𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝚋𝚞𝚌𝚔𝚢 𝚋𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚜

invisible string

Golden- Harry Styles

After Steve left for work, Cara decided to go out into the city to try and see about a part time job. She freshened up before changing into a blue blouse and a blue and white flower printed skirt paired with white kitten heels, her hair in two braids on each side of her face. Finally, she slipped on a pair of sunglasses and grabbed her purse and keys before stepping into the warm day.

Walking around gave her time to actually appreciate the city around her. Steve didn't live in a top notch neighborhood, but it wasn't unsafe to Cara. There were a few diners nestled into different storefronts, and she decided they were the best bet to find a job. She decided first to go into The Golden Spoon, but she had no luck with the French girl at the counter.

Cara tried a few different diners around, but none seemed interested in taking her on, as they could barely afford the staff they did have. Just when she felt as if she was running out of luck, a small coffee shop caught her eye. The Daily Bugle.

Practically skipping, Cara made her way to the front counter to be faced with a pale, skinny girl in front of her. She had a round face and blonde shoulder length hair with bangs and big eyes. Cara gave her the most charming smile she could make.

"Hi there! I was looking around to see if anyone was looking for some part time workers?" The counter girl smiled at her before speaking.

"Actually I think we are, but I would have to ask the manager." The girl turned to the door leading to an office. "Jolly?"

A tall man with a bushy mustache and choppy haircut walked out with a scowl on his face. "Yes?" His voice was snappy.

"This girl here was wondering if we were hiring?" Counter girl pointed towards Cara, making the Jolly man narrow his eyes at her.

"What's your name?"

"Caroline Rogers, but I go by Cara." Cara tried to smile at him, but it just seemed to agitate the gruffy man.

"How old are you? Any work experience?"

"I'm 22 years old, sir. I have worked with multiple different diners down in Charlotte." the man seemed to think for a few minutes before looking her back in the eye.

"I pay under the table, cash only. I don't believe in the credit system. I don't care if you a felon, but make sure it stays away from the shop. I need documents of your current address and proof of identification. Have that to me by the end of the week and you're hired." He walked away with no other words. Cara smiled and the girl behind the counter jumped excitedly for her.

"Thank god there is going to be another girl here! I'm Gwen Stacy by the way," She stuck out a bony hand for Cara to shake.

Cara's day had been off to an amazing start, already having secured a home and a job. She had stopped by the printing store to get her documents printed and dropped them off with Gwen before buying new flowers to spruce up her rather bare room.

The apartment barely looked lived in to Cara, and she was determined to change that. She spent the afternoon cleaning around the apartment, mainly scrubbing things in her room from the dust, and putting up a photo of her family and setting out her different belongings. She had fully unpacked and the room looked completely different. Natural light came in through the windows, and the red quilt she brought from home matched her new roses. The rest of her room still was very beige, but she liked the simple look.

Once she was all done cleaning, she unpacked her shower products and found room for her different toiletries in the cabinet. The bathroom had light blue tiling up the walls and on the floors, even following into the shower, having only a white curtain separating the tub from the room. She took her time to really scrub her hair and wash off the sweat from the warm air outside. Once she was done she changed into a white and pink floral button up top and shorts pajama set and left her hair to dry naturally.

The empty apartment looked a little better with her books lined on the bare shelves, and she had decided to finish her Emma book before rummaging through the cabinets for dinner ideas. Steve wasn't supposed to be home for another few hours. The door suddenly opening and slamming shut made her jump from her spot on the couch and look over to see why Steve was making such a ruckus, except Steve wasn't at the door.

"Stevie! You got a letter from some newspaper company-!" The tall brunette man immediately froze as he made eye contact with the pretty blonde girl sitting on his best friend's couch. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" The mysterious man smirked at her response, and Cara took the time to really look at him. He was undeniably gorgeous, and his striking blue eyes drew her in immediately.

"I asked first." The stranger full on smiled at this point, playing along with the girl in front of him. He remembered Steve mentioning something about his cousin boarding with him, but she definitely was not what he was expecting.

Cara hesitated before speaking. "I'm Steve's cousin. Your turn." Cara fought off the little smile tugging at her lips, because she figured out this was James, but wanted to see what he had to say. She thought she was playing along perfectly, but James picked up on the small smile. He chuckled. She looks like a horrible liar.

"James Barnes. But you can call me Bucky." Bucky took a seat next to her on the couch, and she realized how underdressed she was, wrapping the red quilt all around her. Bucky raised his eyebrow. "Cold?" The apartment was nearing 80 degrees.

"Yup." Cara smiled at him, making him shake his head silently.

"So how you liking the city?" Bucky took up most of the room on the couch with his long legs spread out, so Cara curled into the corner under her huge red quilt. Her hair was dried into natural waves and flipped every which way, and she had no makeup on at all in front of the most gorgeous man she had ever met. I look like a feral animal, she thought to herself.

She's adorable, Bucky thought to himself.

"I love it so far, I was able to get a job at a coffee shop down the street and my room has a great view." Cara played with the frayed edge of the quilt.

"So what's your name, Steve's cousin?" Bucky smirked, turning towards the balled up girl.

"Caroline, but you can call me Cara." She stuck her hand out of the blanket and Bucky brought it up to his lips, making her blush, and him smile even wider. His hand practically engulfed hers.

"So how did you two meet?" Cara was excited at the prospect of making a new friend, and was ready to have a conversation with this charming new man. Cara brought her knees to her chest in her blanket, resting her head on them.

"We met in school. Steve has always been small and he would pick fights with the guys that were way bigger than him, resulting in him getting his ass kicked most of the time," Bucky chuckled at the memory and Cara giggled. "I would always step in and stop them from beating him to a pulp, and since then it's just always been the two of us. He would help me in my studies in high school and I taught him how to throw a punch." Bucky pretended to throw a dramatic punch with sound effects in the air, making Cara giggle.

"That's cute." Cara smiled at the idea of a lifelong best friend like the two boys. She wasn't a total loser growing up, but she kept to herself, making her the automatic target for the cruel girls. They would constantly say she was built like a little kid, or would rip her book pages so she couldn't read them. The only reason she got through school was because of Anne, but then Anne became best friends with her bullies and turned on her in their senior year.

"Would you like to stay for dinner? Steve won't be back for another two hours and I'm starving."

"Sounds like a plan, doll."