Hello readers! So if you didn't see i posted my other new story Spring Break tonight so if you have the time after reading this, please go check it out. and for those of you who read the other one first, here is the next chapter of this story.

Alrighty guys, so read, enjoy, review!

D: Drums

"Drumming Song" – Florence + The Machine

"There's a drumming noise inside my head. That starts when you're around. I swear that you could hear it. It makes such an all mighty sound. I swallow the sound and it swallows me whole. Till there's nothing left inside my soul. As empty as that beating drum. But the sound has just begun."

It always started when she was around. He would never grow accustomed to it, but he had come to expect it. It filled up his head and it was all he could hear, drowning out all other sounds, beating louder than screeching sirens in the night, louder than those annoying Christmas bells. It filled up every fiber of his being as soon as Pepper walked into the room, that incessant beating drum.

"There's a drumming noise inside my head. That throws me to the ground. I swear that you should hear it. It makes such an all mighty sound.Louder than sirens. Louder than bells. Sweeter than heaven. And hotter than hell."

He saw her and his breathing stopped (literally), his heart beat faster, his face flushed, his feet shifted uncomfortably, his words became stuck in his throat, the temperature seemed to always rise, and he felt so embarrassed that he wanted to vault himself over his couch and hide sometimes. The beating of the drum was so loud he swore the whole world could hear it.

"I ran to a tower where the church bells chime. I hoped that they would clear my mind. They left a ringing in my ear. But that drum's still beating loud and clear. Louder than sirens. Louder than bells. Sweeter than heaven. And hotter than hell."

He tried to drown out the beating and blasted AC/DC as loud as he could to the point where it shook the house; but all it left was a ringing in his ears and for a brief second he thought the drum was gone; but then it returned, resounding once more louder than before and crystal clear. Tony thought back to when the drumming sound began, as soon as he stepped off the plane and seen her standing by the car, red eyed, small smile, waiting for him. That's when he finally noticed every little beautiful thing about her and after their close call on that balcony, the drum began growing louder and louder with every little smile, every touch, every conversation, he began falling even more in love with her. The only thing that hurt was that he couldn't tell how she felt about him. Did she like him? Did she tolerate him? Was she attracted to him in any way?

"As I move my feet towards your body. I can hear this beat it fills my head up. And gets louder and louder. It fills my head up and gets louder and louder."

The drum beat sounded so sweet in his ears but even it couldn't measure up to how sweet her words were in his ears. Now here he was walking into the living room ready to relax and watch T.V. when he heard her. Panic rose in his chest and he quickly looked around for some place to hide until she was gone. Seeing only the couch he quickly threw himself behind it and landed with a thud on his side. He knew Pepper had heard his not so subtle escape route and she stopped talking on the phone and she stopped talking on the phone and said, "I'm gonna have to call you back Phil."

Pepper walked into the room barefoot, which was rare, and called out, "Tony?"

"There's a drumming noise inside my head. That starts when you're around. I swear that you could hear it. It makes such an all mighty sound."

Knowing there was no way out he stood to his feet with a grunt, hoping his face wasn't betraying his embarrassment, and coolly said, "I'm here."

"What happened? Why are you trying to hide behind a couch?" Pepper asked giving him a weird look.

"I wasn't hiding." Tony defended. "I dropped my phone and was reaching over the couch and fell." He lied smoothly pulling out his phone.

"And please put on a shirt, Rhodey'll be here in a minute." Pepper said. Tony could see her ogling him no matter how hard she tried not to.

"Afraid you'll lose control and want me for my body Ms. Potts?" Tony teased with a grin.

He saw the smile in her eyes when she retorted, "I've seen better.", and walked away.

"Ha, she didn't specifically say she didn't like what she saw!" Tony said proudly taking it as a small victory and once again he heard the drum beating in tune with his heart.

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Okay guys, thx for reading and please share the love and review!

48 Days my fellow Amurikans! lol. oh and then next chapter song for E: Everything by Lifehouse. tis a very beautiful song. see you all soon!