Chapter Seven

"So, you and Lana, huh?"

He was sitting in Dalton's Books with his new purchases, reading in one of the overstuffed comfy chairs. Then Lex came in and, really, he suddenly wasn't so comfortable.

"Clark."

He looked up, assaulted by Lex in uncharacterestically colorful garb. The crimson sweater beneath the black duster brought out his slate-hued eyes, and the cargo pants looked roomy and comfortable.

This must be his 'help Lana out at the Talon' casual, Clark thought with amusement. He was sure if he asked Lex would inform him that his shirt had cost about 5 times what he just spend on 6 books.

"You talking today?"

Clark shrugged, unsure about what to say, what he could say about Lana. He was psyched to think he was not a virgin anymore, and it was with Lana so it wasn't meaningless sex persay, but at the same time not emotionally full of turmoil which, when it came to her, was a crapshoot and lucky.

All he could really think about, though, was how good Lex looked in the soft lighting of his study, cruel hands leaving trails of irritated skin.

Lex was confused. "Years of wanting her and you just- shrug it off."

Clark shrugged again.

"You guys were going heavy last night."

He nodded. That they were.

"And how come you didn't tell me about it?"

Shrugging again, he tried not to smile and wondered how long it would take for him to get on Lex's usually unfrazzilable nerves.

"What is this, don't feel like talking to me?"

Shrug.

"This is getting annoying, Clark." He said, and Clark realized Lex was unusually testy today.

Shrug.

"Talk to me."

A shake of his head.

"Fine." Lex stood. "I'm going to go help Lana set up for tonight."

"Oh, come on," Clark started. "I was just kidding around."

Lex took off his coat and Clark watched the sweater stretch flatteringly over his chest.

white skin, soft, hairless, Lex's mouth on a body that was entirely wrong for Clark's fantasies

Clark swallowed against a lump in his dry, dry throat. "It just happened last night," Clark started. "That's why I didn't say anything to you before. She just came out and talked to me..." How much was in the green to tell about Lana? Had her kiss been the entire plan, or was there more? Was he okay to tell Lex about the sex, or no? And how was it he and Lana spent four hours talking to each other and never once discussed this?

"Came out and talked to you and now she's your girlfriend and you end up practically jumping her there? In the street?" Was that bitterness he heard in Lex's voice?

Hey, Clark thought. You're the one that started this girlfriend thing. You got yourself Bitchy Vicky.

And then he realized that Lex hadn't asked what had happened with Clark the other night, why he has seemed to want to go for Vicky's jugular. Instead he was preoccupied with Clark's relationship with Lana. Was this the type of thing that Lana was talking about? That Clark should see as interest? As unrequitted love?

"So how's your girlfriend?" Clark asked, ignoring Lex's baiting question.

There was a frown replaced by recognition after a few seconds. "You mean Vicky? Oh, she's gone back to Metropolis."

Clark hadn't been expecting that. "Why was she here?"

Lex shrugged and looked at Clark's bag. "Didn't let her get that far. Wasn't interested. She was going to stay over but when she started talking about her father's problems I told her I wasn't interested. She blamed me for only wanting sex and-"

Lex cut himself off and looked at Clark.

Clark shrugged. "I'm a big boy, I know what that word means."

They was a flash of something in Lex's eyes before he looked away. "I know, I just-"

"Did you?"

Lex looked confused. "What?"

"Want sex."

"Not with her," Lex muttered. "No."

Clark's stomach flipped. Did that mean what he wanted what Clark wanted? He could tell the older boy was uncomfortable because he picked up Clark's bag and went through it. "What was with you last night?"

The question was soft, careful. "What do you mean?"

"You were rude to Vicky."

"She's a bitch."

Lex shook his head, amused and perplexed. "I've never heard you refer to anyone of the opposite sex like that. Even Desiree."

"Yeah, Desiree was screwed up. Vicky's a bitch. Didn't you say you had the pictures of her and your father?" He wanted to ask how Lex could even sleep with her again, it didn't quite make it passed his lips.

Lex was quite.

"Well?"

Still quiet.

"You'd be dumb to let a tramp like that back in your life."

"Who am I supposed to let in?" Lex whispered and Clark felt the older boy's sadness envelope him. Lex felt so alone he'd take Vicky over solitude?

"Jesus, Lex. You're kidding, right?"

"Fine, Clark, you're such a great judge of character." Was that sarcasm refering to the fact that he hung out with Lex? Or was he hearing his father's voice? "You try and be me for a day, Clark. If you find a person with genuine interest in me, I'll give you anything in the world you want."

I want you. "I have genuine interest in you."

"What is with this new you?"

"'New' me?"

Lex held up a book from Clark's bag and a killer smirk replaced the sadness on his handsome face. It also broke the moment Clark felt they were moving toward. "Constance Bennett?"

Clark blushed. "Lana says she's good."

"Uh-huh. For housewives."

"Everyone needs a little romance, Lex." Clark looked at him for a moment trying dechipher whether Lex got his point. Lex refused to look at him. What was this about? Lex seemed off his game today.

Clark stood up and grabbed the book from Lex, partially to take away Lex's excuse to not look at him and partly to regain a sense of manhood. "And Lana's not my girlfriend."

He didn't miss that look. Though fleeting he saw Lex's eyes. Unsure relief, hope, need. Now was his turn to play the situation for what is was worth. He grabbed his own coat and his bag of purchases. "She won't ever be."

He didn't look at Lex, didn't nod for him to follow, just headed out and felt Lex's presence right behind him. "Don't say that, Clark, it'll happen."

He noticed the 'Mr. Rogers' quality in Lex's voice and stopped. Lex bumped into him from behind and Clark turned to face him.

"Might want to give me warn-"

"I don't want her, Lex." He searched the older, boy's dark and weary eyes. How had he not noticed Lex's tired demeanor, the bags under the eyes carefully covered by a little concealer? "I love her, yes, but she's a great friend and will never be anything more."

"If you want-"

"You didn't hear me." His voice was thick and he realized he was being a little vehement for the moment, but he was desperate to make Lex realize something, anything. He didn't want to waste anymore time. What if a real girl came into Lex's life? Someone from his past, from when Lex was in college or highschool. Someone that could be everything Lex thought he needed.

"I don't want her, Lex. I don't want or need her, or look at her like that. What I want is y-"

Lex looked up sharply, and Clark realized this was his chance.

"You want?"

Clark bit his bottom lip.

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