The Presidents Secret

Three

[Hi okay this is my last update for today I promise]

"Mr. President" My assistant Ashlee knocked on my door.  I looked up at her.  "I'm heading home.  Will you be needing anything before I go?"

"No.  Thank you Ashlee, tell Evan I said hello" I said dismissing her.  She nodded leaving the oval office and closing the door behind her.  Usually the staff lived here but I knew how much her family meant to her so I let her go home every night.  I decided it'd be best to turn in so I clicked the lights off and walked out.  I didn't like sleeping next to Kelsey so I usually slept in one of the spare rooms.  These days I forget why I even ran for president.  No one ever likes your ideas even if you know they're the correct ones.  Maybe I had some twisted dream I could make America decent again but I guess I couldn't.  My  term was almost up.  One more year to go.  I wasn't running for reelection either.  It was too much stress.  I'd done a lot but to everyone it was never enough.  I walked downstairs to get a soda or something decent.  My phone buzzed in my pocket.  The number was unknown but most of them were since they were secret service agents.

"Hello?" I asked answering.

"Pete?  It's Patrick.  I'm outside and I'm sorry I didn't know where else to go.  They let me through but they refused to let me inside the white house without talking to you.  I'm scared" I walked to the front and opened the door.  One of the agents was standing next to him.  He had a black eye.  His lip was swollen.

"Did you do this to him!?" I asked Andy angrily.

"No Mr. President he came here like this" he said.  He had to help Patrick over to me.  I looped my arm around his waist helping him.  He limped inside with me.

"I'm sorry I didn't know where else to go" Patrick said "I don't have many friends and I-"

"Calm down Patrick please" I said.  I sat him on the couch "What happened?"

"I-I can't tell you" he whispered. 

"Yes you can.  I told you, you can trust me"

"Not with something like this" I frowned.  He shook his head "I'm sorry.  I should go" He tried to get up but I pushed him back down. 

"I want you to stay the night so I know you're okay"

"But-"

"No.  I have a spare room you can sleep in"

"Of course you do" he smiled.  His lip bled a bit.  "Shit" he whispered dabbing his finger on the wound. 

"Come with me" I took him upstairs to the oval office and sat him in my chair.  I had a bathroom in there so I got a wet towel and gently cleaned the cut.  "Who did this to you?"

"I can't tell you Pete" He mumbled.

"I wanna know" I frowned.

"No" He said shaking his head "No I can't tell you.  Because You'll do something to them"

"I won't I promise" I sat on my desk.

"Why do you care?" He asked.  Not in a rude way but in a curious way. 

"Because I do" He bit the cut on his lip.  I press my thumb to his chin pulling his lip from his teeth "Don't do that" I whispered.  I ran my thumb over the cut "You'll make it worse" He stared at me wide eyed "Those lips are too pretty to mess up" I ran my thumb over his entire bottom lip.

"Brendon's friend" he mumbled "Brendon's a drug dealer.  I've tried leaving him several times but he threatens my life.  He has his friends hurt me.  Sometimes he hurts me.  But he's scared I'll tip someone off about his business.  He's always on something.  He probably has someone looking for me right now" I stared at him with an unreadable expression.  "That's why I wouldn't let you meet him that night.  May I go to bed now?" he was shaking gently. 

"Yes" I whispered still processing everything he just said.  He stood up and I did too.  "I-I'll show you to the guest room"
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I laid awake staring at the ceiling.  Patricks life was rough.  Really rough.  I never would have thought that from looking at him.  I would have thought he was just another guy.  I frowned and sat up.  I bit my thumbnail in thought.  He could move in here.  That way Brendon couldn't hurt him.  Yeah, that was a good idea.  I snorted.  No it wasn't.  He'd just get sucked into my drama.  He didn't need that in his life.  Maybe I could get him a bodyguard.  I groaned standing up.  I walked across the hall to his room and slowly opened the door staring at him.  He was hugging the pillow while he slept.  He even but his lip in his sleep.  I smiled at his peaceful face.  Or maybe I could be his bodyguard.