Four People. Three Clay Figures. I Stopped Being The One Left Out Chapter 01

Four People. Three Clay Figures. I Stopped Being The One Left Out Chapter 01

Thanksgiving trip.

My boyfriend damon. My childhood friend adrian. And me.

We’d agreed to make a set of clay figures together.

Ten years since we met.

But when i came back with the paint, three figures were already sitting on the table.

Damon and adrian were crowded around vivian.

They showed her how to write her name on one of them.

Vivian counted them. Then she covered her mouth.

She looked at me, all timid.

“Oh no. Why are there only three?”

“Did the owner think blair wasn’t with us?”

Adrian laughed. Wiped a smear of paint off her cheek.

“Three’s fine. Making another one means waiting another day.”

I didn’t say anything. I just looked at damon.

I figured he’d at least open his mouth. Tell her to give mine back.

He wouldn’t even look at me. He just frowned and said,

“We’ve booked everything already.”

“Don’t make everyone wait an extra day because of you.”

Because of me.

So after they took my spot, wanting it back made me the problem.

I remembered the train.

They moved me to a different car so the three of them could play cards with her.

I remembered the inn.

They took three rooms side by side. I got one far away.

Being on the same trip didn’t mean walking the same road.

Company doesn’t guarantee a seat.

Before the kiln went cold, i didn’t wait for the figures.

I refunded my return ticket. I took the job in california.

They’d go home with three figures. They’d mark ten years without me.

And i wasn’t going back to be the fourth wheel.

—

I walked out of the pottery shop. I didn’t look back.

The alley twisted and turned. I walked with no direction for a long time.

Until my heel split open. The new shoes rubbed it raw.

I stopped at a pharmacy. Bought band-aids.

When i got back to the inn, the yard was empty.

I treated the cut. Pulled my suitcase down from the top of the closet.

The zipper had just opened when i heard laughing downstairs.

“Careful. Break it and there’s no second set.”

Damon.

Then adrian pushed the yard gate open.

Vivian was carrying the box with the figures.

Damon’s jacket was draped over her shoulders.

Damon looked up. Saw me.

His steps faltered.

“When did you get back?”

He walked closer. His eyes dropped to my foot.

“You’re hurt?”

I stepped back.

“Shoes. I already handled it.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

Damon frowned. His voice had that scolding tone.

But underneath, there was something like worry.

“There are so many people out there.”

“You running around alone, what if something happened?”

For a second, i lost my footing.

Like what he said in the pottery shop. Telling me not to drag everyone down.

Was i imagining it?

Then vivian spoke up.

“Damon. Look. Is the figure’s ear crooked?”

Damon turned instantly. Took the box from her arms.

“Didn’t i tell you to hold it steady?”

Vivian bit her lip. “I was being careful.”

Her eyes welled up. His voice softened immediately.

“I’m not blaming you. We’ll have the owner fix it tomorrow.”

He looked down at the figures.

He didn’t look at my foot again.

Adrian opened the bag of paint i’d brought back.

“You found the burgundy?”

“Yeah.”

“Perfect.”

He pulled the paint out. Handed it to vivian like it was nothing.

“Didn’t you say the figure’s dress was too plain? Try this.”

Vivian’s eyes lit up. She grabbed my arm.

“Blair always knows exactly what i want.”

That paint. I’d gone to three different stores to find it.

Ten years ago, the first time we met, i was wearing a burgundy dress.

I’d wanted to paint my figure that color. To look like that day.

Now my figure was gone.

My color was on vivian.

Damon finally looked up.

“Still thinking about this afternoon?”

I pressed the band-aid down.

“No.”

He sat down next to me.

His voice was gentler now,

“The owner miscounted. Nobody saw that coming.”

“When we get back, i’ll make a set with you. Just the two of us.”

“Better than this one.”

Vivian heard him. She held her figure and said, quiet,

“Maybe i should give this one to blair.”

She said it.

But her fingers were locked around the edge of the box.

Damon pressed his hand on the box too.

“Her name’s already on it. How are you supposed to give it away?”

Then he looked at me. Like it was obvious.

“Blair won’t make a big deal out of a clay figure. Not over you.”

Silence.

I nodded.

“Mm. Don’t give it to me.”

All three of them exhaled at the same time.

Adrian set the three figures on the table. Raised his camera.

“Come on. Let’s get a photo.”

I turned to go upstairs. Vivian called after me.

“Aren’t we calling blair?”

Adrian laughed.

“Three figures. Why call her down? Just so she can stand there and feel worse?”

Damon didn’t say a word.

The shutter clicked.

I shut my door. Opened my email.

Two weeks ago, the california branch sent me an offer.

That day, i posted in the four-person group.

[the company wants me in california. I want to hear what you guys think.]

Then vivian sent a pottery coupon.

Damon asked her which inn she wanted. Adrian was busy looking up routes.

Message after message. They buried mine.

Nobody asked when i was leaving.

Nobody asked if i even wanted to go.

The manager sent one last message.

[blair. The position can only be held until tonight.]

Downstairs, adrian was telling vivian to lean closer to damon.

Damon laughed. “Get all three figures in frame. Ten years. We need a photo.”

I listened to them laughing.

I signed my name at the bottom of the confirmation.

Blair vance.