Rays of Hope

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen: Avery's POV

I was subconsciously smiling, as I got ready for classes the next day. Being with Ray the night before had put me in such good spirits. I wasn't even sure what we were. Ray hadn't placed a label on our relationship, which made me unsure of whether we were together or not. I was too shy and afraid to ask him, so I was alright with just being with him as we were.

I sipped my cheap coffee, as I headed out the door, ready to walk to my first course.

However, instead of walking, I was surprisingly shocked to see a car that I recognize parked near the curb by my apartment. Sitting at the wheel, was a grinning Ray.

"Ray!" I exclaim happily. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to give you a ride to your college, so you wouldn't have to walk today," he replied, leaning over in his seat to open the passenger door for me.

Climbing in, I let Ray drive me to school.

When we near, he pulls the car over, and I make a move to get out. Ray softly kisses my cheek as I leave.

"I can't pick you up later, I have to work on my story so I won't see you for the rest of the day," he tells me, almost looking a bit sad about it.

"Don't worry!" I tell him. "I'll manage."

Maybe I would have another chance to do something with Jesse.

I watch Ray drive away, before I head into the brick building. Once inside, I head to my first class, which is pottery today. I sit in my usual seat in the back, which already has a lump of clay on the table.

Going over to an old shelf, I take down my dish that I was making. Today, I would add the finishing designs, and place my piece in the kiln.

I begin to mold my clay, infatuated by the feeling of the moist clay lingering on my fingers. I shape tiny flower petals, which I begin to place on the center of my plate.

"That looks like a ten year old who just learned how to barely mold made that."

I turn to the owner of that nasally voice and see that it's Sharon, a woman who has been sitting next to me since the start of the course. She constantly feels the need to criticize my art, when the truth was, her pieces came out even worse than mine. Sharon had no art talents and seemed to just enjoy annoying me or making fun of me than concentrating on her work.

"Thanks. It's a step up considering you said the same thing last class except you said it was a five year old's work," I retort, focusing back on my art.

I hear her huff before she mumbles, "I'm feeling generous today."

I pretend to not hear her so I can avoid having another argument with her. Last time we argued, she said I should kill myself, probably meaning to be 'casual' but it actually brought back horrid memories from my past. After that, I made sure to try and not get in her way and give her the satisfaction of getting to me.

Excluding the rude comments Sharon has about my art, the rest of the class goes smoothly.

****

Just as planned, I meet Jesse at a diner close to the college buildings. After his acting classes were dismissed and my pottery class, we walked over together to get something to eat.

"The pie here is suppose to be heavenly," Jesse tells me, looking at me from over his menu.

I let out a small noise from the back of my throat, scanning the menu.