The next couple years at MIT were good to Tony Stark. While he didn't have many close friends other than Rhodes, he and the other engineering geeks (as Tony liked to call them) got along well, and often collaborated on projects. Tony, more often than not, became a sort of supervisor to them, for while he was still taking their same classes (well, sometimes at least, for he tended to skip around), his learning-curve was way ahead of everyone else's. In addition, Tony worked on many of his own projects in his time, there, often spending all day in his space in the workshop.

"I'm hungry," Tony Stark, heir to the multi-million dollar company, Stark Industries, whined.

James "Rhodey" Rhodes gave him a look. Feeling like a mother hen, he said, "You could have eaten if you had actually stopped to take breaks during the day."

After rummaging around in their mini-fridge in their dorm, Tony gave up and shut the door. "Why do we not have anything to eat?"

"You ate everything after the last time you worked on your robots for ten hours straight," replied Rhodey dryly.

"That's right." Tony grimaced. "I forgot."

Rhodey snorted. "I still don't get how you can remember textbooks full of coding, and yet forget the most simplest of things."

"My brain only remembers things that I think are worthwhile," Tony said.

"And food isn't?"

Tony rolled his eyes and grabbed his keys from his desk. "I'm going to find a restaurant in town still open. Wanna join?"

"No thanks. I've got a test in the morning. And you have classes, as well," Rhodey said, eyes narrowed at his friend.

"It's not like they actually care whether or not I show up. I know the information, already. I just have to show up for the exams," Tony said.

Rhodey snorted. "When did you say you graduate?"

"End of this year. Keep up, Rhodey."

Rhodey rolled his eyes. "Have fun finding a diner. Don't blow anything up or get arrested."

Tony waved his had dismissively. "That was only once," he said, pulling the dorm door shut behind him as he left.

"Or three times," Rhodey muttered.

-CTS-

The bells on the door clanged as he entered the 24-hour diner.

"Table for one?" a waitress asked as she walked by.

"Yup."

"Would you prefer a booth, or a seat at the counter?" she asked.

Eying the strawberry-blond at the cash register Tony replied, "The counter."

"Go ahead and have a seat, then," she said, her reply falling on already distracted ears.

Grabbing a stool, Tony grinned suavely at his prey. "Hey, you're looking awfully beautiful. What's your name?"

"Not interested," she said, not even glancing up.

"I bet I can make you change your mind."

"What would you like to eat?" she asked, finally looking up, but impervious to his charm.

"Other than you?" He raised an eyebrow and grinned. "A double steak burger with fries. And a large coke."

"Anything else off our menu, sir?" she said.

Tony's grinned widened. "It's too bad you're not standing on a menu. Then you'd be the tastiest treat of all."

"Anything else off the menu, sir?" she repeated, completely ignoring his previous statement.

Playing hard to get, I see. "Nope," Tony said. "That's all for now."

He stared at her as she relayed his order to the cooks in back. He even stared as she rung up the meal of a fellow customer. "A cheeseburger, small soda, fries, and a slice of cheesecake," she said. "That will be eight dollars, forty-seven cents."

He stared at her freckles on her nose, and began to count them. One, two, three, four…

"Out of ten? Your change is-"

"One dollar, fifty-three cents," Tony responded automatically. Both the customer and cashier turned and ogled him. "What? I'm a math genius. Among other things," he murmured, staring into his fixation's blue eyes, which just so happened to be wide with shock.

Her eyes widened for a moment as she froze. "Exactly," she said, and tore her eyes away. "Here's your change, sir. One dollar, fifty-three cents."

With one last look at Tony, the customer departed. The cashier reeled around to face Tony and took a deep breath. "Sir, while I appreciate the help, could you please mind your own business?"

Tony continued his staring. "I just realized your hair is ginger."

"What?" Her blank stare met Tony's inquisitive one.

"When I walked in I thought your hair was strawberry-blond. I think it was the lighting. I just realized, however, that your gorgeous hair is actually ginger."

She blinked. "Thanks, I guess."

He smiled. "You're quite welcome, Spice Girl. You know, your freckles remind me of pepper. I'm a big fan of spices."

