homecoming » bucky barnes AU

chapter two

Laecie headed down the silky floorboards of the hall to the phone perched on the wall. She spun in Natasha's number, chewing her lip as she waited for her to pick up.

"Hello?"
Natasha said, quickly answering the cream phone Laecie knew was perched on her bedside table.
"Hi, it's me. Wanna go swimming?"
Laecie said, twirling the cord around her finger.
"Yeah, sounds good. It's so hot, I kinda need one."
Natasha replied.
"Want me to get everyone else?"
She said. Laecie was happy to let her, she knew it wouldn't run up Natasha's bill.
"Please. When and where will I meet you guys?"
Laecie pressed.
"Hm. Like 5 o'clock. Just meet us at the pier, yknow the wooden one we see from Sam's place?"
Natasha said. Laecie thought for a moment, her geography skills failing her.
"Uhmmm yeah. I'll figure it out."
"Okay. See you then."
Natasha said, promptly hanging up the phone.

Laecie sighed and put the phone back on the hook. She rubbed her temples, her headache easing now. She got herself some lemonade from the fridge and went down to the pool to sit in the lounger for a while. She was somewhat dressed now. Her bikini top was pink and she was wearing some new Levi's shorts. Over her bikini top, she wore a white and light blue "Queen" baby baseball tee that she'd found in her closet from last time she was here. She had on some white socks, mid shin, and again her converse. Her sunglasses were the same too, her hair down and blowing gently in the breeze.

She sipped on her pink straw as she trot down the beige slab staircase to the loungers. She was caught by surprise as she looked up to see James in a white tank and jeans, fishing for leaves in the pool with the net. He was glistening with sweat, focusing on the water and gently sweeping the net in and out of the pool.

"Hey there."
She said, stopping and putting her glasses up into her hair again, scooping it out of her face.
"Doing much?"

James looked up with a brooding stare, as if he simply could no longer go on.
"Just cleaning the pool."

"Well I can see that."
Laecie said, laughing slightly. James didn't really look impressed as he looked down again at the lapping water.
"You look really hot, James."
Laecie stated matter-of-factly, not realising that it could be taken two ways. James' eyes shot up at her, half panic half confusion on his face.
"I meant, like, temperature wise."
Laecie quickly corrected herself, squeezing her eyes shut and scrunching her mouth. James chuckled now, smirking up at her.

"It's fine."
He said, dumping the leaves he had in the net onto the grass beside the pool.
"Do you want some lemonade?"
Laecie questioned, walking closer to him now, but still on opposite sides of the water, to set down her glass beside one of the loungers. He stopped for a moment, hanging the net behind his two shoulders, accidentally showing his biceps in all their glory. He pondered as he looked off to the side and pursed his lips.
"Yeah, maybe I will. Thanks."

Laecie ran back up the steps and poured him a more generous glass of lemonade. She also brought him a towel to soak up some of his sweat. He slung the towel over his shoulder and took the glass.
"Thank you, I didn't realise how thirsty I was until I seen the glass."
He said, smiling a little and shaking his head at himself as if what he said didn't even make sense. He was sort of awkward, Laecie thought anyways, as if he didn't think any words that came from his mouth were the right ones.

"No problem James. Let me know if you need anything else. I'm just gonna sit here for a bit if that's okay. I'm hungover."
Laecie said, sighing to herself and plopping down on the lounger, sprawling her body out in exhaustion.

James was silent for a little while as he worked and Laecie just lay there soaking up the sunshine. She was almost dozing off when James said;
"So what do you do?"