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

friends.

“Here,” I said dropping the food in front of Ashley.

“Nerd?” Someone said, my head snapped up as I locked eyes with Gavin. “Why did you get Ashley her food?”

I opened my mouth to speak but the slut cut me off, “She insisted.” Ashley said giggling wrapping her hand around Gavin’s arm.

“She insisted?” Gavin repeated, “Is that true Ali?”

I forced a smile, “Yup.”

“Well I find that hard to believe, last time I asked you for a pencil you told me to fuck off,” Gavin said, causing the people watching us to erupt in snickers and laughs.

“People change,” I forced out.

“People, yes. You not so much.”

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever.” I said turning around and storming off, by now I really had no energy to sit with Holly and Ben, Sarah had some test to make up so she wasn’t with us at lunch. So instead I went outside, wanting to eat my greasy pizza alone.

I went over to a tree and taking a seat under it, not many people were outside. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, it was quite peaceful, no drama and definitely no Ashley.

“So, are you going to tell me the real reason why you got Ashley her lunch?” I opened my eyes to find Gavin sitting in front of me crossed legged.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you to answer my question.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, does he not understand that I want to be alone? “I am going to tell you the same thing I said when you asked me for a pencil. Fuck off.”

“I will as soon as you answer my question.” Gavin replied making no movement to leave.

“Well if you aren’t going to leave, I will.” I said grabbing my pizza and getting up.

“Nerd, are you really just going to run away from me?”

“Yes, rainbow. I will.” I said in a mocking tone.

“Why can’t you just tell me?” He asked softly.

I looked into Gavin’s dark brown eyes, “I am sorry. I can’t.”

“You can’t or you won’t?”

I took a deep breath, as I recalled Ashley’s words running through my brain. “Gavin, please just stay away from me.”

“Why?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I got time,” He said standing up and crossing his arms over his chest. “Why can’t you just tell me?” He said prying, “What are you afraid of?”

I opened my mouth to speak when I noticed a blonde girl, as I looked a little closer I noticed it was Ashley, she was scanning the area most probably looking for Gavin.

I turned back to Gavin, “Please just stay away from me.” I said softly, turning around and walking away. I couldn’t risk Ashley seeing me talk to Gavin when she specifically told me to stay away.

I ignored the warm feeling I had in the bottom of my stomach, as I realized that Gavin actually chased after me. It made me realize that he actually cares for me, and I didn’t want to lose that… Chapter Twenty-Six: Thomas the Creep

“Gavin, can you just stand next to Ali? You are being unreasonable!” Sarah said frustrated with the lack of progress our group was making. We only had a few more days until Spring Break and Sarah was going away with her family and knowing mine we would probably go somewhere to visit someone famous or something, so it was really one of our last few days to work on our dance.

“I can’t because she told me to keep my distance,” Gavin said standing at least a few feet away from me, leaning up against the wall.

“Look, Gavin just because I told you to stay away from me doesn’t mean we can’t get this dance done, I want a good grade you know.”

“And I want some answers,” He retorted.

I sighed massaging my temple with my fingers, it really wasn’t that easy telling someone the real reason why you had to stay away from them. Sure my dad could easily deal with the whole Ashley situation with the snap of a finger, but I don’t want him to know that I screwed up-again.

“Look, you two.” Sarah spoke. “This is between you guys not me, so unless you guys want to work get your problems figured out because I am out of here.” Sarah said, her tone filled with annoyance.

“Where are you going?” I asked confused.

“Somewhere, you two aren’t.” Sarah said slamming the door shut on her way out.

“What? She can’t do that, we are in the middle of class.” I said walking over to the door and pulling it open. I stuck my head out in the deserted halls, there was no sign of her. I let out a sigh turning back to Gavin, “She can’t do that can she?” I questioned.

He shrugged, “I don’t know and I frankly do not care.” Gavin said simply picking up his backpack and making his way towards me.

He walked around me, pulling the door open and stalking out. “Where do you think you’re going?” I called out to him.

“So now you care?” Gavin called back, not bothering to turn around.

I watched as his silhouette got smaller and smaller as he continued to walk down the hall, “I’ve always cared.” I muttered under my breath, closing the door and sliding my back against it and sinking down to the floor.

*

By the time I got home, I was exhausted even though it was only Tuesday I felt like my brain was emotionally and physically drained.

“How was school, Alice?” A voice said causing me to look up from untying my shoes.

“Draining,” I said kicking of my shoes. It seemed that I really haven’t seen my own mother in ages, I know she has been out of the country for a few weeks but it was good to have her back home. “How was your trip?” I said walking over to her and wrapping her in a hug, my mother’s body tensed under my arms. She was most definitely not expecting a hug.

