Cane was trying different combinations of clothes in the mirror. He went back and forth, unsure if he was overdressing for just a meet-up. He had previously worn a long grey coat, a black long-sleeve shirt, and black pants. He didn't want to look like he was attending a funeral and opted for something more casual in the end. 

     He excitedly picked out another black long-sleeved shirt with a button at the collar line and dark denim pants. He stared at himself in the mirror. The longer he stared, the weirder he felt. He looked at his phone and saw how late it was, he decided to stay with the outfit and headed out. 

     He walked out of his apartment and almost skipped to a nearby market that was being held in the park, where he met Yvette. He felt weird about all this; he never really had an interest in a person like this before, and the stupid smile that he wore was a bit embarrassing. He couldn't help it; everything felt new for once. 

     The text he received a week ago was still fresh in his mind. She asked where they could meet, and if he had any days off, he quickly texted her about the market in the park and that he was off on the weekend. She quickly agreed, and the date was set. 

     Cane still didn't believe today was real. For weeks after he first saw her, he tried to learn everything about her with just her first name. She wasn't particularly active on social media, but through his dearly departed fiancée's active pages, he began to snoop around. He then came across Yvette's pathetic excuse for a partner's active pages, where he was finally able to find her. 

     Her likes and dislikes, what she was passionate about, bits and pieces that led him inside her mind. She likes open farmers' markets where you can shop around. She opted to walk in the rain when she was feeling stressed; she had a passion for cooking that made her feel connected to her late parents. She liked the color gold. 

     He could go on and on about what he had found and his speculations, but one day, he would truly meet the real thing. Who knew he would stumble upon her in this exact park?

   Cane began to look around, trying to see if she was anywhere near.  Suddenly, his phone rang, and it was her. "Hi, just wanted to call you real quick since I can see you, but I don't think you can see me. Just let me walk towards you", she approached from behind and tapped him on the shoulder, "I'm here". She greeted him with a grin that spread ear to ear, her eyes softer than before, her aura so much more energetic. It was like seeing a different person from the one being beaten and the one in the rain. 

     A soft pink turtleneck sweater, blue jeans, a braid adorned with flowers, and a new pair of boots, full of life and brightness, this look suited her more. He felt like he was staring too much, so, he quickly greeted her, " Hi, sorry I'm late, I lost track of time". 

     She giggled, "No worries, I was just scared I wouldn't see you again. I wanted to pay you back for helping me". Cane listened to the entire sentence, but only clung to specific words, 'scared I wouldn't see you again', a smile slowly creeping on his face.

     They both sat at a nearby table after ordering a drink from a stand. Cane ordered something sweet while Yvette ordered something bitter. Each one sipped on their straw as they looked at each other and away, they didn't know what to talk about as they awkwardly sat in silence.

      Yvette would occasionally look at Cane and see a man who was soft-spoken and thoughtful, with cool brown eyes that never looked at you harshly; he would occasionally blush when he took a peek at her. Yvette would then have a feeling arise, something resembling happiness, but she quickly squashed those feelings. 

     She didn't come here to find love or be on a makeshift date; she wanted to pay him back. But she couldn't think of a single thing she could offer him. From his sense of style to his kind demeanor, to the way he presented himself, she felt he had it all. She decided to just ask head-on. "I know you already told me that I don't have to repay you, but I need to find a way to at least show my appreciation. Of course, I don't want to make you uncomfortable by seeming too pushy, but still, is there anything I could do?". Her eyes were wide, almost pleading to him for something.

     Cane gave a slightly surprised look, but on the inside, he smiled. He had never seen a look with such sincerity behind it. He felt she was a slight people pleaser, not completely naive, but she would forget about her safety. Why would she ask a total stranger this? Did she not suspect anything? Would a total stranger show another stranger the level of kindness Cane showed to her? The answer, in most cases, would be obviously no. It was almost too ridiculous to think about, but he felt he needed to indulge a bit. 

     Cane thought about this and more, but it didn't matter now. The person who had been occupying his mind finally came to him with a golden opportunity. He felt his mind go back and forth and quickly settled with a move he had set up by accident, about two weeks back. "Do you happen to know of any ballroom dances?  A lot is going on in my life, and I am trying to find a way to take my mind off things. A close friend owns a dance studio, and I have been on the fence about joining".

      Cane saw her expression shift from surprised to hopeful as she answered. "Well, if it helps, I am a bit experienced in dancing Tango. But I'm a bit rusty, I haven't practiced in a while". Cane put on his best face of surprise and astonishment, "No way, one of the types of dances my friend teaches is Tango. Then, if you don't mind, would you like to be my partner?". He waited, for her response, but he immediately started sweating when she backed away. 

     She retracted into herself a bit, almost thinking about the favor. Cane's mind began to panic, "Did I come off too strong? Was that too early? Why did she back away? Does she plan on leaving me? I need to find a way to bring back the conversation on my side. She doesn't hate me now, does she? I haven't even found out where she lives. I need to get closer. Let's step back". Cane was about to speak, but her voice again filled the void of silence. He could see her blushing face, and her eyes darting from side to side, " Well, sure. If you need a dance partner, I'II fill in. But, let me warn you, I am an annoying partner". 

     Cane relaxed as he heard those words, but he also thought to himself, " Is this woman normal? She just agreed like that?". He gave her the address of the dance studio and she looked the business up on her phone, "Oh, this place isn't too far from my home, it's 10 minutes by car". This statement perplexed him. About a month ago, she didn't have a car. She took a taxi when she was leaving her old apartment. Did she get a car recently? He swept away the question, trying to get closer. "Oh, if you want, since my place is also semi-close to the studio, if you want, I could pick you up?". 

     Yvette was still looking at her phone and reading the reviews, her soft expression never changing, "No, I couldn't possibly do that, but thank you for the offer". Cane was surprised, but also a little annoyed, she wasn't as naive as she seemed. It was hard to make out what she was thinking, but now he had an excuse to get closer.

     

     As they finished their drink, Yvette didn't know what to do next, so before he stepped away, she blurted out, "Um, if you don't mind, could we walk around and talk? Since we are going to be dance partners, I think it would be best to know our boundaries, I don't want to overstep". She looked him straight in the eyes and saw as his face lit up, "Yeah, sounds like a good idea". With the sun behind them, they talked about hand placement, closeness, and the overall rhythmic attitude of the dance. Cane was a bit nervous, but he never would have thought he would get a chance to hold her so early. He couldn't wait for the day to come.