Designer Showcase

By Mindige0

“So here's the challenge, should you choose to accept it….” Chloe said to Clark as she sat at his table while he was in the library of the university doing one of his homework assignments for class, so that he would be free this weekend to spend it with his best friend, which was not the person who was sitting practically on top of him with a smile on her face that told him he had better be prepared to fight.

“No way, I'm not in it” Clark said before going back to his book on something that Chloe had no interest in.

“Oh but you do my farm friend, it will look good on your resume and you know that building your resume is important” Chloe said with a smirk on her face knowing that Clark wouldn't turn down the chance once she explained what it was that she was challenging him to. Clark raised an eyebrow like Lex would and had to wonder what Chloe had roped him into this time around. The last time she had done this, he had ended up half naked and dancing around a bar for money because he refused to let Chloe use him as a model for one of her art classes that she was taking. He knew an answer of no would harm him more than saying yes, now to only find out what the crazy blonde had planned.

“So tell me” Clark prompted Chloe hoping that it was something that he would be able to work with Lex on since he hadn't been able to spend as much time as he would have liked with his best friend due to their busy schedules. This weekend had been cleared by both of them just for the two of them and Clark couldn't help but think that this was a date and he was so very excited to be going on it this weekend with Lex, unless Chloe ruined it with her scheme to embarrass or get Clark to notice that she was the one for him, his other half which was so not the case for if any one was Clark's other half it would be Lex. He could only hope that one day he would have enough confidence to tell the other man about his feelings, which he could only hope were returned.

“Well it seems that this weekend is the beginning weekend that the senior interior design students have a chance to show off their stuff to the companies that are looking to hire new designers.” Chloe said with a smile lighting up her face at the next words that were going to come out of her mouth.

“Okay, so?” Clark said already wondering what Chloe had done and how he could get out of it so that he could spend the weekend with his best friend and secret love.

“Well since you are a senior and I didn't see your name on the list for the decorating showcase, I signed you up.” Chloe crowed thinking that she had made the perfect move to get closer to Clark, so that he would finally notice her and how right they were for each other.

“Chloe I didn't sign up because I have plans for this weekend, I've had them for over a month now and you didn't think to ask me if I was okay with doing the showcase before you signed me up?” Clark said angry at Chloe for what she had done, for he knew that this had nothing to do with helping Clark get a job at a local interior design business but was a way for her to get closer to Clark to make him see that she was meant to be with him.

“Clark” Chloe whined thinking that if she played her cards right should would not only get out of trouble with Clark but also be his team mate for the showcase.

“No Chloe, you have ruined a weekend that has been in the works for months just because of some stupid reason, I can't believe you would do that to me.” Clark said before closing up his books and gathering his items in his bag and walking away from Chloe and the library so that he could cool off and figure out a way to tell Lex the bad news. Clark of course had been pushed by all his professors to join the showcase, but with the excuse of something previously planned they had backed down, now though there way no way to back out of the showcase since he knew none of his professors would allow him to back out now that Chloe had signed him up. Clark was just about ready to head back to his dorm room when his cell phone went off to Robin Thicke's ‘Lost without U' song.

“Hey Lex” Clark said with a smile, he had to wonder on what Lex would think of the ring tone that Clark had picked out for him; for he knew that Lex had picked out a song by Justin Timberlake. Clark didn't know which one, but he hoped that it was ‘My Love' or ‘LoveStoned' that the other man had picked out for him.

“Clark” Lex said his voice just as warm and inviting as it always sounded when he was dealing with the dark haired man.

“I got some bad news” Clark said knowing that beating around the bush with Lex would get him no where.

“Oh” Lex said his voice taking on a cool tone, not wanting to hear that Clark had chosen to do something else instead of spending his time with Lex himself.

“Chloe decided to sign me up for the senior interior design showcase that is to start this weekend. I have told her time and again that I had plans but she obliviously didn't care and signed me up anyway, so now I have to cancel our weekend together and I had so been looking forward to it.” Clark said with a blush on his cheeks due to the words that he just spoke. That had been the closest he got to admitting to Lex that he felt something more for Lex than just a friend.

“Tell me about this showcase” Lex said already wondering if there was a way that they could still spend time together this weekend and maybe many others if the showcase would allow for it, since he too had been looking forward to having all of Clark's attention on him for a whole weekend.

“Well the showcase is usually for graduating seniors looking for jobs in the design world, so what they do is ask some of the top interior design firms to come in and judge each senior that enters a house into the showcase.” Clark said trying to explain how the process worked since he wasn't too sure on the specifics of the process either.

“Okay, so I think I understand the process but why would Chloe sign you up for something that? She didn't ask you if you wanted to participate in it before signing you up.” Lex said angry at the blonde for trying once again to steal Clark away from him when he had finally worked out a plan to let the other man know how he felt about him and he was going to put that plan into action this weekend but now he may have to wait and that was something Lex Luthor did not do, was wait.

“Because one of the clauses in the showcase is that you can have a helper, someone that isn't in interior design but someone that can help you with things if you need it.” Clark said hoping that he wouldn't have to tell Lex that Chloe wanted to be that person for reasons that lead all the way back to Smallville and her love for him that never faded.

“So she thought she would be that helper and that would wake you up to her and life would end happily ever after for her and you?” Lex said his voice telling Clark that Chloe had better not cross his path anytime soon for she would be crushed like a bug.

“Pretty much that is what I gather, but I refuse to ask her for I know she won't help me and if I am in this thing I am going to be serious about it not just do a half-attempt at it.” Clark said already thinking of design ideas for the rooms that he would be required to decorate and on a budget.

“Well” Lex said at a loss as to what to say, but Clark came up with something that he thought would work out well for the both of them.

“How about you become my partner for the showcase?” Clark said meaning partner in two ways, but hoping that Lex only got one for the time being for he didn't need to complicate things anymore than they already were.

“Me?” Lex asked surprised that Clark was willing to ask him to do something like this with him.

“Sure, I think I could use your input into anything I may need help on and it would make Chloe even angrier that I asked you instead of her to be my partner.” Clark said with a laugh and a smile on his face with thoughts of the two of them working together on something.

“Clark, I don't do manual labor” Lex said a smirk on his face wondering what Clark's response to that would be.

“You did at the farm and you will now, look at it this way until the house is done we get to spend all of our time together.” Clark said his cheeks red once again due to admitting the fact that they he wouldn't mind spending as much time as possible with Lex.

“Clark” Lex said excited yet afraid of how to answer the question. On one hand he was dieing to say yes to the other man, but the other side the more logical side said that this could cause huge problems with his business and he didn't need his father on his back at this moment in time due to the large contract that was in process for Lex Corp. The silence told Clark that he had asked the wrong thing and the feelings that the older man had for him may have just been for friendship, so it was with a lump in his throat that Clark spoke again.

“It's okay Lex, I didn't think….” Clark said before he just hung up the phone unable to speak any longer due to the tears that he could feel coming to his eyes, not a second later did Lex's ring tone go off on Clark's phone.

