Dinner

Clark actually felt nervous.
Although Hippolta's eyes were currently set on her dinner plate, Clark could somehow still feel her judging stare.

It had started as soon as Clark had walked in the door.
Diana greeted him excitedly, her smile beaming.  Over her shoulder, however, Clark could see Diana's mother giving him a completely unemotional, cold stare.
"Clark, this is my mother," Diana said politely, taking him by the hand and walking him over.  Clark, awkwardly being pulled along, did his best to keep his composure.  "It's nice to meet you, Miss Prince."

Hippolyta nodded with a stiff smile.  "It is... nice to meet you, Clark."
Diana, surprised at the coldness of her mother's greeting, slowly turned her head and gave Hippolyta a "what was that?" look.
The rest of the night went downhill from there.

Back in Smallville, Clark had been over to a dozen different families' homes for dinner.  In a small town like that, it was the kind of thing that happened all the time.  But Clark had never felt so uncomfortable at any of those dinners as he did here.
Without even making eye contact, Hippolyta managed to convey the message that she was not particularly pleased with Clark, despite the fact that she didn't know him.  Perhaps it was the lack of eye contact—or any other type of politeness—that was so off-putting.  Hippolyta just stared at her plate, slowly working her way through her meal, not saying a word unless spoken to.

Eventually, Clark was tired of waiting.  "I'm sorry, ma'am, have I done something wrong?"
Hippolyta slowly raised her head and looked Clark in the eye.  For a split-second, Clark thought he caught a glimpse of a fiery hatred—as though her eyes were screaming "YES, YOU HAVE. BURN IN HELL."  She quickly regained control of herself, however, and shook off her initial reaction.  She did her best to actually give him a genuine smile. "No, Clark, you haven't done anything.  I must apologize; we haven't had a guest to our home since we moved to Metropolis."
Clark smiled back at her. "Well, as far as I can tell, you don't have anything to worry about.  The Metroplans don't bite.  Most of them."
Diana smiled slightly at Clark's joke.  Hippolyta's smile faded, as though she were suddenly reminded of a grim memory.  "I apologize, but I must retire for the night," she said, slowly standing up and walking out of the dining room.
Diana was aghast.  She quickly stood up and chased after her mother, following her down the short hall into the next bedroom.
Clark awkwardly sat at the table alone, twirling pasta around his fork.  He tried to block it out, but even someone without super powers could hear the shouting coming from across the house.  Eventually, Diana stormed back out of the room, stomping her feet as she paced back and forth across the apartment, muttering her frustration.
"...HOW could she be so simple-minded?!?..."
"...what gives HER the right to..."
"...as if ALL men are like the one that..."

Diana walked out onto the apartment's balcony, leaning on the railing as she tried to let her frustration flow out into the cool night air.
Clark followed her.  "So... what happened?" he asked.
Diana sighed heavily and slumped her head into her hands. "...I'm sorry, Clark.  My mother is a bit sexist."
Clark was slightly surprised.  "You mean she didn't like me because I'm a man?"
Diana smirked a little at Clark referring to himself—a sixteen-year-old boy—as a "man", but she couldn't really argue with it.  "Yeah, basically."  Diana turned toward him.  "Clark, the Amazons have a long, bloody history with men.  There's a reason we only allow women on our island."
Clark's eyes narrowed.  "Tell me."