The Alex Rider? Chapter 3: Grow Up!, an alex rider fanfic

A/N: Remember the whole extreme figment of over active imagination. Just keep that in your head when you read this chapter. Who knew kids can do such awesome things in my head. Sorry, I missed last weekend. Merry Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa!

Chapter 3: Grow Up

"Jack! Jack! Jack, where are you?" yelled Alex as he ran through the front door and into the house.

He peeked into the kitchen. She wasn't there.

"Jack! Jack! Answer me! Where are you?"

He ran up the stairs and sprinted around the corner, right into the person of interest. When he realized who it was, he engulfed her into a huge hug. She patted him awkwardly on the back.

"Oh my gosh, Jack, are you okay?" he asked looking her over. She didn't look hurt except for a cut above her eye and scratches on her face and arms.

"Yes I am ok, Alex. I guess you must have heard what happened. I fine okay."

"What happened?"

Jack was on her way to the talent show. She was just leaving because she had to finish cleaning the house. She was shrugging on her coat, when she caught a glance out the window. She saw a black van outside. Three armed men climbed out. Two of them started to to walk toward the door. While the other stayed there. Jack dropped her things and ran upstairs. She entered her room and closed the door quietly. She heard the door downstairs open and two men speaking.

"Do you see her?" one asked.

"No, keep looking."

She looked up and crawled to her bedside phone and dialed MI6.

"Hello, how may I help you?"

"I would like to speak to a Mr. Alan Blunt, a Ms. Tulip Jones, or a Mr. John Crawley."

"Sorry, Miss…?"

"Starbright, Jack Starbright."

"Sorry, Miss Starbright, there is no one here by those names."

"Listen here lady; don't give me any of that. I have two armed men in my house and one outside in my yard. So, who better connect me to them or there will be consequences," she said in a threatening matter.

"Yes, right away Miss."

There was a dial tone, and then Blunt voice came over the phone.

"Hello Miss Starbright, may I ask why you are calling?

"There are two armed men downstairs and one out in the yard. They are looking for me. I think they have something to do with Alex."

"Okay, stay where you are Miss Starbright, help is on the way."

"Thank you."

She hung up and looked around. She saw her window and went over to it and peeked out. The man outside was smoking a cigarette. He was facing the house. She couldn't climb out the window or he would she her and alert the others. Or he might just shoot her. Jack had an idea and crawled to her dresser and opened it. She pulled out a baseball and went back to the window. She slid it open slowly and quietly.

"And with my amazing throwing skills, I threw it and hit him right in the temple, knocking him out," Jack said proudly.

Alex didn't fall for it.

"You were aiming for the window of the van to distract him so you can jump out, but you missed and hit him instead. Am I right?"

"Yes."

Jack hefted the baseball and aimed for the van window and threw it. Her aim was slightly off, and she ended up hitting the guy in the side of the head. He collapsed to the ground, knocked out. Jack gasped and covered her mouth in shock. She giggled then caught herself.

"Oops."

She looked left and right then stood up. Jack stuck one leg then the other out the window. She tried to shimmy down but lost her grip and fell into the bushes below. She landed on her butt.

"Oww," she moaned.

She got and brushed herself off. She walked over to the fallen man and shoved him with her foot. He rolled over and she grabbed his weapon and hid it in the bushes she fell in. She limped to her car across the street and climbed in. She waited there, watching the house. None of the men emerged. She saw two cars drive up and saw Mrs. Jones and Alan Blunt climbed out along with about five agents. Four agents ran inside while the other assessed the groaning man on the ground, who was waking up. Jack climbed out of her car and walked over.

"It's about time you got here. Two are inside still and I knocked out this man, his gun is in the bushes over there."

"Good job. Miss Starbright, are you okay?" asked Mrs. Jones.

"Yes, it's nothing. It just a few scratches from when I fell in the bushes."

"How did you fall in the bushes?"

"I jumped out the window and landed in them."

"And why would you do that?"

"I had to get away."

Alan looked interested.

"I must say you are gaining some of Alex's recklessness," Mrs. Jones said.

"That can come in handy, maybe I...," Mr. Blunt said.

"Nope, don't even think about it," said Mrs. Jones. "We had enough of you using people for your businesses."

"Yah, why would I work for you after what you did to Alex? You must be out of your mind."

"He tried to recruit you?" exploded Alex.

"He was thinking about it."

"I can't believe it. That man needs to learn his place. Wait until I show him a piece of…"

"It's okay Alex. You can calm down. He won't be able to. I know you won't let him."

"Well, I just glad you're okay."

"I am too."

"So, how was the Talent Show?"

Alex told her what happened there.

"And you're worried about me? I should be worried about you. Are you okay?"

"Yes just a few bruises."

"Well, you should pack your bag for tomorrow and get some rest. We have a big day tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you Jack."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for being as reckless as me and not getting hurt while doing it," he said with a sly smile.

She chuckled, and his smile grew larger at the sound of her laugh.

"Okay Sport, now git," Jack said.

Alex hugged her one more time and she kissed him on the forehead. He scampered off to his room. Alex opened his door and flicked on the light. His room was trashed. There were paper torn to shreds and scattered on the floor, a turned over chair, and his bed was flipped over. His closet was open and his clothes were flung out. He sighed and began to clean. He hung up his clothes and closed the closet. He swept away the paper and righted his chair. He flipped the bed back up. Then, Alex found a suit case and packed three sets of Army patterned, training uniforms and four weeks worth of clothes. Next, went some books, a torch, and boots. He packed some army hats and some old gadgets he had left over. At the last minute, he added a picture of his parents, one of Ian and himself, and one of Jack and himself. He put the suitcase under his bed. He changed out of his clothes and took a shower. He winced and hissed in pain when the hot water hit his injuries but he sucked it up and finished his shower. He applied some ointment to the cuts and wrapped them. He set his alarm to 5:45 and turned off the light. He climbed under his duvet.

