Anna || HS

CHAPTER 8

~April 12th, 2009~
Anna- 15
Harry- 15
Ben- 17

Anna POV:

I barely wake up and hear the singing voices of my mom and Sofie approaching my bedroom from downstairs. The voices get louder as their footsteps ascend the stairs, and I smile as I sit up in my bed to await their arrival in my room.

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Anna, Happy Birthday to you!!" Sofie and mom open the door on the last chorus, having got up early to bring me breakfast in bed to the tune of Happy Birthday. A tradition we have had since Sofie and I were little.

"Happy Birthday, my sweet girl!" Mom says, adding a kiss to the cheek.

"Happy Birthday, sis."

Sofie pushes a gift in my direction and I quickly open it to find the newest Shopaholic book. Sofie and I always exchange the newest books for our birthdays, letting the other read the book when we are finished, so it is really a gift for both of us.

"Thanks, Sof!! I will let you read it as soon as I am done."

I lean to give her a hug before digging into my plate full of syrup-covered pancakes, complete with whipped cream and multi-colored sprinkles. Just the way I like them.

An hour later, Ben comes to pick up Harry and me to drive us to school. Both boys give me their own version of a birthday greeting as we meet outside my house. Harry first, serenades me with his very own rendition of Happy Birthday, ending with him kneeling down and holding out a hot chocolate for me.

"Your morning birthday beverage, m'lady."

"Thank you, Harry," I say as I pull him up from his kneeling position to wrap him in a hug as I carefully grab the steamy drink.

Harry and I break apart and I shift my focus to my handsome boyfriend, who is looking ridiculously tall today. Ben walks up to me, wrapping his hands around my back and pulling me fully against his body. His height is somewhere around 6ft 4in, so he towers above me in my flat converse. As he pulls me closer, I crane my head up and a soft smirk grows across his face. He leans his head down as I stand on my tippy-toes to kiss his lips.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart!" he coos.

I see Harry watching somewhat uncomfortably. It is days like this that I wish Abbigail lived closer and we could pick her up too, so things weren't so awkward. I pull away from Ben, and we get in the car for the short drive to school.

At school, Maddie greets me with an obnoxiously large birthday balloon that she tells me will be tied to my backpack all day, just so that everyone will remember to say 'Happy Birthday'. She is always so subtle. At lunch, Clara gives me a small purple jewelry box for a birthday gift. It's perfect, since I currently have earrings strewn all over the top of my dresser. Actually, the whole day is pretty perfect, but I was really excited for what the boys had in store for me after school.

Harry told me that I couldn't have his gift until he got done helping his mom with something once Abbigail's friend dropped him off from school. I'd seen him arrive home not long ago, catching him making out with Abbigail in the driveway. So tacky.

I am sure he will be over anytime now, since he knows that Ben is picking me up in about two hours. I was about to text Harry and and ask his ETA when there is a knock at the door. Mom answers and lets Harry and Anne inside before calling up for me.

"Anna, honey, Harry and Anne are here." She yells up the staircase.

I come down the stairs, and I see a cake in his hands. It's not just any cake, though. I would know this cake anywhere.