I just gotta give some love to everyone who has been reviewing and favoriting/following my story :) always manages to make me smile. ~RachaelPuffinFace
Chapter Eight: Cookies
While Pepper and I had been giving the food out I had met Dr. Banner. He was older with lightly greying hair and kind brown eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses. I got the impression he didn't socialize much by the nervous habbits I had noticed. Hands in pockets, lack of eye contact and wringing his hands (when they were out of his pockets). Other than that, however, I really liked the guy.
Returning to (our men) Steve and Tony, Pepper cuddled beside her boyrfriend as I plopped myself down next to the (muscular) blonde. Making sure to keep some distance between us I ignored the thoughts popping up in my mind, which, eerily enough, were all my own. I had accepted my feelings for him, although I promised myself never to act on them, but even so I couldn't help thinking these things. How was I suppossed to pretend I don't feel the way I do? I didn't know how I could possibly tell him and even if I did, where would we go from there? Truth is, I've never exactly gone out with a guy. Sure I've been out and I've been on one of those awkward group date/hang out things where my friend set me up with some random guy. It didn't go very well...
We ate in silence for a while (well, most of us did. Tony wouldn't stop talking) and once we were all done, Pepper stood up and we both collected dishes before heading back to the kitchen to take care of them.
~*~Steve's POV~*~
I couldn't help but let my eyes follow Stacey out of the room. She was wearing a snug shirt that showed off her feminine figure. She wasn't as, how do I say this... curvy as some women I had seen either hanging around Tony or who would approach me sometimes but I liked the way her slim waist flowed delicately into the soft curve of her waist. As she walked out of sight I quickly swallowed and turned away only to see Tony smirking at me. I blushed heavily, knowing I had been caught staring at her in an inapproriate way.
"What?" It came out defensively and his smirk only widened.
"Don't think I didn't notice that. Captain Pure and Innocent staring after a girl like a horny teenager? Never thought I'd see the day." Now my ears were red and I scowled at the man.
"Don't say that. I have too much respect for her to stare at her like that."
"And yet you did. So tell me, Cap, what is the deal with you two?"
"What do you mean?" He sighed and leaned forward, hands clasped between his knees.
"I mean, are you two going out or what?" I frowned. My mind flashed momentarily to Peggy before Stacey's image took over. I knew how I felt about her but, honestly, I hadn't really thought much beyond that. As far as I know, she doesn't, and may never, return my feelings. I didn't want to risk the first real friendship I had made in this time. I shook my head.
"No, we're just friends." Tony threw himself back on the couch, obviously not overjoyed by the information recieved.
"Come on, really? That's it? You can't tell me you two are just friends with the way you act around eachother." We? She acted differently around me? I didn't doubt the change in my behavior, even I had noticed it, but I really wasn't aware of any changes in her.
"What do you mean, how we act around eachother?"
"Do I really have to spell it out to you? First of all, there's you. When she's not around you're so sulky and reserved it honestly brings us all down." I gave him an irritated look and he just smiled back. "But! When she is around you suddenly perk up and become disgustingly charming." Charming?
"What about her?"
"Well, all I can say is when I met her yesterday, she was a lot different then she is today. The only thing I can say caused that change would be you." I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms. I didn't want to admit I was intrigued by what he had to say, but I was.
"What do you mean by different?"
"I don't know, happier? More fun?" I couldn't help but let the small smile spread over my face at that. Did I really have that affect on her? I hope so but I couldn't be certain, not really knowing what she's like when I'm not around. Besides, Tony only met her once. Who's to say he's really right? Tony slowly stood up. "Well! should we go see what those two are up to?" I nodded and followed him out of the room. As we neared the kitchen we heard music playing. More specifically, Christmas music. I glanced over at Tony and he shrugged, just as confused as I was.
As we entered the kitchen my senses were asaulted. I was first struck with the loud notes of Jingle Bells blaring through a small set of speakers set on the counter along with laughter. Then I noticed the smells of something baking and saw Stacey and Pepper, both in matching aprons, and surrounded by cookie sheets. The two of us stopped in the doorway and just watched them. I was stuck to the spot by what I saw.
I had seen Stacey in her work apron countless times (it was blue with the bakery's logo in white letters) but this was different. The apron she wore now was covered in snowmen and various other small images relating to Christmas and winter but that wasn't what caught my attention. It was the way she wore it. At work it was a part of her uniform, a must that she wore every day. Now, however, it was more like she and Pepper were playing dress up and I could see the genuine happiness on her face. Her hands had cookie dough on them from rolling cookies and placing them on the sheet and her hair was thrown haphazardly up in a pony tail. I saw flour smeared randomly over the apron and her arms (her sleeved were rolled up) but what really made me happy was her laugh. It was loud and true.
