The fight was about to start.

Everyone was watching tensely.

I had no idea how the fight was going to turn out but I knew I had to be there for tom. It had started suddenly. The boy in year 10, Matt, went first. He went to punch Tom but he quickly dodged out of the way just in time. I breathed a silent breath of relief. Tom managed a surprising attack on Matt which then immediately started the fight they were definitely at each other now. The circle around the fight had become wider as I found myself being pushed backwards. There was now a tall person in front of me and I couldn't see all I could hear were the cries of the two boys.

I pushed my way to the front and the saw what was going on. Matt had Tom in a headlock and all tom could do was kick him in the shin but that didn't seem to help. I was desperate to help him.

"Hey, everyone, the midget has nowhere to go!" he teased and a lot of the year 10's laughed.

Then Tom did something I wasn't expecting He twisted his head round and grabbed Matt's arm and twisted it around his back, I remember teaching that to Tom, a few months ago. Tom had him and I knew that if Matt made one move he would break his collarbone.

I think Matt knew that too, because he didn't move until Tom let go. Tom took a step backwards and immediately Matt was at him again, but Tom obviously didn't have the strength to fight back and he was kicked to the ground, his nose was bleeding and he was clutching his stomach. I was at the front of the circle. I had to do something. I went forward.

"Tom? Are you alright?" suddenly I felt Matt's shoe hit my stomach.

"You didn't want to do that!" I got up quickly and went to kick him in the chest; I had a perfect land, knocking Matt to the floor and leaving him gasping for a breath.

I picked up Tom from the floor, put his arm round my neck and helped him home. He was barely conscious by the tine we got to the house. I knocked on the door, no one answered. I knocked again. Tom was getting heavy.

"Do you have a key?"

"My left pocket in my blazer." He told me and I reached in and found it. I unlocked the door and helped tom in. I took him to the lounge and laid him down on their blue sofa.

"Do you want a drink?" I asked. A small nod was a reply, so I went into the kitchen and got Tom a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water. I went back and handed it to Tom. He had a drink and handed it back to me. I then put it next to the sofa. Suddenly I heard the door creak open and then shudder to a halt against the cream walls. Tom's dad was home. As he came into view I noticed Tom had stood up, just.

"Come here, Alex!" Tom's dad told me. I walked forward slowly. When I was close enough he grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me into the kitchen.

"What have you done to Tom?" he asked half shouting.

"Nothing there was a fight at school and Tom was involved and I was just bringing him home." I said he still had me by the shoulders.

He suddenly brought out a hand gun and pointed it at me. I took a step backwards.

"What's the matter, haven't you seen one of these before?" I didn't understand what was going on. But I nodded.

"I know who you are, Alex Rider, there is no way you can hide the truth."

"What do you mean?" I knew what he meant. I heard Tom staggering up the hallway.

"Dad?" he said.

"Go to you room, boy." He demanded.

"NO!" he shouted. "I don't know what's going on but a gun, dad. You just told me to keep away from Alex." Tom looked at me. He looked awful.

Tom's dad put the gun down slowly. He went over to tom and beat him. By the end of it Tom was on the floor and there was nothing I could do.