From Autumn to Winter: A Winterwidow College AU

Why Am I Here?

Natasha

"Hey, Steve? What should I do with the soda?" I can't believe I'm helping set up a party. Don't get me wrong, parties can be nice. Fun way to celebrate? Sure, but I was never the girl that planned and decorated or had anything to do with that part of things. I'll pop in, say hi, and maybe have some food. But this time, Steve asked for my help in getting his dorm set up for his friend's welcome home party. All I know about this guy is that his name is James (Steve calls him Bucky), he is Steve's long time best friend, and he just got home from Iraq.

I don't know anything about this guy, but when one of my only and one of my best friends asks for help, who am I to say no? The party was supposed to start in fifteen minutes, and the small dorm room was packed. I knew some of the people there, but not most of them. Most of the people there that I knew were my classmates or at least they were sophomores like Steve and I.

There was Tony, who was an aeronautics engineering major. He was there with his fiance Virginia, who was a business major and was also a senior. There were Loki and Thor-- both sophomores. Thor was a really popular physical fitness and health major (why is that even a major?) and his brother Loki was a not-quite-as-popular theater major. Nobody really liked him, but in my humble opinion, he's pretty cool.

I had a couple close friends at the party. My very short friend list includes Sam, a sophomore mathematics major, Carol, also a sophomore, was in the piloting program, and Margaret, an English major who was Steve's girlfriend. Then of course, there was Steve. And me? I'm a dance major. I hope to one day be a ballet teacher. I know it's an odd goal, and kind of sounds like a little girl's dream, but it's what I love. It's only a year program, but I'm staying on to sort of transition into teaching. My professor is having me basically be the student teacher.

"Oh thanks Nat. You can just put them in the back." Steve pulled me from my thoughts. "Oh, sure." I responded.

I slid through the tight crowd in the tiny space. Steve's dorm was very small, as most dorms are, and the large group of people only accentuated that. I slowly made my way to the back of the room. I reached the back wall of the dorm and ducked into the tiny corner where there was a stove and sink. In that way, Steve's dorm was one of the nicer ones. However, I'm not really sure if the ancient stove actually works, if it's just for show.

As I sat the two liters down on the stove and took a deep breath. Parties are kind of over-stimulating for me. Especially when they are in a tiny room blaring music. When I looked up, I saw a couple framed pictures I had never noticed. It's clearly from a few years ago. I think it was taken right before prom. The photo is in black and white. Steve always was an old soul. He's wearing a tuxedo while he looks up at the sky and laughs. Margaret is standing next to him with a hand on his shoulder, smiling up at him and laughing in a gorgeous red dress. The mermaid cut dress has a very vintage look to it. Her hair is much longer in the photo than it is now, and it is in beach waves that cascade over her shoulders. Steve has a red pocket square and bow-tie to match the velvety red color of Margaret's dress.

There is a third person in the photo. He's about as tall as Steve and has his head down. I think his head is down because he's laughing too. I think that this is Bucky, but I can't really tell. All I can see is his hair and a little sliver of his face. His hair is long on top and short on the sides. At least on this occasion, it's been swept back with product. This man also has a velvety red accessory to match Margret. Only his is a regular tie instead of a bow-tie.

The picture next to it was in color. It was someone in a soldier's uniform. This was definitely him. I still couldn't see his face. This time, most of it was covered by his uniform's hat. I saw his smile though. It was sweet and weirdly comforting to look at.

I heard the door of the dorm open. The room was silent for a few seconds, and then... "SURPRISE!"