AN: First of all this is my first story ever. Second I'm not an American so whatever error I have regarding the country's educational system/culture/place, I apologize. And third I will post updates on a weekly basis, mostly Saturdays.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Avengers and its characters

Chapter 1

Natasha Romanoff

I woke up at the sound of my alarm. I tried to hit the snooze button but I fell off my bed in the process. Bump. "Ouch!" I said as I clutched the side of my head. I sat at the foot of my bedpost as I nurse my injured head. "What a way to start the day." I huffed. Groggily, I reached for my glasses at my bedside table, beside my alarm clock. I stood up, wore my glasses and headed to the window to open the curtains. First day of my senior year I thought "one more year before I can get out of high school. I just can't wait to graduate and go to Harvard. Or Yale. Or Dartmouth." I smiled at the thought of going to college. High school has not been very good to me, all the nightmares anyone can think of have probably happened to me at my entire stay in Marvel High; maybe I can turn that around in college. At least I am going to be at a new environment where I can start anew.

The sunlight temporarily blinded me as I abruptly opened the curtains. This is going to be a good day, no, an excellent one. I have to make the most out of this last school year, and maybe then high school wouldn't be so bad. I walked over to my table and pulled out the drawer and retrieved my diary. I added Best school year…ever (hoping) under my To Do list before graduation. I really want to accomplish something this year, to make it memorable and not to totally despise high school.

I headed towards the bathroom to wash myself and prepare for school. I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and put on a blue plaid blouse and dark jeans. I even put a small amount of make-up to brighten my look. I clutched my bag and headed downstairs. "Good morning, sweetheart! Grab some toast before you leave" greeted my mom. I did what she told me and put a generous amount of butter on my toast. As I walk to the doorstep, I looked at myself at the mirror and smiled. I gave myself an enormous smile, which I haven't done for almost four years. I just had my braces off last summer and I am thankful I don't have those anymore. I was teased for having those on my teeth, making me look like a complete nerd. Not that I listened to their mockeries, but those braces were really such a burden to me. I took a bite of the toast I have and twisted the doorknob when I remembered something in my room. I rushed upstairs and burst open the door and pulled out the drawer of my study table and got out a handmade bracelet. It was made of red nylon that was intertwined with a black one with my name spelled at the middle engraved in small plastic boxes. 'NATASHA'. It was given to me by an unknown stranger who left it inside my locker with a small note. The note read For you and at the bottom was a drawing of an arrow. I received this in my sophomore year when I was still an introvert nerd girl. The gifts didn't stop there. My secret admirer showered me more gifts during junior year, from roses to teddy bears, and even a cute spider pendant that he gave last Christmas. However, with all the gifts he has given me this bracelet is my favourite because it was the most personal gift I received from him. It's been my habit to wear this at school to give the message to my secret admirer that I appreciate his admiration and acknowledge his effort for this simple present.

"Natasha it's 7 o'clock already. Come down here or you'll be late for school" my mom shouted. I hurriedly went to my door, took a last look of my room to check if I have all the things I need for the day, and then rushed downstairs. I kissed my mom goodbye and headed to the front door.

I waved at Pepper when I reached the bus stop. She smiled at me and gestured to come closer. I consider Pepper Potts as my closest friend at school. I don't have any friends when I transferred at Marvel High. One day she saw me at the cafeteria eating my lunch alone. She approached me and started talking to me. She asked for my name, where I live, and the school I attended before I transferred. I just let her talk and talk and talk. I learned that she was also a transfer student and she didn't know anyone. She just approached me because I look meek and very passive, that I won't shove her off like everybody did. She went on like that for almost a week until I burst out. "If you want to be my friend then stop talking. Don't you run out of stories to tell?" She stared at me. I stared back. We then went to our respective classes silently. I felt bad after that incident so I approached her at the bus after school. "Pepper" I called her. I sat beside her and continued "I am sorry. I didn't mean to shout at you. I…" "Don't" Pepper interrupted. "I'm the one who should apologize. I just can't keep my mouth shut sometimes. I often feel like there's so much I want to share that I just keep on going and going and I'm not mindful of what I do, and everything is…" "Stop!" I said. I can see the shock in her face. I started to giggle and I realized that we're both laughing our hearts out. I can't remember what happened next but all I can say is we became much closer ever since.

