Alex walked up the stairs towards the residence, another bright smile on her face. She walked into her bedroom and slid her jacket off, reaching for her pajamas. "How was the date," Abbey asked, leaning against the frame of the door.
Alex jumped at her voice, turning to face her mother. "It was fabulous," Alex said, "Dinner was good…the movie was great."
"And the kissing?"
"Even better," Alex admitted, "But I'd keep that fact from Dad."
"Girl scout's honor," Abbey said. Alex rolled her eyes and shook her head as she headed to the bathroom. She emerged five minutes later, wearing her pajamas and pulling her hair back. "Where is he, by the way?"
"In the Office," she said, "Something came up. He wanted to see you when you got home, though."
"Think I'll be okay like this," Alex asked, holding up her hands. She wore a pair of navy blue flannel pants with reindeers on them and a white long sleeved Notre Dame shirt, which had somehow snuck into her drawer.
"Why not? You live here," Abbey said. Alex shrugged, then kissed her quickly on the cheek before heading towards the Oval Office.
"Hey, Charlie," Alex said, walking into the administrative area, "My Dad busy?"
"He's just finishing up," Charlie replied, "How was the date?"
"Great," she said, wrapping her arms around herself, "I know Dad wanted to see me when I got back."
"Yeah. He's been pacing around here like a caged lion," Charlie replied.
"Don't think I didn't hear that," Jed said, opening the door to the office. "Honey, how was your date?" He stuck his hands in his pants, looking at her with raised eyebrows.
"I'll see you later, Charlie," she said, "It was good." Shekissed him lightly on the cheekbefore walking into the Oval Office. She sat down, pulling a knee to her chest as he sat down across from her. She noticed a chess set on the table and bit back a grin.
"Your mom told me you were trying to learn chess," he said, "You know, I'm a really good player."
"I've heard that a few times," she said. "Care to play?"
"I think I can manage that," he said, holding his hands out. Alex tapped the right one, then watched as he spun the board so the white pieces were on her side. "You're first." She chewed on her lower lip, then moved on of her pawns forward.
"Ah..the Fibonacci Move," he said.
"Nice try," Alex said, with a grin. He made the next move, then watched as she moved. "You know, he kept his paws off of me."
"Yeah, but I bet not his lips," Jed said, moving his rook. He looked up and saw the blush spreading across her cheeks. "You have your mother's mind. I figured you'd pull that one."
"Can't slip anything past you, can we," Alex asked. She moved her knight, claiming his rook.
"Nope. Sharp as a tack, this mind is," he said.
"He leaves tomorrow, you know."
"Yeah, I know," he said, "You okay with that?"
"Yeah," Alex replied, "It happens." She was sad about his leaving, but she'd known all along that it was coming.
"You have his phone number, e-mail address and physical address. Don't you," he said, looking up at her over the rim of his glasses.
"You betcha," she said, making her move. Jed sighed and moved his piece forward, claiming her pawn.
Abbey looked up as Jed entered the bedroom, pulling off his tie and jacket. "How was chess," she called, looking over the book in her hands.
"Good," he said, pulling on the pajamas she had placed at the end of the bed. "She's not bad."
"She was studying in her room," she called back.
"That would explain her moves," he said, walking back out. He crawled in next to her, watching her as she read. "Did she really have fun on her date?"
"Yeah," Abbey said, closing the book. "Hoping she wasn't?"
"No," he said, "Feels like she's growing up too fast, doesn't it?"
"Yeah," Abbey agreed. "But, we have to treat them equally."
"Where did you read that," he asked, raising his eyebrows.
"In a book I read when I found out I was pregnant with twins," she said, setting her book aside and turning to face him. He smiled, remembering her reading that book. She had been bound and determined to be the best mother she could for the twins. He also remembered the look of shock, pain and hurt that had crossed her face the minute she had been told her daughter was dead. Most mothers experience post-partum depression. For Abbey, it had become full blown depression. "She signed up for the SATs today, you know."
"It's almost November. Don't you think that's a little late to apply," he asked.
"You think people will deny the President's daughter admittance," she asked. "She takes it next week. I bought her a study guide. I figured you could help her with her vocabulary."
