Since the Beginning // The Winter Solider //

Chapter 2

Authors note: another chapter! More flashbacks of Anna and...James? The story is a bit of slow burn in the beginning to add some extra c h a r a c t e r d e v e l o p m e n t in the future lmao. 

Apologies for any grammar mistakes! 

Please enjoy, vote and comment throughout! 

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1943 - Brooklyn, New York. Flashback

Anna ended her evening with another long shift, a part of her hoped that things would slow down a little after all the warboys headed to Europe. However, the café was making really good money with the surge of dates.

She went to unlock her door and in the distance heard someone shouting a name.

"Margaret!" the voice shouted. Anna ignored it, probably some soldier chasing after his date.

"Margaret!" the voice drew closer and the metal stairs to her apartment creaked loudly and the person's heavy footsteps grew louder. "Margaret." Anna turned around and for the third time that day, she was face to face with the soldier. His name was James, Anna remembered the redhead saying that when she snuck out of the awkward scene.

"Sorry, are you talking to me?" Anna pointed to herself and tilted her head. James made a confused face and opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He awkwardly pointed towards the direction of the café before saying "Isn't your name Margaret?" and pointed at Anna's name tag located by her left breast. Anna looked down and tilted her head back with a laugh. James continued to stand there, confused. Her laugh was beautiful to James, he wanted to hear it again.

"I'm so sorry, this is just a fake name tag. It used to be my moms, I wear it as a way of keeping her close to heart," Anna explained and James made a 'ah' face.

"It's also a fake name I give to very persistent and unwanted men who I'm not interested in..." Anna grimaced and stared at her feet. She couldn't understand why she was unable to stare at James' face for long, maybe because his blue eyes gave her butterflies that fluttered inside her stomach.

"I hope I am not one of those 'unwanted' men." James joked and studied Anna's next body movements. The ebony haired female froze and relaxed, she chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear. 'Huh, a habit?' James thought to himself.

"Um, I don't think so...?" Anna said softly, she was unsure how to respond to James. 'Is he flirting with me?' Anna eyebrows furrowed, she hasn't had a man hit on her in awhile. For the past year or so, most older men were sent off to war which meant she got a break from creepy males who leaned way too close to her over the counter at the cafe. Most boys her age already had girlfriends but Anna was in no rush, she wanted to wait for the right person.

"So if your name isn't Margaret..." James trailed off.

"It's Anna...Anna Dain." The girl looked up at James and smiled brightly. She hasn't had the chance to introduce herself to someone in a while. Anna stuck her hand out for a handshake and James gladly took it. "Your name is James right?" Anna asked and pulled her hand back close to her. The soldier shook his head side to side, "James is my first name but I prefer to go by Bucky." Anna nodded and whispered "Bucky...", testing how his name would sound if she said it. Bucky's heart skipped a beat as he heard the pretty girl in front of him whisper his name.

"Say, do you want-" "Well I must go-" They both spoke at the same time and stopped. Anna was flustered and gestured for Bucky to go first but the soldier insisted Anna to finish.

"Oh um, it's just getting kind of late and I'm a bit tired from work," Anna sheepishly said, her hand reached up to the doorknob of her apartment. Bucky looked a little disappointed but he quickly changed his expression and smiled. "Of course." He replied.

"You wanted to say something?" Anna asked.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it doll." Bucky slipped his hands into his uniform pocket and gave a grin. The nickname "doll" made Anna heart race pick up and she blushed. She nodded and said goodnight to Bucky before she slipped herself into the apartment.

Once Anna locked the door, she peered outside the window and watched Bucky. "Am I really stalking him? Well, it's not really stalking if he's right outside my door." She mumbled to herself. She watched Bucky knock on the door to her left a couple of times, the apartment where she first saw Bucky. 'Does he not live here?' Anna thought. She then saw Bucky kick a stone that was close by the railing aside with his foot but nothing was under the rock. Anna heard the soldier curse under his breath.

"That punk..." Bucky's voice was muffled through the door. Just as Bucky was about to leave, Anna yanked open her door and startled Bucky.

"Oh hello Anna." Bucky said with a surprised voice. Anna had no idea why she opened her door and her eyes widened at her action. She had to think of something quick so maybe Bucky wouldn't think that she was a stalker who watched him through her window.

"Uh, yes hello Ja-Bucky! I was uh just looking for the newspaper." Anna's eyes darted left and right of her doorstep and did not see the newspaper. "Oh! It seems like I grabbed it already! Ha..haha..." Anna gave an awkward smile. She wanted the floor to engulf her. She cursed herself for embarrassing herself again in front of Bucky. The soldier raised his eyebrow and chuckled.

"You're one interesting gal, Anna." Bucky said playfully which Anna squeaked and looked down in response.

"Do you not live here?" Anna asked Bucky who leaned himself against the metal railing. Anna would've definitely noticed someone as handsome as Bucky living beside her, but the apartment next to hers was empty for a while. Maybe he just recently moved in?

"No, but my best friend does. It seems like he's not home and off doing something stupid." Bucky sounded annoyed but slightly worried as well.

There was an awkward pause between them again.

"Well I gotta go and find this punk." Bucky pushed himself off the railing and huffed. He headed straight for the stairs but was stopped by Anna.

"Wait!" Anna's hand reached out to him. Bucky turned around with a surprised look on his face for the second time that night. "It's uh, kind of late... do you want to come inside and wait for your friend?" Anna offered, she was quiet about it and waited for rejection. Bucky smiled widely and turned to walk up to Anna.

"That sounds good to me doll."

Anna's cheeks were tinted with a light blush and she moved aside to Bucky into her apartment, he smiled at her again as he walked in. 

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Authors note: eeeeek! Anna is so awkward around Bucky but that'll change...maybe. Bucky noticed how Anna has a habit of tucking her hair behind her ear when she's nervous, we love a observant man. 

I'm trying my best to stick to the 1940s era with the language and speech but it can be difficult! 

I really hope you're all enjoying the story so far! 

Cheers and stay safe. 

Word count: 1127 

- For Crying Out Loud.