ALEX

I had been sitting in Mr. Blunt's office for over six hours. I wasn't planning on moving until I got news about Agent Summers. MI6 had taken her off in an ambulance as soon as we arrived at the docks. Mr. Blunt had told me I was the youngest spy to ever work for MI6, and after a series of questions, I figured out Agent Summers was about four months younger than me. That was four hours ago. For the past three, I've been trying to stay awake, counting the number of tiles on the floor and finding their square root. Twice. The door opened and closed behind me. I didn't even bother turning around. Mrs. Jones had been in and out the entire time I had been here, trying to coax me into going home.

"Agent Rider." I turned around at the unfamiliar voice. Agent Summers stood several feet behind me, hands in the pockets of a school blazer. South Wiltshire Grammar School For Girls. I hadn't taker her as a boarding school type. Her stance was impatient, as if she was forcing herself-or being forced-to do what ever she was going to do.

"Call me Alex." I said, standing up.

"Alex," She corrected herself with a sigh. "I would like to thank you for saving me. I am forever grateful." Her speech was so…perfect, and again, forced. Either she sat in the front row of her "Grammar School", or she was lying. I glanced down quickly, registering a pair of worn converse. A first row student wouldn't have time to wear them out like that with all the studying. So she's lying. There wasn't even any emotion in her voice.

"Your welcome." I answered. One of her eyebrows had risen slightly. I had taken too long to answer. "Are you feeling better?" I asked, trying to get the attention off my hesitation.

"Very much so, thank you." She said, eyeing me strangely. I caught a glimmer of distaste in her eyes. "I hope you have a nice day." She said before I could ask her what her problem was, turning on her heals and disappearing out the door. It clicked shut behind her. For some reason, I had expected her to seem more…friendly? She had seemed like the bubbly type, but she doesn't even act human.

NORA

After I had choked out a thank you to Call-Me-Alex, I was in a rush to get out of there. It's absolutely HUMILIATING, I though, waiting for the elevator, for a rookie to rescue a veteran. It made me seem weak, not something I liked. A loud "ding" brought me back to reality, and the elevator doors opened, revealing Mr. Blunt.

"Going so soon?" He asked.

"Yes." I sniffed, steeping in beside him.

"Well, your parents are in Japan. Your driver is ready to take you to your hotel."

"Which one?" I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"The Milestone, the one overlooking Kensington Palace. I think you'll find it to your liking."

"It better be one hell of a nice suite to make up for their absence." I mumbled.

"You know they would be here if they could, but their country needs them." Mr. Blunt said, rocking back and fourth from the ball's of his feet to his heals.

"And their daughter obviously doesn't." I chuckled humorlessly.

"Nora-"

"I'm used to it, doesn't even matter." I mumbled.

"Your parent's love you very-""Don't stand up for them. You know their vile." I sneered.

"You don't mean that." Mr. Blunt coughed.

"This isn't the fist time they've failed to be here when I need them. It's also not the first time this career has almost gotten me killed." I said coldly. Blunt said nothing, obviously having no evidence to contradict what I had just said. I took a deep breath.

"Is training starting again?" I asked. I could have just gone home, it's not like their ever there anyways.

"Mhmm." Mr. Blunt said, still rocking.

"I don't like him." I said.

"Alex?"

"No. The Grinch." I snorted, rolling my eyes. "Yes, Alex. I don't like him."

"Nora, you don't like anyone." Mr. Blunt chuckled.

"I don't like him especially." I said, as the door opened.

"This is your masochistic side." Mr. Blunt said. "Actually, you only have a masochistic side, you poor, poor girl."

"I don't see what you mean." I said, walking towards the photo booth.

"You will." He said cryptically. I sat in the stool, not really wanting to know what he had to say. I've known the man since I was three. It's not like he didn't know me. It's not like I could disagree.

ALEX

"I think I deserve to know!" I argued.

"Alex, it's restricted information!" Mrs. Jones sighed.

"Restricted or not, you have access to it!" I said, pacing.

"Why don't you just ask her?" Mrs. Jones suggested.

"Why don't I just jump off a building to see if it'll kill me?" I snapped, standing still and crossing my arms.

