Well, one of……is it three? I think it is….chapters I have to write, cuz I've got 4 stories going right now….too much, ik. I apologize, and it's a lot of work. I can handle it, though. I'll do it.

Tony gently slid open the front door of Rhodey's house and walked upstairs to his room. Opening the door, he saw his two friends sitting around in his room, waiting for him.

"You guys waited here that whole time?" He asked. Rhodey stood up.

"Yeah, we did." He answered, yawning.

"Well, what happened?" Pepper asked, getting up from her seat on his bed.

"Well, Stane has the rest of the day to pack up and move downstairs. So my take over starts tomorrow. Going to be busy, busy, busy." Tony explained.

"Wait…Tony, you still have to go to the graduation ceremony next week, remember?" Rhodey reminded. Tony nodded his head.

"Yeah, yeah I explained that. I'm excused for that." Tony explained. Rhodey nodded and yawned again. They then went to the fair that was opening up for the week, which was downtown near the pier and spent the rest of the day there.

A week passed, and Rhodey, Tony and Pepper were standing in an old classroom in the high school, sky blue robes in hand. Everyone all dressed up, men in tuxes and girls in dresses or skirts and such. The three slipped their robes over their clothes and hats followed. The tassel was fixed so it was hanging off the side. The vice principal came in the room and announced that they all line up in alphabetical order. Getting into the back of the line, Rhodey Tony and Pepper were each at least a person or two apart. Rhodey was right in front of Tony, since their names were alphabetically closest. R and S. Pepper was two people ahead of them. The vice principal led the line of seniors out of the classroom and into the auditorium. It was a pretty big room, with elegant maroon curtains hanging from huge fancy windows, and a stage that was probably as wide as the cafeteria. The students sat on chairs that had been lined up on stage overnight, and all the parents or guardians and other family members sat in the audience. Rhodey and Tony took seats right next to each other, while two girls, one with blonde hair reaching down to her shoulders, and another with brown hair that was a little past her shoulders. The blonde was Becky Querns, and the brunette was her sister, Katherine Querns. They're twins. Pepper looked over them and waved at her friends. They waved back, and then drew their attention back to the ceremony. Tony thought to himself about how he never thought he'd have to experience this until the accident. He had to admit, it wasn't all that bad. He knew that he would've been here to see Rhodey anyways, when he graduated and Tony didn't have to. Back then, school seemed outrageous. Ridiculous, something he'd never experience. But here he is, experiencing it.

Then the principal started calling names. Starting with a redhead named Elizabeth Arnoldsen, the principal announced every name in the senior class. Waiting a long time, because there were a lot of students in their class and the three were basically at the end, Tony listened for familiar names.

"Happy Hogan." The principal called out. Standing with a goofy smile, Happy snatched his diploma and shook the principal Nara's hand. Tony smiled and clapped for the boy; he wasn't all that bad when you got to know him. A few names passed.

"Gene Khan." Nara called out. Surprisingly, Gene was actually there. He got up, arrogantly, and received his diploma. Pepper didn't move at the sound of his name. It still kind of hurt. More names passed. More and more. A lot more passed.

"Pepper Potts." Nara called. Pepper smiled and stood from her seat. Tony smiled widely and clapped for his friends. Tony had to admit. Out of everyone he had met in his life, she seemed like one of the most important to him. He watched his bouncy friend widely smile as she gently gripped her diploma and shook Nara's hand. Returning to her seat, she listened to Becky and Katherine get called. Receiving their diplomas, Rhodey's name was called.

"James Rhodes." Rhodey smiled and patted Tony's back as he stood. Shaking Nara's hand, he walked back to his seat. The next name called, however, shook up the audience.

"Tony Stark." Nara called out. Tony smiled and stood. He walked over to Nara and grabbed his diploma.

"Congratulations, Mr. Stark." Nara whispered to Tony.

"Thanks, sir." Tony responded. He walked back to his seat. After all the names were announced, it was time to announce valedictorian and salutatorian. Principal Nara got back to the podium.

"And this year's valedictorian is….." Nara announced, pulling the name from an envelope.

"Tony Stark!" He announced. Tony smiled. That one was more obvious than not, since Tony is a genius. Tony got up from his seat and walked to the podium. He was presented with a plaque, and was told to make a speech. He leaned in closer to the microphones. Pepper smiled in her seat.

"I know a lot of you will be surprised to see me here, graduating from a high school today," Tony started.

"But I would have to say that it's different from any experience i've ever had. From meeting friends," Tony smiled to himself, thinking of one redheaded girl. "To solving problems I run into on my way. Even though I only went through two years of school in my life, I know that my family—even though none of them are alive today—would be happy to see me here, accomplishing such things. Thanks." Tony finished, and stepped away from the podium. He shook hands with Nara once more and went back to his seat. The salutatorian was announced, someone Tony didn't really know. After about another hour, the ceremony was over. The people in the audience got up from their seats, and walked out of the crowded auditorium. They crowded the halls in search of their son or daughter. Rhodey and Tony easily found Roberta, and Pepper went off to find her dad.

