"Okay, now who knows the weaponry used in the war's? Mr Arentz asked the class at large not expecting an answer better than 'guns, bombs and big planes'.

This was not in the syllabus but he just loved gloating on his knowledge gained by writing 4 redundant essays in University.

Alex Rider put his hand up "Sir, the double-edged commando knife was developed in the second world war. Made by Fairbairn and Sykes, both specialists in the area's of killing, Fairbairn being a silent killer, Sykes being an expert with the rifle.

"It has a seven and a half inch blade with a crosspiece and a ribbed centre on both sides and is designed to fit exactly into ones palm.

"There have been many conflicts over the simple decision to class this as the best weapon of murder invented, and whether the creators had made the right decision working with a silent and deadly sword rather than a destructive and loud gun or bomb, or led the way for organisations to easily dispose of their enemy's in a hard to trace and old fashioned way."

A shocked silence followed this and Alex mentally cursed himself. His grades were slowly recovering but he couldn't resist blurting out loud the pieces that he did know without thinking.

Tom was the first to recover and came to his aid. "Hahaha all them war movies are starting to go to your head there mate."

Alex just laughed with relief and lightened the mood by saying "Tsk. Oh in about a year or two expect me to come running around saying 'ATTACK ATTACK ON SECTOR 3!'".

Mr Arentz still looked shocked and mentally talked himself into thinking that his superb teaching skills were responsible for Alex's knowledge. "Right. Lets move on to the espionage side of it all." He paused to see if he would get interrupted again.

Tom glanced at Alex as if to say 'you know all about this one too' but Alex just gave a small smile and shook his head.

When the bell for lunch rang 50 minutes later Alex was asleep with his head on his arm.

Tom being the loyal, caring friend he is bashed him over the head with his pencil case.

Now Alex isn't the best sleeper at the best of times these days and getting hit on the head with something is enough to startle anyone, let alone someone who is trained by the best to be prepared for anything, and drilled to eliminate the source of danger in any way possible.

Tom was actually afraid when Alex woke up, moving with impossible speed, snatching and almost breaking his wrist, his serious brown eyes ice cold and unforgiving. He had never seen Alex break into spy mode.

Once Alex saw that it was just Tom, and how scared he looked his mouth fell into a comical 'o'. Luckily they were seated in the back of the classroom and no one had seen their exchange apart from Mr Arentz.

Alex looked back at Tom and hastily patted him on the head "Uhmm, shall we?"

They quickly half walked/half runned out of there. As soon as they were in the empty corridor Alex turned to Tom who was cradling his arm and said "Jeez, i'm sorry are you okay?"

Tom being the optimist he is just shrugged and said in an uplifting tone "Remind me never to do that again, you looked like you were gonna stab me in the eye with a pencil. Come on, them year 8's look like they're going to take out spot!"

Alex smiled sheepishly at Tom thankful that Tom wasn't freaked out too much and set off at a run to stop those year 8's getting anywhere close. This year's batch of year 8's are evil.

Gradually their other friends arrived and chatter resumed as usual. Alex had been at school just over a week and he's friends didn't pester him for answers, they were just glad to have him back. Everyone in the school had witnessed his dramatic change in the past year. He went from a helpful, fun, optimist to a serious, silent and dangerous person. There were rumours all around the school about him, but his friends stopped caring about those long ago.

The last time they saw him at school he looked suicidal. One of the rumours flying around was that all those injury's he had come back to school with every time he had gone away were all self inflicted.

Rumours he had to be locked up in an asylum. Rumours he was sent to rehab. Rumours he went crazy and killed his family. But of course his friends knew he had no family, therefore dismissed all the other rumours as well. If he wanted them to know where he had been, he would tell them, no need to keep going on about it.

The topic of conversation today was the year 10 formal: who's going with whom, what dress are they wearing, who's going to ask whom, and who's broken up with whom hence needing to find new partners.

Alex sat back and watched as Jamie and Melissa had a heated argument about the enthusiasm of the guys. Melissa was of the opinion that it is the duty of all the males to ask a girl to the formal. Jamie was defending himself from possible humiliation by rejection by saying that it was the new day and age, hence the girls should give it a try sometime.

By the time she was screaming to be heard over the 5 separate arguments that this one idea sparked off, the bell sounded and they could hardly hear it. Nobody made to move because they all had PE last and the sport faculty must have a brain abnormality because they are NEVER on time.

Eight minutes later they arrived at the changing rooms and split up, the boys into the building on the left, the girls on the right.

"So any idea who you're going to ask?" Tom asked as they were changing.

"Pffft. Who'd want to go with the drug lord Alex Rider?" Alex laughed.

"Oh I think you have a few contenders." Tom said seriously. Alex looked sceptical so he continued "Come on! You must have seen how Alice can't leave you alone and how Katie gives her the death glare every time she's around you!"

Alex was shocked into silence and Tom was smirking at him.

"Alex what's THAT?"

He looked up. Nick was pointing at his bare chest where his still fresh bullet wound was.

Alex turned around and quickly put on a shirt mumbling "I fell off my bike."

But the damage was done.

"On too what? A steel rod?" Shaun asked.

"Close." Alex said so quietly no one heard.

"If you ask me that looks like a bullet wound," said Brad "My dad has one just like it."

"Right and how would I manage to get myself shot?" Alex asked the room at large.

They didn't believe that he had a bike accident, but Alex lied with such assurance that it made people question themselves and maybe it did really happen that way. Alex had to be a good liar, it was all part of being a spy. He once heard somewhere that spying was acting and if you couldn't act, you wouldn't last an hour in the world of espionage.

He left the room before anyone could question him further or share another theory.

Once everyone was changed they were all instructed to run five laps around the oval.

Almost everyone looked horrified, they usually couldn't make it past 3.

They all set off the athletic people in the middle keeping up a steady pace, the lazy people at the back walking and the people who want to show off sprinting in the front and tiring quickly.

On the fourth lap Tom was starting to breathe heavily trying unsuccessfully to overtake Alex. Alex had always been good at all sports-except for volleyball- but after his time at the SAS camp, his physical barrier and been raised and he'd been pushing that limit unconsciously time and time again whilst on his missions.

After finishing the final lap Alex was barely breathing hard, whilst some of his classmates had pushed themselves too far and were collapsed on the ground.

The teacher was reluctant to get off the phone so he allowed everyone to just do nothing for the rest of the lesson, which most students were more than happy to obey.

When Alex got home from school he was greeted by Jack's angry voice "MI6 Called."

Alex tensed up, feeling the familiar anger. Why can't they just leave him alone!

Jack saw Alex's furious face and continued before he broke something expensive "No, they're not sending you away or anything, but they want you to go and see their psychiatrist."

Alex immediately relaxed. The thought of him seeing a shrink is laughable. The last time he saw one the psychiatrist needed counselling.

"Hmm, well if they're going to force me I hope they chose a more capable one than the last."

"I don't think they're going to force you Alex. I think they're just worried." Jack said.

"They're worried about me?" Alex asked incredulously "If it wasn't for them I'd be perfectly normal. Besides I don't think I need it! I mean I feel fine! If they think i'm screwed up now, Id hate to hear what they thought when i'm 'in a mood' as you like to call it." Over it now (1) he trudged over to the kitchen to make a pesto and cheese sandwich (2).

"All you teenagers are the same" Jack grumbled

(1)-Phrase. umm….when you're angry and then you're suddenly like 'oh well' ya know?

(2)- Pesto with melted cheese on a sandwich. YUM! Try it!!!!

Review please! I give beverages! :D

-Megan