Chapter Two
Part One: Kalia's Graduation.
Kalia's Graduation (From High School)
"Kalia! The Starks are here! ¡Ay, Dios mío! ¡Mi niña se va a ir fuera del país! ¡¿Qué voy a hacer?!"
Tony was at the front door, dressed in a tuxedo and in sunglasses. Kalia's mom, Mrs. Rivera opened the door and promptly burst out into tears.
"¡Lo siento, lo siento! My baby girl's graduating from high school, and was just accepted into Boston University and you're taking her on a cruise, and young man there better not be any funny business. Not until the wedding night. My Kalia has been waiting for marriage and you take care to keep yourself in a chastity device, understand? I want my Kalia to fit her white dress figuratively and literally, Mr. Stark." By the end of her rant, Mrs. Rivera had dry eyes and a hawkish look on her face as she eyed Tony.
Tony had stepped into the house, quickly defending himself. "Oh my gosh, Mrs. Rivera. I understand! I'm only a good friend of Kalia's nothing like that!"
Kalia, herself, had just finished throttling her hair into the curls that it was supposed to be in and had made sure her minimal make-up (upon request from her mother) hadn't smeared. She had on a simple white dress that would go underneath the graduation robes and all her honor cords were neatly hung up in a garment bag. She already had on her academic cap with the honor and regular tassels already on it. On her feet, she had simple comfortable white flats.
She looked at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath.
"Nervous?" Her dad had the garment bag and she stood to smirk up at the man.
"No, dad. I'm just extremely excited for the upcoming months, you know?" She turned off the vanity mirror lights and walked up the stairs from her basement room.
She could tell that her dad had a frown on his face. "I know it took days to convince me to let you on that cruise with Stark's boy, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. That boy is a womanizer for sure."
"Dad! You don't believe everything those magazines say do you?" She walked right into the living room in time for her mom to ambush with her Polaroid camera.
"Mom! ¡Por Dios! ¡Mis ojos!"
Kalia squinted as her eyes at her mom while Tony just laughed.
"Shut it, Stark. Mom's going to want a plethora of you too." She scowled and crossed the room to Tony who snarled right back at her.
"I don't mind being the center of attention at all. I'm used to it." He grinned and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Unbeknownst to the two, Kalia's mom had taken a picture of the moment and spoke to her husband in a low voice while lightly shaking the picture so it would come out. "That Tony and our Kalia are going to end up married. Look at them, they already bicker like they're together."
Mr. Rivera had his arms crossed and was frowning. "That skirt-chaser is not dating or marrying my daughter!"
Mrs. Rivera only giggled. At her age of 38, she may have been relatively young, but she was wise beyond her age. Her dark eyes glittered while staring at the bantering young not-yet couple. "Maybe not now, sweetheart. Nor in ten years. But perhaps in 20 years. Lord willing I wish to still be alive so I can rub it in your face at their wedding." She spoke up. "You two go along now. Us old people will catch up in non-flashy vehicles."
"Alright, see you later, mom!" Tony held out an arm, and Kalia took it as they strode out the door to his limo. Rhodey was in a tux himself, already in the car and sipping on a sparkling wine.
"Took you two long enough." He scooted so the two could sit by him.
"Her mom took multiple pictures of us while lecturing me not to have sex with her daughter." He sighed while playfully tugging on a curl.
"Seriously?" The only female in the car questioned, snorting as she was handed a bottle of water. "Does she know that I am like the only virgin at this graduation?"
"What university did you apply and got accepted into?" Rhodey inquires.
"Boston." She sighs. "I made a compromise to wait for my sophomore year before getting into the magazine business."
Tony made a pouty face at her causing her to laugh. "Shut up! I was looking forward to applying to work early. Plus I now have to deal with a roommate and I don't do well with people in my sleeping space."
Tony grins, a lewd, sly grin. Kalia catches sight of it and pinches him. "Hey now! No trying to screw my roommate with that freakishly large penis of yours."
Rhodey makes a disgusted noise, whimpering. Tony just laughs and leans over to whisper. "How do you know I have a large one?"
Kalia snorts and pushes him back towards Rhodey. "Your condoms were on a pedestal with light shining down upon them from the heavens, highlighting the letters X and L in your bedroom."
A light knock on the window pane interrupts their conversation and Kalia scoots towards the door. They pulled into the back of the school, because of all things a limousine would definitely bring attention to whoever was coming out of it, and there were only a few people around to glance at it and look away.
The driver opens the door with a flourish for her, and she steps out. The boys follow and she has to fix her tassel on her cap, while making sure her gown is not wrinkled.
Tony's sunglasses are on his head, but he steps close and gives her a hug around the items in her hands and whispers. "We'll be out there cheering for you, hun. Then when it's over, we're spending a lot of time at my place before it's my turn."
Kalia reluctantly lets go of him and turns to Rhodey to do the same. "Thanks guys. I have zero friends in this hellhole. I'm glad I have you two."
She turns on a white clad heel and enters the school building.
"Graduates, you may now turn your tassels to the left side of your caps, Congratulations!" The principal hurriedly steps back as all the students ran towards the goal post and threw their caps up in the air.
There was confetti, noise, music, cheers, crying, screaming, shouting, all for the now graduated students out of high school. Kalia herself did not throw her cap, she had fallen back grinning towards the cheerful picture here graduating class made and then turned towards the football stands. (The graduation was held on the football field.)
She could see her parents, Tony, and Rhodey making their way down the side of the stands and she hurried to meet them.
After a barrage of more pictures and hugging, her parents let her free.
She feels the rasp light facial hair, and a kiss on her cheek. "Congratulations, Ms. Rivera." She couldn't help but blush. Yes, Tony was a handsy friend with not much respect for personal space. She should have been used to his antics by now, but he surprised her with that kiss; it was relatively close to her lips.
By the time Rhodey did the same, her face wasn't as warm as it had been and she felt herself in control. She bounces on the balls of her feet, her gown billowing slightly in the wind. "Thanks guys! I really appreciate it."
"There's champagne in the limo! Let's get the hell out of here." Tony grabs each of his friends by the arm and pulls them away from the crowds.
Admittedly by the time the three friends arrived home, at least two of them were borderline tipsy. The other one was used to drinking and wasn't even feeling warm.
Rhodey and Kalia meet Mr. Howard Stark and Mrs. Maria Stark. They meet Jarvis and get another glass of something alcoholic. It was some type of mixed drink; Kalia doesn't remember too well.
Somehow, it was dinner time, and Kalia was definitely on her way to drunk. She hasn't ever drank before and she couldn't hold alcohol well.
The dining room table was glorious and huge. It was as royal as ever, including the awkward sitting ten feet away. She chose to drag her chair right next to Tony and sit there. As she ate she conversed with him.
She 'whispered'. "Tony, your parents are fucking glamorous. Your dad is so handsome. I can see where you get your looks from. But he's totally a fucking ass." She trails off to take a sip of her wine. A rather long sip. "Your mom's a pushover, but she's cute. I think. Pretty. You have her eyes. And Tony your eyes are beautiful, and the way they're framed by your eyelashes makes me so jealous that I don't have eyes like that."
She clinks her utensils down into her plate and finally raises her voice. "Okay, I have to say this. Mr. Stark you are one sexy Daddy, but for fuck's sake you are an asshole! Mrs. Stark you're pretty too but you're sort of a pushover, letting the Stark men do what they want without further thoughts to them and their surrounding. Jarvis is amazing, pretty much raising your son, I like him. He has a cool accent too. I like English accents. I'm out, love. I'll be probably unconscious on your bed."
She pats Tony on his arm, not registering the wide-eyed, slack-jawed look of someone in shock and wiggles her way out of the chair. She has to pause a moment because the world tilts just a bit before moving to the exit. Suddenly she turns around and marches back to the table. She grabs her glass of wine and marching right back around and out the door.
The Starks, all three of them, were stunned. Not many people had talked to them like that at all.
Tony heaves Kalia up to his shoulder, letting her sprawl all over him as he tries to awaken her.
"Kalia.. Kal. Li. A. Wake up darling. You have to drink some water or you'll have a hell of a hangover.
Kalia just moans pitifully, already feeling herself crash towards nausea and stomach ache.
She accepts the glass of water and sips at the straw, while leaning all her weight on the solid warmth of Tony.
Tony whispers. "My parents don't know whether to like you or kick you out. That's excellent in my opinion."
Kalia just grunts, mumbling. "Don't care. Sexy, bastard of a dad and pretty pushover of a mom don't get to judge me when they make subpar parents."
Tony just laughs, refilling the glass with a bottled water. Kalia takes a longer time to drink that. "Hey, you called my father, handsome and my mother pretty. Is there something I should know about, Kalia? You can't hold your alcohol."
"Fuck you." She mumbles about to fall asleep curled against his neck.
Tony sets the glass on his side table and gently pours Kalia down into his bed. "I'll tell you all about my artificial intelligence plans later."
Kalia mumbles. "Yeah, I had to set a hard drive aside because it was on my side of the bed. Sorry." She trails off, already fallen asleep.
Kalia awakens extremely warm and comfortable. She realizes there's an arm around her and she relaxes against Tony.
She freezes when Tony lets out a small moan in her ear, and she realizes another important thing.
His morning erection is pressed snugly between her thighs.
Her face is flaming hot the next second and she's in a dilemma. She doesn't know whether to wake him up and face more embarrassment and awkwardness, or to let him sleep and wake up on his own and let himself find out what's going on down there.
She honestly didn't think it would go away anytime soon. The condoms didn't give her that much of an idea about how… blessed Tony was under his shorts.
She prays that he wakes up very soon cause her face feels like it's about to explode.
She tries to even out her breath and fake sleep; she wanted to go back to sleep and feign ignorance when Tony would wake up and go take care of himself somehow, but her brain was hyperactive and she was very well ware of the heavy length of flesh nestled between her thighs.
She tried to get out of the bed without waking Tony, but his grip on her was strong like he didn't wanted to let her go. His hot breath brushed against her neck, and his stubble tickled her bare shoulder. Every time she moved wasn't helping the situation down there either. She was feeling warmer by moments.
She had no headache; her stomach was just slightly upset, and her mouth tasted normal as far as morning mouth taste went. Her eyes weren't hurting too bad and the sunlight peeked through the blinds and she could tell it was getting late.
Meanwhile, Tony's breathing was becoming more and more erratic and more moans started to come from his mouth. His pajamas were starting to get damp and so were Kalia's. What the hell is he dreaming about?! He's a shameless playboy even in his dreams?! Kalia thought to herself.
All her attempts to get out of bed without waking him were frustrating, when she felt him stir behind her. "Stop moving, it's still too early," he rumbled, his usually soft voice roughened with sleep.
Tony's hips started to grind into her buttocks and she squeaked into the pillow by her face, incredibly embarrassed, and admittedly turned on a little bit.
"Oh fuck!" Tony stiffens and then relaxes in his sleep, purring contently. Kalia's mind is stuttering to realize that he just ejaculated into his shorts, by rubbing against her and oh my god was she stuck in a cycle of "Oh my gosh" and "Oh shit, this is so embarrassing."
Tony's erection was no longer between her thighs but the wetness of his orgasm stayed and she grimaced. And then Tony started to kiss along her neck, murmuring sleepily and still clearly out of it.
She freaked out and turned her head to bite his ear. "Tony!"
The eighteen-year old jerked awake. He really was a genius as it only took a few seconds of staring down at her before his eyes sharpened, and cheeks turned red. "Oh... shit. I am so sorry. Would you feel less embarrassed if I tell you it was a wet dream about someone else?"
Tony had disappeared somewhere for hours on end that embarrassing day and she herself did not make any efforts to try and find him.
By the time the day of his graduation came, they were as close as entwined fingers again.
She was reading a textbook for one of her classes, already starting on the notes like a good student, when Tony burst into her room with a long garment bag over his arm.
"My parents brought you a dress to wear for my graduation."
She raised her eyebrows, looking up at him from the desk. "Your parents still like me?"
He hangs up the dress and reveals a shoebox under his arm. "Enough to gift you a thousand dollar dress." He rolled his eyes, setting the box underneath the dress. "I guess they want to throw money at you in hopes that you'll be my 'bestest'-" he says the word as if he's ten years old - "friend forever".
"Anyway, mom is having her professional makeup artist and hair stylist sent up in an hour and a half. You put the make-up on first and then the dress by the way. With me preferably in the room as you undress." He leers at her, good-heartedly.
Used to his ways and flirtations she ignores the latter statement and looks at him deer-in-the-headlights way. "Why do I need make-up?" She should be a bit insulted but she's not, she's genuinely confused.
Tony shrugs. "To be honest any hint of sweat on somebody's face will show up when lights flash. As in cameras. 'Anthony Edward Stark graduates from MIT at the top of his class, accompanied by his parents and a young lady that we must know more about! Is she his long lost sister? Maybe a backwater cousin! Or maybe she's his girlfriend!' A day in the life of a Stark, I'm afraid. You'll want to look your best." He winked at her and walked out.
Well than, that just made her want a disguise. Perhaps she can dye her hair an auburn reddish colour. She stood and went to the dress. She took a peak and couldn't help but let out a small sharp squeal.
Okay, she had to admit it was a lovely black dress. And she's totally dying her hair a different colour. And red lipstick would 'pop' and demand attention… perhaps not with her hair colour being a type of red. Nevermind.
She was being pampered; she admitted that it felt lovely. She was given a massage, manicure, pedicure, foot scrub, facial scrub and massage, and her hair and makeup was done last. She hadn't looked at herself in the mirror, but she probably glowed.
Having requested to have make-up as light possible, they had given her a very, very light foundation base of her skin tone, eye-shadow, eyeliner, mascara and a nude lipstick colour.
Having scrutinized the process, she deemed it extremely satisfactory and was rushed to put on the dress.
With her hair in an extravagant updo, the slimming nature of the dress made a sharp contrast. The torso of the dress was a soft velvet, tailored to fit her shoulders and chest perfectly; the V-neck cradled and held her breasts without making them too obvious or too flat; the silky skirt of the dress started at the waist and gracefully fell down to the ankles in soft ruffles. Her three inch, sharp heels completed the outfit, elevating her off the floor just enough so that the patent leather of the heels could peek underneath the skirt.
As far as accessories went, she had a simple silver cross and studs in her ears.
She felt like a million bucks, as the saying goes. When she meets Tony outside her door, he's taken aback for a good few seconds.
Tony offered her his arm like a good gentleman and with a tone of amusement he said, "You look very beautiful, my lady."
"Thank you, Tony. You don't look bad yourself."
"That's it?! You don't have more to say to this sexy and gorgeous guy whom you have the honor to accompany?" He asked while pointing at himself. Kalia just rolled her eyes at his comment and accepted his arm.
"Mmm, I can accede to gorgeous. You have a few years until you get sexy." Kalia smirked, gently leading him down the stairs.
The limo ride to the MIT graduation ceremonies was not all that bad. She and Tony were sitting one side facing the rear windshield, while Howard and Maria were on the opposite side.
Maria had given her and Tony a wink while Howard had scowled while reluctantly complimenting her.
She only grinned. Her teeth glinted white, straight and proud.
MIT had no such thing as class ranking, therefore there were no valedictorian or salutatorian to make speeches. The Starks and her had politely waited until Rhodey was announced and got his diploma frame before they ducked out of the ceremony.
Before long, they had the blessings from the Starks to have fun and the three friends were on a private Stark jet to New Orleans.
After an hour and a half discussion during the flight, Tony, Rhodey and Kalia are stumbling out of the jet laughing so hard their stomachs hurt.
Kalia had said in a completely serious tone that she wanted a tongue piercing on the last day of the cruise.
Tony being the horny teen that he was had slid up to her and wiggled her eyebrows at her. She had pinched him in retaliation.
Rhodey has then groaned, turned away and looked out the window as the jet descended from its flight. "Well, you guys already sleep in each other's bed, eat each other's food, and argue, get married already."
Kalia picking up her clutch bag had swaggered, honestly swaggered out the door with head held high and hips swinging. "You'll be my best man, then as Howard walks Tony down the aisle."
She could tell it was going to take a while to get her sea legs, regardless of the fact she was in 3 inch heels.
She walked with the help of Tony and Rhodey by her side through customs and check in. Their suitcases would appear at their doors in first class cabins. Surrounded by two good looking guys, graduates from MIT, and mature guys, she was thrilled. Her heart started to beat in her chest hard and fast. She was getting giddy with excitement.
They were silent, enjoying the sights and sounds of New Orleans as they departed from the port.
They skipped the introduction to the ship ceremonies, instead settling for opening a bottle of champagne in Tony and Rhodey's room.
They sat either on the two Queen sized beds, or on the small dresser drawer. With a champagne flute in all their hands, they toasted to everything.
"To good health, long life, and fun times." Kalia raised her glass.
"To graduation from that hell of a University, surviving being friends with this idiot for four years, and getting to meet fantastic friends." Rhodey raised his glass very high.
"To sex, my large box of XL condoms, and of course my friends. Let's fucking party guys." Tony clinked his glass against the other two's and downed his drink in one swallow.
The others followed suit, silent for a moment before holding their glasses out to Tony to pour again.
"Fuck yes. I'm about to go into college. I want to get fucked up before I go instead of during the semester."
"That's the spirit!" Tony poured the last of the champagne and threw it in the corner where it bounced.
"To graduation!" Kalia raised her glass triumphantly for including all three of them in a category.
"Here, here!" Tony and Rhodey clinked their glasses against hers again and this time took the time to savour the taste of the drink.
Unfortunately for them, they could not miss the demonstration of safety protocols.
After the protocol demo, they were guided to the restaurant where they sat at an exclusive table and dined. It was supposed to be casual, but hey, they didn't want to change from their formal dress from Tony and Rhodey's graduation.
