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

“I am just saying, if I was the one in charge I would make sure that, there is a variety of food.”

I rolled my eyes ignoring him, I didn’t want to know.

“Alice,” I heard someone say. I turned my neck around to notice my dad coming out of the bathroom. “I expect you to be on your best behavior, am I clear?” He asked me in a strict tone.

I nodded my head, “Of course. But shouldn’t you be telling Thomas that? After all he was the one who broke the priceless artifact back in China.”

“No, I know you won’t break anything. Or I hope. I was just saying, Ben is a seventeen year old boy and you are a seventeen year old girl, I don’t want to expect any surprises on this trip…”

My eyes widened in horror. “Dad!” I exclaimed, “Gross!” I said shuddering, turning around to make sure that Ben nor did his parents here what my dad implied.

“I am just saying, Alice. I think you both are good kids, but I don’t want to be a grandpa anytime soon.” He replied, as Sally finally got the door open to the plane, my dad thanking her than walking off leaving me in shock.

*

“Can we go to the pool?” Thomas asked me for the sixth time today.

“No, mom said we can’t leave the room, and I’d rather not feel the wrath of momzilla.”

“Why?”

“I just told you why,” I said closing my laptop and giving him my undivided attention.

“You are honestly no fun,” Thomas grumbled jumping onto his bed and groaning into his pillow.

My parents went out for some tour of Brussels with the Prime Minister of Belgium, they were accompanied by Ben’s parents and Ben was most probably in his room or something, he was supposed to be watching us but ten minutes, sitting on the couch and listening to Thomas complain he left.

“Tell you what,” I said calling out to Thomas. “I’ll take you to the pool, under one condition.”

Thomas’ head slowly rose up turning to me to look at me in suspicion, “What?”

“You don’t annoy me for the rest of the week,” I said to him. “After all considering we will be roomies for the next week, you have already begun to get on my nerves. So I will take you the pool as long as you agree not to irritate me for the rest of the week.”

Thomas let out a snort, “How stupid do you think I am?” He said incredulously. “I will just go ask Ben,” Thomas said getting up from his bed.

“You are pretty stupid if you think, Ben will allow you to go.” I said opening up my laptop and re focusing my attention back on to tumblr.

“Fine, you have a deal. I am going to get ready.” Thomas said walking into the closet where we had already unpacked looking for his swimming trunks.

The room plan was like this, mom and dad would share one room, Thomas and I in another and Ben and his parents in the third room. I suggested that Ben and Thomas room together and I get my own room, but my mom quickly dismissed the idea saying it was a chance for me and Thomas to bond.

“Ready,” Thomas announced coming out of the closet. With his swimming trunks on and a towel wrapped around his pale skinny body.

“You need to tan,” I said aloud.

“That’s unhealthy for your skin. Excuse me for caring but I’d rather not get skin cancer.” Thomas stated.

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever let’s go.” I said getting up from my chair and placing my laptop on the side table next to me. I then grabbed my keys and motioning for Thomas to follow me.

But when I pulled open the door, he just stood there in the same spot with the same blank expression. “Don’t you want to go? You’ve only annoyed the crap out of me for the last twenty minutes.”

“Of course I want to go.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”

“I just,” Thomas began letting out a sigh. “I don’t want to go alone.”

“You aren’t going to be alone, I am there.” I said.

“No, it’s just that nobody has time for me anymore, everyone is always busy. Dad is always working, mom is working on her clothing line and you are busy with school and friends.” He admitted.

“Thomas, what are you saying?” I asked softly.

“I am saying, I am glad mom put us in the same room. Because, believe it or not I finally get to spend time with you.” He said looking down at the floor in embarrassment.

I smiled, I didn’t know what made Thomas want to say any of this. But I am glad he did, “How about this?” I said getting an idea in my head. “I change and we can go to the pool together?”

Thomas smiled to me, “Sure. You got two minutes.” He announced, turning around and walking to the television set. He turned the television on then turned to look at me briefly, “What are you still doing standing there? Hurry up and change!”

I rolled my eyes, “And he is back…”

*

I let out a bark of laughter as I watched Thomas’ arms wave around before landing in the pool with a splash. “Not funny, Alice.” Thomas growled at me as his head came out from under water.

“It’s pretty funny, you got to admit.” I said in amusement. Since we’ve arrived at the pool we have been pushing each other in and splashing each other with water.

It’s been pretty funny, and amusing when I would push Thomas into the water and a girly scream would come out of his mouth as he fell in. Thankfully there was no one in the pool, besides us and it has been pretty fun, because if there was someone else I am pretty sure we would be kicked out of here in no time.

“You know what’s pretty funny?” Thomas asked as he pulled himself out of the pool.

