Trumperica's Legacy

Unveiling

Lacelett's POV

"Come on, we can't be late for this, Rylee'll kill me!" My mom yelled, half dragging me into the car.

"So, you're too busy to come to any of my volleyball games, but you're not too busy to go to a random unveiling of one of your childhood friends' new video games?" I rolled my eyes as she began to drive.

"I'm a Senator, Lacey," she sighed. "And I'm not just any Senator either. I'm Maddie Udana, I have one of the most recognizable faces in this country. If I miss a single important social event, the rumors just might ruin my political career. Also, don't forget that Hammond Bell is co-hosting the event. He's the nominee! The more times I'm seen with him, the better the chances are of the Republican party winning 2040."

"You're saying he's just popular because he's friends with you?"

"Well, isn't it true?" She joked.

"Nah, you're just mad that you lost to him in the primaries," I snickered.

"There's always next election cycle," my mom laughed.

After a few more minutes, she pulled up in front of a spacious banquet hall. I heard soft music coming from inside, and saw a few bright flashes of light out of the corner of my eye.

"Here we are!" She smiled, parking in front of the building. "Now, Lacey, make sure you remember to politely greet everyone who looks your way, and look nice for every camera. You never know what photos will go wh-"

"I know, I know," I cut her off, putting my hands up in front of my face. "I'm the daughter of Madeline Udana. I can't screw up."

"And I'm sure you won't," my mom beamed. "Let's go!"

I reluctantly followed her out of the car, nearly tripping over my six inch heels. Sometimes I wished my family wasn't famous.

The music grew louder, thumping in my ears as we entered the hall. My mom immediately dragged me toward the center of the room, where cameras clicked candids of us and the other important guests.

"Rylee!" She beamed, rushing over to her friend, who was posing in front of a gigantic poster of her newest video game, TrumpX 3: Dawn of the Dumpers.

"Oh, Maddie," Rylee Mann smiled. "I'm so glad you could make it, being a busy Senator and whatnot."

"You know I wouldn't miss it for the world," my mom winked.

"Hey, Lacey," my friend Jaylene, Rylee's daughter, walked out from behind the poster as our moms began to engage in lighthearted conversation.

"Hi," I smiled. "How are things?"

"Okay," she sighed. "My mom's been going crazy over her new TrumpX game. It's all she ever talks about! She says your mom's in it, but that's about all I know. I haven't played it yet."

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. "I'll have to buy it."

"Come on," Jaylene laughed. "You know you'll always get TrumpDump's games for free."

"Your mom must be a real history buff, huh? Naming her company after a rebellion from twenty years ago."

"Well, she was kind of their symbol..." Jaylene smirked. "She named me after a rebel who died trying to destroy Trump's wall, so it's obvious that Operation Trump Dump is pretty important to her."

"Yeah, I know," I nodded. My mom had told me the story of Donald Trump, Leona Summers, and Trumperica thousands of times before. And, I had read her autobiography more times than I could count. Ever since I turned ten, she had made it a point to take me to the National Trumperica Museum in Texas every summer, and even showed me the sections of the Great Wall of Trump that had been preserved as a historical monument . Reliving the horrors of the past must've been extremely painful for her, a former Trumpist, but what could I say? She certainly didn't want anyone to forget what had happened.

"Look! It's Bell!" Jaylene pointed at the door, interrupting my thoughts.

I glanced at the entrance, and sure enough, the Republican Presidential candidate and his wife had entered the hall and were walking through it, followed by a train of paparazzi.

"Ah, Maddie, I was hoping I'd find you here," he smiled, shaking my mom's hand.

"Hello, Hammond," she greeted him, the corners of her mouth turned slightly upward.

"And you must be Lacelett," he turned to me. "I've heard a lot about you from your mother, but I've never had a chance to meet you in person. They say you're quite a remarkable young lady, just like Maddie here was."

"Thank you, Mr. Bell," I nodded.

"Well, you're both in for a very special surprise," Bell cupped his hand over his mouth as he whispered into my mom's ear.

"What? Me?" She gasped.

"Yes, you!" Bell grinned.

"But, what about Leah?"

"Leah Summers is an excellent Congresswoman, but with her family background..."

"It's not her fault she's Leona's sister," my mom pleaded.

"Are you saying you don't wish to accept my offer?"

"No, I'm just saying that it isn't fair to dismiss her because of something she can't control."

"I understand your feelings, Maddie, but other opportunities will come to her. I don't want you feeling guilty because of this."

"Alright," she pursed her lips.

"Good evening, everyone," Bell turned around, addressing the conglomerate of guests throughout the hall. "I know that this is quite an unconventional time and location for such an announcement, but I am also aware that people are asking a question about me. A question that I need to answer immediately. So, without further ado, I would like to present to you my running mate...Madeline Udana!"

Cheers erupted throughout the crowd and the cameras began to click furiously.

However, I was far from excited.

Once again, the charismatic Maddie Udana succeeds.

For the rest of my life, I would live in her shadow.

She was America's hero, and I was stuck being Trumperica's legacy.

"Lacey!" My mom shook my shoulders roughly, snapping me out of my dismal reverie.

"What?"

"We gotta go, now," she hissed.

"What's going on?"

"Leona Summers escaped from prison. She's been gone for two days now, but she looped the security camera feeds, so they just realized she was gone," Bell said softly, fear in his eyes.

"Why is this such a big deal? Criminals escape all the time," I shrugged as my frantic mother pushed me through the crowd, ignoring cameramen and reporters. "They'll find her eventually."

"Don't you understand? I'm the reason she isn't our dictator right now!" She winced as we got into the car, her knuckles turning white on the steering wheel.

"So?"

"Leona is an extremely vengeful person, Lacey," my mom sighed. "Whatever she's planning, she's gonna come for us first."