I know I don't have many readers for this story, so I just want to say THANK YOU to the ones that I do.

Your reviews mean the world to me.

Updated: 12/6/2013

…

Clark was panicking.

Lex had easily agreed to the double date, but had insisted that Clark invite his parents as well; what had been a double date was now a triple date.

Clark had felt everything crash around him then.

Everyone invited knew of him and Lex; everyone except his very best friend Pete.

"Geez, calm down Clark," Chloe said, fixing her hair in one of Lex's hall mirrors, "It's just Pete. Everything will be fine."

"Easy for you to say," Clark shot back, head in his hands. "How's he going to react?" Chloe shrugged and patted his arm.

"No one will know unless you tell him," she said, giving him a cheeky grin as a loud bell rang through the room. "Oooh, he's here. Do you think he's going to ask me out tonight?"

"Chloe! Just because I'm dating a guy does not make me your new gay best friend!" Chloe rolled her eyes as she walked away, a low chuckle escaping her lips.

"Whatever you say Clark; whatever you say…"

…

Clark rolled his eyes as he saw Chloe and Pete chatting happily in one of Lex's sitting rooms. With Chloe occupied and Lex nowhere to be found, his panicking was escalating. His head jerked away from them as the bell rang again. Turning on his heel, he hurried to the front door; at least he could hide out with his parents.

Upon yanking open the door, his jaw dropped.

"Hi Clark!" Lana said with forced enthusiasm, her arm looped around Whitney, who looked bored.

"Lana… Whitney… What are you two doing here?"

"I invited them," a smooth voice said, causing Clark to look behind him; his eyes met Lex's cool ones as he stepped forward. "Lana, so good to see you." He didn't even address Whitney as they walked in. "Chloe is in the sitting room if you wish to go congratulate her." Lana nodded and hurried away, pulling a seething Whitney behind her. Clark watched them before he turned to Lex, who was leaning against the opposite wall.

"Lex…"

"I thought Chloe would like some more friends here."

"You know her and Lana aren't really friends." Clark could hear Chloe's surprise at Lana's arrival, and he could tell she didn't know anything about her being invited. "Lex…"

"Clark," Lex said softly, moving towards him. "Everything will be okay. You gotta trust me okay?" Clark shook his head and Lex grinned as he swooped in and kissed Clark quickly. "It'll be okay." Clark moved away as the bell rang again. Before he opened the door he turned to Lex.

"Any other surprise guests?"

"Nope."

"Good." Clark opened the door and greeted his parents, who he was grateful to see. As they and Lex headed into the sitting room to wait for dinner to be ready, Chloe rushed out.

"Clark I had no idea-"

"It's okay Chloe," Clark said, stopping her rant, "apparently that was Lex's idea."

"Why would he do that?" Clark shoved his hands through his hair in frustration.

"He's trying to make me come out. It was hard enough when it was just Pete. Now it's Pete and Lana; who knows how they'll react. And Whitney… he'll make my life more of a living hell than he already does."

"I'm here for you Clark. At least you'll still have me. And Lex. And your parents." Chloe gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We're all by your side in this." Clark grinned and surprised them both by giving her a sweet kiss on the forehead.

"Thanks Chloe. I needed that."

Together, the two of them headed into the sitting room, ready to face the night.

…

As dinner started, Lex surveyed his guests; Clark was to his right, chatting with either his parents or with Chloe and occasionally Pete, completely avoiding Lana and Whitney at all costs it seemed; Chloe was next to Clark, and Pete next to her, the group of friends completely at ease with each other. Across from him was Clark's father, who gave him a stiff smile before he began to talk to his wife, who was next to him; next to her was Lana, who talked to Whitney, who didn't look at anyone except for her.

Lex saw Lana's eyes flicker to him and Clark for a moment before she would then focus back on Whitney; she did this periodically, her eyes seeming to get wider each time. He figured she was close to figuring it out, and, if Lex was honest with himself, he was quite pleased about.

Lana needed to understand that Clark was taken, so Lex leaned over and whispered something into Clark's ear, making the teen tense up as a blush broke out across his cheeks.

"Whitney, we need to leave. Now," Lana said, getting up, dropping her napkin on her plate. "Chloe, congratulations. Lex… thank you for dinner." Lana turned and stormed out of the room, a confused Whitney following her. Clark watched them before he met Chloe's eyes; he knew they shared the same look.

"Clark," Lex said, setting down his fork, "Will you do me a favor and go get dessert?"

"Sure," Clark said, getting up and not meeting anyone's eyes.

"And maybe Pete should help you." Now Clark glared at Lex, who just smiled. "If he doesn't mind."

"Uh," Pete said, suddenly awkward as all the eyes looked his way except Clark's. "Sure…" Clark just shrugged and led his way to the kitchen. Pete followed, eyeing his friend with worried eyes. "Man, what's going on? Everyone's acting, I don't know, weird? Or is it just me?" Clark closed his eyes as he leaned against a cabinet; he don't even remember them getting to the kitchen.

"I'm dating…Lex," he whispered the final word, hoping Pete didn't hear him; looks like he wasn't so lucky though.

"Wh-what?" Clark just shook his head and grabbed the dessert, ignoring Pete now. "Clark! You're dating WHO NOW?"

"Lex! Okay?" Clark said, turning to face him. Pete took a step back and shook his head.

"Man, what the hell? What else have you been hiding from me? Or is the fact that you're a flaming faggot all there is?" Clark stilled at that before he dropped the dessert and ran; at that moment, he didn't care if Pete saw his speed.

He just wanted out of there.

…

Well, Pete knows and Lana suspects. It should be interesting from now on don't you think?
(What do I know though, it could all blow up in our faces. Who knows?)

Thanks for reading!

-JustMe133