Nowadays, when Tom and Alex spent time together, they were usually doing homework. Today, for example, Tom was watching Alex speed through several worksheets and occasionally offering corrections. Suddenly Tom sat up.

"Alex?" he asked, "what's the story behind the earrings?"

Alex lifted a hand to his ear unconsciously, stopping short of touching the stud in it.

"It's an explosive," he said.

Tom shifted closer to see. "Cool," he breathed, "they gave you a bomb and attached it to your head?!"

"Yeah, so now I can't take it out," Alex said with a grin. He started working again, still smiling.