I woke up when Pepper came in with six bags of groceries on her arms. Slightly startled, I got up and helped her put them away. "You really didn't need to clean my apartment for me," Pepper said. "It's just my way of paying you back for all you have done so far," I replied. "You don't need to repay me, Les," she said. "Pepper, I wanted to do it. You really have helped me a lot. I know I haven't been fine for a while now, and even though snapping at a bunch of reporters helped, I won't be fine until my dad gets back. Some times I won't act like this is true, it's just how I am, but now you are the closest thing I have to family, and I need you if I'm going to get through this," I told her. I took at deep sigh, that took a lot to admit. "Elizabeth," she said reaching out to hug me, "I will always be here for you. Even when your dad comes back, and I know he will, if there is anything you need to talk to me about, please, I promise you I will always listen." "You think he is going to come back?" I asked. "Your father would risk his life a thousand times just to be able to see you again," she answered. My eyes started to tear. "You have no idea how much it helps," I said. I took at deep breath to try to stop the tears. Then someone knocked on the door. "I should answer that," Pepper said.
"Hey," the man said. I turned to see who it was. "Rhodey," Pepper said surprised, "come in, please do." "Hey Rhodey," I said. "I didn't know you were in town," Pepper said. "I got here this afternoon and after Les's situation with the press I thought it would be best for me to stop by," Rhodey explained. "I think we both agree I that we're glad you are here," Pepper told him. "So how are you doing Elizabeth?" He asked. "It's not easy," I answered truthfully. "Nothing like this is ever easy," he replied, "but I have a good feeling that we're going to find your dad." There was short silence until I asked the question which had been bothering me. "What were the moments leading up attack like?" Rhodey looked surprised when I asked it. "Well, you would be able to tell if I was lying," he said as he had trouble coming up with an answer, "so I might as well tell the truth. After Tony gave the presentation, we went off base in the Humvees or as he called them 'Funvees.'" I wish I could say he was lying but I knew my dad well enough to know that would be something that he would do. "No one was expecting an attack," he continued, "so when it did happen, we weren't ready to respond. After the attack when we had recovered and we had realized Tony wasn't there, we immediately send out a search." I sat there and thought about what he had just until I realized how much I was sick of people feeling bad for me. So I got up, without saying anything and locked myself in Pepper's bedroom. "Elizabeth," she knocked on the door but I didn't respond. I stayed in there for a good three hours. Even though what I did was selfish, l did it because I could. Once Rhodey had left and Pepper had given up on trying to get me out, I unlocked the door just incase she tried again. I stayed up until I was absolutely exhausted.
I had been at Pepper's apartment for three days. The awkwardness of Rhodey's visit had gone away until Pepper asked, "Are you going to go to MIT fall?" "Huh?" I asked surprised looking up from my bowl of cereal. I was supposed to be starting classes in only a few more weeks. "I got a call last night and they were wondering whether or not you would be attending classes this semester," Pepper explained. "Wow! Um... I don't know. I mean I don't think so. I haven't really thought about that yet," I tried to answer. I really had to think, could I do it? It would be hard, but not impossible. But the stress from class with what I have now. "No, I couldn't. I really want to, but it doesn't make sense now." I finally answered. "Okay, so I'll call them back." She replied grabbing her phone to make the call. I kind of had forgotten that I still had responsibilities even though my dad was gone. I hadn't even talked to Katerina about any of this, she was probably worried too. About me and my dad. We've know each other since we were five, of course she's worried. But my phone was at home and I didn't want call her from here. "I have to go and I'm going to borrow your car too," I told Pepper, grabbing the car keys, and running out the door.
As I was driving I decided there was something else I had to do before I went back home. It wasn't long until I reached Memorial Park Cemetery. "Hey Mom," I said looking my mother's grave. "I know I'm not really dressed for the occasion," I said remembering I was still in shorts and a t-shirt and hadn't brushed my hair yet, "but this is something I have to do." "Oh Gosh," I sighed, "As selfish as I sounds, I really hope Dad isn't up there with you. I know he's alive, I don't know for fact but I just know he is." I paused, "Today I said no to MIT. I feel like made the right decision. You and Dad met at MIT, I find it so weird that I could meet the guy I was going to marry in my first week of classes, and at the time I wouldn't even know it." "This is the first time I've visited you without Dad," I said, "I guess it makes sense, since I've only been driving a few months and before that I would have to go with him. We've never really talked actually." I sighed, "Now I feel guilty. Sure I was lucky enough to have two months with you. But only two months and I was a baby and of course I don't remember. I wish I did though. I'll try to talk to you more, I promise. We can talked about all the ridiculous stuff the press says about Dad. I hate it when they say he might be dead. I wish they would just shut up sometimes." I had stayed there and talked for an hour and a half till I decided that twelve o'clock is too late to be out in pajamas.
When I arrived home I did something I rarely ever do, actually look at my house. Obliously I see my house all the time but I hardly ever look. It was nice to be home even though I was only gone for a few days. "Welcome home Elizabeth," Jarvis said as I walked into the living room. "Hey J," I said. I went in my room and searched for my phone. The battery was dead so I anxiously waited for it to turn on. I had 136 messages on my phone. Most of my friends from school had messages along the lines of: Omgosh, I hope everything okay; I saw the news, that terrible; and my all-time favorite I hope your dad's not dead. My friends are so sincere. Once I had found Katerina's messages, I got to read messages from someone who truly cares. "Les, I heard about your dad when. I was driving back from dance. I know they're gonna find him. Elizabeth, you haven't replied. Pls call," some of them said. "Way to kick butt against those reporters. You go Glen coco!" I seemed to be ages even a lifetime ago back to when we watched that movie. I called Katerina. "Elizabeth!" She said surprised "I'm so glad you called. Everythings been so weird. My mom's been watching the news everyday. John hasn't been bothering me at all." "John, really, he hasn't been bothering you at all. Wow! Your life seems more flipped up than mine," I said remembering how annoying her younger brother can be. "I would doubt that. You wouldn't call me unless something was really bothering you," she replied. "I don't know what's bothering me though. I just spent the last few days at Pepper's place. Rhodey came over but it was so weird talking to him. Then this morning I walked out on Pepper and I came home." I left out the part of me visiting my mom. "Then why would you call me?" She asked. "I haven't spoken to you at all about any of this and that doesn't feel right because I'm just realizing now that I'm not the only one affected by this." I answered. "I'm sorry about that," she said. "You shouldn't be sorry because this is all me. I need to get myself figured out. But I can't forget that other people are trying to doing that too. And to better answer your question, the reason I am calling you is I needed to admit that and your the best person that I could talk to about this." I replied. "So now what?" She questioned. "I need to continue to figure myself out," I answered. "Do you need my help?" She asked. I gave her the answer right before I hung up, "No, not yet."