“Lex” Clark croaked out hoping that the other man wouldn't notice his change in voice.

“You hung up on me” Lex said in an accusing voice but his tone was also warm to let the other man know that there were no hard feelings.

“I did” Clark said feeling a bit better now that Lex was speaking to him again, maybe Lex would just forget what he asked and he would go out and find Chloe to work with him on the showcase, even though he didn't want to.

“Clark here is the thing, I would love nothing more than to help you with the showcase but I am afraid that I will cause too much of a stir and that could be a bad thing for everyone involved including you.” Lex said trying to make Clark understand that he was looking out for the best interests of Clark yet again and disregarding what his father had beaten into him as a small child.

“I don't care what others think Lex, I want you to help me and if you want to then you should be able to. If you are worried about Lex Corp taking flack for this or your father coming down on you about it, then I say we deal with it together because this is a partnership we are in for the showcase and I won't have you getting hurt because of me.” Clark said with so much passion Lex had to wonder on if the younger man had more than friendly feelings for him.

“Clark, you my friend are the best” Lex said a happy smile on his face due to the fact that he knew that with Clark by his side anything his father threw at him during this time or any time would only backfire on the older man in the long run for he planned to do everything in his power to make his father look like a fool on this, while spending as much time with the love of his life as he could.

“So yeah?” Clark asked excited that Lex was actually going to say yes to helping him out in the showcase as his partner.

“Yes, I'll be your partner for the Designer's Showcase” Lex said properly but with a huge smile on his face, which was how his assistant found him when she came in to speak to Lex. With a raised eyebrow to Lex, thoughts were already filling the woman's head on who would have “The Lex Luthor” in such an amazing mood.

“We'll talk later Clark, my assistant is here giving me the evil eye.” Lex said before waving her in to the seat on the other side of the large desk that he sat behind and laughing at something that Clark said before hanging up his cell phone.

“Bella” Lex said with his Luthor face back in place, knowing that the woman that was sitting on the other sit of the table had plenty of questions and would want answers if he was to get any work out of her in the near future.

“Mr. Luthor, who was that and why did they put you in such a good mood?” Bella said cutting straight to the heart of the matter, she could tell Lex about his day after she found out who made her boss look like the young billionaire that he was.

“My best and probably first true friend, Clark Kent” Lex said knowing that Bella would say nothing to no one for that woman had decided to adopt Lex as her child even though he was the Luthor heir and old enough to take care of him self for the most part, she still saw Lex as the lost little child that he was when he was with Clark and having issues with his father and his father's treatment of him.

“And why have I not seen or heard about this young man until today?” Bella said with a reprimanding tone but also with a small smile on her face to show Lex that she wasn't really angry with him.

“He is a senior in college and has been busy making sure that he has everything ready for his graduation this spring, as for why you have not seen him here at the office it is because as you know my father has a few spies in the building to find out who is coming in and out of the office so when I do get a chance to see Clark it is outside of this office and outside of my father knowledge which is just the way I want to keep it. My father will do everything in his power to break the friendship that Clark and I have up, even if that means marrying me off to some woman for which I do not love.” Lex said remembering the last time that he had seen Clark and the amount of fun they had when Clark had taken the pair of them to a vintage video arcade and he had royally kicked Clark's butt on every game there; all the while wondering when his father's goons were going to come in and take him away from his “date” with Clark since his father had seen him leave with the younger man. He had of course paid dearly for his time out with Clark that time, and he had made a promise never to allow Lionel Luthor to know when and where he went when he was with Clark. Lex never noticed the dreamy smile he got on his face due to his thoughts about a certain six foot plus farm boy on his mind, but Bella did and she had to wonder on if Mr. Clark Kent meant more to Lex than just best friends, she would of course have to meet Clark and see if he was worthy of her “adopted” son and if so; she would have plans to make to bring the pair together because if the look on Lex's face was anything to go by Lex was so far in love with the other man that he couldn't think straight when it came time to deal with his emotions for the other man and it may take Lex a long time to finally try and tell Clark about his feelings and that may be too late and Bella wanted nothing more than for Lex to be happy and as soon as possible.

“And when will I be meeting him?” Bella said wondering if she would need to have to make plans for the three of them to have dinner so that she could meet the love of Lex's life. Lex raised his eyebrows at her question but thought about when would be a good time for his assistant to meet Clark.

“Let me see when he is available to come for a visit” Lex said hoping that Clark wouldn't turn him down on a visit while he was at the office. Bella nodded her head before getting down to the reason she was there in the office in the first place, Lex's plans for the day.

“Is that all?” Lex said twenty minutes later after Bella had finished with her list of things that Lex had, that either needed to be done by the end of the day or by the end of the week.

“It is” Bella said while watching Lex and the tension that was in his body, some of the tasks where things she knew that he was not looking forward to since they dealt with his father and any time Lex dealt with that man; he always, always needed Clark as soon as possible after the meeting although Bella did not know this for she had never been around for when Lionel Luthor would whirl into the office and make Lex feel as if he was a horrible son and person, to get what he wanted out of his son. He had been lucky thus far because his father had stayed away from the Lex Corp Tower, but it seemed that today Lionel Luthor was in too good of a mood to stop himself from coming to “visit” his son over a business venture he wanted to arrange with Lex. Lex of course knew better than to expect his father to allow him to say no, but he hoped that this time his father would be too busy with his scheme to take over Lex Corp that he would forget all about his business arrangement he had made with another company over Lex and his future. That or it would give him enough time to find a way out of the plans that his father had made for him, he really hoped that he would have time to find a way out of the plan since he really didn't want to put up a fight with his father at this point in time.

“Thank you Bella” Lex said kindly while waiting for his assistant to leave the room before pressing speed dial number one on his cell phone to call Clark, he needed his friend and he needed him now and he didn't think that he would be able to wait until that weekend before being able to see the younger man.

“Lex” Clark said in answer to the second ring on his phone, not worried about who heard him answer the phone with Lex's name on his lips.

“Clark” Lex said with a quiet sigh that only Clark could hear and alerted him that things were not good in Lex's world.

“I'll be over to the office in twenty minutes” Clark said before hanging up the phone and walking away from Chloe and Lana who had cornered him about the showcase and what he planned to do since Lana had asked Chloe to be her partner. Chloe had not looked happy when Lana had said that she was partnered up with Chloe but at that point in time Clark couldn't care about Chloe's feelings since she was the one who signed him up even after knowing that he was going to spend the weekend with Lex, for some quality time that the pair hadn't had in a long time. Clark had avoided answering who would be his partner while he was in the showcase, and he was quite glad that Lex had called right then because he wasn't really sure if he really wanted to be anywhere near those two women at the present time since all the both of them could do was brag about how great their showcase house was going to be.

“Clark!” Chloe yelled making a few people turn around and look around for what was going on.

“I gotta go” Clark said with his back still turned as he jogged away from Chloe and Lana on his way to see Lex and what was wrong with the older man.

