1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

"hey pep, can you hand me that screwdriver? my hands are full." tony asked as he worked on repairs to the war machine armor. pepper, who was sitting nearby reading one of the many magazines sent to tony by happy as an attempt to a prank. (of course tony let her have them because he had no interest in magazines unless they were scientific.)

"oh sure no problem, i'd do anything for you anyways cause i love you so much!" pepper blurted. tony froze and pepper wanted to turn herself invisible. she hadn't meant to say that out loud, and she wouldn't have if she hadn't been reading an article on how to attract your crush. stupid, stupid stupid!

"what?" he asked.

"what? nothing! i didn't say anything! i just said sure! hahahahah i didn't say anything weird no!" pepper responded quickly and nervously, a heavy blush on her cheeks.

"no, what did you say after that?" tony asked, turning around to her. he was almost sure he knew what she had said, but he wanted to double check. it wasn't something you heard every day.

"u-uhh i don't know what you're talking about…" she lied, hoping he'd believe her. no chance in that.

"i heard you. you said you love me." tony almost couldn't get the words to come out of his mouth.

"oh did i? haha, silly me. i meant as a friend, of course! that'd be weird…" pepper mumbled the last part. hopefully not so weird…

"hah, yeah…" then pepper remembered she was holding the screwdriver that tony had asked for. she cleared her throat and reached farther towards him, indicating he could take it. he took it, flashed her a nervous smile and turned back to his work.

after minutes of sitting in very awkward silence, pepper gathered her things and got up.

"well i have to get home, its family night and my dad wants me home for dinner," she explained, dashing quickly out as rhodey walked in.

"what's with her?" he asked.

"d-don't ask me," tony answered nervously.