Chapter Eight

When the doorbell rang, Clark was grateful for the interruption; talking with Chloe had become intense and he was desperate for a break. His feelings for Chloe were still right at the surface, threatening to break through at a moment's notice but it wasn't what she needed right now. She needed Clark to be her rock, to listen to what she had to say and to be there for her. Nothing more. He lifted a hand to his head and ran it through his hair, a frown still etched on his face. When did life get so tough? He unbolted the door and opened it swiftly; Lex eyed Clark with a piqued curiosity and wondered why he was here. Had Chloe told him the whole woeful story? Was he about to be hit by Clark as punishment for his trespasses?

"Lex, what happened to your face? Did they get you too?" he asked, ushering him into Chloe's hallway much to Lex's confusion. Chloe had apparently kept the truth from Clark but without her lies to fall back on, Lex didn't want to say anything to his best friend.

"Never mind that now, Clark. Where is she? I need to see her, is she okay?" Lex practically ran through to the kitchen where Chloe was waiting for Clark. The icy glare she shot him was enough to pierce his heart but he hadn't come to her home expecting things to be easy. He saw her hard stare falter as she focused on his own bruised eye; but it was nothing compared to hers and he felt sick at the thought of hurting her. Clark followed Lex through into the kitchen, unsure of whether to leave or stay.

"What are you doing here, Lex?" asked Chloe, staring into her third mug of tea and avoiding his gaze.

"I needed to see you," he said simply. She looked up at him, unshed tears were stinging her eyes but she wouldn't cry for him, not now. "I wanted to tell you how sorry I am, I don't want to accept that we're over. There's so much left to say to each other," Clark sighed softly and moved away from the kitchen and out to the hallway, walking slowly through to the living room and collapsing onto Chloe's sofa. It was obvious that his two friends still had a lot to deal with whether they were together or not, his permanent state of confusion over Chloe had lessened at the knowledge that she had clearly been the one to end it with Lex. It didn't mean anything though, he could declare his undying love for Chloe but she had been pretty clear that day in the Torch office. He had blown every chance she had ever given him.

"Lex," sighed Chloe as he sat down opposite her and grabbed her hand before she had chance to retract it. "Please don't do this now, I just want to forget last night and get on with my life,"

"I understand that but why can't we get on with life together? I think you're writing this off too early," he said, his voice betrayed no emotion but Chloe could tell from the look in his eyes that he wanted her back desperately. Her eyes flickered to the bruise she had inflicted with her own attack, she had misjudged her own strength, or Lex just bruised easily. Instinctively, her hand flew up to her own bruise, touching it lightly as if to ensure it was still there, she winced softly at the pain. Lex was silent, his eyes fixed on her bruise and her fingers prodding it inquisitively. "God, Chloe, I am so sorry. I can't believe that it happened, I woke up this morning convinced it was all some bad dream,"

"I wish it was," she sighed, draining her mug of tea and standing from the table, walking to the kettle and refilling it. They said that strong, sweet tea was good for shock but after three mugs of it, she was still reeling from the events of the last twenty four hours. "Lex, I know that it was an accident. I don't hate you for it or anything but it was just… it was the icing on the cake, y'know?"

"No," he snapped, shaking his head. "I don't know and I wish you could just be straight with me. Do you love me?" Chloe closed her eyes, she wasn't even looking at him but she knew that he would be staring at her, somehow attempting to see through her body and into her soul.

"Yes," she whispered, she still didn't turn around. She heard Lex's chair squeak on the kitchen floor and sighed as she felt his hands on her hips, turning her to face him. She could feel tears streaming silently down her cheeks but rather than getting embarrassed, she let him wipe them away gently before leaning forward and pressing his lips to hers. She returned his affections for a brief moment before gently pushing him away, shaking her head softly. "No, I can't do this again, Lex,"

"Why not?" he asked, pushing her hair behind her ears and stroking the soft skin of her cheek, down to her neck. He had missed waking up beside her that morning; he had missed waking before her and watching as she slept, he missed that tiny intake of breath as she opened her eyes, as if she had been on a precipice and then suddenly pulled back by invisible arms. She couldn't help but respond to Lex being so close to her, her hands stroked down his arms over and over again as they stood in silence.

The turmoil of her mind was overwhelming her, she had just spent an hour telling Clark every reason why she and Lex couldn't be together, every reason why she had ended it but now, now that he was standing in front of her, her heart in his hands, she felt lost. He was staring down at her intently, it was that same look he had at the birthday party, the look that had captured her heart and convinced her to just bite the bullet and kiss him. Would one more chance really hurt? Was she throwing something away with Lex on the back of a few bad experiences? She was drawn back to his bruise, she wondered if it still hurt and raised her hand, gently poking the soft purple skin as she had her own. He watched her in fascination as she stroked and prodded the skin around his eye, her brow furrowed with questioning and concentration. He did love her. It hit him at that moment as if it had been obvious all along, he really did love her. He reached up and held her hand, moving it away from his face as he stepped into the space between them. She stared up at him, smiling slightly as he leaned down and kissed her again, and this time she let him, responding with the same sense of urgency.

Clark, bored of waiting, jumped up from the sofa and wandered through the hallway and pushed open the kitchen door. Lex and Chloe were still wrapped in each others' arms and Clark's heart fell a little at seeing the couple reunited but deep down, he was happy for Chloe. She deserved someone who made her smile; she deserved someone who made her happy. He walked towards the front door and wondered how many chances she would be willing to give Lex, cursing himself for wasting his own.

He let the door slam shut behind him.

FIN