“Clark Kent!” Chloe yelled again only to get no response since Clark had turned the corner of a building and had began running towards the nearest bus that would take him to Lex Corp Towers. Twenty minutes later as promised Clark walked out of the private elevator that was reserved for Lex himself and only a few others such as his assistant and Clark when he made visits to the tower. Lex knew how much Clark hated heights and so he had bought the best elevator on the market so that Clark wouldn't know how many floors they were up and worry about if the elevator got stuck in between floors. He had seen Clark have a panic attack over the elevator at the plant when they had gotten stuck going to the fourth floor of the building and he had made a promise to himself that he would do all in his power to make sure nothing like that happened to Clark while he was in a building that held Lex and his company in it.

“May I help you?” Bella said looking over the young man that had just stepped out of the private elevator that only people with special clearance were allowed to use. Clark didn't get a chance to open his mouth and answer before the double doors to Lex's office swung or more like slammed open and Lex walked out and directly into Clark's open waiting arms. This of course raised all sorts of flags with Bella but when she heard Lex mumble the name Clark a few times, she calmed down and watched as the pair interacted.

“Lex you okay?” Clark asked concerned that something bad had happened to his friend and he wouldn't or couldn't be able to fix it, as he always tried to do when Lex was involved. This of course always set off both Lana and Chloe since they both felt that Clark spent way too much time with Lex, a friend, and not enough time looking for love in their directions or looking for love at all. His parents had finally understood that to Clark, Lex was his world and it would take something very horrible to break the pair up. Jonathan Kent had actually taken a shine to Lex; once Lex sat down with the older man and helped him plan out how the farm could become more profitable if they did certain things and invested in adverting. Since then not only had Lex become a part of the Kent family, but the Kent Organic Farm had taken off and now had four full time employees to work the fields and deliver the produce that was ordered from all around Smallville and as far away as Metropolis.

“Father is coming for a visit in a couple of hours” was all Lex needed to say before he was back in a huge hug that Bella had a hard time finding her boss in since all she could see was plaid and a Greek God body that surrounded her boss.

“You want me here when he comes?” Clark asked without a care in the world as to what would happen to him should Lionel Luthor see him with his son. Lex just nodded his head since he knew his father was up to no good if the humor he was in over the phone was anything to go by.

“You think he is trying to marry you off again?” Clark whispered into Lex's ear which sent shivers down both their backs, but which had Lex nodding his head in agreement that Lionel had set up something that would ruin what little happiness he had and it would get his company away from him with as little legal recourse as possible for Lex.

“I won't let that happen and you know that, so don't worry about it” Clark said before walking Lex into his office and closing the door quietly behind himself. Once the door was closed Lex broke down into tears.

“Shhhhh, everything is going to be alright.” Clark said afraid that Lex was going to do something rash and soon. Lex shook his head and began planning away to get away from his father and for good he only hoped that Clark had enough friendship love for him to go along with the plan.

“Lex stop that thinking that you are doing” Clark said lifting Lex's head and see the wheels in that genius brain working over time. Lex had to smile at how well Clark knew him and how he didn't run away whenever he had these breakdowns before and after his father would come. They were few and far between but then they did happen Lex knew that he need not say anything to the other man before he would arrive with his arms wide open ready to comfort him should be he need it. It was while Clark rocked Lex back and forth that Bella made an appearance at the door to speak with Lex.

“Mr. Luthor”

“Bella” Lex said pulling just a bit out of Clark's grasp so that he could speak to his assistant face to face.

“Your father has just entered the building”

“Thank you Bella for letting me know.” Lex said before pulling Clark closer wanting to get as much love and heat from the other man as possible before his father came and made him cold and depressed.

“And who might you be?” Bella said knowing that Lex wasn't in any shape to introduce the pair to each other.

“Clark Kent” Clark said eyeing the woman before him and wondering if she was safe to have around Lex. He hadn't heard anything bad about the woman but he also hadn't heard anything at all which usually meant that they were either doing their job well or they were working for Lionel Luthor and didn't have time to work for Lex.

“So you are the famous Clark, Lex has just told me about. I always wondered who he was on the phone with for hours during the middle of the day.” Bella said with a warm smile on her face. She could see now that Clark loved Lex as much if not more than Lex loved Clark and it was only a matter of time before the pair expressed their love for one another, she could only hope that it would be before Lionel Luthor and his plans of crushing Lex came to be true. Clark nodded his head and blushed before pushing Lex a bit to let him know that he had better have an excuse for him not telling Clark about the mother hen assistant that Lex had working for him.

“Later, I have my father to deal with right now” Lex said before pulling Clark into another hug and then taking it a step further and kissing the younger man on the cheek, none of this went un-noticed by Bella and she had to smile at the looks of love on both young men's faces. Just as the pair broke apart Lionel Luthor came in with a whirl of wind and wild hair.

“Alexander” Lionel said before pulling up short seeing Clark standing next to his son with a look of pure protection and Kent anger on his face directed at him.

“Father” Lex said moving just a bit closer to Clark so that he could still feel the body heat coming off the other man, he knew he would be able to keep his cool while dealing with his father if he was close to Clark. He would have loved to hold Clark's hand but knew better than to try something like that right now while his father was in his radar, for the man noticed just about everything that Lex did while he would visit. He of course for some reason never noticed that Lex was in love with Clark, but that may have been because Lex always made sure to make it look like the only thing he felt for Clark was friendship and nothing more and so far it seemed to have worked, for which Lex was grateful.

“Why is the Kent boy here and not in Hicksville, USA or somewhere that is more his style, farming and all that?” Lionel said with a sneer on his face, he never did like the Kent's much but the son of the Kent's had changed his son into something that he was having trouble controlling and that was unacceptable in his book, so he worked very hard on trying to get Lex to see that Clark Kent was a no body and would drop him the moment he got what he wanted from Lex like everyone that dealt with the Luthor heir; which was his money. He had figured that once the boy went off to college he would leave Lex behind and Lionel would be able to mold his son into he perfect heir to take over Luthor Corp should anything happen to him.

“Because this is Lex Corp Tower, not Luthor Corp Tower and because of that Clark is welcome here any time.” Lex said hoping to get the fight with his father over as soon as possible so that he could go back to holding onto Clark. He knew he was pushing the line with Clark and all the touching that they did, but since neither of the Kent parents or Clark had disagreed to the physical contact between the two he couldn't seem to get enough of it when he was able to get it.

“Alexander” Lionel said with a sigh wondering on how he was going to tell his son that he no longer needed the Kent boy in his life since he would soon be married and starting a family with one of his business associates daughters. This of course was part of the deal for the contract that the company would make with Luthor Corp when all was said and done, to get the contract Lionel had heard that he had to please the daughter of the CEO and president of the company and what the daughter wanted was Lex Luthor as her husband and father to her children. Now it was just a matter of making Lex understand his obligation to the family and fulfill the contract so that Luthor Corp would finally be able to buy out the fast paced and growing Lex Corp and put Lex right where Lionel wanted him, under his thumb. Lionel never knew that once his son was sold to an idea he attacked like any good Luthor would and that was with 200% commitment, so if Lex didn't want to marry the girl for the good of his father's company he would go after the company and make it his while never making any promises of marriage or any other underhanded things. He had learned from the Kent's that being up front with people gave people a respect that would always be better for you in the long run, since one bad thing from one person could literally make or break your business.

