Echo [11] (ON HIATUS)

Chapter 14

I woke up to my shoulder being shaken by Carol. 

"Good morning, sleepyhead," She said. 

"Mm. It's not morning, though," I said, glancing out the window. 

"Oh. Right. We have to be quiet since it was lights out 30 minutes ago," She whispered. 

"Oh. I have to go to dinner in an hour," I groaned quietly.

"Yeah, that's why I woke up. Put the dress on, and I'll do your makeup," She said. I shuffled to my dresser, picking up the dress and shuffling to the bathroom. I pulled on the dress, which was quite tight and hugged my entire body, then slipped on the heels. I shuffled back out of the bathroom, sitting down on my bed, where the light was on. 

"I got permission from Miss Hill to have the lights on so we could see," She admitted.

She pulled out an eyeshadow pallet, doing foundation, dark purple eyeshadow, deep red-purple lipstick, wings, and contour. She helped me work my wild red hair into a braid over one shoulder. 

"There. Now hurry, you're leaving in a few minutes," She ushered me out of the door, and I moved as quietly as I could to the front door, where Miss May was waiting. We headed out to a black car, where I sat in the back. 

"Excited to go home?" She asked.

"Not really," I admitted.

 "Well, it should go smoothly," She assured me as I futzed with my dress. 

We arrived at the airport in an hour, where a jet with Panzer Industries written across the side was waiting. I thanked Miss May for bringing me, then went up the stairs and took a seat in the back. It was a long 10-hour flight of me sitting stiffly as to not mess up Carol's hard work.

Eventually, we arrived at the airport and it was another hour's drive when I finally arrived back home. It was the same old sweeping white mansion I had grown to despise, with its immaculate bushes and trees, flowerbeds groomed to perfection and not a weed in sight. I stepped up to the door, knocking and Martha opened it, smiling. 

"Tessa! It's wonderful to see you again," She said, her British accent sounding like music to my ears. 

"Martha!" I embraced her, again careful to not mess up Carol's work.

"Your parents are waiting, I will fetch them," She said, bustling off. I internally groaned as my parents approached, my father in a tailored Westwood suit, and my mother in a long, black Westwood dress. 

"Mutter. Vater," I greeted. 

"Teresa," My mother greeted. I hated how harsh my name sounded with a German accent, being so used to it being said as with an American one.

"The Starks will be arriving soon," My mother informed me. I moved to stand next to them in the entryway, standing with perfect posture. Soon enough, there was a knock on the door and it was opened to reveal Howard, Maria, and Tony Stark, the men in suits and Maria in a white dress.

 "Mr. and Mrs. Panzer. How wonderful to see you again. This must be your daughter," Howard greeted, shaking their hands. 

"My name is Teresa, sir. It's wonderful to meet you," I said, shaking his hand just as my parents taught me.

"This is my son, Anthony. I believe the two of you attend the same school?" He said.

 "Yes, sir. It's wonderful to meet you, Anthony. You look very handsome tonight," I complimented, feeling my parents' eyes boring into my back. 

"You look very beautiful as well," He said, giving me a look that screamed 'I hate this.' We shook hands, just as the Richards arrived. Nathaniel and Reed Richards, I had met previously at dinner parties. Norman, Emily, and Harry Osborn were the lasts to arrive, and we headed into the dining room to start. Salads were served, alongside wine for the adults and sparkling water for the rest of us. Reed, Tony, and Harry all looked unamused, picking at their food but eating it nonetheless. 

"So, children, how is school going?" Nathaniel Richards asked. 

"It's going well," Harry said.

"What about you, Anthony?" He asked. 

"It's great, I'm top of the class," He said.

 "And you, Teresa?" He asked. 

"It's going well," I said.

 "What are your friends like?" He asked.

"They're great. A lot of them are very intelligent," I said.

 "What kind of classes do you take?" He asked.

 "All the usual; English, math, history, science," I said. Then dinner was served, which was lobster, which I couldn't eat. I internally sighed, setting my fork down.

"Teresa, iss dein Essen," My mother ordered.

 "Mutter, ich bin allergisch gegen Meeresfrüchte," I replied. 

"Hör auf zu lügen. Das ist eine dumme Phase, Kind," She snapped.

 "Es ist keine Phase. Wenn Sie auf mich achten würden, würden Sie das wissen," I snapped back.

 "Sprich nicht so mit deiner Mutter, Teresa," My father scolded.

"Ich werde mit ihr so sprechen, wie sie mit mir spricht," I replied.

  "Entschuldige dich jetzt," He ordered.

 "Nein," I said defiantly. 

"Entschuldige dich bei deiner Mutter," He ordered.

 "Fein. Es tut mir leid, Mutter," I said, not meaning a word. 

I ate the lobster, knowing full well I would get itchy hives, and my lips, tongue, and throat would swell. Not 5 minutes after I finished, my tongue and lips started swelling, and there was an itching sensation around my mouth. 

"Oh, dear. I'll be right back," Martha darted out of the room, returning with an EpiPen. She jabbed it into my arm, pushing down on the syringe and the swelling and itching started fading away. 

I sent a pointed look at my parents, before standing up, my chair scraping against the floor.

"I think I'm going to retire for the night,"