"Goodnight Jack!" he yelled.

"Goodnight Alex. Sleep tight. See you in the morning!" she shouted back.

He closed his eyes and drifted off.

Next Morning

Ring! Ring!

His hand shot out and hit the annoying object that dared disturb his peaceful rest. He groaned and opened his eyes. He climbed out of bed and showered. He put on one of the pairs of uniforms. It consisted of an army patterned baggy trousers, an army jacket, and a gray T-Shirt. He put on his water-proof black boots and an army hat. He even added his dog tags. He yawned and walked out his door. He walked to Jack's door and knocked.

"Yes?" asked a sleepy voice.

"Jack, it's time to get up. We have to be at the school by seven."

"Okay, I'm getting up."

Alex walked downstairs and began to prepare breakfast. He cooked two omelets, turkey bacon, and toast with grape jam. Jack came down in her uniform too. She had the same thing but without dog tags or a hat. Her hair was as fuzzy as it can be.

"Uh, Jack your hair is…"

"I know. I'm going to fix it."

She looked at the food and grabbed a plate.

"You should cook more. It would give me a chance to relax."

"Okay, sure, whatever Jack."

He sat down and ate his food, looking at the clock. It was 6:15. They finished the food off and Alex picked up the dishes and washed them. Jack went upstairs to her room to go and tame the bush she calls hair. Alex dried up the counter and Jack came down with her hair in a ponytail and an army hat Alex gave her last month.

"Hey, we look like twins," she said.

"In what world would that be?"

"It is in my world, that's where."

"Sure."

Alex grabbed Jack's and his suitcases and carried them to the truck while she started the car. He climbed in and they drove to the school. It was 6:59 when they arrived. They climbed out and saw the huge crowd of students, teachers, kids, and reporters. The reporters were interviewing the people on their experiences. Everyone had a suitcase and regular clothes. People laughed at their uniforms as they shoved through the thick crowd of anxious people to the front where Mr. Blunt was standing next to Mrs. Jones.

"Hello Alex, Miss Starbright," Mrs. Jones greeted. "You're right on time, seven o' clock on the dot.

Jack shook their hands and Alex just nodded.

"What are we doing here?" asked Alex.

"There is going to be a bus to drive you to Brecon Beacons," answered Mr. Blunt.

Right on cue, a huge black, bullet-proof double-decker bus drove into the driveway. The top was strange. There was no roof for the bottom, so the people at the top and bottom can see each other. Also, the aisle was very, very wide. People climbed in to it. The top filled up first and then the bottom. Jack and Alex sat in the front. Jack got the window seat. The bus began to move.

"Hey Alex, what do you think this is? An Army sleep-away camp. What are with the outfits you and your are guardian wearing?"

The kids laughed. Alex rolled his eyes and ignored them.

"I don't see why we have to go to this Beacons Brecon place. It is useless, boring, and too much work," complained a boy named Charles Young.

"It's Brecon Beacons, smart-one!" yelled Alex.

"Shut up!" yelled Charles's twin brother, Matthew.

The parents and teachers shushed him.

"Yah, shut up! Who do you think you are?" asked Jake Coleman, a bully in the school and Alex's archenemy.

"I am Alex Rider, that's who I am. And that is better than anything you'll ever be, Jakie."

"Whatever."

"I agree with Charles," said Matthew. "It is pointless and lots of work."

"Oh, grow up Matthew, can't you handle a little bit of physical work," said Kyle Logan.

"I don't want to grow up. I just want to have fun," said Matthew.

This is who I am
And this is what I like

GC, Sum and Blink and Mxpx rocking my room

Everyone groaned but Alex beamed.

"Yes! A man of my kind!" he yelled.

Jack laughed. Matthew grinned. Alex thinks they're going to get along quite well.

If you're looking for me

I'll be at the show

I could never find a better place to go

Matthew jumped out of his seat and danced.

Until the day I die

I promise I won't change

So you better give up

I don't wanna be told to grow up

And I don't wanna change

I just wanna have fun

He bounced around a bit.

This is fun. No wonder why Alex keeps doing it.

I don't wanna be told to grow up

And I don't wanna change

So you better give up

He pointed at everyone.

Cause I'm not gonna change

I don't wanna grow up

Charles stuck his head out from behind his seat and joined his brother. They had identical grins on their faces.

I like to stay up late

Spend hours on the phone

Hanging out with all my friends

And never being at home

I'm impolite and I make fun of everyone

You can say that again.

I'm immature but I will stay this way forever

Until the day I die

I promise I won't change

So you better give up

I don't wanna be told to grow up

And I don't wanna change

I just wanna have fun

I don't wanna be told to grow up

And I don't wanna change

So you better give up

Cause I'm not gonna change

I don't wanna grow up

They linked their arms together and did the Can Can. Charles jumped onto the top of a seat's back right over three girls and balanced perfectly, regardless of the moving bus, while Matthew did air guitar while humming the tune. The girls squealed and covered their heads, scared that Charles will fall on them. Alex did the drum rhythm on his seat. All three boys sang together.