“Father, I have some business to tend to with Clark and also for Lex Corp so why don't you cut to the chase?” Lex said feeling stronger already since Clark had taken his hand behind his back to give it a squeeze and Lionel had not noticed at all if the look on his face meant anything.

“You are pushing it Alexander” Lionel said at a loss as to what to do with this new Lex. Lex just looked at his father wondering how long it would take for the other man to speak what he came here to speak.

“Sytek, Inc. wants to make a deal with Luthor Corp and part of the deal is for you to marry the daughter of the CEO and president of the company. I feel you should have no problem meeting this requirement since you are not attached and you certainly could do for a little more female interaction these days, since it seems you prefer the company of the Kent boy more than you do of the women that are all falling at your feet to be with you.” Lionel said while pacing the floor of the office making both Lex and Clark nervous that he would notice that Clark had yet to release Lex's hand from his grasp.

“Father I do not have time to play with women who only want me for my money or for the thrill of sleeping with Lex Luthor, so if that means that most of my time is spent in the company of my best friend than so be it. No one else seems to have a problem with it besides you.” Lex said glad that he had finally gotten some of his feelings about Clark out in the open so that the dark haired man could hear and understand that he was the most important thing in Lex's life and always would be if Clark allowed it. Lionel Luthor was stunned beyond words, so it was a good thing that Bella came swaying her hips into the office distracting Lionel away from the pair to let Lex know that his father's limo driver had just called and said that if they were to make it to the lunch meeting they had on time that they would need to leave in the next few minutes.

“Alexander this isn't over” Lionel said before slamming the door and walking out of the Lex Corp Towers once he reached the bottom floor he and his wild mane of hair entered the limo with thoughts on how he was going to get his son to follow the simple directions he had given the younger man, marry the girl and get rid of Clark Kent.

“Lex” Clark said quietly into Lex's ear since as soon as the doors to the office had closed Lex was back in Clark's arms trying hard not to shed any tears over what his father had just done or was trying to do. Lex just shook his head not ready to respond or leave the comfort of Clark's arms. Clark knew then that this was serious and that Lex would be scheming for a way out of the mess that his father put him in, he only hoped that he was part of the plan for he didn't think he would be able to continue on as the same person without Lex in his life. He would wait for now for Lex to tell him what *they* were going to do but for now he had something to say that he knew would make the other man laugh and show him that beautiful Lex smile that was rarely seen by anyone other than Clark and the Kent family.

“Guess what?” Clark said to Lex not worried about Bella or Lionel hearing since they had both left at the same time. Lionel to try to get Bella to have sex with him or work for him and Bella to leave the two boys alone hoping that something would come from Lionel's “visit of doom” as she liked calling it now in her head. Lex picked his head off of Clark's large chest and eyed Clark wondering if his was a ‘bad' or ‘good' guess what.

“Who would have known that Lex Luthor was a snuggler?” Clark said a huge smile on his face to show that he didn't mind being the teddy bear for Lex to snuggle up against. Lex tried and failed to glare up at Clark but with the huge happy smile on Clark's face Lex wasn't able to keep his composure and began to grin like a loon and then laugh when Clark snuggled even closer to the other man while they both still stood up.

“Snuggleholic” Lex said before putting his nose in Clark's neck and taking a deep but slow breath of the other man. Clark had to make sure that Lex wasn't standing too close to him for if he was he would find out that there was more of Clark's body that was happy for the snuggling.

“At least you have admitted you have a problem; Lex that is the first step in any program, right?” Clark said before laughing at the glare he got in return for his comment.

“I deny any problems that I have with snuggling.” Lex said before nodding his head and making it sound final which Clark knew meant that Lex was having fun now and had forgotten about his father and his request at least for the moment.

“Sure says the Snuggleholic, do I need to do an intervention?” Clark said loving that Lex was so different when others were away.

“No” Lex said before giving Clark a raspberry on his neck and then stepping away with a huge smile on his face, due to the look on Clark's face.

“You just did not give me a raspberry? Tell me you didn't?” Clark said already planning out his revenge which would require Lex on the ground being tickled until he couldn't breathe.

“I refuse to answer and I take the fifth” Lex said before making his way to his desk hoping that Clark wouldn't do anything to him while he was in his office since he knew Clark knew how to make him squeak in the most unattractive way.

“Hmmmm” Clark said before grabbing a chair and moving it over next to Lex so that he could talk to the other man and not feel like he was a client or employee's of Lex.

“Chloe is working with Lana on the showcase” Clark said by way of changing topic since he knew that Lex was now in all out planning mode to get his father back, he could see it in his eyes and the way he sat.

“Ah so the vapid Ms. Lang got to Ms. Sullivan before you did” Lex said a grin on his face to show that he was glad that Chloe was getting what she deserved.

“Sure did and then they wanted to know who I had asked and then rub in my face that my showcase house was going to be the worst of the group.” Clark said a bit down that both Lana and Chloe would stoop so low as to make fun of Clark and his lack of confidence in his designs. Lex on the other hand was seeing red and was also making plans for the pair of them to go down with his father for hurting Clark.

“Don't worry about them Lex, that showcase home will be filled with pink puffy stuff and Chloe thinks that she is going to be able to put together stuff like furniture or whatever but she doesn't have the knowledge or the know how to open a jar of my Mom's strawberry preserves.” Clark said remembering the day that Chloe came over in a panic over not being able to open the can of preserves that his mother had given the Sullivan's as a gift for winning a raffle that the school had put on.

“Pink puffy stuff?” Lex said his voice telling Clark that he was amazed that the other man was speaking so truthfully about the girl who seemed to have a fetish for pink, puffy things and for a while seemed to be in love with.

“Oh trust me, if the pink fur rug that Lana was going on about was supposed to make me jealous of her design talent, it only made me want to run in the other direction and hope that we are not required to visit the other showcase homes for I may just vomit on the floor due to all that pink.”

“I must agree with you there” Lex said before asking the one question that had been on his mind since Clark had asked him to be his partner.

“So do *we* have a plan?”

“Plan?” Clark said acting innocent, which had Lex raising his eyebrows telling the other man he didn't believe the innocent act for a minute.

“Well I have some ideas, but I want your input in this too. This is *our* showcase home and well I was hoping to win the contest that comes along with being in the showcase because then you get to keep your home along with getting many, many job offers.” Clark said excited that if he should win he would have a place to live that would mesh both his and Lex's style together, even if they weren't living together.

“I could just buy the house for you, you know?” Lex said giddy that Clark was willing to do all he could to win so that he could keep the house that they decorated together; almost as if they were engaged or married and buying their first home.

