TANGO BY LCAMILE
FANDOM: AU SMALLVILLE
SUMMARY: Ariel slowly began to discover her past.
RATING: PG
NOTES: Lex doesn’t marry Helen and go mad and other important events
from the
Smallville series don’t occur. Ariel Braxton is played by Leila Arcieri.
Young Ariel is played by Kristen Collins. Her website is
http://kirstencollins.starsearchcasting.com. Mabel Sawyer is played by
Darlene Crawford. Darlene's website is
http://www.darlenecrawford.com.
SERIES: MARMALADE
CHAPTER I-ARIEL’S STORY
Five weeks had passed since the fashion show yet I still was unable to
shake the
feeling that I had when I met the Luthors for the first time.
Although I had seen media
coverage of them, they somehow seemed hauntingly familiar on a personal
level. Mabel
had a history with them, especially with Lionel. There was even a
rumor which stated
that Lionel was her secret boyfriend. However, both Mabel and Lionel
denied it. Suzvoy
thought that they made an exquisite couple. When Lionel Luthor
introduced himself to
me, his voice gave me chills. Shortly thereafter, he gave his hand to
shake and I accepted
it. During the handshake, he smiled and told me that I had a firm grip
for a delicate hand.
I chuckled and tucked a lock behind my ear when we ended the handclasp.
I told him that
I was Roxy, which was my stage name as I took his hand and let him feel
my face.
“You seemed familiar. Have we met before?”
He asked as he gently
held my face
with both hands for a little while before he reached out with one hand
and began to stroke
one of my tresses.
“No, I don’t think so.” His other hand touched my
lips as I
answered. There was
brief silence as he removed his strong hands.
“I’m sorry. It is just that you reminded of
someone.” He smiled
slightly before he
turned his attention to Mabel. As my eyes turned to Lex, he gave me
a
small but stern
smile with one hand in his hand. He gave a handshake with his free
hand.
“Hello, I’m Lex Luthor. It looks like that
you intrigues my
father.”
“I get that sometimes.” I shyly chuckled yet
within seconds I
became breathless as
several emotions raced through me. As we continued to look into each
other’s eyes, there
was a short period of silence. At the same time, I felt electricity
from his grip and began
to blush. When Ginger Eastwood joined us, I came to my senses and
gently removed my
hand from his grip. Ginger was a tall young woman with shoulder-length
thick black
tresses, smooth peach and cream complexion, large clear blue eyes, full
ruby lips, long
yet slender nose, a curvy yet thin figure, and a thick Mid-Southern
accent. Ginger wore a
light blue long-sleeved gown, matching heels, a small matching handbag,
and clear lip
gloss. She was Memphis native who moved to Sycamore Hills five months
ago. We had
worked together several times.
“Hello Lex. Hello Roxy.” Ginger remarked as Suzvoy, Lionel, and Mabel
left
and went to another room.
“Hello Ginger.” Lex said as he smiled and looked at her briefly before
he returned
to his eyes to me.
“Hi Ginger.” I smiled and shyly wiggled my shoulders slightly as I
wore my
long-sleeved plum gown, a matching wrist bag, matching strapless Mary
Janes, and
silvery-plum lip gloss.
After Mabel and I went home, I slept peacefully without any dreams for
the first
time. Later Mabel and I learned that the fashion show had received
national attention;
furthermore, it marked Suzvoy’s return from her 15-year absence from
the fashion world.
I seemed modest about the show’s monstrous success since modeling was
simply a job
and I became one because of a bet. For Mabel, she just didn’t care and
considered
modeling as a secondary job. Moreover, the successful show improved
the Luthor
business.
My mind returned to the present as I got up and made my bed. I
ran
my fingers
through my now natural straight silky mane as I went to the bathroom to
clean myself up.
I began to think about my last night’s dream. I was an audience member
at a ballroom
dance contest in a large bright ballroom as I wore a charcoal
long-sleeved gown,
matching low pumps, light charcoal lip gloss, and a Mod-styled flip.
Lionel Luthor was
sitting beside me. He wore a black tuxedo, white dress shirt, black
glossy loafers, and a
ponytail. He turned to me and smiled. I noticed that he had sight as
he complimented on
my gown. I thanked him before I turned to the new dance couple that
appeared on the
dance floor. It was the bald kid and a young girl who looked like me.
The bald kid wore
a turquoise rhinestone tuxedo. My mini-clone wore a matching
long-sleeved gown while
her shoulder-length mane hung down with a middle part. They did the
Brazilian Tango
to Elza Soares’ “Salteide Banda”.
For two weeks now, I had been having these dancing dreams. It all
began when I
bumped into my former Kelexyn Academy dance educator, Ms. Legroom at
the
Hodgepodge Grocery during my mother’s visit. She instantly recognized
me while I was
at the dairy aisle with my mother. Ms. Legroom was a 6’2 curvy yet
somewhat
emaciated woman with dark blue eyes, smooth dark olive complexion,
luxurious lips,
long yet slightly wide nose, long wavy black locks, sweet yet
mezzo-alto voice, and thick
Hawaiian accent. I had a very brief dialogue with her since I didn’t
know what to say.
