This is Chapter 3 of the Art Teacher Romance Series. You do not have to read Chapters 1 and 2 to enjoy this Chapter, but I hope you will read the first two chapters as well.
Also, you might enjoy the "Art Class with Julie" series which appears in the Erotic Couplings section. Terry, one of the two main characters in this story, is first introduced in "Art Class with Julie Chapter 03."
Comments and criticism is always welcome.
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Terry strolled into her classroom studio just before the 1:00 bell. Most of her students were already at their easels painting the still life items laid out on the center table: a Granny Smith apple; an old wine bottle dripped with wax, a yellow candle stub sticking out at the top; and a string of pearls draped on an overturned bowl. Sun light poured in through the oversized windows filling the long wall opposite the door. Jazz music played quietly in the background.
A few more students straggled in behind Terry. A few minutes late for a three hour studio class wasn't a problem; Terry hardly even took notice. She draped her windbreaker on the old wooden coat tree in the corner. Sometimes she used the coat tree for a still life subject; today she used it was there just to hang her coat on. She put on her painting smock, a large sized, button down blue denim shirt, a hand-me-down from her father. It gave her a warm feeling to wear this shirt from the only man in her life.
Terry liked to let her students spend a half hour or so working on their art before interrupting with her lesson for the day. It gave them time to slip into the right mood, settling down after their hectic morning class schedules. Terry's morning schedule wasn't nearly so hectic, at least not this morning. She had woken up with her arms wrapped around her new friend, Anne. Yesterday had been a long day of discovery for the two women. For Anne it had been her first experience making love with another woman.
"Like you've been doing it all your life," Terry assured her this morning. The two women lay in each other's arms for another quarter hour; just quietly enjoying the feel of being held and holding. Eventually, Terry started to stir. "I have to teach a class today. Lucky it isn't until 1:00. I'll have to go home first to change into some fresh clothes."
Anne pouted, but then brightened up, "can I make you some breakfast?"
"Wow, great in bed and she cooks too? What more could a girl ask for?" Terry teased.
"Scrambled eggs, toast and coffee?" Anne asked.
"Can I have tea instead of the coffee?"
Anne laughed with delight, "Of course you can." But then the frown returned to Anne's pretty face.
"What's wrong?" Terry asked. She wanted Anne to be happy.
"How does this work? When will I see you again? We hardly know each other but I don't want you to leave."
"How about tonight," Terry answered. "You said your husband Rob would be out of town for another day, so we can see each other tonight. If you'd like, you can come over to my place for dinner; or we can go out to a restaurant, like on a date; or we can come back here and have another quiet night." A sly smile appeared on Terry's face, "Well, maybe not so quiet of a night." They both laughed. "Let's decide over breakfast."
Terry got up and took a quick shower while Anne prepared breakfast. They agreed to meet back at Anne's house in the evening, around 6:30. Anne said she had to do some grocery shopping and then she would head to the health club, while Terry went off to change clothes and teach her class.
"Professor Andrews?" Terry shook herself back to the present at the sound of the student's voice. Terry got a kick out of being called 'Professor'. Technically, she was an instructor, but the students always called her professor. She didn't let it go to her head, though, and enjoyed her interactions with the kids. This student was Julie, one of Terry's star pupils.
"Hi, Julie; how're you doing?" Terry asked.
"Okay, thanks. I've been working on this painting for a few days now. It's coming along," Julie said this last part without much enthusiasm.
"You don't sound convinced," Terry responded. "I can sort of see why. What do you think is wrong with it?" This was Terry's standard teaching approach, letting the students analyze their own works first as a way of learning and improving their technique.
"I've got the perspective out of whack. The bottom of the bottle should be a little smaller. It's too late to change it now, so I'm trying to work around that. Maybe I'll add an extra object in front of the bottle. At least that'll hide the problem."
"Yep, that's what's wrong and you can fix it the way you said. The only problem now is we don't have an extra item out on the table. So you're kind of stuck with what you've got there." This last was Terry's way of reminding her student that her class is about technique, not about hiding mistakes or even making pretty pictures. Julie nodded her acceptance of the mild rebuke. "At least you figured out what was wrong with it."
"Well, I can't even take full credit for that. I shouldn't admit this to you, but I had a little help," Julie confessed, one side of her mouth squnched up in a lopsided grin. "My boyfriend came by the studio yesterday afternoon. He sort of pointed me to the problem."