“Not the same, I want us to win it” Clark said not realizing that he said us and that he was already thinking about asking Lex to move into the home with him should be win. If he had to live with Lex down the hall from him, he would do it just so that the older man was closer to him which he hoped meant he would get a glimpse of the body that was behind business suits and expensive casual clothing all the time.

“And how many bedrooms does the home have?” Lex asked already wondering if he needed to list the penthouse on the market so that he could move into their home with Clark once it was finished.

“It's three bedrooms, two and a half bath town homes or house from what I understand. Tomorrow we find out which is ours to work on and get all the details and instructions then. I hope that we get the home that is by itself and at the end of long drive that is in Hell's Gates Historic Park, which is right near where the new town homes are. This is the only house and I am told that everyone wants it because if they win they can sell the house for well over a million dollars.” Clark said wondering why any one would want to work with the house since it was the oldest of the buildings that available for the showcase, which meant that there would probably be lots of repairs needed taking up most of the budget that they would be given.

“You've seen it?” Lex asked surprised that Clark knew about the house and had details about what was going on in the showcase even though he didn't want to be in it at the time when Chloe signed him up.

“Of course, they show all the seniors the houses so that they can decide whether or not they want to enter or not. You should have seen the outside of it Lex, it was just wow.” Clark said remembering the walking tour they took of the area that the showcase would take place at this year.

“Did you get to see the inside?” Lex asked wondering on if there were any major repairs that may need to be done to the house should it happen to disappear if Clark didn't get said house as his showcase home.

“No, one gets to see the inside of the homes until the day they get the keys to the house they are working on.” Clark said now excited about working on the showcase since it seemed that Lex really did want to help and be apart of this with him. When he had told Lex he wanted to be an interior designer he wasn't really sure what sort of reaction he would get from the other man. What he did not expect was for Lex to not only help him pick out a college to go to for his degree plan but also not make fun of him or stopped being his friend due to his career path. Chloe had been livid and didn't speak to Clark for the whole summer before their first year of college and Pete never spoke to Clark again saying that “this has taken stalking Lana too far.” At the time he hadn't even known that Lana was going to college let alone to become an interior designer. It had hurt his feelings that his two oldest friends would turn their backs on him so easily but it also made him see that Lex really was a true friend and well worth any of the fights that he and his father, Chloe or Pete had about the older man and their friendship.

“So when can work begin?”

“Well tomorrow in class we get our packets with all of the information that we need for the showcase, including the keys to the house we will be working on. We are not allowed in the houses until after 7 PM tomorrow and our partner must be present. From there we have one month to decorate the whole house.” Clark said hoping that Lex wouldn't go off on the short amount of time they had to work on the house.

“One month?”

“Yeah….I know you'll be super busy with your work here at Lex Corp so if we could spend like a weekend planning out what needs to be done I can take care of the rest. I don't want to be a burden to you….” Clark said worried that Lex would back out on him now after how he excited he got when thinking of working with Lex on the house came to mind.

“Clark, this is *our* home and I plan to be there every step of the way; even if that means that I will be on my cell phone yelling at the people here at work while I am at the house with you picking out kitchen cabinets or plants for the front yard.” Lex said taking hold of Clark's hand to let him know that he was in this 100% with Clark and that Lex Corp and his father would have to wait because this was much more important to him.

“Really? Are you sure?” Clark asked happy that Lex was willing to do this for him.

“I am positive, now there may be a couple of detours in our road that have to deal with my father and the “deal” he made but I don't think there is any thing in this world that would keep me away from helping you plan and decorate *our* house.” Lex said a warm smile on his face, liking the words ‘our house' more and more each time he said them. Clark just nodded his head with a dopey grin on his face and started to rattle on about some of the things that he wasn't sure how the department was going to handle, since to decorate you needed money and from what Clark could tell you as a senior put nothing in except for sweat equity and your design for the home.

“Mr. Luthor” interrupted Clark and brought both Lex's and Clark's attention to Bella who stood in the door with a small smile on her face at the look of coziness they seem to have with each other at that moment. She so didn't want to break things up but since Lex's afternoon appointment was here, she had no way of getting rid of the person without them knowing that Clark was already in the office with Lex and not speaking to the other man about business.

“Bella” Lex said trying to remember if there was something that he needed to have remembered since it seemed that Bella had arrived in full business mode.

“Ms. Paris Belette is here to see you.” Bella said with a frown on her face, she never did like when the woman came to see Lex since she always seem to leave with her latest cell phone in her hand and speaking rapidly in Italian and a smirk on her face. Bella was never really sure if she should say something to Lex about the woman, but she figured that someone like Paris Belette didn't have a chance from Lex Luthor once he figured out what you were up to, it was after all a Luthor trait.

“Lex” a woman with long blonde hair and huge sun glasses said walking into the room without waiting for an invitation into the office. Once in she notice that Clark was sitting next to Lex just a bit too close for her liking.

“And who are you?” She asked thinking that she would get Clark's attention and he would back away from *her* Lex. Lex just looked up from where Clark had been drawing a design for one of the rooms and raised an eyebrow signaling her to either sit down or leave.

“Lex” she said a bit louder which make Clark realize that there was someone else in the room besides the pair of them or Bella. When Clark looked up it was to see the long leggy blonde tapping her foot on the floor waiting for Lex to acknowledge her.

“Sorry” Clark said quietly as he stood up and took the few scribbles that he had before making his way towards the door.

“Clark” Lex said making the other man turn around while the woman's cell phone had rung and she was speaking into it now not paying attention.

“I'll call you after I am done with her.” Lex said making a small silly face to show Clark that he would much rather be with Clark listening about the plans for the house than with the woman that was on the cell phone that now seemed to be screeching into the phone making both men's ears hurt. Clark nodded his head and made his way out of the Lex Corp building and to campus so that he could make it in time for his next class that started in less than thirty minutes, and with a twenty minute bus ride to campus he would be cutting things short.

Clark jogged into the lecture hall that his class was in, with two minutes to spare and just enough time to find a seat in the back of the room where Lana couldn't see him.

“Alright, alright” an older man with short spiky brownish red hair; done almost in a Mohawk, said watching the students talk about the showcase and who they thought would win. When the class heard his voice it became quiet quickly, so that class could begin and everyone could begin the count down to when the showcase students would begin their work the next evening once they received their packet of information on their house and how things were going to be done that year for the judging.

“Dr. Stromer?” A girl with way too much pink on said raising her hand in the air wanting to ask a question once she had everyone's attention including the professor standing in front of the class.

“Yes Ms. Lang” the professor said making Lana blush due to the warm smile that was on his face when answered her.

