I grabbed the pot of coffee and poured some into a mug. "Thanks Julia."
"How's it feel being sweet sixteen?"
"No different than being fifteen," I answered as I stirred some milk into my coffee. "What's on the agenda for today?"
"You have a photo session and interview with Elle magazine, and then you have an interview with two magazines called BB and Tiger Beat. I've never heard of them before."
"They're these corny magazines filled with pictures of today's hottest stars. It's almost like a kiddie Playboy."
Julia laughed. "You would say something like that. The interviews with the kiddie Playboy's are first, you ready to go?"
I nodded. "Okay. Do I have to take any pictures for them or anything?"
Julia shook her head as put her dishes in the sink and grabbed a chocolate-chip muffin for me. "Nope. They're probably just going to ask you questions about Brian and what it's like to be his sister."
"Alright, let's go." Julia and I walked out the front door, got into Julia's small car, and headed downtown.
"Why are we stopping here?" I asked as Julia parked in front of the Elite office. "Did you forget something?"
"No, this is where the interview is. Mr. Deville didn't think it was wise for them to come to our house, they might publish the address."
"Oh, okay." We got out of the car and headed upstairs.
"Happy birthday Cara!" The secretary, Marie, gave me a hug. "I'm sorry you have to work today. The interviewers are waiting in your office, Julia."
"I have to work everyday, what's the difference?" I mumbled as Julia and I headed down the hallway and to her office.
"Good day gentlemen," Julia said professionally as we entered her office. Cara, this is Joel White from Tiger Beat, and Steve Underwood from BB. I trust you two know you have an hour each to interview Miss Littrell?" The men nodded. "Good. I'll be back in two hours. Page me if you need anything." Julia turned and left, closing the door behind her.
The BB interviewer was first, and then the Tiger Beat guy. Combined, they asked the stupidest questions I had ever heard. "If Brian wasn't your brother, would you want to date him?" was my personal favorite, followed by "I heard AJ was a sloppy kisser, is that true?". But I guess this is what the teenyboppers wanted.
After the interviews were done and I had taken a few pictures, Julia and I headed back to our house for lunch. The Elle photo shoot was later that day. I soon as I walked through the door I ran up the stairs to check my voice-mail for a message from either my parents, AJ, or Brian. There were none. "How could they not even call me on my birthday?" I wondered.
"Cara!" Julia called from the bottom of the stairs. "Lunch is ready!"
"Why the long face?" Julia asked as I slowly trudged into the kitchen.
"No one called, not one person in my family or AJ," I answered glumly.
Julia put a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in front of me. "Don't worry, they will. They're probably waiting until tonight."
"I hope your right," I said as I took a bite out of my sandwich.
*Later That Day*
"Julia, I'm exhausted," I complained as we walked out of Elle's office. "Can't we just go home?"
"No, I'm taking you out to dinner for your birthday. You look nice, why waste it?"
I glanced down at my short and satiny baby blue dress from the Elle photo shoot. I was too tired to take it off, and the editor of the magazine let me keep it. "Okay. Where are we going?"
Julia grinned. "You'll see."
We got into the car and Julia drove further into the city. Finally, she stopped at a fancy restaurant.
"Let me guess, is this a French restaurant?" I asked sarcastically.
Julia shook her head. "Actually, Italian. Now come on." We walked inside and Julia led me through the restaurant and stopped at the door. "Go in," she urged.
I looked at her suspiciously and opened the door. "Okay, why is in dark in here?"
Julia shrugged. "Why don't you hit the light switch on the wall."
"Okay." We walked in and I flicked on the lights.
"SURPRISE!!!"
