A/N Hey guys! Do you love me? I bloody well hope so otherwise never again shall a chapter of this story touch the... uh... well I'll never post another chapter.
Tiryn- Thank you, I hope the cliché didn't hurt anyone I really don't want to deal with any law suits ;) but thank you for your touching review
Booklover1598- Thanks for liking my story, it makes me want to write even more.
I own nothing
I groaned as I took one look at Darcy's do to list. It was on two separate pieces of paper, and almost every single activity on there was long and tedious.
"Now I know why you woke me up so early," I grumped, looking over at the Tony's smirking face.
"I feel for you, I really do," he said apologetically, cup of coffee in one hand and cup of smartass in the other.
I shook my head as Clint entered the room, frowning at my depressed features, "what's up," he asked, moving over to my side like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I smiled when he took up his spot at my left side, sending me a worried glance. We had become quite close since that day in the Mall and he treated me like family, watching out for me and giving me his time and attention whenever I should want it.
I looked up at him and passed him the sheets of paper I had in my hands. His lips moved as he read the sheet over in his head, his eyes widening as he sent me the same apologetic look I had received from Tony.
"Uh, is all of this for the Gala tonight?" he asked, gently handing the paper back to me with a frown.
I nodded, "the things I do for you," I quirked, shaking my head when I looked at the first thing on the list.
He chuckled and hit my arm before walking over to Natasha and muttering something in her ear. I ignored the pang of jealously I felt and instead looked over to Darcy and pointed at the first appointment on our list.
"Manicures and Pedicures?" I asked, before my eyes widened more when I really read through the list, unlike my quick once over before.
"Make-up? Hair? Waxing? Eye lash extensions, eyebrow tinting," I exclaimed, "Darcy, what the actual hell!"
She grinned and shrugged, "What? You know you'll enjoy it, oh and Pepper's meeting us there," she sung before skipping over to Natasha and Clint before practically dragging them onto the balcony before talking to them heatedly.
I frowned before letting out a loud sigh before turning, only to be met by a studying stare, "Steve," I stammered, shocked that he was so close so quickly, making barely a sound.
He shifted, "Can I ask you a question," he asked me, looking above my head instead of at me.
I gave a humourless chuckle, "why not?" I replied waiting for the question.
Steve finally looked down and met my eyes, "Natasha... she... why did she ask me to the Gala?" he asked, his blue eyes shining with self doubt.
I raised my eyebrows, "so the first time you talk to me for the, what, 3 weeks you've known me is to ask about a girl who clearly likes you?" I asked sarcastically before thrusting the paper in my hands into his own and brushing past him.
He frowned, "clearly?" he echoed.
I nodded and turned to face him again, "why do you think she asked you?" I said gentler at his shy expression.
He let out a breath, "I thought it was a bet or a dare," he said with a shy smile, "I'm sorry I haven't been speaking to you, I've been a bit hesitant to trust you," he said.
I chuckled dryly, "it wasn't a dare, but if it makes you feel any better, Clint only asked me because it was part of a bet," I informed him, trying my hardest not to sound bitter, "and I felt the same but now that I trust you I think you need to trust me,"
He nodded and his blue eyes lit up, "so she really does, have an uh interest?" he asked.
I nodded, "yes Steve, she likes you Steve, she has an interest Steve," I droned, sending him an approving smile.
He smiled again and I noticed that he was very attractive, now that I had the proper chance to really look at him without him storming from the room or pointedly ignoring me. He had big innocent blue eyes and the body of a god, not to mention the cutest blonde hair I had ever seen, perfectly parted and combed. Damn Natasha was lucky to have him on her arm for the whole evening.
Steve chuckled at my moaning before looking behind me, "would you like me to cook you some Breakfast?" he asked.
I shook my head shyly, "you don't have to—"
"I was just about to cook some for myself anyway," he stated, lightly grabbing my arm and pulling me towards the kitchen with a smile.
"Well, I guess I can't say no now," I laughed as he pulled me along with a friendly smile.
Clint's POV
"What?" I demanded when Darcy had finished yanking mine and Natasha's arms off.
She rolled her eyes and hit me, "shut up, I'm here to tell you I've done it all!" she exclaimed, looking very proud of herself.
"You've done what exactly?" Natasha asked, folding her arms and giving Darcy a levelled glare.
"The things you two asked remember? I got the Limo's and the flowers and the suits you asked for," she counted off, ticking each thing off on her slim fingers.
Natasha chuckled, "so you got it all?" she exclaimed, looking like a teenage girl suddenly.
I smiled fondly, "did you ask Darcy for the exact same thing?" I asked, not shocked that Natasha and I had thought along the same lines.
Natasha nodded, "of course! I wanted a Limo, I wanted Steve to wear the right coloured bow tie and I wanted him to get me something nice," she admitted shyly.
I let a smile pull the corners of my mouth again, "well, I asked for a cool ride, a matching outfit so I didn't look like an idiot and some flowers to get for Phoebe," I said with a slightly small voice.
Natasha quirked her eyebrows, "you're really going all out for this little bet aren't you?" she asked.
I frowned, "it's all for the sake of the bet," I told her annoyed.
"Ah, of course it is, it's not like you've been spending every waking minute with her because you like her right?" she said sarcastically, "no, it's all for the sake of the bet," she mumbled.
I snorted and looked at Phoebe, frowning when I saw Steve and her laughing and smiling, "Hey Nat," I said tugging on her arm to get her to look into the building.
Darcy followed our gazes and she let out a whistle when Steve took Phoebe's arm and pulled her out of sight with Phoebe giggling the whole way. I swallowed my jealously and instead made a move to head inside but Darcy grabbed my arm along with Natasha's.
"So if it's all for the sake of the bet then why is your face almost green with envy?" she teased.