“For the showcase…..”
“Ms. Lang, I will only say this one time only to you and to this class, I will not give any details about the Senior Designer's Showcase until tomorrow evening when all of the professors from the department hand out the information on what will be required and how the judging will go to the participating seniors. Now if we can begin class…” the professor said looking around the class, as if looking for someone or something in particular. It was once the professor found what he was looking for that he began class speaking on focal points or feature walls. An hour and a half later Clark was glad to finally be out of that class for the day, because it seemed that whenever there was a question to be asked; Clark was always the one to have to answer it even if he sat so far away the professor couldn't see him. Ira, Clark's room mate and friend is certain that the professor was “sweet” on him. Clark of course denied that Dr. Stromer liked him but the more he went to his class with the professor he began to rethink Ira's words. The professor had always been friendly with Clark even when Clark wasn't in one of his courses that semester, of course Clark had chalked that up as the professor caring about each student in the interior design department, but now Clark wasn't so sure on if the overly friendly gestures meant more to the professor in which case, Clark wanted nothing more than to withdraw from the class and avoid the professor as much as possible.

By the time Clark got to his dorm room his cell phone was going off to a ring tone that was *I'm a Barbie*, which meant that it was Chloe.

“Clark” Chloe said her voice too cheerful in his opinion.

“Yes” Clark said slowly wondering what Chloe had gotten him into this time.

“Me and Lana….”

“Lana and I…” Clark corrected her; there was pause on the other end of the line which made Clark think that Chloe had hung up on him.

“Fine! Lana and I were just talking about the Senior Designer Showcase and we just remembered that you never told us who you got to be your partner for it.” Clark knew that Chloe was fishing to not only find out if Clark had a partner, but who it was and to offer dropping Lana if Clark wanted her to work with him instead of the other person since she did after all sign Clark up for the showcase in the first place.

“Chloe don't worry about it, I found someone and so you can work with Lana on her showcase home.” Clark had a small smile on his face at the thought of Chloe and Lana working together. If there was one thing about Chloe that Clark knew would always ring true it was that she hated dealing with Lana, and now she would be dealing with the girl for the next month while she put together her showcase home.

“Come on Clark!” Chloe said now getting angry that Clark wasn't going to tell her who he had found to be his partner. She had been certain that once she signed Clark up that he would automatically ask her to be his partner. She never thought that Clark would storm out as he did and find someone else to work with, and she never had a chance to go after him since as soon as he stormed away Lana came up to her and asked her to help her with the showcase. She hadn't known she agreed until Lana gave her a big hug and smile and told her that they would start planning things out later that day.

“I'm not going to tell you” Clark said again into the phone wondering what Chloe would do once she found out that Lex was his partner. It was as that thought crossed his mind that he realized he needed to speak to the dean of the department about Lex working with him.

“Chloe, I gotta go” Clark said getting ready to hang up the phone so that he could make his way over to the dean's office before the woman left for the day.

“What's going on?” Chloe asked angry that Clark was brushing her off yet again about the showcase.

“I have to go and ask one of my professors a question?” Clark said making sure not to say who he was speaking with or why, because he knew that as soon as Chloe saw Lex's face or heard his name about working with Clark she was going to explode.

“Ooooh, Dr. Stromer?” Chloe said with a dreamy sigh at the end of the professor's name. She had been to one class with Clark and had instantly fallen at the professor's feet just like every other woman and some men had done.

“No” Clark said trying to get Chloe off the phone before he left his dorm room.

“Come on, then who?”

“Don't worry about it, I have to go and shouldn't you be working with Lana planning out her showcase home?” Clark said remembering something that Lana had said when they were rubbing the fact that they were working together in his face.

“Yeah, but I'm playing hooky” Chloe said before letting out a groan.

“Hi Lana” Clark heard on the other side of the phone, he figured that this was the best chance he would find to get rid of the pushy blonde.

“Chloe, I hear that Lana is there and since I have to go and you have some planning to do I will just let you go.” Clark said before pushing the end button on his phone so that Chloe couldn't respond to him. He knew he would hear about it later but right now he had a dean to go and ask a question to. The walk to the Mercer Merchandizing and Hospitality building was made at a quick pace due to Clark worrying that the dean had already left for the day. It was as Clark was making his way to the dean's office that he was stopped by one of the last people he wanted to deal with at that moment.

“Dr. Stromer” Clark said with a small smile on his face while trying to see if the dean's door was open or not.

“Clark” the professor said while checking out Clark's body without Clark noticing because he wasn't watching the professor.

“So what are you here for? Tutoring?” The professor said breaking the silence between the pair.

“Uh no, I'm here to see the dean about something. Do you know if she is in by any chance?” Clark said hoping that the professor would know this bit of information.

“Of course she is, I just left her office a moment ago and was getting ready to pack up my things for the day.”

“Okay, great” Clark said with a smile on his face happy that he had made it to the building in time to speak with the dean of the department.

“Is there a reason you need to speak with her in particular?”

“Uh” Clark said not sure on how to answer the question since he really didn't need to say anything to the professor about his business with the dean, but Clark being Clark he decided to say something to not be rude.

“Clark?”

“I'm going to ask the dean if it is alright if your partner is not a college student for the Designer Showcase.” Clark said trying to evade any more questions.

“A partner outside of college?” Dr. Stromer said amazed that Clark even had friends that were not in college any longer. He had thought that Clark was a shy and timid man that didn't make friends easily, but he could see that he may have been wrong in that assumption.

“Yeah” Clark said shaking his head and looking back down the corridor that led to the dean's office hoping that she hadn't left while he was speaking with the professor.

“Interesting” the professor said getting ready to speak again but Clark cut him off.

“Well I really should go and ask if it is okay or not” Clark said awkwardly, he didn't want to make the professor mad since he was in charge of his grade in class but he also didn't want to miss the dean to ask for approval.

“Ah, yes, yes” the professor said before going to stand next to Clark as if he was going to walk with Clark to the dean's office.

“Do you mind if I tag along?” Dr. Stromer said wanting to know who Clark had gotten as a partner and if they would be a threat to him getting the younger man into bed with him.

“Sure you can come, I guess” Clark said not wanting to refuse the professor easy request. Once Clark had agreed that the professor could come along they made their way down the corridor to the dean's office with the professor going on and on about himself; things in Clark's opinion that should not be shared with one of his college students.

“Knock, knock” the professor said as he stuck his head into the open door to the dean's office.

“Erik back so soon?” Clark heard waiting to get his chance to speak with the woman about Lex being his partner.

“Nah, I just happened to run into a student of mine on the way in that said he needed to speak with you about something. I thought I would tag along with him and listen to what he has to say since it does involve the showcase's rules and regulations.”

“I don't think so Erik, if the young man wants to speak to me about the showcase's rules and regs then he will and if he wants to do that privately I will make sure that happens as well.”

“You can go now Erik” the dean said watching as the man that had his head in the door frame of her office become livid that he she had told him that he could not stay.

“Tienga” Erik said hoping that he would be able to talk the woman into letting him stay.

“Erik, no now let the man in my office” Tienga said before giving Erik a look that told him that if he didn't comply quickly he may lose a body part or two. It was at that look that Erik turned to Clark and spoke.

“Let me know how it goes?”

“Uh, sure” Clark said before sidestepping the other man and knocking on the open door to the dean's office.

“Have a seat and close the door.” The dean said waiting for Clark to comply with her request; once Clark had closed the door to the office she spoke again.

