SO SORRY I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN FOREVER!!!!! I've been so so so so soooooo busy!!! I just had enough time to update this fan fiction!! Yes, I am STILL working dilligently (or as much as humanly possible in my very minute spare time) on the next chapter of Two Halves, but it SHALL be up here within the next few days!! Don't worry! I haven't given up! So please please stay in tune!!! Sorry again!!! :((( Please enjoy this however!!! I do not own the Iron Man!!!!

The end of the summer of 1989…

"Howard, what Stark Industries needs is more improved weaponry at the moment. This will secure our place at the top…" Obadiah's occasional meeting rant droned on. Tony leaned up against the wall in one of the corners of the meeting room. His father, Mr. Stark, had always wanted him to listen in on some of the company meetings in order to prepare him to be the possible future CEO.

"Obadiah, what we have to do is…" Tony rolled his eyes as his dad began in on giving an ongoing argument as to what is the 'proper' thing for this company. Tony decided that this was his cue to make an exit. Slowly, carefully not to make too much of a distraction, the 15 year old boy (still short for his age) slipped out of the meeting room without anyone saying anything.

It stunk that Tony had to waste certain days each week of his summer inside a dark meeting room listening to boring chat on situations that he necessarily didn't care about. He wanted to be outside, with his friends, or inventing things; living life and being a kid. He didn't have much time left considering. And now the summer was gone…time to leave his childhood behind earlier than he thought possible. The worst thing of it all…breaking the news to his best friend.

Outside of Stark Industries it was a beautiful, California day, with not a cloud in the sky. It was the perfect moment for one to feel the love and accomplishments of life; for that's usually how those days make you feel. Yet, for Tony, he didn't give a shit about the weather. He was in the worst mood of his life.

How would he break it to Pepper that this was their last day together for a while? How could he tell her that he was leaving tomorrow…not to be back until the first vacation? How could he tell her that Rhodey and Happy weren't the only ones that would be missing from the lunch table on the first day…and every day after?

Tony sluggishly exited the main building to wait outside in the warm summer air to wait for Mr. Potts to arrive for work, no doubt bringing his daughter with him. Tony sat on the curb of the side walk. He loosened the tie of his much too big dress suit that his father made him wear for the days he went into observe. He took a pair of his trade mark shades out of his pant pocket, placing them over his eyes to prevent the blaze of the sun from completely blinding him.

After a few minutes, a familiar car pulled into the Stark Industries parking lot, pulling into its usual parking spot. Out of the car came Mr. Potts in his usual business clothing and his daughter, Pepper, wearing her signature smile that Tony loved so much.

"Young Mr. Stark." Mr. Potts held out his hand for Tony to shake. He took it in a firm grasp, as usual in these situations. Mr. Potts was only formal when at the company. Tony was like family to the Potts; he was so close to them that the parents allowed him to call them by their first names. "Hope the meeting sounds like it's going well." He chuckled, making his way toward the front door of the main building.

"Uh…yeah. It seems to be going…smoothly." Tony responded. Pepper, who took a place standing next to him, looked down at him full of doubt. Tony just shrugged. Luckily, Mr. Potts didn't look back at the two to catch Tony's uncertainty.

"You kids have fun!" Mr. Potts said before disappearing through the main entrance. With that, the two friends were alone.

"Since when did you ever once pay attention in these 'practice' meetings, Tony?" Pepper laughed as the two started in on a long walk around the perimeters of Stark Industries.

"Since never!" Tony scoffed, glad that he had a topic to distract him from the main issue at hand. "That was just a cover up to make it seem like I give a damn. Oh. And thanks for backing me up by the way, Potts. It's been ever so great to know that someone has my back when I need them." Tony nudged Pepper sarcastically.

"Hey! I do have your back!" Pepper, responded, looking down at her friend, and pretending to be offended. "I'm just there for you in the proper and moral ways. Like not going into a meeting you clearly didn't pay any attention whatsoever to and then coming out and lying to your father's employees about it!" Pepper sighed.

"It's just your dad, Peps. It's not like he would care!" Tony looked at Pepper, his eyebrows raised.

"No, he wouldn't." Pepper agreed. "But your dad might."

"Very true." Tony sighed, looking up at the sky. "But I don't care, actually. Yeah, I wish someone else could be CEO for me."

Pepper, knowing what his pet peeves were and what his response would be replied smartly, "Stane?" She smirked as she saw Tony's body tense.

"When Hammer Industries actually isn't just some big hoax will that occur." Tony, in his still pre-pubescent high pitched voice stated with malice. Pepper found this rather amusing. Stane…

"Right." Pepper shook her head, dropping the subject. "Oh God, it's such a nice day out. We should get Rhodes and Happy to see if they want to go swimming again. It's one of the last days we can do anything! I can't believe summer's almost over!"

"Yeah…" Tony sighed, removing his sunglasses, and looking at the ground. "Me neither…"

"Tony? Are you okay?" Pepper questioned. She knew something was up.

"Pepper, I…just come in here for a sec." Tony grabbed hold of her hand and lead her into the main lab at SI which they were currently beginning to walk by. He lead her to the hand rails surrounding the giant arc reactor in the center of the lab. Tony let go of her hand so he could lean up against the bar.

"I'm…skipping grades, Potts." Tony said solemnly, staring at the floor.

"…Well, that's okay, right? I mean, we'll still be in the same school, Tony." Pepper replied. Tony looked up at his friend with sad eyes. Pepper's heart began to beat faster. "…Won't we?"

Tony went back to staring at the floor. The two remained silent for what seemed like hours. Finally, Tony spoke. "I'm going to…M.I.T. with Rhodey…"

"You mean…to college?" Pepper gasped.

"…Yeah…" Tony sighed. "I leave…the day after tomorrow, Pep. I have to get all my stuff ready too…"

"So…this is our last day, then?" Pepper felt tears pooling in her eyes. She fought hard to fight them…she was going to be alone…without her very best friend…for the rest of high school.

Tony just nodded…

"Oh, Tony!" Pepper couldn't help herself from embracing her friend. She didn't care if she was crushing him due to her unusual tallness and his unnatural shortness. "I'm going to miss you so much!"

"I'm going to miss you too, Peps…"