Page (Mitt Romney x OC)

Chapter 1

~ A/N: This is Asher:

~ And this is Gwen:

The 2020 impeachment trial of Donald Trump was where it all began.

I was a page on the Senate floor for Mitt Romney. He had appointed and sponsored me, telling me I would do a great job, and maybe one day become a politician myself. I wasn't interested in politics enough to pursue it full-time. I was looking into becoming a journalist, and I figured this internship would be a good learning experience for me.

I'd been a page for about six months when the trial began. I ran errands for him and a few other senators, bringing them water, documents, anything a senator would require. I  had some friends there too- mostly other pages. My best friend, Gwen Woods, was a page to Mike Lee, the other senator from Utah, and we bonded over our mutual love of Taylor Swift and Marvel movies.

We met when I almost dumped a pitcher of sparkling water all over her during a Senate joint meeting with the House (the president was speaking that day). She just smiled and steadied me, and we went out to serve the senators. After the speech (after a quick smile from Senator Romney), I apologized again and we got to talking. She's one of my best friends in the world.

The impeachment trial was long. It was exhausting. It was slow and miserable. But it was also one of the best times of my life.

And it all started with a glass of chocolate milk.

---

Gwen and I were standing at the very back of the Senate floor, watching the proceedings. I scanned the room, looking for any signs that a senator needed something. Gwen had her phone out and was subtly texting her boyfriend. I snorted as she gave me a dirty look.

"Do you want to get me in trouble?" She hissed.

"You'd be the only one in trouble," I smirked. "I'm not texting," I leaned over to read the display name. "Tom with a fuck ton of pink heart emojis after it." She swatted me lightly on the arm as she shushed me. We'd get in trouble if we talked during the trial.

I tuned out a lot of what was happening- all things I had heard before from different speakers. Gwen nudged next suddenly and jerked her chin in Senator Romney's direction. He was signaling me over. I nodded at him and glanced at Gwen before going over, as quickly and quietly as possible.

"Did you need something, sir?" I asked, crouching slightly. He looked up and gave me a small smile, brown eyes sparkling.

"Can I get something to drink?" He inquired, and I nodded quickly.

"Water, sir?" I said.

"Actually," he said in an almost conspiratorial whisper, "I have a weak spot for chocolate milk. Do you think you could do that for me?"

I grinned. It was well known that Romney liked chocolate milk, there was an infamous picture of him drinking it in 2012 on his campaign bus.

"I think I can manage that," I said, and his smile widened.

"Thank you," he said, and I nodded, suppressing my laughter. I walked back to Gwen, relaying the request, and she giggled.

"Of course," she said. "I think there's some in the break room." I nodded and ducked into the room.

I walked over to the fridge and pushed aside bottles of water and juice (and the occasional beer) to find a bottle of Nesquick in the back of the fridge. A quick check to the seal confirmed it wasn't expired or already opened, and I grabbed a bottle of water for cover.

I walked over, as nonchalant as I could be, and, as if he heard me approaching, Romney turned and I smiled, handing him the water first in plain sight, then the chocolate milk behind the desk he was sitting at.

"Good job," he grinned and winked. I fought to contain my blush and nodded, rushing back to Gwen.

That's when I knew I was severely fucked.

Gwen grinned at me as I walked back to stand next to her.

"You're blushing," she said with a wicked smile.

"Shut up, I am not," I mumbled, staring at my feet.

"Aw, Ash has got a crush," she whispered in a sing-song voice.

"I'll knock you on your ass," I threatened, but it was weak and she knew it.

"No you won't. Because you love me," she smirked.

"Oh my god, please shut up," I sighed. She just giggled and took a sip of her bottled water.

"You know you do," she said, and I just leaned against the wall and watched the trial proceed.

That day the session lasted over 12 hours. Gwen fell asleep around midnight, but I stayed awake, thanks to a quick coffee run. I put enough sugars and creamers in to give me diabetes. I downed it as quickly as possible and went back out, sitting against the wall and trying desperately not to fall asleep.

I just felt bad for the senators- according to Senate rules they aren't allowed to drink anything but milk or water, and can't eat anything but candy. I could get coffee, they couldn't.

My mother was a dietician- when the Clinton investigation was going on, she said that just milk and candy could mess with your blood sugar levels. I checked my phone- it was 1 in the morning and I was about to just say "fuck it" and leave. But I decided to stick around, and no, it wasn't because I could ogle Senator Romney all I wanted from behind. But because Gwen had driven me here and I didn't have a ride otherwise. Yeah. Totally it.

Around 1:30 I ran a hand through my already sticking-up-in-weird-places hair, noticing that I really needed a haircut.

Gwen blinked herself awake. "Holy fuck. How long have I been out?" She whispered.

"About an hour and a half. You didn't miss much," I said. She pulled out her phone.

"Shit. Tom needs me at home. Do you want to stick around and catch a ride with someone else? Or come with? I can drop you off."

I shrugged. "I'm going to wait. See if anything happens." She arched an eyebrow.

"You and I both know damn well that shit won't happen today," she muttered but stood and excused herself.

I sat there for another 20 minutes before we were dismissed. The room was bustling with senators, pages and reporters trying to exit. I couldn't help but stand back and search the room for Senator Romney. Not seeing him, I left through the double doors and went to look for someone who could give me a ride home.