ANCHOR | BARNES

07. cross my heart

WHEN MISS DAPHNE finished her sorting for the day, the cart bombarded with returned books rattled against the rough red carpet of the floor. Amelia peaked through the opening slot of a unfinished book shelf, her eyes finding Winston through the other side. Brown eyes staring back into hers and she giggles.

"What're you doing back here?" She whispered, pulling back from the space and smiling to herself.

Winston walks around the shelves, meeting Amelia face to face. "It's my break. Remember? One o'clock." He taps his wrist, a watch not in sight. Amelia lets out a hum, looking down at the spine of the book, then putting it where she had looked into the previous empty space on the shelf.

"Mmh, right and you're going to spend your only hour with me?"

Winston lets out a small chuckle, one that rumble from his stomach. "If you want. I wouldn't mind spending it with you."

Amelia repeats his words, rather in a mocking manner that pulls a laugh from the both of them. A laugh not too loud because they knew that Miss Daphne had the ear of a bat. A drop of a pin would set the old lady off.

"Just go eat your lunch somewhere else, Win. Go to that cafe over the street. The one the tourists has been talking about." She rolls here eyes, thinking about bringing food back from there one day. Perhaps, if Bucky was up to it, she would bring him some. Something other than a grilled cheese sandwich. But Amelia didn't mean to come off as rude or too forward, seeing by the way Winston's face dropped ever so slight showed that maybe she was.

"How about dinner? Seeing that you're too busy to have lunch with me. Tonight?" He suggest and for a moment, Amelia opens her mouth is accept his offer. Or more rather in Winston's perspective, a date. But Bucky's presence last night flashed through her mind, reminding her of the conundrum she was stuck in. The dangers if anyone figured out that a fugitive is staying at the luxury of her home.

"Uh, can't. Busy tonight; family issues." Winston's suspicions widen as he hears the lie spilling from Amelia. He hums at her excuse, a poor one in his perspective. He wouldn't mind if she had just said no, not at all. But lying to his face, directly, rather is much worse than turning him down. "I see. I guess I'd have to reschedule then." Amelia nods, in a manner that she seemed like she didn't care.

"Yeah, I guess you have to. I'll see you later, Win. Enjoy your lunch." Amelia smiles up from her book, sending him a goodbye as she pushed the cart of books into the next aisle; leaving Winston to himself and the passing hour.

Amelia stood alone, surrounded by dozens of books classified as rom-coms, the type of books she hated the most. She was never really going to say yes to a dinner with Winston, nor ever plan on going to one. She liked him, that she knew, but rather as a friend, a colleague. Nothing more. On the other side, she had Bucky. She had too much on her mind. How was she suppose to sip wine with Winston and enjoy her night, thinking that everything was normal?

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When her shift ended hours later, she tried her best not to seem fazed by Winston's question. Greeting him the usual goodbye as she clocked out, a smile, and then she was off. The route back home was the same, the bus had come a minute earlier and she sat down near the back. Amelia checked her phone for any missed emergency calls from Bucky, if he even knew how to operate such machine.

She would have to buy more food next she would go out, she is feeding for two now. The only question uncertain to be answered was how long Bucky was going to be staying. Knowing the Avengers, they're not so keen on keeping their promises.

Amelie pulls out her keys as she does everyday, humming a tune she's heard on the radio. The house seeming as empty as it's usually is, a plate left alone on the counter as she entered the kitchen area. Bucky was still upstairs, clearly, only coming down to feed himself.