"Who's this, Rider, your girlfriend?"
"No," answered Alex evenly. "She's my cousin." One of the numerous school bullies had seized on Alexandra the moment she'd come through the gates at Brookland. Alex didn't know his name but always thought of him as Hog, because he looked so much like one. Jack and Alex had made up the story of a recently orphaned cousin because to normal people, clones were a bit ludicrous.
"She looks a lot like you," jeered Hog. "Is it because she's on drugs, too?"
Alex pushed past him, pulling Alexandra by the wrist.
"Ok." He turned to face her. "That's one to steer clear of."
"What's this about drugs?" she asked.
"This rumor about me, because I'm away so much," sighed Alex. "You know why."
"I'm starting to hate Alan Blunt."
"Starting?"
And then came the ski trip. Mr. Grey was handing out permission slips. He was saying, "This one is new to the school. We're going to a ski resort in Seattle. Consider if you're going to go carefully," his eyes landed on Alex. "Getting homesick won't help things."
Alexandra was staring at her slip wide-eyed. Later, on the way to their next class, she asked, "They organize trips out of the country?"
"Yep. You want to come?"
"Hell yeah!" Alex laughed.
"Yeah, I do to. Although, I'm not sure what Jack will think. Last time I went on a trip out of the country, I ended up working for Scorpia. I'll tell you the details later," he added, to deter questions.
"But if we do go," he grinned. "With our cheetah-balance, we'd be great on the snowboards!"
Dinner came and went, and Jack was still thinking it over. When Alex asked her about it, she fretted, "Remember Venice? I can't and won't go through another scenario like that, Alex. And worse, this is the other side of the world! I don't want to sit at home alone while you go off and risk your life!"
"This isn't risking our lives, Jack," said Alexandra soothingly. "All we'll do is go down on snowboards a couple times. And anyway," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "This'll give you some alone time with Snake."
Jack's resolve crumbled. "Well…"
"Ok, Jack! Thanks a million!"
They ran up to pack before she could change her mind.
First chapter DONE. Yeah I know it's short, but so's everything else I write. REVIEW! PLEASE!