However, when our discussion ended, my mother began a conversation with
her. I
listened until Mom began to talk about my accident and my problems,
including my
brain-damage. I always felt embarrass every time my parents talked
about them. It
seemed that I did these things all to myself in my parents’ eyes. It
was possibly the main
reason that they spent more time with my sister, Jill. She was now the
only genius of
their offspring. Even though she was five years younger than me, she
currently attended
Kansas State University yet I was still close with my sister. She was
the only intimate
relative who actually loved the way that I was and I was proud of that.
Shortly afterwards I left my room. I fixed
and ate breakfast in
my big kitchen as I
sat at my oral dark wooden table. Mabel left a few hours ago for her
job as a video
director for Ruther Studios. She also worked as a movie director.
Before she moved
here, she directed her first movie in her Earth hometown. After she
concluded her
picture, she became hire to work at the Ruther Studios. I heard her
leave the driveway
during my slumber. After I finished breakfast, I cleaned the dishes. I
wore black leather
pants, black leather boots, clear lip gloss, and a black long-sleeved
tee shirt with a peach
lipstick print as the sides of my hair were pinned back in a bun while
the rest of my
tresses hung down. I put on her leather peach and black jacket and
black backpack
before I got my keys. Next, I locked the door before I went in my blue
2000 Chevy
Impala. I left and went to Sycamore Hills University, where I was a
student.
Mabel went over her papers at Studio G as she
wore a plum
V-necked tunic, light
plum lip gloss, black pants, and black boots while her long mane hung
down. She just
took off her black jacket and black small backpack before she sat down.
Last month, she
did a photo shoot with me. Today Mabel was directing a rock music video
for Polly
Cage, an upcoming rock singer. It was the fifth and last day of
shooting. As she sat in
the director’s chair, the record executives arrived as the crew
prepared the set.
CHAPTER II-NARRATOR’S STORY
Ariel did the Batucada, a Samba style dance as
Peaches Façade
asked about her
weekend. Solana told her about Lex’s birthday party that she attended.
Solana was
Ariel’s was second name as well as her nickname. Even though she was
his only invited
guest, she had a breathtaking time. It was also the first time that
her parents, Jack and
Egypt Braxton met Lionel Luthor. They thought that he was charming yet
somewhat
creepy. Lionel found her dad, Jack Braxton mesmerizing with his 6’5
thin yet slightly
large frame, chestnut brown slightly rugged complexion, shoulder-length
red curls, large
brown eyes, full V-shaped lips, red thick eyebrows, a strong cleft
chin, and a long yet
wide nose. He later became more enthralled when Jack greeted him with
a firm
handshake with a large glittery white smile, thunderous baritone voice,
and a mixed
accent of Posh British and Middle Class Brazilian. The elder Braxton
wore a tan Great
Gatsby styled-suit, matching suspenders, a long-sleeved white/tan
striped shirt, white/tan
dress spats, a tan ascot tie, and a silver pocket watch with a silver
chain that was
connected to his pants. Lionel also found Egypt charismatic with her
5’6 slender yet
curvy frame, smooth walnut complexion, full lips, large dark eyes,
thick straight silky
black locks, small yet wide nose, high cheekbones, sweet mezzo-soprano
voice, and
mixed accent of Posh British and Middle Class Brazilian. She wore a
short-sleeved white
mock turtleneck, peach Cardigan sweater, peach ankle-length skirt,
peach 3-inched
granny boots, light peach lip gloss and a ponytail of loose large
spirals.
“Lex, come out of there and go play with that
nice Ariel girl.”
He spoke to a
closed closet door after he knocked. He noticed that Lex was gone
after he ended his
discourse with the Braxtons.
“But Dad, she is right here with me.”
“What?”
“She is with me.”
“What are you two doing in there?”
“We’re eating cake.”
“Eating cake?” The door opened. Ariel
held a small paper plate
of half-eaten
birthday cake in one hand when her other hand held the doorknob.
“Hello Mr. Luthor.” She smiled as Lex
walked toward her with a
plate of half-
eaten in his hand.
“Well, you two come out and go back to the
party.”
During the present time, Ariel walked toward to
her Women’s
English Literature
class that was at the William Eckstine Building. As she entered the
hallway near the
classroom for her second class, she strongly sensed familiar cologne.
When she came
closer, she noticed a tall man in dark suit talking to Ms. Pulizer, her
Women’s English
Literature professor. The dark-haired man had his back to Ariel as he
had one hand in his
pant’s pocket while the other on his cane. While they continued to
talk, they didn’t
perceive her as she came into the classroom. The tall man turned
around and it was
Lionel Luthor. He was the surprise guest speaker of the class. When
he arrived in the
classroom, everyone gasped, especially Ariel. Her astonishment
increased when he sat
beside her. Ariel quickly looked around for an empty seat but there
wasn’t any. The
class began without problems until the intercom beeped.
