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Penny didn’t want to be here. Her beautiful midnight blue dress that Pepper picked out made her feel like she was standing out, even though everyone else was dressed the same. The bobby pins that held her curls in place in an elegant bun thing itched her head. She’d just had finals a few days ago and her mind kept going back to her mailbox. Had the colleges replied yet?
The last place she wanted to be tonight was this gala event. But it was important to Mr. Stark and she hadn’t wanted to tell him no, so here she was. She sipped her non-alcoholic beverage as her eyes scanned the room.
All of the Avengers were here, scattered around the room. They’d all made an effort to talk to her, which was nice, but she felt out of place. Plus the lights were giving her a sensory headache. So needless to say, Penny was not enjoying herself.
Penny faked a smile as an older couple made their way over to her. They seemed nice enough, asking about school and the ‘internship’. She kind of hated how easy lying had become for her. Insincerity and guilt gnawed at her each time she talked about it, but it was better than spilling the truth she supposed.
The couple bid farewell after a few minutes of small talk and Penny was alone with her thoughts once again. She sighed softly and looked around the room. She made eye contact with Mr. Stark, who stared at her with concern.
You ok? His eyes seemed to ask. She gave him a small smile and a short nod. I’m fine.
The feeling of being watched had her looking away and scanning the room again. There. A boy maybe a few years older watched her. She couldn’t read his expression, but when he noticed her watching, he gave a small wave and made his way over.
“You look bored,” he said when he reached her. His curly red hair flew in every direction possible. He was taller than her by a good few inches, and his tux fit his thin frame perfectly. His mud brown eyes seemed to study her, like when someone looks familiar but you can’t figure out how.
“No, no, I’m not. Just.. just a lot on my mind,” Penny replied.
“I’m Harry,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Penny.” She shook his hand and he smiled.
“Parker?” he asked.
She frowned. “How’d you-?”
“2nd grade, we took the same bus. You had glasses and wore the same braid every day. I sat behind you,” Harry answered.
Realization dawned on Penny and she couldn’t stop the smile that spread itself across her lips. “No way! We would play Battleship at recess together, right?”
“Yes! And the other kids would make fun of us for not playing dodgeball, but they broke your glasses once so you refused to play after that!” Harry said.
Penny laughed. “I’d forgotten about that! I had to fix my glasses with duct tape!”
“So how’ve you been? What brings you to Tony Stark’s gala?” Harry asked.
Penny’s lie came automatically, “I’m his intern.” She felt guilty after saying it, like she always did. But this time felt different. Harry was an old friend. But that doesn’t mean he can know your secret, she reminded herself.
Harry’s eyebrows shot up. “Tony Stark has interns?”
“Yeah, it was a thing with my school,” she continued. “By some miracle I won and here I am.”
“Wow, Parker! Congrats, that’s pretty impressive!” he said, still smiling.
“Thank you. So what’ve you been up to?” she asked.
“Nothing as exciting as that! I’m graduating in May, probably same as you, so I'm just hoping for some college to accept me.”
“I’m in the same boat. I just finished finals a couple weeks ago, and am not so patiently waiting for colleges to reply.”
“Top school?”
“MIT.”
“Great minds think alike, Parker! What’re you hoping to major in?”
“Biopsychics. You?”
“Biomedical engineering.”
Before Penny could reply, a man around Mr. Stark’s age barked out, “Harry!”
Harry closed his eyes in what appeared to be annoyance. He reopened them and gave Penny a genuine smile. “I’m being summoned. But I have to say Penny Parker, it was enchanting to meet you, or re-meet you here.”
“You as well, Harry. Osborn, right?” Penny asked.
Harry nodded and Penny said, “Well, Harry Osborn, until we meet again.”
He grinned and said, “Until we meet again.”
“Harry!” the man barked again.
Harry sighed in annoyance then with a small wave turned and followed the man out.
Penny watched him leave and replayed the conversation in her mind on the ride home. Her cheeks blushed pink as she remembered their grade school days that had previously been buried in her mind. She’d had such a huge crush on him when she was little.
She may not have wanted to go tonight, but a small part of her was glad she did. Penny didn’t believe in love at first sight, it sounded so cliche and she definitely wasn’t one to fall head over heels for a boy she’d just met. But a small part of her, the 7 year old version of her from grade school, thought she might like him. Just a little.
She shook the thought from her head. Don’t be stupid, you don’t even know him, Penny told herself.
But his words replayed over in her head.
It was enchanting to meet you.