Chapter Fifty-Two: Lost Boys

“Imagine if that happened here,” Thomas whispered, both our eyes glued to the screen in front of us.

I watched as we watched the dome of the United States Capitol exploded into pieces. “They would be mayhem everywhere.” I whispered back, shoving some more popcorn into my mouth.

Today was the day mom and dad came back from England, so Thomas and I are taking the last few hours we have of peace to watch White House Down.

Thomas suggested it, the only reason being he wanted to see all the explosions that the movie contained. I on the other hand, agreed only because it had Channing Tatum and no girl could say no to that.

We were in the screening room, designated for movies or to let Thomas play his video games.

The only sounds that were heard was coming from our mouths as we chewed and from the television as sounds of the ambulances and fire trucks filled the room.

There was a knock on the door, causing Thomas to let out a groan. If there was anything Thomas hated more than vegetables was being interrupted when he was watching a movie.

I stopped the movie as Ricky came in. “Hey guys.” He said, coming over to us.

Thomas glared at Ricky. “Can we help you with something or did you just interrupt us for no reason at all?” Thomas questioned.

Ricky narrowed his dark eyes at Thomas, “Watch it bud. You aren’t even allowed to be watching television in the first place.”

Thomas turned his head back to the screen, muttering to himself as he slouched down in his seat.

I ignored my brother’s rudeness, giving my full attention to Ricky. “So, is there a reason you interrupted us?”

Ricky scratched the back of his head as he looked at me awkwardly. “There’s something or well someone that I think is here for you.”  

“O-okay?” I wasn’t quite sure where this conversation was going.

“Just come with me.” He said, waving his hand to follow him as he walked out of the screening room without any other words.

I got up from my seat to catch up with Ricky, but before I left I turned back to Thomas remembering something. “Don’t you dare continue the movie without me.” I warned, I hated when he did that because then he would refuse to go back to the parts that I had missed.

Thomas just let out another groan as he waved his hand at me, not making any more comments. I heard him muttering to himself but he didn’t say anything more.

I ignored him, leaving the screening room and walking down the hall in search of Ricky. I walked past the front door when I heard some voices coming from the kitchen.

Once I entered the kitchen my eyes automatically went to Melinda. She was talking to a little boy, but his back was faced towards me so I couldn’t get a look at his face.

“Where are your parents?”

The boy didn’t respond, he just shook his head.

“What’s going on?” I questioned, walking over towards Melinda.

“The guards found this boy outside the gates wandering. They asked him where his parents were but he didn’t say anything.”

“Did you guys call the police?”

“We were going to, but then the boy gave us this letter.” She said, handing me a letter.

I grasped the letter in my shaking hands as I noticed my name written on top of the envelope in messy handwriting.

I opened up the letter, curious to what was inside of it.

Alice,

I just needed sometime alone. I know you won’t understand- no one will. Please just take good care of him, it’s only for an hour or so. I know I don’t deserve this after what I did to you. But, please do it for me. I am sorry.

Gavin

I read the letter twice kind of shocked what he had done. I looked up to the boy who was seated on the chair, facing Melinda.

I couldn’t see his face, but I knew right then and there it was Garrett.

“Garrett?”

He had turned around, looking at me with a blank face. “Hi Ali!” He said, giving me a small smile.

“How long were you out there?” I asked him, taking a seat next to him.

“I don’t know but Gavy said to give you the note when I saw you.”

I nodded my head, looking down at the letter in my hands. “Hey Melinda, can you grab him something to eat?”

She nodded, quickly dispersing from the scene.

“How long was he out there?” I asked, Ricky who was staring at Garrett with confused eyes.

“The boys say that they noticed him an hour ago. They said they saw him wandering with tourists but there was no adult with him so that was when they approached him.”

I nodded my head, not comprehending why Gavin would dump Garrett like that at my door. Well not literally, my gates.

Was Gavin stupid? Garrett could have seriously been injured or kidnapped if it wasn’t for the guards. Garrett wasn’t a puppy or a stray cat, he couldn’t just leave him outside like that.

Melinda came back with some cookies and milk, she set it in front of Garrett who immediately dove in.

“Garrett, did Gavin tell you where he was going?”

Garrett nodded his head, “he said he wanted to see mom.”

