find me

3. don't get scared

She didn't have to think about it twice.
It was probably very reckless and in many ways dangerous, but at that point she didn't really care.
She looked at him while he helped her with her luggage, despite her protests, loading all her bags in his car, easily picking them up and carefully placing them in the back.

When they went to get the car, she let out a small 'woah', making him jokingly laugh at her. A white Audi R8 was waiting for them in the parking lot. With the way he was dressed and his overall scruffy look, Natalie didn't really expect him to have a nice car, least of all an expensive one. She felt bad for judging him but then again, his look was quite misleading.

Fucking handsome, sure, but still quite misleading.

"Ok. Where to?"
As they sat in his car, Natalie realized she had absolutely nowhere to go. She looked at him, panic painted all over her face.
"I don't- I don't know." she stammered.
Bucky stared at her, frowning.
"You don't have a place to go?" there was no anger in his voice, only worry.
"No, it was kind of a last minute trip." she didn't sound very convincing but he bought it, or at least so she thought. He nodded and took out his phone. He started typing something.
"Well there are a few hotels around here, not too expensive... or an Air B&B maybe?" He looked at her, waiting for her answer.

She closed her eyes, already feeling the embarrassment rising to her cheeks, and sighed.
"What about— what about a hostel?"
He looked over to his phone and started scrolling, by his face it was obvious he didn't like that option.
"There are a few yes... but I wouldn't- I wouldn't recommend." he glanced at her, hoping that she'd go for the hotel.

"No, it's okay" she sighed "I'm sure it'll be fine. If there's one around here, I can book a bed and of course I can pay for the gas if you—"
"Wait, wait stop" he interrupted her "you don't need to pay for anything."
She looked at him, visibly confused.
"What do you mean—"
"I don't think hostels are a good idea, especially here in New York, they're messy and generally unsafe" he paused "and you're alone." he shrugged while he started the car "You can crash at mine for tonight and tomorrow I'll help you find a decent place."

She looked at him in complete disbelief. He was going to let her crash at his place, after knowing her for half an hour?
"Are you—"
"Yes" he chuckled "yes, I'm sure. Don't worry, it's not that big of a deal." he winked at her.
She looked at him, a broad smile on her face.
"Thank you, Bucky."
He turned to face her, smiling back at her.
"You're very welcome, Natalie."

~

The fresh air coming from the car window was brushing her hair and caressing her face, washing her deeper scarier thoughts away in the sunset. She stuck her hand out of the car window and started waving it in the wind, fighting against it. All the way to Bucky's apartment, Natalie couldn't stop grinning to herself. The feeling of being in New York mixed to this strange connection with the stranger next to her in the driver's seat, it was surreal to say the least. It felt like one of those deep dreams, the ones you almost confuse with reality, until you wake up.

She leaned in her seat, resting her head back and watched him drive. His hair was tucked behind his ears, a few strands moving around because of the wind coming from the windows. His face focused on driving but also enjoying the ride, the corners of his lips slightly going upwards in a soft smile. With his fingers, he tapped the rhythm of the song on the wheel.
He was playing the music from a playlist on his phone. It was a nice mix of contemporary music and 90's and 70's, with some older tunes from the 40's and 50's. He seemed to know every song that came up, silently mouthing the lyrics and keeping the tempo with his head and hands.