Chlexville

Season 1

Episode 4 : DON'T NEED AN X-RAY TO SEE INSIDE YOU

He was a beautiful man, almost like a real life version of a Ken doll. Chloe sipped his drink while he made his way to her. The moment he spoke, her heart deflated and her glance wandered over the crowd of people.

She sighed in relief when she saw her very dear friend striding over to them arrogantly.

"Ms Sullivan," Lex greeted smoothly.

Chloe carefully moderated her smile when she turned to him. "Mr Luthor."

"Could I speak to you for a moment?" He turned to her companion and arched his eyebrow. "You don't mind?"

"Of course not, Mr Luthor." The younger man vanished into a crowd after grinning at Chloe. "Maybe later," he murmured.

Chloe rolled her eyes and clutched Lex's sleeve. "Thank you!"

"No problem. I gather it's my fault you were forced to attend this anyway. I have no idea why Gabe would take his teenage daughter to a reception with two hundred fertilizer distributors." They emerged in the balcony and Chloe sucked in several breaths of fresh air. "So what did you do so wrong to deserve a punishment as harsh as this?"

Chloe placed her arms akimbo and looked at him strangely.

"Oh. Right. The torching of the Torch."

"Exactly. Something completely not my fault," she reminded him.

"This would just be reflex for your father, Chloe. You were in danger, and he had to take action."

"He could have grounded me. But no. He had to take me all the way to Metropolis and immerse me in the most boring event ever. No offense intended for the host."

Lex waved away her words. "Please. Even I can fall asleep standing up when I do this. Unfortunately it's part of the business."

Chloe grinned and playfully swatted his shoulder. "Not that I'm not thankful but how did you know I needed rescuing from the guy?"

"Chloe," Lex pointed out, "I don't need an x-ray to see behind the façade you keep insisting must be up at all times." He had leaned closer to her, his hands resting on either side of her on the railing.

His lips were so close she could feel his breath. They had not been in this proximity since he mistook her for the welcome wagon hooker. Chloe felt something stir in the pit of her belly and she held her breath, knowing she could not allow him to know what was going on with her. She saw his eyelids flutter and he was either asleep over her or he was staring at her mouth. Nervously, she moistened her lips with her tongue. "That," she choked out, "is a little worrisome."

He suddenly straightened and blinked a few times, trying to remember what they were talking about.

"But you know," she continued in an effort to lighten the mood, "it's the same for me. You can put on a whole Oscar-worthy act but I will always see inside you." She wiggled her eyebrows at him. She had done it thousands of times before, but now she felt so childish. "Scary huh?"

He nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off hers. "Very," he agreed. He tipped her shin with his fingers and leaned close again. Chloe's gaze ran over his face. As he moved even closer, she parted her lips in expectation.

Her eyelids fluttered close but she only felt the cool breeze against her moist lips.

Lex was now frowning at her with a look of utter bewilderment in his face. "I'm sorry," he whispered raggedly. "What was I doing? This is insane. It must be the night."

"The wine," she offered.

"And the music," Lex added. "I can't believe I was about to take advantage of your trust. You should really find someone young—maybe Clark. You deserve to have fun with a guy who doesn't have as much burden as I do, Chloe."

She watched him flee from her presence like she was the scourge. She sighed and looked out. At least she had a nice view of the garden from here.

Clark didn't exactly want her.

And she hadn't had any wine tonight.

It was almost like in some of those stray dreams when Lex suddenly burst back to the balcony. If these were one of those, he would tear his silk shirt off his body, with the buttons popping out and rolling on the floor. And then he'd take her in his arms and suck the breath out of her lungs in sheer passion.

But since this was reality, he just took her hand and said clearly, "I have to go back to Smallville immediately. The sheriff just called. I apparently robbed a bank a few minutes ago."

Chloe stared after him and decided she had to get her father to allow her to go home already.

The next afternoon, hanging out with her two best friends, Chloe noticed how oddly Clark behaved towards Tina Greer. When Clark asked if they saw the weird air around the girl, Pete told him that it was all in his head.

Good old Pete, who would always be the one to spy any changes. He threw his arm around her and inquired, "So where were you during this entire fiasco was happening? I was surprised to know you weren't taking pictures of the robbery. That way, we would have gotten Luthor well and good!"

"Oh I was in Metropolis with my dad," she casually mentioned.

"Funny. That's the alibi Lex is using," Pete told her. "You didn't by any chance see him there, did you?"

Chloe opened her mouth to answer but the bell rang. She waved to Pete and hurried to her next class.

Dear Chloe,

I didn't want to have to leave so soon last night. There are things we have to talk about. I'll pass by your house later tonight.

Lex

Dear Mr Luthor,

I don't know what time I'll be home. I have research to do for a friend. Don't worry about anything. Just forget about last night. We don't really have anything to talk about.

The night was nice; the music was romantic; you had wine.

Nothing happened.

I am taking your advice though. From now on, I'll open my eyes to the potential of the boys from this school. So you won't be seeing a lot of me for a while. You understand.

Chloe Sullivan

end