew it was only hours until he was going with Chloe to wherever it was she was taking him, and it was killing him. He had never been a patient person and this was driving him crazy. It was the first thing he had had to look forward to in months. And it was taking its time in coming, that's for sure.
Finally, it was 5:00. Chloe would be here in a half an hour. He turned off his computer and went into his room. He took a shower and then went to find some clothes. He dug a pair of jeans out of the back of his closet and a casual shirt. 'Hah.' He thought to himself. 'And she didn't believe I had one.'
Chloe showed up a couple of minutes later also sporting a pair of jeans, her's -however- seemed a lot more worn than his. She was wearing a t-shirt and a hat, both had a logo on it that he couldn't recognize; Kansas Blaze. She noticed his inquiring gaze and answered his question. "They're the baseball team that we're going to watch tonight. When you mentioned last time that you hadn't ever seen a baseball game -which is horrible, by the way- I knew that that was where we were had to go tonight."
*****
Lex was sitting upright, watching the game intently. Adversely, the girl next to him was booing and hissing and chanting and making every other imaginable noise to show everyone just how she felt about the game. The other team, The Mississippi Mudslides, was up at bat. One of their better players was up. He hit a homerun, right into the stands. Chloe was not too happy about this. She was so upset that she started a chant. "Throw it back! Throw it back!" She yelled. Soon, it seemed the whole stadium was cheering right along with her (With the exception of Lex, of course. He was still sitting there properly, not sure what to do.) and finally, the guy that had caught the ball threw it back onto the field. Again, the stadium was cheering right along with Chloe, this time triumphantly.
Eventually, she sat back down next to him. "Do you want food?" She asked, motioning towards the venders walking around the bleachers. "Of course you do." She answered for him before he actually had the chance to respond. She motioned for two of the venders to come and was handing Lex his beer and his hotdog within seconds. "Want mustard?" She asked him as she slathered her own dinner with the yellow goop. He nodded his head dumbly and she took a couple more packets from the vender.
"That'll be $10." The vender told her. Lex reached for his wallet but his hand was slapped off course.
"Oh no you don't. It's my week. I'll pay." Chloe explained as she handed the vender a bill. "Next week, you can pay, but this week it's my turn."
Lex smiled a little and then decided to change the topic. "So, what exactly is this?" He asked, motioning towards his meal.