Disclaimer: The day I own any of the Smallville/Superman universe, MR and I will rent billboards in all the major US cities to announce our engagement. (In other words, it's never going to happen.)
Author's Note: This has taken me so long to write because I wasn't sure if I wanted it to continue; at the same time, I couldn't just end it with chapter five. At this point, I'm writing as I go, with no real concept of major events that need to occur. Much love to my Truth Seeker friends, to whom this is dedicated.
******
Three days had gone by, and neither had called the other. Chloe would have made the first move (she wasn't the type to wait by the phone for men to call), but she was afraid that she would sound desperate if she dialed his number too soon; they had, after all, seen each other several days in a row (not that she minded). 'It's best to wait a while, cousin; make him learn to appreciate you,' Lois had said sagely, as though she'd had much more experience with romance matters than Chloe. (The older woman had very few suitors in her life; she was too busy with her career as an aspiring journalist. Lately, however, one of Chloe's classmates --whom Lois had met when he and Chloe studied at the apartment a few times-- had been interesting her.)
Lex *did* appreciate Chloe; at least, she liked to think he did. After their odd first meeting, he'd stopped trying to force her into anything she didn't want. He cared about her enough to respect her boundaries, and that counted for something.
"You're really in love with this Mystery Guy, aren't you, Clo?" Lois asked casually, eyeing her cousin over the 'World Events' section of that morning's *Daily Planet*.
"What?" Chloe returned distractedly, lifting her own eyes from the 'Local News'. Half of a toasted poppy seed bagel spread with lox and cream cheese, just the way she liked it, laid untouched on a white plate. "I was engrossed in this article about how the price of tuna is going up because of over-fishing."
With a snort of laughter, Lois picked up her empty oatmeal bowl and strided to their kichenette. Once she filled one side of their sink with warm, sudsy water and began washing the dishes that were piled on the black marble counters, she spoke. "Firstly, sweetie, that article is about the disease that's been harming the deer population. Secondly, even if you *were* engrossed in a story about wildlife --since this is you, I know that's a stretch-- the way you keep staring at the phone whenever it rings gives you away."
Grunting in annoyance, Chloe returned her gaze to the newspaper, and took a huge bite of her breakfast, as if to say, 'ha, you can't get to me.'
******
*I've officially allowed her to get to me,* Lex told himself wryly, as he stood in front of her apartment building that same day, his gloved index finger hovering over the button that read, 'Sullivan/Lane' in faded letters.
Even in that section of Metropolis (where most of the Met U students who lived off-campus had apartments) everything was modern and glitzy. There were posh restaurants on every street corner, the sidewalks were lined with winding black light posts that lent the city a warm, friendly glow at night, and most of the residents dressed in black, gray, and red 'business casual' clothing.
Despite all that, Lex still felt like he stuck out in the throng of people rushing past him on the sidewalk. (No one noticed him, however, so it's safe to assume that he was simply being strangely self-conscious.)
"Just ring it all ready," Lex muttered, yanking off his black leather glove and flexing his fingers, as if that would motivate him.
Anyone who did notice him standing there in his black trench coat, pleated black pants, and sky blue silk shirt, muttering to himself while glaring at the button panel on the side of the ivy-covered building, who have assumed that he was disgruntled business man who'd locked himself out of his apartment, but was too embarrassed to ring his wife.
Finally, he depressed the tiny black circle and waited.
******
Since it was Saturday, Chloe didn't get dressed or shower immediately upon awakening; she enjoy lounging around in her boxers and a tank top, letting her body adjust to the fact that it had to function. That particular Saturday, she wore green and gray plaid shorts with a gray spaghetti-strap shirt.
Lois, who always showered and dressed right away, regardless of the day, was amused by her cousin's habit. "Sweetie, what if Brad Pitt were to demand to see you, and you were wearing that, with your hair all mused?" It was a futile argument, and she knew that; however, Lois couldn't help herself.
Chloe had been flopped, on her stomach, across the length of their lumpy, thrift store-bought navy blue couch, highlighting a handful of computer printouts with a pink highlighter. When Lois --who was wearing fitted namebrand jeans with a snug Calvin Klein sweater in a shade akin to limes-- spoke, her blonde head darted upward. "If Brad Pitt were to demand to see me, I'd laugh in his face."
A pause. "Oh, right. You're not into him. I forgot." The older cousin conceded defeat, and wandered away to do something mindless.
The second Lois entered her bedroom (hers was the smaller, blue one), the buzzer --which alerted the girls that someone was at the door-- blared so loudly that Chloe nearly fell off the couch. Frowning, she slowly got off the piece of furniture and made her way across the white carpeted floors. "Who is it?" she called into the intercom.
"Lex," a voice returned.
*Uh oh* Her eyes traveled to her attire. "What do you want, Lex?" she asked in a tone that, hopefully, was more flirty than nervous.
"To see you," he replied bluntly.
*If I hurry, I can be dressed in three minutes. It will take him about that long to get up here.* "Uh, come on up; our door is unlocked." She buzzed him in, then bolted toward her surprisingly neat roo, yanking off her pajamas along the way.
The second she closed her door and dove for her closet, she heard Lois say, "Hi. You must be Chloe's friend."
Chloe stuffed her legs into a pair of black jeans, praying her cousin wouldn't have time to humiliate her or Lex.
"Yes. I'm Lex. You must be Lois." His voice was polite, but curious. "Where's Chloe?"
"Oh, she's--"
A dark green t-shirt and a green-purple plaid flannel completed her look; she threw her door open and announced, "I'm right here," before Lois could finish her potentially embarrassing statement. "Nice to see you, Lex."
His bright eyes swept over her outfit with practiced ease, but there was nothing sleazy about the gesture. "Good to see you, Chloe," he returned sincerely, his eyes now fixated on her smiling face. "I hope this isn't a bad time."
Her blonde eyebrows raised and her arms crossed over her chest in a gesture of amused surprise. "Since when do you care about such things, Lex?"
Since when, indeed. "Because I want to take you out." *What does 'that' mean?*
Apparently, she was asking herself the same quesion; her brow furrowed and she smirked. However, all she said was, "now?"
"Right now."
Lois, who had been standing slightly behind Chloe and frowning, spoke up. "Why 'now'? It's not even noon yet!"
An amused chuckle from Lex. "Chloe and I haven't seen each other in broad daylight yet." He paused, and Lois's eyes grew wide at the insinuation she believed to be true. "So, Miss Sullivan, if you'd like to accompany me somewhere downtown..." He held out his hand, and the blonde woman grasped it instantly.
"Certainly, Mister Luthor." They shared a grin, then Chloe turned to her unhappy cousin. "Bye, Lo. Going out with Clark today?"
Lois only shrugged. "Get out of here."
The couple happily obeyed.
******
"Where are we going?" Chloe demanded, when she was dragged unceremoniously past the apartment building, and down the sidewalk. Lex had an obvious destination in mind, or else his step was always so quick and confident. He was staring straight ahead, as straight-faced as he could be.
"You'll see," he promised cryptically, allowing his lips to curve into a smirk.
MORE SOON