I immediately stood up from my chair, turning to Ricky. “Once he is done with his plate of cookies, bring him to the car. We are going for a little ride.”

Ricky nodded his head, not asking saying anything more.

I was going to visit Gavin and I was going to sure give him a piece of my mind.

*

“Are you sure you want us to stay here?” Ricky asked, as he stepped out of the car. “We could come with you all, if you want?”

I shook my head, grabbing Garrett’s hand. “No. This is something we have to do. Right Garrett?” I asked, looking down at the little boy.

Garrett just nodded his head in return. One of his hands was entwined with mine and the other one was holding a bouquet of flowers.

“We won’t take long.” I told Ricky and Melinda who nodded their heads.

“Okay we will be here waiting, give us a call if you need anything.” Ricky said, going back to the front of the car. Melinda waved at us, blowing a kiss towards Garrett who did the same back. On the ride here it was pretty noticeable that Melinda had grew quite found of Garrett.

We walked in silence towards where the boy’s mother was laid to rest. On the way here, I noticed Gavin’s car was parked in the parking lot. So I was not wrong to know that what Garrett had told me was correct.

As we got closer, I pulled Garrett behind a large oak tree. There mother’s tombstone was a few steps away from it and I didn’t want Gavin to see us.

We quietly watched Gavin talk to his mother. I know this was considered creepy, watching the guy you love talk to his mother. But, a girl’s gotta do what she gotta do.

“I-I just don’t know what to do anymore, ma. She told me she loved me,” Gavin said, his voice cracking slightly and indication that he was crying. “No one has ever told me that before, only you and Garrett.”

I felt a tug on my shirt as I looked down at Garrett. “Yeah?”

“Who’s he talking to?” Garrett asked, looking at his brother with confused eyes.

I gave him a small smile. “Your mom.”

“Where is she?” Garrett asked, still looking at me with confusion.

“Heaven.” I said, crouching down to become eye level with the four year old. “Why don’t you go and talk to her?” I said, encouraging him.

“Will she hear me?” Garrett asked.

I nodded my head, handing him the bouquet that he had placed on the floor. “Every single word.”

Garrett nodded his head at me as he walked over to where his brother was sitting. Hunched over with his head in his hands as his body shook violently.

I watched as Garrett approached him cautiously, tapping him on the shoulder. Gavin jumped, startled as he turned around with wide eyes as he saw his brother standing before him.

“Garrett? What are you doing here?” Shocked, clear in his voice.

“Ali, brought me here.” I winced when I heard Garrett say that, I didn’t want him to know that I was the one who brought him here. But, truth was who else would have brought him.

“Where is she?” Gavin asked, once more.

I hid behind the tree, hoping and praying that Garrett would not give up my location to Gavin.

“She’s behind that tree.”

I let out a groan, knowing that my prayer weren’t answered.

A few seconds had passed and there wasn’t anything coming out of either of the boys mouths. So I took that as my cue to check what was happening.

I let out a shriek when Gavin’s face appeared from the other side of the tree. “Fuck,” I said, letting out a curse, clutching my beating heart.

“What was that for?”

“Oh would you stop being overdramatic. I wasn’t trying to scare you,” He said, rolling his eyes.

I ignored him, noticing from the corner of me eye Garrett stroking the tombstone of his mother. Gavin must have noticed the stare that wasn’t directed to him.

“Why’d you bring him here?”

I looked back at Gavin whose eyes were red and the tear stains were clearly visible. “Why did you leave him at the gates of my house? You basically just abandoned him. And you didn’t even call or text me to let me know, he isn’t a puppy Gavin he is a human being.”

“But, I knew that you would find him.”

“But, what If I didn’t? What if some creep was walking by and kidnapped him. What would you do then?” I asked, a little annoyed that he would do that to his own brother.

“You still didn’t answer my question.”

“And you still didn’t answer mine.”

Gavin didn’t brother responding to me, he just stared at me with blank eyes. I ran my hands through my hair, “Look he is now in your capable hands. I am just going to go now.” I said, turning around to walk away.

“Wait, Ali!” Gavin called out, to me.

I stopped in my tracks I wanted to turn around but after yesterday I didn’t have the will too.

I felt his hand on my shoulder as he turned me around so I could face him. “What?”

