The Soldier and the Waitress

Chapter Five

 Angie had ignored Bucky as much as she could. He had come in the next morning for his coffee. Bucky had tried to speak with her and didn't get anywhere. He kept his daily routine up but Angie hadn't spoken more than necessary and he had grown concerned. It had been five days. Eventually, Bucky had agreed to let Rebecca meet with Angie.

When Bucky agreed, Rebecca was thrilled. It was her day off and she made it her mission to talk to Angie. Rebecca made it to the L&L Automat and looked around for a place to sit. She found an open booth and sat down, pulling out a newspaper. She was reading the paper when she heard a pair of heels and a customer service voice saying, "what can I get ya?" which caused Rebecca to lower the newspaper, seeing Angie. Angie swallowed nervously and let out a breath. "Rebecca... what a... What can I get you?" Angie repeated as she held her tickets in her hand. The waitress felt herself take a half step back involuntarily as she pursed her lips.

Rebecca shook her head, folding the newspaper as she looked up at Angie. "Just a coffee. Black," she responded as Angie nodded, looking at Rebecca before going to get the coffee. Rebecca studied Angie for a minute and pursed her lips. She looked at the paper, reading over the headline when she heard Angie return. After the coffee had been poured, Rebecca turned her attention to Angie and picked up the cup. She held it to her lips as Angie turned to leave. "Bucky mentioned you two went out to get some cider. Thank you," Rebecca said as Angie stopped and turned back.

Angie looked at Rebecca, her expression a bit puzzled as she put her pencil behind her ear. "Thank you? Why... why would you be thanking me for something like that?" she asked and Rebecca chuckled.

"That man was absolutely hopeless after the war had ended," Rebecca responded with a shake of her head. "It took months to get him to finally agree to come to the museum with me and I think you had something to do with it."

"Rebecca... I hate to say this but... I had no idea you existed and I wouldn't overstep any boundaries and I didn't even know he was seeing anyone..." Angie started and Rebecca's eyes widened and she put a hand over her mouth.

"Wait... you thought that we were together?" Rebecca asked and Angie frowned.

"Well... no one seemed to bother how you two know each other so I thought..." Angie started and Rebecca shook her head.

"No no no," Rebecca responded and laughed. "He's my big brother!" she corrected and Angie's face went red with embarrassment.

"Oh... oh my god, I feel so stupid..." Angie started and Rebecca put her hand on Angie's.

"No, don't," she said quickly and chuckled nervously. "I guess I never said that I was related to him... He's said so much about you and I'm really glad you've been there for him. He barely spoke to me after he lost Steve and he didn't even make a lot of time for me before you started getting him out. I remember when he rang me to tell me that he had a date!"

Angie looked at Rebecca in surprise. "Surely it couldn't have made that much of a difference..." she started as Rebecca shook her head.

"Please, I basically had to coax him out of his apartment so we could spend some time together," Rebecca rolled her eyes. "Then you come in and all of a sudden, he's suddenly trying to take time to speak with me and promising to go to the museum to see Steve's memorial," she let out a breath. "We both went into the war... He was drafted, I enlisted... The only difference was that I came home with my best friend. He lost his," Rebecca shook her head. "Steve and my brother had been best friends since grade school and... I think Bucky needed Steve just as much as Steve needed him," she looked up at Angie. "So... thank you."

Angie was speechless and she shook her head. "Why... why are you telling me all of this?" she asked, looking at Rebecca with a tilt of her head.

Rebecca gave Angie a small smile. "Because I think you just need to understand how much it's killing him that you're ignoring him. And... he really likes you," Rebecca chuckled. "Like... he took this one girl to Howard Stark's expo but that's nothing compared to how excited he is to talk about how nervous he was to take you on a date. Were you two calling it a date?"

Angie paused for a moment before she nodded slowly. "Y-Yeah... he actually called it a date," she admitted, a small smile forming on her lips. "He wouldn't let me pay for a thing even though it was my idea."

"That sounds like my brother," Rebecca commented with a slight chuckle. "Our parents raised him with manners and how to treat a lady."

Angie nodded and she pursed her lips, looking at her coffee pot. "It looks like I owe your brother an apology then," she remarked with a sigh and looked back up at Rebecca. "And I owe you one too," she said as she let out a breath. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions... I just... he means a lot to me too. I really like him."

Rebecca shook her head. "No need to apologize. I should have clarified the moment we met," she responded with a small smile. "So... do us all a favor and not ignore my brother next time he comes in?" Rebecca suggested. "Because he's been looking like a kicked puppy for the past few days. I don't know if you've seen my brother sad but it's honestly pretty pathetic," she remarked with a slight laugh.

Angie shook her head and her smile just grew. "Well... I think I did notice his pathetic puppy expression," she responded with a sigh. "Next time he comes in... I'll clear the air and we'll talk. I think I owe him that much."

Rebecca finished whatever was left of her coffee and nodded. "I'll be excited to hear that you two are getting together," she remarked with a small smile. She stood up and left a couple dollars on the table. "I'll see you later, Angie," she said.

Angie shook her head and watched Rebecca leave, the thought of seeing Bucky the next morning keeping a real smile on her face.