Lex sat at his desk, deeply engrossed in the week's financial headlines and trying not to think about last night's encounter with Chloe. Or any encounter with Chloe. Ever. He paused in his reading to rub his hand across his eyes.

The doors to the library swung open. Lex looked up, startled, and saw the girl he was trying unsuccessfully to banish from his mind striding across the room.

"Here's how it is," Chloe said. "I'm not Helen. I'm certainly not Desiree—witness shocking lack of pheromonal attraction. And I'm not Victoria. I'm not after your money and prestige; they might actually be drawbacks. And while I must admit to a less than healthy journalistic fascination with you, that's really how I deal with everybody. Just ask Clark." Lex opened his mouth, but Chloe held up an authoritative hand. "Not finished yet. I know I'm underage, and there's no way I'd bring you and me both down by trying to force some kinky illegal relationship. I figure it wouldn't kill you to be friends with a woman in a way that doesn't involve benefits. And..."

Lex waited patiently, his expression hovering somewhere between amused and nonplussed.

"And...now I'm done," she finished lamely. "So...um...have a nice day." Her jaw dropped in astonishment at her own bravado as she turned away from him, wondering what had possessed her to come here in the first place.

Lex came around to the front of his desk. "I've never been friends with a woman," he said, interrupting her retreat. "Actually—and don't quote me on this—I don't have a much better track record with friends than I do with romantic attachments."

"I have a lousy track record with men," said Chloe. "But friends...friends I've been fortunate with." She extended her hand.

Lex looked at it coolly. "Don't take this the wrong way," he said, "and I hope this won't jeopardize the beginning of a beautiful friendship, but I don't think I can be friends with you if I shake your hand."

Chloe studied Lex's face. He looked back at her intently.

"Okay," she said, breaking eye contact and blushing. "No touching."

"I think that's the best plan," agreed Lex.

There was an awkward silence, during which Chloe's face became progressively redder and Lex found it progressively difficult to maintain a straight face.

"So..." said Chloe, "did I interrupt something important?"

"Yes," said Lex. Chloe looked up at him quickly, even more embarrassed than she had been before. At least now she was looking him in the eye. "But I make my friends a priority," he finished.

Chloe grinned, a trifle sheepishly. Lex tried to remember a time when he was as innocent as Chloe was showing herself to be with every move and gesture she made. It had been a long, long time, he realized ruefully. Again he felt a pang of guilt at associating with her at all—he could only bring her down.

"Speaking of friends," he said, "aren't you worried about Pete Ross?"

"Pete?" asked Chloe, thrown off. "What does Pete have to do with us…that is, with it?"

"Clark has told me about what my friendship with him did to his friendship with Pete," Lex said. "And…well, I've seen the way he looks at you."

"Clark?"

"Pete."

Chloe laughed. "Pete knows I can look after myself. And he's just a friend."

"An older friend than I am," said Lex.

"Only in the metaphorical sense."

"Touché."

"Are you asking me to choose sides, or are you just trying to shove me off onto Pete?" asked Chloe. "Because I believe I did say you didn't have to worry about me pushing this newfound friendship into the danger zone."

"I just don't want to complicate your life," said Lex.

She smiled and began surveying the room. "Too late." She took in the big screen TV, the pool table, the stereo, the shelves and shelves of books. Her eyes lingered on his computer where it sat open on his desk.

"So," she said, dragging her eyes from the computer, "what do you and Clark do for fun?"

"You interrogate all your friends this way?"

"Hey!" she protested. "You asked the first question! And I did warn you."

"We talk," Lex said. "And we shoot pool."

Chloe pulled a face. "I can handle the first one," she said, "no sweat. But I've never been able to play a decent game of pool."

Lex took two cue sticks down from the walls. "All the more reason to try," he said, tossing one to Chloe, who barely caught it. "Aren't friends supposed to improve each other?"

Chloe shrugged dubiously. "If anyone can."

Lex smiled. "Have a little faith," he said. "I'm sure you can do it."

Chloe took a deep breath and hefted the cue stick. "Okay," she said. "I'm in."