The wind in Metropolis always made me seriously question my sanity. I hurried along the streets, clutching my skirt to my thighs as I slipped inside the Metropolis Museum of Natural History. I glanced down at my watch as I hurried along the hallways that I knew so well. Crap. Five minutes late. I wasn't even paying attention as to where I was going. I hit a solid brick wall, or at least that's what he felt like.
"Oh god, sorry I am so clumsy. Please forgive me." I stuttered that last sentence as I looked up to see my blind date. He was gorgeous, and a giant, which was exactly my type. He had black hair, stunning blue eyes as clear as the ocean in the Bahamas that were disguised behind big black-rimmed glasses, and the body that could completely cover me in the middle of the night in my new queen bed. I shook my head to get the dirty thoughts out of my head. But the best of all was his smile that was already wiggling it's way into my anti-feelings heart.
"It's no problem. You're Jovilette right? Jovilette Valentine?" He was smiling gently as he led the way to the back of the museum.
"Uhhh, yeah. I hope you're Clark Kent. Otherwise this is pretty awkward and a little creepy." He chuckled at that and nodded his head. I smiled in relief and followed him as we started our date. "I'm sorry for running into you like that. I'm not normally clumsy I promise." He winced at that.
"It's alright Jovilette, I'm actually pretty clumsy myself. Hope you don't mind that."
"Oh no! It's fine. Being clumsy isn't exactly a bad thing. I mean it keeps things interesting right? One time I was late for work and decided to get my boss a cup of coffee to butter him up and I actually ended up spilling it on him. It was pretty bad and I should have been fired and I'm glad I wasn't. The only reason he didn't fire me was because I was his second best researcher at the lab and fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, he left to go to another facility." I bit my bottom lip to stop rambling myself into oblivion. This was so embarrassing. So I'm not the smoothest individual, it was okay, I never promised anyone I was anyways. Thankfully Clark let my rambling go past.
"Lois mentioned that you were a zoologist. What exactly do you do?"
"I work at the Metropolis Zoo and I am studying the new breed of tiger that they brought in. It's actually a cross between the albino male tiger and the female Liger. There's hardly any research on it and they needed help recording data on the rare species. Even though they can't breed in the wild and that kind of animal would never survive out there, it's still interesting to learn about both the tigers and lions and the heritage and genes. I'm a pretty big nerd. I apologize. How is being a journalist?"
"That seems fascinating. I love animals so I could see where that would be a fun job. My job is all right, the pay isn't that great but it's nice to know that I'm writing about a lot of things that most people wouldn't even touch. Plus I get to meet a lot of new people and explore new regions of the world I wouldn't be able to in any other job."
I smiled up at him and we walked throughout the museum and making little comments about the exhibits and the stunning pieces of art that were on the walls. I came here all the time by myself. I made sure to pretend that I had no idea what any of it was, especially when I had probably read each little description fifty times. I loved being able to go back in time through fossils and seeing things through other people's eyes.
This was a great date and for once I was heartbroken it was ending. He seemed to have the same feeling because he stopped before the doors of the exit and asked, "I know a great place, are you hungry?" I just smiled and nodded. I weaved my arm through his and stepped a little closer to him. I don't know if he was comfortable with it but he had to get my message loud and clear, which was- 'you're the first successful date I've had in months, I'm not letting you go.'
We walked several blocks over and went into a little hole in the wall restaurant. The waiter obviously knew Clark so he sat us in a booth in the back where we wouldn't be disturbed and gave us our simple menus.
"I wish I would have known you were famous." My voice was lowered just a little bit as I leaned across the table.
"Wha-what?" He stammered and his face began to get red.
"Come on. You're known at this restaurant, plus your good looks, are you some sort of football player that was just recruited?" He shook his head and smiled. "Rugby maybe?" Again, he shook his head. "Actor?" He shook his head once more.
"I told you I'm just a journalist. I just go to this restaurant a lot. Perhaps I go here too much actually. I'm flattered that you would think so highly of me though." He smirked and looked down at his menu.
"What can you expect? You've got the body for a professional football player and the looks of an actor, even though you try to hide it."
"Um I don't really know what to say. Thank you, I guess? So tell me a little bit about yourself that the newshound Lois Lane wouldn't know or be able to tell me." He folded his hands underneath his chin and leaned forward. What a man.
"That's a good question. Well I was found on the doorstep of a hospital and I was in foster care until the age of eight. Luckily I had a couple that adopted me. My mom is a veterinarian and my father was a fire fighter. I grew up in a household full of animals and I wanted to become a vet like my mom but I couldn't stand the things she had to do at work so I thought maybe researching the animals would be a better route. Plus I love science in general so any other option was out. I love to run and go ice-skating. I hate the color yellow; don't ask me why because I'm not really sure. My favorite drink is raspberry iced tea and I draw silly cartoon doodles when I don't pay attention. My goal in life is to get close enough to a great white shark to swim right alongside it. What about you?"
"Well I grew up on a small farm in Kansas, in a town called Smallville. My parents also adopted me even though I've been with them almost since birth. I have always wanted to be a journalist but I knew I could never accomplish much in my life in Kansas, so I came here. I love horses and am incredibly empathetic. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and football. I don't think I have anything specific I want to do before I die, I just want to help as many people as I can."
I leaned across the table and whispered: "Isn't there something you've always wanted to do. That was just for you? Sometimes it's okay to be the only one to benefit from your actions."
"Well I have always wanted to climb the pyramids in Egypt. Wait you said your father was a firefighter? Did he retire?" I leaned back and pulled my hand away. I was hoping he didn't catch that part.
"He actually died saving a family in an apartment complex when I was fifteen."
"I'm so sorry Jovilette. I didn't mean to pry."
"It's alright. It's part of who I am and I will always love him. He was a good man." Luckily the waiter interrupted us before I had a chance to say anything else and took our orders. Once he left I decided to change the topic again.
We talked about everything from this year's football season to the work we both had done up until now. Dinner flew by and I knew when the check came that I had to see Clark again. Whether he wanted to see me again remained to be seen. Clark graciously paid for my meal and we left arm in arm again and I rested my head against his arm since his shoulder was out of my reach. We reached my apartment and I stood on the doorstep with my keys still remaining in my jacket pocket, hoping he would get the hint.
"I had a lovely time with you Jovilette. Thanks for the charming evening. I would love nothing more than to see you again." I beamed up at him.
"Me either. I mean I would love to see you again too. You have my number still right?"
"Yes I do. Well goodnight." He smiled at me and began to turn when my hand flew out to his arm and brought him back towards me. I grabbed his collar of his jacket and pulled him down towards me. I knew he wasn't expecting that so his hands dug hard into my hips as my lips found his. At first his lips were hard against mine but after a second he mellowed out and our lips moved slowly against one another's. It wasn't a long one but it was definitely a good first kiss. He pulled back after a minute and I slowly let go of his collar. He smiled down at me and swiftly kissed my forehead. I think I turned into a puddle of mush on my doorstep after that. I hardly caught him saying goodnight for a second time before leaving my stoop. I banged my head against the door to the complex and sighed as I let myself in.
That was it. I was a goner. I was in love on the first date! Well not really but man was he a charmer. I had to see him again. And I was going to be dying by the time he decided to call me. I knew Clark was a gentleman and probably wouldn't wait long but still even if it was a day's wait, it was still too long. I couldn't let a man like that escape my grasp.