In school
she offered me a massage
which was relaxing
and stimulating at once
and I thought
“This is someone
I could probably get to know better”
but she was seeing my hall-mate
and maybe a couple of others
on the downlow and
really
what I felt for her
was too pronounced
to be cheapened by being another
Other Guy for her.
I had too much pride
or too little experience
for such a thing.

We remained friends
who kissed occasionally
until I found someone more suitable
and much worse for me.
I traded down
by skipping the downlow
and she stayed happily with her man
and many others
for years to come.

I’m not too sure
who had the right idea
back then
but I suspect that just about everyone
had the wrong one.