Jenna Tark glared at the apartment key. She had already jammed it into the lock multiple times, but still nothing. She thought for a second. Squaring herself up so she wouldn't lose her balance and hit her door; hard.
"Fuuu-" She started when her old nosey neighbor, Mrs. Clementine poked her head out of her apartment.
"-Dge." Jenna finished blankly grabbing her throbbing hand.
Mrs. Clementine squinted her eyes at the teenager and walked back into her apartment.
Jenna gave a frustrated look at the door. She took a deep breath and wiggled her key into the lock. Jenna closed her eyes and turned the key. She gave a shout of joy as the door creaked open. She held the door open with her foot as she turned and grabbed her bag. Walking into the apartment she collapsed onto her old couch. The sixteen year old shut her eyes and took in the silence. She had only been living in this apartment for six months. Six months since the orphanage kicked her out. She had enough money from her part time job and scamming her school and bunk mates in poker. Jenna forced herself up from the couch, pulled her thick black hair up, and skimmed her fridge for decent food. When she didn't see anything appetizing she slammed the door and stalked over to her bag. She pulled out her overly large class books. She was a freshman taking senior classes. She could be taking college classes but she didn't have enough money for that.
Jenna hurriedly finished her physics and chemistry homework at the same time. It was assigned earlier in the day and due in two weeks. Finishing her homework, no matter the load, in less than ten to twenty minutes was common. Jenna dug around in a box by the couch filled with electronics she had made. She smiled when her hands wrapped carefully around the mechanical object. Jenna pulled out the tiny mechanical doll. The doll was about the size of a Barbie, but it was more delicate. Its framework was made of a very fragile metal. The doll didn't have a purpose other than satisfy Jenna's want for a doll since she was a little girl. She worked on the tiny doll until eight-thirty when she needed to get ready for her shift.
She walked back to her room and into her closet. She dug into it and pulled out the waitress dress that the bar she worked at required. Yes, a bar. The only reason she was working there was because she was tricked. When she first moved into her house, she went job hunting and one of the jobs was a waitress. When she went into the interview, she expected some run-down restaurant, and it was, but the manager of the bar tricked her. He hired her then the next night she found out that it was specifically a strip bar. She slipped into the short black dress and dug out a pair of gold heels.
Jenna aimlessly wandered around her house until she found her phone. She picked it up and threw it into her bag. She grabbed her house keys and left, walking the few blocks to Gabe's bar. She quickly waved to the bouncer who allowed her in. She quickly weaved through the crowds to the kitchen.
"Jenna table five needs their order taken!" Jenna's friend Megan called from the back.
"On it!" Jenna called grabbing a note sheet and pencil.
She hurried out into the crowd and found table five. The music in the background was blaring at top notch as the customer gaped at the girls on the stage. Jenna disgustedly cleared her throat and the man snapped his attention to her.
"What can I get for you tonight sir?" Jenna forced a smile.
"I'll have the gin and tonic," the man responded flashing her a thousand watt smile.
Jenna rolled her eyes as she turned away. He was a recognized customer at Gabe's. He was there almost every night and the staff called him either scotch boy or GT man, because he always ordered gin and tonic or scotch. She quickly took the order to the station and waited for the drink to be ready.
"Table five!" Megan called as she slid the tiny tray with the drink in it out to Jenna.
"Who d'ya get?" Megan asked taking a stopping moment.
"GT man," Jenna rolled her eyes.
"Remember you're too young!" Megan called as Jenna turned away.
Jenna let out a roll of laughter. The owner of the bar pretty much sold all of the staff that was over eighteen to anyone with enough money. She walked up to GT man's table and gave him the drink.
"Here you go sir," Jenna smiled and turned to walk away, but not before she caught a glimpse of blue light peeking out from under his shirt.
GT man must have caught her staring because he fixed his shirt and gave her a slight glare.
"Take a picture, it'll last longer." He scoffed.
Jenna quickly apologized and went to busing tables.
