Maybe Someday

Childhood

"Steve!" I call. "Steve, where are you?" I stand in my room as I hear footsteps approach. "Steve?" I ask. My hand is raised and I feel his face, gently. "Can't you just tell me when you're here?"

"No, I want you to be able to recognize me by touch. You need to learn at some point," Steve explains.

"I already know Braille. I'll be fine."

"You're blind, Annabelle, and I won't stop until I know you can handle yourself and recognize someone."

"But Steve, we're only ten. I'll have plenty of time for that." My twin brother takes my hand in his and leads me somewhere. "Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you outside. Don't you like it out there?" I smile and wrap him in a hug.

"Thank you!" I squeal in his ear. I feel him tense as the loud voice rings through his ears.

"No problem. Let's go!" I get off of him and he leads me to the door. I hear the soft click of the door shutting as the sun shines on my face. A smile lines my face as I let go of Steve's hand and walk onto the grass outside our apartment. I twirl and spin as Steve laughs.

"Come on!" I cry. The sun warms my face and I laugh. I stop spinning and quickly sit down. I unclasp my shoes and set them next to me. As I stand back up I feel the ground beneath my feet. I walk until I feel the side walk.

I hear tires of a bike riding quickly down the pavement. "Watch out!" someone screams.

I hear the tires squeal. I'm suddenly grabbed and sent rolling onto the grass. "Whoa!" I cry.

"Annabelle!" Steve cries. He rushes over to me and grabs my hand. "Annabelle, are you alright?! I'm sorry, I didn't see him."

"Steve, it's alright. I'm fine. My left knee and right ankle hurt." Steve lets go of my hand and I feel him lightly trace down my side until he reaches my knee.

"Your knee is scratched up. Nothing a few bandages won't fix. Your ankle looks twisted."

I hear a light cough next to me and I hide my face. "Are you alright, miss?" a new voice asks. I squeeze Steve's hand and he does the same.

"She's alright. Thanks for saving her like you did. I didn't see that kid." Steve helps me up and I wrap an arm around him to keep myself steady. My other arm is lifted and draped across a shoulder. I tense and grab my arm back. Steve notices my fear. "It's alright, Annabelle. This guy moved you out of the way of the bike." I relax and my arm is taken again. Steve leads us up to the apartment and they help me to the couch.

"So, what's your name?" I ask, trying to find him. The seat next to me sinks and I readjust a little.

"James Buchanan Barnes but my friends call me Bucky. What's yours?"

"Annabelle Rogers. The boy with me is Steve Rogers, my twin. Thanks for saving me earlier."

"No problem." We sit in awkward silence and I hear him moving. "Why won't you look at me?" he asks out of the blue.

I hear Steve coming in and freezing. He walks around behind me and sits on my other side. "I'm blind. I have been since I was born. Steve helps me as much as he can but there is only so much I can do."

"That's why you didn't see the bike," Bucky realizes.

I nod. "I don't get to go outside very often because I have to be careful and can't go anywhere alone. I was enjoying my first time out for fun in a week." I hear him and Steve doing something quietly before I speak up. "Could I feel you?"

I could practically hear crickets chirping. "Excuse me?" Bucky asks, slowly.

"It's how I see. I feel someone's face and get an idea of what they look like from that."

"Alright." I lift my hand slowly and try and find his face. He lets out a light chuckle and grabs my hand, gently. "Here." He sets my hand on his cheek and I feel across. His mouth is draw in a smirk. I lightly pinch his cheek and he grimaces before holding still again. My fingers dance over his eyes and his nose before going up to his hair. I fuzz it up and he groans indignantly before swiping at my hand. "Hey, what was that for?" he asks.

"For fun," I tell him. "So, what is your favorite thing to do?"

"Walk around outside and charm the ladies," Bucky replies. I hear Steve stifle a laugh.

"Can you dance?"

"My mom has been trying to teach me lately but I'm not very good."

The front door opens and I hear heels click on the wood. "Steve, Annabelle, I'm home!" my mother calls.

"We're in the living room!" Steve replies. The heels get closer and I feel a kiss on my head.

"Who might you be, young man?" Mom asks.

I hear the tenseness in Bucky's voice. "My friends call me Bucky. I'm twelve years old."

Mom gasps and comes around to face me. "What happened to your legs, Annabelle?" She asks, worried.

"Steve took me outside earlier and I didn't see a bike coming. Bucky pushed me out of the way before I was hit. Don't punish Steve for it."

She sighs and leaves for a moment before returning. "Steve, what have I told you about bringing her outside. It's not safe for here. What would've happened if she were hit with the bike?"

"I'm sorry, Mom. I just wanted to let her have some freedom," Steve answers.

"It's not his fault. He knows how much I like it out there and had some free time. Don't take it out on him," I repeat. She hugs me and I smile.

"Alright. But don't let it happen again. I don't want you two getting hurt."

"Thank you, Mom!" We chant in unison.