Floating

Chapter Four

You spend the rest of that last day in a placid haze.

When questioned, you simply explained away your serene mood as the result of a whole weekend relaxing on the beach. A suspicious frown was shot in your direction, but there was no way she could prove you were lying, so you couldn't have given a fuck.

As you were packing your things, you found yourself wondering whether you'd ever see Bucky again. The two of you lived in the same city, so it would definitely be possible, but you reasoned that a guy like him probably wouldn't be interested once other girls were readily available. Besides, your flat was too small for you to sneak around without Nat hearing.

You all said goodbye and, with one last mischievous wink, Bucky packed himself into Steve's car.

---

It was weird, and frankly pretty depressing, going back to your normal grind.

Sitting in class, you found yourself daydreaming about being back on that beach, fingernails tracing down the curve of his back as the sun came up. Your professors caught you smiling with your eyes closed a couple of times, all of them looking spectacularly unimpressed once you came to your senses and reeled off an excuse or two.

You knew that your feelings for Bucky would just dissipate naturally as life dragged on but, for the time being, you couldn't help being completely hung up on him.

A week passed, then another, and the events of that weekend started to just feel like a story that had happened to someone else.

Nat must've noticed you were a little low. She obviously didn't know why- cause if she did you wouldn't have received any sympathy whatsoever- so in her blissful ignorance she took it upon herself to cheer you up a little. She set you up on a blind date, and you figured you had nothing to lose.

He was nice.

Just... nice.

In all honesty, you weren't sure if that was the reason the date wasn't terrible or the reason it wasn't great. He wasn't a jerk or a creep with serial killer eyes but, an hour or so in, you almost found yourself wishing he was just for the excitement of it.

It felt like you were out for a drink with an elderly, dull but well-meaning great uncle. It wasn't unpleasant, per se, but you weren't really having fun.

So, naturally, your heart almost leapt out of your chest when you spotted Bucky stroll through the door.

You wouldn't have been surprised if a crowd of women had pursued him in, but he just seemed to be accompanied by a couple guys you didn't recognise. They all took a seat at the bar, far enough away from the corner you were nestled in that he wouldn't easily spot you, but apparently that wasn't enough of a cover. It was only a few seconds before his keen eyes started scanning every nook and cranny of the room.

He was searching for something, and the look that appeared on his face when he spotted you suggested that he might've found it.

You quickly broke eye contact. Dull date was talking about the type of glue they use on postage stamps or something equally as banal, and you tried your best to get engrossed, but you couldn't stop your eyes from periodically flicking back towards Bucky.

He couldn't be, could he?

He was, you couldn't believe it, he was coming over.

The absolute fucking nerve of this guy, you were quite clearly on a date and here he was casually strolling over like a middle aged woman who's just spotted her friend from book club in the grocery store. Obviously you were incredibly excited to see him again, but there was a time and a place for reunions- and this was not it.