Chapter 3

It's up to him

For An entire week, Becca tried to convince Horace to secede the race for class president. She didn't know what else to do but turn to her mom. So after school on that same Thursday, she headed for her mom's office. "Hey Vince." Becca said greeting her mom's assistant. Vince was a man around his mid thirties with olive skin and short black hair that was beginning to recede at the hairline. Becca liked him, her mother's previous secretary intimidated her and he was so much more nurturing.

"Hi Becca." Vince said, "Can I help you?"

"How busy is mom today?" She asked folding her arms in front of herself.

"Not too busy, If you can wait for a little while, she can see you after she is done with Mr. Gardner."

Becca nodded and took a seat in one of the chairs there. "Thanks Vince."

Inside the Oval office, Mac sat in one of the couches near her desk, facing her chief of staff that sat on the other. "Do you really think that would work?" Mac asked.

"I won't lie to you Madam President," Jim said leaning forward, "It's gonna ruffle some feathers."

Mac trusted this man with her career. He may be a republican, but she could tell this was one man who came into politics for what he could do for his country. "I don't want to ruffle anymore feathers Jim, But if the Radio address doesn't get the bill noticed, I will go with the Collins proposal."

"Okay, it's a plan." Jim said standing up. "Ma'am, don't let them get to you. I never say this enough, but you are doing a good job."

Mac smiles standing up along with him picking up the file that Jim had brought for her. "Thanks Jim, I'll look this over tonight." She waved good bye and headed to her desk to sit behind it.

Before she could make it all the way around the large Oak Desk, she heard "Mom?" The sound put a smile on her face. It was the best sound she had heard all-day and turned back to hug her daughter.

"Hey Becca, Come in!" Mac said leading her to the couch to sit beside her. "How was your day."

"Okay I guess," Becca said, "Haven't seen you at the table lately."

"I know, I'll be there tonight. I promise." Mac said then looked at her daughter and noted that she seemed to need to tell her something. Mac shifted in her seat and faced her daughter now so that they could talk openly, "What's up Becca?"

"Well its Horace," Becca answered, "Did you know he was running for student body president?"

"Yeah, so I've heard," Mac said.

"Well I don't think it's fair to the other candidates. I had to talk Allie out of backing out. She's not popular, but she's got great ideas. Chris is good too. They've been grooming for this their entire academic career. Horace has never thought about it before, and he may just steal their glory away just because he is the president's son."

"I think you're right." Mac said, "But I can't tell him not to run. It has to come from him. He has got to decide weather or not he should complete the race."

"But mom..." Becca started.

"Rebecca, think about it," Mac interrupted. "Won't I look a little hypocritical?"

"I guess so." Becca said, "Maybe if he decides to accept the office, he will do a good job."

"Maybe," Mac agreed.

"Well, will I see you at dinner?" Becca said noting the mountain of paper on her mother's desk.

"With bells on." Mac said hugging her daughter one more time both standing together.

"See you later." Becca said heading for the door.

Horace went to the Press office after school. He had the biggest crush on Kelly and now with the Speech he had to give the next day for the campaign, he had an excuse to talk to her. "Hey." He said to a young man with brownish hair. He knew that he was the deputy press secretary, but didn't know what his name was.

"Hey, how can I help you?" The deputy answers with a question.

"I'm looking for Kelly Ludlow, is she here?" Horace answered.

"No Miss Ludlow is not here, but she should be here soon though, she is doing her Four o'clock briefing." The deputy responds heading to his office.

"Thanks," Horace answered and sat to wait. Five minutes later Kelly walked into the Press office with another woman quietly trailing behind her. "Kelly?" Horace interrupted before she could address her deputy.

"Hey... Horace." Kelly says fixing her beautiful green eyes on him. "What can I do for you?"

Horace ran his hand through his short brown hair and stammered. "I know that you are a busy person, but I'm running for student body president, and I was wondering if you could help me with my speech?"

"Horace, I don't think that's fair." Kelly said signaling that he should follow her to her office because she had to keep on moving.

"No I don't want you to write the speech for me, I'm just having trouble putting the speech together, I could use some pointers." Horace said a little sheepishly.

"Oh sure, I could do that for you." Kelly said, "I'll come by residence tonight after I'm done if your mom doesn't need me for anything. When do you have to do the speech?"

"Um... Tomorrow." Horace answered embarrassed.

"Oh dear..." Kelly said patting him on the shoulder. "Well good luck. We'll see if I can get there Horace but I make no promises."

"Thanks Kelly." Horace said and headed out of the Press office, his shoulder still humming with the feel of Kelly's hand. God she's hot. He thought heading straight for residence to try to figure out what he would want to say in his speech that would totally impress Kelly.