Check Yes or No | Stucky - Unedited

~Nights~

Steve drove James home after their date at the bakery. The sun had gone down and the stars were peaking through the deep shadows of the night sky.

He kept glancing over at Steve and taking in the deep shadows of his face, and how the headlights of passing cars made his eyes light like fire for just a moment.

Steve knew that James was staring at him, if it weren't for him driving, then he would look back at James too.

His car smelt like Steve, no suprise, but it smelt like the Steve that James had only known to be spontaneous and crazy. Not a careful boy that drove you home safely after a date. The car was a good reminder that Steve was wild.

The summer roads weren't as bad as they would be if there was snow, but Steve still made sure to be careful. The trees casted shadows against the asphalt that seemed eerie and like long fingers stretching out to grab you from your hiding place. James seemed unbothered by the darkness, like he was used to it.

They didn't speak much, they sat silent. James enjoying Steve's features, and Steve enjoying the feeling of deep pits being dug in his stomach from the darkness.
James would occasionally remind Steve where to turn, and Steve would nod or smile in return.

When they neared James' house Steve grew quite nervous.

"I wanted to thank you for taking me on this date." Steve said slowly. James smiled and hid his face with his hand.

"It was my pleasure," James replied, still smiling."I wouldn't take anyone else out but you."

"I know the note was for Nat." Steve said blankly, making James frown.

"It's wasn't for Natasha specifically." James started. "It was mostly to kill my boredom."

There was a small spot of silence.

"Don't get me wrong, I loved the date. And I want to have a thousand more with you. I just feel horrible that it had to start in a way that wasn't practical, or even meaningful, really."

Steve sat silently still, making James unsure on how to react and clear his head. 

Finally Steve responded.

"I think we should keep going on dates, but more low profile." He looked directly at James for the first time in the whole drive home. "I like you Bucky, I really do. But I'm scared of what it might do to who we are right now."

"If you're referring to Tony and Sam then we can keep it a secret from them." James argued, he didn't understand what Steve meant when he said that he didn't want it to affect who they were.

"I mean your career in music and my sports." He frowned and looked away. "If we spend our time together, then you won't have time to practice and get even more amazing."

They reached James' house, and Steve pulled into the driveway. James checked his phone.
10:42pm
He'd stayed out long past curfew and he didn't have a great reason for why. James reached to his right side and unbuckled his seat belt.

"Call me when it's 11:15. I'll be done explaining why I'm late by then and we can finish this argument."
James leaned towards Steve and gave him a small kiss on the forehead.

"Bye." He muttered lightly before James grabbed his sax and hopped out of the vehicle.
After he closed the door Steve mumbled back a 'bye' and drove off.

James unlocked the door and quietly walked inside, pulling off his shoes and placing his sax case down on the floor.  Doing his best to not make a noise he rushed into the hallway to the left of the door and walked into his bedroom.

After closing the door he flicked on the light, the walls flashing from black to light gray. There was posters of bands and movies on the walls and clothes lying around. A wire music stand with a large amount of audition music was in the corner of the room beside his unmade bed. Some falling off and laying on the floor, broken reeds resting in their graves under and on the music. 
James went to lock the door but found a pair of boxers thrown over the knob.

Sighing, he pulled off his bag and his hoodie and placed it by the door of his room. He made his way to the dresser, that had been pushed against the wall under the window. He pulled open the top left drawer and brought out a pair of sweats, taking off his jeans and replacing them with the looser pants. He left his tee-shirt on, but pulled off his socks.
Before laying down in his bed he flicked on his lamp and turned off the overhead light.

Steve called him just as he laid down.

"Hey" Said a boy that didn't sound familiar.

"Hello." James replied, already smiling.

"Do you want to continue our argument?" Steve asked, not feeling like arguing over the phone. 

"No."

"Good."

The two boys talked well into the morning, and by the time they said the final 'good-bye' of the call, it was 4:35am.
James had band early in the morning, so he made sure to fall asleep immediately after Steve hung up. But Steve stayed awake for a few moments longer, to smile and reminisce on the memories they'd made during their date.

James dreamt of black, and Steve dreamt of a dark forest, pale hands, and the deep ringing of James' voice in the car.
        
                               ~☆~

The early morning light escaped through the large windows of the school.
James sat alone on the soft chairs by the entrance, nose in a book, waiting for Steve to walk through the door. While he waited he read We Are The Ants, a great book that he'd read more than 10 times. He loved how it went between the points of loving and hating life. The book perfectly outlined being a teenager, except for the fact that normal teenagers don't get abducted by aliens.
He'd grown quite fond of Henry, too.

Steve walked through the door, noticing James smiling at the blue and green covered book.
He sat down next to him and read some of the book before greeting James.

"Good morning." He said, tilting his head to face James.

"Oh, yeah. Good morning." He smiled back and put his bookmark, a sticky note with a tally of people that like olives, in between the pages.

"Did you sleep good after the call?" Steve asked, putting his bag on the floor.

"Not really." He frowned. "It was cold, and I missed you."

Steve laughed and nudged James lightly.

"I knew you loved me." He winked and stuck out his tongue, making James smile at how much of an idiot he was being.

"But honestly, I did miss you." James said slowly and meaningfully.