Dancing in the Dark

New York - The Plaza Ballroom

Two enjoyable hours had flown by and another lesson had come to an end. What had become the habit most of the class lingered afterwards. As she went to get her coat, Diana spoke to several people exchanging pleasantries and commenting about the class and the Rumba. Everyone was friendly to her but none of the conversations lasted very long. It was almost as if they suspected she had somewhere else more important to be and didn't want to delay her.

Slipping on her coat Diana adjusted her ponytail so it was outside the collar and then turned to see where Kal was. Once again she found him at the center of a group of their fellow students. Mostly the others were talking and he was listening, but she noticed they seemed comfortable around him. He was getting a cup of coffee and seemed relaxed as if he wasn't in a rush and this was exactly where he wanted to be.

She watched as he spilled a little too much sugar into his coffee and then made a face, as he tasted it. The others laughed as he tossed it away and got himself another cup. Reinforcing the first impression she realized, it was as simple as that.

Yet as she watched him Diana had to admit he didn't seem to be pretending with the others. He was relaxed and friendly, even if he wasn't doing most of the talking. Maybe he wasn't kidding when he said he was Clark Kent in every conceivable way that mattered. Diana suspected there was more to it than that. While it was undeniable he'd grown up as Clark those other parts of him had been there as well. The relaxed as if he didn't have a care in the world attitude he seemed to usually have she was starting to believe was generated from being Superman or Kal-El of Krypton too. He walked through life invulnerable to most of the things people worried about. He never had to worry about illness or injury like everyone else and that came from being Kal-El of Krypton and Superman. If nothing can hurt you, you can afford to be cool and relaxed.

How those different pieces all fit together was something Diana was still trying to figure out. She had to admit to herself, she found the more she knew about him the more attractive he seemed. He was a bit of a mystery still; unlike so many people she met that tended to want to tell everything about themselves to everybody. With Facebook, Instagram and so many other social media platforms people seemed in a rush to tell everyone all the details of their lives.

It was probably a good thing he hadn't asked when she first thought of getting to know him better, as it was also the moment she first saw him too. The thought of 'doing' him, as crude as that sounded, had occurred to her later, but she certainly wasn't going to tell him that.

She saw him glanced over and smile, letting her know he knew she was watching. She wasn't ashamed of being caught, so she returned his smile and started over to join him. The others acknowledged her as she moved up next to him. They were in mid-conversation so Diana just listened. It surprised her they weren't talking about the class, but something rather personal. One of the younger women was talking about visiting her mother in the nursing home.

"I keep thinking if I don't have anything to say, maybe I shouldn't have come, you know?' She said. "It's as if we don't have anything to say to each other and it makes me feel like something's wrong with our relationship."

No one spoke at first and the woman seemed embarrassed at revealing so much about her personal life. Diana was a bit surprised Kal was the one to break the silence.

"My parents are gone."

Several others nodded and said theirs were too. He continued.

"When I think about them now, it's never about us talking,' Clark offered. "Mostly it's just about being with them. It's silly but I think about taking car rides with my mom when I was a kid or fishing with my dad. The words don't seem to matter, just being with them is the thing."

Another woman from the group spoke up.

"I was in your situation,' she said to the younger woman. "I used to visit my mom in the nursing home. I didn't really have much to say either. She was dying, what's there really to say? I was thinking about not going when one of the nurses told me how much my mother seemed to look forward to my visits. I couldn't believe it. I mean we didn't really say anything. I guess it was like what Clark said, just being there with her was the important thing."

"Talking isn't the only way to become close to someone,' Clark offered. He glanced at Diana for a moment before turning his attention back to the woman with the problem. Others were offering their advice and support. She liked that he'd shared something of himself with the woman, but Diana couldn't help wondering if Kal wasn't just speaking about the woman's problem but something about their budding relationship. She didn't ask him, not wanting to interrupt the others. Before she could get him alone someone came in and said how it was snowing really hard outside and looked like it was going to be a big storm. This seemed like a natural cue that the night was over. The group broke up and they all headed towards the door.

