Big City Boy finds Art (affinity)

[PHAROH ISAAC MARSHAL]

Pharoh hadn't been in town long. Only a few months but he was already smitten with the ocean front community. It was so different from the big city life he was accustomed to back in Chicago, where he wouldn't have had a chance with the small business he dreamed of. He stared around his sub par apartment with glee. It wasn't much but it was his. Everything about the one bedroom hub screamed bachelor. Dishes left undone in the sink and clothes scattered around the floor. Disheveled but not condemn worthy. It would take all of ten minutes for him to clean it, but that would require a certain amount of ambition that he really didn't have. His one and only passion right now was fish. Though the flier on his refrigerator said otherwise. On the front there was a picture of the new community center with an add for an art class he planned to check out. The reason for this. The teacher was hot ... obviously. What hot blooded American male wouldn't do the same thing?

A quick breakfast was in order. Staring into the fridge he noted two things. He had way to much fish and some of it was on the brink of going bad. Wrinkling his nose in disgust he reached in blindly grasping the egg carton, milk, cheese and a random piece of fish intending on creating a fish omelet. An acquired taste that he had taken to immediately under the excuse that he should partake in local goods with every meal. Or the old.. 'I caught it, so I have to eat it' when he disgusted someone. When he'd finished the dishes joined their brethren in the sink to be done later. Since he couldn't afford to buy new ones whenever the sink got over piled, though he wished he could. Really wished he could. But alas it was not to be and he didn't have time to ponder it as the clock ticked away precious seconds. If he didn't leave now he would be late.

Keys in hand he left neglecting to lock the door. He didn't have anything of any value anyway so if someone really wanted something he had ... let them take it. He hadn't needed to take his car to get there on time but he did anyway. Partly out of habit and partly due to testosterone. Boys and their toys and all that jazz. He arrived in record time and took the extra minutes he had to browse at the other activities the center had to offer. A pool. What was the point when the ocean was near? He really didn't understand that logic. But everything else looked good, wait make that great. His mind amended as his soon to be teacher came into view. That picture hadn't really done her justice. The temptation to wolf whistle nearly did him in but he resisted. It was important to make a good first impression. At least that's what his mother tried to drill into his head since he was young. He took a seat in the back to observe her planning on taking time after class to 'introduce' himself properly.

[AFFINITY LEE ALDRED]

AFFINITYLEEALDRED
Like anyone would b e
I am flattered by your fascination with m e
Like any hot blooded w o m a n
I have simply wanted an object to c r a v e

Affinity had been in this town way too long. How was she ever going to escape now. Everyone looked at her like her life was the biggest tragedy they'd ever heard of. For most of them, it was. There weren't many fisherman who died off the Wells Beach Coast, simply because most of the fishermen here were smart enough not to go out before a storm. Her husband had been smart enough too. If she hadn't pushed and pushed, maybe he'd still be here now, and she wouldn't want to leave so badly. In fact, she'd been holding on for dear life to that tiny bit of hope that was bubbling up inside her body that he wasn't dead. She also had the false hope that her brother's body wasn't really her brother's body. Maybe some other random guy with the same teeth and fingerprints as her brother washed up on shore that day and her brother was out there somewhere laughing it up with her husband about what a mess they were in.

She had a class early this morning. She sometimes taught the yoga classes, but today was definitely an art day. She could feel it on the breezes that came off the ocean and lingered around her nose. She used to love that smell, but now she loathed it. The faster she got money, the faster she would be out of here and moving on. She needed to escape from the sea, and maybe she could convince her sister to come with her. She doubted that though. Her sister was chained to her boat, and the ocean. She was a fisherwoman, and there was nothing Affinity could do about it. She didn't exactly like it, but that was how it was.

She walked into the community center and looked around the lobby for a second before she went to her room. She had to set up before the few poeple that paid for her class showed up. She stopped just long enough to notice a very attractive man standing at the registration counter. In another life, without the ring on her finger, maybe she would have tried, but instead she just walked away. She didn't have time for men right now anyway. Maybe someday she would, but not today. She stopped at the ladies room and did her business, checking her makeup in the mirror before she headed to her classroom. She walked in and was surprised to see him sitting there in the back.

She considered it a classroom even though it was for adults not kids. She had been in this room before, and was glad to see that someone had repaired the three potters' wheels. There were only four people other than the guy she'd noticed when she'd walked in. An older couple, a middle aged man, and maybe his daughter. She looked about 12, and was probably upset she was here and not hanging with her friends. Affinity laughed a bit to herself as she raised her hands to get everyone's attention. "Welcome to Pottery 101. I'll be working with you each individually over the next two hours. Once you get the hang of it, i'll help someone else on the wheel until we have all three going." She paced the room a bit and gave them all a warm smile. It wasn't necessarily genuine, but it was warm. "If you've already thrown on a potter's wheel then speak now or forever hold your peace." The older couple raised their hands and Affinity nodded. She'd had them in a class before, but they liked her classes so they kept taking them. "Would you two mind holding off until i teach these other folks?" She asked politely. They nodded and snuggled with each other. It was cute, in a weird way. "So, any volunteers to work the wheels first?"

