He looked at her with his face steeled to receive the Diane treatment, but instead she stepped forward and put her hands on his upper arms. She looked intently into his face, her concern sickened him.
What do you want Mon?
His eyes searched her face, and she did not resist when he put his arms up and swept her against his body. He felt her arms go around him, but they did not hold him, and that stopped him from moving his face down and trying to kiss her. He could feel his hard on pressing against her belly, but as she also sensed it, she moved her lower body away from him and then he knew, that she was just trying to make it up to him, as difficult as it was for her. Mon felt him relax away from her, released her hold and they parted. They stood looking at each other and Steven realized with some sympathy that this night was NOT supposed to turn out this way at all, for any of them, but especially for Monica.
Walk with me to the station.
He said as a statement and she turned and stepped out beside him along the footpath. They walked in silence for a little way, he conscious of her right there beside him, wanting to put his arm around her but knowing he wanted to do it only as an automatic gesture, in this case a useless one, and she conscious of her attire and the disappointment of what had transpired. Neither wanted to be the first to break the silence but each wanted to say something, something sincere that may help to repair the damage. Steven was still angry, but more so at Diane than at Monica.
Is she always that vicious? There was a considerable pause as Monica sort for a reply. I dont know that I deserved any of it. After all, what did I do to either of you, or anybody else for that matter? he offered again.
He stopped when she paused in silence again, and she also stopped and turned to face him.
Look Steven, I cant apologise for Diane but I am sorry, and (the concerned look again) the explanation she gave well, it was true mostly, but she really doesnt know you to be able to say what she did, so for that Im sorry.
Why should you be sorry, she said it, not you.
Yes, but she has a preconceived opinion based on what Ive told her about you, so it IS my fault. Oh Steven, I really am sorry, it wasnt supposed to turn out like this!
Well what was it supposed to turn out like, you know, was I supposed to sit there and be lectured until I became a goody goody or something, what?
Lets not go through it all now. But I want you to know that I do find you attractive, which is confusing to me, and no, I dont want to sleep with you, but you have to understand where Diane is coming from, and then maybe youll understand her behaviour.
Steven lost all interest in Diane all of a sudden.
You are attracted to me but you dont want to do anything about it because you are a lesbian?
Steven, I really dont want to go into that right now, well, well get together again, and this time because you know what its about, this time well discuss it properly but I want to tell you about Diane alright.
Steven reluctantly agreed.
Next time; can we do it down the back bar of the Anglers Arms, somewhere a bit more public you know? he grinned at her. Alright, tell me about Diane.
They began to walk again side by side, and this time Monica relaxed enough to allow her hips to rub against Stevens, each time their steps did not coincide.
She really is beautiful isnt she. She began with a statement that regardless of what had transpired, Steven could not argue with. We met about four years ago, at Zargos in Lismore, she had just separated from her husband and was intent on drinking herself into oblivion.
Steven knew Zargos.
So she was a les you know, gay then? he asked.
No, Zargos is not a gay club. Thats a fallacy created by its popularity, you know, straights go in and find a few gay people so they instantly label it a gay club, and they tell others that werent able to get in and then it snowballs from there. Anyway, Diane, she was by herself near the ladies, just sitting there all by herself, and she was nursing a drink as if she had just crawled out of it, and actually might have, oh Steven, you should have seen the way she looked!
Monica stopped dead and Steven swiveled around in surprise. They were facing each other and Steven could see that her eyes were brimming with tears, not enough yet to spill over, but tears all the same. He put his arm around her this time, and gave her the sort of hug he hoped she would see as a friendly and sympathetic one, and nothing else.
Go on, what happened? he urged.
Monica dropped her head onto his shoulder as they walked, and they went up the stairs into the railway station. Steven steered her to one of the benches, and she began again as they seated themselves. Steven still had his arm draped across her shoulders, and she did not appear uncomfortable with his continued physical contact.
She was married for twelve months, just over in fact, because she told us about her anniversary. She and her husband, Mick, had been going out since high school and though he drank a bit, she said he hadnt been physical with her, up until about six months after the wedding. Fancy knowing somebody so well for nearly seven years and then suddenly they change, well I know it couldnt have happened like that, she is still so so naive in some ways that maybe she just didnt see the warning signs, you know, the indicators that something was wrong with him?
She glanced at Steven as she said this and he just nodded at her and then shrugged his shoulders.
So what did he do that was so bad, how could it have made her so bitter that she acts the way she does now; he hit her right?
He more than hit her Steven, but let me tell it in order okay, so that you can understand it properly. What time does the train come?
Dont worry, every 20 minutes until midnight so youve plenty of time to get your message through to me.
Steven was curious, but he thought she was starting to lecture him a bit. He pictured Diane sitting on the lounge room floor again, her dress hitched up and those black panties framing her crotch. Once again he felt his erection looming, but Monica was only sitting back against his shoulder and was oblivious to the forming bulge in his jeans. She began to talk again, and moved her left arm to sit along the top of his right thigh. Stevens eyes looped skywards as he thought that helps, but tried to concentrate in what she was saying again.
got drunk a bit when they were going out, more so than some of the other kids at school, but not that you would think he had a problem or anything, or so she reckoned. And no one else apparently mentioned it either, so it was just one of those things that nobody recognized. They got married just like everybody thought they would, just as they knew they would. Dis parents liked Mick, and his really doted on her of course, and everybody assumed it was one of those marriages that was meant to be. But after they left school, Mick got an apprenticeship with his Dad, a plumber I think, and he used to go out with his mates every afternoon for a drink before going home, so sometimes Di would hardly see him all week, and when she did, hed always had a few, you know, enough to make him outgoing, but not drunk.