Clark Kent

“Er… Thank you Miss…” he said. A familiar accent. Nadia’s own.

“No problem… You are carrying a lot of books…” Nadia said.

He placed the books on the lobby table. He was roughly handsome. Sharp jaw. High cheekbones. But something about him was very Clark Kent. Boxy glasses. Nerdy, clumsy, almost weird. But a hidden strength.

“I’m actually delivering them to a friend at the hotel. She is an entomologist,” he said.

“En..tomo..logist,” Nadia sounded out the word. She looked at the cover and saw a giant praying mantis. She squeaked and stepped back.

“Yeah a bug Scientist…. Yucky…” he said.

“Gosh… So realistic… Even though they are just pictures…” She said, “Do you need any help?”

“Oh, yeah! Really? That’s very nice of you,” he handed her five books. Heavy. Oof. A spider looking at her on the cover. Yikes!

“I’m Tom by the way…” he smiled.

Nadia blushed, “I’m Nadia…”

They made it to the second floor. Tom knocked on the door. There was an awkward wait. A clunk and someone swore from behind the door. A foreign language. Then a thunderous sneeze.

A woman opened the door, “Ah Tom… Good timing… And you brought a friend?”

She spoke in Nadia’s accent too. The woman had red hair tied into a tied bun. She had a red nose and red eyes. Snotty. She sneezed. Spraying everywhere. Nadia stepped back. Really?

“This is Nadia… She is helping me carry your like a billion books, Frankie.” Tom said.

Nadia smiled, “Nice to meet you Frankie…”

Frankie smiled, “Nice to meet you too. Sorry I’m so darn sick… I’ll have to grab these books and let you go on your way… I don’t want you to get sick too,” she coughed spit everywhere.

Nadia tried not to make the face. Tom was unphased. They handed Frankie the books and then bid her farewell.

“Frankie was too unwell to get her delivery… It was the least I could do…” he said.

Outside the hotel. Cool air. Overcast.

Nadia smiled and took out a cigarette. Lit up. Then she noticed he was still here. Looking at her.

“Do you want one?” She said.

“Sure!” He took the cigarette. Fumbling. Looked at which side to light it. Orange or white?

“Here,” Nadia took the cigarette and lit it. He took a breath and hacked. Spluttering on the floor.

“You don’t smoke don’t you,” Nadia said.

“Once in high school,” he smiled. Looking up through his glasses. There was something innocent about him.

“Do you maybe want to go on a date with me?” He said. He tripped over his own feet, but caught himself on the wall.