The hallways were crowded. That itself was an understatement. The teenagers swarmed like angry bees, itching to leave East Ridge High School. Shoulders touched, places to place your feet were difficult to find, and it was hot with a slight odor. Conversation filled the air, keeping the hallways loud. Some seemed stressed, but who could blame them. The term was challenging, but only those who didn't bother to take notes were falling behind.

"Where's my locker again?" Alex Rider turned his head, facing Sabina. His name had been offered to change to Alex Pleasure, but he denied. It was a name he could never let go of.

"It's down the south hall." Sabina answered. She was digging in her bag, trying to reach her mobile. "Do you remember the number?"

"Locker 87 right?" He murmered.

"Right."

The new school resembled Brookland. Alex often found the same dull rooms, same unehtusiastic teachers, same library full of uninteresting books, and he really could have cared less.

Sabina's dad had transferred for his job. Again. They had moved back in the same area Alex used to live, only across town. Sabina and he had decided not to date, for it would have been awkward dating an living together at fifteen, and so he was single. Fortunately, he could still ride his bike to and from school.

Normal parents. It was a concept Alex never experienced until the past month. It was very different. Unlike Jack, they made him clean his room. He remembered how Jack agreed to leave his room alone, and give him space. There was a lot of freedom without parents, but the need for the two guardians made Alex brush the small aspects of freedom aside.

Jack's parents were at Jack's small funeral. It wasn't large at all, and since there was no body, they merely symbolized a small box of her treasures and buried it. Jack's parents gave Alex glares, and the fifteen year old did not blame them.

It was his fault after all.

He missed Jack. Worse, he needed her authority and guidence. He never realized how hard life would have been without her smiling face greeting him home, and her afternoon snacks, and all her caring for him.

"Alex! You forgot these." Alex turned his head to see a boy, brown haired and tall, running towards him with papers clutched in his hands. They were Alex's science notes.

"Thanks Dakota." Alex replied, taking the notes. Dakota nodded and fell into step with him on his other side.

"Don't forget the science quiz tomorrow."

"I won't." Alex and Sabina replied in usion.

Alex bumped shoulders with a girl, and quickly apologized. She didn't have time to acknowledge or even nod before she sped up to match the crowd's walking. Alex could hardly breathe. It began to rain outside, and everyone could hear it on the roof. Alex's chest hurt. He wanted to go home.

"Want me to call mom and see if she can pick us up?" Sabina asked, sticking some chewing gum in her mouth.

"No. You can, but I want to bike home." He replied.

"You sure?" He could tell she was slightly worried about him biking in the rain.

"I'm sure." He answered. She shrugged and put her headphones in. Finally, they reached the east hall and Alex walked towards his locker. Dakota was still walking with him.

"You wanna hang out saturday? Dallas and I are going to see a movie, and maybe you and Sabina can double date with-"

"We're not dating." Sabina cut in quickly. Alex could feel her embarrassment. He also wondered how she could hear him with her headphones in. "He's my brother."

Dakota seemed ataken back. "Whoah, sorry dude, I didn't know." He held his hands up, obviously feeling bad.

"It's fine." Alex slammed his locker shut. He clutched his bag and turned away. "Let's just go."

When they finally reached the doors, they walked outside to be met with a thin blanket of rain. Alex didn't hesitate before walking towards his bike and waving to Sabina. "See you at home."

Home. It didn't feel like home.

Dakota joined him and grabbed his own bike. "Biking through the rain is fun." He grabbed the hood of his black hoodie and pulled it over his head. "If I knew you, you aren't going straight home."

Alex couldn't hold back a smirk. "You think you've figured me out after two weeks?" He questioned, pulling his bike back.

"Well, I know from what Sabina told me, that you always go where you want, without regard of authority."

Alex swung his leg over the bike seat and sat down before turning his head to Dakota. "She said all that?" He asked, slightly surprised.

"A lot more than that. She's known me since grade two, so she trusts me." He flipped his hair and slipped a helmet on. "She talked about you as if you were dating."

"We used to." Alex admitted. "Until I was adopted by her family. But how much has she said about me?" He was slightly uncomfortable about Sabina talking about him. She even claimed he had no regard for authority. It slightly made him ticked off.

"I don't remember a lot of it, but none of it was bad." They were down the road on their bikes within another minute. Alex and Dakota had gotten along since day one at the new school, and Alex was becoming more social by the day.

"But you are right. I want to make a stop at Jack's grave." He said quietly. It was in the same cemetary as Ian's.

Dakota nodded, finding no fault in wanting to visit someone you loved. "Sure. If you want, I could join you. Or do you want to be alone?" Dakota asked, blinking.

"You can join me." Alex responded. They both turned right, letting the cemetary come into view. That was an advantage, he didn't have to bike so far from his school to get to the cemetary any longer. They parked their bikes beside the cemetary and exchanged a glance before entering. Alex lead the way, walking down the middle path to the end. A small tombstone read Jack Starbright, and this is where Alex stopped and kneeled.

Dakota squatted beside him. "Isn't your uncle buried here too?" He asked.

"Yes." Alex turned his head. Two tombs down, another tombstone read Ian Rider.

"How did your uncle die?"

"A car accident." The lie came easily. Alex didn't hesitate. He stared into the words Jack Starbright, as if hoping anything would happen. He slowly reached his hand out and curled his fingers across the engraved words.

"How did your parents die?" Dakota asked curiously, watching Alex.

"Plane crash." He responded. At least that was true.

"And Jack?"

"A car accident. Vehical accidents seem to run into the family." Alex closed his eyes, deep in thought. Dakota had shut his mouth. Alex's chest thumped, and he clutched it painfully.

"What?" Dakota looked at him with concern.

"Nothing. Just an old wound." Alex replied tiredly. "Let's go."

Dakota didn't argue as they walked back towards their bikes. Alex's chest beat again, and he turned his head. Something moved in the bushes outside the cemetary gates. But when he looked, nothing was there, or showed any evidence of someone previously standing there. But something was definitely off.

"Coming?" Dakota called. He was already holding his handles. The rain was beginning to get harder, and Alex was getting soaked. Something was telling him to investigate, to run over there. His instincts were trying to control him.

"Yes." He turned towards the bikes, pushing his anticipation behind. He was a schoolboy, nothing more.

Cool, this is my first Alex Rider fanfic. I appreciate any constructive critisizm, but no flaming please. Don't worry, there will be plenty of action. Plus a villan who no one would expect.

Please review!

~Stormy:D