FIRST LOVE

Point of view: Third person limited

Alex walked over to the horse, which was standing about five meters away from them, and took hold of the reins. He turned and started walking the horse towards Fiona. "So, how the hell are we going to get back home now?" he asked her.

"We need to return to where we were before entering the tunnel," she replied. "And then we'll head back the way we came. After that ghastly experience, I never want to ride through that tunnel again."

"You said it'd take us an hour and a half to return without your little shortcut. Now who's being a scaredy-cat?" Alex asked.

"I don't care, Alex," Fiona replied. "We only have one horse now. We have no idea where my horse ran off. Suppose we both fall off your horse while riding through the tunnel again. Then, there won't be anyone left to save us if we can't walk out."

"At least now you understand why I was hesitant to enter the tunnel," Alex remarked. "All right then, come on. I'll help you mount the horse again."

Alex forced her up towards the saddle, and he once again felt her weight leave his arms as she fell onto the horse. Alex again used the horse's thick hair to pull himself onto the saddle in front of Fiona. She grasped onto him, her arms around his chest.

Fiona pointed ahead of Alex. "We have to climb the slope of the river bank and then ride along the hill for a kilometer before returning to the other side."

Alex nodded and nudged the horse, which needed no encouragement. It started trotting up the steep slope, throwing Alex and Fiona back and forth into each other. Fiona screamed, her arms wrapped around Alex so tightly that he could barely breathe again. About twenty seconds later, the horse finally emerged at the top of the slope. Without any prompting from Alex, it began crossing the hill that contained the tunnel. Alex and Fiona rode silently until they reached the entrance to the tunnel. Alex steered the horse to start heading back on the trail they had taken to get there.

"So now we begin the long trip home," Fiona remarked.

"By the time we get back, my arse will be so sore that I don't know if I'll ever be able to sit down again," Alex said, to which Fiona laughed.

"So you've really never gone riding before?" she asked.

"Nope," he replied. "I've lived in London my whole life. The only people who ride horses there are the mounted police."

They rode on in silence for a few minutes before Fiona asked, "So, now that we'll be stuck together on this horse for over an hour, I demand to know what you're really doing at Haverstock Hall. I don't believe the story daddy told me. I think he's hiding something."

"You're right, Fiona. Your father lied to you about why I'm really here," Alex admitted.

Fiona gasped. "I don't believe it. My daddy has never done this before."

Alex replied, "Don't be angry at him. The day I arrived, he asked me not to tell you the truth because he didn't want to alarm you."

"What truth? And why would I be alarmed?"

Alex sighed, realizing that Fiona really knew nothing about him. "It's a long story, but I'll start from the beginning since we have more than enough time. My name is Alex Rider. I'm fourteen. I never knew my parents; they died when I was very young."

"Alex, I'm so sorry," Fiona cut in. She leaned forward and kissed him on the left cheek. "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be an orphan."

"You don't have to feel bad for me, Fiona. I was raised by an uncle – Ian Rider. I was just an ordinary schoolboy in an ordinary West London comprehensive until a few weeks ago, when I was shocked to discover that my uncle was really a secret agent working for MI6."

"MI6- the military intelligence agency? Your uncle was a spy?" Fiona asked, hardly believing what she had heard.

"Yes," Alex confirmed. "I was told that my uncle had died in some sort of car accident. In reality, he had been murdered, and MI6 then forced me to take his place. They gave me a crash course in Special Air Service survival techniques and sent me on a lunatic mission on the south coast. I was chased, shot at and almost killed. And at the end of it, I was packed off and sent back to school as if nothing had happened. But first, they made me sign the Official Secrets Act."

Alex smiled at the memory of it. "I didn't need to sign anything. Who would have believed me anyway? You don't seem to."

"I believe you, Alex. It's just a lot to take in at once," Fiona replied.

"Everyone fantasizes about being a spy," Alex continued. "But it was the secrecy that got to me when I returned to school. Whenever anyone asked me what I had been doing in the weeks I'd been away, I was forced to tell them that I'd been in bed, reading, slouching around the house, whatever. I didn't want to boast about what I'd done, but I hated having to deceive my friends. It made me angry. MI6 didn't just put me in danger. They locked my whole life in a filing cabinet and threw away the key."

