Trust | A Winter Soldier Fanfiction

2. | Shock

It was early the next morning when Harper awoke suddenly to the sound of a door slamming.
My own personal alarm clock.
Try as she might to stay mad at her brother, she knew it was time to get up anyway.
She crept out of bed and into the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Her phone buzzed and she squinted down at it.
No work today. Blizzard. ~A

What a relief.
She grinned, her fingers flying across the phone screen.
Thanks Anne. ~H

She closed out of messages and scrolled through her many playlists, eventually settling for Big Band Playlist.
40's and 50's music began blaring from her speaker as she took a shower, brushed her hair and teeth, and put on minimal makeup so she at least looked a little presentable should anyone stop by.

She left the bathroom, turning the speaker off and heading into the living room.
She jumped over the back of the couch, grabbed her blanket and nestled into her favorite seat and turned on a movie.

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Harper awoke hours later to her phone ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Harp! I was wondering, since tomorrow's Sunday and we're both off, I thought it would be nice to have a sleepover for old time's sake."
"Uh, why are you even asking? The answer is automatically yes." Harper laughed.
"I already have popcorn, my freezer is forever filled with ice cream, you only need to show up."

"Will do, A. What time?"
"You can come over now, if you'd like."
"On my way."
Harper quickly packed and turned the tv off, then scribbled a note to her brother so he'd know where she went.

She locked the apartment and ran out the door.
She signaled to the nearest taxi which slowed to a stop.
She shivered and jumped inside, giving Anne's address to the driver and leaning back as they took off.

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"Harp!"
Anne hugged her and led her inside.
"I brought an entire bag of movies."
Anne smiled.
"Let me guess. Lord of the Rings?"
"Wow. Yeah." Harper giggled.
Anne grabbed a bag of Boom Chicka Pop, two Dr. Peppers, and plopped down on the couch next to her friend.
"We pulling an all nighter?"
"Oh yeah."

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Halfway through The Return Of The King, Harper's phone rang.
Her eyes still glued to the screen, she reached for her phone and answered.
"Hello?"
There was silence for a few seconds, then James' voice came through.
"Hey, Harp."
Her stomach twisted.
Something was wrong and she could feel it.
"I just wanted to make sure you're at Anne's."
"Yeah, I made it here. What's wrong?"
"I need you to stay there, okay? Don't come home."
"James."
She could hear something click.
"James, you'd better tell me what's going on right now."
There was silence again. Finally he answered.

"I'm being trailed. I don't know why, but I didn't realize until I was a few blocks from the apartment. He's silent, and he's smart. I only saw him for a second, and then he was gone. Like a ghost."
He was whispering now.
"James, I'm calling the cops."
"Harper, no. I activated the distress signal, S.H.I.E.L.D. will be here shortly."

Her hands began shaking.
"James, where are you right now?"
"I'm at the apartment."
There was silence again.
Harper glanced at Anne, who stared wide-eyed at her.
There was a loud crash.
"James?" Harper shook violently.
"He's here."
Silence.
"Harper, stay at Anne's, okay? Don't you dare come home."
Harper's lower lip trembled.
"I'm gonna hang up now, okay? I love-"