That afternoon, after his first football session in quite some time, Alex reflected that the only good thing about his missions from MI6 was his improved athletic abilities. Sure, they were gained by dodging bullets, but he'd had enough skills to impress the Coach and hopefully keep him off the bench. It was a relief; at least one thing in his life was, sort of, back to normal. Though, with a sigh, Alex reminded himself that it was only until the next life and death mission MI6 blackmailed him into.
"Hey Alex! Wait up!" yelled Tom as he jogged out of the boys change room. Alex himself had done some careful manoeuvring to get changed out of sight. He smiled tiredly at Tom and slowed until he caught up.
"Hey Tom." He replied.
"So, now that you're back, a couple of us were going to go hang at the café. You want to come?" The café was the local team hangout, back when Alex was actually there, the football team used to go and hang out there after practice. Now, though, he wasn't sure he would be so welcome.
"I don't know Tom. I promised Jack I'd be back straight after practice." This was a lie. Jack had made him promise no such thing. In fact she had been dropping hints that he could stay out as late as wanted, doing something normal. But Alex didn't tell Tom that, he knew all the tricks to lying. Looking him straight in the eyes, a rueful smile playing on his lips, he continued.
"Maybe some other time."
"Well, ok." Said Tom, searching his friend's eyes for something. Apparently satisfied, he rocked back on his heels and smiled.
"See you tomorrow then."
"Yeah, see you."
As Alex cycled home he contemplated how his life had changed to the point where he'd rather go home and listen to Jack's bad jokes and eat not particularly stellar cooking, than eat out with his teammates. In a normal world, one where MI6 never existed, he probably would have spent more time avoiding chores and homework than his friends. Not that they were friends. Not anymore.
Upon reaching the front door of his Chelsea home, Alex straightened his shoulders and put on a cheerful expression. Not that Jack would really be fooled. But he could try.
"Jack," he yelled, "I'm home."
There was a loud bang followed by a loud curse and Alex rushed into the kitchen to find Jack nursing a sore toe and a frying pan sitting innocently on the floor.
Jack glared at it with enough venom to make anyone quake in fear.
"Stupid frying pan she muttered, "It looks so smug just lying there on the ground after it evilly assaulted my toe!"
Alex couldn't help it, as he picked up the frying pan he couldn't stop himself from laughing at Jack's words. It felt so nice to come home after a hard day of school and have Jack there to cheer him up. As he turned away he missed jack's satisfied smirk as she watched him laugh. When he turned back to her again, she pouted.
"Oh, so now you're taking it's side." She asked, mock indignantly. "See what I get you for your birthday!"
"So," she asked later, when they were seating at the dining table eating spaghetti, "How was your first day back?"
"Oh, it was fine. Just school. You know." He replied, trying to keep his answers brief. He knew the saying 'If you don't have anything good to say don't say it at all' was all too true when trying to be normal while talking to Jack. She could tell he was lying, all too easily.
"I'm back on the football team, but on probation. It's cool though."
"Well, that's great Alex!" exclaimed Jack, her hair bouncing as she nodded excitedly. "I'm glad you're still doing normal activities. So were all your friends glad to have you back?"
What friends? Alex asked himself; besides Tom he didn't really have anyone. But he couldn't tell Jack that. She'd be so disappointed, or even worse, so mad she'd march up to the school and start yelling at everyone at lunch. He'd just die if that happened. So he lied.
"Oh, yeah. Everyone was surprised to see me." Well, he wasn't lying exactly, just bending the truth slightly and avoiding the question. After all, they had been surprised. It was just also about the nicest thing he could say about them.
"This spaghetti is delicious." He said, waving his fork around as he tried to divert her. Maybe he should take lesson in hypnosis or something. That would be great when he was on mission. 'You will not kill me, now go dance like a chicken.' Alex snorted at the thought. Like that would work.
Jack however wasn't fooled.
"So, everyone was pleased to see you?" she probed further, "No one gave you any trouble?"
"Nah, Jack. Really, I mean, not everyone's friendly but I've been away so long. Some new girl even told me I was sitting in her seat in math. She asked me if I was new!" It was always better to put a bit of truth in your lies, Alex had learnt, it made them look more believable.
"Really?" Jack laughed, suspicion now gone from her eyes.
"Yeah," said Alex, "Really."
-X-
The next day, as Alex stepped into his homeroom for rollcall, there was a little less whispering, but just as much staring and Alex resigned himself to the fact that he was a permanent object of interest. Even the teacher looked surprised to see him turn up two days in a row.
In his first class of the day Spanish, Alex was happy to find at least one teacher who didn't want to put him in detention upon sight. Of course, Señora Tesan mostly didn't mind because Alex was already fluent in Spanish and would ace any test she gave him anyway. But still, she was an unlikely ally. She could not however stop the nasty little comments and snide looks that were sent Alex's way.
One girl, Jessica, if Alex remembered correctly, put her hand up and asked, "Excuse me, but how do you say drug addict in Spanish?" and the whole class laughed.
Alex, sitting in one of the middle rows near the side, was bored. For total lack of anything better to do, he listened to the conversation happening behind him
"I heard he's in a gang!" said one voice.
"Really? I heard he was in Juvie. For, like, stealing or something." Said another.
"No, that's not it. I heard he's really joined a circus as a lion tamer. That's how he got all those bruises. From sticking his head in some giant lions mouth!"
He couldn't help but snort incredulously by now. Though, admittedly, even lion taming sounded generally less dangerous than the stuff he'd been doing. There was a technique for it, and tranquilizers. In the spy world there was no running out of the cage and locking the door behind you.
"Right…" drawled the first voice, "You know, I have an Uncle who works at the Police Department. I bet I could get him to check Rider out."
"Really, that'd be awesome!" was the general consensus from behind his back. Alex raised an eyebrow, dubiously. He didn't think they'd find anything, but… maybe it was worth a call to the bank? No, he decided. He didn't want MI6 in his life anymore than possible.
After a few more theories had sprouted up, the craziest including him as a rare art thief and member of a secret cult that wanted to take over the world with some sort of fish, Alex decided to turn around.
"Hey guys," he said as he surveyed the faces that had been gossiping about him, recognizing a few as former friends. "I heard Alex doesn't care what you think, and wants to leave him the hell alone!" he practically snarled at them.
"Gee," sniffed Jessica "He doesn't have to be so touchy!"
A/N: Guess what! I updated! I don't really have any good excuses, except I didn't know quite where was going with this. Anyway, I hope this holds up to the first chapter. Please review and tell me what you think! I received quite a lot of answers about the lockers, but quite a few contradicted each other, so I'm going out on a limb and saying that there are lockers in the gym. Please feel free to leave, suggestions, comments and criticism!
