My parents are fighting downstairs, their yells ricocheting off the high ceilings. It's not uncommon for their marriage to go by the wayside during elections; when the polls numbers drop, so their affections for one another. I'm convinced that my parents never actually married each other for love, but as a political partnership and every election since that realization has only made me more sure of it. I turn my music up and continue to type me AP English essay that's due on Monday.

The yells cease for a few minutes, the sounds of sensible shoes tromping up the stairs filling their absence. I close my laptop and draw in a deep breath, my heartbeat speeding up unnaturally. The footsteps stop right outside of my door and the yelling commences again. I'm in for it now. I shove my school stuff away and shut off my music as my dad comes barging into my room, my mom following close behind.

"Care to explain why you were out with someone other than Jack Anderson yesterday?" My dad glares at me as he drops a newspaper on my bed. The picture is of Trip and I on our date yesterday. We're on the pier in Annapolis, sharing a basket of fries and watching the boats sail by. I hadn't seen any paparazzi or heard any clicking cameras, but I guess nothing was stopping nosy people from taking pictures with their phones and selling them to newspapers. I sigh and read the headline, my anger increasing with every word. I can't do anything without having it come back to bite me. I look up at my dad and find him staring furiously back at me. Why is he mad? I don't live my life to make him look better, no matter how much he wishes I did.

"What? So, I'm allowed to date your rivals, but not my own?" I snap, standing up from my bed.

"May Eloise Parker, you live under my roof and you'll live by my rules. If I tell you to date my rival's son to help me win the election, then you damn well better do it. You don't have a choice." My dad fumes, balling the newspaper up in his hand.

"I'm a human being, not some pawn in your political game." I shout, tears burning in my eyes. "I'm tired of being used to further your ends. I'm your child and I'm fine laying low and being polite towards donors, but the minute you start dictating my personal life, I'm out."

"You don't have a choice in this matter, May." My dad reiterates, the vein in his forehead throbbing like a ticking time-bomb.

"I've never had a choice in my life and that's the problem. I can't choose my friends, I can't choose what I wear, what I eat, what I do with my free time. Now, I can't even choose who I date and I'm tired of living like this."

"Stop talking like you've struggled a day in your life, May." My dad scoffs. "You'll never understand what it feels like to struggle. You act like you live in some tyrannical society where you're oppressed every second of every day. You are an upper-class girl going to the best private school in the country; not some poor child living in North Korea with no freedom."

"Sometimes you make me feel like I have no freedom." I mumble, tears staining my cheeks. "All I can do is disappoint you; no matter what I do. I can't make you proud and I'm tired of trying to reach your ever-expanding expectations." My fists clench by my side as I stare at my parents; my mom's jaw is on the floor and my dad looks like he might explode at any second. I begin to push through them to reach my door and my dad stops me by roughly grabbing my shoulder.

"You're not going anywhere, May Parker." My dad says, shoving me down on the bed. "You are dating Jack Anderson. You are going to pretend you like him until the end of this election. You are going to tell this other boy that it's over..."

"Shut up, Dan." My mom interjects pointedly. "Don't put the poor girl through this; our poll numbers have already been shot to hell, so her dating Jack isn't going to change anything." Boy, don't I feel loved. This child abuse is only stopped when it won't further their ends anymore.

"I need to go call the campaign headquarters and sort this out." My dad replies and leaves without so much as a glance in my direction.

"Thanks for the defense, mom." I say sarcastically, wiping tears from my cheeks.

"Don't speak to me or your father that way ever again." My mom snaps, closing the door and leaving me alone. I throw my hairbrush at the door and scream. I'm done being their puppet. I grab a duffle bag from under my bed and shove my school uniform and some extra clothes into it. I shove my toiletries bag on top of my clothes along with my laptop and chargers. I grab my backpack and my duffle bag before heading towards the door. I pick up the hairbrush and run my fingers over the jagged scratch it made in the wall. I'm done.

The house is silent as I make my way towards the front door. I grab my car keys and walk out without looking back, ready to make even more headlines than cheating on Jack with Trip. May Parker runs away from home; is Georgetown's favorite family falling apart? I roll my eyes at the thought as I slip into the front seat of my car and drive away from my house. It's not where I belong; never has been. I continue driving, past my neighbors, past Riley's, past my school. I drive until I reach the private boat dock Trip took me too yesterday. I put the car in park in a space right near the entrance. I pull out my phone and thumb through my contacts, debating who to call. My thumb choose before my mind has a chance to catch up. The phone rings for a few seconds before someone picks up.

"Hello, Madame President." Trip says, his tone amused.

"Don't remind me." I reply quietly, my eyes distracted by a ray of sunshine on my dashboard.

"Are you okay, May?" Trip asks with concern.

"I wish I was." I say, looking up and watching some birds fly by.

"What's wrong?"

