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

almost about anything that involved leaving my bed.

“Have you been crying?” My mother asked curiously snapping me out of my thoughts.

"No," I said a little too quickly.

My mother’s face softened, "Honey, what happened?"

I shook my head drawing my attention elsewhere. "I wasn't crying," I insisted.

She sighed coming over and sitting next to me. "Alice, I know I haven't been the best mother-“ I let out a  scoff. My mother’s eyes quickly narrowed to slits as she carried on not before glaring. “However I do know when my own daughter has been crying. Plus your eyes are red and puffy so that was a big giveaway."

I sighed in defeat, "Okay I have been crying but when I am ready to open up and talk to someone I will." I told her softly.

She nodded thankfully not pushing the subject any further. "Okay I came in here for a reason," She said snapping her fingers as if it would help her remember. "Yes now I remember, since you refused to come out of bed all weekend and the day you missed the Valentine’s Day ball and dinner you are required to attend the dinner that is happening tonight.”

I opened up my mouth to protest but my mother raised up her hand to stop me. “There is no way you are getting out of this one and anyways it would be good for you to get some fresh air it smells like something died in here.” She said holding her nose for emphasis.

“There’s no way I am getting out of this? Are you sure?” I asked.

“You’ll get out of this once pigs start to fly. Ever since you started school you hadn’t been fulfilling your duties-“

I let out a snort at the word duties. Yes I was chuckling for no reason but I could sometimes be a little immature.

My mother cleared her throat. “As I was saying, you haven’t been doing your job so you have ten minutes exact to take a shower and put on fresh clean appropriate clothes for breakfast.”

I let out a groan burying my head into my pillow. “Can this week get any worse?” I mumbled into my pillow hearing the door close, assuming my mother has left.

I sighed swinging my legs off my bed and trudging into my bathroom. Once I got into the bathroom I quickly stripped out of my clothes and hopped into the shower. I then proceeded to wash my hair with my favorite peach soap shampoo. After ten minutes I was washed from head to toe. I grabbed my towel that was hanging on the rack and wrapped my naked body.

Five minutes later I was dressed in a white skater skirt, clear tights due to it being a little chilly outside and black blouse; I paired the outfit with a pair blue wedged boots. I then quickly put my hair up in a messy bun and headed downstairs for breakfast.

As I walked down the hall I nodded at the guards who were patrolling the hallways. The nodded back at me and some even mumbled a good morning. Once I reached the breakfast room I took a seat at my usual spot as our cook Marco placed a fresh steaming plate of eggs, toast and tater tots with apple juice on the side. I mumbled thanks and proceeded to eat.

Once I finished my breakfast I noticed something unusual going on. I was eerily quiet on the table, I become aware of how my dad seemed to be glaring at Thomas who stared at his plate of pancakes in shame. While my mom ate her omelet like dad glaring was a normal thing.

“What’s going on?” I spoke breaking the silence.

 “Why don’t you tell Alice what’s going on, Thomas.”  My dad spoke answering my question without even looking at me.

I turned to Thomas and motioned for him to speak. “I asked dad what I told you, how I wanted to go to school.” He muttered looking down at his plate.

“So what is the problem because I clearly do not see it.” I answered leaning back into my chair crossing my arms over my chest.

“The problem is that your brother wants to go to school, why would he want that when he can learn easily at home. It’s not safe out there.” My dad said in his business like tone.

“Why are you talking like outside is a world of catastrophe!” I asked him, jumping out of my chair causing it to go down with a loud boom. “You’re treating us like babies, what are you so afraid of?”

“You don’t understand what is out there,” He said in a strict tone.

“And you do?” I retorted. “How do you expect us to do things on our own, if you keep doing it for us? How are we supposed to learn on our own?”

“Alice!” My mom said loudly finally intervening, “Don’t talk to your father that way.”

I ignored my mother’s command looking my dad dead in the eye. “You might be the President of the United States but I think you’re forgetting that before that you are also my father. And you were a great one before all of this.” I whispered turning on my heel not before storming out of the breakfast room.

Walking down the hall I ignored all the looks the guards were giving me. Sympathy, remorse, and confusion were all the looks I got before entering my room.

“This weekend keeps getting worse and worse,” I mumbled lying down on my bed looking at my ceiling.

First Gavin kidnaps me, I rumor goes around I am a slut, my best friend accuses me of being one, I find two the most important people in my life making out on this very bed and now I get in a fight with my own father.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door, it opens to reveal Thomas. “Hey,” He muttered walking in and closing the door behind him. “I just wanted to say thanks for you know, standing up for me and all.” He said shifting his balance to each foot.

I smiled, “Thanks, I am glad someone thinks I am not a total monster.”