“It was good-“ She said cutting herself off, obviously startled by my hug. “Is everything okay, honey?”

“Peachy!” I said pulling out of the hug to face my mother, “Why?”

“You’re not usually a touchy person, unless you’ve had a bad day. So tell me what’s wrong?” She said sympathetically dropping her hands that contained mail to her sides.

I gave her a small smile, “I am good mom, trust me.”

She gave me a small smile in return, “That’s what I am afraid of.”

I rolled my eyes, as I picked up my bag from the floor. “Hardy-har-har. You’re hilarious,” I replied dryly. “I think I am just going to head upstairs, is Thomas in his room?” I asked my mom, as she looked through the mail in her hands.

She nodded her head, “Okay, thanks!” I said giving her a kiss on the cheek and heading up the stairs in search of my ten year old brother.

“Okay, Alice! Now I definitely know something is wrong!” I heard my mom call.

I chuckled to myself as I raced upstairs, I said hello’s as I passed by the guards walking over to Thomas room. I stood outside his closed door, pending on whether I should knock or not.

“Eh, whatever,” I mumbled under my breath, twisting the door knob and pushing it open. “Thomas,” I called out to my younger brother walking into his room.

Thomas’ head snapped up from his computer looking at me in shock. “Alice! What the hell? You are supposed to knock, when you want permission to enter my room.” He said annoyed, quickly shutting of his computer screen and looking at me with narrowed eyes.

I looked at his computer screen briefly, before he turned it off I saw some kind of video. It looked like the house, “Thomas what are you hiding?”

He looked at me crossing his arms over his chest, “What I’m hiding is none of your business, so just learn to knock or get out.” He said standing up from his chair and walking over to me.

Thomas grabbed me by the arm, hauling me over to the door. “Thomas, I came in here for a reason. I need to ask you something.”

“You can ask me when you learn to knock on my door,” He stated opening the door and pushing me out.

“Since when do you care so much about me knocking on your door? You’re being unreasonable.”

“I don’t care,” He responded slamming the door in my face.

I stood outside his closed door, shocked that he actually had the guts to do that too my face. “Rude much?” I said crossing my arms and glaring at the door. I then turned my head to some of the guards who were just walking up and down the hall.

“Does he do this to everyone?” I asked. But like always they responded with a shrug there faces stone faced and neutral. “You know what, forget knocking.”

I turned the doorknob again pushing open the door and storming inside. Thomas’ head snapped toward the door his face comforting to an annoyed look.

“Alice,” He growled out.

“Thomas,” I said mocking him in the same tone.

“What do you want now?” He said blocking his computer screen with his body, turning off the monitor and then turning around to face me.

“Nothing, just wanting to know how my only brother is doing.” I said in a sarcastic tone.

“Sure you do, now get to the point? I am kind of busy,” Thomas said, tapping his feet impatiently.

“Well since someone is on their man period I will make this quick,” I said sarcastically. Thomas’ face turning into a look of discomfort. “Someone at school knows my secret,”

“That you pick your nose?” Thomas questioned, “That really wasn’t a secret we all knew that.”

“Yes- wait no, I don’t pick my nose!” I exclaimed, looking at my younger brother in disgust. “Who told you that?”

“No one, we’ve all seen you done it.” Thomas said shuddering.

“Well I don’t.” I said snapping at my brother, “If someone in the family does pick their nose it’s you. Now listen, someone at school knows who I am. And she threatened to tell everyone if I don’t do what I am told and if I don’t stay away from Gavin, now listen-“

“Who’s Gavin?” Thomas questioned, cutting me off.

“What?”

“You said that this person told you to stay away from Gavin, now who is he?”

“None of your damn business,” I said snapping at him, once more.

“Aww someone has a crush,” Thomas cooed walking over to me and pinching my cheek.

I slapped his head away, narrowing my eyes at my brother. “Can we just please stay on topic please?” I asked, “Is that honestly so hard?” Thomas shrugged in response, “Now listen and don’t interrupt me. She knows who I am, but I looked the exact same, how come she knew all of a sudden? I doubt she saw you when we came in or maybe she did. I don’t know but it honestly makes no sense to me.”

“Well first nothing makes sense to you, second I think dad called in to warn them we were coming, you know for safety reasons. I also told him before we left so maybe that’s how she knew. And third you still didn’t answer my question about Gavin, and you didn’t deny when I said you had a crush on him so it is true…” Thomas said smirking.

“Wait,