Chapter 3:

Normal Goes Flying Out The Window

Tom and I start to make our way to our English Classroom, which just so happens to be on the top floor of the school, in the main building. I still have that feeling in my stomach which is starting to get annoying. I'll just have to put up with it for the moment. I should probably try to focus on trying to pay attention in English. I wonder what we're working on.

"Hey Tom, what are we working on in English?"

"Oh, umm, we were just reviewing all the english principles, like nouns and stuff. Mrs. Zorn said we would be working on writing a recount or story of what we did during the holidays. We just started that on Friday, but will be working on it for the rest of the week" Tom answers kind of distracted; as he's busy checking out the girl he has a crush on, her name's Sarah if I remember correctly. She has long black hair, and dark brown eyes. She's quite pretty and is medium height. I think she's one of the nicer girls in the year, but I don't recall talking to her for a long time. I kind of miss having a crush, I haven't had one forever, probably because I find most girls my age too immature for me and I don't have the time to worry about girls at the moment.

"Thanks Tom. Are you going to ask her out anytime soon?" I ask amused as Tom turns back towards me.

"What are you talking about Alex?" he replies while trying to hide the blush creeping up his face.

"Oh come on, I saw you checking her out! I'm not dense or blind you know, it's obvious you like her. So, are you going to ask her out or not?" I answer quietly, enjoying my friend's embarrassment.

"I don't know! I don't even know if she likes me or not. Do you think she does? What should I do? Maybe you could talk to her for me or something? Could you?" Tom answers and starts bumbling around a bit. Well, how should I know if Sarah likes him, I don't really have the best attendance record in the world, but I guess I could talk to her as she's in our English class.

"I guess I could talk to her in English or after if you want? I don't know if she would want to talk to me though" I suggest.

"Really? That would be great!" he says as he smiles wide, "Of course she wouldn't mind talking to you, if anything she might try to get anymore information out of you of why your always missing school" Tom jokes.

"Thanks Tom, that makes me feel much more comfortable" I deadpan.

"No worries buddy, you'll be fine" he says while snickering. I just dignify that with a glare, of course which is not my most potent variety. I didn't want to scare him, well maybe a little after that comment. Before either of us can say anything else, all of a sudden... I trip over an outstretched foot and instead of going tumbling to the ground I quickly fold into a nice little roll, ending up in a crouch but quickly standing, remembering I'm at school. I turn around and come face to face with two of the guys who often bully the kids at school. Looks like it was good luck then, "What was that for" I ask.

"Hey Rider! How did you do that? You were supposed to fall flat on your face like the loser you are!" Derek yells. Well that got the attention of the remaining people in the stretch of hall. What is a good response to the annoying, pig-faced blondie that attempted to trip me over?

"Hey Derek. How did I do what? What are you talking about? Sorry, no time to wait the necessary ten minutes for you to form a somewhat coherent response to my questions as that's how long it takes for you minimal brain cells to work. Toodles!" Okay, so that might have been a bit harsh, but I'm not really in the mood to put up with him at the moment. At least he's not in English with me; I'll have to be careful in P.E later today though.

I quickly turn, while grabbing Tom's arm and make a quick escape into our classroom, leaving a small audience with large stares and mouths agape in the hall. We take our seats in the back of the room, choosing the row with Sarah in it. I happen to be in the seat next to her. I guess I will be able to ask if she has any interest in Tom after all. I turn towards her and find she's already looking at me. Okay, somewhat creepy.

"Hey Sarah. How were your holidays" I ask kindly.

"Oh, Hey Alex" she answers surprised that I'm talking to her, "they were really good. I went to America with my family for two weeks. It was fun. How about you" she asks happily. I can see why Tom likes her, she's seems like a very enthusiastic person.

"They were alright I guess. I was kind of sick in the middle and then I got appendicitis when school started again. Hah, what are the odds of that?" I reply.

"That's not very good is it? And the odds of that are unlikely, but I wouldn't mind missing school for a bit, but I guess you have a lot to catch up on" she inquires.

