Chapter Ten

Ben's fingers gripped the wheel tightly. He was absolutely furious with Alex, yet knew deep down that continuing in a normal vein was vital to the young man in his care.

Alex still hadn't told them about 'Rose' as he called her. But the small scorpian tattoo on her wrist was a fine indicator, and Ben didn't trust her.

"Are you insane!" Sophia croaked as she splashed her drink everywhere. "Don't think that I will let you get away with -"

Tom dragged her down and put his hand over her mouth. Then hissed in Alex's direction. "How the hell was that ever going to work! There's no way -"

He cut himself off as Alice, Sophia's best friend, sauntered over. "Are you okay Sophia?"

Tom let go of her guiltily. "Sorry." He said.

"I'm fine, Alice. Thanks. Talk to you later?"

"Sure. If you're sure?"

She nodded and Alice left after fluttering her eyelashes in Alex's direction. He smiled and winked at her as she left. Alex's playboy status was well deserved.

Sophia looked at him in disgust. "Can't you just date a woman normally? Alice has had a crush on you since God knows when. She might be good for you."

Alex smiled bitterly. "It's more a case of what's good for her."

"What?"

"I wasn't lying. Ian -"

"That's his uncle, by the way. Never refers to him that way though."

Alex gave Tom a scathing look. "Ian worked for MI6 in an agent capacity. I thought he worked for a bank, but which banker comes back covered in bruises and with broken limbs?" He drew in a breath. "I put it down to clumsiness, but Ian was never clumsy and always wore his seatbelt. And that; is how I knew they lied about how he died."

"And that, Alex sounds like a fanciful tale." She made to get up again, but it was Alex's hand which stopped her this time.

"What?" She said, half exasperated, half annoyed.

"Sit." Alex commanded. She did. "You just met Rose. She was the girl who saved my life two days ago - I know, feels a lot longer doesn't it." He said wryly. "She used to work for a terrorist organisation called Scorpia. Did anyone mention a tattoo on her wrist?" Sophia shook her head. "I have one too." He said.

She shook her head again. "You're crazy. I can't believe you fell for this tosh, Tom."

"You didn't see him, Sophia." He shook himself out of his black mood at the thought of losing Sophia. "Can't you see how his eyes are different to everyone else's? Can't you see the way he moves? Talks? He spent ten days at this SAS camp we're all going to at the end of the month. And believe you me; he got it in the neck."

Alex grinned. "I gave as good as I got. Kicked Wolf out of the plane."

"Saved his career more like."

"Urgh! Can you hear yourselves! You sound insane!"

The boys looked at each other and burst out laughing. Tom stopped in a reasonable amount of time, but Alex couldn't seem to catch his breath and carried on.

Tom looked on in delight as his friend's whole mood lifted.

"Can't . . . breathe . . ." he choked out.

Tom's mouth twitched as he fought not to laugh again. Sophia looked on in amazement, it looked as though neither of them had the opportunity to laugh with each other much.

As Alex finally recovered she said; "Give me some irrefutable proof."

"What like a scar?" Tom asked; "not sure you should be showing my girlfriend any intimate scars."

"Will a tattoo do?" Alex said as he untucked his shirt and pulled the right side up to reveal a Scorpian tattoo.

Tom sucked in a breath, man, Alex I didn't know you actually joined them."

"I don't want to talk about it. Let's just say I came to my senses."

The mood at their table dropped again. "No." Sophia said. "A tattoo is not going to cut it unless someone from you physics class-"

"Why do you have the same tattoo as the girl who killed those men the other day?" Alice was back, this time backed by Phil and Sam.

"Gee, we went to the same chess club." Alex remarked. Tom struggled not to laugh.

"It's all true, isn't it?" Sophia burst out.

"Did I ever say it wasn't?" Alex said dryly. "By the way, you ever tell anyone and you'll be on their hit list." He paused briefly at the stricken look in Tom's eyes. "And I really do not want anyone else to die because of me.

Then he smiled wickedly as the other composed their questions. "What did you think of Rose, a looker isn't she?"

"If I said anything, I think Sophia will kill me."

"She's very pretty, Alex." Sophia said quietly.

"Not my type." Alex replied.

Tom choked and spluttered. "Definitely." He finally said when he was able to breath after inhaling his hot chocolate.

The pause in conversation let Sam interrupt. "a) who's Rose, b) what's with the tattoo and c) who's died because of you?"

"Rose is a friend, a blonde, pretty, half-Russian friend."

Alice, Sam and Phil leant forward. Waiting for the rest.

"Why not, am I not allowed to do what I want with my body and what makes you think people have died because of me?" He paused and watched them regroup. "No." He said. "Leave it. Come on Tom we've got physics. Coming with us Sophia?"

And with that, Alex tried to get everyone who knew his secret out of the way.

Sophia shook her head. "I'll see you later, Tom." She said and gave him a kiss.

Once Alex and Tom had left, the rest of them crowded round the table. But Sophia refused to say anything and instead arranged for a cinema visit to watch 'The Bourne Legacy'. They, of course, insisted that Alex come. And that he bring Rose.