Sketch

Chapter 1

A/N: This story will have short chapters, 1,000 words at the most.

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I strode down the sidewalk, pulling my grey beanie over my curly ash brown hair. I turned the corner, shouldering my way through the huge crowds gathered about the sidewalk, and kept my head down. I swung open the door to a small coffee shop that was hidden by the bigger shops around and drank in the warmth from the inside.

"Well if it isn't Natalia Reed! Long time, no see eh?" Bellowed the grey haired man from behind the counter.

"It's been too long, Jeff," I smiled, leaning over the front counter, giving the man a hug.

"How about your usual?" Jeff asked, turning towards the coffee machines behind him. I smiled with a nod and dug through my bag for a few loose dollar bills. I scrounged up enough money and layed it on the counter, making Jeff laugh.

"No no," He smiled, pushing the money towards me. "It's on the house."

He handed me my espresso and I smiled lightly. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure dear," He smiled. I grinned at him and walked towards my usual seat in the back of the room. I plopped down in the recliner that was stationed next to the fire place and held my hands out, warming them by the flames. It was the middle of winter in New York City and the air outside a brisk and chilling.

I pulled a beat up old sketchpad from my bag along with a tin of pencils and took a sip of my coffee. As I flipped the sketchpad to a clean page, I heard the bell on the coffee shop's door ring. I was tempted to turn around to see who had stumbled upon this little hole in the wall but I refrained to avoid conversation with the stranger. I placed the tip of my pencil to the pace I had opened up to and began scrawling away, letting the thin lines flow onto to page with ease.

"Wow," breathed a smooth, deep voice from behind me. I dropped my pencil and turned my head slight, glancing at the body that the voice belonged to.

He was tall and slightly muscular with an angled face and a chiseled jawline. His long, shaggy, faintly waved red brown hair hung in his bright cool blue eyes. I blinked up at him and his lips turned up in a smirk.

"Hello," He greeted, hold his hand out. I took his hand slowly and shook it, not taking my eyes away from his.

"Do you have a name?" He chuckled.

"Do you have one?" I countered.

"Look! She speaks!" The boy grinned. I rolled my eyes and he stalked over to the seat beside mine, dropping down into and leaning close to the fire. "I'm Devon. Devon Foster," He smiled.

I paused for a moment then sighed. "Reed. Natalia Reed," I said quietly.

"That's a beautiful name," Devon smirked.

"Thanks," I muttered and picked my pencil up, returning to my half finished sketch.

"You're not one for talking, are you?" Devon inquired, leaning back in his seat.

"I prefer to keep my distance from people," I sighed, keeping my eyes on my sketch.

"And why is that?" He asked.

"I don't particularly like them. Including you," I said coldly, hoping my rude comment would make him leave.

Devon just laugh and smirked at me. "I know what you're doing," He smiled.

"And what would that be?" I asked.

"You're trying to get me to leave you alone," He stated matter-of-factly.

"Really? That was never my intention," I said in an innocent voice.

"Either way," He grinned. "You're not gonna get rid of me that easy."

I dropped my pencil and turned my head to him, scowling. "Why do you want to talk to me so bad?"

"Because," Devon said with a shrug. "You look like you need a friend."

"That's the exact opposite of how I try to look," I groaned.

"Oh come on Natalia! Having a friend can't be that bad!" He exclaimed.

I looked over at him and flashed him a sweet smile. "It is."

He sighed and pushed his hands through his hair. "You're very stubborn, you know that?" He sighed.

I tossed my hair over my shoulder with a grin. "I'm aware," I said coolly.

"At least have lunch with me then?" He pleaded, putting on his best puppy dog face. I groaned and dropped my head into my hand.

"Fine! Just stopping making that face!" I begged.

"That face actually works?" Devon chuckled.

"I am weak," I sighed, leaning my head against the head rest.

Devon laughed and stood up from his seat, handing me his phone. I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow at him. "What am I supposed to do with this?" I asked, holding his phone like it was a foreign object.

"Put your number and address in it. Duh," Devon smirked.

"Why would you need that?" I inquired but began typing in the information anyway.

"To pick you up for lunch of course! Plus, that's what friends do," He shrugged.

"Friends ask for your address twenty minutes after you first meet? That's a bit odd," I snorted.

Devon laughed and took his phone back, grinning at me. "I'll pick you up at 1 P.M. sharp," He smirked and headed for the door, casting a quick glance over his shoulder. He passed by the window and grinned at me through it and I wiggled my fingers at him. When he finally disappeared into a crowd of New Yorkers, I leaned back with a sigh.

I packed up my sketchpad and pencil tin and shoved it into my satchel bag with a groan. I bounced up from my seat and grabbed my still warm espresso, striding towards the door. I gave Jeff a quick wave and he wiggle his eyebrows at me and started making kissy faces. I rolled my eyes at him playfully and stepped back out into New York's freezing air.

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Hi everyone! Sorry that the chapter was short and rest will most likely be that way too. I start school very soon and I have a ton of other stories to update.

I would really love to hear what you have to say about this story so please comment you thoughts or some pointers! I love constructive criticism and tips!

Please comment, vote, and check out some of my other stories! Thanks for reading!