Across the Universe

Pumpkin Spice and Random Novelties Pt.2

Christmas was coming around now, and Christmas music playing non-stop in her store started to get on Claire's nerves. She loved Christmas as much as the next person, but she hated how much the music bothered her. The only thing that made it better was looking across the mall into Bath and Body Works to see Wanda dancing along to the jolly tunes. That scene always put a smile on her face, even more so when Wanda would accidentally catch her watching, blush profusely, and stop, running an embarrassed hand through her hair.

Bucky came over to Claire behind the register and grasped her shoulders, slightly scaring her. Claire looked over at him with a glare that grew larger when she saw him with a big floppy Santa hat. Bucky ignored her glare and place a similar hat on her head and started singing "Here Comes Santa Claus."

"What's the matter, Claire? Not in a Christmassy mood?" Bucky asked, wiggling his eyebrows in a playful manner. Claire sighed and grabbed the hat, ripping it off her head and slamming it on the counter.

"Not when you force Santa hats on my head," Claire replied. Bucky gave her a sympathetic look and leaned on the counter, looking at her.

"Everything okay, Claire Bear?"

"Yeah, Buck, I'm just not feeling Christmas right now."

He sighed and looked away briefly before looking back at her. "Does this by any chance have anything to do with Wanda?"

"What would make you think that?" she asked, growing agitated and defensive. "How does me not being in the mood have anything to do with Wanda?"

Bucky held up his hands in defense and back off the counter. He walked around the counter and into the store, stopping and turning around to face her.

"Hey, I just asked a question, you don't need to get so defensive. Besides, you've done nothing but sit here at the counter and stare off into Bath and Body Works. If you and Wanda weren't together already, one would think it was a little creepy." Bucky turned toward the t-shirt shelves and started to refold the shirts.

"We're not together," Claire said an exasperated huff. "That's the problem."

"What's the problem?"

Claire sighed and laid her head against the counter. Bucky looked over at her, and came over to her, rubbing her shoulders.

"We both admitted that we have feelings for each other, and yet...I still don't know where I stand with her. We almost kissed and now...it's like it never happened. I don't know what to do."

"Oh man, Claire, I had no idea. Tell me what happened."

Claire relayed the story to Bucky, letting out all of her frustration, and Bucky listened to her. He took in all her information and pain like a sponge, and when she was finished, Bucky came around the counter and wrapped her up in a big hug. He held her tightly and placed a platonic kiss against her hair. Claire leaned into the hug and allowed herself to relax in his arms. The dam broke and tears fell from her eyes and into Bucky's shirt.

"Hey, you don't have to cry. You two just need to talk, smooth out the bumps and figure out what you both want."

"What if she doesn't want anything? God, Buck, I don't know what I would do without her. I...I...love...her. I love her, so much Buck, and I'm afraid that she doesn't want anything more than what we have now. How would I go about just being friends? I don't know if I can do that, but I don't want to lose her as a friend, Buck. God, what do I do?" Claire cried harder and Bucky held her tighter.