1Author's Note: Many thanks go to my wonderful beta rnelso1!

Chapter III

Months passed and Lex grew acclimated to life in Smallville. In that time, he became well acquainted with Clark Kent. Both young men had grown up very differently and yet, somehow, they managed to have things to talk about. Unlike Lex's college friends, Clark didn't have a hidden agenda—he wasn't going to sell Lex out at the first chance he got.

At work, things were still irksome, but Lex, thankfully, still held a job there. Lionel had said no more about phasing out Taylor. Lex suspected it to be a test. His father regularly tested him. It was something akin to a hobby in Lionel's twisted mind.

Even with the pain of a horrible headache, Lex wasn't satisfied sitting quietly in his study, rereading the Odyssey for the umpteenth time. He was restless, so he decided to do what everyone else in Smallville was doing: he was going to the Crows game.

The stadium's lights illuminated the dark night sky and the vociferous crowd was alive with electricity. Lex found a seat behind Clark's parents, Jonathan and Martha. Like so many in town, Lex got the impression that they didn't trust him, but he tried to rectify that each time he saw them, and tonight, he was using idle small talk. He said things just to say something and luckily, nothing he said was taken offensively.

On the side of the field, Lana could be seen cheering with the other cheerleaders. It was wrong, but he mainly came for her. Sure, he was also there to support Clark, who'd made the team that year. As it happened, there weren't that many occasions to see her, not as many as he would've liked.

"And so, the question is: what is Lex Luthor doing at a Smallville High football game?" a feminine voice said from behind him, late in the fourth quarter.

Lex looked over his shoulder to see a familiar blonde girl squeezing in between two people in the row behind him.

"You're Clark's friend, right?" he asked, trying to remember her name.

"Chloe Sullivan," she said, reaching around, giving his hand a quick shake. Sarcastically, she added, "it's nice to know Clark talks about me."

Lex didn't know how to reply to that.

"You still haven't answered my question, though," she pressed. "I mean, you could be at a Sharks game right now."

"I came to support Clark. It was about time I caught a game."

The crowd erupted into cheers so loudly that Lex's ears rang. Chloe smiled. The game had been won by the Crows. They completely annihilated Granville, so, naturally, the fans were elated.

Soon, people were leaving the stands, heading to their cars, but Lex hung back with Chloe. He wasn't really aware of her, because his attention had turned to Lana.

She walked up to Clark and said something to him as the players were leaving the field. In that short amount of time, Clark dropped his helmet three times. He then proceeded to stumble in unusual excess while walking away from her.

Chloe followed Lex's gaze and said with a small smile, "he can't get in ten feet of Lana without tripping over himself."

Lex looked at her questioningly. With slight disbelief he asked, "Clark has a thing for Lana?"

"He's never actually said it, but it's obvious," Chloe replied. "I mean, you saw him. Also, our friend Pete kinda confirmed it to me."

Lex knew Pete to be Clark's best friend, who recently moved. He would've been fully aware of Clark's affection for Lana.

"And Lana? What does she think about him?"

"Lana's with Whitney," was Chloe's reply. It sounded almost if she were reassuring herself.

He knew he should be ashamed of his reaction to hearing of Clark's crush on Lana—because it was just that, a crush. It wasn't his place to be upset over who liked Lana Lang. She was taken.

"Lana," Chloe said, catching sight of her coming up the bleachers to greet them.

"Hi, Chloe," Lana smiled. "And, Lex. I'm surprised to see you here."

Her cheeks were rosy from the cold and her eyes were sparkling with warmth. Lex found it hard not to be entranced by her. "I came out to support Clark."

"He told me the same thing," Chloe rolled her eyes.

An amused smile played on Lana's lips."Want to come with us, Lex?"

"Come with you where?"

"To get coffee," she replied. "The guys have a ritual of partying after the game; Chloe and I get coffee after the games. You're welcome to join us."

Lex didn't need much persuasion to take her up on her offer. It had been a long time since he had spent time with her. He'd take anything he could get, even if it meant sharing that time with Chloe.

After being at the Beanery just long enough to get a double espresso, Chloe announced, "You know, I shouldn't even be here. I'm working on a new story. A big story. Which will take awhile."

Lana looked questioningly at Chloe as she bid her farewell. Watching her go, she shook her head and said to Lex, "I don't know why she's acting so strange."

Lex didn't know either, but he was thankful for Chloe's strangeness, as it left him alone with Lana.

"So, how has life been treating you, Lex?"

"Very recently, better than it usually does," he gave her a small smile.

"I'm glad," she sipped her coffee. When she sat the cup down, her tone became serious. "Your dad hasn't been giving you anymore trouble has he?"

"No more than he usually does."

"Are you sure?" she pressed, her brow furrowed.

Lex was troubled by her expression. She was tense and it was more than obvious that she was terribly worried about something. "Lana, what's wrong?"

She started to say something, but faltered. A sad smile formed on her lips and she started yet again, "it's going to sound crazy."

"I could never think you crazy, Lana."

"I hope not." She leaned forward, and said, "for the past few days, I've been... I've been getting the feeling that something bad is going to happen."

"With me?" Lex asked.

"Not necessarily. Just something bad in general—I can't really place it." She let out an uneasy laugh. "Like I said, it's crazy."

"No, it's not. Everybody worries," he said, softly. "I know I do plenty of it."

"I'm at a loss as to what to do."

He didn't know what to say to that earnest statement.

"Tell me what to do."

"Lana."

"Come on, I'm kind of in need of help here," she said insistently. The sparkle in her eyes

was still there, but it was a sad, melancholic sparkle. Not the happy one he was accustomed to seeing.