“So how can I help you….” The dean said leaving the sentence hanging since she didn't really know who it was that was sitting on the other side of the desk.

“Clark Kent”

“So what can I help you with Mr. Kent?”

“I'm in the senior showcase as professor Stromer said and I was wondering if it was allowable for the participating senior to have a partner that is not currently in college or may even be at a different college?”

“Hmmm, that is a good question. We have never had to deal with something like this until now I assume since your partner is say out of college?” The dean said guessing at which option was the more likely of the story with the young man sitting in front of her.

“Yes” Clark said hoping that the dean would allow Lex to be his partner for the showcase, he so wanted the time that he spent with Lex working on the showcase to show the older man how he really felt about him, which was that he had fallen for the older man the moment they became friends.

“I personally do not have a problem with it, but let's check the rule and regulations for the showcase just to make sure.” It was with those words that the dean got up and walked over toward a row of plastic binders that had the words ‘Senior Designer Showcase' and a year.

“Here we go” the dean said pulling out a copy a master copy of the rules and regulations for the showcase that was dated in the 1960's. The dean looked through the thick binder for about five minutes before she found what she was looking for.

“Well Mr. Kent, it seems that you may keep your partner for the showcase. In the master rules and regulations it states ‘that a participating senior may choose one person for help, it may be a student from Berkett University, a student from another college or someone that is not currently attending college; the only stipulation is that the partner must not work in the design field in any way. The dean of the department along with the judges will check to make sure that any outside partner, like your partner would have to get approval from at least two professors and myself for your partner to participate. Do you know of two professors that would agree to you using an outside partner?” Tienga asked Clark hoping that the young man in front of her would still participate in the showcase and not withdraw due to not being able to find a partner in time for the challenge. Clark nodded his head while beaming a smile at the dean; he had hoped that Lex would still be allowed to be his partner.

“I think I can get Dr. LaPorta and Dr. Surmelis to agree”

“Well once you have their or some other professor's approval, come back and see me with the professors with you. We won't be able to give you your information packet tomorrow if this isn't cleared up, from there we can get approval for your partner just in time to reveal how the Senior Designer Showcase is going to take place this year.” Tienga said to Clark staring at him and wondering why she had never seen or heard of a Clark Kent in the Interior Decorating degree plan path and she usually made an effort to know every person that was on that particular degree path. Clark nodded his head before standing up and making his way towards the door to the Dean's office before turning around and thanking the woman once again.

“You can't thank me yet, you have two professors to get approval from first. I am glad that you came to me first though so that I would have time to prepare extra information for ‘outside' partners. Most people don't read the instructions when signing up and there fore when they get there and they have their mother's friend who is a designer as a partner they are disqualified and then that is when things get ugly, since most of the students feel there should always be an exception to the rules, but the rules are the rules and if they didn't bother to read them then I can't help them.” Tienga said in a mini-rant to Clark. Clark of course took it all in stride since Lex tended to do the same thing when his father made an appearance and demanded something of Lex that Lex wasn't capable of doing or felt was morally wrong to do.

“I'm sorry about that” Tienga said before gathering herself up before taking a deep breath before she began her work to keep her occupied until Clark came back with two professors and their approvals.

“Thanks for this chance” Clark said with a shy smile on his face, for he knew that all hell would break lose once the town of Metropolis, the country and the world found out that Lex Luthor was helping a college senior in a challenge that would allow for the winner designer to work at one of the most premiere interior design firm there was in Metropolis and possibly in other large cities across America and also keep their designed house as a the grand prize; Clark knew things would get ugly and fast.

Clark was making his way to find the two professors that he hoped would agree for Lex being his partner, when low and behold Mr. Stromer comes around the corner just as Clark was about to make a right turn to reach the first professor's office, hoping that they too were in their office.

“Clark” Dr. Stromer said as he jogged up to where Clark stood ready to knock at the door of the first professor he was going to ask.

“Dr. Stromer” Clark said not sure what to do, should he knock on the door and let the professor answer it and then get fifty questions from Dr. Stromer, or should he stand outside the door and hope that the professor inside doesn't hear them speaking or does and waits until Dr. Stromer leaves.

“Why are you over here? First the dean now Dr. LaPorta, is there something going on that I should know about?” Dr. Stromer said tying to make his words sound like he was kidding when Clark knew he wasn't and that was what bothered him about this professor; it was almost as if the man was stalking him and he didn't like that feeling at all.

“It's about my showcase partner” Clark knew that once the words came out of his mouth he had said the wrong thing for the look on Dr. Stromer's face said it all, that he wanted to know what was going on and he wanted to know now.

“Erik quit harassing the man, he seems to want to speak with me not you so shoo.” Said a 4 foot 6 inch women with medium length black hair said staring at Erik as if willing him to move.

“Fine, fine…I always get kicked out of the fun stuff” Dr. Stromer said before looking at Clark with his best kicked puppy look, which in Clark's opinion looked like a fool.

“Well go on then” the other professor said waiting for Erick Stromer to leave the hallway.

“Come on in Clark and why are you here today?” his professor said with a smile on her face while indicating a seat in front of the cluttered desk.

“To make a long story short, one of my friends…well ex-friend signed me up to be in the Senior Designer Showcase”

“Oh that's great you're going to be in the showcase”

“Yeah it would have been if she would have asked me first before signing me up. I had plans with my best friend for the weekend and now I won't be able to go at all or any time soon since the showcase build lasts a month.” Clark said tying to stay calm as Lex had told him to do on multiple occasions when dealing with someone in authority.

“And it is too late to withdraw so you had to find a partner and quickly, am I correct?”

“Yes, but there is more to it the person that signed me up wanted to be my partner” Clark said with a blush on his face he knew his professor would what he wasn't saying.

“Oh” the professor said thinking that who ever had done this to Clark was a right idiot and self-centered person.

“Yeah, so when I found out what she did I left to go and talk to my best friend to see if I could reschedule or go out on a limb and ask him to help me out.”

“So far I follow, so what does this have to do with me?”

“Well Dr. LaPorta, I spoke to Dean Hammond and she said that she would approve my partner choice if I had two professors agree that I could use an outside person for my partner.”

“And you thought of me?” The professor asked wondering if there was a reason why the young man in front of her couldn't find a partner for he had the body of a Greek God in her opinion and she wasn't really sure how the women on campus could miss him and his looks.

“Well you and Dr. Surmelis”

“Really the both of us?” The professor asked with amazement in her voice. Not once since she had been at Berket had she been asked for any type of approval from a student, it tended to be the other way around that she was the one getting approval for the things that she would request.

“Of course, you two are my favorite professors to have class with” Clark said a blush staining his cheeks hoping that the professor didn't take his words the wrong way.

“Well I am very flattered by that…” it was at the pause that Clark knew she was going to say no and it broke his heart just a bit to know that he wouldn't be allowed to have Lex help him at the house.

“But…” the professor said only to be cut off by Clark. He didn't want any more humiliation than he had already had with asking the woman in the first place.

“No, no don't worry about it. Forget I even asked” Clark said before standing and making his way to the door.

