How Not To Study For Finals
Fox wanted Alex to do well on his finals, so Alex said he'd try. Eagle took it one step better and bribed him. The problem? Tom Harris doesn't know how to study for finals.
Dedicated to SamayouTamashi, who is studying for quarter finals. Good luck!
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Alex Rider glared at his I.M. He couldn't believe it. Of course, when he was studying for his finals, he had to get started receiving messages from Tom. He didn't know what Tom had been up too in the past week, but Tom had chosen now to reply.
TOMBOREDNOW: Hey, Alex! I just got back from my trip with Jerry. What's up?
RIDERSPY9: Why didn't you respond sooner? Or let anyone know you were going, like, say, your teachers? Finals are this next week, Tom!
TOMBOREDNOW: Aw. Crap. Well, my grades are already high, right?
RIDERSPY9: *Not even dignifying that with a response.*
Alex flickered over to his other window, where he was working on typing up his essay. He wanted to talk to Tom, really, he did. It would be such a nice diversion from his homework. But Fox was really pushing him, much more so than Jack ever had, and he wanted – no, he needed – to get good grades this time.
Or Eagle would make sure he never lived it down.
TOMBOREDNOW: I'm tired. I don't want to study.
TOMBOREDNOW: Do I have to study?
RIDERSPY9: It would be a good idea…
TOMBOREDNOW: I want to just go to bed.
RIDERSPY9: Then go to bed and stop bothering me!
Another ten words typed on his essay. Sure, he had all weekend to study, but Eagle had actually bribed him if he could get his last mid-quarter final paper done before Friday. And he admittedly wanted to see how Eagle would make Wolf mad.
TOMBOREDNOW: I don't know why you're studying.
RIDERSPY9: You wouldn't believe me if I told you.
TOMBOREDNOW: I don't think anything you said would surprise me anymore.
RIDERSPY9: Then why were you so surprised that organ harvesters wanted my eyes?
TOMBOREDNOW: I think that the key phrase here is "anymore."
RIDERSPY9: I'm trying to finish this paper, Tom. Can you talk to me in the morning?
TOMBOREDNOW: That depends. First, it depends whether I'll still be here in the morning. After all, a huge earthquake could happen between now and then. Secondly, I have to put up with my parents and they have to decide to allow me out the door…
RIDERSPY9: Tom, the time they didn't let you out the door was when you had a 100 degree fever and you were muttering incoherent things in your sleep.
TOMBOREDNOW: It would have made things more interesting!
RIDERSPY9: Look, Tom, I know this will surprise you –
TOMBOREDNOW: I thought I said nothing could surprise me.
RIDERSPY9: But I actually want to finish this paper. Eagle's going to make Wolf mad if I do.
TOMBOREDNOW: Well, that shouldn't take much. Move a paper clip on the table, punch him in the face…
RIDERSPY9: And I happen to know that Kirkland my teacher will kick my ass if I don't get this in. I want to stay on football.
TOMBOREDNOW: So how is Eagle going to make Wolf mad? I'm assuming he's aiming to make him more upset than usual, right?
RIDERSPY9: I can't tell you.
TOMBOREDNOW: Why not? I wouldn't warn Wolf. Actually, I wouldn't get in a thousand feet of Wolf.
RIDERSPY9: Because Wolf is standing over my shoulder… wondering why I'm not working on my homework.
*Closes IM*
"Nice timing, Wolf," he said as he went back to his paper.
"Why don't you just sign off?" Wolf asked. "And what did Eagle bribe you with, anyway? He won't tell me."
Alex let out a loose grin. "Trust me, Wolf, it's much better that he doesn't."
"Right, spyboy," Wolf responded with a roll of his eyes. "I'm going to bed."
"So early?" Alex called after him.
"It's after nine, and I have to get up at three. So, yes, so early."
Alex grinned as Wolf left the room, flipping open his cell phone and sending Eagle a text:
The target is heading to bed.
Eagle sent one back just as quickly.
I hope you get this paper done, Cub, because I've already made good on my promise.
Wolf let out a holler and a yell, and within two seconds, Alex heard, "Cub, you'd better get the hell back here…"