"It's not a real number, it's not a real number, it's not a real number…" Jack had been working up courage for the past three hours. Four times she had tried to pick up the phone and once she had even dialed a few numbers, but every time she had failed.

"Jack," Alex looked at her, slightly concerned, "I don't think you quite understand the concept of self motivation…"

"Kid, I was half drunk when I got the number, I hardly remember any of it! It has to be a fake. It's too good to be true! I'm just preparing myself for the crushing disappointment," Alex shrugged in response to Jack's tirade.

It was Saturday morning and after finishing his breakfast, Alex had sat on the couch and watched Jack's antics. He had been asleep the night before when she came stumbling over the doorstep, and had awoken to find her jubilantly crying out and holding up a slip of paper. Her mood had rapidly diminished as the day wore on.

"What was his name?" Alex tried to distract Jack from where she sat muttering, bent over the phone. It worked relatively well.

"Oh, we didn't get that far…" Jack replied casually, not noticing Alex's bewildered expression.

"Well you're not going to get any farther if you don't call him." Alex stood up decisively. Suddenly realizing the implications of his statement, he blushed a deep shade of red, "I…er…I didn't mean it like…well, you know…"

"No, kid, you're right, I need to call him," She picked the phone off its hook and paused. She quickly passed it off to Alex and handed him the number, "You call him."

Alex snorted but took the phone and dialed, tossing it back to Jack as it began to ring. Jack shoed him out of the room and sprawled out over the couch, rehearsing what she was going to say.

A man answered the phone in a string of Russian. A fake number, Jack sighed, of course. Despite the disappointment, Jack realized that it would be impolite not to answer.

"Hello, is this…" Jack searched for a name, but then she remembered that she had no name for the blonde haired stranger.

"Hello, I apologize for my Russian. I assumed you were someone else." Jack's heart leapt at the sound of the voice on the other end of the conversation. It sounded vaguely familiar. In her excitement, she stumbled through her next sentence.

"Yeah, hey…this is, um, Jack. I mean, I met you in a bar…last night. And you gave me this number so I called it and…" And what? Jack inwardly groaned, realizing that she hadn't thought things out as well as she had hoped.

"And?" The voice replied.

"What do you mean 'and'?" Jack huffed.

"Well, I think it is quite simple. You asked for my number, therefore I gave you my number and now you expect me to understand why you asked me in first place." Jack thought about it for a moment, wondering if the man was teasing her. His tone betrayed nothing.

"I guess a name would be nice." Jack shrugged. There was a pause from the other line and then a curt reply.

"Yassen,"

"Yassen what?" Jack prodded.

"Yassen will be fine." The reply seemed colder this time. Jack decided to push the issue to the side for now. There was an awkward pause (at least on Jack's end) for a few moments before he finally spoke again, "Is that all that you wanted?"

"Well, Yassen…" Jack liked the way his name sounded. It seemed Chinese…or maybe Russian, Jack didn't have the slightest clue. Whatever the nationality, it seemed to suit the formal, blond haired stranger she had met in the bar, "I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me."

Jack decided that it was no use to beat around the bush any longer than needed. She held her breathe and waited for a response. Finally one came.

"I have a very busy traveling schedule. However, I suppose I could allow some time for a…date," Yassen sounded amused, but in a sardonic sort of way, "Volt Restaurant in Hobart, tomorrow at six thirty."

There was a click and the line went dead. Jack was in shock. A shaky hand still held the phone to her ear. The invitation had sounded more like a demand, and yet Jack wasn't complaining. Volt was a high class place.

Alex peeked his head from around the doorway, grinning slightly at Jack's expression. Prying the phone out of her hands, he set it down with a click.

"So, how did it go?" Alex questioned. Jack finally broke into a grin and swept Alex up into a huge hug.

"Great, kid! Fantastic! I got myself a date!" Jack shouted and jumped up and down, a disheveled Alex still in her arms, "You'd best get some plans for tomorrow night, because I won't be home!"

"Yeah right, I don't have any friends to make plans with," Alex murmured to himself. Jack pretended she didn't hear it, but secretly her heart ached at Alex's plight. Sighing, she placed a hand on his shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze.

"Hey kid, maybe it's better that you don't have plans…after all, I still need someone to help pick out my outfit!" She winked. Alex tried his best to look enthusiastic, but his attempt fell flat.

All day Jack tried to tidy up the house and help Alex with school work. Still, questions about Yassen kept returning to her. He seemed so mysterious and, frankly, it was driving her nuts. She decided that tomorrow she would find out everything she could about her new date.

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A/N: I'd just like to say, you guys are amazing! XD Seriously, do you know how many reviews per chapter I get on average? Two, or three when I'm lucky (or one when I'm unlucky).

Thank you so much! I should have started writing for the Alex Rider fandom long ago, you guys are the BEST! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint! I'll try and make their date more exciting (of course it will be more exciting, Yassen is in it lol).

Oh, and this story takes place after Snakehead...