A Place to Fall: Falling Series 1 (skinny!Steve x Bucky Barnes College AU)

Seventeen

Just as Bucky predicted, winter was well on its way. Of course, it would've been better if it had happened after Halloween, but -- as Steve discovered -- Bucky didn't seem to mind. In fact, Bucky entered their History of Western Art class with childlike giddiness as he shook out the snow that had started melting in his hair.

"Guess what," Bucky started, taking his usual seat beside Steve.

"It's snowing," Steve correctly guessed.

"No," Bucky declared, then realized what he had said and amended, "I mean, it is. But that's not the exciting thing."

"Says the one who damn near gave me a presentation on why snow was the best thing in --"

"Okay," Bucky good humoredly interrupted Steve with a soft chuckle. Bucky ran his hand through his damp brown locks, and Steve so desperately wanted to push the wayward strand away from his forehead. Bucky excitedly informed Steve, "I got us invited to Delta Beta Beta Phi's annual Halloween mixer."

"Oh?" Steve asked with a quirked brow, tapping his pencil on the desk, "And how did you manage that?"

"I tutor some of the fraternity brothers," Bucky nonchalantly answered. After he removed his books from his bag, he enthusiastically turned to look at Steve, "Hey, what are you doing after class?"

Despite Steve's wishes, his heart stuttered. Clearing his throat, he said, "Um, it's Thursday. So, um, I don't, uh, I don't... Have anything." Focusing his attention on his desk, Steve asked, "What do you have in mind?"

"Well, my parents are working, so I was going to take my youngest sister trick-or-treating," Bucky explained. He shrugged, "Thought you might want to tag along. Get some candy? Make a costume? It might be fun."

Realizing that his jaw had dropped open, Steve snapped his mouth shut. It sounded like a perfect evening. It was all that Steve wanted and more.

Swallowing down the dry lump in his throat, Steve unstuck his tongue and agreed, "Might be."

"Cool," Bucky grinned. It was as beautiful as the sun breaking through the clouds, and it was so blinding that Steve had to turn away as Bucky suggested, "After class, we catch the subway?"

Mutely, Steve nodded. A scenario from a wet dream coming to life. That's what this was. And Steve knew that there was no way that he could ever get a better night.

All throughout class, it was all Steve could think about. Nothing else was as important, nor as interesting. Not even with Professor Carter's lecture on Baroque Art. The only thing that Steve could focus on were the countless fantasies of what his night could entail.

Of course, not that any of those would come true.

Still, that didn't stop Steve's naturally overactive imagination from running a loop of prophetic wishes through his restless mind. In his brain, Steve was allowed to envision a future for him and Bucky. Something that wasn't possible in the real world, sadly.

Steve had been so preoccupied that once the class was over, he only realized so because Bucky stood from his seat. Standing from his own seat, Steve packed up his items and was relieved to realize that Bucky was patiently waiting for him. Even if Bucky was conversing with one of their classmates, Bucky occasionally drifted his gaze over the girl's head to look over at Steve.

There was a polite smile on Bucky's face as he listened to the girl discuss her costume ideas for the Halloween mixer, and briefly, Steve wondered if this was what his interactions with Bucky looked like from the outside. Steve prayed that they didn't. It would be too heartbreaking to find out that he was just as pathetic as this girl was. Sure, they were both obviously into Bucky, but Steve hoped that he was able to hide his infatuation just slightly better.

"You ready?" Steve asked, cutting in when the girl paused.

"Ready," Bucky confirmed, sounding suspiciously too grateful for the interruption. Heading for the door, Bucky told the girl, "I'll see you."

"Yeah, okay," the girl called after Bucky and Steve.

Giving the girl a glance over his shoulder, Steve told Bucky, "She's cute."

"Yeah?" Bucky questioned, glancing back at the girl. Turning his attention back to the front, Bucky shrugged, "I guess." Nudging his shoulder against Steve's, Bucky offered with a sly smirk, "You want me to hook you up?"

Good-humoredly, Steve scoffed and rolled his eyes. If only you knew..., Steve thought.

At the door, Professor Carter was handing out candy, and she wished Bucky and Steve, "Happy Halloween."

"And a Happy Halloween to you too, Professor," Bucky flirted with an arrogant smirk and a jaunty wink.

Professor Carter simply rolled her eyes at Bucky's teasing. Steve blushed and averted his gaze after taking the candy bar from Professor Carter. Once they were out of the classroom, and out of earshot, Steve gave Bucky a pointed look.

"What?" Bucky questioned with a furrowed brow.

Steve simply shook his head, but didn't say anything. After a moment, Bucky bumped his shoulder against Steve's. Looking over Bucky, Steve wondered if Bucky knew the affect he had on people. Doubting that he did, Steve finally declared, "Do you have to flirt with every --"

"I don't flirt," Bucky interrupted with a chuckle. Defending himself, "I don't." Another pointed look from Steve and Bucky knew that he had to be honest with himself to be honest with Steve, "I'm... gregarious."

"Gregarious," Steve scoffed and playfully rolled his eyes, "Right."

"Hey, I am," Bucky continued defending himself with an arrogant smirk. Bucky teased, "It's why you like me."

Steve couldn't argue that.