Clark buttoned his coat up and looked over at Diana. He noticed her buttoning hers up too and had to smile. As they all reached the front doors they could see the snow was really coming down. They said their goodbyes and promised to see each other again in two weeks before most hurrying off. Diana and Clark lingered. They were the last two in front of the Plaza.

"You want to walk a bit?' He asked her.

She nodded and they started off down the sidewalk. They walked as the snowflakes came down all around them. It seemed most people had chosen to stay inside and wait out the storm. This left them alone. Diana had been thinking about what he said about talking not being the only way to become close. She let it roll around in her mind as they continued. She was just about to ask him about it when he stopped and took her hand. She turned to look at him.

"Let's take a walk through the park,' he said. "We'll have it all to ourselves tonight."

He was smiling and gave her hand a playful tug. The snowflakes dotted his hair and coat yet he didn't seem to mind. Diana let him lead her by the hand across the empty street and on to the park path. The snow already covered the ground. The way it clung to the branches of the bare trees seemed like something out of an Ansel Adams picture. He was right; they were alone in the middle of the huge city. Even as beautiful as it all was, Diana felt she needed to ask him.

"Were you just talking to her back there or also talking to me with your last comment, Kal?"

"Yes, both,' he admitted, still holding her hand.

"And your meaning?'

"Sometimes just being with someone is enough,' he replied. "It doesn't always have to be about communicating all our feelings all the time. Sometimes it's just as simple as being with the person. In this case, you Diana."

"You don't want to talk?" she asked.

"Not tonight." He said with a smile. "Tonight I just want to walk with you and maybe dance a bit."

Diana had to laugh as they continued deeper into the park. His statement brought up a million questions in her mind, but she kept them to herself and just enjoyed them walking together.

Clark glanced over at Diana and had to admit he was very attracted to her. It had started as dancing but now he found he just liked being with her like this. As they continued on, he pulled his IPhone out of his pocket and scrolled through the music on it. It was silly, but out here alone with her he wanted to dance with her.

Diana turned and looked at him as Joe Jackson's Is She Really Going Out With Him began to play. With their hearing the song was crystal clear.

Pretty women out walking with gorillas down my street
From my window, I'm staring while my coffee goes cold
Look over there (where?)
There, there's a lady that I used to know
She's married now or engaged or something, so I'm told

When Clark did a quick back step like they'd learned early Diana had to laugh.

Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me, there's something going wrong around here

She was just about to ask him what he was doing, when Clark pulled her into his arms and began to sway to the music with her.

"Dance with me, Diana."

"More of that not talking, huh, Kal?' She teased.

"Part of it,' he replied.

She gave in and started to dance with him. It wasn't the Rumba or the Waltz exactly, but more of relaxed combination of both.

Tonight's the night when I go to all the parties down my street
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth
Look over there (where?)
There, here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend
They say that looks don't count for much, if so, there goes your proof

She listened to the words of the song and wondered why he picked it? It was a good song and she did like dancing with him so she didn't mention it at first. As they continued to dance she found herself looking into his eyes as they song continued.

Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me, there's something going wrong around here
Around here

"Why this song, Kal?' She finally couldn't help asking.

"Shh,' he whispered with a smile, continuing to dance with her.

But if looks could kill
There's a man there who is marked down as dead
'Cause I've had my fill
Listen, you, take your hands from her head
I get so mean around the scene
Hey, hey, hey

"Does this have a special meaning?" Diana asked.

"Maybe."

"What?"

He didn't answer, just smiled and continued to dance with her.

Is she really going out with him?
Is she really gonna take him home tonight?
Is she really going out with him?
'Cause if my eyes don't deceive me, there's something going wrong around here
Around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around here
Something going wrong around

He twirled her around and they smoothly moved apart and then back together. He dipped her and they held each other's eyes. A moment slipped by and then he gently closed the distance between them and kissed her. She reciprocated. Maybe there are other ways of getting to know each other, Diana thought as the kiss finally ended along with the song. Still holding hands they were both smiling as they continued walking deeper into the park.