The Promise

James Buchanan Barnes

The sun beamed down on my burnt face. My hands were cut up and sweaty. I was almost done cutting the bushes when I saw my best friend coming up to my house. I smile a little. I grab my water and sit down on my porch to wait for him. He sits beside me and steals a drink of my water. I roll my eyes at him and laugh.

"James Buchanan Barnes in the flesh. I thought for sure you'd be halfway to Germany by now." I say to him, "So.. Have you decided, yet?"

"I have."

"And?" I reply, impatiently.

"I'm going. I figured if all of our parents could do it, there's no reason I can't." I feel my face stiffen, but quickly return it to a smile, trying to mask my emotions.

"What, doll. What is it? " He can see right through me. I frown at the nickname. I hate when he says that.

"Nothing. If you're happy I'm happy. Steve's gonna be jealous, you know."

"I wouldn't expect anything else. I don't know why he wants to join the war so badly. I keep telling him he'll be the only eligible man in New York." I roll my eyes and giggle.

"When are you enlisting?"

"I already did. I leave tomorrow. That way I can still have time to be with you and Steve. " Again, my face stiffens. He sighs loud. "You know, I know something is wrong. Might as well tell me so we don't waste our limited time bickering like usual."

"I'm just gonna miss you, that's all." He gives me a half smile.

"Are we still on for tonight?" A voice comes from in front of me.

"Oh! Y/N, we're going dancing tonight. You're coming too. I got us each a date."

"I'm not going on a date with one of your picks, Barnes. We all remember how that went last time. You have some questionable choices." I say back shaking your head.

The last time Bucky chose a date for me, the guy stood me up for 2 hours. I had to 5th wheel Bucky and Steve and their fawning dates. It was humiliating.

"Well, as your friend who's leaving for a war tomorrow morning, I say you're still coming with us. It'll be great, I promise." Bucky says to me jokingly.

"Fine. But you're buying." I say, back smiling. "What time should I be ready?"

"7:30. We're going to Stark's expo."

"Stark? As in Howard Stark, my cousin?" I roll my eyes.

"Yes. Some of us don't have the luxury of being related to a genius." I laugh back and make my way inside.