Chapter One

A/N: So I know that it's been a long time since I've updated, but come on...it was Christmas and I had exams. I'm back now though so here's the first chappy, and I'm working on number two already, so hopefully sometime this weekend it will be up. I've been reading some spoilers on the net (STOP READING THIS A/N IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SPOILED!!!) and while I am disappointed with the lack of Chlex on Smallville, I do like the idea of Chloe learning THE secret...hint hint...

Enjoy!


"…come-hither stare, it's witchcraft…"

Clark and Chloe weaved their way around the various couples on the dance floor, trying to follow the fancy steps. Or rather, Clark was trying to follow them, Chloe already knew how. Mostly she was just focused on keeping her feet from being trod on. The house band played the old song with a sultry jazz beat, and despite the occasional foot smushing, Chloe was having a blast. Clark spun her out playfully and then pulled her back towards him. They both laughed when she landed against his chest with an "oomph", rather harder than they had intended.

"We're going to hurt somebody," Clark winced sympathetically, knowing that for her it probably felt like running into a steel wall. "Probably you." Chloe totally agreed and they slowed their steps down, not attempting anything too fancy.

"This is fun," Chloe beamed up at him.

Clark nodded. "We don't really know anyone though," he pointed out, glancing around the room and not really seeing a familiar face. "Besides Bruce Wayne that is."

"Yeah but I've got you here, and Lex," she replied. "That's all I need."

Clark beamed down at her now, feeling his cheeks heat up slightly while she watched him. Chloe finally tore her eyes away and he had to suppress a sigh of relief; he was so sure that he'd do or say something to embarrass himself.

"So," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Do you have any plans for next Friday?"

"Oh yeah actually," she beamed up at him again, looking happy. "I've got a date."

"What—who? I mean," he tried to sound less shocked. "Who are you going out with?"

"Cooper Harris," she told him.

"The newspaper guy?" Clark asked, knowing damn well which Cooper Harris she was talking about…the same guy that had been hitting on her in class the day they flew to the Cayman Islands.

"Yes," she rolled her eyes, knowing that he knew damn well who she meant. "We're going to Metropolis for dinner."

Clark nodded, deciding that he didn't really want to hear more about Cooper Harris just then. "Where is Lex anyways?" he asked instead, hoping to change the subject. "I haven't seen him in a while."

Chloe frowned and looked around too. "I don't see him," she paused. "Songs over. Should we go look for him?" Clark considered it briefly, and hearing that the next song was a pulsing, upbeat number, he nodded vigorously, not really wanting to embarrass himself by trying to dance.

They walked off of the dance floor and looked around again, mutually deciding to head towards the bar and see if he was there…it was Lex Luthor that they were looking for after all. But Lex wasn't at the bar, nor was he at the food tables. Chloe and Clark both frowned now.

"He wouldn't have left would he?" Clark asked her. "Maybe we should call his cell phone."

Chloe shook her head. "No, if he's still here and we called his phone we'd look like complete idiots. Let's just look around one more time." Clark shrugged and they once again walked around the large ballroom, eyes peeled for Lex's familiar form. Fifteen minutes later they once again ended up at the bar, still without their bald billionaire.

"Now can we call him?" Clark asked her. Chloe nodded this time.

"My phone is in my coat," she told him.

"Let's go find the coatroom then," Clark led her back towards the double doors that they'd entered through and they slipped out of the ballroom and into a marble floored hallway.

"I have a feeling that the coatroom is that way," Chloe pointed down the hall at where a sign hung from the ceiling, reading "Coatroom".

"You're so smart Chloe," Clark sighed mockingly. Chloe laughed and led the way down the hallway in the direction of the sign.


Lex couldn't seem to wipe away the persistent smile that spread across his face, and he honestly didn't want to. Anna smiled back at him and tried to smooth her skirt back down around her thighs. She brushed her fingers quickly through her hair and retied the apron around her waist. Around them rows of coats hung on the walls, once monitored by the coat check guy, who had easily disappeared when Lex had slipped him a hundred dollar bill. He kept his eyes locked on her face while he re-buckled his belt, unable to tear his gaze away. She was just so beautiful, perfect in every way, from her shining red hair down to her black stiletto shoes.

"What?" she laughed finally. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're beautiful," he told her mushily, a small part of him realizing how uncharacteristic that was and an even bigger part of him not caring. She blushed and thanked him. Lex reached out and ran a hand through her silky locks, sighing contentedly when she pressed her lips against his once again.

