Status: Here's another oldie I'm reposting to Mibba. I found this on my old Quizilla account. I believe it was the first original story I posted to the internet. Probably written in 2006/2007

Ineffable Plan

Nine

“Justine, I’m not trying to be mean or anything, but what the hell is that supposed to be?”

I turned to face Aaron with an expression mock hurt. “How dare you? This is a masterpiece. It’s the best piece of pottery crafted by human hands and a pottery wheel. It’s not my fault you are smart enough to see its true beauty.”

“It looks like a piece of shit…literally.”

I pushed him a little causing him to almost lose his balance and fall off his stool. We were in Studio Art again. It was the fourth week of classes. This week we were working on pottery. It was taking a while but I knew I’d eventually get the hang of it. Aaron wasn’t so sure.

“Ok, Mr. I’m-perfect-at-everything, what are you making?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s none of your business.”

“That sounds a lot like an ‘I have no idea what I’m doing’,” I taunted.

He rolled his eyes and went back to staring at the failed attempts lying at my feet.

“Pottery is uncomfortable,” I complained. “Why do we have to sit on these midget stools? Can’t the wheel be on a desk or something? It feels so primitive.”

I was trying to focus on the lump of clay I was trying to mold into a mug but I could notice Aaron staring at me out of the corner of my eyes.

“What?”

“Do you need help?” He asked. Once again he was serious. He always did that. One minute we were joking and then suddenly he was Mr. Composure.

“Like you could help me? You haven’t done anything in the past hour. At least I’ve tried,” I retorted. He was still staring at me like he always did when he was trying to get me to be serious.

“It looks like you need help, Justine. Do you want me to help you or not?” He asked calmly.

“Fine,” I mumbled.

After turning off his pottery wheel he picked up his stool and placed it directly behind me so that his stool was touching mine. Then he turned off my wheel and before I could object he took the clay I was working with and place it on the floor.

“What? It was ruined,” he said laughing.

Finally he sat down behind me, so that I was sitting between his legs.

“Okay, let’s start.”

Aaron wrapped his arms around me giving me a quick and unexpected hug before he slid his hands down my arms and to my hands. He was extremely close and I loved it. As we worked on building the clay into something I felt warm all over. Whenever he would whisper instructions or encouragement in my ear, the warmth of his breath would send shivers down my spine. It was becoming increasingly harder to keep things in perspective. Aaron didn’t like me like that. He was only so close to help me with this stupid project.

“This is very Ghost of you, Aaron,” I said trying to distract myself.

He laughed and I immediately regretted the comment. The movement of his chest against my back only made things worse. I felt his warmth spread through me, heating me up, starting from my back to the souls of my feet to my fingertips and settling at my cheeks. I thanked God that Aaron couldn’t see my face.

An hour later, with Aaron’s help, I had managed to produce a decent coffee mug. Once I took it off the pottery wheel Aaron carried it to the kiln. As he stood up I immediately felt the loss of his warmth. I shivered a little and wrapped my arms around myself.

“Are you ready to try one on your own?”

I looked up to see Aaron standing in front of me. His arms were crossed over his chest and he was smiling.

“I’ve actually tried many on my own. You’re the one who hasn’t done anything.”

“Well if that’s the thanks I get…” He muttered playfully.

I watched as he removed his stool from behind me and placed it in front of the pottery wheel he had been using before.

“I bet I can make a better bowl than you,” he said looking over at me and catching my eyes.

I stared back at him for a moment before my brain processed that he spoke.

“You’re on.”
♠ ♠ ♠
(Chapter posted on September 22, 2014)