Kapitel 20: The Ball
Mrs. Reynolds nearly felt her heart leap out of her chest when the news of the plane crash aired on television. The relief that the aircraft remained in a holding pattern above the city was her only solace; she shuddered to think how she might have reacted to a headline reading "crash."
Thankfully, the worst never came. Her heart took a roller coaster ride until the announcement of a miraculous landing, crediting the "exceptional performance" of the pilot, allowed her to finally breathe again. She sat, pale-faced, at the dining table at home as if she'd run a marathon.
Once more, the mainstream media conveniently omitted any mention of the miraculous aid the flight received. Despite eyewitnesses swearing they saw someone hold up the plane, their claims were dismissed as unsubstantiated and failed to make the news. Only blurry cellphone videos spread like wildfire online, sparking rumors amongst Metropolis netizens that Superman had returned.
But that was all behind them. Mr. Reynolds himself was still reeling when he returned home, immediately locking in a tight embrace with his wife, whose eyes were rimmed with red. He then turned to Jay and asked, "You were there, weren't you? You caught that plane?"
Mr. Reynolds had his suspicions, but Jay's affirmation was expected. "Yes, it was me. Got a bit hectic, sorry I couldn't do better."
Mr. Reynolds beamed and enveloped Jay in a bear hug. "Thank you, son."
To celebrate her husband's safe return, Mrs. Reynolds prepared a feast, opening a bottle of brandy for a toast.
After the third brandy, Mrs. Reynolds couldn't hold back any longer. "Charles, you really need to talk to us. Does this accident have anything to do with the investigation you mentioned?"
Mr. Reynolds stared blankly at his plate before downing his drink and shaking his head. "I don't know... maybe not."
She shook her head, "You're such a terrible liar, Charles. After all these years, I know what you look like when you're lying. And you expect me to believe this is a coincidence? The only plane accident in Metropolis in six years, your strange behavior these past few days—you want me to think there's no connection?"
Silence followed. Mr. Reynolds refilled his glass with brandy.
"Let me help you, Charles," his wife implored. "Let Jay help you. We're family, aren't we?"
"Thank you, Jane," Mr. Reynolds said wearily. "But it's not time yet, trust me."
The mood turned somber, and for several minutes, they ate in silence. Mr. Reynolds felt the need to break the awkward air, switching topics with a more lively tone. "The ball is coming up, huh? How are you preparing, Jay?"
"Pretty well," Jay replied casually.
"You should practice your dance steps. She seems like a nice girl," Mr. Reynolds advised. "If I were you, I'd seize the opportunity."
Jay blushed. "Kara and I are just dancing, I haven't thought that far ahead."
"Are you sure? Because it's written all over your face," Mr. Reynolds teased, prompting Jay to consider checking a mirror.
Mrs. Reynolds scoffed, "You're the last person to talk about dancing, Charles. Have you seen yourself? It's hard to find the words to describe it. I still can't believe I was charmed by you."
Reynolds feigned offense and turned to Jay, "Don't listen to your mother. Back in high school, they used to call me the King!"
"With that beer belly?" Mrs. Reynolds challenged.
Jay couldn't help but laugh at the image of Mr. Reynolds, belly and all, shining on the dance floor.
"That was in the past!" Mr. Reynolds protested. "I was quite the catch back then!"
Mrs. Reynolds turned to Jay, "Despite his mostly nonsensical talk, he does have a point. Dancing is a great chance to charm a girl, so make it count."
Feeling he'd never fully explain himself to them, Jay surrendered, letting them chatter away. The older couple had practically branded Kara as a daughter-in-law, and they were now deep in discussion about Jay's decidedly premature future.
On the day of the ball.
It was only upon his arrival that Jay truly understood what Ms. Grant meant by "grand." A massive venue in the heart of Metropolis was rented out entirely, its floor-to-ceiling windows glowing with crystalline light as night fell. It was an isolated villa amidst the urban glitz, its walls wrapped in solid granite. Tall arches supported a grand entrance, with greeters standing by to welcome every guest with professional smiles.
