Alex looked darkly at Sabina, knowing he had drawn a very short straw. Of all the weekends for Dean Cox to stand his girlfriend up, for her 'leaving school forever' party. An event Sabina was not going to miss and that meant the agoraphobic adopted brother got dragged along as her plus one. He was not friends with any Sabina's long standing group of pals. He had only briefly attended High School and had for the past two years been homeschooled after a rather embarrassing breakdown and brief stint in a psychiatric ward. He was viewed by all with a strange mix of sympathy, pity, horror and worst of all hero worship. There had been a couple of attempts at cruel bullying of Alex the nutcase, but Sabina had cut those fools out of her life with immediate effect. As Ms. Popular, the dark haired tall beauty had effectively made those ex-friends social pariahs and also made all others leave her darling younger brother alone as he was off limits.

That school, Sabina's alma mater, was tainted by one awful event when a loner in Senior year had decided to become a mass murderer. Both he and Sabina bore scars from that day. So did her best friend Holly, his number one fan and founding member of the Alex Pleasure fan club. That day Alex's favourite teacher had died. Two years later, drawn into those memories he was teetering on the edges of panic. Better not to dwell on it, just think of coke, pizza and then the inevitable karaoke, Sab's favourite method of torture. Difficult during a meal when most of the invitees also had nightmares about that day. He had been placed in four junior year classes with Sabina. His algebra, german, french and spanish all now finished.

His driving licence stated he was Alexander J.R. Pleasure. He was officially the son of Liz and Edward and had been for just over a year. A different name for a completely different boy, silent and introverted rather than smart mouthed and outgoing. His hair long and unkempt, wearing baggy generic clothes, a style his mother hated. Liz frequently suggested shopping and a makeover, but that was not happening.

So, he was still months of work away from his own graduation for one, stuck as a plus one for a girl who was going to be life and soul of this party and he was damn sure it was all a thinly veiled plot just to get him out of the house. Pizza, Karaoke and nothing illegal happening whatsoever, no with Sabina, who was teetotal, virginal and unfailing polite. Two years ago, he would have taken on drug dealers, assassins and every megalomaniac going. Now he just wanted to stay in his room.

Life was meant to be sticking to goals, only Alex's ideas on goals were totally different to his therapist's and his parents. The quiet life, that was what he had settled on. His room, no tv, schoolwork and taking up a new hobby. He had chosen guitar lessons as part of his therapy. Classical guitar lessons twice a week and music camp in the summer. Camp for him as the Pleasure's minus their son went back to England to visit friends and relatives. In the vacuum left by ditching all other activities, he loved music and had taught himself folk, blues and was exploring rock music at the moment. He had saved up his allowance and had bought a decent electric guitar and amp at a yard sale last January as his birthday present to himself. He also grown to love Liz's quirky music collection of Barclay James Harvest, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Queen, early Rod Stewart, Gerry Rafferty, Cat Stevens, Elkie Brooks as well as Edward's few punk and early goth albums. He listened to these vinyl gems when he could not sleep. Helped by headphones, meaning no one was the wiser of his nocturnal activities.

Sabina disturbed him and had made him change into the outfit she picked, brush his hair and put his shoulder length thick blond mane into a bad 'Beckham' style ponytail and was then deemed fit to go out. He caught a glimpse of the reflection of a thin and tall young man dressed in black converse, black skinny jeans and a white shirt. Items bought by Sabina for his seventeenth birthday and never worn. He looked lovely according to Liz. All Edward said was be home by midnight. Alex shuddered when he thought of the spell of normality breaking, and the curse of an interesting life reemerging. He was not going to panic, no vomiting, no hysterics, no uncontrollable weeping. Been there, done that.

"Want to share a pizza, Alex?" Sabina suggested seeing that her charge was looking a bit green.

"I was thinking of just a starter… and maybe a side salad. We had pasta for lunch. I'd settle for a share though if you want your fav." Ms. size four jeans loved meat supreme with extra cheese. Alex had stopped any thoughts of favourite foods in 2002, when each choice made him think of Ian or Jack and the pile of lies that constituted his childhood. If anyone asked he liked plain hamburgers, vanilla ice cream and club soda. Neutral foods for his neutral life.

"Sure thing, we can have any leftovers for breakfast."

Alex was nursing his water. He had eaten his ice cubes. The place was far enough away from tourist haunts not to be crowded. The bar decorated in over the top Tokyo style, right down to the karaoke rig. He was not part of the conversation, sandwiched between his two guardian angels, Sabina and Holly. Bland music in the background, he fancied something with a bit of an edge. With the whisper of "Going for a slash", he escaped.

…

Sabina had finished her sprite and Alex had not returned from his sojourn to the men's room. She then noted someone was actually singing a decent song. She loved Little Bird by Annie Lennox. Then she noted it was Alex. Out came her iPhone. She was going to video this for her mater and pater as they would not believe this without evidence. Alex was rocking it, who knew he could sing and with that range. For a boy who had barely left the house for twenty months this was amazing.

Alex read the email from Paul and laughed. For two years the former spy had lived like a hermit in the suburbs of San Francisco. One trip out and Sabina had posted his full on diva impression on youtube. Two days and he was going back to music camp to hang out with Cassian. It was a million miles from all Ian had wanted from him, but he had poured his heart and soul into his guitar, now for the next step, composition.

There was a knock at his bedroom door. "Its open"

"Sorry to disturb you Alex, but Grayson is here… Holly's brother. He wants to talk about about his band."

Alex had said hello to Gray twice in the years ago Sabina and Holly had been inseparable. The boy with long dark hair was a bass player in a local band.

"Hi, Gray. What's up?"

"Hey, AJ. Its just a heads up. My band, well my guitarist is making waves. I heard from Holly that you are a serious musician and well, will you audition if I need a new line up? Hill wants to do things more pop and well, that ain't me. I'll leave you a CD of my songs. I think I'm on the right track, serious songs, big issues not singing about loosing my girl but I'm there if you have some bright ideas. I'll see you in August when you get back from Arizona."

The white CD cover was emblazoned with red pen, The Forgotten Heroes. That sounded like an excellent name for a rock band with attitude.