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

began to say but my mom cut her off.

“Let her go Evan, she will be fine, it’s not like that man followed us all the way from Belgium?” She said defending me. A smile broke out on my face, “Get Ben and we will drop you off at the park on our way home.” I smiled as I thanked my mom turning around and walking towards Ben.

*

“It’s nice outside don’t you think?” I asked trying to fill the silence that was in the air.

“Yeah,” Ben said agreeing with me. “It kind of makes me not want to go back to school.”

I nodded my head, school was in two days, if you counted today and I wasn’t at all ready to go back, I haven’t had a normal relaxing Spring Break like most teenagers do.

“So did you enjoy Brussels?” Ben asked.

I nodded, “Yeah it was beautiful and where you took me to get gelato-which was amazing by the way, was also beautiful.”

“Yeah I remember that day, even though I did lose quarter of my blood supply I remember that day clearly. You looked beautiful, how could I not?” He said bumping shoulders with me.

I chuckled, I honestly thought he was going to bring up the shooting. “You are such a flirt,” I stated.

“Only to you...” Ben said grinning at me, stopping and facing me.

I smiled, “So what did you want to talk about?” I asked getting straight to the point. I knew he wanted to talk about the kiss, I kind of wanted too as well.

“The kiss.”

“Okay, what about it?” I asked tilting my head.

“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, getting straight to the point. “Because I sure did,” He said sounding a little over confident.

I laughed either way, “I don’t know, it was my first kiss.” I told him honestly.

I didn’t know how your first kiss was supposed to be like, because my kiss with Ben was bland. I didn’t feel butterflies in my stomach, I didn’t feel my lips burning from the touch of his. Was that all real, or was that only in books and movies?

“Well maybe we should try again, to see if you did enjoy it because I know you did.”

I rolled my eyes, I was about to say a smart remark when I felt something tugging on my jeans.

I looked down, to meet bright blue eyes staring up at me. “Garrett?” I asked confused. “What are you doing here?” I asked squatting down at the boy, I knew those eyes anywhere.

“What happened to your arm?” Garrett asked ignoring my question and looking at Ben who was looking at the boy confused.

“This is Gavin’s brother,” Ben stated, looking at me.

“How do you know that?” I asked confused.

“Because I remember him,” He said staring at the boy.

I then looked back at Garrett who was looking at Ben and I in confusion, I got up from my previous position when I noticed a figure running towards us.

As the figure got closer and closer I noticed that it was Gavin, his eyes were trained on Garrett but when he finally reached us, he looked at Ben then locking eyes with me, his eyes widened.

“Ali?” He asked looking confused, “What are you doing here with him?” He said looking at Ben in narrowed eyes.

I opened my mouth to answer, but I honestly had no idea how to answer this as the three boys, including Garrett were all looking at me waiting for an answer. But the only thing that could come out of my mouth at a time like this was, “Oh shit.”

My thoughts of what I was planning to do the whole weekend was interrupted as I heard the sounds of two voices arguing. “Mom, its fine I got this.” I turned to look at Ben who was talking to his mother, he said trying to grab a suitcase that his mother was holding.

“Ben, please let me help you,” She said trying to grab the suitcase away from him.

“Mom, I love you but you have to quit babying me.” He said seriously.

She smiled sadly at him, “I know honey I just don’t want you to get hurt anymore, you’re my little boy.” She said wrapping her arms around Ben who hugged her back with his one good arm.

I watched the two silently, I wished that my parents were like that with me. Ben might not enjoy his parents babying him, but at least it showed his parents truly did care for him.

Ben must’ve have known I was watching him because he because he turned to look at me, whispering something to his mom before making his way over to me. The situation felt too familiar as I began to panic, I turned around walking over to the car my family was waiting in.

“Alice, wait!” Ben shouted. I picked up my pace, my suitcase rolling behind me. “Alice!” Ben said finally catching up to me. “Stop,” He said grabbing my arm and making me turn to look at him.

“Yes?” I asked him.

“Stop.” He stated.

“Stop what?” I asked, a little confused.

“Stop running, whenever something doesn’t go your way or if you are embarrassed you always end up running away from me, and to be honest it is annoying.”

I sighed, “Fine I am sorry.”

“Pretending that the kiss didn’t happen isn’t going to solve anything,” He continued ignoring my apology.

“Yeah you are right,” I said. I honestly had no idea where he was going with this.

“You want to go for a walk?” Ben asked randomly.

