I am so sorry I haven't updated in so long. I just find it really hard to motivate myself to write this story. Anyway I hope you like this chapter.

Pressure

"Sometimes these ethical decisions can be very complicated." Mrs Smith, Alex's religious education teacher, said. They were in the middle of a class discussion about something or an other – Alex hadn't been listening. Instead he had been playing hangman with Tom. R.E was known for being incredibly dull and Alex hadn't been planning on taking part. But having just guessed Tom's word (giraffe), Alex had accidently tuned in. He wondered what they were meant to be discussing.

"But lives are more important than individuals who may have done awful things." Somebody piped up.

"But it's wrong. It's against people's human rights." Somebody else argued. Alex had stiffened slightly – he had a feeling he knew what they were talking about. Other people who had previously been using their mobiles under the table or doodling had also started to notice the conversation; they rarely got to speak up about what they actually thought in R.E.

"So do you think that torture should be allowed in these cases? If a terrorist could know details of a bombing should he be tortured? If you save lives is it ethical?" The teacher asked, cleverly summing up the basis of the discussion for those who had just tuned in, pleased that she had captured the interest of a majority of the class.

"The C.I.A torture people. Like at Guantanamo bay. That's illegal, I think they should all get arrested." One of the newcomers put in, glad that they had a point.

"It's not illegal, cause they're the government of America, so they can do what they want. Anyway, how do they torture people?" Someone else argued.

"They water board people. It's like this weird drowning thing." The previous newcomer explained, looking slightly miffed at the challenge. His lack of knowledge grated on Alex's nerves; he was starting to feel angry as memories of water filled his head. He didn't want to talk about this, or listen to these childish and naïve opinions.

"Water boarding isn't torture." Laura, a girl who had been in Alex's class for years but who he had never really spoken too, suddenly interjected. "The CIA only uses it because it's not proper torture – it's not like it's really that bad. Waterboarding is just like a simulation."

"How would you know?" Alex suddenly snapped. "You have absolutely no idea what it feels like to be water boarded! You've never drowned, or had a 'simulated' drowning experience. How could you possibly understand what it's like to be held down and unable to breathe, to gasp for air and receive only water? Of course it's fucking torture. So don't act like it's not a big deal!" His voice had gradually raised and by the time he was finished he was yelling. The anger and bitterness that was often bubbling under the surface had finally been released.

Everyone stared at Alex after his rant, including the teacher. It was possibly the longest thing they had heard him say for since he had got back to school, and it seemed as though he was taking Laura's comment very personally. Laura looked shocked; she stuttered but couldn't work out what to say. The teacher stepped in.

"Alex, while you are allowed to disagree with Laura and voice your opinion you cannot be so rude! Shouting is absolutely not acceptable, and neither is swearing. Please go and stand outside, I'll speak to you at the end of the lesson."

Alex stormed outside and slammed the door behind him. He leaned against the wall and breathed through the memories and his anger, establishing a slow and calm pattern. He had been doing so well at school, although he had been getting into trouble more than usual. He hoped Mrs Smith wouldn't refer him to the headmaster, because he would be in trouble with Mr Bray if he wasn't careful. That was the only reason he didn't just go home – he couldn't afford to get into trouble for bunking more school, he had already been absent enough.

At the end of the lesson the other students filed out past Alex, most of them looking at him oddly. Tom mouthed, 'Good luck'. Laura was the last student to leave, and she glared at him as she walked past, her face filled with contempt. Mrs Smith followed her, looking more concerned and confused then angry. She had known Alex before his long absences and always found him to be a hardworking and conscientious pupil.

"Why did you shout at Laura like that?" She asked Alex, looking at him with some concern.

"I felt that her opinion was insulting," Alex said shortly. He didn't know how to explain exactly what had made him so angry, so afraid, so lost. He was already on edge from MI6 – they had been calling the house constantly until he had once again pulled the phone out of the wall. After that they had sent letters, which sat, unopened, on the doormat. He hadn't even scooped them up to throw away. He was just ignoring MI6 completely. He would just let them work out that he wasn't interested on their own.

