chapter six

Justin looked up from the magazine he was reading and looked at Isabel, she was busy sketching in a large notebook. He sighed. "So are you going to show me your paintings or not?"

The black pencil froze in mid stroke, her eyes made their way to his eye level. "Huh?"

He set the magazine aside and looked at her. "Your paintings? Are you going to show me them?"

"Oh," she paused for a second. "No." Her eyes moved back down to the drawing she was working on.

"Why not?" Justin pouted. "There must be something better to do then just sit here and read magazines."

She sighed and removed her thin wire glasses. "You're right, you can sing, sing to yourself." She rubbed the bridge of her nose to relive the pain that was giving her a headache.

Justin yawned. "Or... you can show me your paintings."

"Or you can leave." She smiled getting off the chair. He followed her lead and stood up raising his arms over his head. Isabel watched as his shirt lifted, revealing his smooth skin, quickly turning her eyes away she grabbed her note book again and made her way past him. Justin followed her with his eyes.

"Where are you going?" He began to make his way to her.

She smiled and grabbed his arm. "Come on,"

Justin looked at her confused. "Okay let me rephrase that question, where are we going?"

A smile spread across his face. "You wanted to see my paintings so I'm going to show you my paintings." They walked past the kitchen out a door and found themselves in a large back yard.

Justin covered his eyes from the sun's strong rays. "Why the sudden change of heart?" He looked at her questionably.

Isabel shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, our parents won't be home for a couple more hours and I'll have to take you home and I don't want to do that..."

The grin on Justin's face widened. "It's because you want me huh?"

She rolled her eyes and pulled him roughly. "Don't hold your breath Curls. I just don't want to drive you around anymore. Now come on."

The sound of tree branches cracking beneath their feet echoed through the silent air as they continued to walk in silence. As they walked further a small building slowly came into view. Justin moved a few branches out of the way for her, receiving a warm smile from her in return. "Thank you."

He nodded then heard the jingle of keys, his eyes searched where the noise was coming from and noticed she had a ring of keys around her finger. "What's with the keys?" Justin asked curiously.

Isabel came to a stop in front of a door with a padlock on it. "I don't like people snooping around here, we have really annoying neighbors with really annoying kids and they like to snoop around our back yard. I know of they could, they would destroy everything in here."

A chuckle escaped his lips. "Come on, they can't be that bad."

She shook her head unlocking the door. "Yes they can, believe me I've been baby-sitting these kids since they could crawl, they are as destructive as natural disasters." Isabel got the door open and entered the dark room leaving Justin's side, he followed, his hand feeling the wall for a light switch. "The light switch is on the other wall, I've got it."

In a second there were consumed in light. As Justin's eyes adjusted to the sudden light he squinted, waiting for the stars to clear from his sight. He shook his head and looked around. Paintings of all colors and sizes hung from the walls, some were strewn around. He walked further into the room his eyes focused on one particular painting. Isabel watched as Justin took the painting into his hands, she watched as his eyes consumed every piece of the art work.

"Now, either you really like it, or you're just too disgusted, leaving you speechless." She smiled looking at him.

Justin finally turned away from the painting and looked at her blankly. "Huh?"

"The painting, you look like you're captivated in it."

He smiled. "It's awesome! I've never seen anything like it... it's... so awesome."

Isabel smiled proudly. "Thank you very much. This one has a very special meaning to me." She sighed, taking the painting from his hands.

He watched her closely. "Why?"

Her soft eyes looked into his. "The day I painted this, was the day I found out I had cancer." Isabel saw his whole demenore change.

"I'm sorry." He walked to her slowly.

She tried to smile but it was difficult. "That's okay, it's not your fault. I came home right away and began to paint. The black signifies me, while the red is my anger." She pointed out on the painting. "The blue here, is my pain and the white is my fear, but that little spot of yellow is my hope." Another sigh escaped her lips, her finger tips delicately brushed the painting.

"It's really beautiful." Justin stepped behind her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. He could feel her quickly tense up then slowly relax.

