POWER

Chapter Three

After a good night's sleep, Faith woke up and went to was her face in the bathroom sink. Still in slight denial of how well the previous night had gone, she rinsed her face and patted in down with a towel, then headed through to her kitchen.

Much to Faith's delight, her husband and Taylor had prepared breakfast for her: pancakes. ''Morning sunshine'' Joseph greeted her with a quick kiss on the cheek and Taylor gave her a warming smile. '' Kendall had to leave for class but we thought we should watch the recap of last night's speech'' she suggested. Although she couldn't explain why, Faith was nervous. It was odd, she was scared to watch the speeches. What if the cheering audience Faith saw was really just bored and she failed to notice?

It was fine. Actually, thought Faith, it was more than fine. It was great. Sure she seemed nervous at first but that was surely expected and soon passed anyway. She felt proud of how well her campaign had started.

''See, I told you it would be amazing'' said Taylor. ''I wonder how many people saw this?'' asked Taylor in excitement.

''Lots of people I'm sure. Your mothers done really well with this speech.'' encouraged Joseph.

''So mom, what happens next?''

'' Well I have two interviews this week and I have a team doing posters and things for advertising and we just hope for the best. Actually, I have some photo thing this afternoon. Your father and I are volunteering at a soup kitchen and Josh is making sure there will be plenty of people to take photos. We need as much good publicity as possible.''

''Wait we're going to a soup kitchen?'' asked Joseph

''Yes, Josh thinks it will look best if we're both there.'' Faith replied, feeling slightly guilty she had forgotten to inform her husband of their plans.

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''Wow you dress down well''' Josh grinned. He knew how much Faith valued her clothes but they agreed it was crucial for the couple to appear as casual and humble as possible. Faith wanted to be naive and believe her volunteer work that afternoon was purely about helping the homeless and feeding the hungry but no. The point wasn't to help. People just needed to believe she was helping.

Faith was surprised to see how many reporters showed up. There was about eight reporters all with their own crew and photographers. Joseph put his arm around his wife as they entered and Josh sighed in relief. It was going to be fine. They presented themselves well, in love and potential voters would respect that. They broke their physical connection (after it had been ensured enough photos had been taken) and began to serve food and make small talk with the homeless. Faith was then taken away to the main kitchens to be photographed 'cleaning' dishes and then both spouses and Josh were driven away quickly. Josh said this was as they had other matters to discuss but part of Faith knew he was afraid her or Joseph would say or do something stupid.

''You two were amazing. The press loves the whole 'fairytale couple' thing. Keep doing what you're doing'' Josh was happier than Faith had ever seen him. ''Joe, can I call you Joe?'' Joseph looked startled but quickly nodded. ''We'll drop you off at the hosue but I need to borrow Faith for a while''. Joseph was dropped of at their home and Josh and Faith continued on to the offices in the campaign headquarters.

''Faith this is my daughter Leslie. She's going to be your assistant.'' It was not Faith's turn to be startled. Firstly, it was her first time visiting the campaign head quarters and she was trying to adjust to all the photos of herself on the walls and now she was in need of an assistant?

''Hi!'' smiled Leslie as she shook Faith's hand.

''Sure. I mean, hi. No offence but why do I need an assistant?''

''Because you're becoming a States Attorney''

''Because I need cash''

Josh stood there, frowning at his daughter who seemed to live in a world of her own and very rarely thought before she spoke.

''Sure. I mean it's fine, was that all we needed to discuss?''

Josh gave a simple nod and Faith and Leslie left his office and went to sit in Faith's office. There were 'Vote For Faith' posters and flyers everywhere she looked and a life-size portrait of herself in her office which she found very strange. Yet she sat by her desk, Leslie sitting opposite her and they watched the news which was currently playing on the t.v.

And that's when she heard it. Matthew Powell was ahead in the polls and was the predicted winner. Surely it was too early to predict the winner thought Faith? It must be, yet she had been delusional to think she was doing so well. She had just assumed she was winning. She had never realised how fast things changed in the political world. Had the soup kitchen stunt simply not been enough or had some small blogger turned it into something bad?

''It is appears Faith Moore isn't the only politician working to help others. The following pictures were taken this afternoon of her opponent Matthew Powell visiting the local children's hospital''

Faith hung her head in shame. Of course he was going to be doing publicity stunts as well. And as much as she hated to admit, he had done a better job. There were photos not only of him talking with the children but reading to them, playing games with them and supporting their families.

''Don't worry. It would be more worrying if he wasn't doing anything'' Leslie reasured her. For a moment, Faith had forgotten she was even there. ''Lets go get a coffee from that cute little cafe across the street and think of a come back''

''Isn't that Josh, I mean your dad's job? He told me to just listen to him''

Leslie sighed. She really didn't understand people who weren't eager to make their own fate happen.

''Would you rather just sit here and complain about how that Powell persons going to win? At least sulk hydrated on a comfy couch''

Faith laughed. Regrettably, but she laughed. Maybe her and Leslie would be friends. They grabbed their coats and shut down the laptops and headed out the offices.

Or so they planned.

Faith and Leslie were practically blinded as they stepped out the ground floor's lobby and into the busy streets of New York. Reporters and photographers were swarming, desperate to get a decent headline.

''Mrs Moore, is it true that you're being sponsored by..''

'' Mrs Moore, how do you feel about..''

''Is it it true you're planning to run for president?''

The questions and camera flashes all seemed to merge into one and Faith struggled to see yet alone answer the questions.

''What are you two doing? Get it.''

The girls were quickly rushed into a black SUV and were driven away.

''Josh. I thought you were..'

''No. You don't get to question me, not when you're the ones getting caught by the press.''

Faith just sat there. She just sat in the dark car and thought. This was her life now. And she wasn't too sure how much she liked it.

''I'm sorry'' Josh said, now holding her hand in attempt to show support. ''I didn't mean to be so harsh, so blunt. But this is your life. And your life, is their reading material, and they want a story''

''Why though?'' Everyone stared at Leslie. Not only had she taken the role of breaking the uncomfterble silence (which seemed to last for hours) but she did so with a question so vague, no one could answer. ''Why do they care? It's her buisness where she wants to drink coffee?''

Again, Faith and Josh stared at her as if she was a child asking about a 'grown up' topic and she was just to oblivious to see the real situation.

But someone spoke. Not Josh nor Leslie. Faith.

''People have the right to know who they are voting for.''