BACK ONCE AGAIN WITH CHAPTER 3! whoohoo! I don't want to say this is a filler chapter- cause it's not.. not really. But there are introductions and stuff that just has to happen to keep the story moving along.
Once again, i must thank those for reviewing. you guys are the wind beneath my wingss! Seriously though. I love you all, and if I could i would hug you all and bake you cookies. And pleaaaaaasseeeee continueee reviewiingg pleaaaaaaseee!
Feedback is like the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Also- I saw one of you finally mention the name of the story. oliviathecf, it is kind of tacky, haha. I didn't even intend to call it "Marvel High" at all- and the reason it took me SO LONG to actually post this story was because I could not think of a name. I considered song lyrics for a title, something... but none of it fit right. I still am not completely satisfied with "Marvel High" and I fear that the name turns people off from so much as clicking the story, but I needed something that could be adaptable, in case.. you know... the story does well and there could be a possible sequel on the horizon? *wiggles eyebrows suggestively* Marvel High is a corny name... and it's especially ironic since the story itself was not written to be a corny story at all... It will have to do though, but i feel ya. Hopefully it will grow on us, haha.
Chapter 3: Lunch Assembled
Natasha was surprised to find how comfortable it was showing Thor around the school. She liked him. He didn't make things uncomfortable as so many boys would. In fact, he seemed pretty oblivious to Natasha's attractiveness, unlike all other teenage hormonal time bombs, and if he wasn't then he did not show it. He was polite and respectful, and for once Natasha got the comfort of being around someone who treated her like a human being. It wasn't hard for her to keep up her cheerful and kind mask- Thor acted that way naturally and it was contagious.
They were strolling down the hallways and making their way to their last stop, Thor's locker. Natasha had already showed him the cafeteria, the gymnasium, and everything else he needed to know.
"Here it is," She said triumphantly, stopping in front of his locker as she read off of his schedule. "B-124."
"Thank you!" Thor exclaimed, already testing out his new combination and opening it to put his few books inside. He resembled somewhat of a puppy, happily trotting through the halls and gazing around. It was amusing. "This school is a lot smaller than the last one." He commented.
"That's Marvel high for you." Natasha sighed, leaning against the locker next to his.
The bell that ended first period rang through the halls loudly, and students poured out into the halls to get to their next class. Their tour was over- and it was time to move on. An awkward quiet settled over the two of them.
"Alright, so... we both have to get to second period now," Natasha said, standing up and preparing to leave. "You know how to get there, right?"
"I remember," Thor smiled. "Chemistry is in D hall. Do we have any classes together in the rest of the day?" He asked hopefully, shutting his locker and holding a couple books at his side.
"No, I don't think so." Natasha already memorized his schedule after looking at it a few times, and was sad to say no and leave him alone.
Thor just wished he could have a familiar face with him since he knew already he would have no classes with Loki. His brother was always in advanced placement, and Thor often wasn't.
She was about to turn and walk away, before quickly deciding to do something she normally would never do.
Thor seems like a really great guy...
"But we do have late lunch together..." She began. "You could eat with me and my friends if you want. They're all really great- I think you'd get along."
Tony would get a kick out of him, she could see it now.
Thor looked overjoyed by the invitation, and nodded vigorously. "That sounds fantastic!" Although he did not look it- Thor had been worried about the change of a new school. However, as time went on- especially as he gained a new friend- his confident stride grew stronger.
Natasha laughed at his enthusiasm. "We eat in the courtyard. It's right outside the back double doors. I'll see you then!"
Hurrying so she wouldn't be late to second period, she waved and rushed off into the crowds to advanced calculus.
Marvel High wasn't large, and somehow when the fifth bell rang Thor managed to find Loki as he was walking to lunch.
"Brother," He said happily, clapping him on the back. "How's your day been so far?"
"It's been fine." For one of the first time, Loki wasn't lying. His day had not been spectacular, but it wasn't tragic either. For his first period tour he somehow managed to get stuck with a football jock, who tended to talk more about the upcoming football season than the school. Loki dealt- mostly ignored him as they walked around. He took in the surroundings himself, observing and coming to his own conclusions. After a while the jock just stopped talking, and seemed slightly disturbed by Loki's indifferent attitude. By the end of the end of the tour the guy had practically ran to second period.
The only thing that truly irritated him was the constant looks of surprise he got from the advanced placement teachers, shocked that a leather clad, sex pistols shirt wearing boy was in their classes. He knew he didn't fit the profile of the usual students in those classes, but they could at least try to be less obvious.
"Do you remember the girl, Natasha from this morning? My tour guide?" Thor asked as they walked down the hall together.
As if I could forget.
A feeling of dread overcame Loki when he replied, "Yeah." He hoped he would not have to sit through a story of how the tour was really just a make out session in some closet.
"She's very kind, and invited me to eat lunch with her friends. You should join us!"
Not what Loki was expecting.
"Was I invited?" He inquired. Thor frowned.
"Well, no... but I'm sure they won't mind. You'll be with me!"
