Art Is Dead

By George Vaughan

(WARNING: this book contains language, themes, and unsuppressed artistic integrity which some readers may find disturbing; viewer discretion is advised)

• Language: English
• Publisher: George Vaughan
• Release date: Jun 26, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005064570

George Vaughan

George Vaughan is a lover of all things creative from Tasmania, Australia, who has been writing stories for the last fifteen years. His books will be especially enjoyable for fans of Marcus Sedgewick, Lauren Kate and Laini Taylor.First published in 2013 with Out There On Bruny, a story serialised in a local newspaper, George's first actual book, Through Unseeing Eyes, arrived in 2016 to raise money for the conservation of local birdlife.He loves trying all genres and styles, but especially loves it when people have fun reading the end result!

Book preview

Art Is Dead

George Vaughan

Copyright 2022 by George Vaughan

Distributed by Smashwords

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

Thank you for downloading this eBook. This book may not be redistributed for commercial or noncommercial purposes. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favourite retailer. Thank you for your support.

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are a product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by George Vaughan using template from Postermywall and images from Dream Wombo.

This book is dedicated to Lawrence, my dear friend, champion, and muse in all the arts.

‘Heh. Why so glum, dumbass?’

It was early, way too early for many of the other kids around college, and thus it was also way too early for getting called names.

That’s what Tris Lister had observed, anyway… but was that the reason she was getting accused of dragging the mood down? Of course not! Tris actually loved mornings! She liked them orange-tinted early! Think about it; the earlier she was up, the more time she had to think about her next few posts and scout out locations and catch up on her recommended feed… oh, and it meant she could see Avril sooner too! Wednesday was Avril-day! Like, here the two girls were again, on the parking bollards at the bottom of the playing field; Tris looked as perky with her black A-line bob and red flannel vest as Avril looked numb, a ragged-blond girl, her hoodie hanging off her like the cigarette between her fingers. Ok, disclaimer; Wednesday was usually Avril-day, unless Avril had gotten suspended from school again for just this kind of attitude…

Wait, who was she calling dumbass anyway?

‘Um, that’s actually pretty insensitive, Avril; just so you know, most people would say…’

‘Oh. Right.’ This realisation had nothing to do with Tris’ observation; the ragged-blond girl must’ve just remembered the true reason for her only friends’ dejected slump. ‘It’s the news, huh? The music news? That’s why you’re being such a gloomy pain in the ass...’ Casually, like both girls’ worlds hadn’t just been blown wide open last night, she offered Tris a cigarette. And again, just like always, the girl in the red flannel vest gently waved her off.

Why couldn’t the music world, in uproar today, be just like always too?

‘Yeah. The news. I… I don’t even know why it’s slapped me so hard; like, imagine actually being in the band! Todd, and Felix, and Izzy, and... ohmigosh, Todd…’

‘Heh. Guess it sucks to simp so hard.’ The ragged-blond girl shrugged; each unsuccessful click of her lighter raised the slightest increment of annoyance out of her. ‘And to be me. Having your best band ever copping so much hate is like getting called a fat, ugly… oh,