“Yeah I know-“ I cut myself off, I replayed the words he said in my head once again. “Pardon?”

“A walk, let’s go.”

I shook my head, “No thanks. Remember the last time you wanted to go somewhere?” I said looking at his arm that was in a cast but he was wearing a sling in order to elevate it.

“Come on,” He said urging me.

I rolled my eyes, “Fine. I am just going to go tell my parents first,” Ben nodded pumping his fist in the air before going back to where his parents were standing, probably to go inform them on our plans.

I chuckled, as I walked to the car where my dad was now standing outside waiting for me. I sighed, as I made my way over to him. God I had no idea how I was going to tell him that I was going out.

“What were you two talking about?” He asked as I loaded my suitcase into the car.

“Nothing,” I said shrugging.

“It didn’t seem like nothing,” My dad inquired.

I rolled my eyes, why was he being so nosey. “Can Ben and I go to the park?”

“Pardon?”

“Can Ben and I to the park?” I repeated once more.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I am sorry but we still haven’t caught the guy who had shot Ben and there is no way I am allowing you two to leave my sight,” He stated making no room for argument.

“Alice, stop bullying your brother.” My mom said not taking her eyes of her laptop.

“Bullying?” I asked incredulously. “I am not bullying him! He’s the one who doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut.”

“I do know how to keep my mouth shut.” Thomas said, “However, it is a free country and you can’t stop me from expressing my opinions.”

“So you admit of having a mouth on you?”

“It’s called having opinions sister, look it up.” Thomas said crossing his arms and looking back out the window.

“Why are you being like that?”

“Like what?” He asked faking confusion.

“You know what I mean, stop acting dumb!” I snapped.

“Oh I am sorry, I forgot that was your game.” Thomas fired back.

My mouth gaped open, “Mom!” I yelled calling out the big guns, I realized that I was being a snitch but did she just not hear what he called me.

“Thomas stop being rude to your sister,” My mom said.

“Really? You aren’t going to do anything?” I questioned, when my mother didn’t respond Thomas looked at me smugly. I honestly didn’t know what was up his butt.

I looked away, directing my attention elsewhere. We were currently on our way back to the Airport to get on a plane and head back to Washington, my dad had the rest of the trip cancelled the day that Ben got shot.

At least we know he stills has a heart.

When the car had finally come to a stop, I opened the door on my side as Thomas and my mother waited for the driver to come and open there door. I rolled my eyes, going to school had taught me one thing. That I’ve come to learn that I had become way too spoiled.

I pulled out my suitcase not bothering to wait for Thomas or my mom as I made my way over to the stairs that led to the plane. I am pretty sure that Thomas was upset that I kissed Ben, even though it had nothing to do with him, I honestly had no clue why he cared so much. He’s been giving me the cold shoulder ever since yesterday, when we got back from the hospital.

I handed my suitcase over to the luggage carrier as I began to climb up the stairs, as I entered the plane I went over and sat where I was seated last time.

A few minutes later Ben and his parents were entering the plane, with Thomas and my mom in tow. Ben looked at me, then the seat next to me. He quickly turned away looking to be seated elsewhere. Thomas brushed past him walking over to seat by himself.

I watched as Thomas looked at Ben then I in narrowed eyes, it seemed like the kiss wasn’t only affecting me but Thomas as well, I didn’t understand nor know why but I intended to get to the bottom of it.

*

I let out a yawn as I made my way towards the car. The last eight hours on the plane was the longest eight hours of my life. Thomas kept glaring at us, the whole eight hours, up until he fell asleep which lasted a good five hours before he woke up again and continued to be in his sour mood.

I on the other hand got at least three hours of sleep on the plane, and I still felt tired which was probably due to the lack of sleep I had when I was at the hospital waiting for Ben to wake up.

I stretched out my arms as I looked up at the sky, it felt good to be back in Washington and considering it was only ten a.m. on a Saturday I had the whole weekend to look forward to now that I was back home. Chapter Thirty-Two: Hickeys & Bruises

“Where is she?” I asked, looking down at my Garrett whose hand I was tightly holding. He had a habit of running off from me, and even though it got annoying at times, I really couldn’t figure a way to stop him from doing it.

Garrett shrugged his small shoulders, “I don’t know.” He said putting his hand in his mouth.

I squatted removing his hand from his mouth, “First rule.” I said to my brother who was looking at me with wide eyes. “If you ever want this girl to be your girlfriend, don’t stick your hand in your mouth.”

Garrett looked at me, his face