Winter's solace

Midtown

Present day:

Alyssa leaned against the banister of her and her dad's new home. They'd moved over the summer due to his job being so dangerous. He wanted to be closer to his coworkers. She was wearing a pair of black jeans and a flannel button up.  Her long purple, red, blue, green, pink and yellow ombre hair draped over the rail.

  "You could've picked any color and you picked those ones?" Bucky asked, unpacking a box in the living room below her.

"I like them. They're a tribute."

Bucky chuckled.

"It's morbid." He said

"Mom would've liked it." She said, sticking her tongue out at him

"Are we eight again?" He teased

"I'm whatever age I say I am. I'm a great liar."

Bucky shook his head as he watched his eighteen year old launch herself over the upstairs banister and land on the floor in front of him. Her landing stance was similar to her mothers, and that of another agile eighteen year old he knew. He glanced at the clock.

"You're gonna be late for school." He said "Behave. Don't get into trouble and meet me at the compound right after school."

She sighed, grabbing her bag.

"I know how to behave." She assured him.

She pecked his cheek and left the house, running down the street. She didn't notice Sam Wilson on the corner as she ran passed a boy with brown hair.

"On your left!" She yelled as she passed him.

The two strangers took turns passing one another on their way to school. As they both reached the front doors, they split going down different halls.

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Midtown high school:

It was lunch time. Alyssa was struggling to find the cafeteria. The school was a lot bigger than she was used to.

      "Need some help?" A female voice asked

Alyssa jumped, instinctively reaching for something that wasn't there. She relaxed, turning to the voice. Next to her stood a mixed girl with curly black hair.

"Yeah." She said "um, I can't find the cafeteria."

The girl chuckled.

"I'm headed there too. I'm MJ by the way." The girl said "You're new here I'm assuming."

"Alyssa." She said "Yeah. My dad and I moved here over the summer."

"Made any friends yet?" MJ asked

"No. Not really. People seem to be avoiding me."

"Yeah. They do that."

She seemed annoyed at that. She gestured for them to walk.

"You can sit with my boyfriend and I." She said as they entered the cafeteria.

"You sure?" She asked

"Yeah. Of course."

The two girls grabbed their food and sat down.

"Oh. Hey. It's super soldier girl." Mj's boyfriend said

It was the boy she'd ran past on the street.

"What do you mean by that?" Alyssa chuckled, nervous.

"Oh i-you just run like someone I used to know. That's all." He laughed.

"Oh." Alyssa said

"You two have met?" MJ asked

"No. She just ran past me this morning." The boy replied

MJ nodded.

"I'm Peter. Peter Parker."

"Alyssa."

"Do you have a last name?" Peter asked

Alyssa sighed but decided it was unlikely anyone here knew her mother.

"Romanov."