Bucky's Neighbor

Part 5

Part Five

It was seven a.m. on a Saturday.

A god damn Saturday!

You were not willing to be woken up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday. And you definitely did not want to be opening the door in your pajamas.

You groan as you stumble to the door of your tiny apartment and open it without even thinking about looking out first.

When you wrench the door open, you reveal...

"Scary!?"

Looking bright eyed and bushy tailed, practically bouncing, was one Scarlett Jones, AKA Scary because of the face that she had the ability to show up at your door like this. "SURPRISE!" She practically yells in your hallway.

You blink, rubbing your eyes under your glasses. "It's seven a.m. on a Saturday," you groan.

"I brought coffee!" Scarlett immediately offers, holding up two steaming cups. It is enough to give you pause and step aside and let her in.

Coffee was the ultimate peace offering for random seven a.m. wake-up calls.

Scarlett hands you your coffee almost immediately upon stepping into the door, walking into your living room and almost ignoring you as you shut and lock your door. You grip your coffee cup in both hands and take a sip. The moment the caffeine hits your palette, you sigh.

Ah, yes...This is something you needed.

You walk into your living room to see Scarlett sitting on your beat up red couch that you bought at a thrift store. She's smiling like the Cheshire cat, gripping her own coffee. She has pulled her feet up underneath her, her shoes kicked off haphazardly onto your rug. You groan, suspicious. "Why are you here, Scary?"

She rolls her shoulders, smiling. "Can't I just stop by to say 'hi' every so often?"

You look at her over your coffee cup. "Nope," you mutter, sipping from the cup.

Scarlett grimaces like she's been slapped. "Oooook," she says, fidgeting. "You got me!" She shimmies, adjusting herself on the couch. You sigh and sit down next to her. Oh, no. "I wanted to see the neighbor."

You roll your eyes. You never should have called her and told her about actually getting to meet him and interact with him. "It's seven a.m..." You mutter to yourself, trying not to immediately snap at her. You were very tired...

Scary rolls her eyes, scrunching up her nose. "You're stuck on that, aren't you?"

You roll your eyes right back at her. "I did not tell you about him so that you can stalk him!" You gesture with your hand, wildly. You're about to down this coffee...

Scary leans in close to you. "You said he's an early riser!" She's so close to your face that you raise your eyebrow. Oh, lord...

"Besides!" She's way too excited about this. "I'm doing this for you!"

You let out a long breath and shake your now empty coffee cup. "I'm going to need more coffee..."

Scarlett smiles even more broadly, seeing that she has won. "So, he helped you carry your mail?"

"It was sweet!" You immediately defend. It sounded like she was trying to attack him.

Scarlett pats your leg. "I'm sure it was," she says patronizingly. You glare at her, pouting a little bit. "So....he got a friend?" She jokes, watching your face.

You smirk, thinking back on Sam helping you carry in your groceries. "Actually," you say, putting your empty cup on your side table. "He does."

Scarlett's eyes go wide with excitement. "Ooooh!" Scarlett claps her hands together, excitedly. "Do tell!"