Rules of Friendship | 18+

𝘌𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯 ♡

𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺

➵➵➵➵➵➵➵♡➵➵➵➵➵➵➵

I was riding in the backseat of my own life.

I never felt out of place per se when it came to my life, I had always been comfortable with others taking the reigns for directing me on where I should go. It's not very healthy, but, I was always more comfortable sitting behind everyone, following where people lead me. It was safe, and I liked safe, I needed safe. After so many years of not feeling like I had safety, it was what I craved.

But right now, as I'm sitting at the counter watching Steve and Todd laugh while they grilled, beers loosely in their hands, Sam played video games with Todd's youngest daughter, and Bucky was in the kitchen with my Mom, laughing about god knows what, I felt the repercussions. I was always alone in a crowded room. It had been that way since I was fifteen, and it wasn't going to change now. But this was the first time I'd truly felt alone, and my heart was aching. Steve and I were still on rocky waters, and I basically just told my father to get out of my life.

I placed the empty beer bottle quietly on the countertop, and I made my way through the apartment, looking at the photos on the walls. Photos that were once Mom and I were now being mixed and replaced with Mom, Todd, and his youngest daughter Poppy. And I felt like I was being pushed out of everything I've ever known. I took a left at the end of the hall, pulling open the door that led to the roof and taking the stairs two at a time, smiling when the summer air brushed against my skin. Being on the top of the buildings in the city made me feel like I could touch the skies, could feel the twinkling stars brush my fingers.

I was so lost in thought that I gasped when two arms wrapped around my waist from behind, throwing me off balance.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice you gone?"

Steve, I breathed out a sigh of relief at the realization that he was still here, still loving me while I was mad at him. "You were busy," I rested my head on his clavicle, smiling when his lips pressed against my forehead, "I didn't want to interrupt yours and Todd's conversation."

Steve hummed, pulling me tighter to him while we watched the cars crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, "Remember when we were fifteen, right after I met you, we came up here," Steve spoke gently, as if his voice was going to break this fragile peace we had. "And you talked all about the roof being your favorite place because it was the closest you could get to the stars in the city, and the Brooklyn Bridge always provided you hours of entertainment." I grinned, looking up at Steve, his own smile growing, "I knew then you were special, you were going to be it for me, I was just too dumb to realize how in love with you I was and am."

"Why'd you say it?"

Steve didn't tense, instead, he rolled his thumb over my bracelet, the one he had given me this morning, "I was drunk and mad," Steve's words were spoken against my ear, the soft caress of his voice making me smile more, "You were pushing me away and I was speaking truly out of anger, it would've made you talk to me, but instead I flew home, I transferred colleges because I don't want to be without you when I tell you I love you now, I mean it with every fiber of my being," Steve pressed a wet kiss to my cheek and I giggled, "They hurt you to hurt me, because nothing hurts me more than seeing you cry, especially when I'm the reason behind those tears. I would never play with your heart Serenity, I love you too much."

We both jumped when clapping came from behind us and Steve groaned, "Buck, can't you cut us a little privacy?"

"And miss the show?" I stumbled forward when Bucky through his arm around Steve's shoulders, and Steve tightened his arms around me, "I wouldn't dream of it."