The pale, morning sun peeked through the windows of the training arena, illuminating the room with warm, pastel brush-strokes. I was kneeling in the middle of the floor, clutching onto my hip, heaving loudly. My eyes flickered up from the ground.
"That was a foul move." I hissed at Steve who grinned down upon me, with a glint of perversity floating across the hues of his ocean-eyes.
Steve emitted a peal of laughter as he reached for me. "Your head isn't in the game. You're distracted, soldier."
"It's hard to pay attention when I have my father breathing down my neck." I snapped as my head snarled around, glaring at my father who was lounging in a seat against the creamy wall. When he perceived my burning gaze, he threw his hands up in mock horror.
"I think that's enough training for today." Steve proclaimed, reaching for a towel and offered me one. I thanked him and wiped away the beads of sweat that trickled down my forehead.
My father pushed himself up onto the balls of his feet and rolled up to us, slinging and arm over my shoulder. The three of us laughed in unison but it died down when Peter entered the room. He was fidgeting with his fingers.
I wiggled from Steve and my father's embrace and ambled forward. "Peter, is everything alright?"
Steve discreetly excused himself and pulled my father along, muttering something about S.H.I.E.L.D and Fury. When they were out of earshot, Peter turned to me. My brows came together in confusion as I perceived his nervous state.
He's never been this nervous in front of me.
"Sage, I was um. . . wondering whether you'dwanttogotohomecomingwithme."
"Sorry?"
"I was wondering whether you'd want to come to homecoming with me. Like, as in my date?" A contagious smile danced across his features making me beam at him in return.
"I'd love to go with you, Pete, but homecoming is tonight, isn't it?" Peter nodded solely, affirming my words. "I have nothing to wear. . ." I trailed off softly.
"I do." My mother stepped into the training arena with a benevolent smile dancing across the textures of her lips.
***
My fingers fondled the green, satiny material as it hugged my waist and slipped down to my feet. The colour reminded me of Loki's eyes and I quickly dropped the material, as though it had burnt me before fixing my gaze on my mother as she perceived my appearance with tears glinting in her eyes.
"You look absolutely beautiful, Sage." My mother whispered as she brought her hands to her lips, crying into them.
"Don't cry, mom. . ." I respired, enclosing her in my embrace. She chuckled lightly through her tears before pushing me away at arms-length.
The door swivelled open and my father ambled inside the room. His dark eyes immediately settled on me and a shimmer of pride flickered across his irises as he closed the proximity between us.
"You look beautiful." His breathing hitched in his throat.
"She does, doesn't she?"
My lips split into a smile as I slung my arms around them and pulled them both into a tight embrace, whispering a sole thank-you for all that they had done for me. Whether is was raising me or whether it was seeing me off to homecoming, I loved them unconditionally.
Peter was standing at the foot of the stairs when I walked down with as much grace and elegance I could muster in high heels. Aunt May was standing next to him, smiling up at me with so much admiration and love that I would sink down with the cargo.
"You look absolutely breath-taking, Sage." Aunt May breathed happily as I stopped in front of them. "Doesn't she, Peter?"
"She does."
I linked my arm with his and waved my mother and father goodbye as we walked towards the black SUV parked in front of the Tower. Peter opened the door for me, like the gentleman he is, and sidled in next to me. Aunt May took charge of the wheel.
The drive to the venue was a joyous one. Aunt May was excitedly talking about her homecoming back in the days. Peter and I simply smiled as she rambled on about her date and the mess the homecoming ended up to be.
The SUV came to a stop in front of a big building. Aunt May bid us a lovely night before she drove away, leaving me and Peter to walk up the length of the red carpet. For once in my life, I was actually nervous. My eyes skimmed across the venue, taking in the decorations. Fairy lights were draped across the bushes and strung around the white, cement pillars. It looked like a scene pulled straight out of a romance movie.
Peter interlocked our fingers, making me look away from the decorations and fixing my eyes on him. The nervousness within me slowly evansced, like smoke. I squeezed his hand in gratitude as we ambled towards the end of the red carpet.
The bright flashes of cameras blinded me momentarily. Peter and I posed for a photo before entering the venue where the party was on full swing. Peter pulled me close to his side and I was grateful for his support and understanding. We filed past a few students before finding Ned, Liz and MJ with their dates.
Ned looked quite jolly in a black tuxedo and he had a rather chubby girl at his side. She seemed sweet and considering as she smiled at Ned who handed her a glass of punch. Liz and MJ both looked astounding. Liz was wearing a yellow dress that hugged at her curves and her hair hung in curls down her back. MJ was clothed in a deep red dress that flowed at her feet. Her hair was up while some curls escaped the bun, framing her face.
When MJ saw me approaching she excused herself from her conversation and ambled over to us. I straightened my posture, awaiting one of her snappy comments but it never came. Her lips spread into a smile as she glanced between me and Peter.
"You look beautiful, Sage!" She exclaimed as she hugged me tightly.
"You look absolutely gorgeous yourself." I gestured to her hair and her dress, making her smile even wider.
"I'm sorry about everything," MJ said as she inched closer, "I hope someday you can forgive me."
"I forgive you. It's old water under the bridge." I pulled her into a hug and she hugged me back in return.
The rest of the night went down better than expected. We danced together, laughed together, talked together and occasionally stepped on each other's toes. Peter and I were dancing together on the dance floor to Back at One, from Brian McKnight.
I scanned the dance floor and smiled at Ned and his date, Alicia, as they danced together and to our right, MJ was dancing with Simon. My gaze came back to Peter and he thawed out sufficiently to let a small smile appear. I returned his smile and that's when I saw him standing in the background. Loki.
I stepped away from Peter hastily and blinked. When I craned my neck to look for the comfort in his eyes, he was gone. Peter slightly pulled on my arm, glancing at me in curiosity.
"What's wrong?"
"I thought I saw. . . Nevermind." I shrugged it off, turning to face Peter. "I'm sorry. I have to go."
"What?"
I brushed past him and made a beeline for the door, pushing my way through the throngs of people but was stopped abruptly in my attempt when my name was announced over the loudspeakers.
"This year's homecoming queen is Sage Stark!"
The hall erupted into a gale of applause and cheers as I frantically pivotted around, the spotlight veiling upon me as I stood frozen to the spot. Someone gently pushed me from behind and I slowly started walking up to the stage where the principal and Mrs Theresa stood waiting for me to accept my crown.
Everything was turning around me. It felt like the first time when I walked into Midtown High School. I could feel my hands starting to shake as I ambled up the flight of steps onto the stage. The spotlight was blinding as they placed the crown on my head.
Heat travelled through my body and I felt it threatening to spill. I tried controlling it while the school journalist clicked away on his camera but the applause was the trigger.
I felt the heat bubble out of me and a ring of fire pulsated through the hall, causing everyone to yell abreast my own outcry of pain before I was sucked into a black hole.