First of all, I'd like to thank my reviewers, crazytomboy78 and Miss HeiA for really supporting me and giving me more effort on this fanfic, and for La Critique 2011 for giving me great tips and reminders , although it did hurt a bit, it's fine. I found out lots of people are "alerting" my story so I'm not going to stop now :)

P.S. I made Pepper turn 16 so you get the whole age idea thing.


Pepper's POV

I can't believe it. Sam McGillan is going with me! Well, after I accepted his request, but why did I even do that? I feel so stupid now! How does Tony feel? I guess he deserves it, I mean, come on; HE FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY. How would he feel if I forgot his birthday? Well, he wouldn't actually care, but I felt so left out and unwanted when he and Rhodey forgot my birthday. I was hoping I could try on Tony's Iron Man suit and fly all around New York, or even fly to Hawaii! Gosh, that would've been so much fun. Wait, I can still do that! all I have to do is-

THUMP.

Okay, OW. Ugh, stupid stop signs. I keep bumping into them recently. I lift up my head to see Rhodey's house in front of me. Hm. Should I go and see Tony and Rhodey, even after that awkward situation, or should I just go home and forget this stupid day and practice telling Sam I can't go out with him 'because I was doing it to make Tony jelous but now I feel stupid about using you'?

... I'll stop by.


"Rhodey, I need the screwdriver." Tony said, lifting his left hand up while using his right hand to fix the leg of the armor.

"So, Pepper accepted Sam's date right in front of you?" Rhodey asked, slowly handing the screwdriver to Tony.

"Mhmm."

"...And you're not annoyed."

"Mhmm."

"Or frustrated."

"Yup."

"Oh Come on, Tony! You know you like Pepper!" Rhodey exclaimed, slouching on the bed.

There was a brief silence in the room.

"Of course I do. We are friends, right?" Tony finally answered, turning his chair facing Rhodey.

"No, I mean like like, Tony," Rhodey explained. Tony turned red.

"What? I-I don't l-like like her, I-I..." Tony stuttered, scratching his head. Just then, someone knocked on the door.

"It's open, Pepper!" Rhodey shouted. He saw Tony's reaction to her name and giggled as he reached for a bag of chips.

The door creaked open. A red headed girl slowly entered the room, with a tiny smile on her face. Rhodey felt the complete awkwardness in the armory, especially when he noticed Tony turning his chair back quickly doing his work, and Pepper facing the floor. Rhodey sighed.

"I'm gonna make some popcorn," he said as he quickly got up from the couch and headed out the door.

Not but Tony's screwdriver made sound in the armory, until Pepper spoke up.

"Adding new stuff to your armor?" she didn't realize how her voice echoes so much when the armory was very quiet.

Tony stopped wrenching for a moment.

"Mhmm." he answered, continuing his work.

"You know, it's still not too late to go get a bite outside!" Pepper said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Rhodey's making popcorn."Tony answered, sounding annoyed.

"That's it!" Pepper yelled, turning Tony's chair to face her. He had a dull look on his face, which made Pepper even madder than before.

"Anthony Edward Stark I don't understand! You were mad when I came here this morning, not wanting to talk to me or even hang out with me, then you came strolling into the diner me and Sam were eating in and acted like nothing happened, and now you are here, in your armory, working on your armor, just like this morning: ignoring me and avoiding contact with me!" Pepper shrieked, eyes stuck onto Tony's.

Tony stood still then sighed, "Pepper,"I didn't want to avoid you, heck, I would never want to avoid you, it's just... my dad, Gene, my secret identity, Iron Man, school..."

"Yet you don't want to spend time with me?" Pepper asked pleadingly.

Tony blushed. Realizing what she just said, she added quickly,"And Rhodey! Can't forget Rhodey..."

Tony cleared his throat and stood up. "I'm sorry Pepper. Not right now. Besides..." Tony looked at Pepper with a sudden death glare. "You have your 'Sam' to help you with that, right?"

Pepper turned red. Not blushing red, but furious red. Tony realized what he just said and decided to sit down and keep quiet.

"You give up? That's it?"

Now it was Tony's turn to get mad. He got off his chair and smirked.

"Give up? I never gave up, Pepper. I never gave up when I was finding the lost rings, I never gave up when there are bad guys out there destroying the human race, and I'M NEVER GIVING UP ON FINDING MY DAD."

"BUT YOU GAVE UP ON ME." Pepper yelled.

Tony looked shocked. He tried to speak, but he couldn't find the words to say. "You know, for a genius like you, Tony Stark, you are really slow on friendships," Pepper said, turning to walk out the door.

"...and love, apparently."

Pepper slams the door.


Tony, what did you do NOW? XD R&R!