“Clark sit back down, you didn't let me finish what I had to say” the professor said trying to calm the young man down a bit so that she could finish what she was saying.

“Sorry about that” Clark said looking at his shoes and not at the professor while still standing near the door.

“Don't worry about it” Professor LaPorta said to Clark.

“Now where was I?” The professor said before there was a ring of a cell phone going off. Both Clark and the professor pull out their phones and as soon as Clark saw who it was he groaned. He so didn't want to deal with Chloe right now, but it seemed that she was determined to speak with him because as soon as Clark ignored the call the phone would ring again. Clark did this three times before powering off the cell phone and looking at the professor with a red face.

“Sorry about that, that was the person who entered me into the showcase without my permission.” Clark explained to her hoping that she would understand why he didn't want to speak with the other person at this point and time.

“Clark now you do know that you can pull out if you want to due to the fact that you actually didn't sign your self up but someone else; which could get the person in some serious trouble if anyone was to find out.”

“How much trouble are we talking here and I can pull out?” Clark asked amazed that there was a chance to get Chloe in trouble and not do the showcase if that was what he wanted.

“Well as for punishment the person may be put on academic suspension or they could be taken off any teams, clubs or any type of gathering that is related to the university, and since you didn't sign yourself up you, your self have not entered the competition but the other person has you are not obligated to continue on in the showcase. I of course would love to see what you could produce for the house you get, because you are one of the best students that I have had the pleasure to teach in a long while.” Clark stared at the professor for a moment or two and realized that he really did have a choice after all, but the thought of working with Lex on *their home* as he now called it made him want to stay in the showcase.

“I think I'll stay in the showcase, since my partner was so excited and I don't want to disappoint him just because I don't know if I'm good enough to even match up to some of the other seniors in the department.” Clark said shaking his head at the complement that the professor gave him even though he felt like he didn't think his designs were that good.

“Well then, if you are staying the competition, my next question is; who is your partner?” It was at this point that Clark had no idea what to do. He could just tell his professor that it was Lex but he didn't want to say who is was just in case Lex would be uncomfortable with the situation for Clark knew that once people found that he was helping Clark on the showcase people would be coming from all over to get a glimpse of the ‘Most beautiful' by *People Magazine*

“This might sound strange but can I call them and ask if it is okay, he's sort of private and I don't want to do something that might make him uncomfortable with working on the showcase with me.”

“Yes, why don't you give him a hoot while I step out to use the restroom.” Clark just nodded his head since he had Lex on speed dial as number one with his parents second.

“Luthor” Clark heard barked at him.

“A hello would have been nice you know?” Clark said with a laugh for he knew Lex would never change his style of answering the phone

“Clark” Lex said his voice warming up a bit due to who was on the other line, which made most of the people in the room with Lex wonder who was on the other side of the phone and how they could make the bald billionaire almost human which in and of its self was a major fete.

“Hey Lex” Clark said laughing a bit at Lex since he knew the other man had people around him that were probably looking at him as if he were an alien.

“Clark” Lex said once again not sure on how to handle the situation he was in, at the current moment he was sitting in his father's LuthorCorp's office waiting for the wild mane man to come through the door. There were of course at least ten other people in the room with Lex, which bothered Lex to no end.

“I was just calling to ask if it is okay that I tell some of my professors who I am working with on the showcase?” Clark mumbled out of his mouth Lex almost didn't understand him.

“Say that one more time and a bit slower” Lex said making the people in the room turn their attention to him and his cell phone.

“I asked if I could tell my professors who my partner is; they want to make sure that I'm not cheating by having a designer as a friend.” Clark said taking a deep breath in waiting for the no answer he was expecting.

“That is fine, just so long as they don't put it in the paper or something equally inane like that.” Lex said shaking his head at Clark, even after all these years of being friends Clark the younger man still acted like a shy freshman when Lex was involved.

“I don't think that my professor plan to tell the papers that *The Lex Luthor* is working with a farm hick Clark Kent on the Designer's Showcase.” Clark said laughing at the words that he knew were going to come out of Lex's mouth.

“So I'm *The Lex Luthor*?”

“So says ‘People Magazine'” Clark said knowing that Lex was having fun messing with the people in the room with him on the other side of the phone.

“No they say I'm the Most Beautiful” Lex said a smile on his face that had the people in the room make their mouth drop open.

“Lex you just never quit do you?” Clark asked already knowing the answer but wanting to see what Lex would say to him with a room full of people around him.

“I could but then where would be the fun in that?” Lex said before he saw his father coming down the hall and with a frown on his face.

“I better go, he cometh” Lex said before ending his conversation with Clark right as his father came into the board room, wild hair and all. Once the line was dead, Clark closed the cell phone and waited for his professor to return from the restroom.

“Clark” Professor LaPorta said as she walked back into the room where Clark sat looking out the window behind her desk.

“Professor” Clark said before standing a bit and then being waved to sit back down by the short woman.

“So what is the verdict?”

“He said it was okay, just as long as you don't go talking to the papers” Clark said knowing that it would make his professor curious on whom it was that was his partner.

“Famous”

“You could say that” Clark said knowing that as soon as he said who his partner was that he would be fighting off questions on how the two knew each other.

“So spill already” Professor LaPorta said before waiting with baited breath on who was Clark's partner. Clark took a deep breath and then spoke.

“Lex Luthor”

“I must have heard you wrong” Professor LaPorta said looking at Clark shocked over the name he had just given.

“No, it's Lex Luthor” Clark said before blushing at the look that his professor was giving him.

“I can see why he said something about the papers”

“Yeah” Clark said a smile on his face at the look he knew Lex had when he said something about the press.

“Well aside from him being famous he is definitely not an interior designer, so you have my approval” Professor LaPorta said wondering if Clark would have a hard time with the other professor he had chosen to ask for approval from. Clark grinned at the short woman's words and began to wonder on if Dr. Surmelis was in and if he would approve of Clark's choice of partner.

“Well let's go to Dr. Surmelis' office and see if he is in” Professor LaPorta said before standing up and making her way with Clark hot on her heels to Dr. Angelo Surmelis' office. Unfortunately what met the pair outside of Professor LaPorta's office was Professor Eric Stomer.

“So how did it go?” Eric asked Clark before noticing that Professor LaPorta was standing next to Clark.

“Eric” Professor LaPorta said with a bit of a sigh, she just *knew* that Eric was going to be a pain for Clark since it seemed that the older man had waited around to see about Clark and his partner issue.

“Lisa, just making sure a student is squared away before the beginning of the competition” Eric said before giving Clark a grin that Lisa knew better than to take as a friendly gesture.

“He's fine now if you will excuse us” the short woman said before pushing her way past Erik and towards where Dr. Surmelis' office was.

“Angelo?” Erik asked wondering what was really going on now. Clark couldn't be having that hard of time finding a partner, but hopefully he would find out once they arrived to Angelo's office.

“Erik” Lisa said with a sigh, he just wasn't going to give up was he?

 

TBC....

 

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