Sitting in your idling car, you reach over to the passenger seat and grab the community brochure to make sure you have the right address. You flip to the page you previously dog eared for easy reference: adult education. Scanning down the page you reach the teacher's mugshot and class title: amateur pottery class. His picture is a standard generic headshot, but his chiseled handsomeness is still on display. Not the reason you are taking the class, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have an attractive teacher.
No, you're taking this class because you've always wanted to do pottery but have heretofore only managed to make odd rocks out of clay. Plus, this year is a new you! You check the address of the class and confirm you are indeed in the right place. You look over to the house and don't notice any activity. You are a little early, but not THAT early. Just then the light of the garage turns on and the door rumbles open revealing an impressive pottery studio.
You see the teacher milling about in the back, setting things up and preparing for the class. You get out of your car and smooth out your slovenly Saturday t-shirt as if it will make a difference. You stroll up the driveway but the teacher doesn't notice you. You clear your throat as if to say "excuse me, I'm here!" But he is still lost in his clay universe. You hesitantly enter the garage and try the clearing your throat trick once more, this time a little louder. Still nothing.
"Um, excuse me!" you say.
Startled, he turns around.
"Oh!" he trips over himself to walk toward you, "I'm so sorry I didn't hear you come in." He's more handsome than in his photo. He reaches out and shakes your with a good strong grip. You instantly feel a spark between the two of you as his baby greenish blues meet your piercing blues.
"I'm Jane," you say.
"Randall. Come in, come in," he breaks the grip with a smile as he eases you into his space, "welcome to my studio, I'm so glad you joined my class."
"Oh thank you!" you return the formality "It's nice to be here, I'm looking forward to it!"
His presence is comforting and reassuring. "Tell me," he asks, "why have you taken this class before?" It's a boring, stock question, but there's not any better way to get to know someone.
"I've always wanted to learn pottery and never really had the chance." You answer as succinctly and honestly as possible. He smiles wide. It's cute and charming. You can't believe how instantly attracted you are to him. His social awkwardness is on full display as he moves the discussion further, but honestly, you don't remember what was said since you were completely lost in his eyes. He cuts off the intense eye contact by glancing at his watch.
"Is it just you and me?" he wonders rhetorically.
"Oh please, yes! Oh please, yes!"
you think to yourself.
"Well, I guess we should get started," he finally states the obvious.
"
Woo hoo!"
you jump for joy in your mind, but try to maintain your composure and resist the urge to do a fist pump in the air. Just then you hear a gentle honk and a car pull up into the driveway. Dammit!
"Oh...great!" the teacher says with what sounds like a hint of sarcasm. "Mrs. Belamy!"
You turn to see a very large woman coming up the driveway. She has a commanding presence and walks with the confidence of someone who has successfully fought her way through life. "Hello Mr. Stephens!" she yells from far too far away. Her voice is loud and piercing and you want her to leave as soon as possible. But, alas, she is another student. You are soon joined by a third student. A sweet little old lady that reeks of patchouli and lavender.
As the class progresses, you can't take your mind off of the teacher and what he might look like naked. Because of this, you have no idea what you are doing when it comes time to use the pottery wheel, and it shows. The clay goes flying about, covering your smock and elbows in clay. He comes over and adjusts your wheel's speed.
"Need some help?" he asks politely. You nod sheepishly, but in your mind, you scream
YEEEEES
!
"Let's see your technique," he commands. Your lead foot slams on the pedal causing wet clay to shoot across his chest.
"Oh shit! I'm sorry!" You beg for forgiveness.
"Quite alright," he reassures, "I'll find a way to get you back." He winks.
You smile from ear to ear with his flirting tease. He gets in behind you, his presence is looming and dominating. It turns you on. He reaches around you, hugging you and tucking you into his chest so that he can reach the clay spinning on the wheel in front of you. Both of your hands reach the clay coating them as it spins, effortlessly lubricating them. He pushes your arms in, centering the clay. You could live in this moment. Now you finally understand that scene in
Ghost.
He gently and reassuringly helps you mold the clay and get a feel for the wheel. Just about the time you start to get the hang of it, the class is over.
As the week passes you ache for the next session. You are eager to have him hugging you again, to simply be in his presence. For the next class, you ensure not to look quite as slovenly as you did the first time. But not too much, after all, it is a clay class, and you are expected to end up somewhat messy. You intentionally arranged your shirt to show just a bit of cleavage. You arrived earlier than last time so that you can spend even more time with the teacher. This time his door is wide open, and he sees you pull up. You hop out of the car eager but trying not to show it.
"Hi!" he says, clearly revealing an equal amount of eagerness.
"Hey!" you reply with a coy smile. "I've been thinking about this class all week!"
"Really?!" he says surprised.
"Oh shit! Was that too much?
" you think to yourself, immediately regretting sharing so much so quickly.
"I've been thinking about you too," he replies.
Whew! You can see on his face the same regret of sharing too much. You reassure him by purposely brushing up against him as you walk to get your clay. As your skin lightly touches, it instantly gives you goosebumps.
"We're gonna finish your pot today!" he says awkwardly, causing you to smirk.
"Great!" you reply, unsure of what else to say.
Fucking Mrs. Belamy arrives early this time. Goddammit. As the class progresses you revel in every fleeting moment you have with Mr. Stephens, but the old lady and Mrs. Belamy command their fair share of attention. Nonetheless, he is making a point to spend as much time as possible around your wheel. As the class nears an end, you are rueful for not getting nearly enough of him as you were hoping for.