Clare tossed her paper towel into the trashcan.
Hmm, I'm actually glad that Mr. Ragin gave us this assignment. It'll let me get my opinions out.
Her AP Government class had to attend a town hall meeting and take notes. They would get extra credit for actually asking a question or stating their thoughts. The President was going to be there, being that she lived in D.C.
As she walked out of the bathroom, she bumped into someone. As she took a chance to look at him, she noticed his tan complexion and his brilliant green eyes that peaked out beneath dark hair.
"Oh, I'm so sorry."
"No, it's okay." He apologized. "I should have been looking at where I was going. …So, left or right?"
"Huh?"
He chuckled. "Dem or Repub?"
"Oh, right. I would consider myself a Libertarian."
"Oh, so it's going to be tough with you, huh?"
"Well, what side are you on?"
"Republican."
"Hmm, maybe…"
"We can just agree to disagree. …But we both probably agree that we're sending too many soldiers over there."
"Definitely! My cousin's been over there for a while now, and I know he's been through shit waiting to come home."
"Yeah. They've been there long enough, so we don't need to keep extending their stay and sending in more troops."
"Wow, I didn't think someone like you would care about things like that."
"Someone like me?"
"A posh little reporter. You c—"
"Elijah, we're ready to start." His father's assistant came up behind him.
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute." The man nodded and walked away. "Look, maybe I should get your number so we can continue our discussion."
"Let me see your arm." She pulled up the sleeve of his suit, and then quickly scrawled her number down. "Bye, Elijah."
"It's Eli, and I didn't quite catch your name."
"Clare."
"Clare." he said to himself.
"What?"
"Nothing… It just doesn't seem like a very Lib. Name. Something more like Paisley or Echo, or something."
"Goodbye, Elijah." She sighed, walking away and into the conference room. She took her seat and waited through all of President Gold's speeches. She took few notes, but her pen began to scribble furiously when the question and answer portion came around. This was it. She was allowed to ask a question, and already had asked to. Since the President had been prepping for a different question she had said she would ask, this would take him by surprise.
She stood up and walked to the mic. "How do you think about the thousands of families you've destroyed?"
"Excuse me?"
"That wasn't her question." Someone sitting next to President Gold whispered.
"All of those soldiers that you send out there. How does it feel?" After he stumbled and failed to find a comeback, she yelled, "Answer the damn question, you murderer!"
Before she knew it, she was being taken away. "According to the Bill Of Rights, this is violating my first amendment rights!" On her way out, she glanced at Eli on the stage. He smirked at her. She must be tough if she was willing to stand up to the President. Not many people would have spoken to his father like that.