"Too much to say over the phone." I reply, biting my lip. "Are you free right now?"

"Where are you?" Trip asks, a shuffling from his end implying that he's getting ready to leave.

"The pier." I answer, exhaling deeply.

"Don't move; I'll be right there." He says, hanging up. I've got nowhere to go, so I'll be staying here.

~~~~~

Trip shows up half an hour later and finds me down at the pier, my legs swinging over the edge, my white feet a stark contrast to the water below me. He plops down next to me and sets a basket of fries in my lap. "You sounded like you needed a pick me up on the phone." He smiles, setting his hand behind me to prop himself up.

"Thanks." I reply, eating one of the French fries that have been doused in vinegar.

"So..." Trip says, his voice trailing off awkwardly.

"Are you wondering why I called you the day after our date sounding like a sobbing teenage girl?" I chuckle, taking another French fry from the tray.

"Never crossed my mind; I just wanted to know what was wrong."

"Riley wouldn't understand this. He's too preoccupied with the campaign to think about much else." I reply, answering his unasked question.

"So, what's wrong, May?" He asks, pulling me closer to him. I lean my head on his shoulder and stare out at the calm water.

"My parents use me all the time." I admit. "They treat me like a resource instead a child. They only think about how I can help them achieve their political ends." A sigh escapes my lip as the water laps against the wood of the dock. "They got mad at me for going out with you when I was supposed to be dating their rival's son."

"I'm sorry; I didn't want to get you in trouble."

"None of this is your fault." I smile up at him. "It's the way they've always been."

"That's even worse, May." Trip says, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear.

"I don't think I've ever had a normal parental experience in my life. With a family like mine, the only thing that matters more to my parents than their poll numbers is their reputations. The only place I fit in is keeping up their reputation."

"Sounds stressful." He agrees, holding my hand in his.

"That would be an understatement." I smile softly. "There's a reason my siblings only come home when they're forced to."

"Doesn't sound like much of a family."

"My family isn't a family; it's a political team forced to live under the same roof."

"Well, I think we need to take your mind off that for a while."

"What are you thinking?" I smirk, maintaining eye contact with him.

"You'll see." He gives me a mischievous smile and helps me stand up, leading me back to his car. I slip into the front seat and buckle up as he pulls out of the parking space. He grabs my hand as he pulls onto a main road and drives farther away from the pier and D.C.

~~~~~

It's been a few days and I've had to cave in and tell Riley about my home situation. Well, I didn't really need to tell him; he kind of figured it out when he found me sleeping in the journalism room one morning. He gave me his guest room until I got things sorted out with my parents and I've been staying there for the past three days, ignoring my parents calls and Mr. Edward's furious texts. I'm about two weeks from the election and it's been hectic trying to get everything ready, so living with Riley has been extremely helpful.

It's nearing the end of the day and I'm still typing up campaign plans in the journalism room. Riley is sitting next to me, analyzing graphs and cross-referencing my campaign strategies with the audiences they're targeting. It tells the same story as the last graphs did: I need more of the popular vote. I sigh as I log off my computer; I have an interview with the school radio show after school today and it's making me more anxious than I thought it would.

"May, we need to talk about the radio show." Riley says without looking up from his computer.

"Why? It'll be the same dumb questions as the debate." I exhale deeply, trying to let off some steam.

"No, because there's a new piece to add to the puzzle: you and Trip." Riley replies and turns to face me with the usual condescending look he's been wearing since the election began.

"Trip doesn't define me," I snap, glaring at him. "My campaign has nothing to do with Trip."

"You have to give them a story; you have to act like you're in love with him because anything against that would mean risking them figuring them out your real motives." Riley says as if he's the coach and I'm just a player.

"I'm more than the man on my arm." I point out as if it should be obvious to him.

"The minute you said yes to Trip, you changed the way you played this election. You can't avoid the question because it looks really fishy for you to start dating your biggest rival a few weeks before the election." Riley sighs, closing his computer.

"Fine, if they ask me about him, how should I act?" I roll my eyes and pretend I'm giving up easily. I don't go down without a fight.

"Head over heels in love with him."

"I've been on two dates with him, Riley, head over heels seems a little much." I point out sarcastically.

"May, they're going to ask you why you advocate for women and then turn around and date someone like Trip. They're going to ask you why you've only now decided to start dating him. Head over heels is the only way to keep this entire operation under wraps."

"I look like a hypocrite either way." I pinch the bridge of my nose and will this all to just end.

"It'll all work out; just remember to play your part."

"Oh joy; another part to play." I mumble, internally resenting how much Riley sounds like Mr. Edwards.

"You have five minutes 'till the show." Riley says, ushering me out the door and towards the Audio-Visual lab. I roll my eyes and walk slowly towards the unavoidable. I make my way through the maze of wires and refurbished audio-visual equipment until I finally reach the radio studio the school had built a few years ago. I knock on the door and am let in by Riley's brother, James. He smiles at me and leads me to a microphone on the other side of a wooden table.

