A New Start

Chapter 26

The next morning, you awoke to a pounding headache. Not from the drinks you had from the party, but from the stress of everything else. It was Sunday so you thought you would get up out of bed and go for a hike around the compound to clear your head. It was 9am so you knew most of the party goers would still be sleeping. 

You got up, changed into your light grey hoodie and a fresh pair of yoga pants, and headed downstairs. You turned on your phone and looked at the many texts from Bucky. 

There was a lot of "Where are you?" and "Are you ok?" messages but you just deleted them. 

You didn't feel like sifting through them. 

You got a text from Tony about a headquarters tour and your stomach flopped. You'd take a closer look at that message for later you thought to yourself.

When you opened your bedroom door, the door across the hallway from you opened at the exact same time and almost ripped off its hinges. 

"Are you ok? Why was your door locked? Why didn't you return any of my messages?" a very frantic Bucky was standing in the entranceway. 

He looked like hell with dark circles under his eyes, disheveled sleep pants, and his hair was a mess.

"I didn't feel well so I came back here to rest. I didn't think I had to consult with you before I did anything" you grumbled as you made your way to the elevator. 

"Why didn't you come and get me at the party?" asked Bucky while reaching for your arm, turning you around so you could face him. 

"From the looks of it, you were pretty busy last night with a certain blonde agent Sergeant. I didn't want to get in your way" you narrowed your eyes at him.

He released your arm. 

"Don't bring Lea into this, she was just being nice to me and wanted me to feel welcome" Bucky crossed his arms. 

"Oh, I'm sure she was nice and welcoming. So nice to you in fact that she couldn't keep her hands off you; and you just stood there letting her grope you all night" you spat with a single tear formed in your left eye.

"Oh, excuse me, Ms dancing with everyone and chatting with one of your ex-boyfriends" Bucky glared at you. 

"How did you find out about Grant?" you asked scanning his face. 

"I asked Nat who you were talking to, and she told me" Bucky said angrily. 

"We were agents who trained together, nothing more than that. He was never my boyfriend Bucky; I went out with him a few times and it ended. We were better off as friends. Not like you're going to believe me though. Every time I talk with another man, you seem to get all bent out of shape and turn all moody and jealous. Next, you'll accuse me of going after Sam" you spat.

You were trying to hold in your tears but were doing a poor job at it. 

"I'll have you know; I can talk to whomever I want whenever I want to" you yelled at him. 

"Apparently you can also dance with everyone too" Bucky sneered at you. 

"Why don't you take that tour of the headquarters building with Lea, I am sure she has it all planned out for you, then, perhaps, you can ask her out on that date you want to go on with" you glared at him.

Bucky looked at you in shock. 

"Yeah Bucky, I heard your little conversation with Steve on the balcony last night and how you want to ask her out and go out on a real date. Apparently, what you and I were developing meant nothing to you. Was I just some random girl to get you to feel comfortable again? Did you not think about how I would feel if you would ask out someone right in front of me? I feel extremely used and hurt Bucky. Steve said I was the nicest gal around so I guess you wanted to use me to see if you could get back your game" 

You now had tears burning your eyes.

"That's not it at all" Bucky said with frustration in his eyes. 

"Whatever Bucky, I'm going out for a walk. Please leave me alone" you walked into the elevator now with tears streaming down your face. 

"I'm sure Lea will be calling you today to set up your tour. Make sure when you ask her out, you take her to the fanciest restaurant in the area. She likes flashy things" you said as the elevator doors closed leaving Bucky in the hallway.

You made your way to the hiking trails but had to take a few breaks so your eyes could clear from the tears that were forming. You felt bad for yelling at Bucky and for what you said, but you felt you had to say it all. If he was going to see Lea, you were sure she was going to get her claws in him one way or another you thought to yourself as you sat down on a log. The woman was relentless when she wanted something you thought to yourself.

You couldn't believe he would use you the way he had. The two of you had spent almost everyday together over the past few months, you were sure things with him were real. You felt like an idiot because you should have told him how you felt and what you were looking for the day after he kissed you stupid after the bonfire.

After sitting in the woods for a while collecting your thoughts, you decided to head back to the compound. You needed some food and possibly a long hot bath from everything that happened earlier. When you walked into the kitchen, you noticed Nat was at the table drinking a coffee. She took one look at you and in one swift move, she brought you in for a hug and made your way to the elevators. 

"I'll bring some food by in a bit, after your bath" Nat said while walking into your room. 

Bucky's door across the hallway was closed so you breathed a quick sigh of relief. You didn't feel like dealing with him for the rest of the day. 

"Thanks Nat" 

Nat came back an hour later with some snacks and water for you. She offered to stay with you, but you wanted to be alone. She let herself out of your room and you grabbed a book off your shelf to settle in with. Just then you heard a knock on your door. You were weary about it but got up to see who was there. It was Steve. He was quite concerned and wanted to know what was going on.

"Steve, I don't feel like talking" you said as you made your way back to your chair. He sat on the edge of your bed. 

"Liv, there is something you need to know" Steve said while looking at you. 

Just then, F.R.I.D.A.Y. made an announcement that everyone was to meet in the communications room. 

Great.

All you wanted was a quiet Sunday to relax.