“Your girly scream?” I asked.

He shook his head as he stalked closer to me, “No. This.” I watched as Thomas ran at me grabbing me by the legs and tackling me into the pool.

I let out a scream as I felt my body slap against the cold water, I quickly rose to the surface of the water spluttering out water. I did not except Thomas to do that, especially since he was the size of a midget. “What the hell was that for?” I yelled at him.

“It’s called payback, look it up, sister.” Thomas said then swimming all the way to the other side of the pool.

I rolled my eyes as I laid back against the water, floating. It was quite peaceful, as I felt the water wave my body around I took deep breaths.

“Alice? Thomas? What the heck are you two doing here?” I heard someone say. I stopped floating to look up and see Ben, standing by the door he had a towel thrown over his shoulder but his six pack was still in view. “I thought you two were in your room.” He said, walking towards the edge of the pool.

“Well we aren’t,” I said in a duh tone.

“Well I know that now,” He said annoyed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the pool, if your parents came back and I didn’t know where you two were do you know how bad that would look on me?”

“You would’ve said no,” Thomas said swimming over to where I was.

“How do you know that?”

“It’s common knowledge,” I said.

“Well next time ask and not make accusations,” Ben spat at us, I am pretty sure he was getting just a tad angry.

“Fine, will do.” I said going back to my previous position of floating.

“Uh, what are you doing?” Ben asked.

“What does it look like I am doing? I am floating.”

“Well stop it and get out,” Ben demanded.

I shook my head, “Nah I am good. And anyways, you brought your towel and swim trunks I am pretty sure you came to swim too, so just carry on like we aren’t even here.”

“Well now, I know you are here.” Ben said, “And I am telling you both to get out, I have to get you to your rooms before our parents get back.”

“If you want me out so badly, come get me.” I said standing up, and looking Ben in the eye, challenging him.

He just narrowed his eyes at me, “Fine.” Ben said tossing his towel to the side then jumping into the pool with a splash. Once he came above surface he pushed his hair back his eyes looking straight at me.

I let out a shriek as I watched him swim towards me, I began to swim quickly to the other side, “You’ll never catch me.” I said screaming.

I then felt a hand grab my left leg from under water pulling me back. I attempted to wriggle my left leg free but Ben’s hand had a strong grip on my leg. “Got you,” Ben whispered in my ear, his hands gripping my waist and his bare chest pressed against my back.

“That’s not fair,” I said out of breath. I turned around to face Ben, “You’re in shape.” I said smacking his stomach.

I felt his hands grip my waist even tighter, but I didn’t flinch, “And you’re not.” Ben said smacking my stomach right back.

My jaw dropped open, “Excuse me? This-“ I said holding my bare stomach, “Is in shape. Don’t you see the faint outline of my abs?”

“Hmm,” Ben said. “I can’t see from this far,” he then put his face closer to my stomach.

I quickly swatted his head away, pushing it away from my stomach, he was a little too close to my chest area and considering I was wearing a bikini it didn’t help my situation.

“If you think you are in shape, I guess I will just have to find out.” Ben said smirking slightly.

“Find out? What do you-“ I stopped mid-sentence as he went under water, a few seconds later I felt his arms wrap around my legs, tossing me over his shoulder. “Benjamin William James put me down!” It reminded me of when Gavin did this to me, when he took me out for Valentine Day, and it might sound a little weird but I felt like I was betraying him somehow.

I looked up from where I was dangling off Ben’s back and noticed Thomas’ floating on the water, “Thomas!” I called out to him.

“What?” He yelled back.

“Um, help?” I said to him. I felt Ben shift causing my body to get closer to the water, “Ben!” I yelled, my face was now inches away from the water. “Thomas!” I shrieked.

“Fine, I am coming.” I looked up and saw that he was swimming towards us. When he finally reached us, I noticed that he was treading water. His feet probably didn’t touch the ground, “Ben put her down.”

Ben looked over to Thomas, staring at him with a blank expression. “Well you asked for it.” Thomas said, a few seconds later I felt him jump onto Ben his legs wrapping tightly around his torso.

“How is this helping?” I asked the same time Ben said to Thomas.

“Thomas, get off me.”

“Will you put her down?” Thomas asked ignoring both of us.

We all then began to argue, I wanted Ben to put me down, Thomas was attempting to help and Ben just wanted Thomas to get off him. I am pretty sure it was due to the extra weight of Thomas. “What the?” We heard someone say.

I turned my head and noticed my father standing at the door to the pool, “Alice!” My dad yelled out in a loud manner.

“Dad! I can explain.” I said as I felt Ben’s grip loosing on me, I was expecting him to put me down but instead he the opposite, chucking me back into the pool…