"That is no excuse for the behaviour you showed," The teacher responded, equally short.

"How can she just make judgements like that? She doesn't understand anything about what it's really like," Alex tried to get his point across without revealing exactly what had made him so upset.

"Nor do you." The teacher pointed out. Alex couldn't respond to that, so he just glared at the wall.

"Alright, Alex. I think you should go and see Mr Bray. I'll just write you a referral," She said with a sigh.

"Please don't," Alex asked. He had got good at pleading. "Look, I've just been having a bit of a tough time at home and I'm a little on edge."

"What do you mean a tough time?" Mrs Smith asked, the concern returning.

"My guardian is being harassed at the moment. But we've gone to the police and it's all being sorted out." Alex invented. The harassment part was true enough about MI6, although they were bothering him more than Jack. "Plus I've been sick…" He tailed off.

"I think we should still talk this through with the headmaster," Mrs Smith said, although she sounded a little unsure. "You seem to have some anger issues, but maybe we could get you to see a counsellor."

"I'm seeing one already." Alex said, sensing a way to avoid seeing the head. "To help me with grief from my uncle's death and to help me manage my, uh, anger problems."

"Alright, Alex," Mrs Smith softened. "I'll let it go this one time, but don't let it happen again."

"I won't. Thank you." Alex said, then left before she could change her mind. He had gotten off lightly. If he went to see the head he could easily be excluded. Mr Bray was a fair enough man, but he didn't know Alex's circumstances. The only problem was that Alex had now told the school that he was in therapy, and that he was going through a rough time at home. He would have to fill Jack in on the cover story as soon as possible. Hopefully the story would explain some of his behaviour; Mr Donovan still looked like he was debating whether or not Alex was in serious trouble.

Outside, Tom was waiting. His friend looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Although Tom had seen how badly injured Alex had been, a lot of what had hurt most had been psychological. Now Alex's bruises had healed Tom didn't quite understand how damaged his friend still was, and didn't really know how to react to Alex sometimes. Tom was a fourteen year old school boy, he couldn't comprehend what any of it was actually like. All he knew about spying was stories and films, James Bond and Jason Bourne. Alex could tell Tom that he had been in a fight, and Tom would, deep down, think it was slightly cool – he didn't understand what it was like to know there was a good chance you could die. Nobody did unless they had been through a seriously traumatic experience.

"How was it?" His friend asked.

"She didn't send me to see Mr Bray, so I'm alright." Alex explained. He was glad it was the end of the day. "Home, then?"

"Yeah. I did have detention but it got cancelled. Anyway, I have to tell you something. I didn't want to in class in case we were overheard. I'll tell you on the way back from school."

"Okay…" Alex was intrigued. What could Tom have to tell him that was a secret?

The two of them were out of school and on an empty street when Tom finally spilled, the school boy speaking in a hushed tone and looking up and down the road as if checking for spies hiding behind the hedges. There weren't any, Alex knew, because he was constantly monitoring surroundings; hyper awareness and paranoia were a pain until they were useful, but when they were needed they saved your life.

"MI6 have been calling me," Tom whispered.

"What?" Alex asked in shock, completely taken aback. The idea of MI6 phoning Tom was ludicrous.

"Mrs Jones said to tell you that you have to pick up the phone eventually. She said you still need to come in for a debrief, and that you can't just keep ignoring them. She said-"

"Stop, Tom," Alex cut in. "I don't want to know what she said. It's all just manipulation. If I don't hear it, I can't respond and fall for any more of their crap. If I listen, she'll just use you to deliver more messages. If Mrs Jones calls again, say I stopped you and refused to listen."

"Okay, if that's what you want," Tom replied, looking slightly unsure.

"Can we talk about something else now?" Alex asked. Tom obliged, and started to chat about a new game that was coming out. But Alex was only half listening. He couldn't believe Mrs Jones had gone through Tom… what else would she try? Could he ignore MI6 for much longer? And, the most pressing question of all, did he really want to?

If anybody has any ideas about any characters they would like to be in it or anything they would really like to happen, just say in a review and I'll consider it. I really appreciate all the reviews I get, they really help me to write, so thanks so much.