Just Try It

Chapter 32- Rejection?

Tuesday, February 14th 7:20pm

Seymour Dojo and Fitness Center

Sondra narrowed her eyes as she watched Moe carefully and impulsively asked, "Are you still hurting from practice?"

Moe nodded and absently rubbed a shoulder as Jamie joined them with her own supper. With Jamie manning the counter, Sondra quickly took the empty plates upstairs. While upstairs, she swung by the medicine cabinet. When she rejoined Moe and Jamie at the counter, she set a small container on the counter.

"Do you mind if I use some of Colton's magic mixture?" Sondra asked Jamie.

Jamie barely glanced over as she focused on finishing her supper in record time. "Colton says it isn't magic, and that there is a lot of science behind the old family remedy. Besides, that one is for aching muscles. Did you pull something at practice? I didn't think that you had to run enough to get hurt today."

"I am fine, but Moe did too much," Sondra explained.

"I'll be fine. Besides, Korbin says Colton's home remedies are hard to take," Moe protested as Jamie looked over at him.

"The antibiotic ointment is painful but it is effective. The one for muscle pain makes you feel better and the only down side is the strong smell," Jamie insisted as she watched him rubbing his shoulder. He stared back her stubbornly until she shrugged and returned to her meal.

"It's up to you. I'm just making a suggestion since you have a problem," Sondra said softly. With his resistance, she almost wished she hadn't said anything.

Moe stopped staring at Jamie to look at Sondra. After a moment, he seemed to remember their earlier conversation, and his face softened into a smile. With a shrug, he said softly, "I'll consider it, then, thanks."

Before she could reply, Sondra was distracted by Jamie. Sondra noticed that Jamie was humming as she swallowed the last of her supper and began stuffing her homework into her backpack. Sondra winked at Moe and asked Jamie, "Have you given some thought about my offer to cover your shift?"

Even though a blush stained her cheeks, she didn't slow down as she answered stiffly, "If it isn't a problem, I'll take you up on it. I'll cover for you if you need a night off some time, okay?"

Sondra couldn't hide her smile as she said casually, "No problem."

Before she knew it, Jamie was rushing out the door. As Sondra checked on the few that were left, she walked past the window. She saw Jamie going up to Korbin's door. Even though she didn't mean to spy, she couldn't help but watch as Korbin's sisters threw open the door to tackle Jamie to the ground with hugs. The little girls rushed back inside as Korbin helped Jamie back up. Then, Korbin and Jamie snuck a quick kiss before following his sisters inside.

Sondra sighed and turned back to the dojo/ gym. She was glad for Jamie, and Jamie deserved to be happy, but it promised to be a slow night. Most of the people had already left, and the few remaining seemed to be packing up.

She waved as Samuel and Finn came down the stairs. They joined up with Ivan and Terrance before leaving, and Sondra was surprised when they all came over instead of heading toward the door.

Ivan awkwardly spoke for the team, and asked if she was okay.

When Sean said that he had talked to everybody, he hadn't been kidding, Sondra thought with a wry grin.  Their concern touched her and she had to quickly blink away a few tears as she thanked them, and tried to reassure them that she hadn't been hurt too bad.

As they left, she heard Ivan tell Terrance, "I guess that explains Moe's bad mood. I knew something was wrong, or he wouldn't have snapped at you or pushed himself so hard."

Ivan's words stunned Sondra. She couldn't imagine Moe snapping at Terrance. He had always said that Terrance was the best captain they ever had. Sondra turned to question Moe, and saw that he had opened the container of ointment and was rubbing it into his aching muscles. As she watched him stretch to reach a spot on his back, all thoughts of confronting him vanished from her head. "Want a hand?" she asked, reaching for the ointment container and picturing herself rubbing the ointment onto his aching muscles.

When Moe jumped in surprise, yanked the container out of her reach, and quickly shook his head, Sondra didn't know what to think. She felt like he had just yelled that she had cooties. Trying not to take it personally she just watched as he struggled to reach spots on his back by himself.

Sondra watched him for a moment and then determinedly turned away as she reluctantly said, "You don't have to stick around. I know it is Valentine's Day, and you probably have places to be. I already know that you don't feel like working out tonight."

"I don't want you walking home alone. Besides, once things quiet down, I was hoping that you could quiz me on Chemistry or History."

Resentment melted away, and Sondra found herself agreeing without a thought. When she turned back, she continued watching him struggle in bemusement. She really didn't understand him at all. With a little sigh, she began to quiz him again.

As Sondra asked him questions, Moe rested his arms on the counter, and gradually laid his head on his arms with his eyes closed. She would have thought he was falling asleep, but he was getting every answer right, and answering immediately. He was just completely relaxed. She asked, "How are you feeling now?"

"Much better. Thanks for suggesting the ointment. It's already helping,"

With that, they went back to studying for Thursday's tests until it was time to lock up. After a quick walk through, and turning off one or two lights, she double checked that everything was clean and ready for the next day.

While Sondra was finishing, Moe grabbed his things, including the diorama, and they met at the front door. Sondra noticed that he was moving normally again. Instead of chancing another argument, Sondra just smiled and enjoyed the quiet walk home in silence.

Moe interrupted her thoughts to ask, "Is your grandma going to be worried that you are late?"

"Nah," Sondra said, "I texted her to let her know that I was working until 9:00pm."

When they entered the main doors, Sondra gave a sigh of disappointment that their time together was almost up. Time to focus on less happy thoughts again.

Just as they reached their floor, Moe stopped her to suggest, "Come on in while I get your MP3 player back to you?"

With a nod, Sondra followed him to his apartment. Besides, she had to talk to his family, even if she was reluctant to going back to telling her story. Just how to you tell such a loving family that your own mom beat you up? When Moe opened the door, she saw Sammy, Henry, Joanna, and Brian were in the living room and watching a movie and felt a small pain of jealousy. They turned and Henry blurted out, "What the happened to your face?"

Figuring out how to bring up the subject might not be an issue, Sondra thought wryly to herself. Moe patted Sondra's shoulder before he went to his room, and Sondra sighed. She had forgotten about the bruise. It seemed strange that she could actually forget something so obvious.

After rolling her eyes at her own forgetfulness, she quickly filled in Moe's family. Their understanding and matter of factness as they offered their help soothed her feelings. They were more than willing to help, and then offered to have her join them in watching the rest of the movie. A quick text to her grandma gained her permission, since she was just next door.

By the time Moe had come back out the movie had been restarted, and Sondra had in on the couch. Sammy had moved the floor to have Sondra braid her hair. That left the only open spot next to Sondra. As he squeezed in next to her, Sondra couldn't help smiling. Being included in such a big family was great on so many levels.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I did my final editing from my smart phone this time, so I hope I didn't hit too many wrong buttons. If you see something wonky, please let me know. Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment or even hit that little star to vote. All is appreciated.