Chapter 8

A/N: Yay! :) I update soon this time. Hope you like the chapter.

Classes passed slowly for Medeia and Alex. Throughout their classes neither of them paid attention in class. Medeia drew in her notebook while Alex just stared outside the window. They were already in their fourth period and after the class ended they were heading towards lunch.

Media was in her foreign language class when the bell rang ending class. The drawing she had been working on all day was almost finish. The only aspect that had to be finished was the background. During her classes, many of the students tried to converse with her, but she was to focused on what she doing to answer them properly. After they had noticed she wasn't going to answer them, they left her to her own devices.

The teachers did the same thing. During science, the teacher didn't notice her while in her math the teacher tried to make her figure out a senior leveled problem. Not only was the teacher surprised, but the students were too, when she answered correctly. Mr. Laas...blegh. I hate him. Medeia had thought after class. Her next class was foreign language. The school only offered spanish as a language class. Medeia was already fluent in this language and many others as well. The classes were boring and Medeia couldn't wait until class ended so she could go to her last period of the day and finally head home.

But that wasn't the only reason why she wanted to go to gym. Alex had the same class as her afterwards. She would finally be able to at least talk to him and find out more stuff about him. While walking towards the gym she waved and smiled at passing students in the hall.

It was her first day at a new school, but she was already known throughout the student body and was becoming popular quickly. There were some which were in the same class as her with Ms. Brown who said she willingly became Alex's partner. She was warned a few times about him throughout the day, but she would wither just nod to the person talking or ignore them. The student didn't notice that she wasn't paying attention to them and just kept talking.

Medeia did make a few friends, but they were more of acquaintances than actual friends. There were many people wanting to talk to her and become her friend that she just started to tune them out once her third period started in the same way.

Medeia was already down the hall to where the gym was, when she noticed a few voices coming from another hallway. By now students were clearing the hallways because there was only three minutes left to arrive at their classes without being late. Medeia was curious as to what was happening, so she walked to where she had heard the voices. She knew she was going to be late for class, but she would just say that she got lost during the way there. It was believable. Her other class was halfway across the school from the gym and she was new to the school.

Once Medeia reached the end of the hallway the voices were clear and loud enough for her to hear them. The hallway was abondened. It looked as if this was part of the school before it was remodeled therefore no one used it any more. Medeia hid herself behind the wall of the corner, so whoever it was could not see her.

" What are you doing in school druggie? Shouldn't you have stayed home and waited for your next batch?" a voice asked tauntingly. Medeia noticed that the voice was belonged to a male. She heard a chorused of agreements after the comment from the male. There was more than one, Medeia thought.

Medeia wasn't a fool. She knew what was happening. group of boys were bullying another one. The voice that she had heard was the leader of the group. That was why he was the only she heard talking while the others just agreed with him. The one being bully would be weaker than them. Probably someone they thought as a nerd or know-it-all.

She either had two choices. Leave right now and still be late for class, but not as much. Or stay and help whoever is in trouble. Medeia disliked bullies, but she disliked the ones who didn't protect themselves from them. If whoever was being bullied wanted it to stop then it would have to be they who make the first move to defend themselves.

With a sigh Medeia decided to stay. She was already late to class there couldn't be more harm done.

At that moment, she heard a body being shoved to the wall. She sneaked a peek from behind the wall she hiding from. She couldn't see who was the victim because the body of one of the bullies were covering her view, but she was able to see who the bullies were. There were at least five of them crowded in the hallway. They all looked like football players or at least players in some kind of sports. Most of them were over 6 feet high.

Medeia recognized some of them from students pointing them out while walking between her classes. The one who had shoved the boy to wall was named Mike. He was clearly the leader of the group. There were also others which she had noticed hang out with him during the day.

The boy, who Medeia still couldn't see didn't answer to anything the group was saying towards him. His silence infuriated Mike more and he threw him down the hallway. This time Medeia could clearly see who the person was.

It was Alex Rider.

Alex didn't utter a sound when he was thrown to the ground. His eyes were cast down facing the ground. Mike and his group started to approach him. Walking slowly towards him. Alex still didn't move from where he was thrown.

Medeia had decide to help whoever it was that was being bullied by the group, but now she was starting to change her mind. She didn't know a lot about Alex, heck she didn't know anything about him at all, but some part of her knew to leave the situation alone. For the whole day she was wondering what type of person Alex was. From her observations she knew some aspects about him.

He was quiet and preferred the solitude instead of being in big crowds. The gossip and taunts sent his way didn't bother him. He had proven as much when he didn't respond to what Mike was saying. Responding meant he cared about what they said. Alex was a loner and people might have thought him as weak, but Medeia knew differently.

Alex was independent and Medeia noticed that when he walked, he walked with confidence and he was always alert for any sign of an enemy or danger. Medeia knew he wasn't weak. The why did he allow himself to be pushed around? Medeia could only find two possible answers.

One was because he wanted to keep a low profile. Students only gossiped around him and sent glares his way, but never actually interacted with him during the day. Students knew who he was, but didn't bother him. If a rumor started that he beat up a group of football players single handedly and there was even proof of the incident being the players themselves then it would cause quiet an uproar in the school.

Alex will gain even more attention than he already had and wouldn't be able to go unnoticed.

Second, were because of the teachers. The teachers were wary of him. Most ignored him while he was in class and some believed what the rumors said. If they believed the rumors then they would believe what the players have to say about the incident and completely think of whatever Alex said as untrue. He would be suspended or maybe even expelled by the principle from the school.

