In the week that followed, Alex found his life was slowly going back to normal. Sure, people still stared and whispered about him. And, yeah, maybe, he still only had Tom, but he was finally catching up on his schoolwork and feeling like a normal teenager again. One, whose biggest problems were homework and winning the next football match.
If he was completely honest with himself, Alex couldn't quite believe that MI6 hadn't called him and asked him to go to Brazil. If he wasn't absolutely positive he'd look ridiculous, Alex would probably have been pinching himself every five minutes. It just seemed extraordinary that he could be settling into a routine.
However, it was inevitable in Alex's life that Murphy's Law would come back into play.
After a relaxing weekend hanging out with Tom, bantering with Jack and catching up on chemistry, Alex was ready to go back to school. Perhaps, he thought, people would have found something new to gossip about over the weekend.
Later, Alex would think how much he regretted ever thinking that.
-x-
As he walked into the school building that day, Alex noticed an influx of staring people. In fact, they were doing more than just staring; they were looking at him in both fear and awe.
He managed to get through homeroom and first period without any major hassles. Tom helping him steer through the most persistent offenders. Alex reflected that without Tom, life at school would have been absolute hell. Tom deflected the worst of the comments –at least to his face- and kept Alex human.
Sadly though, Tom couldn't be with him every second of the day. In third period Alex had geography, but Tom, who hated the subject, had modern history instead.
After they separated in the hallway, Alex walked quickly towards his classroom. He was trying, of course, to avoid being the object of the entire schools fascination. Using all his MI6 stealth to avoid bumping into anyone, he manoeuvred his way through the hallways.
His class however, was on the other side of the school from where he'd started, which meant he'd have to take the main corridor if he wanted to make it before the next bell rang. Seriously considering making a dash for it, Alex looked both ways, looking to avoid the oncoming traffic of students, all pushing and shoving, uncaring of anyone but themselves.
It would be nice, Alex thought, if instead of contempt and ridicule, his absences had spurned fear, so that he could have cut a path through them. Like in the movies, when everything goes in slow motion and the people back away, staring in awe. Yes, Alex thought, that would have been preferable.
"Oh my gosh, Alex!" came a nasal voice from behind him. Alex turned wearily, running his hand through his hair, ready to answer another silly question. It was Sally, she was in most of his classes and was one of the main instigators of the gossip. She had come up to him multiple times in the week, pestering him with questions of, what gang are you in? and how long are you staying for this time?
"Everyone's talking about what you did!" She exclaimed "It's just so unbelievable!"
Alex looked at her blankly. He hadn't the faintest clue what she was talking about. The only unbelievable thing he'd done recently was save the world, and she couldn't possibly know about that. Could she? Alex shook that thought off, of course she couldn't, and headed off to class. Ignoring Sally's voice calling from behind him. He really didn't want to know and held nothing but contempt for the girl.
Alex had found, by now that it was easy to block out the gossip and stares and therefore sat studiously in geography, disregarding the eyes he could feel burning holes in the back of his head. He purposefully seated himself in the front row, so that at least he wouldn't have to watch the people in front of him turn around whenever he spoke.
He hadn't counted on, however, the group of boys he had sat in front of. Obviously hoarding some kind of ill will towards him, they began to throw bits of paper at the back of his head when the teacher wasn't looking. When Alex refused to engage in any conflict, they turned nastier. Soon pens were being thrown, the boy next to him 'accidently' spilt water on his book and other particularly childish, yet bothersome gestures.
Tired of ignoring their juvenile antics Alex turned around and glared at them. They all looked down at their books, unwilling to meet his gaze.
When Alex turned back around, however, the pen flicking, paper throwing and other accidents began again.
Alex glared at his geography teacher, the man had to be blind and deaf not to have noticed what was going on in the very front row of his classroom. The teacher however, did indeed seem to turn a blind eye. It was a sad day, Alex reflected, when your reputation at school gets so tarnished the teachers will let bullying go on in their classroom.
It wasn't that Alex was very bothered by this casual bullying, after all he had dealt with the terrifying reality of adult bullying, aka, psychopathic maniacs trying to take over the world. However, it was disheartening to find he was a social pariah from everyone, even a once favoured teacher.
When orange juice was finally spilled on his bag, Alex had had enough. He stood up violently, sending his chair clattering to the ground as he glared at everyone.
"Mr Rider what-" the teacher started, but Alex cut him off.
"Stop it." He said angrily, his voice harsh and unyielding, eyes cold as ice. "I'm sick of everyone treating me like a criminal. You can think whatever the hell you like about me- as if I care what a bunch of immature schoolchildren like you think of me- but you will stop sabotaging, trying to make my life hell. I've already been through it and there is no way anything you can do to me could possibly compare. I'm sick of taking this quietly. I'm sick-" he added with a pointed glare at the teacher. "Of being the scapegoat. You can spread this around to all your friends;" he sneered, looking at all the upturned faces around him. Staring at him, as if he was completely crazy.
"Alex Rider is pissed off."
-x-
By the time Alex sat down to eat lunch with Tom, the entire school had heard about the incident. He'd been in huge trouble of course, supposedly for disrupting his class, the teacher had given him a week's detention and told him to see the headmaster after school for a little 'chat'. Jack had been rung, and was going to meet him there after school.
"So you didn't kill anyone?" Tom teased, as he sat down next to him, grinning.
"No." Alex replied, "Though maybe that would have gotten the message to stick."
"Ah," Tom tsked, wagging a finger. "But that would have gotten you expelled. Would have done a lot for the bad boy reputation though. Girls love bad boys."
"I don't think they love homicidal psychopaths though. Which is what they'd think I was." Alex replied, enjoying the banter.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Tom teased. "I bet they think it's kinda hot. In a, walk on the wild side, one night stand sort of way."
"Yep." Alex nodded, "because that's really what I'm going for."
Tom shook his head, still grinning and took a bit out of his sandwich.
"What would you know about girls anyway?" taunted Alex, elbowing Tom in the ribs.
"Hey!" yelped Tom indignantly, "I know plenty about girls."
"Yeah right." Alex snorted and the boys descended insults and derisive comments.
Alex revelled in it, the feeling of just letting loose and messing around was like sunshine after a rainy day. Tom made him feel normal and Alex felt free, if only for a few moments, from the burdens weighing on his shoulders.
That came to an end of course, the second the bell rang and reality descended upon them again. Alex suffered the last periods of the day, determinedly ignoring the stares and gossip that followed him everywhere. He could not, however, ignore the bell when it rang for the end of school and the beginning of more problems for Alex.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, I had it sitting on my computer half finished forever! I hope you enjoy it though. I really appreciate all the reviews, alerts and favourites. They make my day! Please give me comments, opinions, criticism etc.