“I am a jerk.” He said, sounding defeated.

I raised my eyebrows, “You realize that now?”

He shook his head, “No. I realized that a long time ago. I didn’t just hurt you once, I hurt you so many times and walking away from you yesterday as you stood there crying your eyes out-“

“How did you know I was crying?” I asked, shocked.

He scratched his head, “I heard you.”

My eyes widened, “You heard me and you didn’t even bother to turn around?” I asked, appalled.

“No, Ali-"

“Goodbye Gavin,” I said, taking a few steps back from him. “J-just stay out of my way or better yet out of my life.” I said, not wanting anything to do with him anymore.

I turned around and walked away. When I heard him say something I never thought I would ever hear him say.

“What?” I said, stopping in my tracks once more. “What did you say to me?” I asked, looking at Gavin who was staring at me with the most sincere and apologetic eyes.

“I love you, Alice Elizabeth Montclair. I never stopped loving you after the day I woke up with you in my arms when we fell asleep on my truck, I knew right then and there I was crazy in love with this girl. I was just too scared to admit it.”

My heart was thumping so loudly in my chest, I wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and kiss the daylights out of him but I had to have more dignity than that.

“You can hurt me with the fucking truth, but don’t you dare try to comfort me with a stinkin’ lie.”

“I am not lying,” He protested.

I let out a bitter laugh, “Really because I find that hard to believe.”

“I am not the same person I was back then,” he said, walking towards me.

I raised my eyebrows, “You mean a day ago?”

I know I was acting a bit rude and dare even say it- a bitch. But, could you honestly blame me? I wasn’t just going to run into his arms forgiving him just like that. I was going to make him work for it.

“You love me I love you. What are you so afraid of?”

“Being hurt again.” I said, truthfully. “Especially by someone you care so deeply about.”

“I will never hurt you, again.” He said, pleading.

“How’d you know?”

He took a few cautious steps towards me. “I don’t,” Gavin whispered, his breath fanning my face. “But, I can promise that I will try not to.”

He grabbed my face, stroking his thumb on my cheek. “Believe me, please.”

I looked down, not wanting to see those broken eyes anymore. “Don’t say you love me unless you really mean it, because I might do something crazy and actually start to believe it.”

I took step back from him, knowing that if I continued to make eye contact I was going to run right back towards him. “Goodbye Gavin.” I whispered.

But, I guess he didn’t take that as his cue to stop fighting because the next few words that came out of his mouth really touched my heart.

“The last few things my mother said to me before she died was something I will carry in my heart forever. Do you want to know what it is?” He asked me, but I didn’t respond.

“When a girl leaves, don’t let her walk away. You run the fuck after her and pour your heart out on the pavement. You tell her all the reasons why you love her and you better mean every word of it. Because she is your world, fight for her, protect her and don’t let her go because once she walks out on you there will be nothing left you can do.”

I didn’t say anything as I let the words that Gavin just uttered to me, soak in.

“If you think this is over, you are sadly mistaken. You forgave me once, Ali. And I could make that happen again.”

I shook my head, “Nothing hurts more than being hurt by the person you never thought would hurt you.”

“It was an accident,” I heard him say.

I shook my head, letting out a pathetic laugh. “Twice?” When Gavin didn’t say anything else I took that as my cue to leave, but before I could do that I had to leave him with something to think about.

“You aren’t sorry that you did it, you are sorry that I found out and Gavin that’s what hurts the most.”

*****

Hello Lovelies,

Hope you enjoyed this chapter or made you cry your eyes out because I am good with either. I have a couple more chapters left then the book is over. What do you think Gavin will do to prove that he really loves her? I know you all think that Alice is being too hard on him but I am not going to lie I would do the exact same thing.

Post your favorite part on Instagram or twitter with the hashtag #thepresidentsdaughter (I might make one if you guys want me too, let me know) because this chapter is filled with sadness and adorableness. 

This is dedicated to @percabeth5599 who made this gorgeous cover for me on the side or top. If you guys have any please send it to me via email with your username. Also do you think I should change it as the new cover for TPD? Because I was thinking of it…

Let’s get this chapter to 5k votes and 2k comments please, because I love seeing all of your feedback because believe it or not it motivates me by the response to upload.

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Thanks,

Xoxo_mysteriousgirl