"Oh, Alex, you poor boy," Fiona leaned forward and kissed him again, this time on his right cheek. "I can't believe MI6 just used you like that. But why did they send you here?"

"I wonder if you know anything about a man called Michael J. Roscoe?" he asked.

Fiona thought for a moment and shook her head.

Alex continued, "Roscoe Electronics is one of the largest companies in America. In fact it's one of the largest in the world. Michael Roscoe was very rich, very influential. Then he suddenly died in an accident in New York City. His lift somehow malfunctioned. Roscoe didn't look where he was going. He fell into the lift-shaft and died. That's the general opinion. However, MI6 wasn't so sure."

"Why not?"

"First of all, there were a number of details that didn't add up. On the day Roscoe died, a maintenance engineer came to Roscoe Tower. He said he'd come to look at a defective cable. But according to the company that employed him, there was no defective cable and he certainly wasn't acting under orders from them."

"Why didn't MI6 talk to him first?"

"They wanted to. But the engineer vanished without a trace. MI6 thought he might have been killed. They think someone might have taken his place and somehow set up the accident that killed Roscoe."

Fiona shrugged. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry about Roscoe. But what's it got to do with you?"

"I'm coming to that." Alex paused. "The strangest thing of all is that, the day before he died, Roscoe telephoned Alan Blunt, the head of the Special Operations division of MI6. A personal call. He asked to speak to Mr. Blunt. You see, Roscoe and Blunt were old friends. They had met at Cambridge University."

"What did Roscoe say to Blunt?" Fiona asked.

"Unfortunately, Blunt wasn't there to take the call," Alex replied. "He arranged to speak with Roscoe the following day. By that time, it was too late."

"Does MI6 have any idea what Roscoe wanted?"

"They spoke to his assistant," Alex said. "She wasn't able to tell them very much, but she understood that Roscoe was concerned about his son. He has a fourteen-year-old son, Paul Roscoe. Paul was his only son," Alex explained. "The two of them had a very difficult relationship. Roscoe's wife died of cancer a few years ago, and after that, he didn't really get on with his boy. There were the usual teenage problems, but of course, when you grow up surrounded by millions of dollars these problems sometimes get amplified. You should know," Alex cut in.

Fiona playfully slapped him and nodded. Alex continued, "Anyway, Paul was doing badly at school. He was skipping classes, spending time with some very undesirable friends. There was an incident with the New York police – nothing serious and Roscoe managed to hush it up, but it still upset him. He was worried about Paul and felt the boy was out of control. But there didn't seem to be very much he could do."

"So, what did MI6 want you to do?" Fiona interrupted. "Meet this American boy and talk to him about his father's death?"

"No." Alex shook his head. "There was a similar incident with another rich man, General Viktor Ivanov. He was an ex-KGB officer. Until last December he was head of the SVR, the Russian MI6, and probably the second or third most powerful man in Russia after the president. But then something happened to him too. It was a boating accident on the Black Sea. His cruiser exploded … nobody knows why."

"Was he a friend of Roscoe's?" Fiona asked.

"They probably never met. But MI6's computers threw up a very strange coincidence. Ivanov also had a fourteen-year-old son, Dimitry. And one thing is certain. Ivanov's son certainly knew Roscoe's son because they went to the same school."

Fiona was puzzled. "But what was a Russian boy doing at a school in New York?"

"He wasn't in New York." Alex said. "Last year, Roscoe was having trouble with his son, so he sent Paul to Europe, to a place in France, a sort of finishing school. I suppose you know what a finishing school is?"

"Of course- it's a school where rich men used to send their daughters," Fiona said. "To learn table manners or shit like that."

