It's Been A Long, Long Time // Steve Rogers

Chapter 6

Steve's POV

I walked into the bar, hoping to see Becca. I smiled as I saw her talking to a short blonde with big curls. I watched their quick exchange before the blonde ran off, leaving Becca alone. I walked up and sat down at the bar. Becca smiled at me and set a beer down in front of me.

"Thank you, Becca."

"Of course." She gave me a warm smile and continued moving around the bar. I felt comfortable around her. Happy. Her smile was always so welcoming and understanding. I watched her move around the bar, talking and smiling with various patrons. She looked over her shoulder and I looked away quickly.

Don't be weird, Steve. She's Bucky's little sister. You've known her since she was like 5 or 6. I kept my gaze down, picking at the wood bar, not noticing she had moved in front of me. "Steve...I know you want to say something to me." I looked up and met her eyes. How did she know that? "I was just wondering if you wanted to see a movie tonight...with me."

As friends. That's what it would be.

I watched her sigh and look down at her heels, "I'm sorry, Steve. Tonight won't work for me. I have a date."

I couldn't help the slight pang in my chest as she mentioned a date. Of course she would have a date. She's a beautiful girl. I don't even know why it bothers me. She's like a little sister. Get it together.

"Oh- uh, that's great Becca. Really great. I'm happy for you. Guess it'll be just me then." I winced at my response. Stupid, Steve. Just stupid. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "No please, don't feel bad." I started. Then it happened, I couldn't shut my stupid mouth. "You're a beautiful girl, why wouldn't you have a date? Bucky always had dates." I was about to keep going until she rested her hand on my arm. I looked down at her hand briefly and up to her. "If you can wait for that movie, I'd be happy to go with you tomorrow. We're closed on Sundays."

I looked down at my lap, "Oh, no, you don't have too." I didn't want her to feel obligated to go to a movie with me or anything. "Steve. I want to. We're friends aren't we?" She asked. Friends. There's that word again. It was better than nothing. I knew I gravitated towards her but just friends would have to do.

I nodded slightly, "right friends. A movie sounds great, tomorrow. I'll come by the apartment around 4?" She nodded as confirmation and set another beer in front of me. "For when this one runs out." I gave her a smile and she walked away, serving drinks and cleaning tables. I found a pen sitting on the bartop and grabbed it along with a napkin.

I mindlessly started sketching Becca as I watched her. I hadn't even realized how much time had passed until I heard Becca talking to another woman. I looked up and made eye contact with her. "Make sure you watch him, he gets rowdy." She joked, pointing at me. The other woman laughed slightly and I rolled my eyes. "I'll definitely keep an eye on him." The girl said, throwing me a flirty look.

Becca said one last thing to her before making her way around the bar so she was standing next to me. "I'll see you tomorrow?" She asked, her hand resting on my shoulder. "Yes. 4pm. Have a good time on your date Becca."

"Thank you, Steve. Enjoy your beer." She gave me a slight wink and nudged me, looking back at the girl who took over for her. She was pretty. Blonde, bright blue eyes. I'm sure she was every guy's wet dream. Just not mine. "What's your name?" She asked. "Uh, Grant."

"Nice to meet you Grant. I'm Maddy." I smiled at her and she went to say something else before being called somewhere else.

-

I wasn't blind to Maddy's flirting, but I just wasn't interested. "How much?" I asked her. "On the house."

"Oh- no, please, let me." She shook her head as I tried to set out cash. "I can't accept that, sorry." She said, winking at me. Becca. "Okay, well, thank you. Keep it." I set the cash on the counter as a tip for her. "Thank you, Grant." I went to walk away but she called out my name once more, causing me to turn around. "Do you like dancing?" She asked. "If I'm honest...I'm not much of a dancer." I replied. "I can teach you?" I thought about it for a moment and decided why not. Maybe it would be good for me.  "Sure." Her face lit up slightly. "How about on Saturday. The Stork Club. Let's say 7pm?"

My heart started racing as I thought back to the day I put the plane in the ice. 'The Stork Club. 8pm. Don't you dare be late.'

Peggy's voice rang through my head. I took a big gulp and forced a smile onto my face. "Sure. That sounds good, Maddy. I will see you then."

"It's a date." She beamed. I gave her one last smile before heading out of the bar and back to my apartment. I don't even know why I agreed to go dancing. I sucked at dancing. She also wasn't the right partner...but I was scared to admit to myself who the right partner probably was and who I wanted it to be. I looked at the napkin in my hands and sighed, shoving it in my coat pocket.

I took a longer than usual walk home, trying to clear my head. Once I got home, I kicked over the rock as always to grab my key. I changed into a pair of pajama pants and a loose white shirt before laying on the couch. There wasn't as much to do here as there was in the future, but that was okay. It was peaceful. I turned on the radio and pulled out a book to start reading. It would pass the time and maybe keep my mind off of Becca being on a date with another man.

A few hours passed and I figured I'd start getting ready for bed. It was early but what else did I have to do? I turned off the music and set my book down and as soon as I started walking into the bedroom, there was rapid knocking on my front door. I walked towards the door and peeked through the peephole, seeing Becca clad in a bright red dress with mascara streaming down her cheeks. Though crying, she still looked effortlessly beautiful. Her lips were stained red and perfectly unsmudged. Her hair was in bouncy curls and the dress hugged her body perfectly.

I quickly pulled open the door. "Becca? Are you alright?? You're crying?" I quickly pulled her inside of the apartment. Did her date go bad? Did something happen to her?? Did she get hurt, or worse?

So many thoughts were racing through my head as I stared at her. God I would never forgive myself if something bad happened to her.