We'd gone to get the gadgets from the toy shop down the road. Mr. Smithers, the inventor, had been delighted to see us.
"Good, good," he'd muttered, and then set to work showing us what we would be taking to Cornwall, where Mr. Sayle's incorporation was located. Alex was taking an acidic, metal eating zit cream that only worked with metal (obviously), a modified Nintendo DS with several games, a parachute disguised as a backpack, and a motorized yo-yo. Mr. Smithers had gone to town with the whole 'girlfriend' thing.
"You're going to need some makeup," he'd said, smirking.
"No," I snarled. But he'd handed me a lipstick tube anyway.
"This," he'd said, "will eat through metal, like this young man's zit cream." I rolled my eyes, and then he handed me an eyeshadow pad.
"What does this do?" I demanded. He looked at me, surprised.
"It's just for fun," he'd said innocently. I growled, and slammed it down on the table. I know I probably looked like a brat right at that moment to Alex, but I was NOT wearing makeup. I'd never much paid attention to my looks; I certainly hadn't had time to apply makeup everyday.
"I don't think she should take that," Alex had said, "It's not like her." I shot him a grateful glance for getting me out of the eyeshadow. Mr. Smithers had grumbled, but taken the pad away.
He'd then handed me the usual assortment of throwing knives, and poisons. Alex had stared as I deftly hefted the knives in my hands, and slid them into my boots, sleeves, and into a long scabbard attached to my back, underneath my shirt. I was careful not to let Alex see when I'd slid the knife under my shirt, for the obvious reasons.
We'd then been sent off to the army training camp. This was only the fifteenth time I'd been to the camp, but I was sure Alex had never been. Of course, as of right now, he'd been at the camp for, oh, five minutes. I was sure trouble would come calling soon. But who knew it would be a man named Wolf to bring it?
"Hey, you!" a voice bellowed, "What do you think you're doing, kid?" A large black man was directing his words at Alex.
"I'm here to train," Alex replied. I envied his calmness; my blood was boiling. The man snorted.
"Yeah, right, they'd really send kids in here?" he snarled, obviously unbelieving. I rolled my eyes, and stepped behind Alex, placing a hand on his shoulder. The man caught side of me, and his eyes almost bulged out of his head.
"They sent a GIRL?" he roared. He stepped closer to us. I pushed Alex out of the way, setting myself in front of him. The black man laughed.
"I doubt you could fight me," he smirked. I rolled my eyes.
"Bring it," I snarled.
"Riiiiight," he laughed. I lunged at him, and he knocked me to the ground. My breath left my body with a whoosh. God, he was strong! I swung my legs at him, slicing his own out from underneath him. He went down with an even bigger thud than I had. I leapt on top of him, pinning his arms down with my knees. He grunted.
"Get off," he growled.
"Not until you admit you're beat," I hissed. He scowled, eyes full of fury. He struggled underneath me; I balled my fist up, and swung. CRACK! His nose broke underneath my punch. His eyes watered; blood ran from his nostrils. I arched my back, flipping off of his chest, and landing on my feet. Alex stared at me with undisguised wonder.
"Don't EVER try to fight me again," I snarled. "I will not be so nice next time."
"What is going on in here?" another voice demanded. Colonel Markus marched in, and saw the black man on the floor. "Wolf, what happened, and who broke your nose?" Wolf just pointed at me. I smirked.
"Beaten by a girl, eh, soldier?" the colonel said.
"Yes, sir," I laughed.
"At attention, Wildcat," the colonel sniffed, obviously not pleased to see me. I rolled my eyes, and folded my arms.
"And you are?" the colonel snapped, turning his attention from me in exasperation. I realized he was talking to Alex.
"Alex, sir," Alex said coolly.
"We have no names here, boy," the colonel barked. "You will be called…Cub."
"Wow, really creative," I said, "I think I might die of boredom."
"Be quiet unless you're spoken to!" the colonel snapped. But he knew he had no control over me.
"Whatev," I muttered. "Come on, Alex, we need to unpack." I deliberately turned my back on Colonel Markus, and walked back to my cot.
Alex suffered while we were there. He got dropped during zip-line practice, and had to run five miles soaking wet with ice water. Wolf and the rest of the soldiers were out to make his life miserable, doing everything possible to make it look like he wasn't capable of anything. That night, after his run, he lay shivering on his cot.
"Alex?" I asked, "Are you alright?"
"N-n-n-o," he managed to get out, his teeth chattering. His gorgeous eyes were filled with misery.
"Alex," I murmured, and laid a hand on his cheek. I had taken my bright red hair down from its customary ponytail; as I leaned over him, it brushed his cheek. He smiled at me. His skin was like ice.
"Wow," I whispered. I grabbed the blankets from my own bed, and slung them over his body. I waited for him to get warm; he didn't. I thought of the other option: to get into the cot with him, and use my own body heat to get him warm. I shook my head; I would only use that as a last resort.
But he still didn't get any better. I hissed in fury; it had been Wolf's fault Alex got dropped. I stripped off my boots, and slid under the covers with Alex. His body was so cold…I wrapped my arms around him, drawing him close. I could feel his frozen fingers bury themselves in my hair. He pressed me close, grateful for my warmth.
I never remembered falling asleep. But when I woke up, Alex was way warmer.
"Thanks," he murmured. I blushed, embarrassed.
"You were freezing," I muttered, and scrambled away.
That day, I was supposed to do martial arts with the rest of the men. Alex was sitting out. I kicked, rolled, and beat all of them, including Wolf. I went extra hard on him, to get back at him for Alex. He left with another bloody nose, and some really big bruises.
The last night finally came. We were on our final test; scout, infiltrate, and get out. Wolf had the map. We trekked, slithered on our stomachs, and were almost there, when Wolf turned the flashlight on to look at the map.
Floodlights came on, and we knew we had failed.
"Idiot," I hissed underneath my breath. We were escorted to the 'binned' cabin, to wait without food and water until the next day. I noticed the chimney on our way in.
"You had the map!" Tiger, one of the other men, exploded. Wolf just shook his head. I went over the wall. There should be a fireplace right about here…
"You saw it too," Alex whispered.
"Yeah," I said, and knocked on the wall. It sounded hollow. One, two, three…BAM! I kicked the wall, and a huge chunk of it fell away, revealing a fireplace. I stuck my head in, and looked up. I saw a small piece of light at the top; it was clear.
I hauled myself up the chimney, and onto the roof. Quickly, I slid to the ground, and unbolted the doors, setting the men free.
Later, they all agreed that I was okay, for a girl. We were ready to go when it came time; Alex was eager to leave. Wolf shook my hand, rolling his eyes like 'I can't believe I'm doing this' was running through his head.
"Let's go," I muttered, and leapt into the Jeep that had come for us, with Alex scrambling in right behind me, and leaving the training camp behind.