Forever and Always

Chapter 40

     Clara paced back and forth in front of the TV. She had it on the news channel, and the show was going to start any minute. Every time she heard footsteps in the hallway, she would freeze and stare at the door, only to be disappointed when the footsteps passed the door. Then she would pace and repeat. She looked at the clock again. 11:15.

          She wasn't worried that he went on a date. One because Clara also knew Izzy and she was a nice girl, but also because Bucky told her that he didn't want to go on a date with her and she knew he'd never cheat. She even gave him some advice before he left. She actually suggested bringing her flowers to be nice. Clara also sort of looked like Izzy, so she just told him if he starts to get uncomfortable or bored, just imagine it's her.

          Finally she heard footsteps stop in front of the door. She heard rattling of the doorknob, and Bucky came in. He looked upset though. He slowly closed the door, and it seemed like he kinda forgot that she was there as well. He stared down at the ground, leaning against he door. He took off his gloves and threw them on the counter.

          "I know you said it takes time..." he acknowledged her presence finally. "...but she just started talking about how horrible it had been for Yori and how he can never know how his son died, and I...I ran out. I thought I should do it then and there. It felt like I hard to. But then I arrived at his door again, and even though I've seen that shrine several times, I see that face and it all comes flowing back. I can still remember the fear in his eyes. His pleads for me not to shoot and I...I did it anyway." Bucky took off his jacket and he sat down on the ground. He looked at the TV, and it shed enough light for her to see his face. "What is that?" He looked up at her, and she sighed.

        "I tried to tell you yesterday, but you were upset. So I thought today would be a better day to tell you...but you still seem upset."

          "Play it," Bucky told her, and she pressed her lips together. She held the remote up and pressed play. Suddenly, band music started playing. Clara immediately recognized the tune from the clips of Steve's war bond campaigns in the Smithsonian, but she knew Bucky personally knew this song.

          "Why...why are they playing Steve's song?" Clara sat on the arm rest of the couch, tapping the remote against her chin. Together, they sat there in silence in the dark, watching the TV.

           "Ladies and Gentlemen, YOU'RE NEW CAPTAIN AMERICA!" The crowd on TV went wild as the man from yesterday in his suit ran into the camera view and met the interviewer up on the stage. She looked over at Bucky, and his face was emotionless. She looked back the TV. They did a close on on the man. He was blonde, had blue eyes. He looked normal, but there was something about him that seemed unsettling.

           "Good morning, America!" He said a cheesy line that made the crowd go wild. He was smiling and waving, and at one point he stared right into the camera and waved, and they made her feel unsettled. And leaning against his chair, the shield.

           "Thank you so much for coming," the interviewer started. "This has gotta be fun, coming back to your old high school after do much has changed?"

             "Oh, it's great. We're..." He didn't even finish a sentence and the crowd started to go crazy again. He smiled and pointed at the crowd. He waved to them again, and Clara scoffed. The interviewer kept smiling, waiting for the commotion to die down before she kept asking questions.

              "John," she got his attention again. "I think the first thing everyone wants to know is what it's like being Captain America. Do eagles fly overhead wherever you go?" The crowd went crazy and started laughing, but she and Bucky stayed silent.