Lex was silent for a moment. He solemnly replied, "I can't tell you what to do. In my experience, instincts are right more often than not."

"That's what I was afraid of."

He told her the truth. He was glad she respected it, because he could tell her no less. She was worn down and a very different version of the girl he had been conversing with only moments before. He wished he could do more for her. He wished he could make her believe that everything was okay. He truly hated seeing her like this, so upset as this, but he couldn't. He couldn't lie like that, not to her.

So, he settled for this: he merely took her hand and gave it a quick yet comforting squeeze and said to her as gently as he could, "I'll drive you home, if you like."

"Thank you," was her heart-felt reply. She didn't feel like drinking coffee anymore, no matter how much she always enjoyed speaking with the man sitting opposite of her.

The drive to Lana's house was silent, but Lex did not mind it.

As she got out of the car, Lex could've sworn he saw a single tear fall from her cheek. Quickly, she wiped it away saying, "Thank you, Lex. Thanks for being there for me. I really needed it."

Before he could reply, she was already running up the path to her front door. Worried, he watched her go in.

The next morning, the sun shown brighter than it had in a long time. The light spilled into Lex's study, making his surroundings much less tenebrous than usual. It was truly a nice day, but there was something about that day which seemed far too still to be considered normal. It was slightly eerie.

Lex was brought out of his reverie by the entrance of Clark, who looked troubled.

"Clark," he said, "is there something wrong?"

Clark looked as though he wasn't sure how to start, so, he simply decided to get to the point. "Whitney was killed in a car crash last night."

Lex frowned. "Lana's boyfriend?"

Clark nodded. "He and some of the guys on his team were coming back from a party last night; someone hit them. There weren't any survivors."

"How is Lana taking this?" Lex didn't really know why he bothered asking. Of course she wouldn't be taking it well at all.

"I haven't spoken to her; Chloe was with her when she found out. From what I hear, she's she's really not doing well." Clark shook his head miserably.

"How are you doing?" Lex asked quietly. "I know you knew him for a long time."

"I'm just trying to get over the shock, Lex," his voice was too quiet. Looking down at the ground he went on, "do you know what I thought last night?"

Lex shook his head.

"For the millionth time, I was jealous of Whitney. For the millionth time, I wished that it was me who was with Lana. I wanted her," Clark was very angry at himself. Lex had never seen his friend that way, nor did he want to ever again.

"You couldn't have known what was going to happen, Clark."

"But, the point is, I thought those things, Lex. I thought those things and I shouldn't have. I thought those things as Whitney was dying and I can't take it back." His voice was strained and tired. He was quiet, but the anger in his voice cut through the room most violently.

"You didn't know, Clark," Lex said, clapping him on the shoulder, trying to be of some comfort. Deep down, he knew that there was no way to comfort Clark. His guilt was consuming him.

"I don't know how I can face her. I don't think I can."

Lex looked off into the distance, trying his hardest not to make eye contact with his friend. He couldn't look him in the eye—not at that moment. "You really care for her, don't you?"

"Very much," Clark admitted. "Ever since we were kids, and now..."he trailed off, unable to finish the rest.

Lex's jaw tightened and he said, "Go home, Clark. You need some rest."

"You're right," Clark nodded and with that he was gone. Leaving Lex alone and thoughtful.

With a heavy sigh, he walked over to the window and drew the curtains to his study, resenting the sun for mocking such a lugubrious day.

The day after the funeral, Lex went to see Lana. Maybe it was too soon, he didn't know. Maybe she didn't want to talk, but he had to take that chance. He needed to know how she was; he needed to see for himself.

He found her maundering around the stables; nobody had seen her all day. She was as pretty as ever, but no cheer was to be seen dancing about her features, only unhappiness. Her despair was evident.

"Lex," she greeted him. She attempted a smile, but it was impossible to smile at such a time. She sunk down onto some hay, not really caring if she should or shouldn't. "What brings you by?"

"You, of course," he sunk down onto the hay beside her. "I came to see you."

She attempted to smile, but again, she couldn't. "That's really sweet, Lex."

"Lana, if there's anything I can do, just ask," he went on. Comfort was something he was rarely given as a child, and because of that he'd never been good at giving it. When it came to Lana, giving comfort came easy.

A third time she attempted to smile, but her face broke before she could. She let out a sob, clasping her hand to her mouth. She hadn't cried since she first found out about Whitney. She didn't even cry at the funeral. Now everything was hitting her and she felt completely stupid for it. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping the tears away. They kept coming still, though they lessened.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. It's alright," and that was when he gave her something he knew she truly needed. He put his arm around her shoulders. It was a simple, gesture, but it was a profound one.

Leaning her head on his shoulder, she cried quietly, until the tears were gone and she began to feel drained. At this point she whispered something to Lex that he would never be able to forget. "I didn't love him, Lex. At least, not in the way he loved me. He deserved better than that."

Lex didn't know why it was he who she confessed this to and not someone like her Aunt Nell or Chloe Sullivan. He wasn't entirely sure how to reply to her honest statement, but she silenced him as he opened his mouth.

"And I knew something bad was going to happen. I knew it, but there was nothing I could do. This is so unfair," she said.

"I know, Lana," he said, pulling her even closer. He meant his words with the utmost sincerity. No one should have to go through that.

"I would've been in that car too, if I wasn't with you and Chloe," she shook her head. "I should be happy to be here, but I can't help but feel that I'm not going to be okay for a very long time."

It killed Lex to hear her say those words, but he knew she could hardly say otherwise. She was grief-stricken and as much he wished he could take away that pain from her, he couldn't. He could be there for her, and so he was.