"Ladies!" Both of their heads snapped in our direction and I blushed as Stacey's eyes found mine and she threw a wide, gleeful smile in my direction. Tony stepped forward, arms spread wide as he motioned to the usually immaculate kitchen which was now overflowing with cookies, dishes and various ingredients. "Is this what you have been up to this whole time?" Pepper, wiping her hands of on a dishtowel, walked up to Tony and put her hands on her hips.
"You can't possibly be upset by this. I know for a fact that you love Christmas cookies." Tony stepped closer and put rested his hands on her hips.
"Yeah, but you know what I like better?" I looked away, face warm as he leaned in close to her ear and she giggled slightly. I walked over to Stacey who was taking a bite out of a sugar cookie in the shape of a bell.
"So, are you two having fun?" I asked, smile on my face. She glanced over at the couple, now locked at the lips, before averting her gaze back to me.
"Well we were." I didn't dare look at them, already uncomfortable now that I could hear them. She took another small bite before speaking.
"So how come you never told me you didn't like sweets?" My eyes widened slightly and she must have seen me hesitate. Instead of being upset, or any other reaction I could have imagined, she just smiled. "Pepper told me." Of course she did. I sighed and leaned up against the counter across from where she was seated on a high stool. I sighed and she looked at me curiously. "Why did you keep coming in and buying all of that stuff if you didn't even like it?" I thought about this but wasn't sure how to answer her. I decided the truth couldn't hurt.
"First of all, I do like some sweets. Apple pie and Christmas cookies, for example. And the reason I kept buying them was because... be-because I couldn't come in without buying anything and, well..." How come this was so hard to get out? I decided to just go for it. Looking her directly in the eyes, I continued. "It's because I wanted to see you."
~*~Stacey's POV~*~
"I wanted to see you."
I swear, if my heart had skipped any more I would have gone into cardiac arrest. His baby blue eyes, staring right back into mine, were so sincere and nervous that I felt my breathe catch in my throat. If I hadn't been sure about my feelings before now, the warmth spreading through me at this confession surely would have made it painfully obvious. Not knowing what to say I averted my eyes with a quick "Oh." (which came out as more of a squeak than anything) and I hurriedly shoved the rest of my cookie in my mouth. Not the most attractive thing ever but his laugh afterward was not an unkind one.
"Sorry if that came out a bit strange..." I glanced up through my bangs at him to see him rubbing the back of his neck bashfully. I smiled, thinking he was really adorable and reached behind me to the iced sugar cookies. Grabbing one that looked like a snowman, I offered it to him. He looked at me questioningly and I smiled.
"Since you haven't tried my other baked things and you actually like these, I thought you might want to try one." He smiled right back and carefully took the cookie. Our fingers brushed and we both lingered more than necessary and I blushed as I retracted my hand. He took a bit bite and smiled.
"It's good."
~*~Pepper's POV~*~
Tony and I had septerated but still stood close, his arm around my waist. We both watched the pair silently as they interracted. At Steve's confession I grew excited and gripped Tony's arm tightly. They were so cute together it almost hurt. They were both so shy and awkward but as Stacey offered him the cookie I noticed them both hesitate as their fingers touched. Eventually, Stacey pulled back and they continued their conversation.
"Tony, aren't they adorable?" I knew he didn't care as much as me (at least not in the same sense) but he would be insane not to notice. He sighed, pulling me closer.
"Sickeningly so. Now, how about we leave them alone and go... do something else?" I lightly hit him for his suggestiveness but turned and left with him anyway. Hopefully they would figure out how the other feels and get together but if they don't do it soon they may need some help.
~*~Stacey's POV~*~
After attempting to clean up some of the mess in the kitchen Steve finally convinced me to let it be because apparently Tony had people for that. Sighing and not really wanting to leave the mess alone, I gave in and headed out of the kitchen with him. It wasn't too late, maybe only about five or six, but I had work to do tomorrow and things to take care of so now I had to go home. Collecting my stuff and wondering where the other couple had gone (but not really wanting to think too hard about it) we headed down and back to Steve's bike. I am proud to say I am no longer afraid of motorcycles... as long as Steve is driving it. Getting on behind him and (gladdly) wrapping my arms around him, we were off.
Before I knew it we were outside of my apartment, hopping off the bike. He walked me to the door and I decided I liked how much of a gentleman he was.
"I had a lot of fun today. Thanks for hanging our with me today, Steve." Geeze, I sounded like a 12 year old on her first date. He smiled.
"My pleasure, ma'am." I just rolled my eyes and smiled, ignoring how he addressed me so properly.
"Goodbye, Steve." I'm not sure why I did it or where the courage came from but I suddenly leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. We both froze and suddenly I found myself running into my appartment building. My face was on fire but there was a stupid grin starting to form on my face. I just hoped he didn't mind that.
