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

was quarter to nine and Ben insisted that we should go get something to eat. I suggested room service but he quickly dismissed that idea saying we should go out, get some exercise. “Like what was the point of exercise if we were just going to get some ice cream?”

“Oh stop complaining, it’s so beautiful out here and it’s called gelato.” He said scooping some of his chocolate ice cream or in this case gelato into his mouth. “Want some?”

I shook my head, “No thanks.” I said scooping some of my vanilla gelato into my mouth.

“So what were you up to, when we left?” Ben asked changing the subject.

“Nothing really, just watching some television.” I said lying. I didn’t want to tell him about my chat with Gavin, it felt personal and Ben and Gavin didn’t really seem to be on good terms.

“That’s nice.”

I nodded giving him a smile before scooping some more gelato into my mouth, “Darn it.” I swore as I felt the gelato start to seep through my white dress.

“Smooth going, Alice.” Ben said chuckling.

I rolled my eyes, grabbing my tissues and trying to get as much gelato as I could off my white dress. “See what happens? And this was a cute dress too.” I muttered the last part under my breath.

“Here, take a seat on the bench.” He said directing me towards the bench that was facing the small pond. We took a seat on the bench as Ben used the remainder of his tissues trying to get the ice cream off my dress.

“It’s fine, after all its just ice cream.” I said smiling at Ben. “Thanks, anyways.”

“If it helps, you still look beautiful. You know under the moon light, with the wind in your hair.” He said bumping his shoulder into mine, a playful smile on his face.

I began to giggle uncontrollably, “That was so utterly cliché.”

Ben began to chuckle with me, “But it made you smile didn’t it?”

I rolled my eyes, “I was smiling before,” I said standing up. “Come on, let’s head back to the hotel our parents and Thomas should be there soon.”

We began to walk back, I opened my mouth to speak but I was cut off by the sounds of two loud bangs. The woman who was walking this way screamed turning around, as if she was fleeing.

I turned around and saw a person in a mask standing at least ten feet away from us, with a gun pointing straight at me, I saw as his finger pulled the trigger, “Alice!” I heard Ben scream, pushing me to the side and into the alley.

I heard as two more gun shots rang out, as I watched in terror as it hit Ben in the chest as he fell down, his ice cream splattering off to the side. “Ben!” I screamed, running towards him. I turned my head and watched as the shooter, ran off leaving a bleeding Ben and a distraught me. “Ben…” I whispered as I watched his eyes close, “Ben!” I said louder as I felt tears beginning to flow. I pressed on the two gun wounds, “Help, somebody please help!” I said screaming at the top of my lungs as I watched Ben start to bleed to death. Chapter Thirty: Breaking News

“Here,” Ben’s father said placing a cup of coffee in front of me.

“Thank you,” I muttered grabbing the hot cup, in my shaking hands.

He just nodded his head in return, as I sipped on the coffee. None of us uttering a word, lost in our own thoughts. “You know what happened to Ben, isn’t your fault.” Ben’s father whispered.

“That’s what people say, in order to make the other person feel better,” I told him honestly. I didn’t want him lying, we all knew it was my fault that Ben jumped in front of me.

“So it is your fault that man was following you? It’s your fault that Ben wanted to go outside and get some ice cream?” He asked incredulously. I stayed silent, I didn’t know how to react. “Alice, it isn’t your fault.” He whispered softly.

“So it’s Ben’s fault?” I asked in disbelief. “He’s your son,” I whispered. “How could you say that?” I searched his eyes for some sort of answer, he soon broke eye contact getting up from his chair.

Ben’s father took a deep breath, “I am going to get some air.” He muttered, walking down the hall.

I sighed running my hands through my hair. It’s been two days, two days of waiting for Ben to wake up, two days of waiting to know if the police had caught the bastard who did this to him.

I propped my head on my arm, I was tired and even coffee couldn’t keep me up. “Alice?” I turned my head and noticed Ben’s mom looking at me with tired eyes, her brown hair was put in a messy pony tail and like everyone else she looked exhausted.

“Yeah?” I asked sitting up, a little straighter.

“Maybe you should go back to the hotel, and get some rest.” She suggested coming towards me and extending her hand.

“But,” I said in denial, I didn’t want to leave in case Ben woke up.

“I promise if he does wake up, which he will. You will be the first one, I call.” She said honestly.

I nodded, grasping her hand in mine and getting up. “Thank you,” I whispered softly.

Ben’s mom Barbra gave me a small smile in return, I then went over to Thomas and my mom and shook them awake. “Mom, I am going to head back to the hotel.” She nodded.

