Bucky's Redemption

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Alex POV

After the school day had ended, I made sure my lesson plans for Mondy were set before I headed out the door. I reached into my bag and pulled out Bucky's shirt to make sure it was there so I could give it to him at the coffee shop. But after I left my classroom door, I accidentally bumped into the school's janitor, Henry.

"Henry! Oh goodness I'm sorry." I say as I try to catch my breath.

Henry has been at the school ever since I came here four years ago. He was tall, blonde hair slicked back, and around mid thirties. Henry was a very sweet guy. Sometimes got a little flirty, but always harmless.

"Alexandria, no harm no foul." Henry pushed the cart to the side and leaned on it. "Already done for the day?"

I smiled at Henry and grabbed my keys out of my pocket. "You know you can call me Alex for the hundredth time, but yes, I got about fifteen minutes before I start my other shift."

"You're always working, you ever take a break babe?"

I only shrugged and started walking towards the door. "Yeah no sleep for the weak! Good thing the coffee shop is covered on weekends. I'll see you later Henry!"

"Bye!" Henry called out after me.

Once I was in my car, a got a text. When I pulled out my phone, I rolled my eyes seeing a group chat between some of the teachers at the school.

Betty: 3rd Grade Teacher- Thirty two years old, two kids in seventh grade.
'Girls! There's a special at Donahuges tonight for ladies, buy a drink, get the next one half off! C'mon we got to go especially after this week of hell.'

Christy: 1st grade teacher.Forty five years old- widowed and no kids.
'Sounds good to me. My kiddos decided to color the class pet bright pink. The hamster was not amused.'

Stephanie: Fellow fourth grade teacher- twenty six (like me) one kid, four years old.

'I'll ask John, he went to Menards for three hours. It is totally my turn. What time we thinking? Alex, are you coming? The shop closes at six tonight, right?'

'Yes it closes at six, just have to balance the till and everything. I should be ready by seven. Did we want to meet up at 7:30?'

Betty: 'Sounds great to me. Oh, and Alex dress up pretty, I mean you always do, but be extra tonight, I have a guy for you to meet.'

I sighed at Betty's text. She was always trying to get me to meet someone new. I appreciated the effort, really I did. But, once they met me, we would talk, they would get bored and leave me on read. It was honestly tiring that I finally just gave up. But what went through my mind was seeing the guy at the coffee shop, Bucky. I couldn't exactly pin point why he was different than any man I ever met, but I knew it was something.
I started my car and sent a text back with an eye roll emoji and said I would meet them there.

Two hours later, no coffee had been thrown at me, so that was always a plus sign, but still no Bucky. Maybe I was clinging onto something hopeful. Maybe he would be different, but who was I kidding? Maybe he felt something too, but again I could be dead wrong.

For a Friday I expected it to be busy like usual, but I had only had about ten customers. Someone had ordered an espresso online, so I made that to go order. Whenever I heard the bell ding on the door, I expected it to be the espresso customer, but I was delighted to find that the man occupying my thoughts came into view.

Today he wore a black leather jacket with a maroon shirt underneath with some black jeans. (Okay, triple hot express)

"Bucky, hi." I said putting the lid on the espresso and placing a scone into a small bag next to it.

Bucky gave me a smile back and sat down on one of the chairs. He rested his arms on the table and thanked me whenever I set down a black coffee in front of him.

"Hello Alex. How was school?"
I only shrugged. "Not too bad. Nobody in my class cried today so that's always a good day. But I do teach nine year olds so I'm not going to get as much criers like Kindergarten."

"What made you want to be a teacher in the first place?" Bucky asked and then sipped some of the coffee.

Saying why I wanted to be a teacher always made my chest ache because my story was something that not a lot of people got to hear.

"So just going to bleed my heart right out to you. If you're game, I'll give you the long version."

Noticing my body language, Bucky went serious and clasped his hands together, waiting until I spoke next.

"So growing up my parents always favored my sister more. I was never the perfect child, so I would get talked down to a lot. Why couldn't I be like my sister, why am I not smart enough or skinny enough as her. But they weren't perfect either. My mother and Father are alcoholics. My father was an avid drug user and was physically abuse to me before he died three years ago. So, I became a teacher so I could teach kids that they are enough even at a young age. I want to be a role model for them even if they don't have one in their own lives. I know what it's like to be treated like dirt, so even if they can find peace at school, at least they have some type of safe home for eight hours."

Bucky was silent for a long time. He listened to my story and never interrupted. When I was done, he ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath as if to process all that I said.

"Wow. That's incredible, Alex. I can tell you're a good teacher already. But I'm sorry that you had to go through the things you had to."

I gave him a sheepish smile and when the customer came in for the online order, I thanked the woman and carried on to the cleaning portion so I was able to get out of here early. I almost forgot about Bucky's shirt, so I pulled it out of my bag and handed it over to him.
"Thank you again, and I did wash it. Sorry, I don't have any manly smelling laundry detergent."

Bucky took the shirt and lightly snorted. "I just use regular tide. But you're welcome."

When my phone began buzzing like crazy, noticed that Bucky was smirking.

"Boyfriend?" He asked finishing the coffee.

I only rolled my eyes and took a glance at  the group chat. They were all saying they cannot wait till tonight to get their groove on. I put the phone in my back pocket, and shook my head.
"No, don't have one of those. It's just some of the teachers at work. We're going out tonight for drinks at Donahuges. It's the bar down the road. If you would be interested... I mean you could always stop by and say hi, get to see each other, other than this coffee shop."

Bucky's smile grew just a tad wider. "You asking me out, doll?"

Heat immediately went to my cheeks at his last word. Doll? I had never been called that, it was definitely old fashioned but cute.
"I um.. yes? Maybe. I don't know. More like am invitation if you're up for it."

"What time were thinking?"

"Seven thirty. After closing shop I just have to get changed."

"Sounds great. Maybe I'll stop by."

I matched Bucky's smile and felt all warm and bubbly inside. Now I honestly couldn't wait until tonight. Yes, Bucky could or could not show up, but that little bit of hope kept me smiling.

After getting home, I showered, shaved my legs, then got into a pair of dark skinny jeans with a white tank top and a maroon cardigan. With my hair slightly curled, I grabbed my keys and headed out the door.