First Love || Bucky Barnes

Chapter Eleven: Elizabeth and Steve's Graduation

~June 12, 1936~

Lively jazz music was playing as Grandpa Jack danced around the kitchen, making sandwiches for him and Elizabeth for lunch.

You took my kisses and all my love
You taught me how to care
Am I to be just remnant of a one side lover

Grandpa Jack placed the sandwiches on to a plate as he spun around when the next line of the song began playing.

All you took
I gladly gave
There is nothing left for me to save

Grandpa Jack heard footsteps going down the stairway of the house. He turned towards the doorway of the kitchen to see Elizabeth, dressed in a blue afternoon dress with tiny white polka dots decorated all over. 

"Good afternoon, Grandpa Jack," Elizabeth said as she walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "Good afternoon, Elizabeth. Here's your sandwich," he said as he passed her a plate. She thanked him before sitting down at the kitchen table. Grandpa Jack sits down next to her as the two sat there quietly, listening to the voice of Louis Armstrong as his song continued to play on the radio.

"Are you excited to be graduating today?" Grandpa Jack asked his granddaughter as she took a bite out of her sandwich. She nodded. "Yes." she simply said. Grandpa Jack gestured her hand to continue. "Oh, sorry, Grandpa Jack. It's just...I didn't want to say anything until later tonight but...I got accepted into Brooklyn College." 

Grandpa Jack dropped his sandwich onto his plate in shock. "You did? Congratulations, Lizzie! Oh, my." "Grandpa?" Elizabeth asked as he began to wipe at his eyes. "Are you crying?" "Don't worry, Lizzie. They are happy tears. I'm so proud of you." "Thank you."

"So what will you be studying there?" 

"Science, of course," Elizabeth said as Grandpa Jack chuckled. "Science, of course. Why would I even ask that?" He said as Elizabeth giggled. "You are going to do groundbreaking things in science. I know it," he said making Elizabeth give him a big smile. 

"Now come on," he said as he stood up, grabbing his sandwich off his plate and taking one last bite. "We got a graduation to go too." Elizabeth picked up her plate and placed it in the sink before following her grandfather into the foyer to put on their shoes.

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 Grandpa Jack walked his way through the crowd of eager families and onto the football field. He stood there for a moment to soak in the memories. This time last year, he was here with Elizabeth, Steve and Winifred to watch Bucky graduate high school. Now he was here to watch Elizabeth and Steve do the same.

"Grandpa Jack!" 

He looked up to see Bucky waving at him from across the field. Bucky jogged over to Grandpa Jack and the two greeted each other with a hug. Bucky pulled away and Grandpa Jack patted his shoulder.

"Bucky! How are you?" 

"Doing well, Grandpa Jack." 

"That's excellent, lad. Tell me, how was your first year of college?" he asked Bucky as the two walked across the football field, heading towards the bleachers where Bucky's mother, Winifred sat, waiting for the pair along with Steve's mother, Sarah.

"Busy," Buck admitted as Grandpa Jack chuckled. "No, seriously. It's going well. I'm just glad it's summer which means I get to spend more time with Elizabeth and Steve," he said as Grandpa Jack nodded. "I know the two have missed spending time with you, Elizabeth especially but they both knew that schoolwork kept you busy and that was quite alright with them, knowing that you are getting an education." 

Bucky let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that Grandpa Jack had told him that because he was beginning to feel guilty that he hasn't been able to spend as much time with Elizabeth and Steve, since he was now in college but he figured that would all change now since Elizabeth and Steve are graduating high school.