[PHAROH ISAAC MARSHAL]

At first Pharoh wasn't at all sure about this whole participation thing. That wheel looked a bit intimidating from where he was sitting. All the mud and wood. It all seemed a bit more messy than what he was used to dealing with. But one look into her eyes and he was smitten. Walking to the front with a bright smile and willing eyes. "Show me your magic," his voice was sultry and he half expected to be slapped. Truth be told though he would be fine with that. It would be some contact with his new fascination.

Some might call him a masochist. Others might refer to him as a pervert. But in truth he was just really passionate when he was interested in someone. In the past he'd wound up with any number of reactions from, flattered to restraining order. This time he was hoping for the former. But he wouldn't hold his breath. His methods were an acquired taste that he'd yet to find the yin for his yang.

Hopefully eventually the lock fitted where his heart was would find a key that fit. He reached out and cautiously touched the grey ooze. It wasn't as unpleasant as he thought it was going to be. Not nearly. But it wasn't a great feeling either. It was cold and slick. It was as if he'd just thrust his hand into a pot of jello that hadn't had enough time to fully solidify. It would be sticky later.

A flash of the movie Ghost fluttered into his consciousness. A movie he should never have watched. It wasn't his type of movie nor was he with a girl when he had endured it. His excuse? It was the only thing on. Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in an intimate dance at the pottery wheel. Okay now he was uncomfortable. Somewhere settled below his belt.

Hopefully she couldn't see that point. He pulled a lump of the grey ooze onto the pottery wheel. Following the instructions put in front of him he started to work on his own waiting for her to assist him. Debating messing up on purpose just so he could feel her hands on his. The lump was slowly developing into something akin to a pitcher until his hand slipped and it was a lump again. "Oops"

[AFFINITY LEE ALDRED]

AFFINITYLEEALDRED
Like anyone would b e
I am flattered by your fascination with m e
Like any hot blooded w o m a n
I have simply wanted an object to c r a v e

She waited for volunteers patiently. The dad and daughter made it clear that they were content with just making clay sculptures and staying away from the wheel for a little while. Affinity guessed that the dad was worried about his daughter's safety, when in actuality, the wheel was probably one of the safest things the little tween would do this summer. She remembered being that age and she had the feeling that this girl was even more of a hellion than Affinity had been. She grinned at the thought of the old days, and then she stopped smiling as her thoughts traveled to the man who'd changed her from the little mess of a crazy tomboy into the woman she was today. Her heart ached a bit and she pushed it aside as she looked up at her only brave student.

"I wouldn't call it magic." She said but not in a mean way. Creating art wasn't magic, it took soul. She had the feeling that this guy had plenty of that. He probably had enough to share. She liked him immediately, but she would never admit that. She still was unsure of who he was, and why he had taken her art class in the first place. She would just have to figure that out whenever he decided to tell her. She wasn't the type to push things on people, especially probing questions.

She got him set up with a bat, wedging, and a wheel. She grinned as she got him all the necessary equipment. It must have been pretty new to the guy, because he had no idea what he was doing. She laughed as she watched him. She sat across from him as the wheel turned. He was doing pretty well at centering the glob she'd given him, but he didn't look too confident. She added some more water to the mess and watched with minimal directions. "Press from both sides." She said, trying to get him to follow her directions without touching him. She made herself believe she didn't want to touch him for his own benefit, but it was slightly for hers.

She let out a small sigh when his pitcher type thing collapsed. She bit her lip and looked down at the mess. "Do you mind if I?" She asked and pointed her hands to the clay. She didn't wait for him to answer. She covered his hands in hers and pressed his into the clay. "You have to press evenly, or else it will never work." She said, noticing he'd been pressing too hard with one hand over the other. She smiled and wiped her cheek, leaving a trail of clay. She looked up at him, catching his eyes, and she felt her breath stop for just a second.

That hadn't actually happened. She grimaced at the thought that this dark stranger could stir something in her. It wasn't like she knew anything about him. Maybe that was the point though. He was a mystery to her, and she liked that. She liked not knowing every little detail about him. That was a good thing. Her hands were still on his as the clay moved beneath their hands. She poked a hole in the center of the clay with her finger and brought the edges up. Then she directed his hands over one edge.

"Be careful, and pull up to make a straight pot. Add more pressure to the inside..." She demonstrated this to him. "... and the pot will go outward. Add more pressure to the outside..." She switched the directions of her pressure and grinned. "... and the pot will go in." She said with a satisfied grin. "See? Easy as pie."

[PHAROH ISAAC MARSHAL]

Pharoh felt her hands on his and his problem increased ten fold. A girl had never had this effect on him at least on this soon. He'd just met Affinity and not even officially yet. Already he knew if she snapped her fingers he would do just about anything. Her slave. That was the thought that put him over the edge making his leg uncomfortable and his pants a bit moist. That had absolutely never happened to him before. The mud in his hands was cold but smooth. And slowly shaping into a curvy vase. Or maybe an urn he hadn't decided yet. But it was shaping.

