Dance With Me

Disclaimer: I don't own Alex or anything from the alex rider books, nor do i own, anything from the cherub books which make an appearance

CHAP 1 For A Girl

It didn't take long for everyone to be discharged from the hospital; Alex and I went back to school, both with a doctors note to explain our disappearance, Jake was still recovering but had been moved to one of MI6's safe houses, and the SAS had all gone back to Brecon Beacons to start putting the place back together.

I exchanged glances with Alex and we walked into the school building for the first time since before we left for Brecon Beacons with the other kids, well my first time anyway, while I had been on the run he might've gone back.

Everything seemed the same, as though I had never left, except for one thing. Everyone seemed to part in the corridors, girls whispered behind hands and boys made loud jokes, even the teachers seemed to hold a different view of us with a hint of disappointment in their face.

"This is really weird," I murmured to Alex.

"You get used to it," he replied, "It's been this way since I first came back with a doctor's certificate."

"Well that just sucks." I complained as we got our books and made our way to maths.

The class only had a couple of people there by the time we arrived. One of them, Felix, who had originally gone to Brecon Beacons with us, sat in the front corner, mindlessly doodling on his paper. The other boy, I didn't recognize him, sat in the back row. My eyes quickly flicked him up and down, taking in his fair hair, sharp blue eyes, and toned body that showed through his Arsenal T-shirt. I looked briefly at Alex before making my way over to the new boy.

"Addy…" Alex called after me.

I ignored him and stopped in front of the taken desk in the back row near the window. The blond cheekily smirked up at me.

Before he could talk I growled, "You're in my seat."

"That's funny; I didn't see any name on it."

Slowly and deliberately I thumped my books on the desk, my hands resting beside them, leaning down to glare at him as a grin played across my face, "Unless you want to get hurt, I suggest you move your fat ass to another seat, now."

He stood up, immediately towering above me as he grabbed the front of my clothes, "You really think you can hurt me?"

"I don't think I can," I grinned, "I know I can."

Before the blond knew what had happened his arm was behind his back and he was pressed against the wall.

"Next time move when I tell you to."

"Miss Kovac. Your first day back and you've already got in a fight," Mr. Donovan had arrived along with most of the class.

"I wouldn't really call it a fight," I mumbled, stepping back from the blond and letting him go.

"Adrienne I'll see you after class. James do you need an ice pack or something?"

James shook his head, "I'll be alright, thanks."

I sat at my seat with Alex beside me and Tom beside him. On the other side was the last free seat where James decided to sit. Almost as soon as everyone opened there books and began to work a screwed up ball of paper landed on my desk. Slightly confused I opened it.

You fight pretty well, for a girl.

I looked over at James, knowing from his stupid grin that he had thrown the note. Quickly I scribbled on the paper You fight pretty crap, for a girl and threw it back.

I watched him, waiting for a reaction. He screwed up the paper and glared at me. Not the reaction I wanted, but it was better than nothing.

"Addy," a pen poked me in the side.

Surprised I looked over at Alex, innocence spreading over my face, "What?"

"First day back and you're already in trouble. You know, it might actually help if you did some maths."

"Why? It ain't like I'm going to need it, never have so far."

Alex rolled his eyes, knowing it was hopeless to argue with me.

"Oi, Tom."

He looked over at me, "Yeah?"

"How long the new kid been here?"

"Only a few days, he came with a brother and sister. Foster kids I heard."

I nodded before glancing back at James. He looked up, meeting my eyes. I refused to look away first and it seemed the same for him. Slowly I searched his face, looking for anything that might reveal a bit about him, but he kept everything closely guarded, as if it were just an act. His eyebrows rose slightly as he mimicked my actions, consciously or not I wasn't sure. Eventually I looked away, knowing only two new things; he wasn't just an ordinary foster kid, and I felt like I wanted to get to know him.

By the time I got to the gym for P.E. everyone was already warming up. I swore quietly, knowing the teacher was horrible when people showed up late. Looking around I tried to slip in without him noticing.

"Kovac!"

Damn. I looked at where the voice came from. I couldn't see the teacher anywhere. My eyes searched the room before falling on a group of laughing students. Alex tried to keep a straight face as the others couldn't help but laugh. Shaking my head I jogged over to them.

"Oh good one guys, real good."

"Yeah I thought it was actually," Sarah commented, pulling her brown hair into a pony tail, "The look on your face, priceless."

She mimicked what I'd looked like and everyone burst out laughing again. I joined in a little, knowing it probably did look like that.

"Alright class, listen up!" Someone yelled.

Everyone turned towards the door, trying to see who was yelling, it wasn't the usual teacher.

The tall man walked into view, standing in front of the gym benches. His hair was dark and cut army style. Dark eyes stared out at the kids standing before him. Toned muscles showed through a tight black top that was tucked into military style camo pants.

"I think I want our old teacher back," I murmured to Alex.

"At least P.E.'s going to get a bit more exciting."

"As if it wasn't exciting already."

"Ten laps around the gym, now!"

Rolling my eyes I started running, the gym wasn't that big, but running in circles was boring. On our third lap a blond ran into the gym, sneakily joining in with us as we ran.

"You're late," I hissed to him as he ran beside me.

"Well it ain't like that teacher noticed," James replied.

