A/N: I'm back! I am so sorry that it took me so long to update. Work and school are both really starting to pile it on me. I was very nervous about this story, and I'm so glad that it's gotten such a nice response.

peacelove Thank you. I know what you mean, I hate when writers completely change characters. I tried my best not to do that.

beccapI absolutely love both of your stories, so your review really made me happy.

cookiedoughicecream: Thank you. I know it's a common plot, but it was the only way I could think of at the time to get them where I needed them to be.

Katieshaz: Ansgty in a good way I hope.

Logan13: Thank you.

scottish lass2: (Author blushes at sweet review.) Thanks.

Shy Butterfly: I rate a 'wow.' I'm so flattered.

Disclaimer: Not mine, just borrowing for a while.

Reactions: Part 1

Chloe lay in bed for a long time after she finally stopped crying. She stared up at the ceiling, wondering how to fix what she had just destroyed. For a long time she and Lex had just been , well acquaintances was the only word she could think of. Then she had decided to let Lionel into her life. Then she'd been forced to let Lex into her life to repair the damage she had done.

She had believed Lex when he said he would protect her from Lionel. But he never said that he'd protect her from himself. And that was what she had needed.

When she first came back at the end of her summer in hiding, she and Lex really didn't speak all that much. And that was fine with her. She was so angry for awhile that once she finally realized how much she had come to depend on him, she had practically cut him out of her life.

The anger returned with a vengeance when the thought that he might have feelings for Lana. She had seen the way he was looking at her, hanging on her every word like Clark had always done. Was she always destined to loose every guy in her life to Lana Lang? Her anger over Lex was even stronger than the anger she had felt over Clark. Lex was trying to protect Lana the way he had protected her. And she was royally ticked that Lex seemed to regard her and Lana in the same way.

But it was so much more than that.

One day while working on a story about the chemical spill for the Torch it hit her. Holding a picture of Lex in her hand, she finally got it. The realization hit right in the pit of the stomach.

She was in love with him.

It took all of her willpower to avoid him for the last few months before she Smallville for good. She was so close. Then her accident had happened and fate had once again thrust Lex right into her life. It was so unfair.

Chloe had long ago accepted the fact that she would never have Lex the way she wanted. Lex went for tall, model-like brunettes. A petite blonde would never register on his radar. Not to mention all of the arguments, lies, and deceptions that had occurred over the course of their relationship. And the trust. That was what made his willingness to accept her distance from him hurt so much. They had become friends over the previous summer. Now, it was gone.

Slowly, Chloe got up and started to pack her things. It was time to say goodbye.

She had held onto her feelings for Clark for so long that it had almost destroyed their friendship. For years, she allowed it to fester inside of her until it made her bitter, made her so jealous that she couldn't see straight. But she had finally been able to let it go. Not that she wouldn't always love Clark, she would. He was her first love, her best friend. But she needed more than that.

Chloe had allowed her feelings for Lex to consume her, the same way she had let her feelings for Clark. Then the same anger and bitterness over Lana had started to creep it's way back into her life. It had taken her a long time to forgive Lana. Now she was starting to hate her again. And she was starting to hate Lex for making her feel that way.

Chloe didn't want to hate Lex. It had taken a long time for her to think of him as a good part of her life. She didn't want to loose that. So she had no choice but to leave. If for no other reason than to keep him in her life. If that was still possible.

Chloe only prayed that she would be able to say goodbye to him without breaking down. She owed him that much.

She owed herself that much.

A/N: Sorry it's so short. The next one (Lex's reaction) may be as well. But never fear, I'll make it up to you.