"Exactly. But this school is for young men only, and not just ordinary boys. It's right on the French-Swiss border," Alex explained. "South of Geneva. Just above Grenoble, in the French Alps. The school is called POINT BLANC." He spoke the words with a French accent. "Literally, white point. It's a remarkable place. Built as a private home by some lunatic in the nineteenth century. As a matter of fact, that's what it became after he died … a lunatic asylum. After that, it fell into disrepair until it was bought by the current owner, a man called Dr. Hugo Grief. He's the principal of the school. It takes in boys who have been expelled from all their other schools. There are never very many of them there, just six or seven at a time. And it's unique in other ways too. For a start, it only takes the sons of the super-rich. The fees are ten thousand pounds a term. Loads of wealthy parents have applied to send their sons there," Alex went on. "You of all people should know how easy it is to go off the rails when you're born with a silver spoon in your mouth. It doesn't matter if the parents are politicians or pop stars; fame and fortune often brings problems for the children … and the more successful the parents are, the more pressure there seems to be.

"I really hate to admit it, but that's spot on," Fiona said.

Alex continued, "The academy went into business to sort problem boys out, and by all accounts it's been a great success. It was established twenty years ago. In that time it's had a client list you'd find hard to believe. Of course, they've kept the names secret. But I can tell you that one of the students was a member of our own royal family! As well as Paul Roscoe and Dimitry Ivanov," Alex said.

Fiona shrugged. "So it's a coincidence, just like you said. Two rich boys at the same school. They were both killed in accidents. Why was MI6 so interested?"

Alex replied, "Because MI6 doesn't believe in coincidence. Where others see coincidence, they see conspiracy. That's their job. Roscoe phoned Blunt because he was worried about his son. The next day he was dead. MI6 also learned from the Russian FSB that a week before he died, Ivanov had a violent argument with his son. Apparently Ivanov was also worried about something. Now do you see the link?"

Fiona thought for a moment. "So MI6 wants you to go to this school," she said. "And that's why they want you to pretend to be my brother."

"That's right. MI6 supplied me with a wealthy father, Sir David Friend. They created a false identity for me," Alex confirmed. "As far as the school is concerned, I'm Alex Friend, the fourteen-year-old son of Sir David. MI6 wanted me to immerse myself in my new life. They told me to spend the rest of the week with your family, which would give me time to learn everything I need to know. I need to play the role well when I go to Grenoble."

"It won't work, Alex," Fiona said. "People must know that my daddy doesn't have a son. He's an incredibly rich and influential businessman."

"Not at all, Fiona." Alex shook his head. "Your father is a very private person. Also, MI6 created the sort of son no father would want to talk about. Alex Friend was expelled from Eton because he has a criminal record… shoplifting, vandalism and possession of drugs. His parents don't know what to do with him, so they've enrolled him in the school. And he's been accepted."

"And my daddy agreed to all this?" Fiona asked incredulously.

Alex sighed. "To tell you the truth, he wasn't very happy about using a 14-year-old boy as a spy. But Blunt spoke to him and convinced him to help."

"So when am you going to the academy?"

"Tomorrow," Alex said.

"And what will you do when you get there?"

"MI6 will tell me more. My job is to find out everything I can. It may be that this school is perfectly ordinary and that there was in fact no connection between Roscoe and Ivanov's deaths. If so, they'll pull me out. But they want to be sure." Alex sighed. "It's strange, really. I'm simply going from one school to another. From a London comprehensive to a finishing school in France. It wasn't quite the adventure I was expecting."

Fiona was silent for the rest of the ride home, her head reeling from learning the truth about Alex, who she had initially viewed with so much contempt. When they arrived home, Alex got off the horse first before helping Fiona dismount. They put the horse back into its enclosure and were heading toward the house when a voice stopped them. It belonged to Lady Caroline, who was on a walk.

"Fiona!" her mother called. "Why were you and Alex riding on the same horse? And what's wrong with your gait?"

Fiona turned and sighed. "We took two horses, mother. I ended up losing my horse, and I had to come back on Alex's horse."

Lady Caroline was shocked. "Lost your horse? How? Do you know how much it cost your father to buy that racehorse?"

Fiona looked to Alex, who glared at her. His look seemed to say, tell your mother the truth, as what happened was entirely your fault.

