I realized I forgot to put the disclaimer in the first chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider and all related characters in any way or form. All others you are not familiar with are most probably mine. The good stuff is Anthony Horowitz's. I just play with them like kids with a complete Barbie collection. This disclaimer serves for the whole story, and all future (and past…) chapters.
Chapter 2
He couldn't believe he was late. Of all days.
He hand-combed his windswept hair, keeping one hand on the handle bars, his arms close to his side, and his backpack bouncing on his shoulder blades. He'll kiss Alan Blunt if he makes it before the teacher.
54… 53… 52… 51… 50…
Almost there. One more flight!
38… 37… 36… 35… 34…
Alex could already see the door of his homeroom class at the other end of the corridor.
20… 19… 18… 17… 16
"I -," pant, "- AM NOT -," gasp, "- LATE."
Alex burst through the classroom door and all but dived into the seat behind Tom Harris'. He couldn't see straight; his adviser, his classmates, the classroom, it didn't matter. All he could concentrate on was breathing. His morning workout, a five kilometer bike-and-dash from his house, to the school lot, and finally to his classroom in less than ten minutes, more than made up for his missed training last Saturday.
As the bell rang, Alex almost wanted to whoop in triumph, but he was still busy inhaling all the morning air his lungs could take in.
"Good morning, Mr. Rider. What a way to start the term."
"Hey, mate, you okay?"
Alex Rider was usually a perceptive and alert teenager, more so than most men twice his age, but his current lack of Oxygen was making it hard for him to focus on anything else other than breathing and the pain in his wound. He was still clutching his chest when he unconsciously ignored his teacher, not registering the voicees around him.
As the spy's breathing regulated, and every seat was taken, the teacher decided to start class.
"As you all know, Ms. Miller will not coming back any time soon." Alex was still hunched over when it hit him. His little morning escapade made him forget all about his long, mostly-one-sided discussion with Mrs. Jones.
"So as of today I will be your homeroom adviser for the rest of the year."
Alex didn't have to raise his head to know who it was. Mrs. Jones was right when she said it wouldn't take much to recognize the agent. The new teacher droned on to introduce himself.
"My name is Ben Daniels, and I will be handling the Year Ten and Eleven English from this term until June." Though the MI6 agent was nothing like Wolf, Alex could see him take control of the class so easily. Few teachers were able to do this. "Since English is a mandatory subject, I expect to see you all in my class today." Mr. Daniels - Ben, Fox, Sir, whatever Alex was supposed to call him - didn't seem like a man who appreciated literature, let alone read. Snake, maybe, but then again Alex didn't know any of them too well.
Alex zoned out as Ben, and probably all the rest of the homeroom classes, were informed of some new staff members and the reason for all the missing teachers.
Maybe it won't be so bad. Ben seemed like a good guy during the Snakehead mission, and he did get shot for me and all. But then that's part of his job, right? To protect me… and MI6 could have just told him to play nice with me. I bet he's still not over that whole Brecon Beacons thing.
Tom couldn't reach back far enough to poke his best friend with his pencil without looking suspicious, and he was sure Alex would not appreciate it if he flung the pencil behind him and risk stabbing an eye.
Alex was totally oblivious to Tom's attempt to capture his attention, still gazing out the window.
I hope I get through this alive. Those body guards I'm going to get can't be that bad if they're willing to teach a whole school of teenagers. Then again, knowing MI6, they probably weren't that willing. How did MI6 get body guards to become teachers? Or maybe they made the teachers into macho men. At least Ben is SAS…sort of. Jones did mention they were from SAS. I wonder what they did to get a job this low.
"Rider, Alex."
I shouldn't let this get to me so much. I need to pay more attention to class.
"Rider, Alex."
And I really need to buy an alarm clock. And maybe some sleeping pills too. I feel like I'm going to pass out in training later. I feel like I'm about to pass out just sitting here.
"ALEXANDER JOHN RIDER, this roll call cannot go on forever."
Alex snapped to attention and he heard Tom sigh in front of him.
His eyes locked with the agent he saw barely a month ago. He held a steady gaze, before he whispered, "Present."
Ben frowned, but did not say anything else, before breaking eye contact and checking the student's name on the clipboard, then moving on to Stewart, Bethany.
There was no way Alex could have missed that frown, but that didn't mean he knew what it implied. Ben was probably unhappy that Alex was already showing bad behavior on his first day teaching.
How did he even get this job? Is he even qualified? And he's MI6. Do they actually give out these kinds of 'missions'? This is such a waste of time.
"Class dismissed." They were dismissed more than five minutes before the bell. Some teachers did that so the late kids would be able to go fix their things in their lockers. Some of them anyway. Of course, the chances that this adviser gave them a few minutes of free time made Alex suspicious.
"Mr. Rider, stay behind, please."
Alex was almost tempted to roll his eyes in front of his teacher. Almost.
The rest of the class filed out, Tom giving him an incredulous look that he could get in trouble on the first school day of the year. It reminded Alex that he had yet to tell Tom about his situation right now.
"Don't wait up for me. I'll meet you second period." Tom gave him a you-better-tell-me-what-happened look and was the last one out the door besides Alex and their adviser.
