“Shouldn’t be too hard. I think Summer’s got the hots for Stark.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. “Not that I can blame you,” he laughed sipping his coffee.
“I told you already, you won’t know if that’s the case. See, pretty boy,” she leaned forward, eyes intent, “I know your kind. Arrogant, good-looking, and smug with it. You think you just have to crook a finger and anything you want will drop at your feet. You don’t know what it’s like to struggle for … ” she flailed a hand, looking for a word, “just friends. The number of times a guy like you tried to butter me up, just so he could make me look like a fool for his friends, or to cheat off my work … it’s stupid. So maybe I do ‘have the hots’ for you.” She blinked, mouth compressing around the things she wanted to say, then sat back. “You’re going to have to work for this one.”
“You really need to work on being able to tell when someone is joking,” Tony said wide eyed after listening to Summer’s monologue. “Sometimes people like saying things without being attacked by a lecture.”
“And if you aren’t told that your ‘joke’ has hurt someone, how are you supposed to change?” She looked away, trying to hide the rising tears. “I knew you were joking. I always know. I can’t help but know. But it’s — that’s not a joke to me, okay?”
“Just because I don’t freak out every time you said something I didn’t like doesn’t mean that shit didn’t hurt me.” Tony rolled his eyes. “’I know your kind. You think you just have to crook a finger and anything you want will drop at your feet’,” he said imitating her voice. “I’m not a god damn type. I’ve worked for most of what I have. Yeah I was lucky enough to have a rich daddy but he hates me and I hate him so that’s kind of irrelevant. I kicked ass in high school to get enough scholarships to get myself into college and I work my ass off now to keep myself there. Learn more about people before you go around reading them.”
“You say that like I have a choice, with you all but shouting your emotions at me.” She pressed a hand to her temple. Very quietly, she added, “For as much as you harp on being irresistible, what was I supposed to think? I’ve been prey for the pretty people all my life, and the ones who know they’re attractive are the worst.” She blinked, and a tear escaped.