Shatter: A Marvel Fanfiction

Natasha

I wake up in cold sweat to my phone beeping. My heart is pounding inside my chest. I had another awful dream about before. About my dark days. I shake my head to clear it and yawn. It's so light. What time is it?

I look at my phone. I missed a call from Steve, and he left a voicemail. My clock reads 11:36. I never sleep this late! How did that happen? I figure it's all the stress from the past few days with the Winter Soldier. Maybe it's all caught up to me.

I listen to the voicemail that Steve left.

"Hey, Nat. It's just Steve. Um I was wondering if you were busy or if you wanted to get lunch. I figured we could catch up. Just let me know soon."

I quickly call him back. It doesn't take long for him to answer.

"Hey," he says.

"Hey, sorry I didn't answer. For some reason I slept really late today. I don't know what happened I just..."

"Is everything okay?" he asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Probably just the stress from the deal with the Winter Soldier and HYDRA- I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up. How are you doing with that?" I get out of bed and head to my closet phone still in hand.

"It's fine. I'm all right. Don't worry about me," he says.

I pull on some jeans as I talk to Steve. "Well, to answer your question about lunch, yeah. Sounds good. Where?" I grab a t shirt. "Hold on." I pull it over my head. "Okay."

"Well, Panera is right by your place, if you like Panera, of course."

"That sounds good. You want to meet there? I can be there in ten minutes."

"Okay. Meet you in a bit. See you." Steve hangs up.

That was interesting. I don't think Steve and I have hung out as friends for a while. I wonder what made him all of the sudden call. Maybe he needs advice about the girl next door. He was supposed to call and ask her out. I'm going to be a little mad if he chickened out.

I pull on my Converse sneakers and my zip up hoodie, finish with hair and make-up, and head out the door to the Panera. I don't see him around yet, so I sit in the front and wait. I figure it would be rude to just go ahead. The girl behind the counter gives me a funny look when I don't order right away, but when she sees me get up as Steve walks in, she nods and smiles politely.

We walk up to the counter and order. He orders a soup in a bread bowl and I get a Panini. Both of us open our wallets at the same time.

"I got it," I tell him.

"It's fine. I invited you; I pay." He argues. I roll my eyes and step aside, holding my hands out as surrender.

"Don't let them get the wrong idea, though. That girl behind the counter was cute too. Speaking of girls, did you ever call- what was her name- Kate?" I nudge him.

He sighs with a smile. "No, I didn't."

"Are you serious? Why?"

He inhales nervously. "I'm saving myself for someone else, okay?" He sounds exasperated.

I grin. Finally he has eyes for someone. I feel a surge of happiness for him, but I notice this tiny twinge of disappointment. I shove it down. "Who is it?" I ask him grinning.

Steve just looks straight ahead. Right then our food arrives. We take our trays and sit in a booth by the window.

"Steve, who's the girl?"

He just shakes his head with a small laugh. "Not telling you. Surprise."

It's about time Steve started looking for someone. He was all cinderblock walls during the Winter Soldier thing. Maybe dating will take his mind off of things. Deep down inside, I kind of hope this mystery girl is me.