Barnes & Rogers

J.B.B. - One More Dance

Hazel didn’t want to look at Bucky as he led her on the dance floor; she was afraid her anger would be melted away by his charming smile and bright eyes. She was angry at him for joining the war that had nothing to do with him, even though she had volunteered to help in France at their hospitals, but that was because she trusted Bucky to be there to keep an eye on Steve so he wouldn’t do the very thing that Bucky had done.

“C’mon Hamilton, you can’t stay mad about something that can’t be changed,” Bucky stated, his hand leaving her waist to twirl her outwards only to bring her back towards him. She lost control and her body crashed into his softly as his hand returned to her, his fingers splayed across her back. She shook her head to rid the few blonde strands that flew into her face, annoyed that some had stuck to her lipstick. Before she could, Bucky’s hand dropped hers and gently removed them from her lips, brushing them back.

“I can and I will, James.” She meant her words to be seething, showing her disdain for his actions, but it came out as a whisper. His hand found hers again and began swaying her around as the music changed to a slower tempo. He still held her close to him, something that made her cheeks burn and she hoped he would think it was more of her being angry at him than the bashful feeling she had.

“Aw, Haze, don’t be like this,” he replied and she could feel his fingers flex at her back, “Steve will be fine.”

“You promised to watch out for him while I’m in France. I leave in four days,” she replied heatedly, eyes narrowing. “James, you and I promised Sarah to look after him. Who’s going to do that if we are both away from New York?”

“He’s eighteen, Haze, that’s an adult.”

“But he gets into fights and if we are both gone, who is going to patch him up, hm? Do you think you could ask Becca to do that, give her that responsibility? Or your mother?”

“You know if I ask, Ma would take care of him,” he replied, “she treats Steve like a son like how Sarah treated you like a daughter.”

Before Hazel could retort, a young redhead walked up and tapped Bucky on the shoulder. “Mind if I cut in?” he asked, his eyes shifting to Hazel with a glint that made her crinkle her nose ever-so slightly. She didn’t know that Bucky saw the small motion but his response was welcome.

“Nah, I think she’s good with me, pal,” he smiled and spun so the young man was behind her. She didn’t see the redhead make a gesture to Bucky nor did she hear him mumble any of the words that Bucky could hear because she was giggling slightly too much.

“Enjoying yourself Hamilton?” Bucky asked, looking down at her with a cocked grin.

“I would have danced with him,” she managed out, sighing with a smile.

“Oh sure, and your nose scrunch wasn’t you feeling any bit uncomfortable about dancing with him.”

“You made it seem like we are a couple, which we are far from,” she quickly whispered, her eyes darting around the room. She noticed Steve and Becca were dancing, which made her smile slightly before she saw the redhead again.

“So what? Embarrassed to have people think we are together, Hamilton?”

Hazel fought the urge to cuff him on the back of the head, the way Sarah used to do when she found out he and Steve were up to no good.

“No,” she ground out, eyes narrowing at him, “more like you go out of your way to make sure I stay single for some reason.”

“Nah, just want to make sure you aren’t wasting time with the wrong guy.”

“And what was wrong with this one?” She tried to step back, pulling her hand from his, but he held her firmly to him, his hand gripping hers.

“He’s not your type,” he replied matter-of-factly.