"So," she looked deep into his eyes. "Do you still believe in love at first sight?"

Lex felt his head grow cloudy for a moment, before it suddenly cleared, with only one thing on his mind. He took in her ruby red lips and emerald green eyes. "I do now," he answered her…honestly. "I never thought that I could love someone so quickly."

"Really?" she teased, smoothing his lapels down. "Never?"

"Never before you," he assured her. "I've never seen anyone the way I see you. It's the strangest feeling…I'm so happy that I just want to tell the entire world."

"Then let's tell them," she urged, grabbing his hands and pulling him in the direction of the door. "We can shout it from the rooftops!"

"Or we could release a press statement," he joked, reaching for the door handle. "So everyone hears it."

Anna laughed and slipped her arm around his waist while he pushed the door open. A small shriek of surprise greeted them and Lex tore his eyes away from Anna to see Chloe and Clark standing on the other side. Chloe's hand was outstretched, as if she were going to open the door. Lex smiled hugely at them.


"Lex!" Chloe finally managed to get out. Her shock at seeing him there faded quickly into something else entirely when she noticed his rumpled suit and the girl's disheveled appearance.

"Chloe!" Lex was oddly chipper. Chloe tried to conceal her frown while she looked over the girl; she was pretty enough, her eyes a shocking green, and she wore a French maid outfit, complete with thigh-high fishnet stockings. But she was a redhead…

"We've been looking everywhere for you," Clark told him (Chloe had almost forgotten that he was there). "You've been in here the whole time?"

"Yeah," Lex nodded, grabbing the girl by the hand and pulling her forward. "I want you two to meet Anna. Anna this is Clark Kent and Chloe Sullivan."

Anna stuck her hand out quickly and shook Clark's hand, giving him a friendly smile. "Nice to meet you Clark," she chirped, her voice a little too melodic and reminding Chloe of Snow White. "You too Chloe. It's just so great to meet Lex's friends."

Chloe blinked at her, trying desperately not to scowl. The girl had been extremely nice so far, but there was just something about her that Chloe didn't like…and it wasn't just the fact that she was sleazy enough to join Lex in the coatroom after just meeting him.

"Um, Anna," Clark noticed Chloe's silence and tried to break the ice. "Are you from around here?"

"Oh no," she shook her perfect little head, waves of black hair flying in every which direction. "I just moved here from Hartford. You're almost the first people that I've met here."

"Almost," Chloe muttered, shooting Lex a disapproving look. He didn't seem to pick up on it though and just gave her a brief smile before turning an adoring gaze to Anna. Chloe and Clark both shifted uncomfortably, feeling awkward just standing there while Lex and Anna made sickly googoly eyes at each other. They both knew what had just happened in the coatroom, and neither wanted to go in there anymore.

"Listen Chloe," Lex managed to tear his eyes away from Anna for a minute. "You and Clark can take the limo back to Smallville whenever you want to leave okay? Anna and I are going to go get a drink."

She nodded stiffly, forcing herself to hold back the "but they have drinks here" comment. She was pretty sure that Lex wouldn't appreciate it…besides, she really didn't want to watch them maul each other.

"How are you going to get home?" Clark asked him innocently, clearly not understanding what Lex was trying to say. Anna giggled nauseatingly and Lex tried not to smirk.

"I'll probably just spend the night at the penthouse Clark," Lex assured him. Clark looked once at Anna before blushing brightly and nodding quickly.

"Okay," Clark chuckled awkwardly, averting his eyes and trying to look at anything else. "I guess we'll see you later. Right Chloe?" He nudged her.

"Right," she replied quickly, flashing Lex an incredibly fake smile. Only this time, he didn't seem to notice that it was fake.

"Have fun," Lex squeezed her shoulder once and then he and Anna took off in the direction of the exit doors, without even a glance back.

"Sure will," Chloe muttered, unable to tear her eyes away from their retreating forms. Clark watched too and though they could no longer hear them, they could both clearly see Lex mouth out the words "I Love You" to Anna.

"That was weird," Clark finally sighed.

"No," Chloe shook her head and watched Anna suspiciously. "Lex agreeing to wear an earpiece was weird. That was Wall of Weird."


"Where's Mr. Luthor?" Benny, the driver, asked with a frown while he held the door open for Chloe.

She scowled and climbed into the limo. "Lex won't be joining us tonight Ben," she rolled her eyes. "He made a new…friend." Benny quickly adopted the same concerned look that Clark had been wearing since Lex had left them. Apparently the driver was also familiar with Lex's history with women…homicidal and greedy as they usually turned out to be.