Seeing as they were not in international waters yet, they could not publicly drink alcohol. Coke had to do. They each ordered different appetizers, soups, and salads, and entrees to all eat off each other's.
After dinner, they enjoyed a post-meal walk around the pools and hot baths.
Nodding and greeting most people they came across, people were already beginning to slut themselves on the cruise. There were those making out in the hot baths, those chatting up others at the bars; women already in their Lady-of-the-night dress and makeup, and guys already looking for their next lay.
She had to admit that the attention of a lot of those guys scared her a bit. A virgin on a cruise was like a tumbler of 100 year old scotch in the midst of a room of alcoholics.
When they got to their rooms, across the hall from each other, she kissed their cheeks good night and vanished into her room.
Behind closed doors, she let out a small squeal, kicking off her heels and dancing to a tune she only knew.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" She squeals, throwing herself on the bed and grinning into her pillow.
Her alarm call in was set for 10 in the morning. Giving no fucks whatsoever, she had donned an ankle length bathrobe and flip flops and made her way out to the morning breakfast buffet.
Once there she piled as much bowls of fruit, plates of toast, pancakes, and yogurt onto one large tray as possible. Thankfully, everything was served in a stacking-friendly bowl or plate. She deposited many fruit juice boxes into her robe and onto the tray and made her way back down to the deck where their rooms were.
Having the key card to their room, she balanced the tray on one arm while opening the door.
"I hope you guys are both dressed at least half way decently! I have breakfast!"
A groan sounded from one bundle while the other Queen bed was made already. Oh! One of them must be in the shower.
She sat the tray down on the vanity desk and crawled into bed with the bundle. She found tanned white skin and a head full of thick dark brown hair.
She scooted really close and stared at him in the face for a good few moments.
After a while, Tony's eyebrows started twitching, nose started wrinkling, and eyelashes started fluttering.
"God, you know that is so creepy!"
She couldn't help but giggle.
"Up and at 'em! The morning is here, the sun is up, and there's much to do today!" She flopped down on top of her best friend, pinning him to the bed.
"For fuck's sake, Kalia!" Tony yelped, wiggling onto his side while turning a slight shade of pink in the face. "...just give me ten minutes? Please?"
She watched his face for a second before it hit her. Oh! It's the morning.
She backed away from his bed with a knowing chuckle and grabbed the tray to place it on Rhodey's bed. The day's schedule was printed and sitting on the floor under the door so she got that too.
Rhodey exits the bathroom with a towel riding extremely low on his hips.
She wolf whistled at him and he flips her off as he walks back into the bathroom with a change of clothes.
Tony grunted as he hefted himself up, took one of the fruit juice boxes from the tray and drained it. Her eyes flickered up from the paper and she had to stifle a giggle at seeing his bed head.
After Tony had used her room's shower to clean himself up, the three friends were sitting on Rhodey's bed, eating their breakfast while discussing what to do for the day.
"There's not much to do right now. Though there is a post-dinner show on Deck 13:Piano and Drink", Tony looked over her shoulder to read.
Kalia hummed thoughtfully. "Well that sounds relaxing. I'd like to do that. Sunbathe and read a book till lunch. Get a frozen margarita. Eat lunch in my room. Get a massage from the spa." She snatches a juice box and works on it for a few minutes as the other two figure out what they want to do.
Kalia was glowing after the massage from the spa. She had a simple casual blouse and skirt on so she could look presentable for the dinner.
After the amazing sirloin, fruit salad and mashed potatoes dinner, Tony and Rhodey escorted her to Deck 13 for the post-dinner piano concert. The friends were extremely relaxed, sipping on expensive wine and speaking in low tones so as not to disrupt the dreamy, sleepy atmosphere with the piano playing beautifully in the background.
They each had a good night's sleep that evening.
The next evening Rhodey had knocked on her door to sleep in her room because Tony was getting some. He slept on top of the covers with his bed cover from his own bed, while she slept normally.
The next day Kalia had gotten tipsy, Rhodey had stayed by her side to dissuade any guys from taking advantage, and stayed in her room again.
The last night, the promised tongue ring had been gotten. Dosed up with generic brand painkillers, she had slept like a log until Tony and Rhodey brought breakfast to her bed. Apple sauces, lots of juice, and several smoothies were the only things she could eat with a swollen and hurting tongue.
Her parents didn't freak out too much upon seeing the tongue ring. Though her mom had glanced between Tony and her several times while they had brought her luggage into her room.