|1| Promise Me ✦ {Bucky Barnes}

Chapter 7: Didn't Know Better

A/N: Hey guys! The next chapter is here! Yay!

Before we get started, I did want to give a brief trigger warning for this chapter, as it will cover heavy topics such as violence, and will go into a bit of depth about mental health and suicide. Please note that I am not a trained professional, I am only writing from experience.

I urge you if you are ever feeling suicidal or are having suicidal thoughts or feelings, to talk to someone about it. Whether it be a friend, a loved one, a counsellor, a suicide prevention hotline (1-800-273-8255) or someone you know who can help you through this difficult time. As someone who has experienced thoughts and feelings like this before, please know that you are not alone.

Thank you so much for your support readers, it is an honour to know that you guys are enjoying the story so far. See you soon!

- Harper E. Pierce

BRIAR:

Owen and I laughed as we walked back to the apartment building after dinner. It was certainly a cold day, we had been ice skating, and had a snowball fight in the middle of the streets, which I won, and got hot chocolate to warm up in one of the cafes nearby in DC, and got dinner. Owen and I had a really fun day together, and now it was time for us to head back to our apartments.

As much as I had such a good time with him, and as perfect as he was, I couldn't see him as more than a friend. I wanted to, I wanted to be able to be with a guy who was so kind and where I could finally get a sense of peace in my life, but for some reason, something was missing when I went out with him today. I didn't even know what it was, it was just... something. Eventually, Owen and I were standing outside the building, waiting to go inside. He turned to face me, looking like he wanted to say something to me.

"Today was-"

"A good break," I finished his sentence with a smile forming on my face, "you're definitely a breath of fresh air,"

"I needed this," he sighed out, still looking down at me, "you definitely take the boring out of life. Being a lawyer is... stressful to say the least,"

"I can imagine," I told him, "I'm glad you got a break from your busy life,"

"I'm glad it was with you," he smiled at me. Suddenly a memory came flooding back in my mind:

1936:

On the bleachers, I sat alone, watching couples slow dance together. It was Steve's senior prom. He had invited me to go with him as friends. He had invited Bucky to come with us, since Steve and I didn't want anyone assuming things, even though the suave brunette had already graduated the previous year. But Steve and I going together benefitted both of us; I could go dancing for a night, which was something I loved, and Steve didn't have to feel obligated to dance with his date, mainly because he didn't know how.

The girls, feeling awkward, sat on one side of the room, and the boys who were too scared to ask the dolls to dance sat on the other side. Of course, I found it absolutely pathetic that Steve was sitting on that side of the room, watching our best friend dance with whatever senior girls were there. But I needed to get my shy, blonde best friend out there. I swear, sometimes Bucky and I wondered if he even liked girls.

My overconfident, fifteen-year-old self stood up and walked over to where the boys were sitting, and I stood right in front of Steve, who I was slightly taller than in my heels. The blonde looked up at me curiously, wondering what I was doing on this side. I stuck out my hand for him to take. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. It was almost unheard of, a freshman asking a junior to dance and them saying yes.