Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers, and anything Marvel related.

"So you mean to tell me, that we have no shot, none at all, of the ballet performance yesterday?"

If there was one person (besides his mother) that Steve Rogers hated to anger or disappoint, it was Pepper Potts. Sure, the woman won't hold a grudge (that's what she says anyway), but the guilt on letting her down will eventually make you crumble and cater to her whim afterwards (that's what Tony says, anyway). Steve never angered or disappointed Pepper for all the years that he knew her, but just by his luck, he managed to do both in a single day.

Steve could see Tony massaging Pepper's shoulders, trying to make her relax. "I'm really sorry Pepper. I can't and won't make some stupid alibi, but I'm really really sorry. I guess I just got... distracted?" Wanda quirked an eyebrow at his response and he inwardly groaned, knowing he'll be prodded by the girl later.

Honestly? It was all Peter's fault. The freshman was supposed to be the one in charge to take shots of everything happening on the stage; Steve was positioned at the back of the gymnasium. But that kid, that hopelessly infatuated kid, just can't bear to be without his best friend (they all know Mary Jane Watson's not just a best friend to him) that he opted for the spot at the back. This left the stage for Steve to photograph, to which he did not complain to. After all, capturing performances and speeches was easier than waiting and searching for a candid audience reaction to capture. Or so he thought.

Steve was part of the school paper for all his high school life. His art and photography skills were deemed exceptional for his age by the past two editors-in-chief who preceded Pepper, and invited him to be a part of the team. With his experience, Steve can say that he was never and can never be distracted from his work, but of course there was a first of everything.

He hadn't meant to put down his camera and just watch the performance of the ballet dancers, truly. But there was something mesmerizing about the girl leading the dance. Maybe it was because of her red hair, untied unlike the others, following her every move? Maybe it was because of the way her green eyes lit with passion as she danced? Maybe it was because of her inate gracefulness that unknowingly hypnotizes her audience with every turn she made? Steve will never know. The only thing he was sure about was that this girl, this passionate red-haired ballerina, was the main source of his distraction, and yet he could not make himself regret that she was.

"I love you and all Steve, (Hey!) Shush, Tony. But I really need some pictures of the dance. It was our first assembly, and that ballet performance was the most applauded so we really need it and -" Pepper was cut off by a late Peter Parker barging in the conference room.

"Sorry - huff - I'm late - huff - forgot - huff - meeting," he barely got out. When he finally caught his breath, Peter noticed the tense atmosphere. "What happened? Are you mad 'cause I'm late? I'm sorry, Pepper! I promise I -"

"Steve has no shots of the ballet performance," she cut him off. "And I'm not mad, kid."

"Oh, that's not a problem, I have some! All the students' reaction of that performance was open-mouthed awe so I just took the most amusing ones then photographed some parts of the dance. It's not as good as Steve's shots, nothing is, but maybe that's better than nothing?" Peter inquired while taking a seat next to Wanda, who was in front of Steve.

Pepper perked up from this and was noticeably relieved. "Oh, thank God, Peter. Send the pictures to Wanda, she's the one writing about the performances. Maybe you can send it to me too?"

Steve unconsciously tuned Pepper out, staring at a distance and thinking about his distraction until Wanda stomped on his foot. The corner of her mouth smirked upward, as if she knows what or who he's been thinking about. Wanda's really gonna grill me later.

"And Bruce, the elimination rounds for the campus science fair will be held on Friday, I need you and Steve to cover that. Steve, no more distractions please?"

"I promise, Pepper." That ballet dancer's probably not even going to be there, of course I won't be distracted, he thought.

"Great! I'll hold you on that. Now, Sam and Clint, you're in charge of sports. The try-outs also start on Friday. Peter, you go with them. Tony and I will just alternately go back and forth the fair and the try-outs. Any questions, or suggestions to add?" As always, the editor-in-chief always took Steve's breath away. She was always efficient, organized, and quick. Definitely a big contrast against Tony. Opposites do attract, he mused.

Their silence prompted Pepper to end the meeting early. None of them had anything to ask or say as of the moment, and they could always contact Pepper through phone calls and text messages if the need arises anyway.

They all scrambled out of the room, with Wanda trailing after Steve. "So, distracted, huh?"

"I know, I know. It's stupid. I've photographed for all my life and suddenly I became distracted? It's ridiculous," he explained to Wanda.

In response, the girl only smiled knowingly. "I'm not talking about you being distracted, I'm talking about the lead ballet dancer being the cause of your distraction." Steve's ears blushed a shade of pink, with him thinking, Wanda's amazing sense is really something.

"What distraction?" Steve's best friend, Bucky Barnes interjected. Where did he even come from? As of reading his thoughts, Bucky explained his sudden appearance. "I was near the conference room when you two got out. You didn't even notice me," he pouted.

Steve sighed. Wanda teasing him was one thing, but with Bucky, the two brought the word prodding to a whole new level. "It's nothing, Buck."

"Don't listen to him, he's got a crush," Wanda turned to Bucky, suddenly noticing his somewhat disheveled look. "And what happened to you? You look like a mess," she said, referring to Bucky's appearance. Steve was glad of the sudden change of topic.

"Oh! That's what I was supposed to tell you two. You know, that childhood friend I told you two before?" He looked at Steve and Wanda expectantly. When it was clear that the two are still confused, Bucky rolled his eyes.

"You know, that Russian friend I told you about? She transferred and would permanently stay here," he excitedly said.

"I really can't remember," Steve replied, though there was something nagging his mind that he should. He could also see a small cloud of jealousy on Wanda's eyes when his best friend mentioned the word girl.

Honestly, these two have no right to question me and my non-existent love life when they can't even sort out their "hidden" feelings for each other.

"You two really have the memory of an old person. She's red haired, has green eyes," Bucky described exasperatedly.

"Sounds like Mary Jane Watson."

"Why would MJ suddenly come from Russia, Steve? Oh! I know just the thing you'll know her from. She's the one who led the ballet performance yesterday, do you remember now?"

Oh.

"That's Steve's crush!"

Well, damn.

High School AU requested by Sportsfan64. I'm planning to write a 2nd part for this. Also, it's not quite an i-like-you-ever-since-we're-children AU but I have another one-shot draft centered on that, so I hope this will suffice for now. Thank you for your prompt/s! :)

Also, thank you to all the reviewers and those who followed and faved this story. I appreciate it so much.