Amelie Stark - Old Friends
Amelie Stark - Old Friends
"Leave it to Tony to organise the biggest party of the year, at his home… and then not tell anyone else who lives there." I muttered as I slid dress after dress to the side, the hangers clanking against each other.
My oldest friend, Lauren, peeked up at me over the ruffles and tulle. Her eyes sparkled in amusement. "I’m pretty sure he attends at least three a week. He probably lost track."
I laughed. Tony was known for many things, but keeping track of his social calendar wasn't one of them - he'd much rather be tinkering away in his lab or chasing down bad guys. But when it came to parties, he had an undeniable flair for extravagance.
"Remember that time he showed up to a charity gala wearing his old tracksuit, covered in oil?" I asked, still chuckling.
"Only Tony." Lauren agreed, shaking her head in amusement.
"It was the same year as that time in school when we had to make our own costumes for the nativity." I grinned.
"Oh my God, I remember that!" Lauren laughed, her face lighting up with nostalgia. "We spent hours sewing bits of old fabric to try and make an outfit, then only showed up on stage for like, two minutes."
I grinned at the memory of our younger selves before moving on to the next rack of dresses. We resumed our search in a comfortable silence for a few minutes.
"How fancy is it?" Lauren asked after a while, scrunching her nose as she lifted a neon yellow ball gown out of the way. She held the gown by its hanger, the skirt billowing out around her like an enormous lemon soufflé.
"Definitely no ball gowns." I answered, giggling as she held the offending garment at arm’s length like it might bite her. "I think it's more of a cocktail party vibe, knowing Tony. So, something elegant but not too over-the-top."
"Got it." Lauren said, nodding as she placed the ball gown back on the rack.
Tony loved to throw parties, and he loved going to parties. He just didn't know how to properly organise one, always forgetting to relay crucial information to the guests... like the date.
“At least he gave you a few hours notice to plan an outfit. Remember that summer you arrived to a full on rave in his garage?”
I laughed at the memory. “True. I’m hoping this will be a bit calmer than those parties.”
Lauren huffed as she came around to my side, leaning on the rack as I continued searching. “So what’s Loki like? Was he scary?
I picked up a silky pink dress and held it against me to check the length. “Honestly, he seemed pretty nervous about moving in and he was very polite. I don’t reckon he’s all bad.”
“Even after killing all those people?”
“We don’t know the full details of what happened. Tony said that Loki was under the control of the mind stone for a long time. He seems like he wants to live a normal life.”
I took the dress to the changing room as Lauren followed. Leaning against the outside of the divider, she looked thoughtful.
I hung the dress on the hook, closed the curtain, and began to get undressed.
“I’m surprised your uncle was okay with Loki moving in.”
“He trusts Thor’s judgment, not that he’d ever tell him. Plus, he’s a sucker for family reunions.” I smiled at my reflection before showing Lauren the dress.
“Perfect! You've got the exact combo of sexy and sophisticated.”
I laughed and closed the curtain to get changed again.
As we walked arm-in-arm through the busy streets, the late afternoon sun casting elongated shadows on the sidewalk, Lauren and I chatted about how life had been since I'd last seen her. The scent of fresh-baked bread from a nearby bakery wafted through the air, mingling with the city's distinct aroma of exhaust fumes and various restaurants. It was amazing to think that Lauren had been dating her partner, Will, for almost as long as we'd been friends. The memory of her tearful phone call asking me to be her maid of honour, when he'd proposed last year, still brought a smile to my face.
"Can you believe it's already been a year?" I mused aloud, feeling a bittersweet pang of nostalgia. Walking around the city now, she was a married woman. Observing the contentment in her eyes, it felt crazy how different our lives had become in such a short space of time.
"Time flies." Lauren agreed, squeezing my arm affectionately.
We passed by a group of street performers, their lively music providing a momentary distraction from our conversation. A young girl danced along to the beat, her laughter infectious. Despite the vast differences between our lives, I cherished these moments with Lauren. They grounded me, reminding me of what truly mattered.
"Will's still working at the library." Lauren said happily, her eyes scanning the bustling crowd around us. "But he's also training to become an air traffic controller, so he's really busy."
I glanced up at the sky, trying to imagine Lauren’s husband guiding planes safely through the clouds above. He'd always been good with details and quick thinking, which I guessed were essential skills for such a high-pressure job.
"I hope he can pull it off." I said with genuine admiration.
As we rounded a bend, the Avengers Tower suddenly came into view, its sleek glass façade reflecting the sunlight like a beacon in the city. A familiar flutter of excitement and pride swelled within me.
"Are you sure you don't want a lift?" I asked Lauren, nodding towards the tower. "Tony has cars with drivers just waiting for us."
She looked up at the impressive structure, her eyes squinting in the sun, and then back at me, her expression playful. "Nah, I'm good. We regular folk are used to walking."
"Fair enough" I conceded with a chuckle. "I’ll message you later. Let me know when you’re home.”
The elevator dinged as I stepped onto the plush carpet of my room's floor, the rhythmic tapping of my footsteps accompanying me down the hall. I fumbled with the door for a moment before finally managing to get it open. With a sigh of relief, I slipped inside and tossed my shopping bags haphazardly onto the bed.
Being around groups of people always sapped my energy, and today was no exception. The bustling streets, the cacophony of voices, and the endless swarm of faces were overwhelming. I craved solitude - the chance to 'de-people' myself.
My sanctuary awaited: a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and some peace and quiet.
Water cascaded into the tub as I twisted the faucet, steam rising from the surface like ethereal wisps. The scent of lavender filled the air, soothing my frayed nerves, as I crossed the room to the coffee table where the half-bottle of wine sat waiting.
A loud bang from the corridor jolted me out of my thoughts, and I darted to the door. My hand found the doorknob, twisted it open in an instant, and there in the hallway stood Loki and Peter. They were frozen, staring at each other amid a sea of toppled cardboard boxes.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Loki, sir!" Peter's voice was high and frantic as he stooped down, sending his messy brown curls bouncing. He hastily scooped up scattered packages with trembling hands.
"Here, let me help." Loki said, his tone surprisingly gentle for someone who had once been our enemy. I watched as he bent down gracefully, his dark hair falling forward around his sharp cheekbones. His slender fingers plucked the fallen packages from the floor with ease, and a strange calm seemed to radiate from him.
As they both straightened up, Peter shot a sheepish grin at Loki, his eyes wide and apologetic. "Thanks." He mumbled, cheeks flushed.
"Of course. No harm done." Loki said soothingly, his green eyes filled with an unexpected kindness. "Are you alright?"
Some scary villain. I thought silently.
Peter let out a sigh of relief and gave a quick nod. “I need to get to Mr Stark, I'm helping with the party!”
Loki nodded back understandingly before watching Peter dash off. When he turned back to me, our eyes connected and he offered a slight but sincere smile before walking away. I stared after him in confusion as I beheld the warmth in his expression.
How on Earth had that man ever been the bad guy? How could someone ever be evil when they smiled like that?
Clicking my door shut, I stayed rooted to my spot until I heard his footsteps fade away.