"Yeah, I have to catch up on a lot" I answer back. I now go in for the kill, "So, Sarah, do you have you eye on anybody?"

She blushes a bit, probably at my forwardness, "Um, yeah actually; I don't know if he likes me as well though. And I don't know why I'm telling you this" she says as an after thought.

"I guess you're telling me because I'm such a great person, like who wouldn't like the guy who's the main subject matter to so many rumours?" I ask kind of sarcastically.

She giggles quietly and smiles, "Yeah, there are heaps of rumours about you, which you seem to be aware of. So, are any of them true?" she asks jokingly.

"I'll make you a deal, I'll tell you if any of them are true and you tell me who you like. So, deal?" That's good, the perfect opening just came up.

She puts a finger to her chin in a moment of deliberation, then smiles "Deal!" She pauses then leans forward and whispers "It's... Tom". Well what do you know, it's Tom's lucky day. She's blushing madly by this point, I should probably say something.

"Really? Well I'll let you in on a secret" I pause for dramatic effect, "he likes you too" I whisper back. Her eyes light up and she glances with a smile on her face in Tom's direction on the other side of me. He smiles and waves back, which causes her the blush even more. Well, my work is done; mission accomplished. She turns back to me and sits there waiting for something.

"What?"

"So, are any of the rumours true?" she asks interestedly.

Damn, she didn't forget. I open my mouth to respond, but before I can Mrs. Zorn walks into the room and tells everyone to please stop talking and turn to the front. I give a small smirk to Sarah, turn to the front and promptly ignore her playful death glare and pout.

Mrs. Zorn starts the roll call and when she calls my name I answer present. She looks up surprised but gives a small smile which I return. I like her; she's always been kind to me.

She quickly gets the lesson stared and informs the class to continue working on their holiday recounts or stories from Friday. She looks in my direction to see if I need any help but I gently shake my head. She nods and gets settled at her desk while saying, "Mr. Rider, can you stay after class for a moment to get the work you missed?"

"Sure" I reply simply. The class turns and looks at me for a moment, some shaking there heads or smirking, others sending conspiratorial glances to their neighbours. Yeah, I'm back at school alright.

As the class gets to work, I try to think up what i can write about my holidays without breaking the Official Secrets Act. Looks like I'll have to make something up, including getting sick and perhaps include the appendicitis at the conclusion of the holidays. I could say it was a really bad case, that's why i missed two weeks of school. I quickly get to work.

About 30 minutes have passed when suddenly the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I subtly glance up and around at the class, before directing my gaze out the window. I look down at the street where a number of plain black vans are currently pulling up. That really, really isn't a good sign. I watch as men in black Kevlar suits and masks quietly get out and start taking cover under the trees and behind the building structures across the street. As one guy turns around, I can just make out a small silver symbol on the back of his uniform. I tense automatically at seeing that symbol, only one known organisation have their highly ranked personnel with symbols like that on their backs. Scorpia. I quickly look to the front and put my hand in the air. I have to think quickly; I need to get out of the classroom and do something.

"Yes, Mr. Rider?" asks Mrs. Zorn when she sees my hand in the air.

"May I please go to the bathroom?" I ask a bit too desperately. I hear small giggles and snickers from the other students.

She looks at me trying to decide if I'm being serious or just don't want to do the work. She finally decides, "Okay, Mr. Rider. But don't take too long".

I quickly glance at Tom whose gaze is questioning me. I motion subtly towards the window and he looks out just in time to see the vans pulling away. He quickly turns back with a frightened and questioning look and I nod in answer. Yes, we're screwed. He nods back but seems in shock. I don't have time to voice reassurances, so quickly turn and head out the door as quickly as possible and shut it quietly behind me. Well, I think it's safe to say that what little normal I had just went flying out the window.

A/N: Hope you like the chapter. It shouldn't be too long until I update, most likely by the end of the week, hopefully, if everything goes to plan. : )