Presidents, Spies, and Boys, Oh My!

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Ariana

I climbed into the back of Dad's black Cadillac SUV with Preston and Jared. Joshua walked off to his own car, a midnight blue Infinity sedan. My blonde hair whipped in the cold wind of Virginia autumn. My whole body felt rotten as I remembered all the horrible things I'd done to Ember. She dealt with everything perfectly, dealing with my bitchiness and selfishness for selfishness for months. How could I have been so harsh to her? She was only trying to protect my family to the best of her abilities. Why did it take her almost dying for me to realize? If she had died in the accident, where would my family be? Mom and Dad think of her as a daughter. A second daughter. I haven't been exactly the kindest daughter in the world. Fame changes everyone. I guess it changed me for the worst.

"Mom, are you sure Ember will be okay?" I asked Mom, who sat in the passenger's seat next to Dad.

Mom nodded, meeting my eyes in the mirror. I tried to read the expression in her eyes, like Ember can do oh-so-flawlessly, but I couldn't figure out how to. I'll ask her to show me when she's better. The two cars with Secret Service agents ahead of us started driving off. Dad followed. Next came Joshua's Infinity and then two more Secret Service agent cars. It wasn't the same without Ember.

"Yes, Aria. I do believe she will get better soon. She hates the idea of being bed ridden, I'm sure."

Dad gave a short, curt laugh as he followed the two black sedans in front of us, forming a box around us with the two others, onto the highway.

"She'll get better soon. We're lucky to have her here with us." Dad said then the car went silent.

I stared out the window at the Virginia landscape, rushing by. Preston was playing his Nintendo DS again, but even I knew he was thinking about Ember too. He loves her like his older sister. Like he should love me. I never took time to get close to my brother because I was too adsorbed with fashion and makeup and Facebook. I'm going to change, for Ember's sake. Even after her injuries heal, she'll have to get her rusty skills back. She'll be different. Her concussion caused slight amnesia, so she might not remember bits and pieces of her training or time in the White House with my family and I. She says she doesn't remember the car accident at all. Only the seconds before the truck hit her car and sent her to death's doorstep.

I heard Mom and Dad talking earlier, eavesdropping on bits and pieces of their conversation. Ember's heart had stopped for thirty seconds and almost hadn't returned to normal. They had to use the defibrillator to jump start her pulse again. She lost a lot of blood from the accident too. Knowing Ember, this must not be the worst thing she's had to deal with. She is a spy after all. I'm sure she's seen terrorists being tortured. Maybe she's been tortured herself. She refuses to talk about her life as a spy. I don't think she can either. Dad's asked before but all she can say is, "It's classified. I'm sorry, sir." I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer.

Dear God, 

I know I don't talk to you often but this time I need you. Please keep Ember safe. Give her a safe recovery. She's too young to die. She has so much potential. She's an amazing spy. Please protect and watch over her. 

Amen. 

I opened my eyes and stayed silent the entire ride back to the White House, hoping God answered my prayer and protected Ember.