"Congratulations, boys, i'm very proud!" Roberta congratulated. The boys thanked her. They chatted a bit more, and then Tony got a business call and had to step outside. He pushed past the crowds of other proud parents, and stepped into the cool night New York City air. He picked up his phone.

"Yeah, you can lock up for the night. Yeah. Yeah. Meeting's still on tomorrow." Tony said into his phone.

"Yeah, go ahead. I won't be back." Tony explained to an employee. Listening to one last thing, he hung up his phone and put it back in his pocket. As he hung up, he started to walk back inside, not seeing where he was going. He bumped into someone.

"Hey, watch where you're—oh, hey Tony!" Pepper, the bumped subject, said. Tony looked up.

"Oh, hey Pepper. I thought your dad would be here?" Tony greeted back. She sighed.

"He said he'd be right back. Work call." She explained. He nodded. They fell silent as Tony took a deep look into her eyes. He hesitated to lean forward, since the cool of the gentle night was urging him on to do this. He hesitated a moment longer. Millimeters away from her lips, he was interrupted.

"Stark." He heard a male voice greet. He looked up to see Gene standing there, arm outstretched for a handshake. Tony shook it with a look of anger in his eyes.

"Gene." Tony greeted back.

"I'd just like to say," Gene paused a very brief moment, "Congrats on graduating. Bygones?" Gene offered. Tony nodded.

"Sure. Congrats to you too." Tony accepted Gene's peace offering, not liking it to the very least. Tony and Pepper walked back inside and met with Rhodey and Roberta. For the rest of the night, they went out to eat as a celebration.

About a month later, Tony was hard at work in his office when he heard his door swing open. He looked up. Pepper.

"Ready to go, Mr. Workaholic?" She asked. Tony stood up and walked over to her.

"Yeah. Let's go." Tony answered. They walked out the door and went back to Rhodey's house. Rhodey was waiting out front with a few bags packed, which were sitting beside him. A bus pulled up in front of their driveway, with a ton of other men already sitting on the bus. Rhodey was going to military school, to be trained to become a general.

"Well, this is it." Tony said. Rhodey nodded.

"Yep. The end of all our adventures." Rhodey said back.

"Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye, bro." Tony said. Rhodey gave him and Pepper a quick hug, then one to his mother, and stepped on the bus. Taking a seat, he waved as the bus drove away. Pepper turned to Tony.

"So…..what now?" Pepper asked. Tony shrugged.

As their last month and a half was slowly passing by, the teens were growing closer each minute. They were going to concerts together, lunch together, summer fairs, Pepper even visited Tony at work often. When Tony was free from work, they'd find something to do together. Of course, they were just friends. Tony, days after Rhodey's departure, moved out. He bought back his and his dad's old home, which was within a mile of Stark International. Tony had gotten his license last year, and now had several cars lining his garage. Pepper went to his house a lot, too. It was really big, not too elegant, but more modern and Tony-style. He kept most of his things the way they were left when his father died. There were pictures of his grandparents, long gone by now, of his mother, of his father, and even of him as a baby. His room was the exact way he left it—slightly messy, sketches of different projects hanging from his walls, and an unmade bed. He didn't dare open the door to his father's room.

"Promise me you'll call?" She choked out.

"Every day." He responded, choked up as well.

Then, a month and a half later, it was time for Pepper to go. Tony stood in her driveway, helping her bring the last of her luggage to the trunk of her car. She had been accepted by SHIELD, and she was spending two years training for a position on ground in NYC. She was glad that she got to stay in the city, close to Tony. The training base was out of the city, though, and she would be living there for the two years. As the last suitcase was put in the trunk, Pepper stood in her driveway, a few inches away from Tony. She grew tears in her eyes, and hesitated getting in the car. She waved, unable to choke up the two heartbreaking words, good-bye. Tony waved back, for the same reason. He couldn't find the words. Before he knew it would be too late, he took her hand in his and crashed a big kiss on her lips. It felt like something he should've done a long time ago. Pepper slipped something into his hands as they parted, then waved one last time. She climbed into her dad's car, and waved silently through her window. Driving off, Tony stared at the distance where his heart had just disappeared to. He turned on his heels, got back into his car, and returned to work.

As he opened his hand, he saw a folded piece of paper. He opened it and began reading.

Tony,

A person like you, I never thought I'd meet. Here are some of my most favorite things about you:

The first one. Your dancing skills. I still wish I'd had a camera that day, because I would be rich too.

The second one: your personality. Although your being Iron Man had its scares, it brought out the best in you. Your kind nature, your care for others, carefulness and consideration, but most of all, your brain. I love your brain. It must be so big! It's a surprise your head isn't. You're the funniest person I know.

Your LOOKS. Oh my gosh, the looks kill me. How do you always get your hair messy to the point it's perfect? And those chilling blue eyes are gorgeous.

But most of all, Tony, the thing above all that is my favorite, is my love for you. I don't know if you feel the same way back, but I knew I'd have a good time saying this. From the day we met, to the day we parted, I could feel my heart warming in your caring hands. You have my heart, and not a real one of your own—that thought lingered in my head. I smile as I write this.

Always yours,

Pepper.

Awww, Poor Tony! What will become of the two teens? That was so CUTE! HEHE. Review!