AUGUST || Bucky Barnes x OC

6

"Vallie honey, have a seat!" Her mother gestured for her to come over to the breakfast table. The sun was blaring despite it being 9 o'clock in the morning. But she suspected it had more to do with that nasty hangover of hers. Wanda was already at the table, looking bright and cheery as ever. Valerie took a look around at the gathered audience before sloping down into her chair quietly. "Where's MJ and Peter?" she whispered in Wanda's direction. Wanda gave her a wiggle of the eyebrows and shot her head to their window overlooking the back. The one with the curtains still down.

"I'm so happy, and not at all jealous" Valerie rolled her eyes, reaching for a small cup of strawberries. "Sharing is caring, Vallie" Her mother blurted out. The comment coaxed a slight chuckle from Bucky, who she hadn't noticed until that very second, was sitting directly across from her. Valerie slammed the cup back down on the table. She put her sunglasses down over her face and pulled one of her legs to her chest, intentionally driving her mother insane with her improper and rebellious table manners.

The entire breakfast was dedicated to showering the new couple with compliments, questions and praise. Valerie was growing incredibly bored in her chair, twisting around and tapping her foot on the ground, unable to sit still. Once the caterers started to clear away the table, she was the first one to rise to her feet.
"Anyone up for some swimming?" She raised her voice cheerfully.

"Finally, I thought you would never ask!" Sam blurted out, looking incredibly bothered by the striking heat.

"Last one in is an idiot" Valerie halfway let out in a shriek before bolting towards the lake. "Oh hell no!" Sam shouted, bolting right after her. Bruce let out a deafening laugh, pulled off his shirt and placed a quick kiss on Sophie's cheek.

Sophie turned to her mother-in-law, confused yet amused. "It's something they used to do as kids..." she rolled her eyes and waved it away arrogantly, somewhat embarrassed by her daughter's need to go against every proper rule.

They all started to run at top speed towards the lake, even Wanda joined in. Bruce managed to pass Sam, but was shoved into the water once they both caught up to the edge. Steve followed instantly after, and lastly Wanda did a small jump, followed by a concerned shriek that made everyone laugh.

The water was cold, soothing Valerie's skin as she bobbed around, watching the guys try to drown each other. She found that Wanda had made her way onto Sam's shoulders, and he was parading her around the lake as she was too scared to let go of his head, digging her fingers into his scalp and screaming for him to put her down.

Valerie slowly swam towards the old dock, letting her hair soak in the water. She reached for the side of it with one hand, holding herself afloat as she watched her friends play like children who had been forced to sit still for too long.

She quickly turned around when she felt a large shadow loom over her, practically swallowing up the sun rays that had beamed down on her only seconds before.  And there he was. Bucky. Standing over her, squinting his eyes in an attempt to get a good look.

"Guess you're the idiot" she attempted a playful exchange.

"Guess I am" he responded, arms crossed.

Despite their late night run in, and his stupid point to call her by her full name, she was still determined to make the most of these two months. Mostly because she needed to have some time away from her busy life in the city, but also because she loved her brother and wanted his wedding to be the perfect fairytale dream he had planned for it to be. And so looking up at Bucky, she decided then, that she would try her best to get rid of the tension.

"Do you mind?" she reached her hand out, struggling to get a good grip to push herself out of the water. Bucky bent down and reached out for her without hesitation. As soon as their hands met, Valerie pushed her legs against the bottom of the dock and pulled him into the water. The large splash was followed by lots of cheering from the group, and Valerie tried her best to swim away from him. But it was too late. She was dragged back by Bucky as he reached for her ankle and pulled her in. Valerie tried to splash herself free, laughing and screaming.