Chapter Twenty-One: Malibu Mansion. Last time Panic leaned, from Nat, that Tony is going back home to Malibu with her in tow. She argued with Nat and revealed she doesn't feel like she deserves friends or family from whatever it is that is haunting her from her past, which I will reveal in a dramatic way. Be sure to review this chapter and follow this story, now enjoy!
On the plane ride to Malibu in Tony's private jet, I sat far in the back, away from Tony and Pepper. My head rests on my knees as I look out among the clouds in deep thought, the folder hidden behind me where the slips or writing papers scratch at my neck. No one paid much attention to me as Tony and Pepper sat beside each other giggling, probably having a sort of date. Only problem would be me here, ruining it for them. My eyes are heavy from exhaustion but I can't fall asleep with them around, I don't trust them.
I spend most of the flight like this but when the plane lands pepper comes back with a purple hooded jacket in hand. My gaze shifts up at her as she holds the jacket out to me. I take the jacket and put it on as I rise to my feet, zipping the folder in under the jacket while Pepper was looking away.
"There are going to be a lot of new reporters with camera's, it's already been reported that Tony was at the hospital with you but they have no pictures of you so put that hood up and keep your head low. Alright?"
Instead of saying anything I choose to nod. Pepper pulls the hood up over my head and takes my forearm to guide me from the plain. I can see the flashing of camera's in my peripheral vision but I still look at the black pavement. Pepper remained by my side, blocking the paparazzi from getting a clear view of me. She tugs me to the left when I feel the leather seat of a car.
Pepper helps me in to the vehicle before closing the door and getting in the passengers seat up front. The door in the drivers side slams shut and I can only assume Tony is the one driving. Then we peel out of the airport and Pepper gives me the all clear to remove my hood, which I do. I lean back in the seat looking down at my fingers that dance at my sides. This is going to be my new life, always surrounded by people who want to take my picture just because I'm the only kid of the one and only Tony Stark.
We come to a stop and when I look up I notice we are at Tony's mansion. How long had I been zoned out? Pepper and Tony are the first out of the car and that's when I notice that Tony left his phone in the cup holder in the front. I swipe the cell phone and drag myself out of the car and start up to the door. Tony and Pepper are already inside and I the last one. Just before entering I stop and look out across the green grass, the tennis courts, all the palm trees.
Then I go inside, the door shutting behind me. The living room is weird and the exact same as it was before the house was destroyed. The water fountain was back, the same furniture but new of course, and a big ass TV build into the wall. As I stare into this huge room I can't help but feel out of place. I feel like my this is a dream that my brain cooked up to give me false hope.
Tony notices me standing awkwardly against a plain white wall and gets up, stopping beside me. "Hey, you alright?" he asks. I reach into the pocket of the jacket Pepper gave me and reveal his cell phone.
"You really do want this thing to get stolen don't you? This is the second time I had to give it back to you" I reply, handing it too him before walking father into the living room.
"That would mean that I have met you before." That's when I remember that I never told him we met at the expo. I bite my tongue and curse at myself internally.
"Shit..." the words slips. I stand up straighter and turn around to face him.
I grin as I repeat the exact words I said that day, "Well we wouldn't want that now would we? I am much to pretty to be a thief Tony, I figured that if anyone else had noticed 'the' Tony Stark's cell phone lying around they would have stolen it so I decided to give it back to you, personally."
He looks at me a moment, eyes narrowing as he puts it together. "You were the girl at I met at the expo."
"Ring-a-ding-ding!" I reply, smile still on my face. "I wondered how long it would take you to figure it out."
"Why were you there anyways?"
"I like technology, it's in my DNA" I say, faking regret, pouting my bottom lip. A grin is quick to replace it as Pepper steps down the stairs and nods for me to follow her. I follow her as she leads me up the stairs and into a hallway which is where all the guest rooms are, Tony and Pepper's room was one floor up.
"Well, I can see how tired you are so you can stay in this room," she opens the first door by the hall that leads back down to the stairs, "In the morning you can pick which one you want."
"No, that's all right, this one is perfectly fine, thank you" I say as she leaves me alone in by the room. I go inside, slip the folder underneath this mattress, and flip the light on to see a full sized bed, plain white walls, a closet big enough for me to walk in, a bathroom attached to the right wall, a lamp at my bedside and a dressers built inside the closet. I close the bedroom door and look around stunned.
"Hello Miss Wallace, or shall I say Stark seeing as I have you DNA test on record?" JARVIS asks.
"I don't care. Either one is fine with me."
"It's currently 12:53 P.M. I suggest you go to bed as you have a big day tomorrow."
"Thank you JARVIS" I reply going into the bathroom.
It's been almost two weeks since I took a shower and it's making me feel gross and icky so that's what I do. After my shower I get dressed in my dirty clothes and get into bed. JARVIS turns out the lights and I look at the gold heart necklace laying on the pillow in my line of view and I remember when my mother gaze it to me. It was a Christmas present when I was nine. She received this from her mom when she was my age and it's been a tradition in our family.
Since I was never big on jewelry I made it into a piece of high tech equipment that could be used for either good or bad. I wanted to use it for good but I've only succeeded at using it for all the wrong reasons. Not like superhero good but just not for stealing. I lay in deep thought for awhile until eventually I doze off into a dreamless sleep.