Although Pepper is my friend there are things I don't want about her. The most is her being a control freak. I admire her neatness and orderliness with her things but she has a tendency to control even the people around her. There was this time when we were in the cafeteria that she just stared at me and said "You look hideous! That's why boys don't notice you. You've been dressing yourself as an old maid. Stand up so I can have a better look at your dress." I was shocked with what she told me. "I like what I look, I feel comfortable with these clothes, and I don't want to impress boys with my looks. Boys are just distractions and won't bring you any good. They'll just objectify you. And for your information I have a secret admirer." I raised my hand to show the bracelet that was given to me a week ago. "Well he must be blind or something. I bet he's one of the nerds out there who are withdrawn in this world." I just stuck my tongue out in response. After that conversation Pepper kept on insisting to change my wardrobe. She even offered her help to change my fashion sense. But every time she brought that topic I always say no. Not until something happened to me that made me accept her offer.

I was wearing a white sweater my grandma gave me during the New Year celebration. I paired that with a navy plaid skirt and a pair of black long socks. It was pouring hard that day and I was heading to my class after lunch. Then I felt something hard and mushy was thrown at my back. I turned around and there was another one that landed on my skirt. "That's what you get for wearing that stupid sweater" one cheerleader said. (I can't remember her name. I think it was Camille or Jessica, I don't know. She was out of Marvel High after a year.) I thought I've left the shallow and bird-brained bullies at my previous school, I was wrong. They're everywhere making sure to give hell to the people they deemed weak. I heard them laughing, throwing insults at me for having a horrible fashion taste. Pathetic I thought. I looked down at the mud they have thrown a while ago. I collected the mud and made a ball out of it. I aimed it at Camille (or Jessica), hoping that it will hit her. And it did, straight to her face. I repeated the process and threw smaller balls of mud to their direction. I've never done anything like that before; I never stood up or fought back. And by doing this I felt a sudden sense of fulfilment. I heard Camille (or Jessica) scream and run towards me. She lunged at me that made me lose my balance and completely fall on the puddle of water at the side of the football field. She slapped me hard on the head and every part of my body. I used my arms to shield my head and face. "How dare you! How dare you!" she screamed. She threw a punch at me and even pulled my hair. I screamed for pain. I tried to shove her away from me but her friends kept me pinned to the ground. Thank God someone saw us and called a teacher for help.

We all received detention after that. Pepper waited for me outside the detention room and gave me a complete set of clothes. I smiled and mouthed the words Thank you. I headed to the nearest bathroom and changed my soaked clothes. Pepper waited patiently outside until I was finished. She gave me a plastic bag to put in my soiled clothes. "Natasha" she started as we walked slowly down the hallway. "This is not the first time…" "I know" I cut her off. "And I want to do it. I'm done with this shit. People have been bullying me ever since I walked up the gates of this school. And I don't want it anymore." I looked at Pepper and she smiled back at me. "Tomorrow we'll start your transformation" she grinned.

We did our shopping the next day and she picked up the dresses she thought would fit to my personality. We argued to some of the clothes she made me wear, however, I gave in to what she wanted. After our shopping escapade, I went home and set aside all the stuff we bought in my room and sat at the side of my bed. I went over the bathroom to clean myself up and prepared for bed. After I brushed my teeth I looked at myself intently at the mirror and thought about my decision of changing a part of myself. I tried to take off my glasses but put it back again because I can't see clearly. I pouted and went back to my room. I looked at the pile of shopping bags on the floor. I went over and at each of the clothes we bought that day. I decided to try them again just to be sure they truly fit. After fitting a pair of blouse and jeans, I looked myself at the mirror at the back of the door and stared at my reflection. I felt different, like for the first time I felt normal. I even wondered if my secret admirer would notice the change. I shook the thought out of my head and went to bed.

"I see you got rid of your braces huh, and you cut your hair short." Pepper complimented. "Yeah, do you like it?" I asked. "You look stunning!" "Anyway, it's good that I got rid of my braces. I can now eat everything I want without worrying if there's something left on the wires." I said with a laugh. The bus ride was filled with joys and laughter as we share our stories to each other. That's when I realized how I really missed Pepper. We didn't have time for each other because of our own busy schedules. She's busy with her school organizations planning for activities for the whole year. And I had a part time job at a coffee shop downtown. We seldom have our own quality time. We arrived at school before 8:00, just enough time to put our things inside our lockers and before we head to the auditorium for the first general assembly of the school year. And as I closed the door of my locker someone greeted me.

"Hey, Natasha."