"Pepper?" she asked.

"Yeah, like dots of pepper sprinkled all over your face. I like it."

Her eyes roved away from his. "I'm going to check on your order," she said.

When she came back bearing his food, Tony picked up on his staring right where he had left off. "You have seven freckles on your nose, Pepper. That's good. Seven is quite a lucky number."

"First of all, what did you call me? Second of all, what?" she asked.

He took a sip of his soda. "Pepper. Since you're not wearing your name tag at the moment, I decided I should call you Pepper."

"You could have just asked me my name," she said.

"That wouldn't have been fun. Besides, would you have told me?" he asked, again gazing into her limitless orbs.

"Nope," she said.

Tony smiled. "As for the whole seven thing…" He shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to be superstitious. It's good to have luck on your side."

Unable to help herself, Pepper snorted.

"What? You don't think you're lucky?"

Her silence spoke for itself.

"I think you're very lucky. You've met me, after all," he said.

"And what's so special about you?" Pepper asked.

"Besides my charm and good looks? I'm a genius, as I said. I attend MIT," Tony said.

"And how old are you?" she asked.

"Eighteen," he said, smiling cockily.

"Funny," she said, looking away. "You look more like twelve."

Tony scowled, staring elsewhere, too."I started at MIT when I was fifteen. My entire schedule is now graduate courses."

"What's your major? Math?"

"Engineering and physics. I'm working on double masters. Now, enough about me. What about you?" Tony asked.

Pepper ignored him. Frowning, Tony began eating his burger. "I shared. It's only polite that you share as well," he said.

Pepper rolled her eyes. "This isn't kindergarten, you know."

"Actually, I wouldn't know. I never went to kindergarten. I had private tutors, instead. If I had even attempted to attend school I would have skipped grades like crazy," Tony said.

"You've never been to school?" Pepper asked with her eyebrows raised.

"Not until college," he said, polishing off the rest of his burger.

"What did you say your name was?"

He grinned. "I didn't. However, I'll tell you now that my name is Tony Stark. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Pepper," he said, and stuck out his hand.

She stared at him for a few minutes before a cough caught her attention. "Oh, sorry sir," she said, turning her attention to the customer. "How may I help you?"

Tony smiled to himself as Pepper rang up the man's meal. "Your total is seven dollars and fifty-three cents." The customer handed her some money. "Out of eight? Your change is-"

"Forty-seven cents," Toney said.

She merely glanced at Tony and rolled her eyes. "Like Mr. Genius, here said, your change is forty-seven cents. Have a great day."

After the gentleman left, she turned to Tony and gave him a look.

"What? I can't help it," he said.

"You can't resist the urge to solve math problems?" she asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Exactly!" he said.

Pepper merely rolled her eyes yet again and turned to help the next customer. "Your total is six dollars, seventy-three cents. Out of twenty? Your change is-"

"Thirteen dollars, twenty-seven cents," she and Tony finished together.

Ignoring Tony, Pepper continued, "Thank you, ma'am. Have a nice day." After a moment she once again looked to the heir to Stark Industries. "Would you stop that?"

"Stop what?" he asked innocently.

She sighed. "You're done with your meal. Would you please leave, now?"

"You never shared, you know," he said.

She didn't react.

"Very well. Correct me if I'm wrong, but my total is eight dollars, thirty-four cents, including tax. Out of a twenty, with a very generous tip, is no change." He handed her the money and grinned. "And next time I'll make you share something. Mark my words." At that last remark, he finally headed out the door.

Pepper sighed and dutifully punched in his order. Glancing at the screen she said, "Well, he was right on that account, at least."

-CTS-

"Rhodey, Rhodey, wake up!"

"Hmm, what?" asked the pilot as he rolled over, half-asleep.

"I met a girl!" Tony said.

"That's nice. And remarkable how?" Rhodey asked, still encased in his covers.

Undaunted by his friends reply, Tony said, "I like her. I'm going to ask her out soon."

"Is she at least your age?"

"Yup," Tony said.

"Good," responded the genius' best friend. "Now go to bed."