Chapter 2 ~ Birthday (5)

Birthday – The Beatles

Lithia awoke early three mornings later. She had been settling into the house. It was still dark out when she stepped from her bed and donned her day's clothing; a pair of torn skinny jeans and a loose grey tee. She entered the kitchen and was greeted by J.A.R.V.I.S. "Good morning Ms. Embry." He said, earning a little wave from Lithia. "Shall I get something started for you Miss?"

Lithia shook her head. She didn't eat early in the morning. She poured herself a glass of water before returning to her bedroom. Closing the door, she opened the sliding window and stepped onto the balcony. Climbing onto the railing, she placed the glass on her head and balanced on one leg. Closing her eyes, she willed herself steady. Inhaling and exhaling, she willed the glass off her head and it hovered above her head. Willing it back down, she placed it in her hand and took a sip. Opening her eyes, she stepped off the railing and back to the balcony.

"I was coming to wake you." Pepper's voice said from her doorway. "But I see you're already awake."

Lithia smiled lightly. "You all ready to go? I'd like to enroll you in school today. Term just ended but you can start the new year." She said.

Lithia nodded and slipped into her shoes. Pepper smiled and they headed to Pepper's car. Pepper drove to the nearest school. Stopping the car, Pepper and Lithia walked into the building. "You must be Ms. Pepper Potts." The receptionist said, smiling at them. "Principal Waterson is waiting for you."

She led them to a pristine office where a bearded man was sitting at his desk. "Ms. Potts I presume." He said, with a deep voice and a wide smile. "And this must be Lithia, our newest student."

Lithia hid behind her hair. Waterson led Pepper and Lithia around the campus, showing them the school and the grounds. "You'll be a senior this year correct?" Waterson asked Lithia.

She kept her eyes on the ground but nodded. Waterson's smile faltered but he walked on. The tour went well and Pepper asked if Lithia wanted some lunch. She nodded and Pepper drove off to a fast food place and ordered some food. "So… What do you think of the school?" Pepper asked.

"… It looks big…" Lithia replied, taking a few fries.

"Well, most schools seem big. I'm sure you'll do just fine." Pepper reached over and gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

Lithia instantly bristled at the physical contact. She had to suppress her emotions to keep things from getting out of hand. "…I… I wouldn't be too sure … about that…" Lithia replied.

"Hey, no doubts, okay? You just do your best and don't let anyone bother you. You're a bright girl, Lithia. And if anyone tries to give you any trouble, I'll set 'em straight." She winked and took another bite of her food.

Lithia smiled and laughed lightly. "I guess I can try." Lithia said without any pauses or hesitation.

XXXX

Two mornings later, Lithia awoke and sighed. Pepper had told her the day before that she had to go over see the construction of a building in Manhattan and that she would be gone for a couple of days, leaving her alone with Tony. Over the course of her time there, she had started talking with J.A.R. . more frequently. "Good morning Lithia." J.A.R.V.I.S. greeted her as she emerged from her room. "Mr. Stark is down in his workshop and Ms. Potts told me to inform you that she will be calling in the evening."

"Thanks Jarvis." Lithia replied, rolling her shoulders and leaving her room.

She made herself a splendid breakfast of eggs, toast, ham, and small pancakes. She made extra and prepared a plate before squaring her shoulders and heading into Tony's workshop, plate in hand. Tony was working on his Iron Man suit when he caught sight of Lithia. "Hey." He said, standing up and wiping his hands with a rag. "Breakfast for me?"

Lithia nodded slightly and set the plate down, having learned that Tony didn't like to be handed things. "Oh, you file said it was your birthday today so I made this for you." Tony said, grabbing a silver bracelet and tossing it to her.

She looked it over carefully. "It's an artificial voice." Tony explained, starting to eat. "So that you don't have to talk but can still communicate. It tapes into your nervous system and filters speech thoughts from just thinking. I call her Jenna."

Lithia just stared at the thick silver bracelet. "You just put it on and it connects instantly." Tony continued.

She slipped the bracelet on and felt another presence in her mind. "Hello there. I am Jenna. You must be Lithia." A soft, feminine voice said in her head. "I would like to establish a pattern. Please think of something you do not want to say and something you do wish to say."

Lithia thought about the school before thinking, "Thank you." Jenna's voice projected from the bracelet.

[AN: Since I'm having Lithia use a fake voice, Jenna-speak will be in "…" but italicized while Lithia's own voice will be normal. Sorry for the interruption. ~CH]

"Hey it works!" Tony cheered.

Lithia smiled before darting back up the stairs. Tony smiled lightly before going back to work on his suit. Lithia cleaned up in the kitchen before preparing for the day. Since Pepper was out of town, she had given Lithia permission to drive her car should she need anything or want anything. Pepper had also remembered her birthday and had given her a prepaid credit card. "Go treat yourself," Pepper had said with a smile and a wink. "I noticed that you are lacking a little in clothing, so go ahead, and get whatever you want."

Taking the keys, Lithia headed toward the door after using Jenna to tell J.A.R.V.I.S. that she was going out. "You going out?" Tony asked, emerging from the workshop.

"Yes. Pepper gave me a credit card to go clothes shopping before she left and she loaned me her car too." Lithia explained, pausing at the door.

"Oh can I come? I need a break." Tony said, stretching.

Lithia hesitated. Alone in a car with Tony? But, Lithia figured that she would be alright. Tony seemed very nice… though, that's how most of them started out… "I guess it's alright." She replied, managing a small smile.