Clark slid into the car after her and Benny closed the door behind them. They sat in silence for several minutes, staring at each other in shock and trying to understand what had just happened. "It's not the fact that Lex went home with a stranger that gets me," Clark finally blurted out. "It's the fact that they were so…"

"Gross?" Chloe supplied, feeling the same way that he did.

"Yeah, that's the perfect word for it," Clark shuttered at the memory. "They were acting like they were completely in love with each other."

"I was waiting for them to break out with the nicknames," Chloe nodded.

"He can't really be in love with her can he?" Clark asked.

"I hope not," Chloe shook her head thoughtfully. "But then he does have horrible taste in the women that he tends to fall for. Maybe he expresses it by acting like a fawning fourteen year old boy."

"I don't know," Clark shook his head too. "He really loved Helen and he never acted like that…but he did with Desiree Atkins!"

"So it's meteor induced," Chloe said decidedly. "It's the only feasible answer. That Anna must be a meteor mutant and she's playing some kind of mind game with Lex."

"She said that she was from Connecticut though," Clark remembered.

"Oh well, if she said it then it must be true," Chloe snarked and pressed the intercom button, signaling the driver. "Back to Smallville please, Benny."

The car began to move moments later, steering them resolutely to the Interstate and back home. "You think she's lying?" Clark asked her, with the look of someone who'd been naively betrayed.

"They always seem to be don't they?" Chloe sighed.

"Maybe she's just trying to protect her secret," Clark muttered, looking down at his hands. Chloe looked over at him and was suddenly hit with a bombardment of memories; strange occurrences and a repetitive theme of Clark being evasive.

"Which is fine Clark," she put her hand on his arm briefly, meeting his eyes before quickly changing the subject. "But if she's messing with Lex…you know what tends to happen to him."

"I know, you're right," Clark smiled faintly, moving his hand to cover her own. Chloe shifted a little uncomfortably and felt the once-familiar sensation of her cheeks flushing under his gaze. It had been a while, but she was realizing that maybe those feelings hadn't really gone away, at least not completely. But right now they had more important things to worry about. "If she's up to anything we'll figure it out before things go too far."

Chloe nodded, grateful that he wasn't writing this off as just another of Lex's conquests…not that he'd had too many of them lately, at least that she was aware of.


November 1st broke through sunny and unseasonably warm for the time of year. Chloe was bitter about it from the get go; she thought that with Lex acting so eerie the weather should compensate and be gloomy. At least that was how she felt when she forced her eyes open at six thirty in the morning. "Maybe it was all a weird dream," she muttered hopefully. She slipped out of bed and trudged her way blindly to the bathroom, climbing into the shower and turning the water as hot as she could bear.

Thirty minutes later she was making her way into the dining room for breakfast…and coffee. No matter how concerned she was about Lex's walk on the weird side, she still needed her coffee to survive. The butler had luckily learned to always offer her a first cup before he tried to greet her. She grabbed the giant mug from his outstretched hands and gulped it back as fast as she could. Once it was all gone she sighed contentedly and looked up at the butler, who was watching her with raised eyebrows.

"Good morning Walden," she greeted him finally; smiling as best she could while still wondering about Lex.

"Good morning Miss Chloe," he returned, addressing her in the way that she hated but had given up fighting. "Did you sleep well?"

"Fine, thanks," she looked at him hopefully and poured herself a second cup of coffee as she spoke. "Is Lex here?"

"No Miss," Walden shook his head. "He phoned about fifteen minutes ago though, and said that he would be back this evening. He'll be here for dinner tonight. Do you have plans already?"

Chloe shook her head. "I'll be here," she assured Walden. He nodded and excused himself, leaving her to the mountainous pot of coffee and an array of breakfast foods to choose from.

Chloe sighed and took a large bite out of a red apple.


"So he's still not back yet?" Clark asked her once they'd gotten to school. They walked down the hallway towards her locker, so she could pick up her biology textbook.

"He'll be back tonight," Chloe told him, pulling the massive textbook out of her locker and trying to cram it into her messenger bag. Clark noticed her struggle and pulled the book out of her hands, adding it to the pile of books that he was already carrying. "Thanks."

"No problem," Clark grinned. "So…do you think he'll bring her over?"

"No," Chloe shook her head, a lot more confidently than she actually felt. "I think we may have overreacted last night."

"You do?"

