The Rise

Leon tore up the note several times and held the remains tight in his hand. He looked up at the darkening clouds clenching his fists. He knew it was Justin's sister, Veronica, who sent him the message; no one could've known the nickname he gave her – yet he didn't know why. His heart was racing and his palms began to sweat. He shook his head and put the pieces of the note into his pocket.

School had ended and Leon's thoughts about Veronica parasitically took over his mind and drowned out everything else around him. Humming's was a convenience store on the way to his house and the oddly specific time "2:23pm" was a joke, indicating any time. This was not a request for a meeting, rather a heads-up that the rendezvous will happen whether Leon plans on it or not.

Leon let Justin and Taylor leave school ahead of him and stayed behind. As he walked down the empty wooden corridors lit up by a warm orange sunlight, he overheard a conversation taking place in the front garden – there were four students huddled around George, the Prime Minister's son, like fans after the autograph of a celebrity. He was always smiling, volunteering and keeping up appearances – like a true politician. Although their fathers were rivals, Leon had no reason to make an unnecessary enemy of George circ.u.mstantially. However, according to Justin, George enjoys defaming the Lapuzi's - which is why Leon always had his defenses up.

"Did you hear what happened… to his dad?" said a girl with a red bow-tie on her hair

"It's truly unfortunate that the politicians we so dearly trust let us down all the time. My father had always known there was no way someone could get that popular so quickly without something fishy going on." said George.

Leon shook his head slowly at the smear against his father whilst still eavesdropping. It's not that he didn't trust what Justin told him about George; he just wanted to make judgment based on his own findings. He didn't like treating people unfairly – even George deserved a chance.

"Now your father is going win for a second time in a row for sure" said another student who held his blazer around his shoulder.

"Wouldn't it be awesome if you and your father both won twice, you with the student council and him as prime minister" said bow-tie girl giggling

"Has it been done before? Winning student council prez twice in a row?" said blazer boy

"I know that winning the prime minister twice in a row has only been done once before. Well actually, that person won it three times in a row – it was Hilda Cottonwood." said George

"Ah yes, now I remember, someone did win student council twice in a row – it was Jessica Cottonwood, Hilda's daughter. The cottonwoods are legendary aren't they?" said bow-tie girl

"Isn't Jessica Cottonwood Leon's mother?" said another student who was on his phone.

"Yes, however Leon's parents are divorced. If only Leon was like his mother, he would've made waves" said George

"Lucky for you he isn't, having someone like the Cottonwoods around would be serious competition."

"Come on guys, take it easy on Leon. We're not all born to be successful politicians – everyone has their calling in life, right?" said George as the four students giggled.

Leon got up and walked away from the conversation. Both his parents were politicians so it seemed natural that he'd follow suit. The question of what he wanted to be never crossed his mind – the path was always paved for him and he walked straight down. Yet George's words had him defending a profession he never really cared about, it had him wanting to 'prove' himself. Even though those thoughts lasted a few moments, he hated them.

He had passed the student council room, stopped and glared through the window of the door. The layout of desks was that of a typical board member meeting room. The chairs were all the same wooden chairs in normal classrooms, except the one at the end. It was larger, looked heavy and seemed brand new. He walked in and towards the chair. He slowly c.a.r.e.s.sed its edges. 'This is where the President must sit. This chair… is nothing short of a throne.' He thought to himself.

He pulled back the 'throne' slowly and took a seat placing his hands in front of him with his fingers intertwined. A surreal feeling overcame him, he felt larger, in control, powerful.

"Hello?"

He snapped his head towards the door. It was George.

"Sorry, just wanted a place to sit and think." said Leon getting up slowly and tucking in the chair. George was smirking as Leon walked passed him.

"Leon, right?"

Leon stopped at the doorway and turned around sideways to face George.

"Sorry, I should've recognized you. You are our national debating champion as well as president of the debate club" he said with his poster boy smile

Leon looked through George looking at the window behind him.

"Do you talk behind everyone's back?" said Leon as his eyes locked onto George.

George pauses

"Only those that eavesdrop" replied George

"There was never a reason for us to be at each other's throats" said Leon

"That's quite the high horse you sit on. When you say it like that, it almost makes me feel like I ought to apologize."

"Don't, it would ruin your spoiled kid caricature"

George placed his hands around the large chair. "I was fourteen and my father was running for parliament to represent his district. The daughter of one of his opponents got close to me – we became friends, then more than friends. But little did I know, every time she would come over to my house and I was busy – in the bathroom, kitchen, doing errands – she was in my father's room scavenging everything she could from policies, speeches and campaigning strategies." Said George looking away, he returned his gaze to Leon "I guess from then on, it just felt natural. Our fathers are fighting for the most powerful position in the country. Nature has decreed that we are enemies."

"Doesn't sound natural to me. Just sounds like you have bad luck with girls. I never tried to trick you." Said Leon as he shows his palms

"How naïve." George said shaking his head "Your parents are the equivalent of dragons and maybe for now my father has to deal with them - but excuse me for wanting to stop their eggs from hatching." George moved closer to Leon pointing at him "With the kind of parents you have, you are the biggest threat to my future. Tell me now, to my face, you have no interest in politics – that you'll never run for any office and we'll be best pals. I'll take you for burgers and milkshakes every day, my treat."

Leon smiled and raised his arms as he shrugged.

"I have no interest in politics" said Leon.

He retracted his hands and walked to the door. His back to George - he turned his head around slightly. "I also have no interest in being friends with you."