Tamara Knight.
He knew he had to pretend he didn't know her. So he walked into the classroom coolly, only shooting a glancing look at her, before sitting down in his seat. Tom wolf-whistled softly in Alex's ear, and Anya shot him a disapproving look.
'I knew we were getting a new teacher,' Tom said, 'but I didn't expect this!' he whispered.
'Neither did I,' muttered Alex to himself.
Alex didn't answer, instead wondering why the CIA would plant their agent in his school. Did it have something to do with him? Was he in danger, or did they suspect him for something? Or did it have something to do with Anya, and that her legal guardian was Yassen?
Whatever it was, it wasn't good news.
Alex watched all the boys gape as they caught sight of their new teacher. He wondered what they'd think if he told them he'd hugged her.
'Is something wrong?' asked Anya. Anya. Always the first to notice when there was something else on Alex's mind, had used her incredible prowess once again.
'No, nothing,' lied Alex, but knowing that she knew something was wrong anyway.
'Good morning, class,' said Tamara Knight.
The girls in the class looked unhappy, while the boys mumbled back 'good morning's.
'I'm your new teacher. My name is Miss Knight,' she said, flashing her brilliant smile at the class. Alex searched her eyes for clues, but Tamara was a good actress and didn't give anything away.
As the lesson progressed, Anya tried to figure out what was wrong with Alex. Something, definitely. Most probably it had something to do with the teacher, seeing as everything else was the same (as far as she knew). Plus, Alex kept glancing at her, and Anya hardly suspected it was the same reason why all the boys were staring. Could it have something to do with the fact that he was a spy?
Knowing how much Alex liked silence when he was thinking from past experience, she didn't ask him any questions.
The lesson ended, and neither of the three friends had heard anything Miss Knight had said. Alex was wondering what the CIA wanted here. Anya was trying to figure out what was wrong with Alex. And Tom… he just spent all his brainpower staring at Miss Knight.
Alex tried to linger at the end of the lesson, but Tom lingered with him. Anya shot him a puzzled look and left.
'Look, I need to ask the teacher about something,' said Alex.
'Ok,' said Tom, watching Miss Knight pack up her books.
'Alone,' Alex said.
Tom rolled his eyes.
'Is this something to do with…' he asked.
Alex nodded.
'Ok,' said Tom, sighing and leaving.
'Hello Alex,' said Tamara, smiling at Alex.
'Hello Tamara,' he replied politely. He wondered what the politest way to ask what the CIA wanted was.
'You want to know what the CIA is doing, don't you?' she asked, in a softer voice.
'Yes. Does it have something to do with me?' he asked.
Tamara thought, and then sighed.
'I'm sorry, but I can't tell you,' she said, looking genuinely sorry.
Alex knew her answer was going to be something like that.
'Thank you for going into space for us,' she said, breaking the awkward silence.
'That's fine,' muttered Alex.
'Alex, I would tell you if I could, really, but this is a secret operation. I really can't divulge information, for your safety as well as mine,' she said.
'Does MI6 know?' Alex asked.
Tamara bit her lip.
'Look, you're going to be late for your next class,' she said, standing up.
'Bye then,' said Alex, leaving the classroom, disappointed.
'Bye,' replied Tamara, giving him a pitying look that he was rather annoyed by.
At least he had a new mission.
To find out what the CIA wanted.
x.x.x
'You're late,' said Mr McDonald, annoyed. Mr McDonald had hated Alex ever since he had first missed that first two weeks for the Stormbreaker mission.
'Sorry, I had to ask my previous teacher about something.'
Mr McDonald rolled his eyes and indicated for Alex to sit down.
The rest of the lesson dragged by, and Alex could not concentrate on what Mr McDonald was saying, no matter how hard he tried. He was thinking about all the possible reasons why the CIA would be here. He came up with the most likely, and ordered them from best to worst case scenarios.
1. Something completely unrelated to him (though Alex doubted this).
2. He was in danger of some sort, and the CIA wanted to protect him.
3. They had found out that Yassen Gregorovich was alive.
x.x.x
'Alex, is something wrong?' Anya asked, as they walked out of the school. Alex had been out of sorts all day, ever since they got their new teacher, Miss Knight. He'd also looked at Anya far too many times than normal, as if he was trying to figure something out.
'No, nothing,' he lied again. He gazed off into the distance and looked troubled.
'Alex?' Anya asked, seeing the look on his face.
'Anya, do you want to come over this afternoon?' Alex asked, snapping out of his reserved mood.
'Yeah, sure, why?' she asked.
'I need to ask you and Yassen something,' said Alex.
Anya raised an eyebrow.
'Alright. We'll go and ask now,' she said, ignoring the fact that Alex was being unusually vague. When it came to Alex, Anya had learned it was better not to ask.
Anya spotted Yassen's Porsche after a few seconds of searching, and Alex and her walked towards it.
Anya opened the door.
'Good afternoon Anya, Alex,' said Yassen, from the drivers' seat.
'Hi Yassen,' said Anya, smiling.
'Good afternoon,' replied Alex. Yassen noticed that Alex was looking troubled, and had something on his mind. He was looking around the area in the gaps between talking.
'Is something wrong?' Yassen asked.
'Alex asked whether we want to go over to his house this afternoon. He wants to ask you something,' Anya said. Alex was looking at something else, and probably wasn't listening to the conversation.
Yassen considered, but not for long. He had nothing much to do, and obviously something was preying on Alex's mind.
Alex spotted Tamara approaching and was alarmed.
'Go, go, now!' he whispered furiously to Yassen.
Yassen didn't question Alex, and neither did Anya. She jumped into the car, closed the door quickly and Yassen drove off.
Alex tried not to look suspicious as he walked away in the direction of his house.