Ghost Soldiers || Bucky Barnes

Chapter 17: Surprises

Bucky and Clementine spent the rest of the week together. She always waited for him outside after he finished working, and they always headed to eat something and enjoy the warm weather of New York City. Clementine took him to fancy restaurants he had always wanted to try, and he took her to cheap places that she had ended up loving. Bucky was glad they were both sharing things from two opposite words, and somehow that made their relationship stronger. He was amazed how much he was getting to know her; what she liked, hated, feared, among other things. She never stopped surprising him, and even though she had small things that made her look like a spoiled girl, she made him very happy.

Clementine also felt so happy with him, and she was glad she had met him when she did. She was feeling lost before graduation, but being with him had helped her to figure out what she really wanted. It was like he had broken that little bubble she was living in, and had showed her what living was truly about.

On Thursday evening, they agreed to meet by Central Park to eat something and just walk around the park. They agreed to meet at 4 p.m, and Bucky was running late since there was trouble at work with one of the workers, and Bucky had to cover for him. He didn't have time to go home and shower, but luckily for him, the day hadn't been that warm, so he didn't feel dirty and sweaty.

By 4:45, the bus left him at Central Park, and he got lost trying to find the place she had shown him before, but he ended up finding it after a few minutes. The place was crowded, which he loathed, but he managed to find Clementine sitting under one of the trees. She had lay down a blanket on the grass, and she was laying on it with her eyes closed, which made him smile. He approached her in silence, and lay down next to her before kissing her carefully, which made her open her eyes quickly, feeling scared. She sighed and relaxed after seeing him, and pushed him away as she laughed.

"Don't you ever get tired of scaring me? One of these days you're going to be the death of me, James Buchanan Barnes." She said, chuckling.

"Sorry Princess, I just love your reaction." He said, chuckling. "I'm sorry I'm late, there was an issue at work and I had to solve it."

"It's alright, I needed to be alone for awhile, anyways." She said, sitting next to him.

"Is everything okay?" He asked her.

"I went to look for a job today in some hospitals. It didn't go the way I planned."

"Why not?"

"They don't really need nurses right now... or that's what they've been telling me." She said, shrugging her shoulders. "I saw some of the girls I went to nursing school with in some of the hospitals, and they told me most of them already got gobs, but outside of Manhattan."

"Are you going to look for any jobs outside of the city, then?" He asked her.

"No, I don't want to leave the city... and my parents wouldn't let me, anyways." She said, rolling her eyes.

"Well, I'm sure you can find something here. After all, you're an Argent! I'm sure you know important people who own hospitals, or that can easily get you a job." He said.

Clementine then looked at him and shook her head. "James, you know I don't want to get things easily because of my last name. I want to feel competent and get things because I deserve them, not because I'm rich and I know people."

Bucky then smiled at her and nodded. That's what he liked the most about her, that she wanted people to see her by who she was, and not by who her parents were.

"You're right, I'm sorry." He said. "You'll find something soon, Clemmie. You're smart, and they will be so lucky to have you."

She smiled at him and then rested her head on his legs, as she stared at him carefully. "Thanks for believing in me."