"Yeah," she nodded and they continued down the hallway towards her bio classroom. "It's not like it's the first time that Lex has picked up a girl at a party. For all we know he does it all the time."

"I don't think so Chloe," Clark shook his head. "You heard what he was saying to her…that's not like Lex. There's definitely something going on…she's not even his type. Lex doesn't really go for redheads."

"Maybe he's broadening his horizons," she defended. "Maybe he—oh screw it! You're right, he's gone insane…and not like last time either."

"Who's gone insane?" a voice asked from behind them. Chloe and Clark both jumped slightly at the intrusion and turned around. Cooper gave them a small wave and fell into step beside them.

"Oh…just a friend," Clark stammered, averting his eyes.

"And we were just kidding," Chloe added, giving Cooper a warm smile and noting how cute he looked in the sweater he was wearing. "How was your weekend?"

"It was okay," he shrugged. "I had to take my little brother trick or treating though."

"That sounds fun," Boy-Scout-Clark smiled encouragingly.

Cooper shrugged. "I guess," he agreed. "What did you do?"


Chloe spotted an empty lunch table and quickly navigated her way over to it before the math geeks could take up residence there. She smiled in satisfaction and set her tray down, taking immense pleasure when Dewey Lewis pushed his broken glasses back up his nose with a frown and went of in search of another table. She put her bag on the seat beside her, to save it for Clark, and opened her milk carton.

"Hi!" Cooper sat down in the seat on her other side and she jumped slightly, splashing a bit of milk onto her tray. Why did he keep doing that? "You're jumpy today."

"That's because you keep sneaking up on me," she snarked, wiping up the spilt milk with a napkin and then taking a sip out of the carton.

"I don't mean to," he grinned. "Whenever I see you I just can't help but come over."

"You see me everyday," she blushed.

"But it's the best part of my day," he reached out and let his fingers brush over the top of her hand briefly before changing the subject. "Also, I wanted to make sure that we're still on for Friday?"

"You bet," she nodded and grinned, beginning to forget about the other students milling around them. Cooper returned the grin.

"Very cool," he nodded and checked his watch. "I've got to get to the Torch, I've got a ton of work to do on this weeks issue. But before I go…" he picked his backpack up off of the floor and set it on the table in front of him. "I've got something for you."

"A present?" she asked eagerly, trying to see into the open bag.

"Yes, but you have to close your eyes," he instructed her. Chloe rolled her eyes good-naturedly and then shut them. "And hold out your hands." She cupped her hands out in front of her and forced herself not to look. He pressed something cool into them. "I saw this and thought of you."

She opened her eyes quickly and looked down. Another smile spread across her face; he'd given her a Starbucks Iced Cappuccino…the kind in the bottle. "Thank-you," she laughed. Cooper grinned.

"You're welcome," he hopped up off of his chair. "Now I've really got to go." She was surprised when he bent over and kissed her cheek quickly before straightening back up and flashing her a mega-watt grin that rivaled the ones that Clark gave. "I'll see you later."

"Bye," she mumbled, feeling her cheeks heat up again, while he left. She was suddenly aware of other the students now. A minute later Clark walked into the cafeteria and headed straight over to her.

"What's up?" he asked, noting her red cheeks.

"Nothing," she lied.


Chloe waved goodbye and stood against the doorframe until the Kent's blue truck pulled out of the driveway. Once he was gone she pushed open the heavy doors and was greeted by Walden. "Hello Miss Chloe," Walden nodded imperiously…Lex must be back.

"Hey Walden," Chloe smiled.

"Mr. Luthor has just arrived," Walden continued. "He and his guest are in the study."

"Guest?" Chloe asked him with a frown. 'Don't let it be—'

"A Miss Anna," Walden clarified. Chloe groaned, not bothering to try to hide her reaction from the butler, he wouldn't tell anyways.

"Thanks," she muttered and dropped her bag on the staircase quickly before she made her way to the study. She followed the familiar route until she came to the telltale doors, which were left ajar. "Hey Lex," she greeted, pushing the doors all the way open. "Walden said—"

Lex tore himself (literally) away from Anna, who had thankfully changed out of the French maid costume and was now wearing a fitted gray suit that complemented her hair nicely. Anna wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, like a seventh grader, and Chloe had to suppress a gag. "—sorry," Chloe finished, averting her eyes. "I can come back later."

"No Chloe I'm glad you're here," Lex shook his head and grabbed Anna by the hand (the one not covered in slobber), pulling her over to where Chloe was standing frozen in the doorway. "Come on in. I—we have something to tell you."

