I realized just now that I had finished this chapter weeks ago. Oops!

enjoy!


"Then he just walked away!" Tony cried in frustration. "From me! ME!" He sighed and put his head on the lab station in the chemistry classroom. Bruce sat beside him and listened as his best friend relayed his latest encounter with the new student. "And he was interested. I could see he was interested, but he just walked away from me!"

"Maybe you misread his reaction?" Bruce offered gently. "You just wanted to think he was interested in you-."

"Please, Bruce, it's me," Tony said sharply as he sat up straight to look more directly at the other boy. "I never misread reactions."

Bruce simply raised his shoulders and let them fall in a nonchalant shrug. He looked up towards the clock to see how long they had been there and looked back at Tony. "Maybe it was too much all at once. He did just get here, right?"

"I guess," Tony relented and sighed bitterly. "Still."

Bruce rolled his eyes. He sighed and stood up. "You know, your tricks might not work this time," Bruce said as he put his notes back in his bag. "You might have found a match."

"Please, Bruce," Tony said looked at him in disbelief. "It's me. My tricks always work."

"Whatever."


Loki sat alone behind the bleachers in the large gymnasium. He could hear the voices echoed against the large cinderblock walls, but he ignored what they said. As always it was about things he didn't care about. It was a lonely world, not fitting in with everyone else. Only one person understood him besides himself, and that person he hated more than anyone right now. He sighed.

He wasn't sure how long he had been hiding out here, but he was sure the final bell had rang. Not that it mattered. As long as he didn't have to see Thor again until he got home and could lock him out of his room then he would be fine. Stupid, Thor, Loki thought to himself.

"Hey!" A voice caught his attention, but he ignored it. "You, under the bleachers!"

He looked up and peered beneath one of the seats. He caught the figure of Natasha, the head of the girls gymnastics team. He swallowed nervously. She was also head of the kick boxing teams, both boys and girls since she defeated the boy's old team captain. It had been a messy incident and everyone agreed that the guy deserved it.

"Practice is about to start. You shouldn't be here," she called again and took a step forward to look at him better. "Come on. School's over, so head home."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Loki snapped and made his way out of his hiding spot and dusted himself off. He shot a glare towards the red heard and made to storm off towards the doors.

"What got you pissier than usual?"

Loki stopped and turned towards her. He noticed that none of the other gymnasts were in sight. "What has me 'pissier than usual,'" he began with air quotes, "is none of your business."

"Sorry," she said with a slight sway of her hips and a turn. She went back towards pushing the balance beam away from the wall. "Just wondering since it's rare to see you anywhere near the gym." She glanced over her shoulder with a slight smirk. "Especially during class."

Loki stopped and shot a sneer back towards her and kept walking towards the door. He peered through the long, vertical window and caught sight of Thor on the other side surrounded by a group of girls. A growl escaped between his lips and he kicked the door angrily. The sound echoed on both sides and Thor, along with the girls, looked up at him. Loki whipped around and stormed towards one of the other doors.

"I'm sure the door didn't deserve that," Natasha commented without turning towards Loki.

"Look, if it's my business why do you keep prying?" Loki snapped turned towards her and stopping in the middle of the floor. "Don't you have a hand stand to do?"

"Oh, that's charming. I'm just curious, but I'll but out." Natasha said looking up at him with big tearful eyes. She sniffed and turned around as she brought a hand up to her eyes. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

Loki groaned and felt guilt settle in his stomach. He sighed and looked back towards the hunched figure. They didn't usually associate or really see each other, but he hated making enemies if he didn't set out to. "Fine, just don't tell anyone-."

Natasha whipped around smiling brightly. "Alright. I promise!"

Loki groaned again and mentally kicked himself for being gullible.


Steve walked down the street farther away from his school. Despite having been to so many schools, he only rode the bus at two of them. The rest he was near enough to walk or a bus wasn't offered and he rode the metro and walked. Now was like the many others and he walked. The rest of the students had already turned off to their houses or separate streets. He was the only one walking in this direction.

His house was in sight. It looked like the rest of them: small, white siding, dark roof, red shutters. It was an old 1950s suburb that was never updated except having had the central heating and air installed. Each house had a double car garage and large driveway and lawn. They were all the same.

As he drew near he felt a wave of excitement. It was one of the rare times he could return from school and expect to have his parents' home. They had promised him they'd be home when he was today so they could talk about their first days among their new community. He reached the door and tried the handle. It was locked.

His brows furrowed, but he shook the thought aside. They always locked the door. It wasn't all that weird. His mother was paranoid and she had passed the habit to her husband and son. He smiled and unlocked the door slowly, waiting for the door to open at any second. When it didn't and he turned the knob and pushed his way inside, realization struck. None of the lights were on. He heard no conversation or TV or anything.

"Hello? I'm home!" He called into the emptiness. He shut the door and locked it, feeling heavier than he had.

The light to the kitchen right beside the front door flickered as he flipped the switch. When it finally illuminated the white tiled and white walled room, he stepped inside and caught the note on the fridge.

Steve,

Sorry for this, sweetie. We got called in last minute. We'll bring Chinese for dinner. Hopefully it's not what we think.

Love
Mom

Steve read over the note a few times and sighed. He crumpled it and let it fall to the tile.


Chapter 3- End

tbc

So, I'm trying to get Natasha and Loki to be friends. Like the pals that complain about everything together and bitch on others. Another thing, I'm having troubles with Bruce. I have this wacky idea about making the Hulk his own entity. What are your all's thoughts on that? Should I create the Hulk into a new character or not? I have an idea for both, but which would you all prefer?