Jump then Fall: Falling Series 2 (Modern Stucky College AU)

Thirty-Four

"What if he doesn't want to be found?" Brock asked, keeping in step with Steve.

Steve paused. Deflated and angry, Steve questioned, "What are you doing?"

Brock's brows furrowed and he scoffed, "What do you mean?"

"What are you doing?" Steve repeated. Frustrated, Steve continued, "Why are you trying to... to... break us up?"

"I'm not trying to break you up," Brock stated, obviously lying. Probably assuming that Steve could tell that he was lying, Brock continued, "But I don't want you to be so naïve."

"I'm not naïve," Steve defended himself.

"Could've fooled me," Brock scoffed.

Steve rolled his eyes and muttered, "Not this shit again."

"I just want the best for you," Brock pleaded. He reached for Steve and said, "I don't want you to fall for some douche that is going to take you for granted."

"He's not some douche," Steve stated, moving out of Brock's grasp, "He's my boyfriend."

Brock scoffed, "The two aren't mutually exclusive, babe."

Steve rolled his eyes. Beyond annoyed and disgusted by Brock. Reaching into his pocket, he realized all too late that not only did he forget his keys to his dorm, but he also managed to forget his phone. Good one, Steven.

Despite wanting nothing more than to get away from Brock, Steve forced a neutral expression on his face. Which wasn't entirely successful. Of course, Brock didn't seem to mind too much. Especially not when Steve politely asked, "Can I borrow your phone?"

"Sure," Brock readily agreed, pulling his phone out of his back pocket. As he unlocked it, Brock asked, "Who do you want to call?"

"My mom," Steve deadpanned before frustratingly questioning, "Who do you think?!"

An amused smirk crossed Brock's face as he pulled up Bucky's contact and handed the phone over to Steve. Going to press the call button, Steve noticed Bucky's contact name: Douche. Plain, simple, and completely annoying. Hitting the call button and bringing the phone up to his ear, Steve muttered, "I'd hate to see what my contact name is."

"You'd think that you'd be able to guess by now," Brock said just as softly.

Steve rolled his eyes and focused his attention on the phone. The phone was ringing. And ringing. And ringing. With each ring that passed caused Steve's heart to drop. Like the Tower of Terror ride. First, up in his throat, then down into his stomach. It was torturous.

Then, finally, the call was answered with a pleasant, "Hello?" But it wasn't Bucky.

Steve's brows furrowed and he looked up, questioningly at Brock. Sure that Brock had pulled up the wrong contact. The female on the other line repeated, "Hello?"

"Um, yeah, hi," Steve stated. Clearing his throat, he asked, "Is, um, Bucky... there?"

"Yeah, hold on," the girl stated. As though she pulled the phone away from her ear, she called out, "Babe. Phone."

Babe. BABE?! Who the hell?! What the fuck?!

With his brows furrowed heavily, Steve was tempted to just hang up. However, he didn't. Even though Steve was losing his god damn mind in the moment, he knew that hanging up would only make things worse.

"Hello?" Bucky answered.

"Hey," Steve replied, regretting not having his own phone on him. Especially since Steve wanted to get down to the bottom of things, but couldn't with Brock there. Especially not after everything that Brock had said about Bucky and their relationship.

"Steve?" Bucky questioned. Steve nodded to himself and Bucky softly chuckled, "What are you doing using Brock's phone? Why aren't you in --"

"Where are you?" Steve coolly asked, getting right to the point.

"Potts Hall," Bucky breezily answered.

"Okay," Steve stated, hanging up and handing the phone back to Brock. As he started walking away, Steve turned back to look at Brock, "Thanks."

"No problem," Brock smirked. Mockingly, Brock crossed his fingers, "Hopefully you'll still catch him in the act."

Grinding his teeth and clenching his hands into fists, Steve ignore Brock's comment and headed towards Potts Hall. Steve was going to give Bucky the benefit of the doubt. After all, Bucky had been the one who suggested being exclusive. Bucky was the one who had asked Steve to be his boyfriend. Bucky was the one who insisted on tutoring at the library so Steve would feel better and more comfortable considering what had happened during their first crack at things.

Bucky was the one who loved Steve. And Steve would be damned if he let Brock plant the seed of doubt in his field of insecurities.