Okay, just a little clarification: in my rewrite of Scorpia - which is the first story in my fanfic series - there is no mention of Tom so he doesn't know that Alex is a spy yet.

Alex trudged to his locker Monday afternoon. He had spent all weekend looking at Camryn's notes.

"Alex!"

Alex looked up. His best friend, Tom Harris, walked up to him. "Oh, hey Tom. What's up?"

"Are you ready for football practice?"

Alex sighed. "I guess."

"What do you mean 'I guess?'"

"I've been really tired lately."

"I can tell. Have you heard any news about Camryn?"

"No – nothing."

"I'm sorry… Well, come on. Jerry can give us a ride to the football club."

Alex pulled his equipment bag out of his locker and followed Tom outside. Jerry, Tom's older brother, was waiting in his car outside the school. The two boys climbed in.

"Hey, Alex. How are you?" Jerry greeted.

"I'm alright. How about you?"

"Great. I'm sorry about your girlfriend."

"Oh…thank you…"

Jerry drove Alex and Tom to the local indoor football club. The two teenage buys walked in and went to the locker room. Alex changed out of his school clothes into a gray T-shirt and black mesh shorts. He pulled on his shin-guards and knee-high socks. He put on his cleats and headed out to the indoor field with Tom. The rest of the team was already there. Mr. Addler, the head coach, began giving instructions for the first drill. Alex took in the directions, memorized them, and analyzed them. All the boys took their positions.

"Alex, how's your side?" Mr. Addler asked.

"It's alright."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir."

Mr. Addler clapped Alex's shoulder. "Okay. If you need to stop, just let me know. Take it easy."

Alex nodded. He watched as Tom gracefully maneuvered the ball down the field and scored a goal.

"When did you get so good?" Alex asked him when he got back in line.

"Ever since hot girls started watching our practices." Tom waved to a group of giggling girls sitting on the bleachers. "Come on, Alex, wave."

"No, that's alright."

"Come on, man. They're hot!"

"You know I'm not interested."

"Alex! You're up!" Mr. Addler called.

Alex took in a deep breath. He began dribbling the ball down the field. He made quick, fluid maneuvers around the defenders. Once he reached the goal, he feigned right, left, then right again and then kicked the ball up in the air. Alex pulled off a Shaolin jump-spin kick and drove the ball hard into the left corner of the goal.

"That was incredible!" Mr. Addler exclaimed. "Where did you learn that?!"

Alex shrugged. "I just picked it up." Actually, it was another move he had learned from Camryn. Alex jogged back into line.

"I thought you said you weren't interested," Tom said.

"Yeah, I'm not."

"Then what was that just now?"

Alex smiled and used one of Camryn's lines. "Mad skill."

"Show off," Tom huffed.

"Hey, look who's talking."

Tom punched Alex jokingly in the shoulder. Alex continued drilling with the team without any problems. Halfway through practice, a few boys – including Tom – took off their shirts.

"Trying to put on a show, are you, Tom?" Alex laughed.

"Shut up. You're just jealous that you don't have a great body like this."

Alex laughed even harder.

"Stuff it, Alex!"

Alex kept laughing until he felt dizzy and light-headed. He lost his balance and fell onto his back. Everything became blurry. The familiar vertigo swirled his senses and turned his brain in spirals.

"Alex! Hold on!" Tom cried. "We're calling an ambulance."

"Tom, what's happening?"

"You're bleeding again."

Mr. Addler pressed a towel to Alex's side. Alex felt his side for the wound. Something beneath his hand was warm and sticky. The air filled with a coppery smell. Alex raised his hand in front of his face. The last thing he saw was his hand covered with his blood.

That night, Alex woke up in the hospital. At first, he wasn't sure of where he was. But then he saw Tom and Mr. Addler. Jack sat quietly in the corner.

"Are you alright, Alex?" Tom asked.

"I think so," Alex mumbled, beginning to sit up.

"Lie down," Mr. Addler said. "You shouldn't be up with that kind of injury."

"I'm fine, really. I need to get home."

Jack stood up. "Alex, I agree with Mr. Addler. You really should rest for a little while."

"Jack, I have some work to do."

"What kind of work?" Tom asked.

"Oh, just things."

Mr. Addler sighed. "Alright, I'll be off. Take care of yourself, Alex." With that, he left.

"You're not telling me the truth," Tom accused.

Alex looked up at Jack for a sign of what to say. Jack only shrugged. Alex decided he could tell Tom about MI6.

"Tom, what I'm about to tell you must stay between us," Alex began.

Tom rolled his eyes. "Oh, wonderful! You're going to tell me you're a spy, aren't you?"

Alex blinked. "How did you know?"

"I was being sarcastic."

"Well, you took the words right out of my mouth."

"Be serious, Alex."

"I am."

Tom stared blankly at Alex. Then he burst out laughing. "Oh, this is a dream! My imagination has gone bonkers! Someone slap me – I need to wake up."

Alex slapped his friend across the face.

Tom stopped laughing. "Are you a spy, Alex?"

"Yes."

"Hm, maybe I'm still dreaming. Slap me again."

Alex slapped Tom again. This was rather…entertaining.

"Are you a spy now?"

"Yes."

"Slap me again."

"Tom, I'm a spy. This isn't a dream."

"This is unbelievable!"

"Well, believe it."

Tom paced around the room, then sat down. Then he got up and paced again. "Why did you never tell me before?"

"I'm not allowed to. That's why you can't tell anyone either."

"Why are you telling me now then?"

Alex shrugged. "You never asked for the truth before."

Tom continued pacing thoughtfully. "Well, if you're a spy, undoubtedly, you have enemies. Someone may want revenge on you for some reason and took Camryn to get at you."

Alex considered this. Maybe this was why Yassen wanted to meet him. Yassen had a reason or two for wanting to hurt Alex. Maybe he was holding Camryn hostage.

"What's the time?" Alex asked.

"9:30," Jack answered.

"Yassen asked me to meet him at The Church of Forgotten Saints."

"When was this?"

"It was in the letter. He said he needed to talk to me."

Jack frowned. "I don't know, Alex."

"But he might have Camryn."

"But he might not have Camryn. You need to be absolutely, positively sure that he has something worth your while before you jump in."

"That makes sense," Tom said.

Alex had a feeling in his gut that he should go to meet Yassen. He knew it was impossible though. He really wasn't in the condition to go anywhere but home.

"Who is this Yassen anyway?" Tom asked.

"Let's just say that he's an enemy of mine. It's better if you don't know the details. It's a messy story."

"So you have no leads on Camryn?"

"No, not really. I think Russia might be involved. The weird cab driver that nearly kidnapped both of us was Russian. Plus, all of Camryn's recent notes are on Russia."

"Notes? Wait, is Camryn a spy too?"

Crap, Alex thought. I said too much. Oh well, Tom wouldn't breathe a word to a single soul. Alex trusted him.

"Yeah, she is."

Tom shook his head. "This is crazy."

"Swear to keep this secret."

"I swear." Tom and Alex spit on their palms and shook hands. Tom left the hospital room.

Jack handed Alex is schoolbag and equipment bag. She waited outside the room while Alex changed into the clothes he had worn at school. Jack drove him home, and Alex immediately went to bed.