-1Disclaimer: Alex Rider and anything to with the Alex Rider books do not belong to me - they belong to Anthony Horowitz.
A/n: I'd like to just say that my little cousin Alice helped a lot with the storyline for this fic ! Thanks Alice.
The Truth.
"And that's a strike for me!" Alex walked back up the bowling lane back to where his friends sat waiting for their final turn. "Why don't you all just give up because there's no way you're going to be able to beat that"
"Yeah? Well we'll see" Caleb Johnson, one of Alex's best friends since primary school, said. He got up picked the ball up and landed a gutter ball...twice.
"Oh you're amazing, Caleb! How long have you been doing this professionally without telling us I'm hurt" said Alex's other friend Ryan Atkinson, who along with Tom Harris had come along for the bowling game.
Alex had been back at school for four weeks and steadily his life had been getting better. The guys at school had started hanging around with him again after the second week he was back. They had been avoiding him but after they had seen the cuts and bruises left on his body after coming back to Earth in the escape pod from Ark Angel they had started to be friends with him again. Tom had especially helped Alex get over what had happened and being the only person at school that knew of Alex's involvement with MI6 he had started rebuilding the bridges between Alex and the other kids. So here they were bowling from 8 till 9 on a Wednesday just like they had done every week before Alex had left on his first mission, things were finally looking up.
Ryan got up lined up the ball and let it roll down the lane leaving only one pin upright. Silently he walked back and picked up the next ball waiting for the pins to be cleared. This shot would determine the winner as he and Alex were drawing. He let the ball go and watched as it went in a perfectly straight line, knocking over the pin and winning him the game.
"Now that's what I'm talking about" he said raising his arms in the air and performing a strange type of victory dance.
"Yeah whatever, I'll beat you next time" Alex said turning to pick up his shoes and put them on.
After the match had been won they packed up the lane and headed out the back door.
"So have you guys done the maths homework for Professor Dranley, I got really confused" Tom asked.
"Yeah I did it last night but I have no doubt it's all wrong so you don't want to know my answers" Ryan said, "I was half …."
He cut off as four figures blocked the alley they were walking down on each side, trapping them in the middle.
"Alex Rider?" one of the asked. Their faces couldn't be seen in the shadows but Alex had a distinct feeling that the man who had just spoken was grinning.
"Yeah what's it to you" he asked moving to face the man effectively blocking his friends from them.
"Oh it's nothing to me, it's just someone I know tells me you're a nuisance. One that needs to be rid of"
Alex swallowed. He could probably take these four on himself, they were bigger than him but he was quicker and if his previous missions had taught him anything it's that speed and agility can help win the fight. Alex had been taught how to use both them and his size to take down bigger and stronger opponents and was confident in his skills, but could he do it with his friends behind him. For one it would mean possibly exposing his career with MI6 and also they could try and help and get hurt.
"O.K." Alex said "we can do this but let these guys stand back" he indicated Ryan, Tom and Caleb who were stood behind him.
"Sure I can do that, but I don't know what you mean by 'we' doing anything, I'm planning on beating you to death" The first guy said smiling at the thought.
"What about a fair fight, unless you're afraid I'll beat you, which is most likely"
The smile fell from his face as he saw the confident stance Alex was in and the way his voice didn't sound scared at all. Alex glanced back at his friends, who had been pushed outside of the circle he was now in the middle of.
" I am not afraid of a little kid who thinks he can play with the big people and survive to get to fifteen, which is not going to happen"
" I've fought worse than you and I'm still here" Alex said, a smile playing on his lips.
"We'll see about that" the man said aiming a punch at Alex's head. Alex ducked and kicked him in the chest sending him sprawled on the floor. One of the other goons came at Alex and he spun and kicked the mans feet from under him making him fall onto his back in a painful position. The third guy grabbed Alex around his neck and started to put pressure on his wind pipe. He saw Tom coming to help him and shook his head making Tom stop. Alex stamped on his assailants foot and as he was doubled up in pain he aimed a elbow at his nose and punched him in the face sending him out cold. The last man ran at Alex who realised too late that he was holding a knife. Alex felt the searing pain in his shoulder and found himself laying on the ground. After all the pain Alex had been through on his previous missions he knew how to push through it and with a thought to get it checked out later he pulled out the knife just as his attacker knelt down next to him and put his hands around Alex's neck and squeezed. Alex kicked the man in the stomach and stood up and faced him. He blocked a punch and then rolled out of the way of a kick bringing the knife up and sticking it in the mans leg, resulting in him falling to the floor in pain. Alex got up and looked at his friends who had been standing there with their mouths open since the fight began. He pulled out his phone and pressed the speed dial for MI6.
"Hi this is Alex Rider I was just attacked in the alley outside of Hollywood Bowl and I need someone to come and pick up these guys."
"O.K. Mr Rider" said the voice on the other end of the line, "just secure your attackers and we'll have a team there in 5 minutes"
"I'll do that thanks" Alex put the phone down and turned to his friends.
"Alex that was soooooooo cool" Tom said breaking the silence "how'd you learn to fight like that, it was amazing"
"Would you believe me if I said karate?" Alex asked
"No way, Alex I've seen what they teach at your class and although they teach you the moves there's no way they teach you to kick ass like that" Caleb said.
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you later. Right now we have to secure these guys." Alex motioned at the unconscious men laying on the floor. He took off his jacket and used the knife to tear it into threads and bind the men's hands and feet.
"Alex you really seem to know what your doing, why is that?" Ryan asked looking suspicious.
"Guys leave Alex alone he just saved our butts, if he doesn't want to talk he doesn't have to" Tom said.
"I'd tell you right now if I could it's just that I have to wait for permission from some people before I can give away any more information. I'm waiting for them now"
"Err Alex, I think their here now" Ryan said looking behind Alex.
Alex spun around coming face to face with Wolf!
A/n: I'm not going to be able to update for a while because I'm off on holiday but please review!