Fiona swallowed and cleared her throat before explaining what had happened. "Alex and I rode for a while. I suggested that we take a shortcut through a railway tunnel to get home faster after our ride. Alex was hesitant to enter the tunnel, telling me it was a crazy idea, but he followed after I entered. While we were riding through the tunnel, I somehow fell off my horse and onto the tracks, spraining my ankle. My horse ran out of the tunnel and ran away without me. Alex reentered the tunnel and helped me mount his horse. If he didn't come back for me, I would have certainly died. We barely escaped from an oncoming train with our lives."

Lady Caroline gasped and put her hands to her mouth. "Fiona, you foolish girl! I can't believe how reckless you were."

"I'm truly sorry, mother. I won't ever do this again," Fiona said.

Lady Caroline ignored her and walked over to Alex, taking him into her arms. She tenderly kissed him on the forehead before stepping back. "Alex, dear boy, I can't thank you enough for risking your life to save my only child. You can't fully understand how much what you did for her means to me. I want you to know that me and David are truly indebted to you."

"I just did the right thing," Alex said. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I simply left Fiona in danger."

Lady Caroline turned to face Fiona. "You and Alex both need to take a bath. Then come for dinner." She turned and walked away.

Alex returned to his room, took a quick shower, then changed his clothes, as his old clothes were coated with muddy water.

A gong sounded. It was seven o'clock. Alex went downstairs and into the dining room to eat dinner with Lady Caroline and Fiona. Lady Caroline gestured to an empty chair across from her. Alex sat down.

"Fiona was just telling me what you told her about why you're here," Lady Caroline said. There was a pause. "I must admit, Alex, that I didn't know anything about your background. I deeply disapprove of the way MI6 has been constantly putting your young life in danger. I would never have allowed them to do that to my son."

"I've gotten used to it, Mother," Alex said. "After I returned from my first mission, I sometimes wished that the whole business with MI6 never happened. But at the same time – I have to admit it – part of me wanted it all to happen again. At times, I would feel that I no longer belonged in the safe, comfortable world of Brookland School. Too much had changed."

Fiona picked up her glass and looked directly at Alex for the first time since he had come into the room. "Since it's your last day with us, why don't you play some games with me tonight?" she asked. "I'll show you where our game room is."

Alex nodded. "Sure, Fiona."

The three of them ate the rest of their dinner in silence. Then Fiona took Alex to the game room, where they played table tennis and pool for about two hours together. By that time, Lady Caroline had gone to bed and Alex and Fiona essentially had the whole house to themselves.

"You want to sit outside and see the stars together?" Alex asked. Fiona nodded. They sat on two lounge chairs and gazed at the stars for about an hour, talking about trivial matters. After another kiss on the lips, Fiona said something that Alex was not expecting. "Now that mother's asleep, why don't you pay me a secret visit in my bedroom?"

Alex's eyes widened. "You're not suggesting-"

"Have you ever made love with a girl before?"

"No," Alex admitted.

"Then you don't know what you're missing," Fiona replied. "Tonight is your chance to experience it for the first time. I've only done it once before, but it's thrilling."

"What if your mother walks in on us? What if you get pregnant-"

"She won't, Alex. My mother has chronic fatigue, and she passes out at night. And if I get pregnant, I'll blame it on Rufus. Now will you come or not?"

"All right, Fiona," Alex replied.

The two of them went to her bedroom and locked the door. After half an hour in bed with Fiona, Alex had to admit to himself that his first sexual experience was more pleasurable than anything he had imagined.

Then he got out of her bed and put on his clothes. "Fiona, I've got to go. I don't feel comfortable sleeping in your bed. Remember that you're supposed to be my sister."

Fiona rolled her eyes at him. "Like I said, Alex Rider, you look nothing like me or my parents."

Before leaving her room, Alex said, "Tomorrow morning, the school's assistant director will be coming here to pick me up. It's a woman. A Mrs. Stellenbosch. You need to convince her that you're really my sister. If she gets suspicious, my mission might be over before it even begins. Understand?"

Fiona nodded. "Good night, brother."