HERE TONIGHT
There they were, all exhausted but nevertheless happy. The dream they dreamt together was finally within reach. In fact, they had already made that dream come true. And they felt it; but that night they were just exhausted. The feeling of accomplishment crept up her spine and made her shiver. She felt as if she was one of them. Of course, that will never going to happen, but in moments like this she felt like she was part of the group of these dedicated people.
They were strewn across the room, Zoey noticed as she took a look around. Toby was sitting to her left, in a plush, chintz chair this hotel was so famous for. Seeing Toby sitting in the chair that was decorated with rosebuds, Zoey almost lost it. She found that chair hilarious the first time she saw it and was barely able to contain her laughter but for her father�s scrutinizing eyes. He wanted the best for them. Whenever one of them (and it was mostly she, Zoey) came to join the campaign, his first action was to make sure that his daughters had the best possible room in the hotel. So Zoey knew better than to complain about a hideous chair.
In the other chair�opposite Toby�sat CJ. CJ was kind of an idol for Zoey, much like her mother. Of course, she didn�t tell that anyone. She had a hunch that her father knew. CJ seemed pretty tired, she was slumped in the chair but she was still� Well, she still had grace. CJ had poise. When Zoey first met CJ she thought that the woman had a horrible taste in clothes but then she realized that CJ only wanted to compensate her height with those. Only after Donna and Carol joined the campaign did CJ start wearing really excellent clothes, making Zoey realize that the older woman had very good taste. And then there they were, Josh and Sam, sharing the sofa with her. Those two always made her laugh.
The first time she saw Sam, her heart gave a big lurch but she knew she had no chance at all with Sam. Besides, he was like 20 years older than she. And he didn�t even know she existed. Oh, he knew that the Governor had a teenager daughter but he only looked at her that way. As an asset, or more like an attachment, to her father.
Not Josh. He was sitting at her right and Zoey�s head was resting on his shoulder. Josh was fun. Josh was understanding. Josh was a buddy, and they shared some characteristics too. Zoey was no fan of order; she found that chaos was more interesting. Josh was so chaotic that sometimes he couldn�t locate his ego the size of Texas. That thought made her chuckle and wonder where the one who coined that phrase was.
�Where is Donna?� she nudged Josh in the ribs.
�Hey!� Josh cried out indignantly. �That hurt, Zoey,� he said and then looked around. �She is not here.�
�Well observed, Harvard,� CJ quipped. �She is running around like a... Okay, I don�t want to end that thought, so feel free to end it the way you�d like,� she added with a chuckle. �Oh, and quit whining, Josh, you are not a baby anymore.�
�But, CJ, she elbowed me!� Josh whined again.
�She nudged you,� Sam corrected, and Zoey looked at him grateful.
�Thank you, Sam. And we strayed away from the topic,� she stated. �Where is Donna?�
�She went back to her room,� Toby imparted.
�Why?� Zoey asked, feeling Josh�s body tense. She sensed a story here.
�Despite everything Josh tried, she was not allowed to accompany us to the thing,� Sam told her.
�Sam, I hope you know that we still have to work on the Speech,� Toby warned Sam. �If you start using terms like �the thing�, I have to consider smacking you hard on the head until everything loose gets back into its original place.�
�Does this mean that I�m a good writer having a momentarily lapse?� Sam asked back. ��Cause that would be the first time you actually acknowledged that.�
�And that sentence only deserves the smack,� Toby murmured, after letting out a groan.
�People,� Zoey spoke up, �I need you to focus. Why is Donna not allowed to attend this preposterous party?�
�Toby hates alliterations,� Sam said before anyone could answer Zoey�s question.
�Okay, Sam, we need you to focus,� CJ told the younger man.
�They said no,� Josh whined. �They said she was �only� a secretary.�
�They actually said that?� Toby looked at Josh with incredulity in his eyes. Josh�s words made everyone straighten somewhat.
�Yeah, they said that,� Josh confirmed.
�Who?� Zoey asked back. �I mean who are they?�
�The party people,� Josh said.
�They really don�t know Donna,� Sam stated the obvious.
�No kidding, Sam,� Toby remarked sarcastically.
Zoey and CJ were both standing up when a knock took everyone by surprise.
GO TO PART TWO