Alex took his time fixing his bag, trying to ignore the stare burning through the side of his skull. He took out his review papers, straightened them out, uncurling the folded corners in an almost obsessive compulsive manner, and putting them back in his bag. His uncrumpling was pointless when he stood up, the zipper of his backpack folding the papers inside again.
I should buy a folder later, after training.
It was all he could think of, proving how small the classroom was. It took only a whole two second to get from the back corner of the classroom to the front of the teacher's table.
"Yes, Mr. Daniels?"
Ben almost looked offended by his formal greeting. Like an MI6 agent should, he quickly masked it.
"You can call me Ben when we're alone Cub – Alex."
"Not if someone can overhear us. You should know that."
Alex expected punishment for back talk, detention, maybe, but not a silly grin and a machine gun mouth.
"Alex, Alex – do you want me to call you that? Or do you prefer Rider, or Cub? – anyway, are you free tonight after training?" – Alex raised an eyebrow. Fox was obviously given his complete schedule. – "Or do you have a lot of homework you still haven't finished during the winter break? I heard you completed most of your current coursework with your various tutors, and maybe you'd want some rest." He kept talking, and Alex wasn't sure whether he expected him to reply or not. "What about I bring you home after football? Have a little chat, catch up with life, you know? I might not have been able to keep contact with you after the Dragon Nine incident, what with my injury and all," Maybe that's why he got sent here, because he was inactive after the wound I gave him, "but I didn't only get this job because MI6 told me so."
Alex saw Ben's mouth opening to continue, but the bell cut him off. He switched topics, his excited face giving way to a sincere smile.
"Well, that's the bell, you should get going. Here's a slip," He bent down to sign a piece of paper, "so your teacher will excuse you if you decide to head to your locker first. I remember it being a bit far from here, and weren't able to drop by earlier. I'm certain you did not have an awfully good morning, so take it slow, alright? Your entrance today was quite spectacular, though I do hope you give a little less... dramatic morning tomorrow."
Just when Alex thought Ben wouldn't stop, he shoved the piece of paper in Alex's face, his mouth stretched out again into a big smile. Alex knew he was faking the smile. Ben knew that Alex knows, and Alex knew that Ben knows that he knows.
Alex grabbed the paper from Ben's hand without their skins coming in contact. He knew he should be a bit more, eh, outgoing. At least try to initiate something.
At least Ben tries, even if Blunt just ordered him too.
Nothing was said as Alex walked out of the classroom and headed for his Mathematics class. It was one of the few classes he didn't share with Tom, and consequently one of the most boring. He'd be flunking this subject if not for his natural aptitude for geometry.
Alex wasn't paying attention in homeroom, so he was not sure if his Maths class had a new teacher.
Well, no use just thinking about it. Might as well not be late and find out already before surprises hit me in the face again.
When he looked back at what he was thinking in between homeroom and his first period, Alex felt like punching himself. To add to my already bruised face.
Alex never did quite mean it literally.
His teacher – surprise, surprise – hit him on the way into the classroom. Alex was already late, but he was in no worry to get to his next class, he did have a slip after all. To tell the truth, Alex did nothing wrong. He already had the doorknob in his grasp, turning it and opening the door just a crack when the teacher unceremoniously crashed into him, sending both of them sprawling onto the floor in front of the whole class.
"Aha! Mr. Rider, I presume? Is it not S.O.P. to knock before you enter when you are late and the teacher is already present in the classroom?"
Alex could not believe his luck. He always considered himself a lucky boy, escaping all those near-death experiences, but balance must be maintained, and so today the shit decided to hit the fan and spray back at his face.
"If you had been looking, Sir, I was here before you body slammed me into the room."
Alex gave the new teacher the slip Ben had given him in between his forefinger and middle finger, "Here, read it before you hurt yourself – or anyone else - again."
The class's first reaction was disbelief (How could he say that to the new teacher?), though it soon turned to amusement. The class laughed at the teacher's dumbfounded look as he took the excuse slip from his student.
Alex headed to the only seat left in the classroom, third column, last row, in between Gary Rothman – or Gothman for short, with his other goth friends beside him – and Wayne Johnson on his left, Alex's reserve in the team.
The teacher gave an awkward cough and proceeded, just like Ben, to introductions.
"Your advisers may have told you about me, but for those who don't know me, my name is Joaquin Evans. All of you will be addressing me as Mr. Evans, Sir E. if you're lazy, call me anything, really. You can go so far as calling me… E... agle."
His eyes roamed the class as he said his introduction, but as the last name was mentioned, he locked eyes with Alex's and grinned at him. He suddenly cackled like a madman, as if he remembered something so hilarious.
Alex held a straight face. The rest of the class shifted in their seats as the crazy man laughed.
Eagle said a few more words and asked where the class left off last term.
Though Alex would admit he wasn't paying attention the whole time, Eagle was a pretty good teacher. His immaturity became an advantage as his mind clicked with the student's way of learning. He explained the proofs, postulates and theorems with ease. He made analogies with the weirdest of things – girlfriends, movies, even alcohol.