"I wouldn't count on that. I've only known the guy since class started and I already know he's nuts."

He shrugged in reply, "Thought you weren't talking to me?"

I grinned, "Now when did I say that? If I remember correctly, it was you that ended the conversation."

He shook his head, knowing I was right.

It didn't take long until we stopped in front of the teacher, finished the ten laps. The teacher looked at James.

"What's your name?"

"Me?" James asked.

"No, someone behind me! Yes you, boy! I'm looking straight at you am I not?"

"Oh, um, James, James Mackinnon."

"Well, James Mackinnon, you can run another ten laps since you came in late and didn't do the original ten."

I smirked and murmured, "Told you so."

"And you can join him," the teacher was looking straight at me.

"Me? What'd I do?"

"I don't like smart asses or people who talk out of turn. Now move!"

Grumbling I ran off and caught up with James, glaring at him and everything that got in the way of my eyes.

Wind flitted through my hair as I rode home from school, well, I said I was going home, probably wouldn't get there for a while though. A bike spun along behind me, eventually catching up until it was beside me. Startled slightly I quickly edged away before realizing who it was.

"James."

"Yeah, you know, I never caught your name before."

"Adrienne Kovac. My mates call me Addy or Drie, whichever."

"Cool, well do you wanna go to the movies or something?"

"Um, sure I guess." I replied, wishing I hadn't agreed. I should be working on a plan to get my father back not going to the movies with someone I had only just met.

"Cool, I gotta go home and get changed then we'll go? Do you wanna come over?"

I smiled politely; making sure my mask was properly in place, "Sure, where do you live? Because I'm just up the road, it'd probably be easier to go to mine first."

"Sure."

I peddled ahead, spinning into my drive as I made sure James couldn't see my face. Since I had got out of the hospital I had been living with Alex it was only today I decided to even look at my house again. I stopped in front of it and dropped the bike. Grabbing the spare key from my pocket I unlocked the door. I didn't expect the housekeepers to be here. Every surface had built up dust on it, though less than I had expected, as if it had been disturbed. Cautiously I made my way up to my room.

I froze in the doorway, ignoring James's quiet gasp from behind me. The mattress had been thrown off the bed, sheets mixing with clothes around the room. Glass lay shattered on the floor with photos crumpled from being stood on.

"Wait here," I told James, as I went in further.

In the walk in wardrobe draws had been upturned onto the floor before being thrown off to the side. Racks of clothes had been shoved over and on the cracked mirrors threats had been written. Quickly I left that room, shutting the door behind me.

Every surface had been cracked in the en-suite; the tiles, mirror, shower, bath, even toilet seat. Another message had been written on the mirror. Cupboards had been emptied and their doors ripped of the hinges. On every wall in all three rooms there was graffiti as though it were a simple teenage robbery and destruction of property.

Going back out into the main room I noticed James had listened to me and was still standing by the door. After picking up my photos and shoving them in a draw I asked if he could help me look for my laptop.

He nodded and came into the room, careful not to stand on anything, "You okay?"

"Fine, just need to find my laptop, it's important. I'll be right back."

I walked out, my face blank. Going to the bathroom closest the forest I looked in the draws, the radio was still there. Taking it out I shoved it in my pocket before flipping the draw upside down. The note was still there, it had been moved but was still there. Yassen would've taken the note with him so no one else could see it. He had never looked at the note. Forcefully I shoved the draw back and hurried back to my room. James still hadn't found my laptop.

I shook my head, "Come on, let's just go."

He looked at me, surprised almost as he stood up and followed me out. I locked the door behind us and grabbed my bike, jumping on and peddling away.

James rode up beside me, "You don't seem surprised."

"I come home from staying at a friends and find my room has been ram shacked, I'm a little shocked to say the least," I snapped.

"Where were your parents?"

"None of your business."

He took the hint and shut up as we rode to his. It was only when we were almost there that I realized I had never got changed like I meant to. We peddled into the drive of a small cottage-like house. Dumping our bikes James walked straight inside, with me a step behind him.

The house was quite simple on the inside and was obvious that they hadn't been there long. Boxes still lay in the hall and rooms and the walls were bare. James opened his bedroom door; there were two single beds, one on each side. Overall the room was tidy, tidier than a teenage boy's should be. On one side pictures of girls in bikini's, Arsenal players, and motorbikes were pinned to the wall while the other one was bare.

"Kyle!" James yelled, "What have you done to my room?"

A guy about two years older than us walked through the door. His dark hair and eyes and slim build were instantly familiar. I had seen him a couple of years ago when I was on a drug mission. I froze, praying that he wouldn't recognize me now that I had died my hair and grown up a bit.

"It was a pig sty, James, I tidied it up," he replied calmly before noticing me, his eyes narrowed slightly, "Hi, I'm Kyle," he held his hand out.

Politely I took it, "Adrienne," I introduced myself, trying to hide my accent more than usual.

"It was not a pig sty," James growled as I dropped Kyle's hand.

"There were dirty socks lying around along with god knows how many chocolate bar wrappers, no one wants to see that."

I rolled my eyes, typical boy. My cell phone rang; hastily I pulled it out, private number. Confused I answered it and held it up to my ear, instantly recognizing the voice on the other end.

"Hello, Miss Gregorovich."

"I gotta take this," I murmured to the boys before scrambling outside.