"So, Ernie, the host, is going to be here in a few minutes. He'll ask you a few questions, you'll respond and then you'll be asked to leave, so we can bring in the next candidate. It's all very straightforward." James says, pulling out the chair in front of the microphone for me to sit down in.

"Thanks so much." I reply and sit down to wait for Ernie. He arrives a few minutes later with a notebook and a headset around his neck. He sits down in the chair across from me, setting his notebook down next to a mug of coffee. He puts on a pair of headphones and brings the microphone closer to his mouth.

"So, Ms. May, I'm just going to ask you a few questions and you'll answer them as you normally would and then we'll be on our way. Are you ready?" I nod and put on my own headphones before pulling my microphone closer to my mouth.

"Hey there, radioland; It's Ernie with the campaign update. Today I'm going to have your top three candidates in here for their final interviews before the homestretch of the election. In two weeks, this whole election will go to ballot and it will be your job to vote for the person you want representing your voice this year. So, mark your calendars: November 10th is election day here at Mount Forrest Academy and it's the day to have your voice heard. Now, without further ado, I give you May Parker."

"Hey there, radio listeners. I'm so happy to be here talking to you and I feel so humbled that y'all have allowed me to reach this point." I say with a smile. Fake it 'till you make it.

"Now, May, you're a legacy here at this school; is that correct?" Ernie asks, his tone confident and natural.

"Yeah, everyone as far back as I can remember has been elected president of this school."

"That must be a lot of pressure, a huge reputation to uphold."

"It's nothing I can't handle." I say, thinking back to my fight with my parents last weekend.

"Some people at this school feel that, since you're a legacy, it's time for a change in who holds the power; what do you have to say to those people?"

"I'd say that, even in families, no person is the same as anyone else. I'm not like my parents and they're not like their parents; people change from generation to generation. I think you shouldn't vote based on a name, but on policies. Throughout this election, I've tried to make my stances on certain issues clear and I hope that people will vote for me because they agree with me, not because of who my parents are." I answer honestly. "I have worked hard for this and I want to earn the presidency in my own right, not because of my parents."

"Very well-spoken." Ernie says, moving onto the next question. "What separates you from the other candidates?"

"Well, I feel like I'm not afraid to take the opposite stance. I'm not afraid to stand up for those who are usually pushed aside. I'm willing to put myself out there and advocate for policies that aren't supported by the administration. I'm committed to making this school a better place for all people, not just the select few."

"How will you improve this school if you were elected?"

"As I mentioned in the debate, I will reinstate the artist societies. I will advocate for more funding and organize fundraisers for the arts and other school societies that aren't accounted for enough in the annual budget. I want this school to be known for more than their outstanding athletics. I want this school to be well-rounded, a place for all people to flourish. I will make sure there's a balance and that everyone's rights are protected."

"How will you take on the school's bullying problem?" Ernie asks, turning the page in his notebook.

"I will organize events for people to get to know each other, to really understand the other side's point of view. I'm a firm believer that some problems stem from a lack of communication or understanding, rather than malice. In addition to that, I will create an anonymous reporting system where people can report bullying through a simple text message. I will also make sure that people are aware of their resources; I want people to know where they can turn. I want people to know that they are safe and cared for."

"Thank you, May, now we will take some questions from a few listeners." Ernie says, pressing a button on his switchboard. An audience member comes on the line and asks about a few of my other policies. For the next few minutes I answer more questions about my stances on certain issues and my plans for improvement. Finally, Ernie announces the last question, pressing the button on his switchboard again. A girl's voice comes on the line, confident and accusatory.

"Why, as a candidate advocating for strong women, would you go out with a womanizer like Trip McCan?" Just the question I was afraid of. I lick my lips as I try to come up with an answer that would satisfy her and save my reputation.

"I believe in second chances; I believe that people are more than they appear to the public and there's a lot more to Trip than meets the eye. I don't want to sound cheesy or anything, so I won't go into detail, but he's a great guy." I sound like some ditzy schoolgirl; this isn't me, this isn't how I want to be represented. Something snaps in me and I decide to stand up for myself because if I don't, no one else will. "Either way, Trip doesn't define my campaign. Who I choose to date is my business and I hope you won't let my personal choices turn you against me. I still stand for the same things I did before and I hope you'll remember that when you go out and vote on November 10th."

"Any closing remarks, May?" Ernie asks, hanging up on the caller.

"I'm a candidate for the people. I'm here to represent everyone's voice and I want people to feel comfortable sharing their ideas with me. I will work tirelessly to improve this school and I hope you remember these things when you go out and vote in two weeks." I say, nodding at Ernie.

