If it was someone trying to sell him something, Lex would just have to turn them down this time. NO ONE should have enough Girl Scout cookies to fill two freezers, no matter how sinfully good the Thin Mints were. He walked to the door and opened it, prepared to send a bunch of jelly-stained midgets packing.
Clark, the elder Kents, Lana, Chloe, and even PETE were standing on the other side of his door. All of them were carrying books of Christmas songs, bundled up in warm jackets and hats and scarves, etc. They burst into a rendition of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas.' Lex just stood there, staring at them. Later on, he would deny his mouth was hanging open as much as it actually was. Caroling? Were they serious? He'd only seen caroling on sappy movies and TV shows. Besides, there was no way it was even close to-
Lex took one look at his watch and almost had a heart attack. Its digital face told him it was 5 pm on the 24th of December. 5 pm!! The carolers' singing faltered and descended into laughter. Lex put on his 'I totally knew what time of year it was' face.
"Bravo," he said with a grin. "Merry Christmas Eve, guys."
"You too, Lex," Clark chuckled, throwing an arm around Lex in a surprising hug.
"Do you want to come in?" Lex questioned, jerking a thumb back into the dim (FREEZING) mansion. "I could have some hot chocolate and cookies brought out."
"Made by your cook?" Jonathan Kent asked, his usual derision/suspicion creeping into his voice.
"Actually, she's on break." Lex didn't mention he'd had no idea why she'd requested the time off. That would make him like Scrooge in Jonathan Kent's eyes. He was already bad enough. "You'll have to put up with Swiss Miss and Thin Mints."
"Well, we've actually got to go to other people's houses," Chloe said uneasily.
Lex's smile had never before felt so frozen on his face. "I can bring it to you on the go," he suggested, with more cheer than he actually felt.
"Alright," Clark said loudly, breaking the awkward silence.
"Come on in," Lex told them, moving out of the way. "I'll have it right out." He left them in the main hall, vanishing into the depths of the ancestral mansion.