Only a Memory | Bucky Barnes

Chapter 2: Steve...?

Bucky found it was a lot easier to go to school the next day. Everything seemed almost too good to be true; he hadn't expected to make new friends so fast. In fact, he wasn't sure if he would ever make new friends at all. He was even more lucky that he had Clint, and it was because of Clint that all of his friends had learned sign language at some point. This made it much more convenient for Bucky.

He wouldn't set an alarm for himself, like his mother suggested. It probably wouldn't even wake him up. Winifred shook him awake again, and though she pretended to be annoyed by having to do so, Bucky knew that it was hardly a hassle for her.

Bucky saw that it was five after seven. He would have much more time to breathe that morning than he did the previous day.

He decided to quickly shower. He stripped from his pyjamas and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water relax his body. He didn't put much effort into his hair, simply tying it up again. Besides, Peggy said that she liked it.

He had more time for breakfast today, so he made himself toast and made small talk with his sister. Rebecca left to go on the bus, and shortly after Bucky left, too.

He arrived at school much earlier. He found his friends who were all sitting around a hexagonal bench. They all greeted him with smiles and hellos when he arrived. The popular group was beside them on another bench, and they all had their eyes on Bucky. It wasn't in a judgemental way, it was more that they just seemed curious because he was new.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer," Wanda said finally.

"We just wanted to see who this Bucky guy was, seems how apparently he was Steve's old pal," Tony said. He looked Bucky up and down once more before turning back to his friends.

Bucky found himself watching their lips as they whispered to each other.

"He needs a haircut," Rhodey said.

Darcy shrugged. "I think it's cute." She had such a loud voice that Bucky didn't even need to read her lips to know what she was saying.

Jane rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."

A few people had their backs turned to Bucky, so he couldn't catch the parts of the conversation when they were speaking. It didn't matter, because he still knew whatever they were saying was about him.

"I mean, he's not bad looking," Tony said to Pepper. "I get why St—"

Bucky felt a warm hand on his shoulder. Peggy was looking at him with her eyes narrowed.

"You shouldn't do that," she said.

"They were talking about me," Bucky defended. "I don't understand. What's so important about me and Steve having been friends?"

"I don't know. But—" She was interrupted by the bell. Peggy let out a heavy sigh. "Right. Well, I have to get going to calculus."

Bucky groaned. "Calculus. I'm in your class, remember?"

Peggy chuckled. "I didn't even notice."

Bucky grinned at her, and together they walked to their calculus class. He was actually very thankful for Peggy, because much to his chagrin he had already forgotten where the class was.

Unfortunately, Bucky was forced to sit on the opposite side of the room as Peggy. Though Peggy didn't seem to downhearted by this, which left Bucky to wonder. Did she not like Bucky after all? Was that just all a facade in front of everyone, and now she was letting it crumble? Maybe it was something else. Or maybe he was just looking into things too much.