He turned his head to her. "Im Pharoh by the way... like the old Egyptian Kings and you are?" He figured might as well get the name of the girl who had him smitten so he didn't have to fantasize with generic terms. Though if she refused to give it he wasn't going to force her. His dreams would just have to become creative. Sexy legs sounded like a good nick name in his head. But he wasn't about to voice that since it was another thing that normally got him slapped.

What ever it was that he was making he was debating flubbing it up again. She'd taken her hands off his again to go help someone else. And since he had no official claim on the woman she had a right, no responsibility to help everyone else. So he went ahead and finished off the item. Creating a somewhat lopsided vase. Not bad for his first try. If he did say so himself. Looks like his mother would be getting a mothers day gift after all. As soon as this thing was baked and painted he would UPS it back to Chicago to let her know... yeah he was a live and doing well.

His eyes moved to her ever so often as she moved. Something about her sang out depression. And he felt bad. At first all he'd wanted to do was jump her. Now there was something beneath her undeniable beauty. Something ugly, well not ugly but sad. Forming the damsel in distress that he'd always hoped he would find. Not to use them but to help them put the pieces back together. Form a bond that had nothing to do with sex before the physical portion of the relationship even became applicable. Something he'd never had.

Maybe if he were lucky she'd want him to. Only one way to find out. 'Okay Pharoh get your act together and ask her out for coffee... and only coffee.' He fought with himself. Normally a strictly coffee date wasn't a possibility when the physical attraction was so strong. Like any man he was hot blooded and thought with the wrong head in situations such as these. Actually to be honest he thought with that head more often than the 'larger' one. Sometimes honesty was a bitch. He moved to wash his hands in the sink provided. He had to squish his nose at the color of the water running off his fingers. Yes he was squeamish like that. Yet fish, reptiles and guts had no effect on him.

After finishing the cleansing ritual he moved to her. A charming smile spread upon his face though it was semi forced. It hardly reached his eyes. Instead beneath the charm he was unsure. Unsure if this was the right time to make a move, or if it was better to wait. Come to a few more classes and charm her a bit. "So uh... what are you doing after class?" He opened.

[AFFINITY LEE ALDRED]

AFFINITYLEEALDRED
Like anyone would b e
I am flattered by your fascination with m e
Like any hot blooded w o m a n
I have simply wanted an object to c r a v e

She smirked as she helped him with his pot. He looked slightly nervous and she wasn't sure why. He seemed to have that dark, leather jacket wearing, type thing going for him. So, why was he nervous to be holding hands with his ceramics instructor. She also wondered why he'd taken the class in the first place. He seemed new in town, so maybe that was why he was here, just trying to meet new people. She hadn't seen him around before and she couldn't believe how curious about him she really was. She was immediately interested in him, but maybe that was because he seemed like more of a mystery than she'd been presented with in a long time.

"Oh right. I never introduced myself." She said laughing it off. She assumed everyone in town pretty much knew her. It was a small enough town that most people did know her. She hadn't expected to have someone new in her class. She'd seen the other people around and had spoken to them. "I'm Affinity." She said and smiled at him. "My name isn't really like anything. Just boring Affinity." She said and watched him work his way on the wheel. He wasn't half bad. "People call me Finn for short." She said, saying the nickname out loud made her heart hurt. She shouldn't mention it. She shouldn't allow other people to call her Finn, now that the person who created the nickname was no longer in her life. She felt her heart tug at her and she pushed away thoughts of her husband. She'd already been through the grieving process. She didn't really feel like dealing with it anymore.

She shifted her attention to the little girl and father who were busy building something at the table out of clay. She kept conversation with them as they built the small coil pot. The girl knew what she was doing and she also looked like she wanted to get out of here as soon as she could. She probably had better places to be than here with her father. She was really going to miss these moments after he was gone. She couldn't help but wonder what she would have done if she'd known that her brother and husband were going to die. Would she have lived every moment with them to the fullest? Remembered everything a bit more clearly, and focused more on slowing down and enjoying life? These were thoughts that she often found herself thinking and pushing away because they hurt too much.

She went back to the Egyptian King. She smiled at him as she looked at the glob of clay on his wheel. He'd managed to turn it into something presentable. She was oddly proud. She was always proud of her students once they'd made their first piece of pottery on the wheel. She grinned and watched him move around washing up at the sink. She took his piece of pottery and placed it on a shelf to dry. She wondered what he'd do with it. It looked like a good pot to use as a gift. It all depended on how he decided to paint it.

She walked up to the sink and washed her hands beside him. She had clay all over them from helping people and class was almost over anyway. She wiped off her hands and quickly went to speak with the old couple who were having a great time just chatting together and making little clay versions of themselves. She thought their relationship was cute. She turned around and he was there. She smiled at him and didn't say anything. What was there to say? "Hey you're hot, but my husband just died and i don't want to hurt you by being a whiny complainer." She waited to see what he'd say.

She was surprised by his opener. It was relatively straightforward and to the point. She didn't hide her shocked smile. "I'm not quite sure. I was gonna head home and curl up with some ben n jerry's. Can you suggest something better?" She said, surprised at her own flirting. She was surprisingly rusty at it.