Summer's End - Bucky and Mel Universe 1

Rain and Spaghetti

They two rain from awning to awning back the way they came. Until there was a huge gap.
"Not that I am opposed to walks in the rain, it is getting chilly." Mela said as her hair was beginning to get matted to her head and face.
"Here," he took off his jacket and draped it over her.
"No, you need that, I'll be fine." Mel started to protest.
"Please, let me do this for you, it will make me feel better." James said.
Mel looked guilty for taking his jacket but relished how warm it felt and how it smelled of the same sandalwood scent from the other day.
"Come to dinner with me." He said. It wasn't a request. He closed the distance between them.
"I couldn't you have been more than kind today, I'd feel I'd be taking advantage of you." Mel explained as she started to take the jacket off. She felt a little rushed. He stopped her hands from removing the jacket.
"You need to eat, I need to eat. What is wrong with eating together?" He asked. She chewed on her bottom lip which to him seemed like an eternity.
"Ok, why did you have in mind?"
He grabbed he hand as they ran like two children through the rain. While it was a slow jog for him, it was pretty brisk pace for her being so short. She was able to keep up and wasn't winded. Bucky was a little surprised in this. Most people had a difficult keeping up with him all together. When they arrived at the restaurant, he swung er around and wrapped her up in his arms, she was giggling. James smiled down at her and looked at her eyes, he ran his thumb of his right hand over her lips and she closed her eyes. He pressed his forehead to hers. It seemed like an eternity and they entered the restaurant together.
The host seemed to know James personally and said he was glad to see him again. They were escorted to a cozy area of the restaurant away from the crowds. It smelled amazing in there.
"I've never been here before, what is good?" Mel asked ask she looked over the menu.
"What are you in the mood for? Spicy, savory? Do you eat meat?" James asked.
"Ooo, a question with a question. Tsk, tsk. Yes, I do eat meat, you don't strike me as someone who doesn't. I'm pretty good with most foods, weirdest thing I think I ever tried was live squid." Mel explained.
"Live squid."
"Yes, they eat it in Japan, I went to a Japanese restaurant in college and mispronounced something."
"You could have said no," James stated.
"Yes, I could have, it wasn't that bad. Just odd. Good think it was so small, I don't think I would be able to have done it."
"How about the antipasto to start, with some white wine, followed by the lamb and vegetables?"
"That sounds amazing."
The waiter came back and took the order. The wine was perfect, nice and light. James had a few glasses while Mel only had the one. By the time dinner was over, they had dried off and it had stopped raining. Mel excused herself and went to the rest room. Before she returned a bag with a box of food was dropped off at the table. James looked a little confused.
"The lady requested and paid for it already along with dinner." The waiter explained.
James was a little upset by this, it was not like a gentleman not to pay. When she came back to the table she noticed his disappointed look on his face.
"Let's walk back. It's cleared up and a nice night." She said as she picked up the bag.
They walked in silence, he didn't try to hold her hand.
When they came to the street that had the homeless man was still sitting. She stopped, bowed down, and started whispering to him. She took the food out and gave it to him. Whispering something more. Then she stood and quietly walked away.
"I didn't know how to ask, and felt weird about doing another order." Mel said, "He's dying. I wanted him to have something good before he passes. He won't go to a hospital for treatment."
She didn't look at James as she said it, she just continued to walk on, he was stunned into standing silently. He had to jog to catch up to her.
"How do you know that?" James asked.
"Don't know, I just know. Then he told me he was just then." She was quiet as they walked. The giggling and smiles she had shown during their time together were gone.
"I'm sorry," she started again, "I lost someone, twice, it's difficult to explain." There was pain on her face, she was trying to hide it. It was clear she did not want to go into details over it, she wasn't ready to share it with him. She was afraid of scaring him away even as a new friend, let alone a possible relationship. The woman he saw in the coffee shop the first day they ran into one another was back.
"I'm sorry, thank you for being so kind and a wonderful day," she whispered, raising up onto her tip toes to reach his cheek and kissed his cheek quickly then ran off. James tried to follow her. Yet, he couldn't keep up. Perhaps he missed a turn where she went, she was no where to be seen. He tried her phone, it went immediately to voicemail.
James was frustrated, frustrated in himself. Why couldn't he just let her do something nice for him? She was obviously a kind person with a big heart. He wanted to hold her after he saw how hurt she was, he wanted to make it better. He wanted to be there for her. He also wanted her to give him a chance. The question was, what should he do now? All he had was really her business information.
He walked the streets for hours trying to clear his head and put things into order of what do to next. When he got a call on his cell. He was hoping it might be Mel giving him a chance, however it was Sam. Not that he wasn't happy to hear from Sam, he was hoping for her. Sam needed Bucky's help. This was something he could do, something he could act upon now. It would help him get his mind off of what happen. Perhaps put things in perspective.