Talking

New York

After the dance class, Diana was good to her word and took Clark out for dinner. Since she was paying, she chose the restaurant, PERA Mediterranean Brasserie in midtown. Her fake glasses came off and she let her hair down from the ponytail. Even dressed in flats, loose gabardine slacks, a simple white blouse and button down cardigan sweater every head in the place turned to look at her. They were seated immediately. Clark had to admit this was one bonus about going out on a date with her he hadn't thought of.

Sitting across from each other, they placed their orders. He was having the filet mignon medallions, center cut, wrapped with Mediterranean air-dried beef "pastrami" and served with grilled asparagus. Diana did notice that it wasn't described on the menu as being smothered in anything so he was being consistent. She selected the pan roasted salmon, eggplant and tomato ragout with cipollini onions. They both had a glass of wine. When the food arrived Clark had to admit it was spectacular. They had mostly been talking about the class and learning the waltz, but he felt he needed say something.

"I'd like to apologize, Diana."

"Oh? For what?' She asked.

"For being a little …. well, cavalier about all this,' he admitted with a small smile.

"Its just dinner, Kal."

"I didn't mean the dinner, which is wonderful, thank you,' he replied. "I meant the whole 'getting to know me' thing. You've obviously thought about it and put most of the effort into it so far, what with agreeing to be my partner for the classes, wearing a disguise and agreeing to keep it a secret so I wanted to apologize for not holding up my end of it."

She took another sip from her wine, never breaking eye contact with him.

"And why is that?" She asked.

"What?"

"Why haven't you been 'holding up your end' as you say?"

He thought about it for a moment and then gave her an honest answer.

"You and the whole way you've approached this sort of throw me."

"Why?"

"Your I don't like the rules so I'm not going to follow them stance, I guess,' he admitted. "We've known each other for five years and it seems like you've made a decision to change the nature of our relationship and acted on it. I guess I'm just not used to that sort of approach."

Diana considered his answer for a minute.

"So are you saying you'd prefer I'd followed the rules?' She asked. "Drop hints that I was interested, try and convey it with body language or veiled comments instead of just acting on it?"

He leaned forward and rested his chin on his knuckles.

"I don't know," he replied. "It's a different approach, then again you're different than anyone I've ever known. I guess I'm wondering if you've thought all this out so far; have you also already thought about where it's going?

"You make me sound rather cold and calculating, Kal,' Diana countered. "Is that how you see me?"

"No, of course not,' he immediately replied. "I'm doing a poor job of explaining what I'm trying to say."

"I'm here, I'm listening,' Diana said, setting her fork down.

"Okay, let me try again,' he said. "It's you, Diana. You're not like anyone I've ever known, never mind dated. I guess you rattled me sometimes and so I pull back almost instinctively. It's just taking me some time to get used to the idea. Is that making it a little clearer?"

"A bit,' Diana commented. "Just so you know, Kal, I haven't really planned this all out as much as you think. I saw the ad for dance classes you circled and decided to join you. I've sort of been taking it as it comes since then."

He smiled and took a sip of his wine.

"That makes me feel better,' he replied. "It least I'm not the only one who doesn't know where this is going."

"I do still want to get to know you better,' Diana said and then added with a smile. "And before you ask, no that doesn't mean I've changed my mind about 'doing' you so keep your clothes on, please."

He laughed out loud at this.

"Duly noted."

"Good,' Diana replied. "So now that you're over your 'shyness' how do you propose we proceed?"

"It's not shyness,' he objected. "It just takes some getting used to. Five years, Diana, yes I found you very attractive from the moment I met you and I guess you must have found me attractive too."

"I did." She admitted.

"That's nice to hear,' he said. "Our relationship was one way for all that time but now you've changed it. I'm just trying to get realigned with that."

"You make it sound like it's difficult,' she observed.

"It is,' he said. "You're an extraordinarily beautiful woman, so yes I was attracted to you almost immediately. It's the nature of being a guy, you noticed beautiful women wherever you see them. Unless you're delusional, you don't expect all of them to think the same thing of you in return."

