Just Try It

Chapter 10- A Foot Rub

ISunday, February 12 3:15pm

Stairwell at the Swisher Street Apartments

"Not trust me," echoed off the stairwell walls, and seemed to reverberate into Sondra's skull.  She knew that she shouldn't have sat down, but she had thought that her biggest worry would be Moe bringing up the pole dancing.  She had been struggling to remember the stories about how professional dancers sometimes messed up when Moe had suggested acting like it hadn't happened.  So much for him suddenly noticing her as a girl.  It didn't take more than a second for her to decide to just be grateful that he was letting it go.   

Then, he had actually rubbed her aching feet.  The relief from the pain was good, but sitting close to Moe and having him touch her was even better.  She should have known it wouldn't last though.  Her luck just didn't work that way.  She should have known something was coming.  Looking back, she was embarrassed that she hadn't caught on quicker.  The only thing she could blame was that her brain had shut off at Moe's touch. 

Sondra tried to tug her feet away again.  Right now, she just wanted to leave before she started to cry.  This day had started bad, and it didn't show any signs of getting better.  It may just be a little after three, but when things went this wrong the only good option was to go to bed and try to make the next day better.

Moe tugged back and ordered, "Just relax and let me finish apologizing while I rub your feet.  I was wrong, both times, and I'm sorry.  I know you better than that, and should have trusted you. I should have talked to you earlier about Jamie, but we had just started to be friends again.  I know I messed up the situation with Aaron.  Because of my mistakes, Aaron came close getting us all kicked out of school."

Shock had Sondra blinking and her jaw dropping.  She hadn't guessed that Moe was blaming himself for the problem with Aaron.  It took several minutes and a shake of her head, but finally her mind cleared enough to insist, "You should have talked to me instead of just going to Grandma, but it wasn't just your mistake.  I was the one that he fooled."

The doubtful look that Moe gave her let Sondra know that he wasn't convinced.  To her relief, he didn't argue.  Instead, he explained, "I know that I should have come to you.  I was afraid that you would take his word over mine.  He was your boyfriend, and I hadn't even been a good friend.  That's why I'm here now.  I'm trying to do a better job."

It made sense, Sondra thought to herself, Moe took his responsibilities seriously.  Even thought she wanted to say more to convince him it wasn't his fault, she was sure the resulting argument wouldn't get them anywhere.  Instead, Sondra impulsively asked a question that she had wondered about for a long time. "What happened last fall anyway?  Did I do something wrong?"  As she heard the needy tone in her voice, Sondra looked away and wished she could take back her words. 

Moe flushed and was silent so long that she thought he wasn't going to answer. 

Just when Sondra was about to change the subject, he took a deep breath and answered, "You didn't do anything wrong.  I wasn't thinking clearly.  Some things seemed important.  It took me some time to realize that nothing is more important than being there for your friends.  I made some bad choices, and didn't even think how our friendship would suffer.  Even then, I really missed your laughter and talking to you.  There were lots of times that I turned around to ask what you thought, only to be disappointed that you weren't there."

"Me too," Sondra shared.  Relief filled her even as she wondered what he had considered so important.  Since he had jumped into the dating scene with a vengeance, she guessed that he had wanted a girlfriend.  Swallowing her hurt, Sondra decided that there was no need to make this more awkward for everyone by suggesting she could have been his girlfriend.  Instead, she glanced at Moe and asked pointedly, "Are you going to start blowing me off again?''