Attending such an event for the first time in either of his lives, Jay couldn't help but feel a slight tension as he stepped into the resplendent hall, bathed in the glow of chandeliers. Guests in suits and gowns exuded the elegant confidence of high society, creating an atmosphere unique to such galas.
Jay brought along Mr. Reynolds' prized camera, which he had boasted about at length when he first brought it home, praising its high resolution and extensive manual controls. However, Jay knew it wasn't top-of-the-line equipment. Perry White of the Daily Planet had him take photos with some notable figures, instructing him to have the prints ready by next week before he mingled with Metropolis' elites.
Jay found Ms. Grant and Kara at the buffet. Ms. Grant seemed in high spirits, initiating a greeting: "Looking sharp. I knew I had a good eye for people."
"Ms. Grant, Kara," Jay replied with a smile. "I was just looking for you."
"I heard about Charles' incident, I'm terribly sorry," Ms. Grant inquired. "Is he alright?"
"Thank you for asking," Jay replied courteously. "He's fine, just needs some rest."
Ms. Grant nodded approvingly. "Poor Charles, he was a good man, a good reporter. Time tends to dull the sharpest edges, but you can't fault him for that. With age comes more caution."
She paused, then shifted gears. "Dance time is coming up; I need to greet Mr. Ferris. Kara, tomorrow's schedule, and the return arrangements?"
"Everything will be ready by tomorrow," Kara assured with several nods.
Satisfied, Ms. Grant departed, leaving the two of them at last.
Jay felt there was much to discuss, yet he didn't know where to begin. Kara looked stunning today in her sky-blue dress and silk blouse, her golden hair falling neatly behind her, and crystal heels completing her outfit—all somewhat marred by her stubborn insistence on wearing those silly glasses.
"You look really beautiful today," Jay said, hoping to ignite conversation.
"Thank you," Kara replied, showing her own signs of nervousness. "You look nice, too."
"First time at a dance?" Jay asked.
"Not exactly," Kara replied with a stifled smile. "I did attend a graduation dance on Krypton, but it was quite different from here."
Jay laughed. "Yeah, I can imagine."
The banquet swiftly transitioned to the next phase. Curtains on either side of the second-floor balconies were drawn, revealing orchestras in mirror position, their opening notes filling the venue. Guests paired off, their movements painting the hall with the grace and poise befitting the music.
Jay put his initial nervousness behind him, immersing himself in the dance, noticing Kara did the same. Without prior rehearsal, and having known each other for only a few days, their steps were in perfect harmony, precise as if honed through countless practice sessions. Kara's sky-blue gown spun with the music like a blossoming flower.
"You said you couldn't dance," Jay teased, holding her hand.
"I really couldn't before," Kara insisted. "I only learned in the last few days, and I was so nervous."
"You're doing fantastically," Jay complimented.
As they danced on, Jay inquired, "By the way, that day you vanished for so long, did Ms. Grant say anything to you after?"
The memory seemed to dredge up a profoundly disheartening experience for Kara. "You should've seen her, she was practically demonic—minus the horns."
Jay laughed heartily. "But she didn't fire you, did she?"
"No."
"I guess that means she values you," Jay suggested. "Maybe she sees a bit of her younger self in you."
"Values me? Really?" Kara spun under Jay's lead. "You think that's her way of showing it?"
Jay shrugged. "Humans can be complicated. But Ms. Grant, even with her often fierce demeanor, isn't a bad person. Perhaps she genuinely wants what's best for you, pushing for you to stand on your own."
"Maybe there is something to that," Kara mused thoughtfully. "She's always pushing me hard."
"I overheard her earlier," Jay said with a smile. "Scheduling hassles, huh? Sounds like you've got a busy time ahead."
"Let me tell you a secret," Kara replied with a playful grin. "I'll have it sorted in no time. Super speed, you know."
"Hey, that's cheating," Jay joked. "But does that mean you don't have plans after the ball?"
Kara reminded him, "You mean after the event? Ms. Grant said I could leave on my own once everything's over, but won't that be a bit late?"
"Late? Are you kidding?" Jay chuckled. "Isn't that when the night truly begins?"
Kara couldn't help but join in the laughter.
"Since you put it that way, I guess I'm free—unless you have other plans?"
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein