Spring Break

by NCISVILLE

Pepper is a College student, Tony new CEO of SI. Spring Break rolls around and both are on the same 2 week cruise to the Bahamas, Pepper with her room mates, Tony with Rhodey. When these two literally collide on board sparks are flying, but will they ignore it and continue on their opposite paths? Or will they start up a relationship even with their opposite ways of life? Complete

3. Numbers, Names, and Dates

Hello all i just want to let you all know you're fantastic. Thank you so much for the reviews. 45 guys for 2 chapters, i'd say that deserves a round of applause I'm so glad so many of you are enjoying this story which only pushed me harder to give you this chapter. It's the length of the first two chapters combined so enjoy. To my guest reviewers thank you bunches. i love you all and wish i had the opportunity to reply to you all but know you're all very much appreciated.

Read, enjoy, review. :)

Chapter 3: Number, Names, and Dates

By the time Virginia had finally found her friends she had already navigated twice around the colossal ship and twenty two minutes had elapsed since her encounter with Tony Stark. While she had calmed down significantly from the initial start of her rage, every once in a while an ember would spark and blaze until it died out a few minutes later. Laughter informed her she had finally reached the section for women to try on clothes where her friends were.

"Look who finally made it." Marissa teased with a smile.

"Yeah sorry, I got lost and you'll never guess what happened."

"You got lost while thinking about your mystery man?" Nelia chimed in with a sly grin.

"Ha-ha." Virginia replied dryly. "And he's not a mystery anymore. I ran into him again while trying to answer your text, again, Marissa. He's Tony Stark."

Nelia and Marissa's jaw dropped in shock. "Like the Tony Stark?" Marissa asked in disbelief emphasizing the.

"Can he set me up with an unlimited gaming card for the arcade?" Nelia asked seriously. "What?" She asked innocently upon receiving glares from both Marissa and Virginia.

"So what happened after you bumped into him again?" Marissa asked caught in the story.

"Well he hit on me, shamelessly I might add, and he was basically acting like a douche. Confronted him with my voice rather elevated and now here I am."

"Good for you sweetie. Way to stick up for yourself." Marissa said proudly.

"So that means you aren't on good terms to ask for an unlimited gaming card?" Nelia asked sadly.

"No!" Virginia and Marissa cried as Michelle came walking out in her latest bikini.

"No what?" Michelle asked.

"Nothing. Hey, that one looks pretty cute." Virginia said pointing out the black bikini clad with a rainbow of polka dots.

"I think so too, what about you Marissa?" Michelle asked.

"I think we're now one step closer to the bar." Marissa replied with an approving smile.

"Awesome, I'm gonna go change now." Michelle relegated back into the changing room and emerged thirty seconds later fully dressed.

"How did it take you longer to change bikinis than it did to get dressed?!" Marissa exclaimed amused.

"Don't matter, we have an arcade to shake down so pay for that thing and let's go. So many games so little time." Nelia hurried as she grew more anxious. Virginia shook her head and laughed following Michelle to the register.

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Tony looked to his watch briefly as he waited for the bar tender to hand him his next beer. He was taking it easy on the liquor tonight as per Rhodey's request. Once he received his drink he managed to work his way back to Rhodey.

"Well look who finally made it back."

"You try pushing past all these people without spilling your drink." Tony defended.

Rhodey laughed and took a swig of his Coors light. "You know I thought you would have been gone by now. It's midnight and you still haven't scored even so much as a number. I'd say someone has a crush on that mystery girl you ran into earlier." Rhodey teased with a mischievous grin.

"Her name is Virginia and it's not because of her thank you. I'm just not trying."

"Exactly, because of her you're not trying." Rhodey said nudging his friend in the ribs playfully.

Tony rolled his eyes and took a sip of his beer averting his eyes from Rhodey. His peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a familiar shade of red. His eyes followed the red hair until it turned around and Tony grinned, it was her. Her friends were surrounding her so Tony decided to wait until she was alone.

"Why are you smiling? Thinking of Virginia?" Rhodey asked with a teasing laugh.

"No, I thought of you having a girlfriend then laughed at my silly thought." Tony remarked with a mischievous grin.

Rhodey elbowed Tony in the ribs in response and said, "Yeah well I'm about to go talk to that girl over there." He motioned with a nod of his head to the girl he was referring to.

Tony recognized the girl as one of Virginia's friends and he chuckled. She was wearing a mine craft black T-shirt and blue jeans with sneakers. Tony shook his head as Rhodey walked away and leaned up against a column in the dimly lit, noisy, full bar and watched and waited for Virginia to finally be alone. He waited ten minutes and just as she was left alone and he was set to make his move, a very handsome, male model looking, white, early twenties, blond hair, brown eyed man walked up to her with a smile. An unknown feeling overcame Tony and he pushed it aside because if he acknowledged it then it would mean he would have feelings for a girl he had only met not even twenty-four hours ago. Tony watched the man and glared at him waiting to be given an opportunity. Ten minutes went by and the man was still there and making her laugh and smile. Then he watched the man begin leaning toward her and Virginia ducked out of the way. He tried again to kiss her and again she ducked out of the way. Tony caught a glimpse of her face as she turned and saw that she didn't like what was happening and she was silently praying for help. Tony abandoned his column and pushed through the crowd quickly making his way to Virginia with a flawless plan in mind. Hit the guy in the face and make him regret giving her trouble. As he got closer to her he was able to hear some of the conversation.

"No really, I have a boyfriend, he's just in the bathroom." She said trying to sound convincing.

"C'mon, you and I both know you're just playing hard to get." The man said with a knowing, devious grin that made Tony hate the man even more.

Tony's old plan flew out the window as the perfect opportunity presented itself. He walked up behind Virginia a smile on his face and wound his arm around her waist. She jumped at first alarmed but calmed down only a slight degree upon seeing Tony.

He kissed her cheek with the widest smile on his face and said, "Miss me honey? Sorry I took so long, there was a line in the bathroom."

He saw understanding flash through her eyes and she put on a very convincing fake smile but he knew the truth. "Of course, I was just telling my friend here about you." She said sweetly shooting the other man a death glare that screamed, 'told ya so'. The man scoffed and rolled his eyes and quickly disappeared out of sight while Tony just smirked. "You can remove your arm now Mr. Stark." Virginia said quickly losing the sweet tone and giving him his own glare.

"What no thank you?" He asked playfully and removed his arm.

"I didn't need your help." She grumbled.

"That's not what it looked like from where I stood." Tony pointed out. "And please call me Tony."

"What do you want Mr. Stark? I thought I made in painstakingly clear I wasn't interested in your advances." Virginia said continuing to glower at him.

"Look let me just buy you a drink to apologize for earlier." Tony explained.

"Oh you mean to apologize for being an arrogant douche?" Virginia asked feigning innocence with venom laced in her tone.

"Okay I probably deserved that." Tony said.

"You also deserve a slap on the face." She added still glowering at him but with less intensity.

"So let me buy you a drink." He watched as she pondered his offer before reluctantly agreeing. A smile appeared on his face and he led her to the bar counter where they sat down. "So what can I get you Ginny?" She shot him an annoyed looking telling him he was not allowed to use her nickname.

"Dry martini. Extra olives." She answered straightly.

"How many is extra?" Tony asked curiously.

"At least three." She replied.

"Bar keep! I need a dry martini, extra olives, extra fast!" Tony shouted across the counter. Virginia smirked and Tony smiled. Her smirk sounded adorable. "So Ms. Virginia Potts, tell me about yourself. What brings you here on this ship?" He asked curiously striking up a conversation.

"My friends." She replied quickly with a smile and paused for a moment before explaining. "I was originally going to go on a trip with my boyfriend Ben-"

"Oh." Tony cut in sounding rather dejected.

Virginia just smirked with a satisfied grin and continued, "Let me finish. Anyways, I was going to go with him until two days ago when I caught him cheating on me with our teacher." Anger rose up in Tony's chest at how someone could do such a terrible thing to her. "Then I found out my friends had bought a ticket for me in advance so that's how I'm here now. But me personally, I'm a senior at Stanford getting my major in Business. I'm twenty one and I'm graduating Summa Cum Laude." She said proudly.

Tony grinned madly. "I was Summa Cum Laude at MIT when I was seventeen." He stated matter of factly.

"Congratulations." She said sincerely, understanding just how much effort it took to be number one.

"You too." Tony said as the martini was placed in front of him.

He handed the martini to Virginia who sipped it before asking, "So why are you here Tony?" Tony smiled widely at her use of his first name.

"Well, I started getting overwhelmed trying to run Stark Industries. I'm twenty-one and the youngest CEO ever to run a billion dollar corporation." He explained matter of factly with just a hint of pride.

"Sounds stressing." Virginia empathized.

"Yeah, so that's why I'm here. Sorry about your boyfriend. So are you two still together or…" Tony asked curiously before trailing off silently begging for her to say no.

She gave a little laugh and answered. "No. I talked to him before I left and let him know that we were over and that there was no way in hell I was giving him a second chance."

"Oh." Tony said notably happier.

"Yeah, you know we were together for two years."

"Wow." He responded shocked and taken aback by the long time commitment. "That's a long time." He said dumbly unable to comprehend. Two weeks was an accomplishment for keeping a personal assistant.

"Yeah." She said absent mindedly. He caught her looking at something behind him and turned around. He laughed at what she was looking at and turned back around laughing as he drank his beer. "Why are you laughing?" She asked confused.

"My best friend is hitting on your best friend." He answered with another laugh.

"He's your best friend?" She asked incredulously.

"Well don't sound so surprised, I do have friends." He smirked.

"Yeah but he looks nice, a gentleman, the complete opposite of you." She teased with a grin.

"Hey!" Tony cried.

Virginia laughed and looked back to Nelia and Tony's friend. "So what's his name?"

"James Rhodes, but I call him Rhodey."

"Rhodey?" She asked with an amused smile.

"Yeah." Tony shrugged. "It's easier to say." He said taking another swig of his drink. Virginia laughed at him.

"You're so lazy."

"No, I prefer smarter not harder." He said with mock seriousness. Virginia rolled her eyes. "So what's your friends' name?"

"Nelia- Sol White."

"Interesting name. I prefer Virginia though." He said with a wink. She just rolled her eyes again in response.

"So what do you think they're saying?" She asked Tony curiously.

Tony observed Rhodey for a moment and cleared his throat before speaking in a low voice, "Hey there, I'm James and I'm the best pilot in the Air Force." Virginia laughed at his voice and decided to play along with her own imitation of Nelia.

"Me too; in Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 on the Xbox 360. I'm Nelia, I'm the biggest video game nerd ever."

"Really?" Tony asked interested breaking character for a moment. Virginia nodded and Tony cleared his throat once more before continuing. "Awesome. I'm also like the coolest Colonel in the Air Force that there ever was!"

"Cool is my middle name. Well, it would replace my middle name if I had one but my parents didn't feel like giving me a middle name."

Tony laughed and grinned. "So you're pretty cool and I've never asked anyone on a date before because I'm the worst with women, so much so I literally trip over my own feet while walking up to one but, wanna go on a date sometime?" Virginia tried not to laugh but was unable to and soon after Tony began laughing with her.

"I've never been asked on a date before because I'm married to my video games and Xbox but as long as we're going to the arcade, I'm in."

They both laughed again and Virginia began to think about how Tony wasn't a bad guy. He was just very rough on the exterior and the type of guy who got a kick out of getting a rise out of those around him and he lived to enjoy life but he had the capability of being serious. When they finally stopped laughing Virginia took a sip of her martini before setting it aside and getting up from the bar stool.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Tony asked sadly not wanting to stop taking with her. Not when she was just warming up to him.

"To bed." She said with a smile. "Thanks for the drink Tony." She said and began to walk out. Tony jumped out of his seat throwing cash on the table and called out to her.

"Wait up!" He followed her out of the noisy bar until they were outside and it was much quieter. "Hey, do you want to have dinner sometime with me?" He asked feeling very nervous but sure of his actions.

"Like a date?" She asked surprised.

"Yeah." Tony replied softly shifting his feet and stuffing his hands in his pocket.

"I don't know, I mean we only met today Tony." She said hesitantly.

"Then it doesn't have to be a date. It can be just two people becoming friends sharing a dinner." He persisted.

"I…I don't know." She said cautiously.

"I'll be a gentleman and everything. I'll pay." He said hoping to persuade her with his hopeful smile.

Virginia sighed and a smile appeared before she replied, "Sure."

"Great! I'll text you the time and place." He said excitedly.

"Doesn't that require you to have my number?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Excellent point. I guess you should give me your number then." He said with a mischievous grin. Virginia smiled at his cunning slyness and grabbed a pen from her pocket. "You keep a pen in your pocket? How very scholarly of you." Tony mocked with a smirk.

"I guess it's a good thing otherwise you wouldn't be getting my number." She replied smartly.

"Touché." He said with a smirk loving how she could keep up and give it back to him tit for tat. Virginia shook her head with a smile and wrote her number onto the palm of his hand. She clicked off her pen and put in back in her pocket.

"Good night Tony, I'll see you tomorrow."

Tony smiled and leaned in to kiss her. She stopped his attempt with her finger and pressed it to his lips with a smile. "Sorry Mr. Stark but I don't kiss before the first date." She said with a wink before she briefly kissed his cheek and walked away.

Tony stood watching her leave with the warmth of her lips still ever present on his cheek, a smile on his face, her scent filling his nostrils, and butterflies flying in his stomach. "Goodnight Virginia." He said just above a whisper before he turned to walk back into the bar and let Rhodey know he was turning in for the night.

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It was twelve- forty five when she finally got into bed. She had brushed her teeth, washed her face, put on pajamas, and connected her phone to its charger where it was now resting on the table beside her. She had texted her friends immediately after her departure from the bar to let them know she was going back to her room to sleep and that she'd see them in the morning for breakfast. She climbed into the bed underneath the sheets and began to get comfortable. Just as she laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes her phone buzzed. Virginia let out an annoyed groan and reached over for her phone yanking it from the charger and holding it in front of her. 1 new message. She unlocked the screen and opened up her messages. It wasn't one of her friends as she thought it would have been. Instead it was from an unknown number and as she opened it and scanned the message her eyes fell onto the signature and she rolled her eyes. Before reading the message she saved the number in her contacts and wrote Tony Stark as the contact name. She clicked on the thread and then read his message.