Tony smiled widely and grabbed his coat. "Wait Pepper's car? That's boring. Let's take one of mine. You can still drive." He said.

He went passed Lithia into the garage, clapping the lights on. "Take your pick. It's your birthday." He said, spreading his arms wide.

Instantly, the sliver Tesla Roadster caught her eye. Tony caught her gaze and tossed the keys to her. "Let's roll." He said, getting in the passenger seat.

Lithia smiled and got into the driver's seat. Revving the engine, Lithia got a rather wicked smirk on her face. "Hold on tight." Lithia said, peeling out of the drive way.

Tony actually yelped. He always drove fast, but he was the one usually driving, not the one in the passenger seat. So to have someone speeding, and in his car no less… Now he knew how Pepper usually felt. However, the look on Lithia's face made him smile.

"Jarvis showed me where my favorite clothing store is. The clothing there isn't the best quality or the latest fashion, but I like them." Lithia explained, turning onto a street.

"Why do you like them then?" Tony asked as she slowed to turn into a parking lot. Lithia parked outside and turned the car off.

"They donate half of everything to orphanages and foster kids so they can get clothes and blankets at a lower cost." Lithia explained, getting out of the car and walking into the building.

Tony sat in the car for a moment. "Coming?" Lithia called, waiting outside the door.

He got out and followed her in. He had to agree, the clothing there was a few years behind the rest of the stores but the place was filled with people. Lithia grabbed a hand basket and started looking through clothing. Tony followed suit, sifting through the men's shirts. "Where do they get all their clothes?" he asked, finding an Armani shirt marked half off a normal store price.

"Large chains donate their clothes at the end of every year rather than having a huge sale. They lose some profits but they can write off the donation." Lithia explained, pulling a shirt and looking at it.

"I'll have to come back here more often." Tony said, making Lithia quietly laugh.

Lithia left the store with 7 new jeans, 14 new shirts, 5 skirts, brand new undergarments, 4 pairs of shoes and 3 dresses. Tony helped her pack her bags into the tiny trunk of his car before packing his own small bag on top of them. Before Lithia could get into the driver's seat, Tony stole his keys back. "I'm driving." He said with a smile. "I need to go someplace before we head home."

Lithia nodded and climbed into the passenger seat before Tony sped off. Even though he had made Jenna for Lithia, he felt that she needed just one more thing. They rode in relative silence. "You hungry?" Tony asked, attempting to break the silence.

"No. Breakfast was very filling." Lithia answered, looking from the window to his arc reactor. "How does that work?"

Tony glanced down at the glowing object keeping him alive. "It may be a little too complicated for you." He said, making her narrow her eyes.

She remained silent the rest of the ride, all but ignoring him. He didn't blame her but he truly believed that the arc reactor was beyond her comprehension. "Here we are." He said, pulling into a classic car dealership.

Lithia raised an eyebrow in question, making Tony smile. "Well, I have some cars, Pepper has a car, why shouldn't you have your own car?" he asked, getting out.

Lithia got a huge smile on her face before hopping out of the car. "Hey hey Tony!" a man said, approaching them and offering a hand to Tony. He was a wide man with a firm belly, balding head and a rather wrinkled dress shirt.

"Jonathan." Tony returned the greeting and shook the man's hand.

"How's the old Roadster doing?" Jonathan asked, smiling widely while glancing at Lithia.

"Runs like a dream." Tony replied. "But, I'm not here to talk about the Roadster. I'm looking for a new car."

Jonathan's eyes widened a bit and a greedy smile crossed his face. "Oh course Tony!" he cheered, clapping him on the shoulder. "Let me guess, your lady friend is gonna pick the car."

Tony nodded and motioned the man to lead on. Lithia trailed behind, occasionally looking at a car. Tony let Jonathan talk his ear off about some car or another while keeping an eye on Lithia. Hidden behind a Plymouth Roadrunner and a 1963 Chevrolet Impala sat a dirty looking 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500. Lithia saw the car and gravitated to it, making Tony and Jonathan pause. "What's the story with that?" Tony asked, joining Lithia as she gazed at the car.

"Original owner died and his grandson inherited it and ran it into the ground. I bought it out of pity. The frame is sound and there aren't any dents on the body but the engine doesn't start and none of my mechanics can figure out why." Jonathan explained as Lithia lifted the hood.

Tony joined her and looked at the old, relatively rusted out engine. Lithia furrowed her eyebrows and, using Jenna, asked, "Can I get a wrench and some oil?"

Jonathan snorted but called for a wrench and oil. Tony reached for the wrench but Lithia snatched it from his hand and dove into the engine. She worked fast, using the wrench like a pro before dabbing a rag into the oil and wiped the while engine down. The other mechanics appeared and watched her work, some scoffing while others offered suggestions. Tony watched to but was silent. He wanted Lithia to succeed but, at the same time, he didn't think she knew a thing she was doing. She fished and stood, wiping her forehead and leaving a streak of grease. Holding her hand out for the keys, Lithia waited. "You really think you can get that to work?" Jonathan laughed before pressing the key into her hand.

Lithia took the key and handed him the wrench. She threw the rag over her shoulder and walked to the door. The whole group held their collective breaths as she inserted the key. "If I can get this to work, I get it for free." Lithia said to Jonathan.

He stiffened and considered. "Deal." He said, still believing that she wouldn't succeed.

Lithia smirked and turned the key.