15

                                    

                                          
Natasha's POV
                          
"Are you sure about this?" Pepper asked me, as we stood in a discreet corner of the cafeteria. 
                          
"Oh, more than sure," I responded. "If Steve wants to stay committed to this deal, he's not allowed to have a say in who flirts with me." 
                          
"Well in that case, see that guy over there, at the table to your left?" Pepper pointed to a beefy guy, who was smirking at me. "That's Brock Rumlow. One of Steve's biggest competitors in football. Pretty popular. He's in Home Ec with Sharon, Maria, Sam, Bucky, and I." 
                          
"So what's the plan?" 
                          
"I told him about a new girl that Steve has his eyes set on. He's definitely interested. Rumlow's not the brightest, but he knows who has the most juice at this school, and that's Steve. He would do anything to get to the top of the social pyramid." 
                          
"Alright. Let's see how he makes his move." I let Pepper go back to the table and started looking at the fruit available, just so I could stand there until Rumlow approached. I heard someone clear their throat behind me and turned around to see that Rumlow had taken the bait. "Can I help you?" I asked innocently. 
                          
"I'm Brock Rumlow. Maybe your friends have told you about me?"
                          
"Just that you're jealous of Steve," I said nonchalantly. The easiest way to get a guy's attention is to play with his ego. 
                          
"Jealous... not so much. Superior to... yeah. I know it's already been a couple weeks, but maybe I could show you around school. Get you acquainted with my friends."
                          
"I think I have enough friends of my own. But if you have another offer, maybe I'll consider it," I smiled flirtatiously. 
                          
"Yeah?" He asked, looking down at me. He was a head taller than me and towered over my more petite figure. 
                          
"He bothering you?" Steve approached from behind Rumlow. 
                          
"Don't be silly, we were just getting to know each other," I looked pointedly at Steve. He nodded slightly in understanding and I blinked innocently.
                          
"Well why don't you come sit down, Carol's dying with Sharon at the table," Steve said, without breaking eye contact with Rumlow. 
                          
"And who's fault is that?" I smirked, tilting my head. "I'll be there soon, save my spot." Steve glared at Rumlow and walked away. I turned back to Rumlow who was shaking his head at Steve's retreating figure. "So it seems you two aren't the best of friends?"
                          
"Not exactly. But uh, maybe you and I can be. I'll see you around," Rumlow flashed me a smile and walked back to his own table. I grabbed a banana and sat down between Steve and Sam, which is where the only empty seat was. Sharon was on the other side of Steve and shifted uncomfortably when I sat down. 
                          
"So, what's everyone doing after school today?" I asked. 
                          
"It's Thursday, so all of us have football practice," Carol said. 
                          
"And the results for cheer try outs are being posted, so whoever made the cut has to get their position, and we have an optional practice for the routine after school."
                          
"Well, let's hope I don't make it because I have to practice for the French exam next Monday," I grumbled. 
                          
"Yeah, maybe we can study some time this weekend," Steve suggested.
                          
"Maybe," I said, not looking at him. I could feel his eyes on me, so I focused on peeling my banana. 
                          
"Hey Pep, how's student council going?" Tony asked. 
                          
"Pretty good, we're discussing new fundraisers, so if you guys have any ideas, we're taking suggestions," Pepper said. 
                          
"What about a bake sale? Val makes killer brownies," Carol said.
                          
"Or you could do something that doesn't belong in middle school," Pietro scoffed. 
                          
"Yeah? You have any better ideas?" Maria asked unimpressed. 
                          
"Something that appeals to the male audience?" Sam asked dryly. 
                          
"Oh, what, like a hook-up booth?" Wanda rolled her eyes.
                          
"Something along those lines," Steve said. I lifted my leg and casually started stroking Steve's ankle with my foot. He looked at me and I continued to run my leg up and down his shin. Slowly, he started to nudge my foot back so we were playing footsie under the table. Steve accidentally overshot and kicked Sam, who peeked under the table. 
                          
"Sorry, Sam," I said before he could say anything. "That's my bad, my foot was itching," I covered for Steve. He nodded in understanding and went on eating his salad. Steve couldn't hold back his laughter, which turned into a snort. I kicked him as a warning and stared at him intently, laughter rising in my throat. 
                          
"Anyway, that's actually not a bad idea, Wanda," Pepper said. "If we do a kissing booth, then we can have students give suggestions for the students they would most want to kiss, and then have five male candidates and five female candidates. Each kiss can be five dollars," She pulled out her notebook, writing it down. "I'm gonna go talk to Rhodey about it," She stood, rushing out of the cafeteria. "Thanks, guys!"
                          
"So, who would you want to kiss if this happens?" Bucky asked, keeping his eyes on Wanda. 
                          
"I don't know," Wanda smiled, raising her eyebrows. "What about you?" 
                          
"Oh, we all know who we're voting to be the representatives," I shook my head. 
                          
"Rogers," Tony started.
                          
"Barnes," I added.
                          
"Wilson," Carol said. 
                          
"Maximoff," Maria said.
                          
"Right back at you," Pietro said. "For the... female representative of course," He laughed.
                          
"And Wanda," Bucky said, making Wanda blush.
                          
"Natasha," Steve said, making me scoff under my breath.
                          
"So, everyone at this table, plus Pepper?" I laughed. "Yeah, like anyone else would vote for me."
                          
"Uh, I would think again. At volleyball practice, Thor said his friends in biology had eyes for you. Male and female."
                          
"That's sweet of him," I said casually. 
                          
Pepper came back into the cafeteria, red-faced from running. "Hey! I just talked to Rhodey and the rest of the student board, we need to finalize it, but it looks like it's going to happen!"
                          
"That's exciting," Maria smiled. "Hey, you've been really proactive on the student board this year, have you ever considered running for student body president?"
                          
"No, it takes too much time away from my schedule," Pepper declined. "I would if I could do it on my own time, but surprisingly, no one wants to spend time on a school activity on a weekend," She laughed. "Hey, what if you ask your football friends about it, and if they would be interested in kissing some hot chicks?"
                          
"You know, I doubt high school boys would be, but I can ask," Pietro said sarcastically. 
                          
"I'll ask our cheerleading friends," Pepper said. "I'm feeling excited about this! But also, none of you are coming near me afterwards, because I don't want to get mono from some random kid at this school."
                          
Sam crossed his arm and said, "Wow, you really know how to hype this up. Mono... yippee." 
                          
"Oh, calm down. With an attitude like that, no one's going to vote you to be a kissing candidate anyway." The bell rang for the end of lunch and we all stood to get rid of our trays. Tony, Carol, and Pietro split off from the group to head to pre-calc and the rest of us walked to algebra 2. 
                          
"Hey, I need to tie my shoe, save me a seat?" Maria nodded and I crouched down, falling behind the group. I stood back up and I was yanked into the janitor's closet and pressed up against the wall by Steve. "We really need to stop meeting like this, Rogers."
                          
"You know what this kissing booth means, don't you?" He said, his nose about two millimeters from mine. 
                          
"That you're going to have a very eventful tonsil exercise?" 
                          
"Well, we both know at least one of us is going to be chosen as a kissing candidate. If it's for a good cause, then... " He smiled and I shuddered slightly. "You wouldn't resist kissing me. Would you?"