"Thanks." She suddenly cleared her throat and put the painting down. "Well anyway, this is my home away from home. When I'm not in the house I'm in here either painting or playing with my pottery..."

"Your pottery?" Justin looked at her questionably.

Isabel nodded. "Uh huh, come here." She waved him over and led him into another dark room. She flipped the light switch, filling the room with light.

Justin's eyes surveyed the small room, clay pots and vases were scattered around. "Cool, you made these yourself?" He walked around eyeing the many different creations.

"Yep." She walked to her wheel and took a seat in front of it.

Justin watched her. "So this is what the clay was for?"She nodded bending over, a few seconds she appeared holding a big mound of clay in her hands, Justin watched as she placed it on the flat wheel in front of her. "What are you doing?" His face wrinkled in a mixture of confusion and disgust as her hands were enveloped in the gray matter. She smiled noticing his changing facial expressions.

"It's not as disgusting as it looks," she moved her hand below the wheel and came back up with a plamful of water, she slowly poured it in the spinning clay. Justin observed as the clay slowly transformed from a sluggish mound to a curvaceous vase. He watched as her delicate fingers smoothened and formed the creation. It was captivating, he could focus on nothing but her flowing fingers. After a few minutes the wheel slowly came to a halt. A beautiful vase stood upright. Isabel sighed and looked at Justin.

"Well, here is another one to add to my growing collection." Gently she removed the still wet clay from the wheel and walked to the window sill placing it gently on it.

"Can I make one?" Justin asked occupying the seat once inhabited by Isabel.

She looked at him questionably. "What?"

He smiled. "I want to make something like you."

Isabel chuckled shaking her head. "Justin. It's not as easy as you think, it's not as easy as it looks, believe me."

"I'm a fast learner, teach me and I'm sure we can do this." His eyes looked into hers.

She walked to him staring into his eyes. "Why don't we start off slow."

"Okay," he nodded, grabbing a handful of damp clay. He placed it on the wheel. "What are we going to make?"

"I don't know, I was thinking maybe... an ashtray."

Justin rolled his eyes looking at her doubtfully. "Come on, an ashtray?"

She nodded. "Yeah, you're bearly doing this for the first time, it takes time to get as advanced as me."

He shook his head unbelievingly. "But an ash tray? Can't we make a bowl or something? Anything better than an ash tray. I wouldn't even be able to use the thing, I don't smoke, on one in my family smokes." He whined.

"An ash tray."

"But..."

"An ash tray."

"How 'bout..."

She shook her head. "Last time Justin, an ash tray."

He sighed pouting. "Fine an ash tray it is."

She smiled and squatted in front of him. "Aww don't pout Justin, think of it this way, if you ever start up, you'll have one available." She smiled and stood up.

"Okay let's do this."

She walked behind him, his head cocked back so he could see her. "Okay, what do I do first?" He turned his attention to the clump of clay in front of him.

"First put some water on the clay to moisten it," he did what she said. "Okay, now put your left foot on the starter."

He looked under the table. "What's that?"

"It's the little square thing that you press down on to get the wheel to start spinning."

"Oh okay, what now?"

"Now place your hands on the clay, you have to mold it to the way you want it, let the smooth texture soften." She watched as he quickly lost control.

"Whoa whoa whoa." His hands slipped from the mass scattering particles around them.

Isabel snickered seeing the big spot of gray clay decorating his shirt. Isabel disappeared for a second then came back with a soiled shirt and wash cloth, she handed both objects to him. "Here, I usually wear this while doing this, I've had a few mistakes myself."

"Yeah thanks." He took the items and quickly removed his shirt, replacing it with the burrowed one.

A smile quickly formed on her lips as she saw the small shirt hugging his body tightly. Justin shook his head looking down at himself. He pulled the shirt away from his chest inhaling a quick breath of air.  "It'd be nice if I could breath in this thing."

She smiled. "Sorry, I don't usually have guys wear my clothes."

