1Chapter 1
Film and Paintings
Mark holds up his camera while walking through the streets of New York. Trying to find a right shot for his documentary.
Coming up this painter who was accompanied by music. The violin's music going through Mark's mind as he stops to listen. The painter was using soft brush strokes to the painting. Mark squinted to see who she was painting. He laughed. This made the painter turn around and smile at him. Joanne and Maureen. They were being painted. She went back to her painting. The detail on the painting was amazing. The painter caught every feature on their face. The painter finished one last brush stroke. "You're done"
"Pookie! Let's see the painting" Maureen got up from her stool she was sitting on. She squealed at the painting in pure joy. Joanne got up and paid the painter for her art. "Hey you two. Nice picture" Mark said.
"Thanks Marky! Pookie, I love it! Thank you, Shannon" Maureen said, taking the painting. Mark cranked his camera to get a shot of Shannon and her friend. She started to pack her painting supplies.
"So, do you come here everyday?" Mark asked.
Shannon looked towards him. "Yes, I paint and Jazmine plays the violin" she said. Mark waved to Jazmine, who was putting away her violin.
"It make the atmosphere more happier"
"Oh, that's cool" Mark said. He continued to film the girls. Shannon wondered why this man was filming her.
"Uh, Can I ask you something?" Shannon asked him.
"Sure, go right ahead" he replied.
"Why are you filming us?"
"It's for a documentary about artist" Mark said.
"Oh, ok" Shannon said. When the film stopped rolling, Mark cranked his camera again. Shannon was finished packing.
"Hey, do you want to go to the Life Café later?" Mark asked.
"Sure. Do you want to go Jazmine?" She asked her friend.
"Yeah, it will be fun" she said to her best friend. Mark nodded and put his camera away. Shannon waved goodbye to him as the they walked away.
---
Later at the Life Café, Mark and his friend were already sitting. Shannon and Jazmine had just arrived to the café. They were late because of the nasty snow outside. It was really coming down outside. Making it hard to walk on some of the streets in New York City. Mark saw them come in. He got up to introduce them. "Hey, this is Shannon and Jazmine. They are new artist" Mark said.
"Hey, I'm Roger" he said. Shannon saw how he was dressed and knew him right away. He was wearing black pants and shirt with s leather jacket. There was a scarf around his neck. He looked like he just came from the blizzard. Roger looked pale as well.
"Hey Roger" Shannon said, shaking his hand. Shannon sat next Mark and Roger. Jazmine sat on the other side of Mark. The door opened. Sending a breeze of cold air into the café. Benny came in. He was dressed in his usual suit and tie. Benny groaned when he saw Shannon. Mark raised an eyebrow.
"Hi Shannon" Benny said, coldly.
"Hey" Shannon said. Mark stared at her for a second. He didn't know if there was anything going on between these two people. He was going to find out sooner or later, right?
"What?" she asked.
"You know him?" Mark asked. Jazmine started to giggle.
"Uh, yeah. He is married to my sister" Shannon said. Mark looked at Roger and shrugged his shoulders.
"You mean, Muffy?"
"Who is Muffy?" Shannon asked.
"Your sister"
"No, my sister is named Allison" she replied as her beverage came. She drank from it when she heard Maureen say something.
"How come your not rich?" Maureen asked. Joanne rolled her eyes at his rude question and mouthed sorry to Shannon.
"I don't want to be rich. I still keep my mom's name, though. Plus, Grey is my step-dad's name. I took it because they married when I was 16" Shannon said. Mark was getting more interested to know everything about her. He didn't want to go to fast. He needed to slow way down. He wants to know to this painter inside out.
"Shannon, why are you here?" Benny asked. He broke Mark's thoughts. Damn him. Shannon looked up at him and raised her eyebrow at him.
"Why? Your not like this bums" he said.
"Who are you calling bums?" Mark asked, getting up from his seat, angry.
"All bohemians. They do nothing for our society. They live where people pee on their stoops. It's unsafe" Benny said.
"Before you met my sister, you lived like you didn't care how people thought of you. Don't go starting something, Benny" Shannon said. Mark smiled at her she stood up for people she just met.
Benny sat down and ignored the people who were not listening to what he was saying. Shannon sat back down with Mark.
"Thanks for that"
"No problem. My brother-in-law is an idiot. He doesn't believe that I am happy living like this" She said.
"Hey, do you want to go out for dinner. Just you and me?" Shannon looked at him and smiled. She didn't have to think about that question.
"I'd love to go to dinner with you. Is it going to be a date, though?" She asked.
"If you want it to be?" Mark said to her.
"Ok, thanks for inviting us tonight"
"No problem" Mark said, smiling. There is something with the both of them that cannot be explained. What was it about her that made him so attracted to her.
"I have to go. I am sorry for being here for a short time" Shannon said, getting up. Mark got up as well. He hugged his new friend. Maybe one day they were going to be more than friends. Not just friends who hang out. Jazmine put on her coat as Shannon pulled away from Mark. When they were bundled up, Shannon and Jazmine left the Life Café. Mark watched as Shannon's figure left the café.