I scoffed and brushed her hand away impatiently, "I'm not jealous," I muttered.
"You look like the Grinch," she stated.
"Or the Hulk," Natasha offered blandly.
"I'm not jealous!" I growled.
"Aren't you?" Natasha's tight voice joined in the argument.
I clenched my jaw and let out a frustrated groan, "maybe a little," I admitted quietly, but only because I could see the same emotions I was feeling reflected in Nat's green eyes.
She smiled falsely, "I knew it," she said, a smug tone still finding its way into her voice.
I couldn't stop the small dry chuckle that escaped my lips before Darcy shook her hand, trying to gain our attention once again.
"Calm down you two, Steve was just asking Phoebe if Nat actually likes him, he's been asking everyone!" she insisted, before turning to me, "and you know Steve, he's just being friendly so stop with the death glare," she scolded before looking at the watch on her wrist.
"Shit, we have to leave now or we'll be late," she squealed, grabbing Natasha before sprinting back inside.
I smiled and hurried after her, trying to keep up with her surprisingly quick feet. We ran inside before following Steve's deep voice into the kitchen where he was placing a few pancakes onto a small plate. Phoebe was nodding, paying rapt attention to whatever Steve was saying.
"I then watched him slowly peel the skin of his face off revealing this, deep red hide." Steve was saying, waving the spatula around as he spoke, "he had no nose, or ears his face was pure bone with red stretched over it all, like a nightmare" he explained.
"He had no nose?" Phoebe echoed disgusted, "like Voldemort?" she asked curiously.
Steve frowned, "is he the guy off that book series about the boy with the lightening scar?" he asked uncertainly, gesturing to his own forehead.
She nodded, "Harry Potter," she told him.
Darcy chose then to intercept, "Pheebs, we have to go now!" she all but screamed.
Phoebe turned her head quickly before nodding, "go get Jane, I'll meet you down there," she said before stuffing the last pancake into her mouth and standing, wiping her hands on a towel.
Natasha followed Darcy as they left the room while Phoebe swallowed her mouthful before grabbing the jacket she had slung over the back of the bar stool she was on. She ripped the jacket over her arms before sending me a quick smile.
"I'll see you tonight," she clarified before starting to walk past me.
I shocked both of us by pulling her into a gentle hug, wrapping my arms around her waist possessively and glaring at Steve over her shoulder, "see you then," I mumbled into her hair before letting her go.
Her smile was now a bit confused but still bright as she waved to Steve, complimented his pancakes and then the door elevator door shut, cutting us off from her.
A loud bang startled me and Steve raised a hand apologetically, "sorry," he muttered, placing another dish in the sink.
I watched him hand wash the dishes, while he stood beside the dishwasher that sat patiently, "Steve why are you doing the dishes?" I asked him, like I was talking to a child.
He spared me a quick look, "it used to be one of my chores," he stated, "I would stand on this small plastic stool and reach up the sink almost swallowing me," he said with a chuckle before he dropped his smile and stared at the dish in his hand with a sad expression, "I suppose it's one memory I wasn't too fond of letting go of,"
I nodded in understanding, "hey, got anymore pancakes?" I asked hopefully.
Phoebe's POV
"Are we done yet?" I asked, flinching when the hairstylist pulled on my caramel locks.
Darcy sighed and ignored me as her dark hair was curled and bunched on her head, "listen, it'll only be a few more minutes then we're off home to get dressed okay," she said, her voice tight and strained from annoyance.
I sighed, "Be thankful I only started nagging now," I told her, glaring at the stylist in the mirror.
I had to give her credit though, my hair was looking incredible. I had asked for a simple do unlike Darcy who went all out, so she was lightly curling my hair, making it appear more wavy then normal before clipping it up in a bun on my head, a few strands left, framing my face.
I looked over at the others; Natasha's hair was being straightened before pulled into a tight bun on her head, like mine, a couple of strands brushing her temples. Jane's hair was still down but plaited in a crown around her head and Pepper's was in a high ponytail, the strawberry blonde hair looking gold in the light. All in all; we looked stunning.
"Are you happy Pheebs?" Jane asked out of nowhere, clutching a small bottle of hair spray in her slender hands.
I looked up, trying to meet her eyes, "uh, yeah, why?" I asked.
"I mean," she took a deep breath, "you know, you always were by yourself and now you're with a whole group of people who—putting it bluntly—are off their rockers," she said, looking up at me before frowning and going back to the hair spray.
I snorted, "Off their rockers is a bit of an understatement," I said shooting Darcy a pointed look.
Jane chuckled, "true," she clarified, "but you get what I mean? Like you're always smiling now, you never did before" she said.
I nodded, "I know," I said, "but did you have to say 'always by yourself', it makes me sound like a loner!" I whined.
"Or a hermit crab," Darcy chimed in.
I glared at her before scoffing and flinching when the stylist picked up a can of hairspray, "oh can you not?" I asked gesturing to the bottle in her hands, "I hate that stuff," I mumbled.
The lady nodded before taking off the black coat that sat on my chest, "all done," she chirped.
"Finally," I yelled, standing up and pacing over to Natasha, watching the last few strand get clipped into place. I was curious about her hair, I had looked in the mirror when it was being straightened and it was obviously a lot longer than meets the eye.
After a few more minutes we were announced perfect and ready for the Gala. I smiled as Darcy paid for the procedure before waltzing outside the studio.
"Home?" I asked.
"No, closets then dresses than Gala," Darcy corrected.
I groaned, "Why? What did I do to you?" I demanded glaring a hole in the back of her head.
Darcy hesitated and looked over at me before opening her mouth than snapping it shut, "uh, I'll get back to you," she said before continuing towards the car.
I shared an exhausted look with Jane before hurrying after her.
How was that?
-Taila