He made off-hand jokes now and then, making the class more lively and participative, but Alex really couldn't care less.
Even though Alex was hardly concentrating on the lesson, he could feel more than see Eagle's darting looks at him. Once in a while his eyes would stray back at him, all the way to the back, and linger just a bit more than he did on other students. Not long enough for everyone to notice, but for those who did, they'll just think, Rider just got back and he's already not paying attention.
The class ended without any other disturbances, everyone chattering, excited about the new Math teacher.
Alex stood up and was one of the first to leave, making sure that he won't be called back.
"I might actually learn something this year."
"I'm so excited for Maths tomorrow, and I think this is the first time."
"Sir E is actually pretty hot, you know."
The students' loud whispers and giggles along the corridor were hard to miss.
Alex just sighed and rolled his eyes. He headed to his locker, where Tom would most probably be waiting for him.
He was right, as the locker next to his was open, where a stocky boy was fixing his messenger bag.
"Hey, Tom." Alex greeted.
Tom skipped the whole greeting, not forgetting the incident this morning.
"So what did Daniels want you for?"
Alex opened his locker and dropped his things off, exchanging it with his Biology text book. He took his time shuffling his papers and closing his locker before he closed it and replied, "I'll spill everything later. No time now, unless you want the story cut short."
They turned and started for their Biology class.
"It's really not that long, but I don't really want to see your reaction right now, when I'm sure Bio will be so fun."
Tom looked confused, but consented, going for idle subjects as he and Alex got closer to the classroom.
Alex didn't want to think what would happen next, so he did not assume that they would have the same teacher as last year. He didn't want to ask Tom if Ben mentioned it, wanting to surprise himself.
When he saw Snake half sitting on teacher's desk he almost wanted to laugh so hard tears would come out. He felt an almost hysterical bubble of laughter overcome him. I'd bet Jack's visa that Wolf is here.
Snake had the same fair hair and thin frame. Alex could still remember his Scottish accent.
Alex just shook his head and sat in the front row with Tom beside him. He ignored the man in front of him, as he and Tom talked about the latest standings in the English Premier League and the upcoming games while waiting for the class to start.
Just as he and Tom could start a debate on Chelsea's chances of winning trophies this year, the class was complete.
"As I'm sure you've noticed, I am the new teacher who will be replacing Professor Manning. My name is Douglas Fletcher and I am your new Science professor."
Snake was sometimes the opposite of Eagle. Like Eagle, had a way of catching everyone's interest and he spoke to each student like an equal. Professor Manning had a way of speaking that made you feel stupid. At the same time, Snake wasn't loud and boisterous like Eagle, he was so calm and approachable, but not boring.
Alex tried to listen, he really did, but he couldn't stop glancing at the clock. While everyone was so engrossed in the lesson, he just wanted to get out. He didn't know where this trapped feeling came from, but he hated it.
He appreciated that Snake wouldn't give him those sometimes pitying looks like Eagle, but at the same time it unnerved him. Alex could feel his face twitching, and he was starting to get restless.
What the hell is happening to me? Alex almost regretted sitting in front.
Alex grabbed his pencil and started scribbling around in his notebook, pretending to copy notes as studiously as Tom did beside him. Tom looked like he could burn a hole through his notebook if he keeps writing so hard.
"Mr. Rider, would you mind staying a bit longer? I need to speak to you."
Alex twitched again. This is starting to get annoying. Snake was a smart man. He announced it before the bell rang, so Alex had no excuse to ignore him and make a run for it.
He looked up from his strategy plans for their next game doodled in the back pages of his notebook.
"Of course, Sir."
The bell rang and Tom looked at him again. "Alex, this is the first day, you can't be serious?"
"What? It's not like I blew up the lab." Tom grinned at that, ready to make smart-ass comment about last year's mishap, but Alex cut him off. "Early lunch today?"
They had Physical Education later, and the football team trained during those double periods so they could go home early. They ate during recess so they can start during lunch.
"Sure, meet you in the caf in five. Make it fast." Tom glanced at their teacher. As soft as he had said it, they were both sure Professor Fletcher still heard.
When Alex and Snake were alone, Alex didn't get up from his chair. He was in front of the teacher's table anyway.
Snake raised his head when the last students left and just stared at Alex. Alex left brow went up, as if to say, "So what now?" which just made Snake crack a smile.
"So how's your first day been going?"
"It's second period and you're asking me that question?" Alex didn't deign him with an answer, preferring to answer back with a question.
"So did anything happen this morning?" Snake smirked, as if he knew what happened with Fox and Eagle.
"Are you stalking me?" Alex shot back, his eyes narrow.
"Would you be scared if I said yes?"
"Would you stop if I did?" Alex rolled his eyes at their childish banter. He had no time for this. "I wouldn't be surprised if you did." Alex got up from his seat and picked up his bag. "Look, I gotta go. Tom's waiting for me and I have to do something."
Alex didn't wait for a response and turned for the door. Before he got out though, he heard Snake almost whisper, "We're all here for you, Alex, whether you believe me or not."
Alex opted to ignore it, but they both knew he heard.
Revised on Aug. 15, 2010