Chloe had a strong feeling that she didn't want to hear what he had to say, but still she walked farther into the room and stood in front of him, trying to ignore Anna's adoring gaze entirely. But the girl was bouncing around so much that she was almost vibrating and it was really distracting. 'Maybe they are high.'

"Chloe," Lex dropped Anna's hand and grabbed both of Chloe's shoulders, looking at her seriously.

"Lex," she drawled, raising her own hands to pat his comfortingly, hoping desperately that he would snap out of whatever weird role he was playing.

Instead Lex broke into a smile, one of his genuine, heart melting, I-Took-Over-Fryor-Pharmaceuticals smiles. "Chloe, Anna and I are getting married."

It was at that point that Chloe realized that it was impossible for the ground to open up and swallow you when you most wanted it too. That heart melting feeling changed quickly into something less pleasant, and her stomach seemed to drop like it was made of lead. Before she could stop herself a loud chorus of laughter spilled out of her mouth, echoing through the otherwise silent stone room. Anna frowned at her and Lex removed his hands from her shoulders as if he'd been burnt.

"I-I'm sorry," Chloe managed to stop laughing. "I thought you just said that you were getting married."

"I am," Lex nodded. "This Saturday."

"Again?" Chloe blurted and then shook her head. "I mean, you are?"

"Does she not understand?" Anna asked Lex, as if Chloe weren't there.

"She understands," Lex looked at Chloe bitterly. "She just doesn't approve."

"I didn't say that," Chloe said hurriedly. She didn't approve, how could she, but she didn't want Lex to be mad at her. She had to help him, and pushing him away wasn't going to do that.

"You didn't have to," Lex returned coolly. "I can see it all over your face."

"Lex that's not—"

"Apparently I was wrong in thinking that you'd be happy for us," Lex cut her off.

"I am!" Chloe lied…convincingly. "I was just surprised, really. I think it's great."

"See Lex," Anna cooed and threw her arms around Chloe in a sickening embrace. "I told you she would be excited!"

Chloe could see Lex eyeing her and so she deliberately hugged Anna back and returned the girls bright smile with one of her own. Lex slid his arm around Anna's waist once the two girls had pulled apart.

"You were right," he said to Anna, looking suspiciously dreamy. "I'm sorry I got mad at you Chloe. I hope you'll forgive me."

"O-of course," Chloe nodded awkwardly. "So…this Saturday?"

"You bet," Anna squealed and kissed Lex excitedly.

"That's…soon!" Chloe struggled. "Do you think you'll have everything together by then?"

"I have some people on it," Lex waved his hand dismissively.

"That's right," Anna clapped her hands together excitedly and Chloe had to force herself not to smack the redhead right upside the head. "And tomorrow after school you have to come straight back here okay? The seamstress will be here and you have to get fitted."

"Fitted?" Chloe frowned. "For what?"

"For your bridesmaids dress silly—oh no!" Anna turned to Lex apologetically. "You wanted to tell her. I'm sorry Pookie."

Chloe gagged silently but luckily neither noticed her. "I forgive you," Lex kissed her cheek and Chloe was willing to bet a lifetime supply of coffee that the word "Shnookums" actually left his mouth. "Chloe we'd like you to be the maid of honor."

"That's so—I mean wow," Chloe tried lamely to sound excited, honored and not at all revolted. "Thank-you, but are you sure that you don't have any family or girlfriends that you want? It is your wedding after all, and you only get married once." 'Unless you're Lex.'

"Oh none of my friends live around here," Anna giggled. "And if we're going to be friends than we need to do things together. Please Chloe, we really want you to be a part of this."

"Sure," Chloe grinned and used the tone that she'd long ago labeled "Pacifying Lana". Anna squealed again and launched herself at Chloe, hugging her tightly one more time. Lex gazed adoringly at his wife-to-be and it was about as much as Chloe could take. "Well, I have some homework to do," Chloe lied with a huge smile. "So I'll just go get that out of the way and let you two spend some time alone. I'll see you at dinner."

"Oh Chloe, we're going to miss dinner tonight," Lex informed her offhandedly on her way out. "We have to take the chopper to Edge City and let Lucas in on the news."

"We want to make sure that he'll be here this weekend," Anna explained. "I just can't wait to meet him. I know we're all going to be one big happy family!"

Chloe suppressed another gag and fled the room when they started to make out. She reached her bedroom in record time, closed the heavy door behind her, and pulled out her cell phone. She punched in a number and waited. She was going to need some help with this.

TBC…