"I believe Hal would disagree with you,' Diana teased.

"Let's leave him out of this for now,' Clark replied. "I'm just saying a guy notices but he doesn't expect anything to come from it. So when it does it takes some rethinking on his part."

"So my looks are what attracted you?" Diana asked. She'd dealt with that since she arrived and was a bit disappointed that he was like the others.

"Yes,' Clark admitted. "You make quite the first impression, Diana, but that wasn't all I saw. I'm not going to lie to you and say I didn't notice you're attractive, I did."

"So that's all this is about? Being attractive?" She asked.

"I guess in a way it is,' he offered.

"Oh." The disappointment was obvious in her voice.

"Before you think me too shallow, can I explain?" He asked.

"I think you already have."

"Not fully,' he replied. "Let me tell you a story, Diana. I went to a comedy club with some of the people from the Planet once. It was dark and crowded but the comedian was funny. I remembered during the show hearing a woman's laugh and there was just something about it. It was one of those laughs that make you want to laugh with her. There was nothing fake about it; just by her laugh you could tell it was genuine. I could have easily found her in the crowd, but it wasn't necessary. It didn't matter what she looked like or what she did for a living that laugh made her very attractive. I can still hear it and it still brings a smile to my face."

"Just her laugh?"

"Yes. I just trying to say looks of course are part of it, but hardly the only thing,' Clark explained. "I've known you for five years so why I'm attracted to you is much more complicated than just because you're pretty, Diana. I hope that's true for you too."

"It is,' she said, smiling at him. They shared a quiet moment with each other and then Diana couldn't help asking, "So do you like my laugh?"

"Yes, but you don't do it enough."

"I do around you,' she countered.

"So I guess we are 'getting to know' each other after all, aren't we?"

"I suppose we are."

Their waitress came by and asked them how their meal was. They both said excellent and ordered another glass of wine. The lapsed into silence as they resumed eating, both enjoying the food and the company. The waitress came back with their glasses of wine and they thanked her. Once she left Diana decided she wanted to bring up a topic that had been on her mind before, but his talk about being attractive reminded her of it again.

"Kal?'

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me,' Diana said.

He coughed, caught off guard by her request. He looked at her for a moment and then started to move towards her.

"Don't you want to know why I asked?" Diana said.

He stopped midway towards her.

"I suppose,' he replied, although he really didn't need a reason to kiss her.

"I've been kissed before,' Diana stated.

"Okay. Not sure why you're telling me that now, but go on,' he replied, moving back to his previous position.

"I thought I was attracted to the people I kissed, but while the kisses were pleasant that was all they were," Diana explained. "I'd think a kiss should make me more attracted to them, not less, don't you?"

"That seems reasonable,' he replied, still sort of focused on kissing her.

"If we're going to date, sooner or later that part of the relationship will happen," Diana continued. "It seems to me that's a very important part of a relationship so if the kiss doesn't do anything for either of us maybe it's better if we don't pursue one."

"So no pressure here,' Clark replied. "Kind of putting a lot of emphasis on a kiss, Diana."

"Some people are better off as friends, Kal,' Diana said. "If that something extra isn't there, aren't they better off admitting it than pretending it is when it isn't?"

"Yeah." He had to admit she was right. "You really don't like those rules do you?"

"No."

"Okay, so we kiss,' he said. "If it happens it happens then we continue but if it doesn't we agree we gave it a shot and no hard feelings. Is that about it?"

"Yes, but you don't have to be so clinical about it,' Diana complained. "I just want there to be a little magic, is that so wrong?"

His answer was to kiss her. He caught her off guard, but then she slipped her arms around his neck and pulled him in a little bit more. It wasn't the longest or the shortest kiss, but it seemed to last just long enough. He slowly pulled away and sat back in his seat. They looked at each other for several moments.

"So what dance are we learning at the next lesson?' Diana asked with a smile.

"The Rumba." He replied with a smile of his own.