(This story is posted on the Literotica website. Do not repost anywhere else without the author's consent. For fans of my stories, they know what kinds of things to expect. This story deals with similar themes as the stories by wannabeboytoy, seducedHylas, and Dark Betrayal, namely cheating, betrayal, and heartbreak. If stuff like that isn't your cup of tea, then you probably shouldn't bother reading it. Also, I would like to thank my biggest fan for his help coming up with the idea and preparing this story, and I would like to thank ForeShadow as well for his help. This story deals with religious themes. I know this is a touchy subject; this is not meant as a criticism of organized religion, and should be read in good humor. I do not condone any of these actions in real life. This is just a story. Enjoy.)
Adam and Paula Fitzpatrick had left their home town of Parkersboro to escape the rampant corruption that gripped it to its core. They would return ten years later with hopes of cleaning it up.
Adam and Paula were high school sweethearts. Adam had always been an outspoken guy, and that is what attracted Paula to him. To be honest, she had had a crush on him for years.
They went to school together, and they also went to the same church. That was where she first laid eyes on him, during Sunday School, when they were children. She was smitten at first sight, but was too nervous to say anything. As she grew up, she just could not seem to work up the nerve to confess her feelings. She talked herself away from him, afraid of rejection, and her childish crush dissipated with maturity, though those initial feelings still lingered.
During her middle school and early high school years, she explored other options, while still keeping an eye on Adam. That old flame still flickered, but not as brightly. Adam had always seemed shy as well, but as he grew up, he became more outgoing and outspoken. And once this happened, Paula's crush began to burn brightly once again.
She would watch him when he was on stage with the debate team, and the passion with which he spoke reaffirmed her attraction to him immediately. It also didn't hurt that he had become an exceedingly handsome young man.
Paula loved intelligent men, so watching this handsome young man speak with wisdom beyond his years, passionately defending his views and high minded ideals, was enough to rekindle the embers of Paula's crush. He drove her wild every time she saw him, watching him quietly from the crowd, heart pounding and face flushed hot and pink.
It took awhile, but Paula eventually worked up the nerve to talk to him, and she could see him perk up when she started talking politics. Their first meeting evolved from awkward chit-chat into a friendly debate, and she could feel his respect for her growing as they developed a fluid give and take, each conceding politely to the other's point of view. They started dating soon after that, and quickly became inseparable.
Adam recognized a kindred spirit in Paula. For most people his age, talking about politics and world issues was taboo; most of their classmate's interests were banal and selfish, ordinary. In Paula, he found someone he could talk to and learn from. She was as informed and proactive as he was. It also didn't hurt that she was extremely cute. Cute and funny. And she didn't let him get too serious about things. She kept him grounded and did not let him take himself too seriously.
Adam wasn't the type of guy to go after the hottest girl around; though those types of vapid sluts seemed to pursue him endlessly, drawn to him despite his disinterest. He wanted a girl with substance. And Paula had substance. She had personality.
That's not to say she wasn't pretty, because she was. She may not be a model, but she was more than enough for him. She had a cute, round cheeked, face, with mousy brown hair and a light bit of freckles. She had smooth, creamy pale skin. Her body was petite, and he soon realized that Paula had some body issues.
Adam still remembered the first time they made love. It was both of their first times. It was the greatest moment of his life up to that point. He enjoyed himself, but Paula at times seemed hesitant and unsure. She did not think her boobs enough for him, but he comforted her, telling her anything more than a handful was a waste. She didn't think her butt was round enough, her slim hips wide enough, but he consoled her, telling her it was perfect as is, and yet again, more than a handful is a waste. As time went on, Paula loosened up, and Adam could feel her confidence grow in herself, as he constantly reassured and comforted her.
Paula couldn't help but wonder how she got so lucky to end up with a man like Adam. In her opinion, he was the hottest guy she had ever seen. He had a lean, muscular, build, solid but not imposing. He had a strong jaw line and sharp features, making him stand out from the crowd. He had a boyish charm, and an extremely charming smile, and these features made him seem approachable and affable. And he had a smile you had to earn. Sometimes, he could be a bit too serious about things, but Paula knew just the way to ground him and put that cute smile of his on his face. He had charisma that could carry a room. He never dominated the conversation, he always let people speak their mind, but the way he spoke made everyone want to listen.
Paula could tell he was meant to be a politician. He was perfect for it. Paula realized she could never do the things Adam could do. Adam was a star. But Adam needed someone like her at his side, and Paula vowed to be there.
