Impulse

The beginnings of a relationship that alters the trajectory of Gene's fate.

The school bell rang shrilly in the hallways and students began to bustle hurriedly to their classes. Ugh, I groaned internally and leaned my forehead against the inside of the cool metal lockers momentarily before slamming them shut.

Is it too late to change my mind? I wondered rather spitefully to myself as I joined the hordes of students into a classroom. I glanced around and took in the faces of the many oblivious average faces surrounding me.

Everyone looked…unfamiliar. I scanned the room again and frowned in disappointment. I don't see him. I sighed and suppressed a frustrated groan as a woman who was presumably the teacher entered the room.

Too late now. I groaned and took a seat in the back, placing my books underneath a long table. I folded my hands underneath my chin and leaned forward, waiting.

I heard a series of giggles coming from the front of the room. I directed my attention toward a group of wide-grinned girls sneaking obvious glances at me.

I cocked my eyebrow at them and frowned, but that only caused their giggling to grow louder and more frequent.

Great. Fifty minutes of that and rehearsed nonsense about applicable sciences.

Fucking hell.

"Late again, Mr. Stark?" I looked up sharply toward the door. Tony Stark stood at the doorway, a backpack slung over his shoulder and a clutter of books tucked away in his other arm. He grinned at the teacher charismatically, but she wouldn't have any of it.

I stretched my arms behind my head and rested my back against the hardwood chair, finally at ease. Well, it's about time.

"And company." The teacher presumed, and my eyes flickered to the two students who followed behind him. "Sorry, Mrs. Daniels." The boy behind him grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head as he followed Tony quickly down the aisle.

"Nice one, Rhodey." Tony murmured and he received a harsh jab to his side. "Do either of you have a pass?" Mrs. Daniels asked them pointedly, to which Tony jabbed his finger in the direction of the doorway.

I took notice of the other student who was still standing at the doorway, waving a slip of paper in one hand and tucking the other into a jeans pocket.

When I first laid eyes on her, I felt something turn in my stomach. I felt sick, but not in a disgusted sort of way. I felt…nervous almost; it was strange.

Her hair was a bright—and I mean bright—shade of deep red cropped closely to her shoulders. She was of average height and had a curvy, yet petite frame with long, slim legs. And, even from all the way in the back of the room where I was sitting, I could sense she had a cool, sophisticated air about her that seemed to just draw people in toher.

At first she didn't notice me, but then I saw her look in my direction as if she felt herself being watched. I raised my eyebrows and felt my jaw slacken slightly when her large eyes met mine. I let out a low whistle under my breath. What a woman…

"Hey, man, I think that guy's checking Pepp out. He must be new." Tony's companion sniggered and I broke my gaze to glare at him. "Wait, don't I know you…?" Tony interrupted him, stepping closer to inspect me. His eyes narrowed, then brightened up as he recognized me.

"Gene Khan, your father owns the antique shop." Tony grinned, taking a seat by me. I felt a surge of bitterness creep up my gut as I instinctively corrected him, "My stepfather, yes," I smiled back at him a bit too widely, feeling more than several looks in my direction.

Fuck. I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. I must be doing a stunning job at blending in, I thought dryly to myself.

"It's good to see you again, man. What are you doing here?" He asked me cheerfully. "Just transferred here, actually. It's good to see you too." I answered honestly. "Take a seat, Ms. Potts. And can it, Mr. Stark." Mrs. Daniels announced testily. "You can talk to our new student after class."

The girl hadn't moved from her position by the door and her face looked somewhat troubled. I saw her shake her head slightly to herself as she made her way to the back of the room by us.

"Hey, new kid, I'm Rhodey." I peeled my eyes away from the girl's face and forced myself to face Tony's friend, who took the remaining seat next to him. "Gene Khan," I nodded, plastering a smile on my face.

Tony turned as the girl approached them and stopped by his desk. "This is Gene." He introduced me to her, smiling. Her eyes flickered to mine and froze as she stared me down. She looked curious, albeit somewhat suspicious of me.

"Gene Khan." I repeated softly, formally introducing myself. She nodded slowly, her eyes briefly leaving mine to examine me again, and I took a moment to appreciate her uniquely colored irises. They were a strange shade of light olive speckled with darker green; I had never seen anything like them before.

When she looked back up at me she was smiling softly, seemingly satisfied with the prospect that I wouldn't bite. I felt my chest tighten as she offered her name in a sweet, melodious voice, "I'm Pepper; Pepper Potts."