Don't Worry About Me

Chapter Three

“Happy Birthday, Ana!” Ana groaned and rolled over in her bed. “Go away.” She knew her sisters were standing over her bed, but she didn’t bother looking.

 “Oh come on sissy. You get your license today!” her sister, Aria, whined. She responded by pulling the covers back over her head, which was quite usual.

 “Maybe now you can drive your girlfriend around.” A voice said from the doorway. Ana heard Athena gasp.

 “She’s not my girlfriend, ass hole,” Ana sapped at Mason. “But that isn’t entirely true,” Ana thought to herself. She and Ella had been dating for almost a month, but they were still both in the closet bi’s. She ushered the other girls out of the room and got dressed. Flare jeans with a hippie type flowing shirt, one of her favorite outfits she owned. Her iPhone beeped with a new text message from Ella. “Happy Birthday, beautiful. I’ll pick you up at 2:30 for a birthday surprise.” “Ok…Nothing too big though. <3 you.” She undid the braids in her hair and let her now wavy hair cascade down her shoulders. She looked over to her desk and saw the small pile of gifts sitting on it. She opened the fist card and read “Happy 16th Birthday darling. Sorry we couldn’t be here for your party. Love Mom and Dad.” She opened up the flap to find $50, the usual. She smiled and set the card and money on the desk. The next one she picked up was from Athena. She gasped as she opened the small box. It was a necklace, a gold chain with a diamond gold-backed “A”. She delicately took it out and fastened it around her neck, watching it sparkle in the mirror. The next box was heavier. She opened it and chuckled. It was a journal with multicolored music symbols all over it inscribed with her name, “Ana Olivia Cole” and her birthday, “May 30th”. On the inside cover, Aria had written a message for her. “Dearest Ana, my baby sister. I love you so much. Promise me you’ll defy gravity and always be brave. Let the music of life be your guide. Love, Aria Nicole.” A tear rolled down her cheek and hit the journal. She whipped it away and shut it, moving on to the next one it was a small box with yellow wrapping paper. She opened it and almost screamed. It was a car key. A 1972 VW Micro-Bus key. “MARISSA!” she yelled as her sister flowed into the room.

“Yes?” she asked calmly. Ana was almost a mirror image of her sister, the same blonde hair, same blue eyes. The only thing that was different was their age. Marissa was 7 when Ana and Mason were born.

“What is this?!” Ana squealed. Marissa smirked and motioned toward Ana’s bedroom door. “Check the garage.” Ana’s eyes went wide and she gasped. “You didn’t! Ohmigod Marissa! You didn’t!” Ana ran out to the garage and nearly passed out. “Holy shit!” she breathed. A sky blue, fully restored VW Micro-Bus was parked next to Aria’s black Jeep. Ana ran back inside, almost tripping over herself, and pulled her sister into a super-tight hug, resulting in them both ending up on the floor. They got up, laughing. “I can’t believe you found it! Thank you sooo much! I owe you big time!”

Marissa chuckled and shook her head. “Considering how much you’ve done for me, I don’t think you owe me anything!” Ana had gotten Marissa a job at the super-exclusive club. Getting a job there required deep digging and a long interview process. But because a friend of Ella’s mother owned the club, Marissa skipped all the hard-to-pass parts. Ana got pulled out of her day dream when her iPhone beeped in her pocket. “I’ll be there in 30 minutes,” was the text from Ella. Ana texted her back and looked up to see Marissa looking at her with her eyebrow raised. “Who was that?” She asked. Ana smiled and put her phone back in her pocket. “Ella. She’s taking me out with the girls to celebrate. It sucks having such a late birthday.” Marissa chuckled and ruffled Ana’s hair playfully. “I’ll see ya later then, sis. We’re taking you out to dinner.” Ana bit her lip and looked down, knowing the celebration with her friends would probably last until the next day. Marissa laughed seeing the look on Ana’s face. “I’m kidding! Have fun, and promise me you won’t do anything stupid? Ok?” Ana rolled her eyes as Marissa hugged her. “I promise!” She pulled away from her hug. “I gotta get ready. She’s gonna be here in about 20 minutes.” She went into her bedroom and opened the last box, another one from Athena. She pulled off the lid and gasped. It was an envelope that said: “Dearest Ana, I hope you enjoy these! Love, Idina Menzel.” Ana opened the envelope and almost had a heart attack. Inside were two plane tickets to New York, two concert tickets and two backstage passes. Her biggest dream for years had been to meet Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracie Thoms, or any famous Broadway actress. She ran into Athena’s room in tears, not saying anything as she hugged her sister, sobbing into her shoulder and shaking uncontrollably. Athena laughed and patted her back. “Calm down sista! You have to go out, remember?” Ana chuckled and wiped away her tears. “Right. We’ll talk tomorrow. But, wow! Thank you. I don’t think I can even describe how much I love you right now, Thena!”

      The doorbell rang and Ana checked her makeup in the mirror one last time before heading for the door. “I got it!” She yelled to no one in particular. She grabbed her purse and platform shoes, putting her circular Ozzie Osborne glasses in her hair, completing her hippie look. She ran downstairs and opened the door. “Ella!” She pulled her into a hug and smiled. “You look auh-mazing. And since you can drive, we’re taking MY car!” Ella’s eyes widened. “Y-Your car?! Ohmigod! You got a car?! I wanna see!” Ana laughed at Ella’s extreme energy and pulled her out to the garage, and opening the door. Ella looked at the car and then back at Ana. “Holy shit. You’re so lucky! This is so freaking cool!” She squealed and jumped into the driver’s seat.