“Solana Braxton, please report to the Dean’s
Office at the
Administration
Building.” She was using her middle name for college. Ariel cursed
under her breath
before she calmly got up and began to leave.
“Don’t forget to read chapters 15 thru 36 and do
an essay on your
assigned short
story.” Solana gave her black power fist sign to Ms. Pulizer before
she went to the
Administration Building.
An hour later, Ariel left Dean Bronte’s office.
She had
discovered that she had
been transferred to two advanced classes because of her excellent
grades. Span would
start to attend them tomorrow. She went outside and sat at a nearby
bench as she looked
at her new schedule. Her new classes were at the same time like her
former ones. She
ran her fingers through her mane after she put her new schedule in her
backpack.
As the day became mid-morning, she arrived at the
library since
her science class
was assigned there today. She thought that she was the only one that
was early until she
noticed that two of her science classmates were already there as they
all sat at a large
rectangular wooden table. They exchanged greetings when they saw each
other. They
went over yesterday’s assignment before they talked about Lionel
Luthor’s visit. When
Ariel looked up from her science book, she detected Lionel Luthor and
his male Asian
guide. Luthor was in a talk with the head librarian as Mr. Extol, her
Science professor
walked past him. As Mr. Extol sat down, he looked at Lionel briefly
before he greeted
his class and began to talk about the previous assignment. When more
of her classmates
came, Lionel and his guide went on the elevator to the second floor.
After her science class ended, she went to a
study booth that was
on the second
floor. During the middle of her study session, she heard him talk on
his cell phone near
her study booth. He removed his purple shades as he continued to
speak. However,
while he was near her study booth, she didn’t look at him. Several
moments afterwards,
he and his guide entered her study booth. The matured businessman
pardoned himself
and his guide with a smile as he ended his phone call and made another
one.
CHAPTER FOUR
Several weeks passed as Ariel read the recent
Sycamore Epoch
edition. Lex
Luthor’s annulment was on the front page. The anecdote remarked that
his marriage to
Desiree Atkins became officially annulled two days ago after she
attempted to murder
him for his vast fortune. Alison Sanders, which was Atkins’s real
name, had several
arrest warrants in Sycamore Hills. She was now in the FBI’s custody.
After she finished with the newspaper, she put it
on the dining
room table. She
missed Mabel who was in Japan filming a movie. It was Mabel’s second
movie. Ariel
later went to her room and turned on her CD player/radio. She put on
Bobby Womack’s
“Daylight”, which strangely reminded her of Lionel Luthor as she
organized her
wardrobe. Tonight, Lionel invited her to a formal dinner at the Luthor
Mansion. Ariel
befriended him after his recent visit at her university yet he already
knew that she was
Roxy, the model that he met at Suzvoy’s fashion show so he and Lex
called her Roxy.
Lex also liked Roxy’s company since he always gave her burning looks
whenever she
was around.
She arrived at the Luthor Mansion as she wore a
long-sleeved
satin/lace black and
emerald gown, black three-inched pumps, black handbag, clear lip-gloss,
and a soft yet
classic hair flip with a middle part. During the formal dinner, she
mingled several
celebrities. Many found her breathtaking with her exotic yet quiet
beauty, warm yet
sharp judiciousness, energetic charm, powerful sweet yet slightly timid
smile, and elegant
pose. As the dinner came to an end, she excused herself and went in
the hall. She sighed
as she stood her back against a nearby wall. She relaxed slightly as
she walked a couple
of steps away from the wall.
“Are you bored like I am?” Lex asked as he
stepped out and stood
before Ariel.
He wore a black tuxedo and shiny laced-up loafers. Lex glazed into her
dark eyes as he
awaited her answer.
“Yes. Are you also bored?”
“Not really. I am used to it.” He spoke as
he continued to glaze
into her eyes and
began to notice that she hazily reminded him of Ariel, his Angel that
he still missed
intensely.
“Well, I must be going,” she said after a long
pause of silence.
“I had a wonderful
time and tell your dad that I will see him around.”
“Okay, I will,” She hugged him and kissed him on
the cheek.
“See you later, Lex. I really enjoyed your
company.” She smiled
with her arms
still around him. She kissed his other cheek before she released her
soft embrace and left.
When she arrived home, she received a phone call.
It was her
sister, Jill. She was
calling from her campus dorm on her cell phone. Jill hadn’t spoken to
Ariel in three
days. They both were glad to hear each other’s voices. As they
talked, Ariel told her
about her recent dinner with the Luthors while Jill told her about her
encounter with
Bruce Wayne, who was visiting her University. Ariel’s heart soared as
she continued to
her sister and the night went on.
THE END