Summer's End - Bucky and Mel Universe 1

Surprise

"What do you mean, 'all the kids work sold?' Mel asked as she got her tea. While this was a pleasant surprise and she was very excited to get her students their money from her work, she was mystified that they were all bought and by one person.
"They sold." Abdul began, " all to one of the gentlemen you bumped into yesterday. You should do that more often."
"Abdul, I really don't think your staff would appreciate it if I did this to all your customers." Mel blushed thinking of her rushed encounter the other day. Stupid, super embarrassing, made a wreck of someone else's day. Well, now she needed to put up more. Abdul had already Venmo the money into the kids' accounts. Sure each was only a couple of dollars, it did make them feel good about themselves. "I can bring more in on Wednesday. I need to prep more. The kids will be thrilled."
"You work too hard, you need to take a break, enjoy living or you're going to burn." Abdul joked.
"You mean burnout. Yeah I'm kind of heading in that direction anyway." Mel responded. No rest for the weary.
Her students will be so happy. This would definitely boost a couple of their spirits. Some were really bummed not getting asked to the costume dance at the end of the month. Mel encouraged them to go anyway. There was a contest for the best costume and students made their own.
Mel was meeting with Matt and Mr. Majear again. Hopefully, things would go smoothly this time around. There was on,y so much she could do to help his family. He needed to come forward. She didn't get much sleep last night. Fitful dreams of pain and loss, then waking up screaming. Often she walked over to her piano and played until dawn. It calmed the nerves, kept her hands busy, and mind on something else. Mel had already had their table and drinks.
Matt found his way over to her. Mel reveled in her chai latte. It eased her aching hands and aroma lifted the spirits.
"Good morning dear, rough night?" Mel noticing the new bruise on the back of Matt's hand.
"I didn't want to bother you."
"You know you can, not like I sleep anyway. People our age usually have normal things to worry about. Kids, mortgage, if a kid needs braces.... That sort of thing. Let's not pretend neither of us are normal."
"Heard some of the kids work sold." Matt knew exactly how to distract her.
"Some try all. By one of the guys I bulldozed yesterday. Now I just feel more awful."
"What that there is someone out there willing to do something nice for someone else?"
"Yes, councilor, is that your professional opinion? That I should let others take on things they don't need to? Hmmm, I could make the same argument."
Mr. Majear met with them and decided to go forward with the case.
"So glad we got him settled. It wasn't perhaps some of your night time activities that helped with that, was it?" Mel knew the answer before she asked it. Of course it was.
"Sometimes things just need a little push." Matt smiled as he finished his coffee.
"Look, I need to go to the farmer's market today, it's such a nice day and I'd like to enjoy it outside before winter starts or the rain comes. Would you like me to get some of Nonna's cannolis for you, I know you love them." While she loved Matt, she worried. Mel also knew if she worried and Matt knew, perhaps some of the good he would do would never get done.
"Only if you get the chocolate ones," Matt, knowing full well that would never happen.
"Have a good day at work, stay out of trouble." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
Mel loved fall, the colors of the trees against a blue sky always appealed to her. She was able to start layering her clothes and drinking hot drinks without breaking a sweat. Today she had her favorite brown corduroy button up jacket on, over a white, oversized button down, faded jeans and heeled brown boots. Her hair was loose. She loved the farmer's market with the different stalls and people. The crisp air, blowing the leaves gently from the trees.
Walking from stall to stall, talking to people. She felt relaxed, at least anything was better than last night she thought to herself.
Mel didn't know she was being watched. Someone else was at the market that she didn't expect. As she walked from stall to stall. She saw a little boy, perhaps eight. He was looking at the food, he was dirty and hungry. Mel walked up beside him. He began licking his lips his hands twitching like he was trying to make a decision.
"I'll take this, too, please." She said to the stall owner. They were Jamaican Pattie's. She bought two of them. The boy looked sad. She then touched his shoulder lightly and handed him both. "I want you to take these but not get in trouble. Go to St. Mark's Parrish, knock at the back door. Ask for Sister Maggie, she will make sure you get cleaned up and a place to stay tonight. Ok?" She was at his eye level now so she knew he was paying attention. "Remember, Sister Maggie."
"That was nice of you," a man in a black jacket said from behind her. Mel nearly jumped out of her skin. It took a lot for someone to get this close to her without her knowing.
"It's getting colder, probably alone due to the snap and family broke up. If he goes there he'll be safe for the night." Mel was wondering why she was explaining herself to a total stranger. Her nerves were on edge, this guy was following her. She didn't feel him around her, she kept a wary eye on his feet and hands but doubted anything would happen. She started to walk away.
"Look, we got off to a rough start the other day." He reached for her hand but she was too quick. "I'm James."
"I'm leaving." Mel said and walk walking away through the crowd. While being at least a foot shorter and in heels, she was fast.
"Aw come on, I like your work." With that Mel slowed her walk. Raising an eyebrow, taking a deep breath she turned. "Your work at the restaurant, you speak Turkish and Farsi well. Did you learn that through the service or teaching abroad?"
"No, I just pick up languages naturally. I've really never been anywhere, too busy, life gets in the way."
James closed the space between them inhaling deeply, the smell of ginger in the crisp air. Must be one of the vendors with baked goods, he thought. This time he reached for he hand and got her elbow. There was some resistance, but she allowed him to place her hand in the crook of his arm with his other hand over top of it. It was a quaint gesture, Mel let her hair fall in front of her face to hide her blush. It felt nice, natural. His hand left hers and reached up for her hair. He removed a golden colored maple leaf that had gotten tangled in it.
"There, that's better." James said, "why don't you let me walk you around awhile. I don't think your boyfriend would like you being out alone."
"If I had one, probably not, but this is New York and no one is ever truly alone."
"Yeah, tell me about it. So what brings you to a place like this?" James was ready to kill himself for sounding corny. Here was Bucky Barnes, hero freaking out over the mundane. But since the 1940s, he didn't have calm or regular things normal people did. Like food shopping at the farmer's market.
"Ah food, what did you like about them?"
"The paintings? They had a calming effect on me. I'm not really into art, I don't know it was strange." Such a weir compliment, however considering the state and craziness in the world, she was happy to give some some peace they may had needed.
"I feel at a loss, you seem to know more about me than I you."
"What would you like me to tell you?"
"Hmm, your accent is a little muddled, I'd say Brooklyn, but you have been elsewhere for a while. Doing what?"
"Here try these," James held out some roasted cashews for her that he just bought, mainly to give him time to think. Did she really not know who he was? Was there a possibility he could have a fresh start with someone? "Government contracts, mergers and acquisitions." Wasn't a lie but not far from the truth. James hated himself for laying to her.
"Been doing that long?"
"Long enough to be good at it, every day an adventure. Abdul says you're a teacher."
"Abdul, my own personal ad. He means well, sometimes I wish he would keep things to himself."
James noticed her tine and body language, it was clear Abdul had breached her privacy.
"I really am sorry about the jacket by the way, vintage leather like that in such good condition hard to come by. Please send me the bill."
A gust of wind kicked up, leaves again tangling her hair. James started to pick them out with both hands. He wasn't wearing his gloves. His hand, catching the light from the sun, didn't phase her at all. Her eyes did get really big as she made sure her hair covered her neck. It was already too late. James had seen the scars. Scars that were clearly made in an attack some how, at least clear to him. He was more concerned than anything.
"Look, it was nice seeing you again, enjoy your time in the city, I have to be going, lots to do today, have to get the groceries back." Mel said as she backed away.
"Was it something I said?" James asked a weird look on his face, she was already gone, hidden by the crowd.