"That's okay, next time I'll bring my own." He smiled.

She rose an eye brow. "Next time? You're gonna try again?"

"Why not? I'm not the type that gives up easily." His eyes focused on the semi-sculpted clay resting on the wheel. He rolled his shoulders back and popped his knuckles. "Let's get this baby started up again."

"Not a quitter I see?"

He shook his head. "If I quit every time I fail, I would be getting no where. Perseverance is my motto."

"That's nice to hear." She walked to him. "Why don't I help you this time?"

He nodded. "Momma always said never turn down any help when needed." He smiled.

"Okay now scoot your butt up, I need to sit in there too." His body moved up letting her sit down uncomfortably behind him. "Okay, I'll start the wheel up." His soft curls brushed against her cheek as he nodded. In a few seconds the wheel slowly began to spin, Isabel brought her hands around and gently placed them on top of Justin's. She noticed how he tensed suddenly, she brought her mouth to his ear.

"Relax. Let yourself fall into the clay." She rested her chin on his shoulder. Justin nodded. Isabel kept her fingers over Justin's for a while longer then pulled away. She smiled as she watched him smooth out the lumpy curves. "Very good, you're doing good Justin."

Taking his eyes off the wheel he looked over his shoulder giving her a wide smile.

"Justin don't take your eyes off of it!" She warned turning his head back around.

A chuckle escaped her lips as he whipped his head back towards her again. Isabel watched as the clay vase suddenly fell to the side, ruining the creation. She shook her head disapprovingly.

"What did I say?" She shrugged her shoulders. "Hate to say this..." a smile crossed her lips as she looked at him. "Actually I won't, Justin babe, I told you so."

He looked at her bowing his head in defeat. "Damn." His voice whispered.

She ruffled his hair. "Wanna quit now or do you still think you can do this?"

His head popped up. "Third times a charm right?"

Isabel smiled. "We'll see now won't we?" She moved her foot and started the wheel up again.

Justin watched as the wheel began to spin faster, Isabel's fingers instructing his own, showing them where to put pressure and where to smoothen. He felt her hand leave his for a second then come back with some water, he shuddered as she poured the cool liquid on the smooth clay, drops of clear water running down their hands.

"Move your hands up to make the neck of the vase." She whispered in his ear. Together they moved their hands up, the cool matter elongating with the flow of their hands.

"Move up and down slowly, if you move too fast you'll put more pressure and it will ruin it." Her soft instruction invaded his ear. He nodded feeling her fingers slipping from his.

"No don't let go." She smiled and nodded placing her fingers back on top of his.

"We're almost down here, just a little bit more." Justin nodded. "Here take this sponge."

Justin took it cocking his head back to look at her. "What's this for?"

"I want you to run it along the side of the pot, it will smoothen it out more and make a slight design on it."

"Okay." Slowly he placed the wet sponge on the spinning pot. "Now what?"

"Just let the sponge interval around the vase." Isabel slowly released pressure on the starter slowing the wheel. They both sat until the wheel came to a complete stop, the vase wasn't as fancy or decorative as the ones usually made by Isabel, but it was a nice looking art piece.

"Well I guess you were right." Isabel sighed standing up. Justin turned looking at her curiously. "Third times a charm right?" She stretched her legs out. "You created a nice piece of work there." She smiled.

Justin stood up. "We created."

She nodded. "We created. Now all you have to do is let it sit for a few hours and then you can take it home and paint it or do what ever you want to."

He walked to her. "I want you to keep it, you know as a momento of our first night together." He smiled.

Isabel batted her eyes. "Oh thank you so much, will you even sign it for me?" She balled her hands together in a fist.

Justin smiled. "Of course."

"Great now let's get outta here."

He nodded. "Good idea, with all this time we're spendin' together I wouldn't want you to start getting any ideas." His face broke out in a wide smile.

"Keep dreaming Curls, keep dreaming." Isabel pushed him out of the room hearing his laughter ringing in her ears.

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