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

haired man who looks like he can eat me, making his way over here.” The fear clear in her voice.

I laughed, releasing her turning around to face Ricky who was making his way down the hall rather quickly. “That’s Ricky.” I said, as Ricky grabbed my arm pulling me beside him as he glared at Sarah.

“Ricky this is Sarah.” I said, removing his hand off my arm. “Don’t worry she isn’t a threat or anything, the girl is scared of spiders.”

“The damn thing has eight legs. Who has eight legs?” Sarah said, looking at me with frightened eyes.

I rolled my eyes, “Sarah, Ricky is my bodyguard. And Ricky, Sarah is one of my best friends.” I said, introducing the two as Sarah gave Ricky a shy wave. I could still tell she was scared of him.

Ricky nodded his head at Sarah, his way of greeting a person without making a conversation. He then turned back around, walking back towards the spot where I left him before.

“One of?” Sarah questioned me, as I turned back to look at Sarah.

“What do you mean, one of?” I asked, a tad confused.

“It means, that you still consider Holly a friend.”

I sighed deeply, “What are you talking about best friends for?” I asked, repeating her words. “And how do you know what happened between me and Holly?”

“She might have, accidentally told me.” Sarah said, grimacing.

“She told you all of it?” I asked, hesitant to know the answer.

I took a deep breath. It wasn’t that I was mad with Sarah that she knows what happened between me and Holly, the one thing that I have learned is that the truth comes out eventually, one way or another.

“You do know why she was so upset in the first place, right?”

I crinkled my eyebrows in confusion, “I thought she was mad at me.”

Sarah shook her head, “That was after your whole fight.” Sarah explained. “You honestly don’t know, your parents didn’t tell you?”

I shook my head, Sarah knew Holly and I were cousins. And that my dad was Holly’s mom’s sister that was one thing we didn’t keep from her.

“The day before your whole fight was the last day of the trial against Holly’s parents and who has custody of her. That was the reason why she was coming to your house in the first place.”

The wheels began to churn in my head as I finally began to understand what she was telling me. I knew Holly’s dad had moved out of the house because they were having problems, but I didn’t know it was this bad. Yes, I was aware that there was going to be a trial but judging on the look on Sarah’s face, I knew it wasn’t going to be a good answer.

“So, who won?”

“Well, Holly’s mom won the right to keep the house.”

“That’s great, see Holly is staying.” I said, faking my enthusiasm, for Sarah’s sake. Even though she was my cousin I was still mad at her, nevertheless.

“You didn’t let me finish. Holly’s mom might have won the house, but her dad won Holly.”

I looked at Sarah with a confused expression. “What are you trying to tell me?”

“Holly’s moving away.” She said, finally coming out with it. “For good.”

*****

I rolled my eyes, “Don’t worry I get it. And you wouldn’t have to worry about me signing any autographs, I am pretty sure I am labeled as the school’s liar. So, I doubt I have to worry about anyone fan girling over me.”

My mom just looked at me with sympathetic eyes, “Honey…” She began, but I cut her off with a wave of my hand.

I shook my head, “Let’s just get this over with.” I said, signalling to Ricky to follow me.

I knew it was lunch time, so most of the students would be in the cafeteria eating lunch. So I didn’t have to worry about a mob attacking me or anything to do with that. It was also pretty quiet outside, so my guess was that the paparazzi finally got the hint that I wasn’t coming back to school or well that’s really what they assume. Little did they know I still had some personal items I needed to clear out.

I had to beg my mom to let me go to school myself to clear out my locker. She was originally going to send Ricky and a few other guards to do it. But, I begged and pleaded with her until she let me go. I was thankful dad was in a meeting or else he would have forbidden me to go anywhere even if I did have my mother’s consent.

“Stay here.” I said, to Ricky. My locker was just a few sets down from where Ricky was standing, there was a clear view to my locker. However, I didn’t want the attention I could get if someone walked down this hall and saw Ricky in all his black clothing glory.

“Don’t you want me to go with you?” He questioned, making a move to follow me.

I shook my head, blocking his way. “You have a clear view of me. No one is going to attack me, trust me. I think these people are more civilized than that. And if someone does happen to come towards me or speak to me. You can just intervene, happy?”

