Hi guys! My first time writing fanfiction, but don't let that put you off! I'm excited about people reading my stories, so i'd like to ask you to keep you reviews flame-free, but constructive criticism will be received with open arms (and an open mind)!

Disclaimer: Yes, YES!!!! Then she woke up...

"Just where did you get that from?" Tom's eyes were widened in a look of horror. He was facing Alex Rider, and all Tom could do was gape. Alex sighed, and shifted the life-sized stuffed bear that was occupying his arms. Honestly, that thing was heavy.

"My maths teacher gave it to me. She was worried that I had a lack of stuffed animals to snuggle with at the end of a long, hard day. Isn't our maths teacher so considerate?" Sarcasm dripped off Alex's words like venom off a snake. Tom just stared incredulously. Taking pity on the seemingly brain-dead boy, Alex told him how Jack had taken him to the carnival yesterday.

He told Tom how Jack had gotten so frustrated at the booths that she was in danger of popping a blood vessel, claiming they were rigged. Alex had just raised an eyebrow at this comment, conveying the rather obvious message: all carnival booths were rigged. Getting a mischievous glint in her eye, Jack had proceeded to drag him over to the single shooting booth. Go on, she'd said, evilly, prove what you just said. Of course, Alex had won first prize. What Jack hadn't counted on though, and neither had Alex, was the frighteningly large awe-inspired crowd that had gathered with the sole mission of gawking at him. There were old men, old women, families and the booth-runner himself. There was a limit as to how many people could stare at you before you became rather uncomfortable. For Alex, it was like torture.

He was snapped back to the present by Tom leaning in close to the bear's face. The boy opened his mouth, and almost instinctively Alex knew that the next words coming out of his mouth were not going to be the brightest words ever spoken.

"That bear kind of looks like my grandmother, don't you think?" Good old Tom, he never disappointed.

"Tom, with you, everything looks like your grandmother." Alex said with an amused chuckle.

"Yeah, she's funny like that." He replied.

Sometimes ,thought Alex, it's just not worth a comment.

The two boys decided on football in the park for an hour or two, before Jack came home and Tom had to go back to his psychotic parents.

"Alas," he'd exclaimed, "my life is merely a recreation of that written by D. in 'Discord in Childhood'. Do you not agree, my fair damsel?"

"I hope you're not talking to me Tom, because if you are, you'd better enjoy your manhood while it lasts."

"Ouch, Alex." Tom actually had to suppress a wince, a fact which made Alex smirk. The truth was, Alex was not in the best of moods. His sixth sense had been tingling for the last five minutes, and he felt the eyes of a hunter on him. However, like a hunter, Alex knew that whoever was stalking them would wait until he was alone.

He pretended to drop a sweet wrapper just as they passed a bin, and bent down to pick it up. Quick as lightning, he whirled around from his crouched position; just in time to steal a glance at a man quickly turn around to hide his face. Alex cursed. This guy knew what he was doing. As soon as he found out that Alex knew, he'd done the next best thing; hidden his face. Alex slowly straightened up from his crouch, and threw the wrapper in the bin, before turning to look at Tom. The boy didn't seem to have noticed anything amiss.

Resolving not to worry the boy, Alex returned to walking amiably with his best friend.

Three hours after they reached the park, Alex was crushing the younger boy with a score of 12-3 to him. Victory was sweet. Tom had grumbled when they eventually decided to stop, muttering about 'unfair advantages'. Alex just grinned widely and nudged him in the ribs.

"Race you to the gates?" He asked.

"You're on!" Tom yelled. They both sprinted to the park gates, panting and losing what little composure they had. They ended up neck-and-neck, both slamming into the gates as neither was willing to slow down. An old man walking past looked at the two teens sprawled on the grass, and just shook his head. This managed to somehow set off the boys, and they erupted into gales of laughter, which continued for a full five minutes, both wiping tears of mirth from their eyes. Soon though, it was time to go home.

Tom left first, and Alex turned to pick up his jacket where he'd left it around 50 yards away. Retrieving it, he straightened up and walked through the gates. Almost immediately, Alex sensed those eyes on him again.

Very well then, Alex thought, I'll show him just who he's dealing with. With this resolve, he headed towards the less populated areas of Chelsea, already feeling himself slipping into his other persona. With a new carefully-masked purpose to his step, Alex strode forwards.

Though his facial features remained light and carefree, his eyes were now shrouded in ice, and had you stared into their depths, you would see unimaginable pain, and how it had aged him. You would see the deadly accuracy of a professional.

Please review, I promise I will reply to all comments!

P.s. If you haven't heard of D. (we're doing an essay on him in English; bore, but his poems are actually quite interesting, full of deep meaning) I would also recommend reading 'Piano' by him as well!

Plz review!