ᴋᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴋ'ꜱ | Avengers POV | ON HOLD

TWO: It's good to be back

**5am**

After an hour of tossing and turning you decide you can't anymore. You get up and change into your gym gear and headed for the training centre, you figured you can squeeze in an early morning workout before anyone else was awake.

You get to the training room and begin doing cardio on the treadmill. You then proceed over to the punching bags. You'd been feeling a little tense the last few days just with the nerves of finally graduating and returning home. You're happy to be back but it's just been a hard couple of weeks. Well months but only you, mom and Peter knew about that. You begin your routine of punching the bag. Every punch getting harder and harder. Your so focused on your workout that you don't notice the person who comes in, you continue with your punches adjusting them each time.

Whoever walked in begins to lean on the doorframe of the rooms entrance folding they arms as they continue to watch you.  After a few minutes of them doing so they finally speak. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of bed?" Their voice startled you, you jump slightly before turning and letting out a small laugh. "Oh... sorry I just..."

"I'm kidding. I didn't take you as an early bird though." Steve says begins walking over. He stops a moment before moving closer to you.
"Oh you know... couldn't sleep. Still on British time I think" letting out another laugh.

"Well you're gonna be okay for the party tonight? Right?" Steve asks in an intriguing manner. "Hmm yeah of course! I'm just like my dad when it comes to parties." Smirking turning your back away from him slightly so you can continue punching the bag.

"Good. Well anyways I'll leave you to it." He says beginning to move away from you heading toward the door. "Oh you can stay if you like Steve. I'm just finishing up now anyways." Steve does decide to stay and moves to one of the other punching bags now beginning his workout. After another 10 minutes pass you begin gathering your things before leaving. Just as you get to the door you hear his voice one last time. "See you tonight Ari." You smirk before shouting back " See you tonight Rogers!" Waving your arm behind you. Steve begins smiling to himself.

________________________

Later on that day you and Peter are hanging out in his room. You guys were planning your next prank to pull on Bucky and Loki. You guys kept a tally of who pranked who and because you guys had been away for the last 10 months it was Peter and I's turn to make the next move. "Look Peter I'll have it done by next week. We can't rush a masterpiece". You say whilst showing him the blueprints of the prototype you'd been working on in the lab earlier on. "Trust me it'll work." Smirking at him.

"Oh I can't wait Ari this is gonna be so good!" He's now bouncy up and down on the bed. "Right anyways spidey I'm gonna go find the girls and start getting ready for this party."

"Sweet, see you later". You head down from Peter room back to yours to grab your things to go get ready in Nat's room. Just before you get to your door the one next to it opens only for Steve to step out. "Oh hey Ari, how you doing?" A nervous smiles creeps on his face. "Hey Steve, yeah good thanks just about to grab some stuff from my room." You point and gesture to the door next to his. "Haha we're neighbours." Steve exclaims in a very joyful tone. "Ha! I guess we are." There's a brief silence. You clear your throat before talking again. " anywho I'll see you later on... neighbour" you wink before making your way to the door, opening it quickly and closing it behind you. "Yeah... see ya" Steve waves mumbling to himself that last sentence as you were long gone.

Steve makes his way to the main room in the compound where all the guys are hanging. Bucky and Loki are in the sofa with what appears to be plans for some sort of prank. He's shakes his head in disbelief. Tony, Thor, Bruce and Sam are all chatting about the previous mission they'd be on. He opted to join them rather than Bucky and Loki. "Anyone know what Bucky & Loki are up to?" Steve asks the group. Tony just starts laughing. Steve gives a confused look. "Bucky and Loki are planning their next plan of attack." Thor begins to explain. "Basically Ari, Peter, Bucky and Loki have been in a prank war for about, 2 years?" Thor looks to Tony and he nods to confirm. "Yeah 2 years and well they keep score of who's winning. We vote who's prank is better. So far Ari and Peter have the lead after Bucky and Loki's prank fell through. But anyways we all know it's Ari & Peters turn to strike but they obviously trying to stay ahead of the game and be ready to go straight after." Steve just looks on in amusement. "Your kids really are trouble aren't they Stark?" Steve says shaking his head laughing. "Believe me cap you have no idea" he says rolling his eyes.

________________________

You make your way to Nat's room and knock. "Come in!" Both Nat and Wanda shout, you make your way in and they jump up and run to you hugging you tightly. You didn't get chance for a catch up yesterday. "So Ari, tell me everything! How was London? Any men on the scene?"

*sigh* slightly laughing. "London was great! And you know it was really nice to stay for another month after graduation! Definitely needed that freedom." You purposely avoid the last question. The girls sense your uneasiness. "There is a guy?" Wanda asks. "Correction. There was a guy. His name was Ryan and he was perfect but..." you trail off on your thoughts.

**flashback**
8 months earlier:

"Ariana Stark will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes! 1000x's yes!!"

"I love you."

"I love you too Ryan"

3 months earlier:

"Ryan how's it not a big deal! You stood me up... again"

"Ariana for fucks sack you're being completely over dramatic! It was one date! It's not like we're married!"

"Sometimes I just feel that I don't even matter to you."

"Well maybe you're not high up on my priorities."

"What the hells that's supposed to mean! You're such an ass!"

" And you're a whining bitch!"

2 months earlier:

"Look Ari I never loved you. I was just using you to try get to your dad but you're just so clingy. It's not attractive in a woman."

"Don't say that Ryan, you can't just switch your feelings off like this. We can talk about it."

"Switch my feelings off. That would be difficult considering I never had them in the first place. You're nothing Ariana. You're just the shadow of the Stark name. Always have been, always will be."

"But... you asked me to be your girlfriend. I gave you everything! I gave you my heart-"

"Yeah only to guarantee I'd meet your father but I can't do this anymore. I never asked you to love me. You're too difficult. No one will ever love you. You're worthless."

__________________________

"Peter can we stay in London an extra month. I can't face going home. I can't face mom and dad. Not yet."

"Of course Ari! I'm still gonna kick his ass!"

"You're the best brother. I love you Peter" leaning in hugging him.

"And you're the best sister. I love you too Ari."

The day of returning home:

"You ready to face reality again Ari?"

"I'm ready."

**Present day**

"But?" Nat drags you back to reality. "But I stupidly fell for him and he broke my heart. Only used me to try get close to my dad" you shrug trying to shake away the pain in your heart. "Oh Ari I'm so sorry" they both hug you. "So yeah... no more dating for me. No thank you" you try laugh that last comment off. "Who else knows then" they ask. "Oh only you two, my mom and Peter and I'd like to keep it that way if you don't mind. Bad memories. Don't need them dragged up." They both nod in agreement. You look over the Wanda knowing fine well she read you mind. The sadness in her eyes gives it away. But at least she knew. You gave her a look to tell her she can tell Nat what she saw. Wanda gives a faint nod followed by a sympathetic smile.

"Anyways ladies it's now 7pm and the party starts at 9pm, let's get this show on the road!"

"Oh and I brought this!" You pull out a bottle of liquor you'd swiped from your dads office. "Shh don't tell Tony" you wink before you all squeal getting excited. Now like any typical girl gets ready for party montage you all enjoy doing each other's hair and makeup. It takes you all 10 different dress choices to actually make a decision and well let's say the bottle of liquor didn't last long either. Finally it's 9:15pm and you're all ready and as usual fashionable late.

Tonight is going to be epic!