There we have it! The last chapter of this story. I've really loved writing this, so I hope you guys enjoyed reading this as well. If you want any one-shots in this universe, let me know. Comment and let me know your thoughts! :)
It's been three months since they broke up. Tony hasn't really talked to Steve since then, except for apologies when they run into each other and asking to borrow a pen. It is hard to put all your faith in someone and have them know you so well and then have them treat you like a stranger. Not that Tony can talk, because he hasn't really put any effort into a conversation either.
Today is graduation. Their senior year is officially over. They are soon to be college students, which is just as scary as it sounds. Him and all of his friends are splitting up to go all over the country and he probably won't see most of them ever again. He tries not to think about it.
Right now, Pepper and Tony are getting ready. Pepper is in a long white dress with tall tan heels, curling her hair in Tony's bathroom, while he gets dressed in his room. He is wearing a white button down, black slacks, and dress shoes, and is attempting to tie his red tie.
"Pepper! Do you know how to tie a tie?" He calls out to her.
"No! Why would I?" She calls back.
"I don't know! What am I supposed to do?"
"Ask one of your parents?"
He rolls his eyes even though she can't see him. "They're gone. They both had work this morning and are meeting me there."
"Ugh, I guess I can try."
She walks in with half of her hair curled and a scowl on her face.
"I know the motions; I just can't do it." He defends.
"Okay, tell me the steps and I'll try." She walks over and takes the tie and follows his instructions. After the third try, it finally works. "There!"
"You're a life saver." He grins at her.
"Are those dress shoes?" She looks at his feet, surprised.
"Yeah, why?"
"I didn't think I'd live to see the day where you wore something other than those ratty Vans."
"Had to outgrow them at some point." He shrugs, before tightening his tie.
"Are you ready to go?" She asks him, grabbing her bag.
"Yeah, is there anything else you need?"
"Nope, let's go."
They walk outside and climb into his convertible. As he pulls out and the wind blows faster, Pepper attempts to flatten her hair to no avail.
"Can you please roll the top up? You'll mess up my hair." She scolds him.
"Come on, Pepper! Live a little. Aren't you going to miss this?"
"We have all summer and I'm not going too far from you for college." She frowns at him but doesn't force him to raise the hood.
"It won't be next door, though. Isn't that sad?"
She sighs, exasperatedly. "Boston College is only twelve minutes away!"
"Compared to twenty seconds that's forever."
"Be quiet." She puts his feet up on his dashboard. "Where is Clint going again?"
"He got into Pittsburgh on a football scholarship. He's hoping to play for the Steelers, so we'll see how that goes."
"Wow." She whistles, impressed.
"Yeah." He thinks for a moment. "I'm gonna miss him."
"Honestly? Me too."
"You hate him." Tony tells her, confused.
"Yeah and I'm going to miss the familiarity of hating him." She looks around before asking him, "Do you have your speech with you?"
"Nah, I'm just gonna wing it."
Her eyes widen and she smacks him. "Anthony Stark, you better be joking."
"I am! Don't worry. My notecards are in my pocket."
"Good, because being valedictorian is impressive and you can't screw this up for us."
When he gets there, they have to rush through the school towards the classroom where their gowns are held. On the way, however, he bumps into his parents.
"Hi, Anthony!" His mom tells him, wrapping him in a hug.
"Hi mom."
"I'll meet you by the stage." Pepper calls, disappearing into the crowd, as Tony pulls away from the hug.
"We are really proud of you." Maria nudges her husband. "Aren't we Howard?"
"Yes. Very proud." He sniffs, looking bored.
Even though that wasn't fully a compliment, his face practically glows with pride. "Thank you."
"Now, you better head over there! You're late!" She pushes him forward.
He steps through the door and bumps into someone. "Oh, sorry."
"No, it's my fault." They respond.
He looks up and his dark eyes meet the bright blue ones belonging to Steve Rogers.
"Hi Steve." Tony says, with a small smile.
"Hi Tony."
"You have no idea." He looks at the notecards in Tony's hand. "Valedictorian, huh?"
"Yeah." He fidgets with the notecards anxiously. "What are you doing for college?"
"I got into NYU. I applied to have a double major in art and literature."
Tony's eyes widen in amazement. "That's incredible. I'm really happy for you."
"Thanks. I know you'll do great at MIT."
"Thank you. I've got to go; I still need to get my robes and everything."
"Oh! Of course." He starts to go before Tony calls out to him.
"Bye. It was really nice to talk to you." He tells him sincerely.
"You too."
About thirty minutes later, they are all situated on stage and the ceremony can begin. The principal talks for a few minutes, as Tony waits for his turn to talk. His leg jitters in anticipation and he keeps exchanging glances with Pepper, who is a few seats away from him. Finally, he is called up.
"I would like to welcome to the stage our valedictorian Anthony Stark!"
He stands up and walks up to the podium at the front. He lines up his notecards and addresses the audience with an award-winning smile and a cheerful, "Hi, everybody!"
His speech goes on for two minutes exactly, but it feels like forever. At the end, everyone cheers, and he spots his aunt, mom, and dad in the crowd somewhere towards the back, with honest smiles. He grins before sitting down.
After that is over, it is a whole lot of waiting. Not to be rude, but he doesn't care about seeing every single person in his class get their diploma. Clint is the first of his friends to get his. He flashes a peace sign at the audience, causing a ripple of laughter. He goes a few minutes later and has to say, it is pretty amazing to get to hold his diploma and what it means. Thor is the next person he recognizes. Then Pepper Potts. Finally, the last of the people he knows is Steve.
At the end, he gets lots of compliments on his speech and congratulations for graduating. It is exhilarating.
After an hour of pictures and tear-filled goodbyes, his mom asks him, "Are you ready to go?"
He looks around at everyone, some people he's known since elementary and middle school, and decides, "Yeah."
That night, he finds himself going to Peggy's diner. He is nostalgic and hungry, so he figures that would kill two birds with one stone. When he gets in, the diner is practically empty, not a surprise, except for a college aged kid working the register and a familiar blond sitting at a booth. Despite all the empty chairs, he decides to slide in across from him.
"I didn't know you'd be here." He greets him.
"Yeah, I miss this coffee. It's even better when you don't make it." Steve teases.
"You're a jerk." Tony sighs and looks around wistfully at the diner. "We should keep in touch. You know, in college. We won't be too far away."
"Yeah, I'd like that." Steve gives him a small, sheepish smile.
"Okay." He stands up and walks towards the counter. "Want some coffee cake? I'll pay."
"I'd love some."