Loki thought of the possibility of sitting with the girl, Thor, and her friends. He thought of having to watch her talk with Thor, laugh with Thor. Most likely do things with Thor down the line, all the while not noticing him like most people do. That's what always ended up happening, and Loki always ended up watching from the sidelines. This time it was a disturbing thought, and made him feel uneasy.
"Thanks, but no thanks. I don't think I'd be comfortable."
He knew very well it was a shitty reason to decline the invitation, but for some reason it just bothered him. After seeing her lying in front of every like a pro, after seeing the chameleon the girl really was- he didn't want to be disappointed in her. He didn't want to lose the closest thing he felt he could relate to here.
"Alright," Thor didn't hide his disappointment, and Loki hated how he looked like an abused puppy. "But if you change your mind, we eat in the courtyard."
They both walked outside the same doors near the side of the school, entering the courtyard and the grassy lawns that only Juniors and Seniors were allowed to eat. Thor branched off from him, giving him a wave as he strode off towards a group of people in the center of the courtyard, which Loki could only assume was Natasha's friends.
He watched, amused, as Thor greeted himself in the loud way he always did to the people there. They nodded and greeted him too, each in their own individual ways. A few boys and a few girls, but Natasha nowhere to be seen.
Loki looked around for her as he continued walking farther away, but lost his balance when someone bumped into him, running in the other direction. He felt a small hand on his arm, steadying him.
"Sorry!"
Of course.
When she looked at Loki, she didn't actually see Loki.
It was just another guy.
She was in too much of a rush to notice him. Natasha quickly removed her hand once she saw he was fine, and he didn't have any chance to say any words. She was already running again, her black messenger bag bumping against her hip and her red curls whipping back and forth. The vague Loki completely slipped from her mind as she spotted her friends.
Maybe in a chick flick or another teen movie their eyes would have met and something would have happened between the two of them. They would not have been able to keep their hands off each other- entranced. Maybe then could he talk to her, try to understand her.
But this was not a shitty chick flick or a teen movie.
This was reality.
Feeling even more sour than he did before, Loki continued walking past students until he found a deserted spot under a tree. It was a distance away from the school, totally across the parking lot and lawns, but he didn't care. Grabbing his box of cigarettes from his back pocket, he took one out and lit up, sitting on the ground against the tree trunk.
He took a long drag, and exhaled the smoke, shutting his eyes. Loki began his usual routine: hating everything and everyone else around him.
When Natasha got near her group of friends in the courtyard when lunch had started, she was encased in a giant hug by Maria Hill and Peggy Carter. She laughed as she wiggled from their grasps, easily forcing her anxiety down under once again.
"It's nice to see you guys, too." Natasha hadn't seen either Peggy or Maria in a couple weeks. Maria quirked her eyebrow.
"You didn't think you could hide from us, did you?"
Maria was tall- as tall as most of the guys, but thin. She had dark hair that she almost always kept in a messy bun behind her head, and usually kept a simple style of jeans and a tee shirt. Her face was pretty though, and it didn't really matter what she wore. No matter what she looked great.
Peggy was a lot more edgy- possibly the most of all the girls. She was really into vintage stuff, almost borderline obsessive, and always sported red lipstick. Her hair was a warm brown, and always fell in those classic 1940's curls to her shoulders. She pulled if off well, though, and had that glam beauty to her.
Unlike so many of the girls they all attended school with, Peggy and Maria were unbelievably capable of kicking serious ass, along with Natasha. They were a few of the toughest chicks at Marvel high, and people knew not to mess with them or the people they cared about. The three of them had grown to be damn proud of it.
Suddenly Steve appeared, hugging Peggy from behind. "Hey Natasha," He smiled, and leaned down to kiss Peggy on the cheek. Steve was the golden boy of the school- captain of the football team, and the polite and good-natured guy all the girls swooned over. Him and Peggy have always dated though, and it was clear to see that the two had no intentions of ending it any time soon. They both had grown together- and respected each other. Steve loved Peggy for her unwavering and unyielding attitude, and Peggy loved Steve for his kindness and compassion. They simply worked- just like how Pepper and Tony worked.
Natasha left the couple to be, well- a couple together, and branched off towards other parts of the group. She was surprised to see Thor already there. Moving to stand next to him, she addressed the group "Guys, this is Thor. I invited him to eat lunch with us. He's new."
"Oh, we've already met." Tony wiggled his eyebrows at him. "We go way back, to like... a couple minutes ago."
Everyone greeted him, and Thor sat down next to Tony, Pepper, and Bruce in the giant circle that their group created in the center of the courtyard.
They were the group of friends that people would assume could never get along with each other- but over time they had grown incredibly close despite their differences. People around watched them all- but none of the group paid any attention to the world outside of their awkwardly shaped circle.
Bruce was shy at first around Thor, but Tony was talkative and loud enough for the both of them. However, as lunch went on, Bruce eventually grew to talk and laugh too.
