CHAPTER 15

"Well aren't you just the pinnacle of good breeding." Chloe stepped out of the car, nodding her head towards Lex, who had taken it upon himself to open the side door for her. "But for the record, even with my weakened girlish sensibilities, I am fully capable of opening car doors myself."

As Lex swung the door shut behind her, she caught him suppressing a smile and found herself surprisingly pleased. The last few days had been awful. Beyond awful. It seemed only fair that the bad mood lifted. Maybe it was a good omen.

When they reached the Talon, Lex stepped forward to open the door for her again. "Sorry. Habit." His eyes sparkled with humor, making Chloe feel flushed and flustered, and the closest thing to happy she could remember feeling in weeks.

Walking into the familiar space, the happy feeling quickly faded. Everything in the Talon seemed too much the same. As if the world had kept right on going, despite the fact that hers had been at a temporary standstill.

"Chloe!" She shut her eyes, like maybe if she couldn't see him, Clark would just go away. It didn't work. He had dropped the crate of baked goods he had obviously been delivering and headed over to her. "Chloe, I've been looking all over for you."

Chloe turned around slowly, looking at Clark from over the rims of her sunglasses. "Of course you have. What can I help you with, Clark?"

Clark's brow furrowed in irritation as he noticed Lex standing particularly close to her. He turned away from him, refusing to further acknowledge his presence, and continued to speak to Chloe. "Nothing. Why didn't you tell me about your dad?"

Chloe stiffened sharply. Her mouth curled into a sneer. "Did some research of our own, did we?"

"No, Lois was nervous that she hadn't seen you. She thought I already knew. I can't believe you would keep something like this from me and Lana. We're your friends, we could have helped."

Chloe laughed bitterly, and when Lex's arm wrapped around her side, she hardly thought to remove it. "Clark, you've always been great at the whole save-the-day thing, but sometimes really saving someone means more than just showing up minutes before death. Don't take it personally; I know you and Lana have both been…preoccupied lately."

"Are you angry with me for some reason, Chloe?"

"Angry? No. No, I'm not, Clark." She pushed a hand through her hair and forced a light smile. "I don't have the time to be angry with you. In case you haven't heard, my dad's dying." Clark stumbled backwards slightly before pulling himself together and noticed Lex's arm around her waist. When Lex saw Clark's eyes fill with rage, he tightened his arm around Chloe.

"Lex, could you give Chloe and me a second to talk?"

Chloe looked to Lex and nodded her approval. "Don't worry. It won't take long." Lex shrugged and walked over to the front of the room, starting up a conversation with the young girl behind the counter. Chloe removed her glasses and tapped her sneaker against the ground. "Yes, Clark?"

"What the hell is going on, Chloe? You know Lex is dangerous."

"I guess I don't know. Dangerous how?"

"Chloe!"

"Don't worry so much, Clark." She leaned close to him, standing on her tip-toes to bring her mouth up near his ear. "After all," she whispered harshly. "Your secret's always safe with me." Chloe pulled away and looked coldly into Clark's eyes, which seemed wide and blue and vulnerable. "I'm sorry the only way you can see this is as a betrayal. I had to make a choice. I made it." Something in her began to soften and melt as she continued to look at Clark, the stupid, inconsiderate, oblivious, wonderful boy she had grown so close to over the years. Her best friend. Her first love. The same boy she had kissed at fourteen and the same boy she had stared at longingly from the comfort of his couch just a few weeks ago. It's amazing how quickly things can change. A soft, wistful smile flashed across her face. "I couldn't wait any longer, Clark. We all have to do what we can to be happy." When the pain in his face became overwhelming and exhausting, she let a hardened defense surround her heart. All emotion was washed from her body as she stared at the boy who had been all of those beautiful things for her, and was now a stranger. "And I can't be happy if my dad is dead. Goodbye, Clark. See you around." Feeling shaky and fragile, she walked over to Lex and grabbed his arm for support. "Can we leave now?" Lex nodded and lead her to the door.

CHAPTER 16

"Yes?"

"Inject the increased dosage like we discussed."

"But Mr. Luthor, you are aware that this can be traced back to you with little to no effort. The medical documents state very clearly that use of all tranquilizers has been ceased. Your son will certainly suspect your involvement and-"

"Good. Now get to work. If Gabe Sullivan is alive tomorrow morning, you won't be."