We All Fall Down

Only a couple more minutes of this gruesome sewing machine and I would be finished with it all. The designs, that is.

I rested my head against my arm, sighing deeply and staring down at my hands. They were wrapped up in the fabric I was sewing together.

My phone began vibrating against my leg and I reached into my pocket to pull it out. “Hello?” I answered, extracting myself from the excessive fabric that was hanging off the old sewing machine I had convinced myself that I knew how to use, when in reality, I really had no clue what I was doing.

“Mia?” answered a familiar voice.

I smiled. “Hey, Aidan.”

There was some commotion in the background.

“I’ve still got a shoot to finish and then a small press conference before I got home. Go on and have dinner without me, alright?”

I stared at the digital clock that was sitting to my right and said, “Aidan. It’s only four.”

“By the time I reach home, it’ll be past ten. Max.”

I sighed.

“Alrighty,” I said, moving away from the sewing machine. “I’ll go and grab myself some dinner after I’m done with my stuff.”

That caught Aidan’s attention. “Working on that line Lowner talked to you about for LFS?”

“Yep,” I replied, standing up and stretching my arms up over my head. I had been sitting in front of that machine for hours and my muscles felt so tense and sore. “I just need to finish up these shorts and I’ll be finished.”

“What do they look like?” he asked me.

I looked down at them.

“Pink and purple zebra patterns. I know, I know. Pretty bold for Mia Hawthorne’s taste. But this is for music appreciation. And people who appreciate music are pretty bold themselves. I mean, I looked to Madonna for my inspiration, I guess,” I joked.

He just laughed at me. “Yeah, right.”

“Right,” I said, knowing that of course, Aidan wouldn’t have bought my lies. But at least I could try to play with him. “Well, whatever. They’re just simple dolphin shorts that say ‘Juicy’ across the butt.”

“Mia,” he said and I could already imagine him rolling his eyes.

I laughed. I loved messing with him.

“Okay, okay. I’ll just get something to eat then.”

“Bye, Mia.”

“Bye,” I said, hanging up the phone.

And there I was left in the empty apartment, staring at the dreadful machine that was telling me that I needed to finish my project.

I got up, grabbing my keys off the tabletop.

I needed some Starbucks.

------

“Oh, Mamma Mia! This is amazing, darling. I never would have thought this was in you! I can’t believe it--LFS will surely love this!”

I smiled at Professor Lowner. She was looking at all the clothing I had made for the fashion line for Less Fortunate Souls foundation’s music appreciation line.

The shirts I had made for the music appreciation fundraiser were simple tees that had ‘Live For Music’ written down the side of the shirts, intricate designs swirling around across the shirt. And of course, the signature daisy was placed on the left end of the shirt.

“I’m totally buying this one,” announced Lowner, pulling up the booty shorts that I had also designed that had ‘Shake It’ written across the back.

I stared at her.

“For my daughter,” she explained, noticing the expression on my face.

I smiled sheepishly. Of course.

“Well, get ready. You’re meeting up with Laura Crenshaw, the founder of LFS. She says that she’s already got the people who’re modeling off the new music appreciation line and that you’re going to help out with the fashion show they’re hosting this Thursday. So go on and get ready.”

And before I could say anything else, Lowner had shoved a huge packet in my hands that was supposed to hold everything I needed, including the directions to the place I was supposed to reach.

Oh, whoop-dee-do.