"Makes sense," said Krista, returning the lady's bold stare and smiling back, clearly interested. I know it'll sound mean, and it's definitely not meant to be, but Krista isn't picky when it comes to finding a new romantic interest or in her words "fuck buddy"; it's more that she's more open and fluid in her sexuality, whereas I, in her words, am a prim and proper prude, completely adverse to risk and sexual adventure. I prefer to think of it as having exacting standards. "I'm Krista by the way; this is Jane."
"Diana," the athletic looking, ash-blonde woman replied, and I gave a small wave in acknowledgement. "Pleasure to meet you. It's normally really quiet and chilled in here, and Philip's an excellent teacher. Pretty easy on the eyes too. Most of the new girls try to hit on him, but I wouldn't waste your time because he's never shown any interest, although he's not married and hasn't explicitly said he won't date a student. Given that we're all adults here and it's not like we get graded or assessed, I don't know that it would be ethically unacceptable, but whatever."
"Maybe it's because he's saving himself for me," said Krista with a grin, and they both laughed as I smiled with them, briefly wondering if I'd agree with Diana's assessment. I could certainly think of at least three occasions at high school when the girls in my class had swooned over a teacher, but I had never agreed. I didn't imagine that this would be any different.
A man and woman, dressed only in robes, suddenly entered the room and conversations stalled. There were a few little laughs and murmurs of surprise from our group, and I followed Diana's gaze to the man and then quickly looked away, trying to hide behind the large sheet of paper in front of me. I wondered if my face was as red as it felt, given that I might not have a crush on the teacher, but I definitely had one on the male model.
"Well, I see our Nude Day Life drawing class is proving to be as unpopular as ever," the tall, brown-haired robed man said brightly, in a deep voice, laced with an American accent. There were more than a few laughs and grins, and he carried on good-naturedly. "Why you don't all just go explore your nakedness elsewhere, I'll never know, but welcome. For the sake of the newcomers, I am Philip Jameson, artist and art teacher. I'm normally the one walking around, tutting at your stick figures." He smiled kindly, letting them know that the 'tutting' at least was a joke. "For the voyeur group as we now call you, you will be drawing the lovely Miranda." The tall, dark-skinned woman with long black hair stepped into the middle of the other group and smiled at everyone before disrobing, revealing her lithe, toned dancer's body, demurely draping an arm across her small bosom and the other across her waxed sex.
I watched her for a moment, studying the grace in her movements and the bearing in her poses, before the artist's eye was replaced with my ordinary one, and I looked away, uncomfortably, feeling all the more embarrassed as I seemed to be the only one with any issues. Why does the earth never swallow you whole when you need it to? I wondered.
"The rest of you, including my poor students, will be stuck with me. Our male model unfortunately had to cancel at the last minute, and given that it does not hurt to practice what one preaches, I have stepped in. Regardless of our individual hang-ups, the human form is a beautiful thing and worthy of our appreciation, and hopefully, in studying me and Miranda as artists, you might be able to find a bit more love for yourselves as individuals, as well as improving some drawing skills. Normally, I would have our models pose in one position for the hour, however, given that I do need to inspect my students' works, we will be doing 15min poses and I want you to try and sketch what you see. I want you to get a basic outline and a sense of the model that you could build upon if you wanted, rather than trying to capture every single detail in one moment. Of course, art is subjective and ultimately, you should express yourself in the way that suits you best, however, it is good to get some basics under your belt, in case you find yourself wanting to draw something you don't have the time for. I suggest for this evening then, people stick to pencils, pastels, pens and charcoals. Also, if you wish to swap models during the break periods, that's fine."
He took a sip from the bottle of water upon his desk and surveyed the room. "Okay class is now in session." A few conversations started up again, while other people started to approach their first sketch in various different ways. "And you lot," Philip said, grinning as he walked into the middle of our circle, his gaze taking in each of his regular students "I want no mention of this ever again." They all laughed and Krista looked at me, her expression clearly suggesting that I was somehow acting weirder than normal.
I gave her a wan smile and peered around the side of my easel, biting the inside of my bottom lip, as Philip let the pale blue robe fall to the floor, revealing a near-perfect body. There were a couple of cat calls and wolf whistles, all made and taken in good humour, but the appreciation was genuine. His hazel eyes met mine and if he recognised me, he hid it well.
I ducked back behind the paper, feeling a stab of disappointment and told myself to get it together, especially as I hadn't expected him to remember me; hell when he'd told me to I call him, I figured it had to be a joke. So, of course I hadn't, although I hadn't quite managed to throw the napkin with his number away either. No name, just a number; cocky, confident without being arrogant, tall, gorgeous, a weariness in his hazel eyes that suggested he was older than he looked, and smartly, yet casually dressed in a white shirt, blue jeans, black trainers, and a modest watch on his left hand... and I had not been able to stop thinking about him.
Now I didn't need to keep wondering about his name or his job or what he looked liked naked... and none of those facts were going to stop all the romantic and sexual fantasies I'd had about him.
I tried to keep my attraction and desire at bay, and study him as though I were trying to draw a mannequin or a bowl of fruit, but it wasn't working. Broad shoulders, muscular arms and wash-board abs, a deep triangle in his well-defined hips drawing the eye to his modest, semi-erect cock, all supported by long, lean muscular legs. Even trying to look at each part in isolation, could not stop me thinking about it relative to my own body, imagining what those arms would feel like wrapped around me or how firm that chest might be beneath my trembling fingers...
"What is wrong with you?" Krista asked, interrupting my wayward thoughts as she leaned over to look at my blank canvas.
"I hate drawing people," I muttered, cheeks flushed as I immediately began smudging some charcoal on the paper, trying to make some semblance of a figure.
"Stop trying to draw a person then," said Krista, having already sketched out the rough outline of a standing human. "Just fit some lines together."
"Easy for you to say, he's not looking straight at you," I murmured, feeling my cheeks flush, as I briefly looked around the side of my canvas to see those hazel eyes still boring into me. It honestly felt as though he was studying me as much as I was studying him, more so, given that I was trying not to stare, despite the fact that I wanted to and sort of needed to if I wanted to get anything drawn.
The break couldn't come quickly enough, although I had no more desire for him to see my abysmal excuse of a drawing any more than I wanted him to be staring at me when I had to stare at him.
"You must be Krista and Jane," he said, after reclaiming his robe, coming over to us and shaking our hands. I was probably imagining it, but he seemed to hold my hand a fraction longer, his gaze a little too lingering. "Pleasure to have you join the class."
"Thanks," I murmured, as Krista enthusiastically thanked him for giving us the last couple of spots.
"Sorry that your first class is slightly shambolic. If I'd have known it was going to go like this, I would have recommended that you start next week."
"It's fine," said Krista, brightly. "Wouldn't want to have missed out on all the fun. And at least none of us will waste any time imagining you naked now."
Philip laughed. "I wasn't aware that should be a concern, but I'm glad everyone will be able to work properly from now on," he said, giving me a quick sideways glance. He frowned as he looked at the black lines on my paper. "Perhaps you could see me after class, Jane?"
***
Somehow, the next hour passed, with several "students" getting naked whilst also completing artworks of varying competency, skill and style. Everyone re-dressed and after quick critiques from Philip and a round of applause for the models, people began to leave, with murmurs of continuing the Nude Day festivities elsewhere.