"I can have Charlie put her on my schedule." He hated having to schedule his daughter in, but given his schedule, it was the only way he was guaranteed to have time with her.
"Okay," Abbey said, "I'll work with her on the math part."
"Alright," he said, "Just like Zoey again, huh?"
"Something like that," she said. She turned out light, turning over on her side. She felt Jed pull her close, kissing her gently before falling asleep.
"Egress," Jed read from the list Abbey had given him.
"Any place of exit," Alex said, staring up at the ceiling. "Kind of like I wish there was a way to egress from this place."
"Nice try," he said, "You're scheduled for an hour. Fungible."
"Anything counted, measured or weighed." She picked at a piece of lint stuck on the couch.
"Redundance."
"Jed Bartlet." She looked up with a smirk, stretching her legs out. She rolled her eyes and said, "To repeat. Your enjoying this scheduled torture time, aren't you?"
"You betcha," he said, "Bird is to Nest as what is to what?"
"What happened to redundance," she asked, pushing herself up.
"We switched to analogies," he said, winking at her.
"And the fun just keeps on coming," she said, swinging her feet off the couch.
"Work on these, then I'll check them over. Get an A and I'll tell you where Mom hides the ice cream," he said.
"In the freezer, behind the turkey," Alex replied, taking the book from him.
"How did you find that out?"
"You think I can't win the cook over with my award winning smile," Alex asked with a grin.
"Should have known you'd figure it out. Now, take the test. I have a law to look over." He set the book on the table, then walked over to his desk.
"What law is that," she asked, looking up at him.
"Banning genocide as a tool of war," he replied.
"Gee. I don't feel miniscule now," she said, looking over the anaologies.
"Good word usage. Now, get to work."
"A tad assiduous, aren't we," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that," he asked, looking up as he pulled his glasses off.
"Nothing," she said, turning back to her list.
Later that night, Alex sat at her desk, working on the practice test in front of her. She had been studying hard every day for the past three days, trying to do her best on the SATs. She knew that as the President's daughter, she was expected to do well. It only added to the stress she was already feeling. She looked up as the door to her room opened and Abbey walked in, carrying a plate and a glass of milk.
"I thought you might be hungry," she said, setting the plate next to her.
"Thanks," Alex said, picking up the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "I'm almost done, then you can look over it."
"Alright," Abbey said. "Alex, I know you're stressed about the SAT, but you know your dad and I will be proud of whatever you make."
"Mom, Dad made a 1590. Liz made a 1555, Ellie a 1560 and Zoey a 1570. There's no pressure what so ever to do well," Alex said sarcastically. She tossed her pencil down, leaning back in the chair. She ran her hands through her hair in frustration
"Alex, you'll do fine. You've been at it for three days. It's a wonder you haven't been attacked by words with more than eight letters in your sleep."
"Who says I haven't," Alex asked. "Mom, I'm the President's daughter. Everyone before me has made a 1500 or higher on their SATs. I barely made it through high school. I'm not getting into Harvard here. I'll be lucky if anyone takes me."
"Alexandria, listen to me," Abbey said, tilting her daughter's chin up to meet her eyes. "You made it through high school entirely by yourself. That's what matters. The SATs are just a number. It's not a measure of how smart you are. I took them and got a 1200. I got in to Notre Dame simply because my family was friends with the admissions dean. But, I did great in college. Graduated with a 3.9 and went on to med school. You'll get accepted to any college you apply to. I guarantee it. Now, stop worrying and get some sleep. Falling asleep in the exam guarantees that you won't do well on the SATs."
Alex cracked a smile and rubbed her eyes. "Promise you won't think I'm dumb when I barely break a thousand," Alex asked, chewing on her lip.
"Promise," Abbey said, "Now get some sleep." She kissed Alex's forehead quickly, then left the room.
Alex chewed on her lip as she sat down at the computer, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been given the instructions and lead to a private room. Outside, two secret service agents guarded the door.
"You may start," the proctor said.
Alex entered the code she had been given, reading over the instructions on the screen. She took a deep breath, calming herself before proceeding.