The Avengers: A Change of Fate

Chapter 21

Jake couldn't have been happier to see her the next day. Her friends smiled as they watched them. You could tell they had been pairing the two together. As for school, Stella was already ahead in her classes, and she was actually starting to feel accepted.

Some of her classmates from gym waved to her now, and invited her to play games with them in class. Since the dodge ball game, people actually wanted her on their team. Stella's acceptance effected the school on a mass level. Mutants were feeling more confident, bullying was cutting down, and the school embraced it's racial equality policy more than ever. On the down side, those who weren't so accepting of the policy were furious. The school seemed to be getting more and more empty as the weeks went by.

Tony didn't wait to tell the Avengers about Stella's love life. Stella felt kind of guilty about it. What if she backed out? What if it didn't work out with Jake? Stella didn't want to rush it, and Tony definitley was.

The Avengers were happy for her, especially Hawkeye. Stella didn't dare look for Vision. She knew it was going to be difficult with him, but maybe now he could finally move on. The next day, Tony told her about the date he had planned with Jake. Of course he didn't listen.

"Oh yes, Tony, let's just walk through Central Park in the middle of winter. That's romantic," Stella remarked after listening.

"It is actually."

Stella glared at him, "It was Jake's idea," Tony added.

"Is this like all your other dates?"

"Where they plan it? Yes. Except this one won't be bad."

"Hallelujah."

Fast forward to Saturday. Stella didn't want to focus on the grueling school work, though she had been working hard so she'd be too busy to fret about the weekend. A whole day together. When Tony gave Jake the chance to take Stella out he certainly took advantage. First up was Times Square.

Stella had passed through it enough times, but she had never been there just to shop- or tour- or whatever you did there. It turned out there was a lot you could do. They stopped at Jake's apartment first. Stella gave confused looks as Jake led her inside.

"What are we doing here?" Stella asked as they walked into the lobby.

Jake smiled as he pulled out his phone, "We'll be going to Times Square the New York way."

"In a taxi?"

Jake nodded as he called a taxi service. Stella wondered if this was a normal thing for rich kids to do. Didn't they have chauffeurs or something? She felt weird using the taxi system. They waited inside until the taxi came, then Jake led her inside of the car. Stella sat uncomfortably in the car as it took them to their destination.

"Relax, Blondie. This will be fun," Jake assured.

"Do you call this a date?"

The taxi driver glanced at them, "We're not even started yet," Jake protested.

Stella relaxed as soon as they got of the taxi, though the crowd overwhelmed her just as much. Times Square was always a bit too busy for her taste; too many things happening at once. Soon Jake was taking her away from the scene. He led her through the crowd, up seventh avenue.

"Where are we going?" Stella asked as he pulled her through the crowd.

"Do you like chocolate?"

"Sure?"

They walked a few blocks before crossing the street, "Couldn't we have just made the taxi take us here?" Stella asked.

Jake looked at her, "What would be the fun in that?"