3. The House
Alex couldn't get out of the car fast enough. As soon as it was parked safely in the driveway, Alex got out and breathed a sigh of relief. The other Alex wasn't far behind him. How had he had the nerve to address him by last name? This whole thing was just stupid and he didn't want any part in this.
The other Alex (Alex needed a better nickname for him) unlocked the door and hollered, "Farrior, Fisher, I'm back!"
A very tall blond entered the room, his light brown eyes curious but reserved. He seemed kind of shy. Alex guessed that he was seventeen since he didn't look like he was quite out of high school yet. He seemed to be the peacemaker. Alex had a fairly first good impression about him.
He was followed by a brown-haired, hazel-eyed boy. There was a mischievous look on his face, and he didn't seem to be very mature, just as the other Alex had forewarned. He also seemed a little spoiled and selfish, but also kind of lovable. They were all pretty good looking, although he hated to admit that the other Alex was the best looking out of all three of them.
"What's with the blond?" the brown-haired one asked.
"Hey, I'm blond too."
"Sorry, Fisher. Meyer, do you want to do the introductions?" immature-brown-haired-guy inquired.
"Sure. Alex Rider, meet Carson Fisher and Luke Farrior. Fisher's the blond; Farrior's the blah-colored-haired one."
"Meyer, you're mean!"
"I know."
Carson rolled his eyes. "Those two are impossible." He held out his hand, and Alex shook it. He couldn't help liking this guy. He was considerate and mature. There was some hurt in his coffee-with-milk eyes, but it wasn't nearly as bad as Alex Meyer's, per say.
Finally, the other two quit arguing, and Alex got a good look at Luke Farrior.
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It was uncanny. One moment, Alex Rider was staring at Luke. The next, both of them stepped back and simultaneously mouthed the word, "Ow!" Alex couldn't help laughing at the confused looks on their faces. The two couldn't be more different.
"Was it your chest too?" Alex Rider asked, giving Luke an odd look.
"Yeah, I got shot right above my heart last year," Luke informed him.
"I was shot by a sniper when I was fourteen," Alex Rider quietly confided. "I got lucky. He was aiming for my heart, but I was moving, so it hit just high enough to keep me alive."
"Why-"
"Farrior, when are you going to learn the meaning of sensitivity?" Carson asked him before he could tread into dangerous waters.
"I know- never," Alex quipped.
"Oh. Sorry," he mumbled.
"Whatever." Alex Rider shifted his position slightly. "So you're the one-"
"-in charge of the loony bin? Yeah."
"Uh, Farrior, can you show him to the guest room?" Alex interjected.
"Right. Rider-"
"It's Alex."
"I can't distinguish between you and Meyer if you want to do that. Come on, just be Rider."
"Fine," he snapped and followed Luke. Alex exchanged glances with Carson.
"Do you think he can handle it?" Alex asked.
"You never know with Farrior," Carson pointed out.
"True."
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Somehow, Luke managed to seriously irk Alex. He had the maturity of a third grader- even worse than Alex Meyer! And yet, they had enough in common to keep Alex from writing him off altogether. Besides, Luke was the host.
"How long are you planning to stick around?" Luke inquired as he opened the door.
"I don't know, does it matter?"
"I was just wondering. It's not like I asked for special reasons."
"Whatever, you're annoying." Alex cursed under his breath for about the millionth time since the stupid plane had landed itself in Fillmore, Texas. Luke looked up immediately.
"Do you mind saying G rated stuff around here?"
"I'll say whatever the-"
"Rider-"
"I told you to not call me that!"
"Yeah, and then you gave me permission to!"
"That doesn't mean that I like it!" And Alex swore yet again.
"How about this? You quit cussing, and I'll quit calling you by last name. Deal?"
"I don't really care if you call me Rider."
"Then why were you so mad about it earlier?"
"I don't know! Leave me alone!"
"Man, what is wrong with you? You freak out at everything I say to you!"
"That's because you're annoying!" Alex snapped at him.
"Man, you sound just like Meyer." Luke smirked at him. "No wonder you two hate me so much."
"You say that so nonchalantly."
"Why shouldn't I?" He nervously twirled a ring- what looked like an engagement ring- and gazed at Alex intently. Was that guy engaged? That was freaky- he was way too young. If anything, Alex Meyer was the one who should have that status. Besides, Luke was just plain immature.
"You don't want to mess with me," Alex growled.
"He's sounding more like Meyer every second," Luke remarked under his breath.
"Hey, cut those remarks about me."
"What are you going to do if I don't?"
"Beat you up."
Luke snorted. "Right. Like you could."
"You really shouldn't have said that," Alex seethed. Without a second thought, he went for it.
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"Meyer, I have a really bad feeling about this," Carson uneasily told Alex, who had his gaze focused on the direction where the two had gone. Now, he looked at Carson when he spoke.
"If Farrior uses his brain…"
"Heh, like he ever does."
"You know what I mean. Farrior can occasionally behave himself." When Alex paused, both boys heard someone cussing- definitely not Luke. Alex shut his eyes and grimaced. "Okay, I'm going to eat my words on that one."
"Uh, Meyer… he doesn't like you so much either."
"I don't blame him. I dragged the poor guy into our mess, whether he likes it or not. You know, underneath all that toughness, I think that he's just in need of some time to relax."
Once again, more swearing erupted from the room. Alex sighed. "I didn't mean that cussing is relaxing."
"I know, I know. Do you think that you two are alike?"
"Who, me and Rider? Definitely. I know that he's been through a lot. I can see it in his eyes."
"You do know that your eyes are exactly the same shade of brown, right?"
"Come on, Fisher, I don't look at my own eyes."
"Well, trust me. Your eyes are completely alike. They tell different stories, but the end result's the same- you two were both scarred for life."
Alex was about to make a comment when he heard Luke's scream and things breaking. Without speaking, he and Carson both got up and raced over before things could get completely out of hand.
