Alex Rider: Deception

Alex- Chapter 10

"We have a surprise for you two," Liz Pleasure told Alex and Sabina. Sabina's eyes went wide in anticipation. Christmas break was only a week away and the living room they were sitting in was sprinkled in decorations. The love seat had a red and green throw over the back, and a slightly wilted Christmas tree claimed the corner that usually belonged to the coffee table. "What is it then?" Sabrina finally gave in. "We're spending Christmas break in the Rockie Mountains to go skiing!" Liz announced excitedly.

Alex's stomach dropped. The last two times he had been on vacation with the Pleasures, Edward had ended up in the hospital and he, Sabina and Edward had landed at the bottom of a freezing cold lake. But it's different this time, Alex reminded himself, I'm not a spy anymore. He forced a smile to his lips and nodded along with Sabina, feigning excitement. "That's wonderful! When are we leaving?" asked Sabina.

"The Wednesday you get out of school, we'll be picking you up and going straight to the airport."

"We won the trip in a drawing, and it includes one of the best skiing resorts in the country. It has a pool, so don't forget to bring your swimming suits." Edward added.

Sabina clapped her hands over her mouth, "But that gives me barely a week to buy new clothes and get everything ready!"

"I'm sure that's plenty of time." Edward said. Alex guffawed at Sabina's obsession with clothes and got up to find a snack in the kitchen. Liz followed him out. "Is something wrong Alex?" She asked, "You looked rather uncomfortable for a moment there." Alex gave her a reassuring smile, "I'm just afraid I've lost my skiing skills." Liz didn't look convinced but dropped the matter anyway. She slapped a granola bar from his hand and told him dinner would be ready in an hour, so he left the kitchen somewhat disappointed and trudged to his room. They had won the trip? He wasn't aware they had entered any sort of contest; he was certain the Pleasures would have said something before now if they had. And the best ski resort in the country for a week. He didn't know how many companies could afford a giveaway like that.

The next morning Alex rushed to get ready in the usual chaos of school days, and for a moment all thoughts of the trip were driven from his head. He was nearly late for math, and had to run to make it before the bell. At lunch Sabina caught up to him and announced they were going shopping after school; she had it all arranged. Her friend Karen was taking in them in her car, and would drive them to the mall and back. Alex agreed, but he internally groaned. He hated shopping, especially with girls, but he knew there would've been no sense in trying to deny Sabina. She probably wanted them to get matching boots or something. The thought of shopping looming in his future did not make the day go by any faster.

His day did brighten when in biology his class discovered that Mr. Bets was out and they had a sub. The sub was quite oblivious to what was going on, so he had time to chat with Katie. He told her of his trip, and she congratulated him. She was very sweet and was a good listener. He felt sure that she would believe and sympathize with him if he ever told her of his past life. Not that he would, of course, but he thought of it just the same. "See you tomorrow," she said when the bell rang, and dashed out of the classroom.

When the last bell of the day rang, Alex was whisked away by Sabina and suddenly found himself at the local shopping outlet. He was convinced Sabina liked shopping for him almost as much as she liked shopping for herself, and insisted he try on several new pairs of jeans and an armful of sweaters.

He was pulling on a particularly scratchy sweater when a small piece of paper fell out and floated to the ground. Assuming it was a tag that had fallen off, he picked it up and glanced at it, tossing it aside even as he looked a it. It had just left his hand when his mind registered what he was seeing and he swiped it out of the air deftly.