Paula knew it was destiny when Adam confessed that he had had a crush on her since they were young, when he saw her at Sunday School, but had been too shy to approach her. They shared a laugh as she confessed the same feelings during her younger days, and they wondered what could have been had they gotten together earlier.
Adam proposed to Paula during their graduation ceremony. There was not a dry eye in the house. Most parents would be hesitant to let their 18 year old child get married, but their parents realized those two were perfect for each other. They married quickly at the Church they had attended their entire lives, the Church where they had first seen each other.
It was as they were deciding which college to attend that they realized the corruption that had spread through the town they grew up in. Parkersboro had seemed like the perfect little town, but as they grew up the shiny veneer of the city started to disappear, revealing the town's seedy underbelly. Urban decay set in, as streets fell into disrepair, street gangs spread graffiti, and vandals ran rampant, destroying or desecrating public property. Those in government were exposed for some of the unseemly things they did; bribes, back alley deals, abuse of power, scandal; but they always seemed to escape justice. The drug trade was thriving, and the police were unable or unwilling to do anything about it, as most of the cops were eventually revealed to be on the take. The criminals were running the town, it seemed, and no one was stopping them.
Most importantly for them, though, was that this taint had spread to the Church. Both of them were devout Catholics, and they both would say that part of the reason they turned out as grounded, mature, young adults was due to their involvement in the Church. But the Church's greed and suspicion of involvement in some shady dealings had shaken their faith. Now that their Church was corrupt, it seemed that part of what made their home was gone and the memory of those bright and happy days with it.
Both Adam and Paula were aware of this cancerous taint, but neither was in a position to do anything about it. Adam hated what his hometown had become. He vowed to himself that he would change things. He would not let himself be corrupted like so many others were. He vowed to be a beacon of hope. He vowed to be the one to change things. But he knew now was not the time. It was with heavy hearts that both of them chose to leave Parkersboro and go to college out of state, both leaving home for the first time.
They were nervous as they entered college, unsure of how to start a new life in a new place. But they acclimated quickly and turned this new city into their new home. They got a house together, they joined a Church together, and they went to school together. Things were great.
As time passed, it still nagged at both of them that their home town had ended up with such a tarnished reputation. They both kept up with Parkersboro in the news, and things only seemed to get worse. This grated them, but they were still not in a place to be able to do anything.
They both went on to study Political Science in school, hoping to pursue a career in politics, but, deep down, they both knew Adam was the one with a future in politics. He was a man that could get people on his side. Paula was just as intelligent as he was, but she did not have the charisma, the passion, or the strikingly good looks that he did. She was not a bad looking girl, but she did not stand out from the crowd.
Immediately after graduation, Adam and Paula both got jobs with the local government. They knew they needed to get their feet wet, and experience how the political system worked first-hand. It did not take long for people to recognize Adam's political talent, and once they did he quickly rose within the political ladder. Within two years he was elected mayor.
This city had never had a more popular Mayor. For once, the Mayor was not some cigar chomping stodgy old rich guy, but a young and vibrant forward thinking go-getter, who genuinely cared about the community. He was clever, using the media and the internet in a way the old guard would never think of. He was a young-man in an old-man's game. His charisma won over people quickly, and the disillusioned youth found someone they could believe in. He was their voice. And to the dismay of his competitors, he was an immediate success. The local economy grew, unemployment went down and local businesses thrived. And he was most proud of the fact that he had stood up to corruption. He had been offered bribes, offered back-alley deals, and he was even threatened, but Adam stood up for himself. He stood up for good. He had succeeded in the way he wanted to. He had never felt more pride.
As his first term came to an end, people were calling for his re-election. But the truth was his thoughts still dwelled on Parkersboro. He knew now he had what it took to clean up a town, and get it on the straight and narrow. He knew he had what it took to end corruption, and nothing tantalized him quite like going home and cleaning it up. Part of him wanted to stay here and continue the work he started, but he couldn't resist the temptation. It was with a heavy heart that he announced that he would not be returning as Mayor for a second term. He was going home.
Adam and Paula returned home for the first time in nearly ten years. It was nice to see their friends and family, but unfortunately, Parkersboro had not improved. The strain of corruption was apparent in every facet of the town. The businesses, City Hall, and even the schools. Adam knew he had his work cut out for him.
Adam had already started his campaign for Mayor of his birthplace, and even though the election was not for another eight months, he had a home base set up, in an old restaurant, where he had his people spreading the good word about him, generating positive buzz.
Paula was his campaign adviser, and helped handle the financial side of the campaign. She was the perfect person to have on his side, and plus, it was nice to spend as much time as he could with his soul-mate.
