The Rules of Living with the Avengers

6. Never take Natasha's advice about dating.

I look in the mirror and then spin round happily. My turquoise dress fits perfectly and I'm wearing matching shoes. I can't even stop smiling at everything. This morning I laughed at one of Bruce's embarrassing dad jokes and hugged Steve when he made me some toast.

I turn back to the door and see Natasha staring at me, her eyebrow raised. "Why are you so happy? Meeting Chelsea?" She smirks.

"Oh shut up." I say but I still smile at her. "Do I look okay?"

"Who's the lucky boy?"

"He's called Tommy from the Apple store. He's really sweet and cute and I met him yesterday when I got the Technology Idiots new phones," I blurt.

Natasha grins. "Want some dating advice?"

"I think I'm okay-"

"You're not. This morning you talked about how gamma sounds like a fish for five minutes."

"Good point. Although fried gamma does sound-"

"Shut up," Natasha says. She sits down on my bed and I sit beside her.

"Should I take notes?" I joke and she looks at me coldly. I shake my head. "Uh...sorry."

"Be mysterious. Keep him guessing. We need to act out this out...BARTON!" I jump but Clint walks in like he's used to being summoned. He bounces down on the bed next to us and looks obedient.

"Yeah?"

"Pretend to be Ellie's date," Natasha instructs him.

"'Kay."

"Ellie, go!" Natasha yells at me.

"God. Fine. I'm going. Hi, To-can I call him Clint? It feels weird calling him Tommy."

"Sure," she sighs.

"Hi, Clint, it's Ellie."

"Yeah," he looks amused. "I know. Hi, Ellie. You look nice."

"Thanks. You look pretty. I mean ice too. Sorry! Nice! You look nice."

"Uh, thanks?"

"Remember," Natasha whispers, "be mysterious."

"So how's your day been so far?" Clint asks politely and takes an imaginary sip of an imaginary drink.

"Really great! Bruce was telling jokes at breakfast and I text Pepper because she was wondering if Tony had killed me yet. And I made a new friend. She's called Darcy and I was calling Jane for Thor and Darcy picked up-"

"Too much," Natasha sighs. "Start again."

"It was good. How was yours?"

"Ugh, no. That leads to awkward conversations," Clint says. "Just be cool. Lie. Make up stories about mad skiing holidays or something."

"What?" I look from one spy to the other. "So which one do I do?"

"I'm the one who seduces people. Listen to me," Natasha says. "And let's put some more mascara on you."

***
"Hi, Cli-Tommy," I curse myself as I sit down.

He smiles at me. "Nearly said someone else's name there, Ellie?"

"Just talking to Hawkeye this morning." I blush. "Distracted me."

"Oh. Okay. Do you want a drink? I might order a re-fill."

"Yes sure. I'd love a um milkshake please. I love chocolate! It's addictive and...chocolate milkshake please," I finish, blushing. Stay cool. Stay calm.

"Okay." He gives me a strange look then orders. "How are the Avengers?" He asks.

"Good."

"Um..." He frowns at me and I try to pout and look mysteriously out of the window. We get our drinks and I finish mine in about a minute out of nervousness. "Look, you seem to be acting a bit oddly, Ellie, and I was wondering if there was a reason because I like you and I'd love to have another date but if you don't feel the same way, just say."

I turn to him, opening my mouth to speak, but I just make a little choking noise. I close my mouth, my heart sinking. I went too far and anyway I'm too messed up with all superheroes and being awkward for him.

"Alright, okay," he says quietly. "I want to leave now but I don't want to walk out on you so you leave first. Then you don't look lonely."

I stand up, my eyes stinging with tears. I don't deserve him, I really don't. Why don't I change my mind and hug him? Because he's too perfect and I take advice from two assassins. It's all my fault really. I'm such an idiot. "Bye, Tommy," I say and walk out.

The cold hits my face instantly and I get out my phone. I'm about to ask someone to pick me up when I realise I'm crying. I need the walk to cool off my beating heart and red eyes.

***
"What's wrong?" Steve comes up to me later that night, concerned. Everyone else is in the cinema room, watching a new movie. I only went to get some sweets and I ended up staying in the kitchen for half an hour, doodling in my notebook.

"Nothing, I'm fine. My date just didn't go well." I shrug. "It doesn't matter."

"But it does matter, Ellie," he says and I almost cry some more at his soft tone. I wish he'd just be sarcastic and joke around to make me laugh rather than be kind and caring.

"I don't deserve him," I say and realise with horror that I am basically sobbing. God. I'm like an emotional wreck.

Suddenly Steve's arms are around me and he's hugging me tightly. "Hey," he pulls away but his hands are still on my shoulders, his blue eyes staring deep into me. "He doesn't deserve you if he let you walk away. You're beautiful and charming and any boy would be lucky to have you. Listen to me, Ellie, you're great."

"Thanks," I blush and he smiles at me slowly.

"You're still my special girl," he says quietly. I meet his eyes and smile at him brightly. I should make a comment, be smooth and not awkward, pull away...

"I...I..thank you, Steve," I say instead. "I might just go to bed now though."

It's like I've snapped him out of a spell. He withdraws his hands and goes an alarming shade of red. "Of course, good night, ma'am. Have good dreams."

Oh I will, I think with a smile. I most likely will.

So Ellie and Tommy are a disaster so far and Steve is...uh....being strange. Please comment and vote because it inspires me.