Till the End of Time

Chapter 1: "We are here on behalf of the Strategic Scientific Reserve"

My arm hooks around Marks as we stroll around, looking at all the different tables, each presenting someone's idea or invention. My eyes dart from table to table, eyeing all of the gadgets and prototypes. I falter for a second as we walk past a table with various radio's, coming in all shapes and sizes. My eyes shift away from the table and to the poster, trying to absorb as much information as quickly as possible. Mark tugs my arm, and I look away with an internal sigh. He glances down at me, face full of disdain. I am doing my best to keep quiet, knowing that Mark didn't like me showing off my scholar skills. But, my patience was wearing thin. How did he think I would handle being at a science expo and not be allowed to get excited? This was the one thing I have been looking forward to all year, especially the main event.

We follow the main crowd, slowly making our way to where Howard Stark would be revealing his latest invention. I knew exactly what it was, and despite my best efforts to persuade him to show something else, he was eager to show off the prototype, despite it still being under major works. I have the feeling that it won't quite go to show the way he expects, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts on stage in front of an audience. He'll pull through though, Howard always does.

I glance up at Mark, trying to decipher his frown. It didn't make sense why he would suggest the Stark Expo if he wasn't having fun. His dark eyebrows furrow, hardlines growing in his forehead. He almost looked like his father as we walked through the crowd, only twenty years younger.

"The fireworks do look lovely, don't they?" I ask, trying to start a conversation, the silence eating at me uncomfortably.

"Mhm, they do." Mark replies in a vain attempt to sound enthusiastic. He glances down, meeting my saddened frown, and he stops. "I'm sorry Alice." The scowl on his face dissipates and gives me a smile, blue eyes crinkling in the corners as he grabs my hand. "They really are lovely. As do you."

"Thank you Mark." I say, trying to express my gratitude for the compliment, but it felt too forced. I'm not sure if he meant it, so I guess I'm not sure if I mean my thanks. I unclasp my hand from him, moving to rehook my arm through his arm and continue through the bustling crowd when my eyes fall on a familiar figure. My face lights up, and all uneasiness and disappointment evaporates instantly. "Oh, do come. Look, it's Steve."

I drag Mark across the concrete, much to his refusal, but I couldn't care less what he wants right now. Next to Steve stands three other figures, two of which I vaguely recognised, but not enough to put a name to their faces. The third person could rot in hell for all I care. Well, I wouldn't wish that upon anyone, so I guess that isn't true.

"STEVE!" I yell, waving my free arm through the air. Steve looks up, and he grins widely, moving away from the other people to meet me. I unlatch myself from Mark and stride forward, wrapping my arms around my friend. He hugs me back, and I smile into his shoulder before pulling away. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"Hi, Alice. How are you? It's been far too long." He says, stepping back, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket. Behind him, the other three glance over, but I ignore them, focusing on the small person before me. I didn't like to call Steve small because he didn't like it, but he was. I was taller than him, even without my heels. But I wasn't stronger or better than him in any sort of way, and Steve knew that. I think that's why we got on so well, and that's because I couldn't care less about how small he was.

"Oh I know, it's been far too long. I'm doing well thank you, school is great." A cough from behind catches our attention, and I glance over my shoulder, internally sighing as Mark gives me a pointed look. I turn back to Steve, and I think he can tell I was unimpressed by his actions as he smiles. "But, that doesn't matter. By the way, apologies for not introducing each other sooner, this here is Mark. Mark, this is Steve, he's my best friend. Anyway, how are you Steve? I heard through the grapevine that you've been trying to enlist in the army. Don't tell me that isn't true?"