The President's Daughter by David Dower (if you liked this book txt) 📕

not actually Ali its Alice and I am the president’s daughter.”

I snorted, yeah if it was only that easy. “So where should I drop you?” Gavin asked breaking my thoughts.

“Um, you know Pennsylvania Avenue?” I asked Gavin who seemed to be nodding his head. “Yeah I live somewhere on that street so can you just drop me off there?”

“It’s eleven o’clock at night and you want me to drop you on the street?” He asked in disbelief.

“Um, yeah?”

“Okay.” He said not having a care in the world why he was dropping me off in the middle of the street.

“You’re not going to ask why?” I said cautiously.

Gavin ran his hands through his brown hair causing his hand to get covered in paint. “It’s your life not mine and if you say that’s where you want me to drop you so be it.”  My eyes widened at his bluntness,  “It doesn’t concern me it’s your business and I should stay out of it.”

“Oh.” I said clearing my throat and staring back out the window. “Thanks.”

Five minutes later we arrived on Pennsylvania Avenue. Gavin stopped the car as I climbed out, “Thanks, see you at school tomorrow.” I said shutting the door. He nodded his head gave me a quick wave and continued to drive his old rusty truck down the road.

I watched until I couldn’t see his car anymore and started to make my way home. I had a good time but there was something in my gut telling me there was more to Gavin then he led on I thought as I made my way towards the front gate.

“Alice?” I heard someone say.

I turned around to see Ricky. “Oh hey, Ricky.”

“Where the heck have you been?” He exploded as he started to open the gates for me to enter through.

“I was out with a friend, why?” I asked confused.

“Today was the Valentine’s dinner, don’t you remember the one you were so desperately trying to get out of.” He said.

My eyes widened. How could I forget? My parents were going to kill me. “Here I’ll walk you in, and I’ll let your parents know that you arrived home safely. They were panicking so much I was surprised they didn’t set the secret service out to search for you.”

I chuckled, “Thanks Ricky.” I said as we walked into the house getting odd looks from the guards as we passed by.

“No problem, I hope you had a fun time with that boy.”

I stopped about to climb the stairs to my room. “How did you know it was a boy?”

“It’s written on your face.” He pointed out, “But don’t worry your secrets safe with me.”

I sighed, “Thanks.”

“Oh by the way you might want to clean your shoes your leaving a paint trail, maybe that’s why everyone was looking at you weirdly or the fact you hair is splattered with different kinds of paint, good luck getting that out. Goodnight.”

My jaw dropped as I watched Ricky’s retreating body walk around the corner. “Great,” I muttered climbing up the stairs to go and face the reality of how to get paint out of my hair. Chapter Nine: The Talent Show

How could you?

We expected more from you Alice.

My father's words echoed in my brain, repeating itself over and over again. After getting most of the paint out of my hair, I was called to my dad’s office after everyone had left where my parents lectured me.

“Are you okay?” Ben asked me snapping me from my thoughts. “You’re spacing out, I’ve been calling you for the last five minutes.”

I shook my head, “I am fine.”

“Are you thinking about yesterday?” He said reading my mind.

I sighed nevertheless nodded, “My parents lectured me, they even threatened to pull me out of school if something like this happens again.”

It was quiet for a couple of minutes so I turned to Ben who hadn’t uttered a single word, his eyes trained on the road ahead. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

I heard him sigh, “What’s there to say?”

I blinked. “What do you mean ‘what’s there to say?’ You are supposed to agree with me and tell me my parents are overreacting!” I exclaimed.

“Agree with you?” He said in disbelief, “You ran off with Gavin, without telling me! How do you think it looked on me explaining to your parents that I have no idea where you went? You could’ve been kidnapped and I would’ve had no clue about it!” He yelled.

I flinched at his harsh tone. “I don’t have to tell you where I go every second of every minute,” I screamed back.

“Yes you do, you have a bodyguard for a reason.”

“That’s so stupid. It’s not like I am the president no one is going to come out of the bushes and kidnap me.”

“You’re not the President but you’re his daughter and you never know who’s out there.” He said in an annoyed voice.

I grunted sinking into my seat looking out the window as we pulled into a parking space in front of the school I heard Ben sigh next to me. “I am sorry,” He said in a tired voice.

I turned looking him dead in the eyes. “Apology not accepted,” With that I quickly opened the car door slamming it shut, storming into the school.

I was fuming how dare he take my parents side? I am seventeen for the love of God; they’re treating me like a five year old.

‘Well, you haven’t been the best daughter…’ A voice in my head said.

“Oh shut up,” I muttered.

