Prologue (The First Day):

Tony Stark strode through the main door of East Lake Secondary School as though he owned the place –and he probably could've, if he'd wanted to. A couple of girls, whose names (Was it Elena…Caroline…Marissa…) he couldn't remember, surrounded him, chattering away and shooting him flirty looks on occasion. His best friend, Rhodes, also walked next to him, although the guy as rather quiet and had much less ego than Tony did, not that that was saying much.

Tony happened to glance off down the hall, and when he did, he caught sight of one of the prettiest girls he'd seen in awhile. She had smooth, slightly wavy red hair and walked with purpose and grace, her snug dark jeans and fitted black jacket showing off her slender, athletic body.

"Who's that?" he demanded.

The responses were not very enthusiastic. One girl scowled, while another shrugged, and Rhodes rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. Only Pepper, the girl who was like an assistant, almost like a friend, and not really a possible romantic interest, spoke up.

"That would be Natasha, who was in my French class last year."

"Natasha…"

"Natasha Romanoff," Pepper sighed, exasperated. "She wouldn't like you."

"What?" Tony demanded in protest. "How could she not?"

"Because she's much too smart to be taken in by you," Pepper replied smoothly, and Rhodes stifled a laugh.

"Well then," Tony muttered. "Natasha!" he called out suddenly, making the whole group around him wince and stare off in various directions. The red-haired girl looked over wearily, as did the boy next to her.

"What is it?" she asked coolly, stopping when she reached them. The boy who walked next to her – some underclassman, Tony thought dismissively – stopped as well.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You're Anthony Stark," she said flatly, meeting his gaze with cold green eyes. The boy next to her shifted slightly. Tony ignored him.

"Call me Tony," he said smoothly. She raised an eyebrow. "Natasha Romanoff. You should really join our table today at lunch," he invited.

"I'm afraid I'm not interested," she said dispassionately. "I have better things to do during my lunch." Now Tony's eyes did flick over towards the boy.

"Who's he? Your boyfriend?"

Natasha gave him a disdainful look. "This is Clint Barton, my friend. I don't date."

"I'm not sure I believe that. Pretty girl like you –"

"I'm a freshman," she interrupted. "And 14. I don't date creepy older guys." With that she turned and walked away, Clint staying at her side the entire time.

"She's lying," Tony said, watching her.

"She's not," Pepper said, but quiet enough that Tony didn't really hear her.

"Give it up, Tony," Rhodes advised. "Shouldn't we get to class? Don't you have AP Physics, or something like that?"

"Yep, should be a breeze," Tony said as they started off, him still thinking about Natasha. She was driven from his mind a moment later, however, at the sight of one of the new students.

Or rather, the sound.

"THIS PLACE IS SO ODD. AND YOU PEOPLE ARE SO TINY!" a voice boomed, as they turned a corner. The source of the voice seemed to be the tall, muscular kid with shoulder-length blond hair. The one wearing a red cape over his jeans and t-shirt.

"Oh my," Rhodes said, staring, just like everyone else within a half mile radius.

"Who is that?" Tony demanded. Again, Pepper was the one who responded.

"That's Thor Odinson."

"Thor, like the god of thunder? Odinson, like the son of Odin? Now that's weird," Tony commented as they walked past.

"Don't make fun of him."

Tony turned. "I'm sorry?"

"Don't make fun of his name. He can't do anything about it." It was some athletic-looking blond kid that Tony didn't recognize, not that the latter part meant anything, since Tony never seemed to remember anyone.

After the guy had left, Tony turned to Pepper. "Who was –"

"Steven Rogers."

They parted ways at Tony's classroom, and he went in and took his assigned seat next to some guy with glasses. Tony took a glance at the guy and thought that it was going to be a long year.

"Hello, my name is Bruce Banner. I have some anger management issues, so since we're going to be sitting together, I would appreciate that you don't bother me and if we have any partner projects, you keep up with your half of the work."

Well then.