And Lacey excused herself.
One week later, Professor Carmore handed out a group assignment. Lacey and her roommate, Abbey, quickly caught each other's eyes, but they needed one more person to join the group. After a quick glance around the room, Lacey realized that Lex was flying solo. He leaned over and asked to join them. Lacey nodded yes and did an inward victory dance before yelling at herself quite briskly.
Lex was a nice guy…and that was all.
Abbey, Lacey, and Lex decided to meet that afternoon in the library to discuss the assignment. Abbey and Lacey arrived together and waited about three minutes before Lex appeared.
The bald boy sat down in an armchair opposite from them. He pulled out a notebook and a pencil case.
"Which one of these rulers looks most interesting to you guys? I'm okay with everyone but Hannibal", Abbey started chittering, "Who wants to hear about some guy with elephants?"
"Do you realize that his journey with elephants was one of the greatest tactical schemes any war has ever known? I mean, the legacy he left…", Lex trailed off as he noticed Abbey that was staring at him as though he were from outer space.
They sat in silence reviewing the list of possible subjects until Lacey suggested Alexander the Great.
Abbey spoke a non-committal "'Kay", and Lex nodded.
"Why don't we all just, um, like, research on our own, write down any significant points, then share them with each other and start writing? Lex, you focus on his childhood. Abbey, you focus on his battles. I'll focus on his death and the effect it had on the world", Lacey was accustomed to taking charge of a project.
They split to search and Lacey headed for the reference section. She spent a few seconds deciding whether she should look for a book on Alexander or check the Encyclopedia Britannica first. She picked the encyclopedia, and her hand landed on A Capella-Bulwark.
Another hand touched the book at precisely the same moment, and a shiver went up Lacey's spine as she realized that the hand belonged to Lex Luthor. Lex quickly withdrew his hand and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry", their eyes met, "You can have it."
"Thanks", their eyes remained locked…