"why did I do this to myself?" my knee bounced as I looked at my phone again. "are you sure you're okay with them coming back here?"

"if you ask me that one more time I swear to God" Tony set down his tablet and gave me his attention, "they're your friends, you'll be fine"

"how long have you known them?" Bucky asked.

"since I was 4?"

"then it should be nice, right?" I pulled a face, sinking back into the sofa.

"yeah but I don't know. They're a weird bunch"

Basically, my friends from Bristol were coming to America for the week for a bit of a holiday and we had arranged to meet up. The problem was that they were a bit...mental. The boys at least. Ellie and Riley were lovely, and sensible, we'd practically grown up together along with Flo. The fishponds gang. But Flo gets homesick so she wouldn't be coming.

I just didn't want them to do anything stupid in front of the others, so I was going to try and direct them away from the tower as much as I could. The girls tried their best bless them, but once they set their mind to it, you couldn't really convince them otherwise.

"I'll give you a call if we end up coming back, but um I'll keep everyone on the party floor if that's okay? Just so nothing can be damaged."

"go have fun kid, enjoy yourself" I nodded to myself, sighing deeply. Okay.

I sent Peter a text that I was on my way to meet up with them seeing as he was helping May with some decorating today. He was going to pop over later if they decided to come back to the tower, as himself of course. As much as I loved them I couldn't trust them to keep a secret that big, and I could never ask Peter to tell them anything.

"enjoy yourself" I muttered to myself as I walked across town. Anxious yet excited to see my mates. I was meeting them at the museum of sex, guess who's idea that was.

"Boo!" I shrieked, jumping in my skin as hands grabbed my shoulders. "that is not funny" I scolded playfully, a smile working its way onto my face at the sight of my laughing friends.

"it's a little bit funny" Ellie teased, pulling me into a hug which I was happy to return. "it's so good to see you"

"you too! You look amazing!" Ellie was always a bit of a model, born with a beautiful face and the fashion sense to match. I had always been jealous of her ability to charm people, she just seemed to talk so effortlessly and just...shine.

"hey there stranger" Riley grinned, and I fist bumped her, she wasn't a hugger. "long time no see, like your hair"

"like your hair" Zain mocked in a high-pitched voice which I flicked him for.

"nice to see nothing's changed" I looked between the boys, Isaiah and Tom were looking towards the museum laughing to each other. "you guys wanna head inside?"

"so, rumour has it that you're dating the infamous Spiderman?" Ellie wiggled her eyebrows and I chuckled, ducking my head as I studies the labia sculpture in front of us.

"where on earth did you hear such a thing?" the sarcasm was clear, and Riley smirked.

"maybe it was the picture of the two of you in that park" she suggested.

That was a good memory, picnic in the park and Pete's lunch got stolen by a pigeon. We didn't realise anyone had taken a picture until the next day, where there was a shot of Spiderman chasing a pigeon as I died of laughter in the back, both of us with poorly formed daisy chain crowns on our head.

"You know who he is under the mask, right?" Tom turned to us, and they waited on my response, but I shook my head.

"nope not a clue." Isaiah and Riley shared a doubtful look whilst Zain pestered me on how that was bullshit. "Guys, I'm serious. I don't know his face. That's the whole point of the mask"

"so, you've never kissed?" I flushed, shaking my head.

"wait so you've only kissed him with his mask on?"

"why don't we enjoy the art, hm? I hear you've got a girlfriend now Isaiah, how's that going?"

"well, she's not a superhero" he teased, putting his phone in his pocket "no but she's great"

We toured the whole of the museum as we caught up, Ellie was moving up north for university this year and Riley was going into her second year of child nursing whilst the boys were working. It was actually a lot nicer than I expected it to be.

We swung past their hotel so they could grab some coats and cans that they had bought earlier. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for them to be drinking but the boys convinced Ellie and Riley it was okay and that they could blag it if anyone asked. It didn't sit right with me and the fact they were asking to go to the tower didn't fill me with hope.

"So, you live with them? What are you, like their adopted kid" Zain snickered, nudging an equally amused Isaiah. I sighed slightly, sharing a look with Riley who shrugged, the dread was coming back, and I began to think this wasn't a good idea.

"I work with them, and we became friends through work."

"yeah but like what does that mean?"

"The winter solider gives her special massages with his robot arm"

"can you be respectful please? Remember that I actually know these people and they are letting you into their home as a favour to me. I don't appreciate the jokes" they acknowledged my words and promised they would be, so I let myself relax a little as The Tower neared. This is a bad idea.

"wow, this is so cool" Riley stared up at the ceiling, Ellie trailing her gaze, agreeing, and snapping a pic.

"Jarvis floor 39 please"

"of course, madam. Shall I inform Mr. Stark of your arrival?"

"that's alright, thanks J"

"oh my god you just had a conversation with an AI." I smiled at their awe; it was pretty awesome in fairness.

We reached the party room, and they were immediately taken aback by the view, so we spent some time out in the cold.

"I can't believe you get to work here"

"Innit. It's actually mental"

"wait there's a bar in here?" Zain walked back inside, and I was quick to spring up and follow him.

"its not meant for guest-Zain please just leave it alone" he had started to pick up bottles and examine them as I hovered next to him anxiously.

"I'm just looking" he waved me off nonchalantly, setting the bottle down.

"Zain seriously. Stop" he picked up a fancy looking bottle that probably cost an arm and a leg. "put it down"

"hey guys look at this" he waved it about, and I was practically pulling out my hair.

"Zain put it back" Ellie backed me up and he just rolled his eyes ignoring us. This went on for a hot minute before he caved, going to put it back on the shelf.

"thanks El-" the sound of glass smashing made me freeze. I turned around to the sound of Tom and Zain laughing, pieces of a bottle littered across the floor with alcohol everywhere.

"Oh shit, my bad" I was literally speechless, staring at the floor in shock as my blood simmered.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Zain looked at me, smile slowly leaving his face. "I told you to leave it alone, do you have any idea how much this stuff costs? Hm? How are you paying for this, cash, or card?"

"Alex- "

"Don't." the room was filled with silence, as I tried to calm down. "It's been nice seeing you guys, but you need to leave."

"you're joking" Tom complained, and I bit my tongue, shooting him a look which made him press his lips together.

"I'm sorry Al" Ellie and Riley apologised on the boy's behalf, Isaiah offering to help clean up, but I told them not to worry about it. I got Jarvis to book a taxi back to their hotel and walked them down. Hugging the girls as they boys sat silently in the car.

I actually couldn't believe them. Idiots.

I headed back upstairs and began picking up the glass and chucking it in the bin, Jarvis directing me to a dustpan and brush after I refused help. I could feel the tears in the corner of my eye as I gritted my teeth, imagine if they did that in front of everyone else. I was more embarrassed than anything else.