I disclaim.

AN: This story kind of came from the spoilers from Hex and Eternal. But other than the basic concepts, there really are no spoilers. I based the story earlier in the series because I wanted to write Chloe and Davis before Brainiac and Jimmy.

AN2: Reviews are always more than welcomed and embarrassingly begged for.

Chapter 1

When she finally walked into the elegant ballroom, Davis Bloome all but heard his heart slam to a stop against his ribcage. He'd been expecting and not expecting her all night. So, therefore wasn't at all prepared for the impact she made. Chloe Sullivan was a hot little number if ever there was one. Everything she was-brass, intelligent, sexy, confident-poured off her in dizzying waves. He couldn't remember ever wanting anything so badly.

Davis watched her all night. It killed him to keep his distance, but he had this all worked out. He'd wait until the end of the night, he wanted to be that last face she saw before she went home, then he ask her to dance. He knew, deep down, that they'd connect. So he wasn't in the least bit worried about her not feeling for him what he felt for her. They'd dance, he wouldn't ask for her number, she wouldn't offer to give it to him. But she'd think about him, and she'd wonder about the next time they would meet. He was prepared to wait for her.

He knew the exact moment she realized he was watching. The stiffening of her spine was slight, but he noticed everything she did. When she turned, those amazing sea-goddess eyes locking with his, Davis continued to stare. Long moments passed and neither of them looked away. Finally, he allowed the smile to form slowly on his mouth as he lifted the glass of champagne in a sort of salute. Her response was to turn her back on him.

*********

Despite how badly the night started off, Chloe was feeling pretty damn good. Sure, she was denied admission into Metropolis University's journalism program, this last year of high school seemed to be never ending, all the work she put in at The Planet last summer was for nothing since she was asked not to come back, and her friends were even more annoying than usual. But none of that was bothering Chloe; she was feeling just fine. Apparently a couple of glasses of Moet did that to a girl.

"Earth to Chloe," Lois Lane waved an impatient hand in front of her cousin's face. "Come in, Chloe."

Chloe blinked, resisted the urge to slap her cousin's hand away. "Huh?"

"We need your score on Lana's pick."

"Oh," Chloe studied the guy Lana picked. "Um, jeez Lana. Five…five and a half, maybe. God, barely."

"That makes him a….six and a half. Barely." Lois bit back a laugh. "Sorry, Lana."

"It's almost like you guys do this on purpose." Lana mumbled dejectedly.

Yes, that's right, Chloe thought. It was just further proof that the world revolved around Lana Lang. Because even in a silly game they came up with one day at The Talon, someone was out to get Lana.

"His tux jacket is rolled up to his elbows." Lois pointed out.

"He's not a ten." Chloe added before glancing over her shoulder. "That's a ten."

Lois turned to the guy Chloe gestured towards. "Oh, definitely a ten. And he's been staring at you all night, cuz. You should go talk to him."

"Okay, what about him." Lana tossed out excitedly. "Nine and a half."

Dutifully, the two cousin's turned to the guy their friend pointed out.

"Seven and a half."

"Seven. Which makes him an eight?" Chloe turned to her cousin. "You?"

"I think I'll pass. Over there talking to Lex and the tall red-head. Nine, easy."

"Very easy." Chloe agreed. "Oh, wait, he just smiled. I say ten."

"That's my cue."

"I'm really starting to think you guys are doing this to me on purpose." Lana pouted.

Still sober enough to realize she would likely say something to hurt Lana's feelings, Chloe finished off her glass of champagne. "I need another drink." Her exit may have been hasty, but it was for the good of their friendship.

"You probably shouldn't drink anymore."

"Probably." Chloe gestured to the bar. "Yet, here I am."

"Things are not as bleak as you think them to be."

Seriously, Chloe frowned, who the hell talked like that. "Listen," Her voice was as polite as she could make it when she turned to the red head next to her. "I'm just trying to get wasted. So if you could leave me to that....it would be awesome."

"That young man over there, can't take his eyes off you. Why won't you go talk to him?"

"Because I've seen this movie, okay. I know how it ends; me fucked up and fucked over. So, I'd rather not."

"It could be different this time."

"Yeah, well, that's not a chance I'm willing to take."

Placing her hand on Chloe's shoulder, the red head made sure the younger woman was looking her in the eye. "What do you want, Chloe?"

"To have feelings for someone who actually returned them, would be nice. To be number one for a change." Chloe paused, wanting to look away but finding herself unable to. "I just want to be okay. To be happy would be nice, but at this point I'd just like to be okay."

"Okay," The woman released her hold on Chloe, said nothing as the girl walked away with a pilfered bottle of champagne. "But I think I can do better than okay."