Chapter 38
✾Zak✾
“Where is it you want to go?” Vera asked me a bit surprised.
“It’s called Tierra Art. I don’t know if it’s still around, but it was owned by my best friend’s family,” I told her and her face lit up.
“I know that place! I walk past it on the way to and from school. I’ve never been in there myself yet, but we can totally go!” She exclaimed starting the car after getting on her seat belt.
“This way you can also pick out the sketchbook you want your characters drawn in,” I smiled softly buckling myself in.
“Will it be such a good idea to go? I mean if your friends family still owns it, does that mean that your best friend might be running the store?” Vera questioned as we started heading in the direction of the store.
“It’ll be alright,” I answered looking out the window once more to look at the buildings. They all look the same pretty much. A fair bit of them got some face lifts and were spruced up quite a bit. There are new store names that I haven’t heard off, but it’s still a small town.
“If you’re sure,” Vera said quietly as we pulled up to Tierra Art. It still has its old sign and that front still looks the same. I’m glad it hasn’t changed.
She turned off the car and we got out. Walking into the store they still have the bell above the door that jingles when someone walks in. It’s been rearranged in here, but it still looks like I remember.
“Hello,” I hear a male’s voice from the back.
“Hello,” Vera and I say in unison as I start going up and down the halls finding the sketchbooks.
“Here they are,” I said pulling one of the sketchbooks off the shelf and flipping it open to feel the paper.
“What are you doing?” Vera questioned and I looked down at her before pushing up my glasses and smiling a little.
“What I’m doing is feeling the thickness and smoothness of the paper. If you want to be able to color on the pages and not have it leak onto the next page your better off finding a bit of a thicker paper. If you’re just looking for something to sketch on and are using different weights of pencil, then going for a thinner paper will work,” I explained to her.
“There are different pencil weights?” I couldn’t help but chuckle a little. It was like her head was spinning.
Before I could say anything someone came up behind us. Turning to look at them it was a man that looks to be in his 40’s. He has short, black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a causal light blue button up shirt with the sleeves pulled up and worn blue jeans. I moved my face slightly so that he could only see one of my eyes. I’m not ready for someone to start asking me about why my eyes are different colors. I know that while we were in Kinsfolk I got some looks from other. It anything I’m glad that I pulled my hair back so it’s in a little ponytail instead of loose like I normally wear it.
“Just like how there are different colors there are different weights to pencils and other art supplies,” The man explained the different weighs more in depth than I was going to explain. Which is nice, he should have been an art teacher, but I think this is Anthony’s little brother.
“I didn’t know that just art supplies could go so in depth,” Vera said holding her cheek.
“There’s a lot to art that most people don’t know or don’t care to remember. I really admired my older brother’s best friend when we were all younger,” The man said.
“Awe, that’s so sweet,” Vera chirped.
The man chuckled, “Actually, you, young man, look a lot like my older brother’s best friend.”
“Really?” I asked him looking and smiling softly. So this is Anthony’s little brother. He's grown so much.
He nodded, “He was an amazing person. Great at sports and an amazing artist. He was really someone to look up to. Most people couldn’t get past the fact that his eyes were two different colors, and most people just wanted to use him for his family’s money. I’m sure that he would be some huge artist by now and I think my older brother and him would have still been friends,” He said his smile slowly fading into a sad smile.
“Where is your older brother now, if you don’t mind me asking,” I asked and I know I really shouldn’t have.
He looked away from me still holding his smile, “He went to visit his friend’s grave and on the way home he was hit by a drunk driver that lost control of his car,”
I felt my heart drop. “I’m sorry you had to find out from Cody,” Anthony’s voice was in my ear and I felt a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t turn to see if he was there, I know he is.
“I’m so sorry sir,” Vera said placing her hands over her chest.
“No, No, it’s okay, I love them both still and the time with them will always be with me,” He smiled and rubbed the back of his head.
I stuck out my hand to him and he blinked a few times, “My names Zackary, you can call me Zak,”
He slowly took my hand and shook it, “It’s nice to meet you Zak, I’m Cody,” He smiled.
“You’ll probably see me around and I’ll be coming in every now and again. I’m new to the town, I’m staying with Vera here, we’ve been friends since we were little. I really like your store,” I said to him. To me it was a lie, but it sounded believable enough.
“Well then, welcome to our little town. I hope that you’ll come to like it here,” Cody smiled back at me as I let go of his hand.
“I already do. It’s such a nice little town and it’s peaceful here,” I smiled sweetly.
“That’s good to hear, so can I help you two find anything?” Cody asked. He’s always been good with talking to people, it’s nice to see that hasn’t changed at all.
“Actually, I was telling Vera about the different papers because I wanted her to…” I got cut off by Vera.
“I found one!” She exclaimed from behind me and I turned around to find her on the other end of the isle holding up a sketchbook that has a simple brown paper bag looking cover on it. I walked over to her and opened it up.
“You sure?” I asked her, “The paper is thick enough to if you want me to use markers or watercolor I can do that,”
“What are you planning on working on, if you don’t mind me asking,” Cody questioned.
“Well, Vera writes these amazing stories and I promised that I would draw her characters for her in exchange for letting me read her stories,” I explained and she smacked my arm and took the sketchbook from me. “Hey,” I pouted rubbing the spot on my arm where she hit me.
“You’re not supposed to tell people about my stories, that was part of the agreement too,” She protested.
“No it wasn’t, I remember no such thing,” I smirked and huffed and wandered out of the isle and over to the counter with the sketchbook.
“Will that be all for today?” Cody asked chuckling as he went up to the counter himself.
“Yes, thank you,” Vera answered his question and Cody rang her out and put the sketchbook in a bag.
“Have a great day you two,” Cody smiled and waved.
“You do the same,” I waved back following Vera out of the store, “Come on it wasn’t that bad that I told someone about your stories. They’re really good and I think you could get them published someday,” I encouraged getting into the car.
