A Lifetime

Chapter 3

April 24th 1933 -

It was another day at George Washington High School. Abigail was nervous for school after her date with William but Bucky had assured her he would not be bothering her again. This made Abigail curious, What had he done to William? She walked to her classroom with Bucky and Steve beside her. When they entered, she saw William sitting with his friends, his back to the door. One of his friends noticed the group and nudged William, causing him to turn around to look at her. Then Abigail saw what Bucky had done. William's right eye was black and blue and he had a cut on his lip to go with it. She gasped at the sight of his face. "Bucky!" she whispered as she drags him and Steve out of the classroom by the backs of their shirts. "Did you know about that?" she interrogated Steve.

"Know about what?" he said obliviously.

"So it was just you," she turned to Bucky again.

"Of course, I wouldn't bring him into that."

"Ok good, now that that's settled, what were you thinking! You could have gotten hurt,"

"You and I both know he didn't stand a chance against me," Bucky said arrogantly.

"You can't do stupid things like that just to defend me! One day you are going to hit the wrong guy and things are not going to turn out the way you planned," Abigail said.

"I couldn't just let him get away with what he did to you Abigail!"

"He was only trying to help Abigail," Steve added.

"You could've dropped it and let me handle it Bucky. I don't always need you to protect me!" Abigail was getting frustrated. She knew what Steve said was true, but she hated that he didn't think she could deal with William on her own.

"I was only trying to help," Bucky said with a hurt look on his face. "C'mon Steve," he said and the two walked into the classroom. Abigail tried to calm down and forget about the conversation but for the rest of the day, all she could think about was the look Bucky gave her. 

- Time Skip ; after school -

The trio was walking down the street the Rogers lived on. School had been like any other day. William or his friends didn't bother any of them, too afraid of Bucky to do anything. But now, it was awkward, they walked in silence which is something they never did.

"I'm sorry Buck," Abigail said out of the blue.

"What?" Steve and Bucky asked in unison.

Abigail sighed, "I said I'm sorry. I know you were just trying to do something nice for me and I overreacted."

"No, I'm sorry," Bucky said too. "I shouldn't have beat him up without asking you first. I just couldn't let him get away with what he did to you."

"Thanks Buck," Abigail said and Bucky wrapped his arm around her in a side hug.

"Thank god! I don't think I could stand to see you two fight," Steve said, making the other two laugh.

"You know Buck, if you taught me how to fight, you wouldn't have to worry about being able to handle myself," Abigail thought out loud.

"What? Steve and Bucky asked in unison again.

"Yeah, I mean I'll always have you and Steve to protect me, but wouldn't it be better if I knew how to throw a punch?"

'Well, yeah, I mean... I guess," Bucky said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Good then, we can practice after dinner," Abigail said cheerily.

"Oh boy," Steve said and the three continued walking home.

- Time Skip ; After Dinner -

"Try again," Bucky said, holding up his hand for Abigail to hit.

"Buck, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Can you just tell me so I can fix it," Abigail said, getting frustrated with herself and Bucky. They had been standing in the living room doing the same thing for almost twenty minutes and all Bucky would say was "try again".

"There's nothing wrong with your form, you've pretty much got that down, I'm just waiting for you to put some power in your punch," he finally answered. "You're not going to do much damage if you keep hitting like that."

"Was that so hard to say," Abigail said sarcastically. Bucky rolled his eyes and held up his hands again for her to hit. Abigail stood the way Bucky had taught her and got ready to hit him with everything she had. She needed to prove to him, but more importantly, herself, that she could do it. She thought of all the times she laid helpless on the ground watching her brother get beaten up. And then, she threw a punch with all the strength she had. A powerful punch it had been, but unfortunately for Bucky, she missed his hand and instead ended up punching him right in the jaw. He fell to the ground from the force of the hit. Abigail stood in shock of what she had just done before crouching beside him. "Oh shit!"

"Abigail, language!" her mother yelled from the kitchen. 

"Sorry mama!" She looked back at Bucky, "I completely missed your hand!"  

"Yeah I felt that," Bucky said, sitting up and rubbing his jaw with one hand.

"Buck, I'm so sorry," Abigail apologized, still completely surprised by her own strength.

"It's fine. I'm all good," Bucky said, standing up. "You've got a good swing," he said.

"It's all thanks to you," Abigail said shyly as she stood up as well.

"Woah Abby! I take pity on any boy that does you wrong again." Steve said from his spot on the couch, making Abigail and Bucky laugh.