Ricky nodded his head as I walked over to my locker. My locker was at a secluded part of the school where the Arts wing was and the only people who usually walked here, were the drama, music and art students and teachers. And considering there wasn’t a lot of them, I am pretty sure I would be more than fine.

Once my locker was opened I proceeded to dump all of my contents into my former school bag.

“Ali?” I heard, a soft voice call out to me. I turned my head to see Sarah standing beside me, looking at me with wide eyes. “What are you doing here?”

I just stared at Sarah, with a blank expression. She didn’t scream, yell or curse at me and considering that was the reaction I was mostly getting from others. To say it was expected that Sarah would act to me so calmly, is an understatement. 

“I’m cleaning out my locker,” I said, grabbing a few more books out.

“Oh,” She said, continuing to stare at me.

It was quiet for a few moments when I finally decided to speak up. From the corner of my eye I could see Sarah staring down at her shoes. I knew she was just as flabbergasted on what to say like me. “A-are you mad?” I questioned, getting right to the point.

She tilted her head at me, scanning my face for an answer. “Not anymore, at first yes. I thought you were my friend, after all you befriended me, when really it should have been the other way around considering you were the new girl.” She said, looking down at her shoes once more.

“But, as days went on my anger diminished and I began to understand why you did this whole thing in the first place. In my opinion, I don’t think you should have gone so far with keeping it from your friends that you are the daughter of the man who runs this country. But, what can you do know? The past can’t be erased, changed or forgotten it can only be accepted.” She said, giving me a small smile.

He looked down at his desk, writing something on his paper. “What do you need Alice, because I am terribly busy at the moment.” He spoke, not bothering to look up at me.

“I was talking to Thomas and he said some things that really made me open up my eyes.” I said, walking over to the chair in front of my dad’s desk and taking a seat.

“Yes, Thomas does have that effect on people.”

“Well, yeah. But, I was kind of wondering what would you say if I asked you that I wanted to go back to school again?” I asked, scratching the back of my neck.

“I would say you are crazy, then say no.”

“But, why not?” I questioned.

“Alice, did you not see what happened three weeks ago? You were in your room for the last two weeks moping around and refusing to come out. And when you finally do, you want to go back to school? I am sorry, but that is not happening.” My dad said, in his final tone.

“But, I have rights. You out of all people should know that.”

“Alice, you are not going back to school and my decision is final.” My dad said, leaving no room for argument. But, knowing me I just had to say something in order to get him to understand my situation a little better.

“You and mom, taught me from a young age never to give up on my dreams.”

“So, now going to school is a dream for you? I can make that happen, there is still homeschooling available.”

“No, dad you aren’t listening.” I complained, “School is a dream for 72 million children worldwide and believe it or not Thomas made me realize.” My dad looked genuinely surprised, I nodded my head. “I know. The boy who thought the sun was a planet, made me realize that I was wrong.”

“Alice, I just don’t think it is a good idea or a good time. I am in the middle of so many projects-“

“Dad?” I whispered, cutting him off. “I am finally getting back on my feet after three weeks and here you are trying to tear me back down. Aren’t father’s supposed to help the child rise up, above and beyond?”

“You are not listening to me, Alice.”

“And you aren’t listening to me either, dad.”

Just then the phone started ringing. “I think you should just go.” He said, making a move to pick up the phone.

I let out a snort, “And you wonder why I get arrested? Or why Thomas spies on the security cameras in this house for a living.”

“You’re brother does what?” He asked, as if he didn't hear me the first time, stopping himself before he could answer the phone.

I shook my head. “Forget it.” I said, turning around and walking out of the room.

“Alice!” He called out, calling me over. I turned back around, crossing my arms over my chest and began to tap my foot, repeatedly. “I was supposed to give this to you a week ago, but things came up.” He said, opening his drawer and fishing through some papers before he held an envelope out to me.

I took it, cautiously. As I looked down at the title of the envelope. I let out sigh, stuffing the envelope into my back pocket knowing there was nothing more in this moment, I would like to do than rip the envelope into a million of pieces. But, sadly I couldn’t find it in my heart to even come close to doing that.

*

“You got ten minutes. No more, no less.” My mother instructed, glancing at her watch. “You are not to sign any autographs, chitchat with anybody or whatever you teenage girls do now a days.” My mom said, “Do you understand or do we have to go through it twice, like your brother?”

Chapter Fifty: Menstrual Cycles

“So how long will you be