Broken - A pretty face doesn't cover an ugly heart

31

- Oh my God, this color looks so good on you!
- Thanks.
Barbra was smiling. She was feeling bothered by the sameness that people seemed to expect of her. She wasn't psychological prepared to some extreme rebel act, so she decided to start by the same thing that all women looking for change: the hair.
-  Yeah... Definitely my color.
The new blond had said.
- Hey, we could go to-
- Oh, no... I'm sorry, but I need to go to driving school, it's my last week of practical classes before I have my final exam.
- Well, good luck then... See you later.
Barbra smiled to her and got inside a bus, enjoying the sensation of having people noticing her. In the past two days, since that awful discussion with Ryan, she was feeling a little odd. Her mind wasn't so focused as always, and she found herself very unaware at the most inopportune moments.
Today after driving school she was supposed to meet with Ryan. Once they were finally over that situation, everything would be back to normal. Still, she didn't like of the possibility of Anna getting any closer to her boyfriend. She didn't wanted to underestimate her sister.

***
(Anna's POV)
Oh, Lord... I'm actually crying over a teenager romance? Poor Alaska, but still I don't allow myself to such a thing. I'm getting tired of avoid the world outside. I'm creating the courage to talk to Haley about what I've been thinking lately...
While I'm torturing myself with this, my phone starts to ring. It was Ryan.
- Hello?
I say a little suspicious. He didn't said a word, and just when I'm about to be mad I heard him crying.
- Oh, Ryan... I'm on my way.
He hung up the phone, I don't need to hear a single word to know what this means. I'm just confused about why he is calling me. Maybe he couldn't get to Barbra... I think she had the driving thing today.
I wear the first thing I found and then I leave, worried. My mom is at the living room, what is she doing here at this hour?
- Where are you going with such a rush?
- To the hospital.
She was still acting weird with me because of the drug drama thing, but she also understood the gravity of the situation.
- If Barbra shows up you may need to tell her, I don't know if he called me because he couldn't found her...
- Ok, send him my condolences.
- I wish I didn't need to.
She gave me a sad smile.
***
(Ryan's POV)
- I'm sorry kid, we couldn't do anything.
I know I should say something, but I can't. It's like those dreams where you're screaming but no one hears it. The doctor leaves me alone with this awful news. I couldn't even say goodbye.
I'm calling Barbra for the third time and I just don't get it why she's not picking up the phone. I know I need to leave the hospital, but I'm stuck here.
The realization of being alone it's too scary. My father wasn't the greatest company, but it was all I've ever had. Not to mention: how am I supposed to carry the company on my own?
I need to talk with someone. I try Barbra again, and when she didn't answer I called Anna because... I don't know why, but thank God she's coming.
I felt a little pathetic when I cried instead of telling her about the situation, but she didn't seemed to care. I'm so grateful.
- Ryan!
She hugs me and we were on silence. After a minute that felt like an hour, I asked:
- I know you don't have to do this, but would you-
- Hey, why do you still need to ask?
I can't smile to her, but she understands it.
We went to see the funeral details, and my head it's spinning around. She takes the lead while I'm standing useful by her side.
***
(Anna's POV)
After everything was decided, Ryan and I went to cross the street where his car was parked, and his face is so lost that it hurts to watch.
I hold his hand trying to comfort him, and I put my foot on the street, and that's when everything goes wrong.
***
(Barbra's POV)
I couldn't be more prepared to the final test, even the instructor recognized. I'm finishing my route and I feel great about my progress so far.
Then something called my eye, and for a microsecond I took my foot off of the accelerator, to push even harder. I heard the guy yelling at me, and all my thoughts are doing the same, but it's like I'm frozen.
My hands are shaking, but still very tights at the steering wheel, and my eyes are horrified by the vision of my sister right in front of me. I know I need to stop this now, I'm screaming inside my head, but I just can't.
Finally I stopped the car, and I'm so nervous that cold sweat is all over me. The guy on my side is screaming if I'm insane, and I found very hard to breathe. The next thing I see before I faint is Ryan getting down looking at Anna.
***
Jenna was pale and frighten when she turned off the phone. At that same instant, the bell starts to ring, and couldn't be a more inopportune hour to a unexpected visitor.
- Hey aunt Jen, I'm back.
Daniel said with a charming smiling, that disappeared as soon as he noticed that something was wrong.