𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐘𝐎𝐔 [on hold]

𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

-

Noelle sat at the kitchen island counter, stirring her cereal absently. The previous day was still swirling around in her mind, keeping her occupied thinking about those steel-blue eyes and the way Bucky's face had slightly fallen when she'd called out his rather intense stare. For a second, she believed he might have admitted to it, and that she'd been correct about him wanting to kiss her again. Her chest ached at the memory of him shutting her off again instead.

"Hello, Noelle, are you there?" Stella waved impatiently right before her best friend's face, one brow arched. Ripped out of her thoughts, Noelle shook her head, her brown waves flying around her shoulders, tickling her arms. She was still in her pajamas, a white tank top and gray sweatpants.

"Yes," she blurted in reaction to Stella's question, blinking a few times as if she'd just woken up. She took a spoonful of her now soggy cereal and chewed on it half-heartedly.

"Are you still hung up on the grumpy guy?" Stella now continued her interrogation, her voice soft and sweet. "Maybe it's better he dumped you."

"He didn't dump me, Stel. We weren't even... a thing," Noelle sighed, eyes wearily gazing at the few crumbs of bread next to her best friend's plate. Saying this out loud hurt her more than she'd anticipated.

"Yet you mourn over it like you were," Stella pointed out, shoving the last piece of avocado toast into her mouth. As if Noelle didn't know herself that she shouldn't be so sad about what essentially was a one-time thing. Or, to be exact, a two-time-thing. What had happened two days ago was still replaying in her mind, the way he'd looked at her with such hunger in his eyes, the way he'd been extra careful with his metal hand to not hurt her.

"Shut up," she quietly muttered, "Don't you have to leave for work?"

A glance at the microwave clock later, Stella groaned, her deep brown eyes rolling back into her skull.

"Gee, you're right. Fuck, I wish I could stay home today," she said, quickly running to her room to get her stuff for work; purse, keys, wallet, chip to clock in for the shift, and lastly, her phone that had been charging beside the coffee machine in the kitchen.

"So you can lecture me on how I have to forget the guy from across the hall?"

"Honestly," Stella objected, shooting her best friend a quick glance as she shoved everything inside her purse, "It's not like you'd listen to me on that one."

Noelle merely scoffed. Stella, of course, was correct. There was no way she'd be able to forget Bucky. The feel of his hands on her skin, his lips on hers, his eyes traveling up and down her figure... it was all embedded into her brain. No one had ever worshiped her like this, made her feel like her emotions were valid, and her body was beautiful.

"Love you," Stella shouted as she pulled her coat and shoes on, "See you in thirteen hours, Noe. And don't do anything stupid until I get back."

"I'll wait till you're home then," Noelle retorted in the same loud voice, and she heard a rich, low chuckle from her friend as she zipped her coat up.

"Shut it," the answer came a few seconds just as the door opened with a click. "Bye, Noe!"

"Bye," the brunette quietly replied, just as the door fell shut behind Stella. Now, she was alone again. It was past twelve by now, and she was grateful Stella hadn't made fun of how long she'd slept in or how deep the bags under her eyes were after she'd cried in secret last night, asking herself what kept him from letting her into his life. If she had simply hallucinated when she'd felt that spark between them that went further than physical attraction and lust...