“I don’t think you’re a monster.” Thomas said. “But I do think you’re annoying, weird, stupid, ugly, fat, did I mention weird?” He said tapping his finger on his chin as if he was thinking.

“Ha-ha Thomas you’re hilarious.” I drawled sarcastically, “So what are you doing here?”

“Oh, I got you this.” He said handing me a bag.

“What am I supposed to do with this bag?”

“Run away.”

“Really?” I asked him dead serious.

“Yes. I am not stupid maybe you are but I am not. Even I can tell you upset so why don’t you go to the park like old times.” He said smiling slightly at me. “Get your mind off things.”

“Yeah those were good times,” I said recalling the memory when I was eight and I pushed Thomas off the slide, I was an abusive eight year old. “I would love to Thomas but mum would freak out, I already skipped two dinners I can’t afford another.”

“Alice, don’t make me regret this, just go I will cover for you okay?” He said brushing his bangs out of his face, so he could see more clearly.

“Thanks.”

“No problem, but remember this is one time thing. Don’t expect me to be this kind all the time.” He said waving to me not before closing the door. I chuckled, that is the Thomas I know and love.

“It looks like I am going to the park.” I mumbled staring at the bag pack, Thomas had given me hiking it up on my shoulder and exiting the bedroom.

*

I arrived at the park by noon. I got Ricky to drop me off, he was a little reluctant at first but once I convinced him that he wasn’t going to get fired he eventually caved and drove me. We argued the ride to the park about how he should stay since Ben wasn’t here. I disagreed until we decided to let fate choose whether he could stay or not, let’s just say that Ricky is a sore loser when it comes to rock paper scissors.

I walked towards an empty bench and sat down; grabbing the bag that Thomas had given me opening it up to reveal the contents of food that he had packed. I grabbed a grilled cheese sandwich and apple juice, I ate watching the beautiful scenery in front of me.

I watched as how parents swung their children on the swings, dog owners playing with their dogs and couples holding hands staring lovingly into each other’s eyes.

I smiled as I watched an old couple walk past me; they were holding each other’s hands but seemed to be bickering with each other. I chuckled as I saw the old woman slap the back of the man’s head, I think I understood where the term ‘you fight like an old married couple’ cause those two were literally fighting like an old married couple.

“Kingston!” My thoughts were interrupted when I heard someone scream as I saw a dog fast approaching me. It stopped right in front of me whiffing me and licking my sandwich in my hand.

I chuckled as I gave the dog the rest of my sandwich. “It looks like I am done,” I said as the dog finished eating the last bit of my sandwich. I patted the dog’s head as I saw two figures from the corner of my eye approaching me.

“Ali?”

My head whipped to the source of the voice. Standing in front of me masking a blank look was Gavin, behind him was a little boy who seemed to be around the age of four. “Yes,” I answered back hesitantly. The dog whose leash I was currently holding started barking running to Gavin. “I guess this is your dog,” I said handing him the leash.

“Yeah, thanks.” Gavin muttered grabbing the leash from me.

“My dog.” The little boy spoke for the first time.

I smiled looking down at him I nodded. “Yes that is your dog,” I loved pets but we weren’t allowed any animals in the Whitehouse, due to not actually being our home only for the next four years.

He nodded coming from behind Gavin’s legs and to me. “My name is Garrett! It’s spelt with two R’s and two T’s! And I am four years old!” He said giggling holding up four fingers. His other arm looked to be wrapped in a cast, it was a blue and it only had one signature it was Gavin’s name sprawled in messy handwriting.

I smiled looking back at the boy. “My name is Ali and I am seventeen years old.” I told him honestly. I looked back at his arm and spoke, “What happened to your arm?” 

“My daddy pushed me down the stairs.” He said looking down at his feet.

My eyes widened as I looked at Gavin, who had a darkened look on his face. I was about to question him when I felt something nudge my leg I looked down to see the dog, Kingston I believe was his name snuggle in between my legs. “You have a real cute dog,” I said to the Garrett scratching behind his ears.

“Thanks! Gavy was mad because I let Kingston’s leash go, but I swear it was an accident!” The little boy spoke pouting.

“Well we all make mistakes, right?” I asked the little boy.

“We all make mistakes.” I heard Gavin speak he looked lost in thought. Gavin must’ve noticed me staring because he grabbed Garrett’s hand. “We’ve got somewhere to be.” He then started trudging away dragging a waving Garrett behind him.

“Bye!” I heard Garrett shout not before turning back around with his brother. I waved back not before saying bye, I then proceeded to pack my bag and head home. I pulled out my phone to text Ricky to pick me up where he dropped me.

As I was waiting for Ricky to show up I wondered what Garrett had said to me. How his