They had been driving for about twenty minutes when Dan pulled over into a lay-by surrounded by trees. Chloe turned to him, smiling a little uncertainly.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I uh, just thought it looked like a nice spot."
"A nice spot for what?"
"I just thought we could talk a little, get to know each other a bit more."
"Can't we do that over dinner? I thought that was how dates were supposed to work. You know, you pick me up, tell me I look pretty, we eat, we talk, we dance, we… kiss goodnight." The sweetest nervous smile was creeping over her, she could feel it. Chloe wasn't one to blush, but for the first time in a long time someone else apart from Clark Kent was sending those damned butterflies fluttering. Dan smiled, gesturing to the backseat. A wicker basket sat on the red leather, covered in a tartan blanket.
" I brought dinner, it might not be a la carte, but my smoked salmon bagels are famous at the Daily Planet. And I don't know about the dancing, but I've got a car stereo and a bottle of champagne in the back there, so by 10 o'clock, who knows?"
She giggled softly, peering at him through her heavy blonde fringe.
"Just how perfect are you, Mr Jackson?" she asked playfully as he took her hand and helped her out of the car. He stood close to her, his dark eyes sultry and inviting.
"Pretty damn near."
**********
They lay stretched out on the rug, surrounded by the forest. The light had just begun to dim and the candles that Dan had brought glowed softly in the twilight. Between them, they had polished off all the food in the hamper. Chloe believed wholeheartedly that the cream cheese and salmon bagels were beloved by the staff at the Daily Planet, she could have eaten twenty. But then she wouldn't have had room for the miniature chocolate cakes and strawberries that Dan had brought for dessert. He had also produced a bottle of Moet & Chardon and two champagne glasses. She only meant to have one glass but somehow Dan always managed to refill it without her noticing. The bubbles were definitely beginning to go to her head.
"So, I'm curious. What's a guy like you interested in a small town girl like me for?" she asked.
He turned to face her and reached out his arm so that his fingers touched her cheek. Her stomach felt like it was being flipped and her mouth was dry as she stared back into his eyes.
"Chloe, there is nothing small town about you." He brushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes, "everything about you, its so vivacious, so full of life. And when I'm with you, you make me feel…" trailing off he leaned in closer. She could feel his breath against her lips, his cupped hand on her face causing her whole body to tingle in anticipation. And then he kissed her, his arms moving around her back and pulling her close. Chloe kissed back and for a few seconds everything was exactly as it should be. She was lost in the moment and then suddenly all she could think of was Clark Kent. She wanted it to be his kiss, his hands, his passion. She pulled back abruptly, gasping for air.
"What's wrong?" Dan's arms were still around her waist and Chloe tried to subtly try to pull herself free.
"I, I'm sorry, but I uh, I cant do this…"
Dan was staring at her, confusion clear across his features.
"I don't understand Chloe, I thought we were having a good time?"
"I was, I mean, I am…"
"Well then what's the problem?"
"I can't explain" she reached out to put her hand on his arm, to try to comfort, to somehow explain away her strangeness but Dan was there first, his strong hands on her arms, holding tight so that the skin around his fingertips went white.
"I think I can." His voice was different now, angry. " I took you out, and you took all you could. You would have loved it if id taken you to the most expensive restaurant in Metropolis, to drink in the most exclusive bars, dance in the best clubs. You don't care about me, just about what I could give you."
"No!" Chloe was shocked, scared. " That's not it at all!" his grip was even tighter now and pain was searing up her arms.
"Well, I've had enough of people like you. You know Chloe; I thought you'd be different. All the other women I've dated, that's all they cared about. Money, cars, glamour. You know, that's why I gave you a try. Because whatever I said, you are a small-town girl. But still the same."
He wasn't the same man she had been kissing just minutes before, gentle and loving. His voice was harsh with an edge that frightened her. She tried to wrestle out of his grip but he wouldn't let her go. Through her panic, Chloe tried to assess the situation. She was alone with a crazed man, in the middle of nowhere and not one other person knew where they were. She cried out as he pushed his body weight onto her and she fell onto her back with his heavy, hulking form pinning her to the ground. He started pulling at her shirt.
"You only care about one thing? Well, that's all I'll care about. How do you like that?" squeezing her eyes shut she knew that overpowering Dan was not an option. He was bigger, stronger, he had the power. She needed to redress the balance… then it came to her. Pepper spray! She had no need of it in Smallville, but her dad had made her carry it when she got her internship and was in Metropolis. It was still in her purse, if only she could reach it. Dan's sticky lips rubbed against her neck as she frantically felt the grass beside her for her bag. After what seemed like forever she found the strap and pulled it closer. Her fingers reached inside, grasping for the metal bottle. Finding it she pulled the top off and struggled to bring her arm up to his face. Closing her eyes tight she started spraying and knew by his shouts that she aimed well. He rolled off her, clutching his face, screaming abuse.
Chloe turned and ran. The keys for the convertible were in Dan's pocket but she wasn't going to attempt to retrieve them. Instead she had to pray that by the time Dan could see well enough to drive she'd be long gone. Her legs had never moved so fast, and as she ran through the dark woods that just a little while ago looked so picturesque she started to cry, loud unstifled sobs. She stumbled and fell, gashing the side of her face, but she felt no pain. All she could think about was running, to safety and away from that man. Eventually she reached the road and she stopped to catch her breath. Chloe looked down at herself. Her jeans were ripped and muddy from her fall, her shirt had lost two buttons, her arms looked red and she knew that the bruises on them would be big and black. Touching her temple she felt the blood from her brush with a tree stump and suddenly the adrenaline receded and the pain hit her full force. She hobbled along the road towards Smallville and cursed herself for not grabbing her purse as she fled. She could have used her cell to call for help.
She walked for what felt like forever, but must have only been fifteen minutes. The whole time she prayed to god that Dan's headlights wouldn't appear over the brink of the next hill or around the next corner. She didn't know if she had the strength to fight him off again.
Then, in the distance, she heard the hum of a motor. Chloe felt her heart rate quicken and her throat was dry. She didn't know whether to hide in the undergrowth at the side of the road or flag the driver down and hope they could help. She opted for the quick rescue scenario. The pepper spray should still make driving impossible, or at least she hoped it did.
Taking a deep breath, she turned ro8und to face the flashy red sports car that was approaching. Well, at least she knew now it wasn't Dan – his car was blue. Chloe stepped out into the road, waving her arms. The car slowed as it came closer, and Chloe ran over to the driver's window. The darkened window slid down noiselessly to reveal the shocked face of Lex Luthor.
"Chloe?" a look of horror crossed his face.
Chloe looked down at herself, saw the torn clothes, felt the pain pulsing through her head, realised how close she had come too… realisation hit.
Lex jumped out of the car, putting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"What happened? Are you ok?"
Chloe looked up into his concerned eyes and started to cry.