The night moved quickly at points, but slowed down as closing time inched closer. As the clock struck midnight and the older girls, well those who weren't taken elsewhere for the night, forced the stray barflies out, Jenna walked up onto the stage. She looked at the long silver poles and looked around the bar, there was no one around. Jenna grasped the pole and spun around it. Gaining enough momentum, she swung herself up with her knee crooked and spun around. She was stopped from her entertainment by a man clearing his throat. Jenna dropped to the ground and looked at her audience: GT man.
"We are closed sir-" Jenna started.
"One hell of a dancer there," GT man said interrupting her, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Uhm,"
"How would you feel coming to work for me?"
"Uhm, you would have to talk to my boss sir, you know, contracts and everything." Jenna joked nervously backing up.
"Is there a problem here?" A deep voice said from behind Jenna.
Gabe Linden, the owner of the bar, grabbed Jenna roughly by the arm and pushed her behind him. Jenna winced from the movement. If GT man noticed, he didn't show it.
"I saw her tonight and I wanted her to come work for me." GT man said bluntly.
"Sorry, but this one's not for hire," Gabe sneered.
GT man put his hands up in defense and stepped back from the stage.
"Alright but if you change your mind-"
"Leave, we're closed."
GT man nodded and left.
"Why were you up here?" Gabe shouted at Jenna.
"Sir, I-I" Jenna stuttered.
"Whatever, get out of here." Gabe shouted and stormed off.
Jenna bit her bottom lip trying not to cry. If she wasn't so scared of Gabe, she may have left with GT man. She went to the employee's room and grabbed her bag. She quickly left out onto the streets of Manhattan at midnight. Everyone thought that the streets in New York at night were dangerous, they were, but Jenna found it oddly soothing. She looked into the dark night and walked down the familiar walkway. The sound of sirens rang in the background; most likely a robbery or mugging. Jenna looked to the sky as something burned across it. She gave a weird look to the flying object and laughed. Jenna kept walking and passed by a darkened ally. Jenna didn't notice as a man in ragged clothing stepped out with a knife. The man grabbed Jenna and shoved her against the brick wall of a building. She gasped in pain.
"Give me your money!" The man shouted.
"I don't have any!" Jenna screamed terrified.
The man brought the blade closer to Jenna's throat. She could feel the tears spilling over her eyes when there was a sound of metal hitting concrete. Jenna looked over her mugger's shoulder to see a giant metal man with a stern face.
"Hey, leave her alone." The metal man called.
"Back of you tin toy!" The mugger called.
"You did not just call me a tin toy man," The metal man said tilting his head to the side.
"What are you going to do about it tin toy?" The mugger threatened while still pressing Jenna against the wall.
"Okay, you can shut up now," The metal man said grabbing the mugger by the collar and lifted flew up to a sign hanger on the building and hooked the mugger by his belt loops to it.
The metal man flew down and stopped in front of Jenna.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
She nodded and looked intently at the man.
"Do you need an escort back home?"
She shook her head no and kept watching the metal man.
"Are you going to say anything?"
"Oh, sorry, thank you," Jenna said and blushed.
"You're welcome," he said and flew off.
Jenna stared after him and stood there. She lightly touched her collar bone where the mugger held her. She took in a sharp breath and cautiously started walking. After a minute there was the sound of a rocket and Jenna was swooped up into the air. She let out a piercing scream and stared down at the receding ground.
"Relax! I just wanted to make sure you were safe." She heard the metal man say.
"So you scare the crap out of me?!" Jenna screamed trying to see through her dark hair.
"Sorry," the man said not really sounding sincere.
"I live right down there, but you might want to drop me off earlier, unless you can stand an old lady attacking you with a handbag."
"I'll be fine,"
The metal man landed on the street and set Jenna down. Before she left she turned and gave him a quizzical look.
"Who are you?"
"Iron Man,"
Jenna smiled and watched as he flew away.
"Question is who is Iron Man?" She asked absently and turned back to her home.
AN-
YAY! New story! I know I need to update my other stories, and I will, when I don't have writers black on them. I want to see what you guys think will happen! And what you think about this new story! Review!