My mom was here majority of the time as well, she hasn’t slept here but Thomas had for one night. Unlike my dad who dropped in basically whenever he felt like. Considering his best bodyguard’s son was in a coma, it’s nice to know he cares.

“Alice?” My mom said sitting up, “Take Thomas with you, he needs a goodnight sleep.” She said waking Thomas up, he stirred in his seat, until finally waking up looking at us with squinted eyes.

“What’s wrong?” He said looking at us, he then noticed his surroundings. “Is Ben awake yet?” He said sitting up.

I gave him a tight smile, as I felt my heart sink. I shook my head, “No, no he is not.” Thomas nodded, he looked sad, but why wouldn’t he be?

*

By the time we reached our hotel room, Thomas headed straight for his bed. None of us uttering a single word our ride back to the hotel. It’s been tense, and all I really wanted right now was a good sleep. However, I also wanted to be the first person to see Ben when he woke up, if he woke up.

I walked over to the television and turning it on, I then reduced the volume so I wouldn’t wake Thomas up. I was about to change the channel, but when I noticed my dad on television. My eyes widened, “What the heck?” I muttered, turning the volume higher.

“It has been with great sadness, to inform you all about a tragic event that took place two days ago.” My dad began looking down at his paper. “A bodyguard, and I will not name his name, asked by his family.” He said looking at the camera. “Has been shot multiple times, protecting my daughter.” My dad said choking up a little.

I narrowed my eyes, “That faker.”

“Prayers from the Whitehouse and here in Brussels are with the family, during their time of difficulty.” My dad said once more looking back at his paper. “However, as a friends and family. We will strive our best to do whatever we can to catch this man who did this, to us- as a family. We are asking anyone with information on the shooting to please contact police or leave an anonymous tip.” My dad was looking directly at the camera this time. “Thank you.” He said waving, then shuffling off stage with a bunch of bodyguards and police men in tow. They were yells from the audience, but nothing more was said by my dad.

The news soon cut to commercial, causing me to turn of the television. “Why didn’t he tell us?” I mumbled. I could tell this news broadcast was replayed over and over again, but considering I haven’t left the hospital I would understand. It seemed that the broadcast station cut majority of my dad’s speech. But the one thing I couldn’t understand was why wouldn’t he tell us that he was taking it to the public? I was confused, but it was probably because he thought that was the only way to get the information he needed.

I yawned as I got up getting ready for bed, I wanted to take a shower considering the last shower I took was the day Ben was injured but I couldn’t be bothered, I’ve been managing on twelve hours of sleep. I stripped out of my white dress, and yes to answer your question I haven’t changed my clothes for two days, I am pretty sure you would be the same if your friend was in a coma.

I threw the dress into the hamper, it had a yellowish stain, due to the ice cream that I spilled on it. I then pulled on my t-shirt and shorts, walking into the bathroom brushing my teeth, tying my hair into a messy bun, as I got into bed I realized something.

“The broadcast was international…” I remembered, as I replied my dad’s words in my head. How prayers from Washington and such. That means that Holly must have found out, about the shooting. I reached for my phone, unlocking it and calling Holly. “Pray to God, she doesn’t know who was shot.” Because an angry Holly was a Holly I didn’t want to deal with.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She speaks into the phone, answering it after the second ring.

“Why didn’t you call?” I fire back.

I heard her sigh, “So not telling me that Ben was shot was something you didn’t find necessary?”

“I am sorry calling you was the last thing that was on my mind, considering my mind was on Ben. He is in a coma, Holls. And they don’t know when he is going to wake up.” I said softly, I didn’t want to wake up Thomas.

“It still doesn’t make sense, if he was shot, why would he go into a coma?” She asked, sounding generally confused.

“He lost a lot of blood, the doctors put him in an induced coma to stabilize him.”

“Can’t they just stabilize him or whatever with anesthesia?”

I shrugged, but she couldn’t see me. “I don’t know Holls, I honestly don’t know.”

It was quiet for a good thirty seconds before Holly spoke, “You will call me when he wakes up, right?” She asked quietly.

I nodded my head, “Of course why wouldn’t I?”

“Um, I don’t know? Most probably cause you didn’t call me in like a week?” She said sarcastically.

I chuckled, “Hey what time is it over there?”

“Two a.m. Why?”

“Go to bed, because you shouldn’t be up.”

“I was up, worrying about Ben, and plus its Spring Break.”

“He’s going to be just fine,” I told her honestly. “I promise.” I knew Ben was going to make it, because if he didn’t I honestly don’t