Hi

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:45 AM

Virginia turned on the small lamp so the glare from her phone wouldn't hurt her eyes and replied.

I was about to go to sleep ya know.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:46 AM

Virginia loved her signature. It was both legendary and inspirational. Not a minute later a reply came.

1st off I can always help put u 2 sleep. 2nd Oprah? Really?

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:46 AM

She could practically hear his smirk through the text.

Yes Oprah! She is a legendary woman who worked hard to get where she is now.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:47 AM

Yeah so is Rosie O' Donnell.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:47 AM

Rosie O' Donnell is an arrogant, self-obsessed, loudmouth dropped as a baby and not hugged enough.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:48 AM

:P lol. So what's ur fav. Color?

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:48 AM

Blue, why?

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:49 AM

I just want 2 know more about u is all. u know, b4 our date 2nite. ;)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:49 AM

Which means I should probably get to bed so I won't be so tired tomorrow night ,as I will be busy all day.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:50 AM

I won't keep u up too much longer ;) Promise.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:50 AM

Fine.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:51 AM

:) So, what's ur fav. veg?

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:51 AM

?

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:52 AM

It's not that difficult of a Q. u know, veg. Those things u were forced 2 eat as a kid that u nvr wanted 2, but u did bcuz u wanted dessert. U know, those things :P

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2103 12:53 AM

I know what they are thank you. And I wasn't ever forced to eat them. I did so willingly. Red pepper.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:54 AM

Wow ur weird. Pepper huh?

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:54 AM

Yes pepper. What's so interesting about that?

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:55 AM

The fact that its ur fav. veg. that's what. U know that sounds pretty unique and it really pops.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2103 12:56 AM

What are you talking about?!

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:56 AM

Ur hair is red 2. Yup it's settled. I'm gonna call u Pepper. ;)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:57 AM

Please don't.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:57AM

Nope, it's stuck now Pepper. That's what you're going down in my contacts as : )

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 12:58 AM

Fine, I'll put you down as Annoying Playboy Tony Stark. :(

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:58 AM

:P I don't think that'll fit. However u can put me down as Sexy Date ;)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2103 12:59 AM

Not a chance in hell

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 12:59 AM

:P Oh don't b like that Pepper : )

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:00 AM

Stop calling me that :(

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:00 AM

Nope :D Pepper Potts. It's rather catchy. Has quite a ring to it. Pepper Potts. It just flows right off the tongue : )

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:01 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:01 AM

:D Haha lighten up Pep.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:02 AM

Don't give my nickname a nickname!

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:02 AM

Lol just did Pep :)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:03 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:03 AM

Blank text?

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:04 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:04 AM

Oh I c, ur mad at me.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:05 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:05 AM

Lol fine. I guess I'll just have to talk for you. Last chance to speak Pepper.

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:06 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:06 AM

Alright fine.

~The Definition of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:07 AM

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:07 AM

Oh Tony ur so hot. Yesterday when we met I was ogling you and I started undressing you with my eyes. ;)

~The Definition of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:08 AM

I WAS NOT UNDRESSING YOU WITH MY EYES! GOD WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT?! :(

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:09 AM

Oh so u have been talking about me. ;) Plus u just spoke so I win :)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:09 AM

Goodnight Tony.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:10 AM

Night Pepper :) C u 2morrow 4 r date. :)

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:10 AM

See you :)

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:11 AM

A smile! I finally get a smile! : ) Alright now I'm really gonna let you sleep. Night Pepper, sweet dreams : )

~The Definition Of Sexy: Tony Stark~

03/22/2013 1:12 AM

Goodnight Tony.

"You become what you believe. You are where you are today in your life based on everything you have believed."

03/22/2013 1:12 AM

Virginia shook her head and rolled her eyes. She looked to her phone clock and noticed she had been texting Tony for nearly half an hour. She placed her phone back on its charger and turned off the lamp before getting comfortable again. She released a small laugh at her nickname and closed her eyes. Minutes later she fell into a dreamless, rest filled slumber.

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So i hope you all enjoyed this as much as i did. So let me know what was your fav. part of this chapter. me personally it was the texting. That btw took me like an hour and a half to get lal the texting stuff completed. yeah. So IM3- 39 Days! Thor 2- 229 Days. Avengers 2- 768 Days! yay. also new IM3 trailer released, it's from Kids choice go to youtube if you haven't already. it's the trialer we've been waiting for, a funny and fun light hearted one with a whole bunch of awesome new footage.

Okay Puzzlers i promise i have the next chapter done but i had to prioritize posting this first. It is worth the wait though, immensely worth it.

I'll see you all soon hopefully. : )