A Love Never Forgotten

Chapter 2

There was a smashing of glass and an uproar of screams as Bucky finished his third bottle of alcohol. He raised both arms in triumph and screamed, "One more round!"

This guy sure knows how to have fun. Steve thought. He sat alone for the party. He feared that someone may come up and actually start a conversation with him. They would talk. He would try to hold the conversation as long as he could. Then end up being alone again because he can only hold a "decent" one for about a minute. He drank his small share of alcohol but the taste only made him sick to his stomach.

"Hey there!" Bucky come crashing to the table, scaring Steve out for his thoughts. He sat in the chair and laughed hysterically. When did he finish his last round?

Was he laughing at me?

"What's so funny?" Steve asked embarrassed.

"You." Bucky's face turned the brightest of pink making Steve feel bad about himself. But a drunk Bucky was an honest Bucky. "You're just sitting here like a lump on a log. Come on, man. Socialize."

"You know how I feel about, it's bad enough that I'm even here."

"Yeah, yeah. I know how you feel about socializing and putting yourself out there and being open, blah blah blah." He's face finally cooled down and returned to it's normal shade, he leans forward as if to share a dying secret. "Steve, I know okay. I know that the bitch damaged you so bad that you have nightmares about it. I know that the only reason why you're scared is because she put fear in you, but Steve." He placed a hand over his forehead, having trouble putting his slurred thoughts into the proper words. "Sreve- Steve, no matter how bad it gets you gotta keep trying. It's- itself, you. Ugh. It's going to be..." Before he could finish his sentence, Bucky slammed face first onto the table.

"Bucky?" Steve gave him a slight tap on the shoulder. "Bucky?! Bucky wake up, wake the hell up!" He whispered in harsh tones. "Damn it, James why? Why now."

Steve stood up and lugged Bucky over his shoulders by his right arm. Steve began to panic when he heard a drop of glass and a scream.

"Oh my God! Bucky!" Each click of her heel was a punch in the stomach for Steve and an ocean of nerves pulsating through his veins.

What do I do? What do I say?

"Oh no." She said softly cupping Bucky's face, "you damn idiot. Always gotta be the big guy and show off." She sighed. "Steve?"

He jumped inside his skin. "Y-yes?"

"You can drive, right? Could I ask you to bring my friend home along the way? She's not having the slightest bit of fun." She looked over to a girl standing in the corner, her hair was done up, and her rosy red dress matched her lips perfectly.

"Well, yeah- I mean, sure, but what about you? How are you getting back?"

"I have two other friends here with me. I'm leaving with them. But I guess I'll have to leave earlier because doofus over here wants to get drunk and pass out." She placed a hand on Steve which made him more than unbearably uncomfortable, he held in his breath. "Thank you for being such a good friend." She said softly. "He really needs you."

She walked off down the small steps across the dance floor and whispered something into the girl in the red dress, she pointed over at Steve and he tried his best to pull off a smile that wasn't creepy. Her expression remained neutral, he has no idea if he pulled it off but he probably come off as a creep anyway. Without waiting for her to come over Steve pulled Bucky up as straight as possible and walked outside the two doors leading to the streets.

"You couldn't wait for a lady?" An English accent said from behind.

Steve turned around to see the girl in the red dress right behind him. "I-I'm sorry, I was- he- I was trying to–"

"I guess chivalry died years ago." She said with a smile. "Do you need help holding him?"

He looked down at Bucky then back at her in shock. "N-no. I got him. Could you just.. open the car door for me.. Please?"

"Absolutely." She took the keys and opened the passenger seat. As carefully as possible he placed Bucky in and fastened the seatbelt. He opened the door for the girl. "Peggy."

"What?"

"My name's Peggy. Because I doubt you were going to ask in the first place."

"Yeah- no, I was.. Eventually, but I- he. Uh, my name is Steve."

"Pleasure." She looked amused and sat inside the car while Steve closed the door. He rushed to the other side and took a deep breath to calm he's pounding heart and shaking hands.

In his nose and out his mouth. "Stay calm, Steven." He whispered to himself. "You're just taking her home, nothing is going to happen. Nothing.. is going to happen. Stay. Calm." With one last breath he opened his door and got into the car.