Drawing Lessons

Unnecessary Worries

Steve was late. It was seven twelve, and Bucky had found himself checking his watch every twenty seconds since six forty five. He was sitting in the warm sunshine of his front lawn, pretending to read a book, while he was really just looking down the length of the sidewalk, waiting for Steve to appear. He didn't even even know the title of the book he held open in his hands, because it was really just something to hold. Bucky closed his eyes for a second. He was getting worried.

Sighing, Bucky stood up, tucking his minuscule paperback book into his pants pocket and starting off in the direction of Steve's house. He didn't really know where Steve lived, but he had gathered that it was past their school in the other direction, so he trotted off that way. As his feet padded down the sidewalk, images flooded his head of Steve bleeding or bruised. His steps began to rapidly pick up their pace until he was running at a full blown sprint. The air whipped his perfectly combed hair around his head as a bead of sweat fell from his forehead. He didn't really care about that anymore. Within three days, Steve had managed to worry Bucky more than anyone ever had before, which was quite a feat, because Bucky was a worrier.

Soon enough, Bucky had reached his school. He paused, slowing to a walk, unsure of where to go from there. He didn't actually know where Steve lived. He looked around the surroundings for any sign of Steve. Nothing. There was just a quiet street of houses and one young girl riding a bicycle down the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Definitely no Steve in sight. God, why was Steve so easy to worry about?

Just as Bucky began to contemplate running up and down the street screaming Steve's name, he heard slapping sounds on the pavement. He stopped thinking and looked to see Steve running down the center of the street towards him, cheeks flushed.

"Bucky!" Steve yelled, his voice breathless from running, "Sorry I'm late!" He slowed down as he came closer to his friend. "My mom was taking forever to eat dinner, and I couldn't bear to just leave her alone to clean up, you know?" He smiled heedlessly as his rumpled hair shifted carelessly in the wind.

"It's alright, Steve. I totally get it." Bucky said, turning and walking next to Steve on the sidewalk.

"So, Movies?" Steve grinned, though he was still out of breath.

"Yup. I'm paying. Though, I only have enough for one small popcorn, hope you don't mind sharing. I'm saving up for something." Bucky informed Steve.

"That's fine. What are you saving up for?" Steve asked, interested.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" Bucky said teasingly, very deliberately keeping the identity of his personal mcguffin hidden from Steve. The blonde kid looked curiously up at the other. Bucky rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Steve! You'll find out eventually, I promise."

"Jerk," Steve sighed resignedly, his face breaking into a glorious smile despite his best efforts to keep it scowling. There was just something about Bucky that made him constantly want to be smiling. He hit Bucky on the shoulder because he didn't know how Bucky could possibly have this affect on him.

"Punk," Bucky breathed out, his voice entirely lacking conviction. "C'mon, let's go see a movie."

* * *

"No!" Bucky yelled as Steve held open his palm for Bucky's money. "You're cheating, I swear! It's the only explanation!"

The two boys were sitting on Bucky's living room floor, playing Monopoly. It was past midnight, so Becca was long since asleep, as was Bucky's mother. It was just the two of them and the stars in the window. Bucky's mind was filled with Steve, and he couldn't seem to understand why it had been so electric when their hands had brushed during the movie or now, during their Monopoly game that Steve was definitely cheating at.