new york wonders [joshler]

II

::.Tyler.::

I decided that it wasn't really worth going to class, even if it was the first day. My mind was racing with thoughts of what I was going to do after this year. I didn't plan on going to the stressful, killer place called university. Even if I did, I would've wanted to go to New York University, which I would've never gotten into with my awful grades.

I walked into the art room, where I had taken refuge in for the past 3 years. It was my sanctuary, my place to think, my place to conceive new ideas. I sat at my usual table, covered in various colors of pink, blue, yellow, green, and orange. I scanned the desk, looking for something I painted onto the now covered wood. I spotted it, and traced over it with my shaky fingers. 'take me to new york'. I had lived in New York State for 17 years, and I still hadn't been able to wander the beautiful city. All I had ever seen was its beautiful skyline, the bright lights surely making my eyes gleam. New York City was one of the only things that made me truly happy. Once I turned 18, I was going to leave school and take a trip to the city. I had always been too afraid to take on the city and its beauty. I was worried that I wasn't not worth it. I would taint the uniqueness of that wonderful place.

As I was one of maybe 30 people that take art, we all had our own personal desks. On the top left corner of mine, I engraved ':tyler joseph:'. I don't know why I decided to put it like that, but I was only a freshman. In fact, I was the only person in the class who had something carved into my desk. I don't believe it happened during class; maybe it was after school, a time where I sometimes just sat in here and cried. The art teacher, Mrs. Rey, understood me. Maybe to a certain extent, but she never gave me the 'I pity you' look when she came in the class to find me here. There were only 3 art classes per day, since my school was more about the academic and athletic aspects.

I pulled my box of paint out from under the wooden slab I was leaning on. I pulled out my favorite color: Naples Sunset. It had been my favorite color since 9th grade. I used it on almost every painting I create. Even if it's only a smidge, I still tried to fit it in there. Now that I thought about it, this color was almost the same as that peculiar boy's hair. I shook my head, trying not to let people get to me. I did this way too often. I let people get inside my head up to the point where they were all I'm thinking about. I couldn't let that happen again.

I took the bottle of paint and spilled some onto a little plate. I grabbed a blank 2x1 canvas and placed it on my desk. I didn't even bother grabbing an easel. I put some paint on a clean paintbrush, and started stroking the surface, producing wild shapes and lines of purple. In the end, I didn't really know what I created; it was just a way for me to get my thoughts into art; whether it's good or bad.

I heard the door open, so I quickly put my art on the table behind me. I grabbed a few bottles of paint and tried to look occupied by organizing them. From the corner of my eye, I saw a frail girl walk in, looking shaken up.

"Hello?" I heard her say from across the room. I poked my head from around the corner, where my desk sat.

"Hi," I responded, watching her closely, "who are you?" I asked, sounding unintentionally rude. I hated interactions like this. I got the worst anxiety.

"I-I'm Jenna Black. Sorry if I intruded, I just needed a safe haven and this was the first place I found that didn't have a class going on." Jenna explained, her face lowering as she apologized. Her face was a beautiful thing. She had a longer face frame, but her features made it suit her so well. Her eyes were a shade of blue that you could just get lost in. She had laugh lines around her mouth, complimenting her wonderful smile.

"Come in, sit down," I said, politely waving her over, "we can talk." She shuffled over to me, looking very hesitant. I understood how she felt, my heart felt a million pounds, and I hated this panicky feeling.