The Rules of Living with the Avengers

15. Never tell Captain America how you feel about him.

God it's a pain because I wrote a huge chapter but Wattpad deleted it before I could publish it. So here's a short romantic one because it's late and I'm feeling sappy.

The moon is so bright and high up. In fact, it's so romantic, I just want someone to share it with. And by someone I mean Steve.

After we got out of the helicarrier, after the disastrous games and my embarrassing moments being known by the Avengers, Steve and I went swimming.

I went first then he dived in the pool, not realising that I was swimming underwater. I was wearing my bikini so that didn't help how embarrassed he was when he saw me. "Ellie," he said, his words catching slightly in his throat as he saw me.

He had water dripping off him, his hair flattened to his head and he looked nervous. There may be plenty of the fish in the sea but at that moment, Steve was the only one I wanted.

"Hey, Cap," I said. Did he not know how breathtakingly beautiful he looked at that moment? You look past the scars and the years of tired life and the pain in his eyes and he is an angel. He is a true angel; kind and courteous and perfect.

"Please stop calling me Cap," he smiled slightly at me. I smiled back, my smile crooked because I was trying to hide how fast my heart was beating.

"Sorry," I said and swam over to him. A metre away, I stopped. He just kept staring at me. I couldn't help it but I messed it all up. I know I did. "Steve," I said, "I love you."

His eyes widened and for a fraction of a second, I saw something flash across his face that wasn't surprise or shock or amazement.

I cursed myself as he remained silently staring at me. My heart was slowly shattering when he didn't reply. It was breaking in two. Just give me some sign, I pleaded in my head. His head moved slightly and his mouth opened. Then closed. "I'm sorry, Steve," I gasped as the tears streamed down my face. I was hiccuping. Some people say they aren't attractive criers when they are; elegant tears and perfectly smudged mascara.

When I cry my nose gets all blocked up and I go all red and puffy and I can't talk. "S-Steve-" I stammered and wiped my eyes furiously. He just stared at me, his expression blank and his smile vanished.

I swam to the side and wrapped my towel around me. I had messed it up. It was the end of this little flirting romance. I had been an idiot and this was my price to pay.

Now I blink another bout of tears away. I'm on the roof of Stark Towers, lying down and gazing up at the stars. I hear a rattle as someone else comes up. It's not Steve; the footsteps are too light.

"Ellie," Natasha's sympathetic voice interrupts my thoughts, "he told me what happened."

"Go away." I try to remain cool but my voice cracks and I put my hands over my face. My chest hurts.

"I promise I won't tell anyone else what happened," she says then leaves me. I uncover my face and wipe away some tears.

I feel humiliated and broken and stupid. If only he'd spoken. Told me how he felt. If only I hadn't said anything.