Alex didn't want that to happen.

Medeia thought Alex would escape at the opportunity to avoid a confrontation, but his future actions surprised her.

When the players were a few feet away from him, Alex stood up from where he was laying. He had turned his face towards the group, but his bangs still covered part of his face. Vaguely this reminded Medeia about the drawing Alex had created in class.

The group had stopped once Alex stood up and now were waiting for their leader to sdo something.

" Whatcha gonna do? Are you going to fight me? Like you'll ever win! Ha! I bet you can't even land a - "

Before Mike could even finish his sentence Alex attacked. He landed a punch right to his gut. Mike stumbled back into some if his followers. He was winded and couldn't breathe. Once they saw that Mike was attacked the group tried attacking Alex at the same time.

The first one reaching Alex tried to punch him, but Alex dodged swiftly and grabbed his fist and threw him over his shoulder. Immediately another punch was thrown his way, but he dodged this again and aimed a roudhouse kick to the person. The three who were left started to become cautions of Alex.

Mean Medeia was surprised. No. She was astounded. Alex had effortlessly dodged and disabled two of the jocks in a matter of seconds. Now she was certain that she made the right decision not to interfere. Medeia kept observing the fight between Alex and the rest who were still standing.

Mike had recovered now from the blow, but was standing off to the side. Letting the other three to do the work. Medeia's eyes narrowed at him, but decided to watch the fight. There were two who preparing to attachk Alex, while the other stayed behind. Medeia recognized him as Bruce

Two of them rushed at Alex from his right and left. While Bruce was waiting for his chance to strike. Alex didn't move from his spot, but once they were only a few feet away from him he sprung into action. He jumped at the last second when the two were running towards him. They collided with each other and stumbled to the wall.

Medeia tried not to laugh at this. It was just so funny! It was the move made in every cartoon for the bad guys colliding with each other trying to catch the hero.

It seemed as though Alex had the same thought because he had a smirk on his face. It didn't last long because the third guy had tried to catch Alex while thinking he was off guard. Unfortunately, for him Alex was not off guard. He was very aware of the third's presences and had successfully dodge his attempt to catch him.

Alex kept on dodging his attempts. Alex didn't seem to be tiring, but the same thing couldn't be said for the other person. He was persistent and kept looking for an opening. Unlike the others Bruce knew some sort of fighting skill.

Finally, an opportunity finally came. Alex had slipped on his feet trying the escape a punch to the stomach. When he slipped, Bruce was able to land a hit on his cheek. Alex stumbled from the blow and Bruce landed another hit on his stomach. This time Alex was leaning on the wall. Another hit and he was on the floor.

Alex tried to stand and avoid the attacks, but was unable too. After a few tries he stared to make space between himself and Bruce. After he was a few feet away he stood up and started his offense. This time instead of dodging he stared to attack.

Bruce couldn't avoid his hits. He was tired already and couldn't dodge them. While Alex was busy fighting Bruce, Medeia noticed that Mike was creeping up towards Alex while his back was facing him.

Before Mike could attack Alex he crumpled to the floor. Alex turned when he heard the body landing on the ground. His eyes widened when he saw Medeia smiling at him.

" Hey, Alex." Medeia said sweetly to him.

When Medeia had noticed Mike trying to attack Alex She had became angry and before she knew it she had striked Mike on the back and he was laying on the floor.

Alex made no comment to Medeia's appearance. He just dusted himself off and started to walk away without another glance to her. At this Medeia became annoyed. I just helped him! Can't he say a simple thank you. Medeia fumed.

They started walking towards gym silence. There was only fifteen minutes left for class, but Medeia didn't want to want to skip a class on her first day of school. She kept glancing at Alex. Alex relatively looked the same. His clothes were a little rumpled and a purple bruise was forming on his left cheek. Medeia was sure there were more bruises on him, but were hidden beneath his clothes.

They were almost to the gym, but Medeia decided to at least get some information about him during this oppurtuniy.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Medeia questioned. She knew she was being forward, but she wasn't one to hide what she was thinking about or to lose during a confrontation. The form that Alex had used resembled to karate, but it seemed to be a unique form that Alex had created for himself.

Anybody could learn karate, but to create your own form and technique took skill. While Alex was fighting the group he was using mainly karate, but there were glimpses of him using another form. For what Medeia saw Alex's style focused on his agility and catching his opponent off guard. Medeia knew some people who had their own style. If she had one when fighting, but in order to create your own style you need help from another person to see the weaknesses to it and improve it. Medeai wondered who taught Alex to form his own style of fighting.

By now they were in front of the gym door and Alex stopped before entering the gym. A few second minutes passed and Medeia thought he wasn't going to answer her question. After the minutes passed, Alex turned to her.

Medeia's eyes widened when he saw the emotion in Alex eyes. All the other encounters she had with Alex his eyes were blank and emotionless, but now they held many emotions in there and that Medeia could only separate some emotions from others. There were three emotions she saw in his eyes.

Sorrow. Alone. And the prominent one.. Pain.

Alex quickly hid his emotions from her and turned back to the door. Before he opened it he whispered something that Medeia almost didn't catch, but fortunately she did.

" My uncle." he stated and walked in the gym with Medeia following him.

A/N: Took me a few hours to finish the chapter, but I finally did! :) Hope you enjoyed it! Review please.