Odette gave a heavy sigh as she worked on her latest project. Her hands were caked in clay, and to her, that was the most soothing sensation that a person could have. The feeling of the dirt under her finger nails, the smell of the slightly damp stuff, it was lovely, lovely and intoxicating.

The wheel span quickly on the small stand, and the brunette continued to shape the bowl she was making. Things seemed a little stressed with her…she still needed to really work things out with Merric…she just left him, didn’t take the time to talk everything out. She…she should call him…still. But she didn’t. Hadn’t yet.

Was it completely selfish of her to want him to call her? To want him to apologize first?

Though. That made her a liar. When she was talking to that nega guy…helping him! She was actually feeling concern for him…feeling, bad for him. He didn’t deserve it, not at all. She was just trying to help, and he kicked her. Again. She wouldn’t forgive him, wouldn’t let…this just go. No more miss nice Swan.

Her hands closed around her bowl just a little too tightly, and the clay folded inwards. Oh, crap. Now she would have to start over. Odette sighed and just leaned back in her chair, picking the clay up from the pottery wheel, just kneading it in her hands. Starting over, huh? Would she have to start over with Merric too? Or would they just pick right back up and be completely perfectly fine again…

And that nega guy…

Oh. And that nega lady the General…the one that shoved her hand into her chest…that…still was giving her strange thoughts. The things she had been talking about, turning her against her comrades? Turning her into a youma? All from some unseen, unknown…something inside of her.
Something that was not meant to be touched, not meant to be defiled like that, she knew that at the very least.

The ball of clay was slowly being shaped, almost unconsciously Odette was shaping the compound into the shape of a swan, first drawing out the neck, long and slender, adding a round head at the top, a beak, and two very small indents for the eyes. After that, she began pulling the wings, graceful and elegant, spread out as though the creature was taking off. The tail was small, just a cute little nub on the end. When Odette pulled out of her thoughts, she blinked down at her small creation, a little smile forming on her face.

This would be perfect. She would give it to Merric as a gift. Along with a note, a note of apology.

After the swan was fired, and painted lovingly with some glaze, she fired it once again, seeming happy when it turned out well, shiny and slick.

She held the swan in her hand then sat at her desk writing out a letter to her boyfriend, thinking hard on what to put into it, finally she managed to write it out, seeming relieved as the words flowed from the pen.

Dear Merric,

I’m so sorry for just running off like that, and I’m sorry for blurting out that I loved you, I should have waited for you to tell me, I guess I should have known you weren’t ready to hear it…but, I’m not sorry for the way I feel. I’m not sorry that I can’t stop thinking about you, I’m not sorry that I’d rather watch you in your band than watch the History Channel. I’m not sorry that you can make me smile, and make my heart beat a hundred miles an hour, but I am sorry for running.

I want to see you again soon, I miss you terribly, Mer. Call me, won’t you?
I got you to talk to me with a sculpture, and I’m hoping another sculpture will get you to talk to me again now.

I’m not going to lie to you about my feelings anymore. I love you, and if you’re not ready to love me, fine. But, MY feelings will not change.

Love,
Odette

She smiled as she finished the letter, then put it in an envelope, before biking to Merric’s house, dropping the Swan and the letter on his front step, before leaving.

She was sure he would call.

Hell, she was sure everything would be all right now. It had to be, right? Yeah. It all had to be.