Linked By Art

1- Linked In New York

A cold wind tickled my ankles leaving my hair wind blown and knotted. The street was empty as it always was. Deserted and lifeless as if each member of the community had suddenly decided to pack up and run for the hills. Throwing my hair up into a lose ponytail I sighed continuing the short walk towards the studio.

I ran my hand across the red handle and slowly pushed open peering inside. Light fluorescent strobes hit my eyes and I moved my hand over my eyes, squinting. I slowly stride forward gently shutting the squeaky door behind me. "Tina tone it down a bit will ya'?" I called, my voice echoing through the brightly lit art studio.

Shuffling feet sounded around the quiet room before slowly the lights readjusted and I was no longer blinded. Tina's light footsteps cascaded down the metal stairs until I was crushed in a giant bear hug. "Addy!" She picked me up and spun me as I laughed at her childishness.

I chuckled as she set me down brushing some of the paint she had swapped over from her old shirt to mine. "It's good to see you too Tina." I smiled at her as she clung onto her paintbrush eagerly. Her short chestnut brown waves were tied into a tight ponytail that swished side to side as she tapped her foot excitedly. Her large green eyes were glued to my face mixed with emotion and surprise. Of course her once white shirt was now covered with various splattered of red and black paint.

I looked back up at her in surprise. "No way T, you actually did it." I mumbled more to myself than her. Tina was older than me by a couple years. She grew up in Los Angeles with her older brother Mark who would occasionally visit from Italy.

Mark and Tina's parents were both artists from Italy, but Tina's father wanted to persue his artwork in a more lively community. Naturally he would go to Los Angeles where he soon opened up the same art studio I was standing in.

Tina's father owned the studio for years before Tina was transferred to Los Angeles so she could go to Cal Arts, an art corge she had been dreaming to go to since she was young. After living with him for several years her father was diagnosed with cancer and died shortly after.

Tina was still at college, but wanted to take after her job at the shop. Soon after she graduated, she started to take in students to teach art. Being in a secluded area where it's not the safest, Tina had low business which at the same time was a good thing. Every day I walked from my small high school to the art studio working with my best friend Tina until late hours of the night.

I lived at home with my older sister Kiara and my mother. My dad had left when I was young so growing up, it was just three girls in the house. I'll admit it was pretty tough growing up without a dad who was the only one who had a true passion for art. I was the daughter in the family that was quite around some but like an overly enthusiastic teenager around others, such as Tina.

My mom and sister were polar opposites of me. They both had gorgeous midnight black hair that was pin straight and stricking ice blue eyes. While I, had dark curly blonde hair and green eyes which I had inherited from my father.

When I was 13, Tina had visited my school and had offered classes at the studio. Of course I had accepted and we have been best friends since. Currently I am now 17 and a senior in high school while Tina is 25. Not many people come to the studio as often as I do, but when they do its a heck of a lot of fun.

Kyle and Kendall are blonde twin brothers that are hooked on art. Roselyn and Isabelle are two of my high school friends that sometimes join me afterschool, even though they don't have much interest in art. They only come so they have an excuse to have paint fights with me.

Tina had been working on a dedication for her father. She had been working on remodeling the studio. The studio was a two story building with an open staircase and a bubbly atmosphere. Long fairy lights hung from each corner of the room and large canvas' covered the dark walls. There were a few large open windows around the upstairs room, that looked out onto the old city.