"Alex, just come to the JD training session tomorrow and ask her!" Mrs. Jones said, tapping her foot impatiently and looking at the clock.

"JD training session?" I asked, letting my arms fall to my sides.

"Junior Division. Nora and three other veteran Juniors teach younger kids combat." Mrs. Jones explained.

"Younger? That disgusting! Your training them to be your little guinea pigs!" I accused.

"Alex, it's just a self defense class. The government runs it." Mrs. Jones explained.

"I bet that's exactly what you tell them." I challenged. Mrs. Jones opened her mouth, but shut it again.

"Where is it?" I sighed.

"Right across the street from the Royal and General Bank."

Nora

"Lift your hands up higher, your not protecting your face!" I sighed from the mats.

"Like this?" The little boy called.

"Perfect, now fix your feet. No, that's too much. Less. Le-Good. Now try to get him again." He snapped his fist forward, and Will blocked it.

"Again." I told him. Blocked. "Okay, good job, next up."

Once Will and I had gone through all the kids, we told them to go blow off some steam outside in the playground. I slumped down lower on my mat, starring up at the ceiling.

"You are so god damn lazy." Will chuckled sitting down beside me.

"I'm just tired." I grinned, closing my eyes. Will was my partner. Well, he was since Ian-

"Bad mission I hear." Will's voice cut right through my thoughts.

"Terrible. Rookie Rider had to go get me." I grimaced.

"And knowing you, your not taking that so well." Will chuckled.

"Meh." I said, wrinkling my nose.

"Your too competitive, that's your problem." Will said.

"I'm not competitive!" I argued. He shot me a look. "Okay, maybe just a little." I mumbled. Will laughed, rustling my hair.

"Your such a kid." He said, laying his head on my stomach.

"Your two years older than me. Big deal." I said.

"Yeah, bu-" Will was cut of by the sound of the door closing. We glanced towards is casually. Seeing Rider, I sat up quickly, smashing Will's head in between my leg and my stomach in the process. Will sat up, grumbling and rubbing his ear.

"Uh, hey." Alex said, walking towards us casually. "Mrs. Jones said you'd be here." He explained.

"Well, what do you want?" I asked, standing up and crossing my arms.

"You seemed…off, yesterday. I was wondering why." He said, putting his hands in his pockets.

"I was unconscious." I said slowly, as if to a child. Will laughed behind me. Alex rolled his eyes.

"I mean in Mr. Blunts office." He said.

"I thanked you. The I wished you a nice day and walked out. What's off about that?" I asked.

"You faked it." Alex shrugged. I paused for a second.

"If you want another expression of gratitude, your not getting one." I told him.

"I don't want anything but an explanation why you hate me when I haven't done anything bad to you." He said.

"Because I didn't need your help! I would have gotten out sooner or latter, but wonderful Alex Rider had to come to the rescue!" I snapped.

"Nora," Will started, putting a hand on my arm.

"No." I said, pulling my arm back. "He asked, for an explanation, so I'll give him one."

"You honestly think you could have gotten out of that without help?" He asked, genuine surprise in his voice.

"Of course I could have!" I hissed.

"Then why didn't you?" He asked, getting cocky.

"Don't be a smart ass! It wasn't the right time!" I said.

"Nora, the kid's are coming in, you two go settle this outside." Will said, shoving us out the back door. He closed it behind us. Great. In an alley with Alex Rider.

"Oh, good job, Rider." I snapped.

"Honestly, what's your problem?" He asked.

"YOU. ARE. MY. PROBLEM." I yelled. "Some of us have been working our entire life to get were we are, and you come waltzing into headquarters already at the top! You've got some nerve to ask me what my problem is, pretty boy."

"Wow, your really pissed off." He said.

"Nice of you to notice! Wonderful detective skills! Maybe Blunt should just make you the head of MI6! Maybe then you'll take over England!" I rambled, until I noticed that he was starring at something over my shoulder. "Are you listening?" He shook his head and pointed behind. I glanced back and my eyes widened in shock. A man. On the ground, surrounded by blood.

Cliffhanger!!! Please review!