Falling for Dylan Day

How to Get Loose

Author's Note: By the way, the college that Florence is applying to is completely made up...just so you know. Happy reading!

Florence to the side :D

Chapter 2: How to Get Loose

I furiously stomped out the door and into the passenger's seat of Aislinn's car, slamming the door behind me. If I was a cartoon character, smoke would be coming out of my ears.

Aislinn gave me a knowing look. "Your mom?"

"Yeah." I sighed. I gave her the 411 on my unfortunate situation. Her face was red by the time I finished.

"That complete bitch!" She hissed. "How could she do that to you?"

I shrugged. My mom was as fickle as the weather. She knew I had applied to some of the most prestigious and well-known art schools in the U.S., but all of the sudden she pulled the rug out from under my feet...completely and utterly shattering my dreams. She knew how hard I worked to get her reputation off my back.

"I don't know." I breathed out. "She does what she wants when she wants to do it. No doubt she'll make me the new face of the show." I cringed again at the thought of it...thinking about it literally made me want to upchuck my breakfast inside Aislinn's car.

Aislinn worriedly glanced at me from the drivers seat. "You ok? You look like a vegetarian who just saw a cow being slaughtered."

"I'm fine. I'll find a way out of it." I said, more to myself than her.

She gave me an unconvinced look as we pulled up to our destination. I looked out the window and let a happy grin form on my face. She knows me so well...

We were at the art studio.

The people here were like my family. The owner and her husband, Cleo and Jeff, are like the parents that I never had, and their son, Jem, is like a brother to me...and no matter how hard he tried to hide it, I knew he was harboring a small crush on Aislinn.

I waltzed in the door before Aislinn could even get out of the car. I breathed in the familiar smell of paint and stale pizza, and opened my eyes to the glory that was the studio. Everything was splattered with paint; the sinks, the tables, the easels, even the windows. A staircase wound its way up the right wall up to where the other studios were located, and where I spent most of my time here. HELLO!" I yelled loudly, my voice echoing. "Where is everyone?"

Then, I felt a presence behind me, and before I could bolt, Jem was tickling me until I collapsed on the floor.

"HELP!" I giggled. "ASSAULT! ASSAULT!" Jem was practically dying of laughter when I finally surrendered. His face was flushed and I couldn't help but notice his t-shirt had hiked up, showing off his abs. He smirked playfully at me.

"Like what you see?" He teased.

I pouted. "I've seen better..." I drawled slyly.

He threateningly held up his fingers and wiggled them with a cruel expression. "Are you sure?"

I winced. "Just kidding! You are the sexiest man alive!" He was pretty sexy, I'll admit. That jawline could cut diamonds.

He grinned wickedly at me. "I'll let you get away this time...but beware..." He drawled in a spooky ghost voice.

Meanwhile, watching Jem totally make a fool of himself, Aislinn stood in the doorway of the quaint studio trying to hold in her laughter.

When Jem finally looked up, the recognition of his strange little episode seemed to hit him full force and his face turned beet red as he started stammering.