Before you begin just to let you know, this is my first ever story so sorry if it's not that good, please read n review :D
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Chapter one
Alex Rider yawned. It was his first week back in school after the whole Damian Cray business. He hadn't slept properly for a while after the incident on the plane, he'd been up every night wondering about Scorpia,his destiny and his father. Was his dad really a cold hearted assassin, just like Yassen Gregorovich? He found it hard to fathom, yet he could see in the Russians eyes he was telling the truth.
A sharp pain in his ribs bought him back to Assembly.
"Ow, what was that for?" mumbled Alex to his closest friend Tom Harris, who had just elbowed him.
"Have you heard about Chloe Stryker?" Asked Tom quietly, so the head teacher, Mr Black wouldn't hear them and issue them with a detention.
"Chloe Striker?" Repeated Alex, picturing the pretty, blue eyed brunette, a year above him in his head. "No, I've been out of touch of all the events happening around here for a while, why? What's happened?"
"Her dad died ini, she's refusing to go into care, she saying she's capable of looking after herself."
"Whoa, how did he die? And hasn't she got any other relatives?" asked Alex.
Tom shook his head. "She had a brother apparently, but her mum and dad and the brother went on holiday to Russia, years ago, where her mum died and they lost her brother who was only a few years old at the time."
"What, how the hell do you loose a baby?" exclaimed Alex
"No one knows the full story, but there's a rumour he was kidnapped," Explained Tom quietly.
"What about her dad, how did he die?" Alex repeated.
"According to the authorities, it was a plane accident, but it wasn't reported on the news or anything," said Tom with a confused expression.
Alex wondered if some how this incident could be linked to MI6 or another agency, but he decided he was just being paranoid. Another thought struck him-his own parents had died in an aero plane accident.
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The bell rang and Alex headed out with the rest of the school children. Looking ahead, he could see Chloe Striker walking alone instead of her usual gang of friends. As he was wondering if he should offer his commiserations, Chloe looked up. Alex frowned, he was sure she reminded him of someone-he just couldn't remember who. Realising he was staring, he quickly muttered an apology.
"What for, I'm sick of everyone apologizing, you didn't do anything," snapped Chloe.
"What are you on about?" exclaimed Alex. As soon as the words left his words, it dawned on him she thought he was apologizing for the death of her father.
"Its not exactly your fault he died is it? And sorry don't really change anything." Chloe shot back.
Alex realised she was after an argument. "Look I really was sorry to hear about your dad, I know what its like, both my parents died in a plane crash when I was a baby, I know sorry don't change nothing but at least it shows you people are thinking of you."
"I'm sorry to hear that," muttered Chloe and then realizing what she said, she smiled.
Alex laughed. "See what I meant?"
Chloe nodded and looked depressed again.
"Look I know we don't really know each other and you got plenty of friends, but if you ever want to talk, I'm here for you." Alex had no idea why he was offering to be her therapist, but something about Chloe made him feel he should. She'll probably turn me down anyway, he thought to himself.
Chloe thought to herself-she'd never been any good at opening up to people and trusting them, but there was something about Alex then made her feel like she could trust him with anything. "What about right now?"
Alex glanced at his watch, they had about 45 minutes left till their lunch break was over. "Yeah sure," he said.
"come on, we'll go to McDonald's, its only around the corner."
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10 minutes later, Alex and Chloe were sitting silently at table.
"Sorry, I just don't know were to begin," muttered Chloe.
Alex nodded, understanding. "It's alright, take your time."
A few minutes later Chloe started to speak. "I use to have a brother you know, called Sean, I hadn't been born then, my mum was still alive and her, dad and Sean went on holiday to Russia, and they went to a beach. Mum had fallen asleep sunbathing and dad went to get ice cream leaving Sean, playing in the sand, with mum." Chloe paused and closed her eyes.
"It's okay," Alex said softly.
"Sorry, well when dad returned he said Sean had just vanished, him and mum looked everywhere, and had everyone else on the beach searching for about and hour then they called the police, but no one ever seen him again, it's like he vanished into thin air." Chloe's voice broke of as she started to sob.
Oh crap, thought Alex, he was never any good at these kind of situations, not that there had been many. "Hey, it's okay," he muttered, putting his arm awkwardly around her.
After a few minutes, Chloe calmed down enough to be able to talk. "I'm sorry, I don't know why I get like this, I've never even met him, it's just the fact that I don't even know if he's dead or alive. Dad had stopped talking about him, the few rare occasions he did, I could tell it was hurting him." She opened her bag and took out purse and handed Alex a picture from it.
The picture showed a pale, rosy cheeked toddler, with blond hair and big blue eyes, smiling cheekily.
"He looks just like you other than the blond hair," muttered Alex.
Chloe smiled sadly. "Yeah, he's gone to dad."
Alex nodded, wondering if she was going to start talking about her dad now, that's what he thought the conversation would have about in the first place.
"Well you already know about dad don't you," stated Chloe.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that, he was your only living relative wasn't he?" asked Alex, even though he knew the answer.
"Other than Sean, yeah."
Alex nodded.
Chloe smiled. "You're a good listener you know, when dad died, all my friends were phoning me up every minute asking a million questions, but you just wait for me to explain what I want in my own time."
Alex laughed. "That's because I know, what it's like, I've been through it."
Chloe understood. "Yeah, your uncle, and every time you disappear for a while."
Then realising what she said, she quickly apologized. "Sorry, it's got nothing to do with me," she muttered, blushing.
"It's okay, well you've opened up to me, so I'm not going to lie to you, but I don't think I can tell you either, it's not that I don't trust you, it's really complicated and you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you," explained Alex hoping she understood.
Chloe was silent for a minute, then she smirked. "well this is my therapy session, so we'll leave it for now, but yours will come soon, don't worry."
Alex grinned, relieved she wasn't offended.
Chloe frowned, then said, "There's something weird going on though, I just don't now what."
"What do you mean?" asked Alex sounding confused.
"I don't know to explain, but for some reason I find it hard to believe dad is dead- I'm not in denial or anything, but it seems strange that the place where he worked is in charge of everything, and then there's the fact that they won't let me see his body."
"Where did he work?" Alex asked, thinking how insane it would be if it was the bank.
"The bank on Liverpool Street-The Royal And General," replied Chloe. "Why do you look like someone's died?"
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Thanks for reading :D,pleaaaseeeeee review and let me know what you think, i know it's not very good but its my first ever story and im just making it up as i go along, tips,ideas and suggestions very welcome. :D
xxx
