𝐎𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐛.𝐛)

Star Bowl

"Kara Franks? What are you doing here?" She asked, bewiddlered to see my presence.

"I'm here to visit my family with my boyfriend. What are you doing here?"

She walked near us and stood there, all her weight on one of her kitten heels.

"I moved here for retirement.What'd you do after Law School?"

Ms. Lang was my ethics teacher at Harvard. She had lost her husband in the middle of our first semester and after that she had occupied herself  by grading the 10 papers of homework she gave us each week. We only saw her 2 days a week. She was always quiet and read books most of our work time. She rarely taught after her husbands passing but still tried to keep a smile.

Oh and she hated me. 

She thought I was too good since my father was an alumni. I never said nor did anything to her. Constantly, I was reminded that I wasn't going to actually become an attorney and I was wasting my time since I wasn't as good in her class as others.

"Well, I work for Stark's Law Firm now." I say, absolutely gloating and proudly proving her wrong.

She doesn't make much of an adjustment, but you can see the shock on her face she's trying to mask. "Oh, like the Stark Law Firm?"

I nod my head with a smile. "Let me show you!" Reaching into my bag, I pull out my office ID, stating:

Kara Franks.
Head Attorney
PIN: 976302

I cover my pin with my finger while I show her my ID. My laminated face next to the words "Head Attorney"

"Oh wow! Well ain't that special." She says with a click of her tongue. She turns to James who is still sitting under me. "And I'm assuming  your the boyfriend?" She guesses with her finger pointing our direction.

"Sure am. Pleasure to meet you." He says broadly. She Gives a short smile.

"Well, you gout yourself a good one, I'd always knew she'd do something great in her life." She lingers her eye contact to me, both of us knowing she thought I'd be working retail or at a Burger King right about now. "I'm afraid I have to go, my dogs are waiting for me." She says. We give her our goodbyes and I wish her well.

Once the door shuts I breathe out a bit. "Who was that?" James asks, lightly rubbing my back. I feel more comfort from that than I have in years.

"That was my ethics teacher from Harvard. She used to tell me I wasn't going to do anything in my life because I never my work in her class." I admit. He laughs and brings me closer to his chest. Whatever I was hiding was gone, he just wanted me to stay now.

Not a problem with me.

"Well." He says, planting a kiss on my jaw. "Look at you Miss. Head Attorney at Starks Law Firm."

I smile and let my arm rest on his shoulder. His hair through my hands feels soft and fluffy. I like that he's been growing it out recently. So has Riley. She loves braiding it. There's even small sections where it's a bit more wavy than the rest of it.

"You can do that for the rest of your life, and I'll pay-"

"Kara Franks and James Barnes?" the lady called from the back.

We stand up and I could hear him groan from disappointment.

"Don't worry, I'll rub your head some more tonight." I say against his shoulder. He smiles and wraps his arm around my waist as we walk.

It's pretty easy to tell his love language is physical touch. I wasn't a big fan of physical touch until it was him holding me close to his side.

"Welcome to one of our private sessions. You two got lucky and Miss. Gentry is going to be walking you," pointing to James, "and he will teach you and guide to making your custom plate, mug, decoration, or pot." She says slowly and calmly with a charming smile on her face. She opened the door we approached and the inside was sparks of creativity.

Walls were white but filled with shelves full of pottery. Long and skinny, short and fat, pink and green, all unique to their own. Flower stickers were on the chairs and pottery wheel.

"Hello! I'm Miss. Gentry. Kara and James, correct?" The elder says proudly. We nod our heads sit in the backless spiny chairs. James's was right behind mine. "It's a pleasure to have you both. How long have you been together?"

We laugh together but I confidently speak for the both of us. "Two days but we've been inseparable for about a month now." I say. She looks shocked but stays quiet.

Sometimes you want to hear their thought, the input of others.

But I don't want hers to screw up what I have right now.

"I take it this a first date?" She asks again, throwing a chunk of stone colored clay on the wheel between her and I.

"Long awaited." James huffs. I start to reminisce the countless times he tried to ask me on a date during the trial.

The chase was fun at least.

"I see. Well, I'm glad to be your instructor today. Do either of you have experience in pottery?"

We both sit quiet.

"I see. Well, there's a beginning to everything. Sir, may you place your hands on top of hers?"

James didn't have to reach far, since the were already wrapped around my waist. His hands slide to my arms, leavening goosebumps as he inched to my hands. His fingers just barely interlocked with mine, feeling secure and loose all at once.

"Good, now guide her hands clay. And keep your hands on top of hers." He follows orders and gently places our hands on the clay.

It felt smooth and perfect under my hands. The texture just seemed so delicate under me. James hands bring me warmth and flow excimer through my veins.

"Now, Add light pressure to the pedal right next to your right foot, James. As he does that, put
some light pressure on the clay, Kara."

We do as we're told and suddenly, the clay starts spreading out, flattening . We work our hands in a neutral quietness.

Life felt a little less chaotic. Like I had control like I do this clay.

"You guys are natural. Now James, start to guide her where you want her to start making your piece of art. Start at the base. Kara, move your pressure inwards, like your trying to move the clay to the center. Light pressure, both of you."

Slowly, our land of clay starts to become a small lump, James's hands give me warmth and comfort, leaving feather like kisses on the shoulder he's resting his chin on.

"Good, good! Now let's start lightly pinching the ball into whatever you want to make, most people make heart shaped things."

"We would like a star then." James says confidently. The lady looks at us puzzled.

"That's difficult but we can make it work. Now star pinching into the shape of a star, Kara. James, put a little more pressure on the pedal."

I feel more comfortable as James hands guide my hands. My shoulders fall and my posture aligns into the cove of James chest. His breath was falling down my shoulder to chest. He keeps planting small trails of love and kisses across my shoulder up to my neck and behind my ear. my face feels hot but like it supposed to feel that way. Like this is what I've always meant to feel. This in touch with someone and feel this comfortable.

I thought I was supposed to have butterflies but I'm not. I'm comfortable with him. In all ways. It's just routine. I like routine.

Over time, the ball of clay became a some sort of star bowl? It's hard to pinpoint since it's for sure not a star but has to be some kind of a bowl.

"Alright! You guys did an amazing job. Let slowly stop the pedal and let's remove our hands. We're gonna fire this up and it will be shipped to your address with the glaze of your choice. You two are free to go!"

We all share our goodbyes and James and I head home. Somewhere along the way, I passed out listening to Michael Bublé while snow fills the street.

I need it for the New Year's Eve party tomorrow.