Bruce Banner tended to be more quiet than the others because of his anger management issues. He was kind to everyone and normally would not hurt a fly, but he has had instances in the past when he's gotten incredibly angry- and there was hell to pay. You would not assume something like that from him- someone who was kind of geeky and smaller, a genius student in the sciences. But Bruce could sometimes hold a lot of power over others- simply with the threat of his reputation.
Natasha was the last one left standing- seeing that everyone had already taken a seat except for her. She unconsciously moved to sit next to Clint Barton, easily her best friend out of everyone. Sure, she was close to all of them in special ways- but Natasha trusted Clint more than anyone. He had always been there for her, even through the roughest times. He was the closest she had to family.
"Hey Tash," He greeted, his face keeping its serious expression that it always held. Clint was like this- all solitude and pensive. It wasn't to say he was a bad or humorless guy- because Clint was easily capable of having fun and goofing off. He just didn't do it often, and when he did, it was only with people he really trusted and cared about. His seemingly tough guy look attracted a lot of girls, though. Like moths towards a light.
"You doing okay?" Clint asked her quietly, watching her with his hawk like eyes.
Natasha smiled. "Yeah, I am."
She couldn't really figure out if she was lying or not. Her friends often made her feel so much better, and she loved them to bits- but there seemed like there had always been a gap, and that there was always a sense that she was acting around them. Clint was the closest to her, but even he couldn't get past the wall Natasha kept between herself and everyone. This point was even further proved when Clint just accepted her answer easy, not questioning her at all.
Conversation started easily, and soon they were all joking around and laughing, Bruce even did a spit take when drinking water at something Tony said at one point.
Thor was enjoying himself in their company, overjoyed that he had made friends so easily. Him and Steve chatted about the upcoming football season, and Tony made things more comfortable (and uncomfortable at times) by asking him questions to make sure he was always involved in the talking. One instance that stuck out in her head was when Tony asked Thor if he conditioned regularly, which only ended with a very confused new student and Tony being shocked none of the guys knew was conditioning was. "It keeps your hair healthy!" He exclaimed.
The girls had laughed for a good ten minutes straight.
"So where did you move from, Thor?" Tony asked some more, taking a bite out of his shawarma. For some reason he was obsessed with it, and no one else understood why. It was good, but for christ's sake, he ate it almost every day.
"We moved from a town called Asgard," Thor told everyone. "It was very different from Marvel.. I miss it, but it's nice here too."
"The guys are probably all gonna hang out after school. Wanna join? We can pick you up." Natasha was happy at how well everyone was accepting Thor. She knew first hand how terrifying it can be to come to a new place.
"That would be great! I live on Popplar." Thor replied, his bright blue eyes shining with excitement.
"You're kidding!" Natasha said, speaking with her mouth filled with her lunch. She was sure she didn't look either attractive or polite in doing so, but she didn't really care. Her friends wouldn't judge her... except maybe Tony. "I live on the same street!" Natasha remembered seeing the moving truck in the driveway of the house across from her, and felt stupid for not realizing earlier.
Thor brightened instantly at this news- a friend would actually be near him.
That was when Jane Foster came running towards them, her oversized flannel flying behind her like a flag in the wind. Her soft brown hair was messy, more or less how she kept it regularly. She wore her usual jeans and enormous puffy boots, and looked beautiful without any makeup. Jane was one of those people that could care less about what she wore. Natasha had been wondering where her other friend had been, but once she got to their group she was already rushing to explain herself.
"Hey guys! Sorry I'm late... I was talking to Professor Selvig about astronomy next period..." She collapsed next to Bruce, who smiled at his fellow genius student.
"I have astronomy next period!" Thor spoke up, gazing at Jane in the same way Steve would look at Peggy and Tony would look at Pepper. Natasha caught on quickly, raising an eyebrow at the interaction budding before her eyes. Jane turned at the voice, her eyes widening slightly at the new boy sitting with them. Natasha jumped in at the chance.
"Jane- this is Thor. He's new. Thor, this is Jane Foster."
Jane peered over at Thor with a growing smile on her face, and she pushed a few strands of her hair behind her ear. "Hello Thor."
Thor grinned at the mousy girl, and replied back, "Hello Jane Foster."
Lunch continued for its last fifteen minutes, Thor and Jane shooting glances at each other throughout. Natasha couldn't help but feel prideful about her sort of playing cupid- especially when the two of them walked off together to Astronomy once the bell rang. It was cute- seeing Thor's huge figure walking slowly next to Jane's tiny one so they could keep the same pace.
While it was nice to see, she also realized she was the only one out of the girls who did not have someone to walk to next to like they did. (She was almost sure Maria and Clint had a thing for each other.) Even though the thought stung, Natasha had come to a conclusion a long time ago.
She was much better being alone.
After sucking up her natural and teenage reaction to all her friends being in relationships except her, Natasha headed off with Clint and Maria to their next class together, listening to the two of them talk about their days so far.
After watching them the entire period, Loki eventually stood up from his spot on the ground under the tree when the bell rang. He dragged his feet along as all of the other students ran to make their next class, knowing the rest of the day would be long and rough.
Loki wished today, the next day, this whole year, could just be over already.
