Salty Licorice

Chapter 3

Marisa's POV

I open my blazers door and let the smoke slowly escape. I step out tossing my satchel over my head, as I make my way directly into the art room from the back entrance. I wave at Mrs. Carson and walk towards the pottery wheel after I put my bag on the counter and grab my apron. I wrap my hair up into a bun and hold it in place with two long skinny paint brushes. As I go to sit down I notice Elizabeth sitting at the counter painting. I walk past her subtly glancing at her work and feeling quite impressed with her choice of style.

I start throwing on the wheel to start on my first piece to my next collection for my portfolio. I glance over at her at times, noticing her work quietly and focused. Observing the way her arms move with every stroke her hand makes. With fluid movements the brush seems to be as if it's an extension of herself. I debate with myself on if I should break her concentration or just leave her be. Going against my better judgement I break her concentration.

"So you paint and draw?" I asked quietly.

"Sorry," Liz turns her head letting her hair fall back over her shoulder and looks at me, startled by my sudden interruption.

"You paint too?" I asked, pushing up my glasses with the back of my wrist and shaking my head to move my bangs out of my eyes slightly to see her better.

"Oh, yes. I also like photography," She answers with a shy smile.

"Ever try, working with clay?" I look back at my vase I'm also finished with.

"No, never really had the chance." She sighs almost like she's disappointed in herself.

"Do you wanna try? I'll teach you how to use a wheel," I suggest loosely, honestly not sure why I'm offering.

"Actually, I might take you up on that," She nods and grins happily.

"Cool. Oh and it's Marisa by the way," I reply slightly awkwardly but turn my head to hide my nervous face from her. Taking a deep breath I managed to get out, "Come here."

She puts her brush down. "Elizabeth, bust most people here call me Liz I guess," She says while walking over towards me. I stand up taking off my apron and put it around her, before sitting back down. I gently put my hands around her waist to guide her in front of me to sit basically in my lap. I reach forward from around her waist to collapse my vase and make it into a solid mound of clay again.

I slowly tell her how to manipulate the clay to form different shapes while demonstrating with my hands some simple techniques, before letting her do it herself. I dip my hands in my bucket of water to get most of the clay off my hands so I can fix my sloppy bun. I watch her hands move, making many mistakes but quick to adjust her movements. As she is trying to make a simple bowl, she's still struggling to get the rim to stay level.

I've noticed some small details about her during this whole experience. She giggles when I assist her lightly, groans and knits her brow tightly when she is getting frustrated and gets super giddy with a wide smile when she does it right.

"Marisa, look, look I did it, all by myself!" She quietly squeals, turning her head to look back at me and I give her a small smile and nod my head.

"Yeah you did great bunny," I said using my pinky finger to brush some of her hair out of her face.

"This is so fun," She exclaims, turning back around but not before I notice a slight blush on her cheeks. 

"It is, but bunny, you should get cleaned up for class," I remind her gently.

"Yeah, I should. Thank you for teaching me, maybe we can do this again." She gets up slowly and slips the clay covered apron off and hands it to me, and I throw it over my head letting it hang loosely around my neck.