My eyes scanned the hallway landing on Holly who was leaning against my locker an angry look evident on her face. I slowly approached her, her hazel eyes snapped to mine. “Hey Holls, what sup?”  I said turning the dial of my locker opening it.

“What sup? Is that all you can say after you’ve been ignoring my calls and texts?” She shrieked getting the attention of some students.

“Holly calm down.” I said trying to calm her, “What’s the matter? You seem angry.”

She snorted, “Of course I am angry, I can’t believe you Ali. After all the warnings I gave you.”

I knitted my eyebrows in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t act confused Ali, everyone knows you slept with Gavin.” She exclaimed gesturing at everyone watching how I will react.

“You think I slept with that manwhore?” I screeched. She narrowed her eyes at me nodding her head. “Wow I can’t believe you, I thought we were best friends.”

“Me too,” She whispered.

I gave her one last look; I then looked at the crowd watching us. “I never slept with Gavin, never did and never will.” I looked back at Holly whose face fell, I quickly turned my heel walking away.

I felt a few tears slip. I couldn’t believe Holly thought I slept with Gavin, I brushed the tears away heading around the corner in search for the ladies room.

Once I made into to the bathroom I locked myself in the handicapped stall and let myself slip to the ground my vision blurry from tears.

After a few minutes of crying I suddenly heard the bathroom door open, I held my breath. The sounds of heels clacking against the tiled floor echoed throughout the room. “Did you see how she just ran out of there, she’s so pathetic.”

“Um, Ashley?” I heard someone say.

My eyes widened, it was Ashley talking to one of her followers.

“What?” She snapped.

“Um, why did you even spread that rumor for all we know Ali might’ve never even slept with Gavin?”

My jaw dropped as I scrabbled from the floor peeking through the crook of the door. Ashley was the one who spread the rumor about me?

“Well Angie,” Ashley snarled. “I warned that bitch to stay away from Gavin, but apparently she couldn’t do that so someone had to put her in her place.”

Angie looked really scared keeping her head down, her strawberry hair drawing as curtain hiding her face. “Sorry Ashley,” She whispered.

Ashley smiled in triumph looking at the mirror applying some red lipstick. “Whatever, come on we have a show to prepare for.” She said flipping her dyed bleach blonde hair over her shoulder and strutting out of the bathroom.

My eyes widened. Oh my God Sarah! I promised her to be there with her at the talent show and here I am crying. I opened the stall door walking over to the sink splashing cold water onto my face I stared at my reflection in the mirror.

My brown hair was in a messy bun, I still had a few splashes of paint in my hair that refused to come out so I decided to conceal it by putting it in a bun. The girl in the mirror didn’t look as happy as she was eight years ago.

I sighed tucking the stray hairs behind my ear and away from my face as I exited the ladies room, heading towards the auditorium.

As soon as I pushed open the doors heads snapped in my direction, I shook my head heading backstage to find a worried looking Sarah pacing back in forth. “Sarah?”

She spun around, her brown eyes snapping to mines. “Ali? Where were you?” She asked frantically.

“It doesn’t matter I’ll explain later what’s important now is why you’re pacing back and forth, and why do you look green?”

“I look green because I am freaking out!” Sarah snapped at me. “Oh God I think I am going to puke.” She said holding the chair next to her to steady herself.

“Sarah!” I said grabbing her shoulders in order to face me. “Stop panicking! Now we have to go we have less than twenty minutes to do your hair and makeup, so quit your whining and let’s go.” I said frustrated and proceeded to drag her towards hair and makeup.

*

“Up next we have Sarah Rose?” Andy our announcer said confused, whispers were heard among the crowd.

I looked at Sarah who was clutching the microphone as she walked onto the middle of the stage. He red hair was now in tights curls with a white bow pining the stray hairs away from her face.  After endless arguing on how her hair should be styled we decided to put in half up half down. Sarah’s outfit consisted of a light pink dress and white flats.

"Are you going to sing or what?" Someone yelled among the crowd.

I looked back at Sarah who was now frozen, whispers were now getting louder. I got up from my chair doing what any good friend would've done in my place. I walked onto stage towards a frozen Sarah.

"Sarah?" I whispered ignoring the fact everyone was probably watching us, she snapped out of her trance turning to me. "We've practiced this song millions of times, I know you know it backwards, frontwards and probably even in Italian." I said letting out a chuckle. "But it’s time for you to show everyone else that you know it to. Don’t you remember what we talked about like ten minutes ago?” I said recalling the conversation when she was close to start hyperventilating.

She nodded her head slowly. "Thanks, Ali you’re a good friend and if it makes you feel any better I know you didn't sleep with Gavin."

I chuckled. "Thanks,” I said rolling my eyes at her randomness. “Good luck," I said giving her quick