"Thank you for your time, May. Coming up next will be Trip McCan." Ernie says, playing some transitional music. He mouths his thanks as I stand up and walk towards the door. I find Trip on the other side, grinning at me.

"So, I'm a great guy?" He whispers, pulling me close and wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Maybe." I say coyly, my hand on his chest.

"I don't want to be cheesy or anything, but I think you're pretty great too." He smirks, mocking my comment from a minute ago.

"Cute, now go knock 'em dead." I wink and pull away from him.

"See you later?" He asks, tilting his head.

"I'll be in the journalism room." I give him a mischievous look as I walk out of the room, making my way back to the journalism room. I find Riley sitting at his computer, the radio broadcast blasting out of the speakers.

"How did I do?" I ask, sitting down next to him.

"Very solid performance; I'm glad you didn't go too in depth about Trip. While listening to the radio show, I realized that it would make Trip look better if you acted too in love."

"I'm glad you see things from my point of view." I wink and lean back in my chair. "What else is on the agenda for the rest of the week?"

"We have a final week of advertising to release and then there's the round table on Thursday afternoon. The week after is crunch time; we have more promotion to do over social media, a final speech to write and planning for the election party."

"Sounds like fun." I say sarcastically.

"Not as much fun as I am." I turn around and find Trip smiling from the doorway.

That was one short interview.

"You got that right." I reply, an amused grin playing on my lips.

"You kids have fun; spread some good publicity." Riley says as he leaves with his laptop under his arm.

"Will do," Trip calls after him before stepping into the room. "Is he scared I'm going to steal your campaign strategies?"

"He's a little paranoid." I chuckle, grabbing my things.

"Well, I'm not going to; you guys put in more work than I'd ever dream of." He whispers, placing his forehead on top of mine.

"It'll be worth it if we win." I reply, maintaining eye contact with him.

"That's sad; be happy you ran a good campaign."

"You think it's a good campaign even with the attack ads?"

"I think the attack ads added some fun." Trip smirks, kissing my nose.

"I'd be pissed off if somebody was releasing all my darkest secrets for the sake of a high school election." My voice trails off as Trip grabs my hand.

"I don't have secrets." Trip winks as we walk towards the door of the journalism room. "Either way, I think it's cute that you thought about me enough to invest your time in making an attack ad."

"Oh great, now I'm cute too." I groan, but nothing can hide the smile on my face.

"Always have been." He replies, kissing the side of my head.

I roll my eyes, our feet carrying us to the front of the school where his car is parked. It's a BMW, much like my own, a staple of the school it would seem. I lean my head on his chest as we round the corner, reaching the front of the school. I look up and my heart skips a few beats when I see someone waiting on the bench for me. It's my mom, dressed in a black button-up coat and holding her purse in her lap. She meets my eye and stands up, her expression solemn. I let go of Trip and walk towards her, my shoulders squared confidently.

"May, please let me talk. I don't want to fight with you, sweetheart." My eyes widen when she says that; she's never used that word before. "I'm sorry we made you feel like you can never measure up to our expectations. I'm sorry you feel like we use you and force you to do things that will only benefit us. We are stressed and blinded by the election and we've lost sight of what's truly important." My mom draws in a deep breath before continuing.

"Even though we don't show it all the time, we really are proud of you and we just want you to come home, May. We've missed you and your running away has made us realize just how important you are to us; how integral you are to our family. We just want you to come home. We love you, May and we want to be better parents." My mom pleads, reaching out for me.

I walk towards her and wrap my arms around her neck. She pulls me close and kisses my cheek, whispering 'I love you' again in my ear. I've never really heard her say that unless we were in front of reporters or donors, but now that she's saying it, I realize how much I've needed to hear it. We release each other and wipe our eyes, smiling at each other.

"Thank you," I say, mostly because it's the only phrase that I can force out in my shocked state.

"No, thank you for making me realize that I need to be better and May, if you really like him, then he's the one you should be with, not Jack. We were being selfish and irrational making you date our rival. You deserve to have something that's your own, something that we don't intrude on." My mom says, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. "And I'd love to meet him sometime." She whispers, kissing my cheek again.

"I'd love that." I smile, giving her another hug.

"You two go hang out, though, I'll see you at home, sweetheart." My mom says before waving goodbye to Trip and heading outside to her car.

"Sometimes, all it takes is a few words to fix a bleeding wound." Trip says, taking my hand in his.

"How poetic." I smirk, kissing his cheek.

"I try and now we're going to celebrate." He exclaims, leading me to his car.

"Where?" I ask, even though I know he won't tell me.

"Don't you like surprises?" Trip scolds as he pulls out of the parking lot. "As my dad always says: surprises keep relationships afloat."

"This entire school year so far has been a surprise, so I guess I'm up for a few more." I wink, leaning back in the chair.

"That's the spirit, sweetheart." He replies, patting my leg.