Rhodey walked alone on the pavement.

He knew he should've waited for Pepper, but he just couldn't bring himself to face her. She understood how he felt, hell, she felt the same guilt he was feeling. Rhodey wanted someone to come and tell him, it had been a prank, or it wasn't his fault.

He had needed his help.

And he hadn't helped him. Like a friend should've done. Were they that immature, they couldn't pull their differences aside for a single second?

It had been a week since Tony's death, and Rhodey still felt he couldn't face school. No; he felt like curling up in his mom's lap , and crying himself to death.

Tony was his friend. And Rhodey had abandoned him.

He clutched his head. And tried his best not to break down.

"Rhodey."

He turned and found Pepper. Her eyes were red and puffed, and she was quiet. Some part of Pepper had died with Tony.

Together they entered the school building.

A wave of silence swept through the crowd. Rhodey felt like an outcast, but it was better than having to face their questions.

Whitney Stane was more daring than the others , though. She ran forward (on her HEELS.) and engulfed Rhodey in a hug and began sobbing right in his shoulder.

Rhodey looked at Pepper.

"Did you know?" She whispered in his ear.

"What?"

"Did you know he was...iron man?"

"Yes." Pepper replied reluctantly.

Whitney pulled herself back.

"He saved my life..."

She didn't say whether he saved Whitney or madame Mask. For all she knew, they didn't know about Madame Mask.

But Rhodey knew Tony had saved Whitney. Because he actually cared about his friends. And protected them even if they turned out to be his enemy.

Happy peered from his locker and walked away. Rhonda and her twin brother were laughing and cackling like nothing was wrong with their life. But then, an enemy is better than a fake friend.

And they had lost on of their own.

By their own doing.

Pepper could've jumped in a chasm of lava by the end of the day.

The counselor had tried to talk to both her and Rhodey. They have stayed quiet during the whole session, but Pepper had heard the small "It was my fault." when Rhodey was heading back.

It had been their fault.

"I was his guardian, Rhodey, I ought to know."

It stings in more ways they could've imagined.