Chapter two: Clint's arrival.


What happened between him getting in the car, with Maria and her friends and getting to school, was a blur to him. It was as if he had been hit by a wave, and the memory of the time in-between was washed out, but somehow Steve found himself in the hallway, at school, standing an arms-length away from Maria, as she straightened his over-shirt out and gabbed on about class and whatnot.

"—so, like, that's why seniors don't go to the prom. It's not cool." Maria continued to say, unaware of Steve's wandering mind. When she finally was satisfied with the arrangement of his clothes, Maria got on her toes and tried to give Steve a kiss. Her lips were scant inches away from her boy(old man)friend's stubble-clad chin, and then...

In a blur of movement, Steve wedged his hand between Maria's mouth and his face, and pushed the younger woman away. The force in which he used was tremendous, so much so, that Maria's head jerked back, her chin snapped up, and she bit her tongue stumbling back. Steve watched his girlfriend crumble like a house of cards onto the floor, but instead of offering to help her up, he scratched the back of his head. "Uh... don't you have class?"

Gasps and whispers erupted throughout the hallway, but no student dared to speak, even as Maria scrambled to her feet with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth. Gurgling, the brunette tried to save the moment. This wasn't the first time Steve used his immense strength and hurt her, and she wasn't going to get him arrested again over a flesh-wound. Spitting out the blood, Maria wiped her chin with the back of her hand and said, "I'll, uh... I'll see you after class..." and then, she stumbled away, as if in a daze.

The students that littered the halls scattered like cockroaches exposed to the fridge-light, and the only ones that remained were Steve's douchebag friends; Bruce Banner and Tony Stark, they came scurrying towards him like hungry wolverines.

"What was that, man?" Bruce hollered loudly, as though he wished for everyone to listen in on the conversation. "She just tried to give you a kiss! What's the harm in that? You afraid that, if you kiss her, 70 years of pent up sexual frustration's gonna come to the surface and you'll—"

"No need for the mental image, Bruce... seriously!" Tony cringed, his mind undoubtedly being assaulted by thoughts of Steve and Maria doing 'things', gross things. Shuddering, the Genius-Billionaire-Playboy-Philanthropist turned and looked to Steve with narrowed brown eyes, "I've got a bone to pick with you—why are you with Maria, anyway, Steve?"

"She had a charm to her, and there was something about that plain Jane look she had." Steve answered, as he leaned against the wall, "Now she looks like Tia's twin sister. The worst part is; I bet she can't even do half the things Tia can." Frustrated by Maria's new appearance and recent whorish tendencies, Steve punched the locker nearest to him.

Tony and Bruce eyed their friend warily, the man has never shown this much emotion for ugly Betty. The two friends attempted to shift his thoughts to something more pleasant; like Shawarma. As they chatted, Tony spotted Clint Barton coming their way. "Legolas is approaching our position; time to hit the road!" With that, the playboy ran down the hall.

The only remaining souls in the hall way were Bruce, Steve and Clint. "I need to speak with you alone." Clint urged his former friend. Steve tried to blow him off with the middle finger, but Clint wasn't having any of it. "Your boyfriend can wait, what I have is urgent"

Bruce took offense to Clint's words and he was ready to bludgeon the archer, when Steve held him back. "Hey, it's not worth it. Just go." Bruce bottled up his anger and stomped off down the hall, his skin tinged a pale shade of green and his clothes bursting at the seams to keep him in them.

Steve turned back to the shorter man and spoke, "What do you want?"

Clint took this moment to speak, "Have you noticed that Coulson hasn't shown up to class in a few days" He continued "I want to check on Phil later tonight. Please, I need you to come along."

Steve mulled over the request. "Nah, Coulson was weird. Besides he's probably out of town."

Clint scoffed, "Please, like he has the money for such things. He lives in his mother's basement, for Pete's sake!" The Archer's expression then changed; took on a more mysterious vibe. Steve shuddered; he knew this wasn't going to end well for him.

"Besides, if you don't go, I'll show Maria's mom a copy of your birth certificate and a list of the numerous underage girls you were with. I've also got video of your 'escapades'; you know, Steve, I didn't remember you having so many freckles on your—"

"Okay, okay! I'll go—I'll meet you after class, and we'll go to Phil's house."