mrvlxgrl - Tumblr blog

mrvlxgrl · 15 days

Text

i think he knows | chapter one

Summary: A few days have passed since your eyes met, and now, after waiting for him to come, he's finally in front of you again. However, someone isn't happy about his return.

Warnings: None I don't think for this one. If you believe there is any that I should add please let me know.

Word Count: 1716

Masterlist | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Series’ Spotify Playlist

A/N: I finished writing this before even looking at any notes or feedback from the prologue, I think I'm going to enjoy writing this one.

Tags: @bigtreefest

Lunchtime chatter was buzzing around the cafeteria while you sat at your usual table, you had tried to distract your mind from your encounter with Bucky the previous week by pulling out your newest book. You couldn't read it, every time you tried to finish the chapter, you'd glace back to where he was sat. The seat had not been occupied by him since that day. His smirking face, the piercing blue gaze. Your thoughts couldn’t help but wonder back, it was as if he had cast a spell straight out of your fantasy books. It drew you in no matter your efforts to resist it.

Across the room, at his usual table, Steve sat with his friends and Sharon. The protective instincts were always on high alert in busy areas, the school’s cafeteria was no exception. Scanning the crows for any signs of trouble, he’d glance over at you every few minutes to ensure you were okay. Since he witnessed Bucky gaze upon you last week, he’s felt uneasy.

Bucky, as if on cue, entered the cafeteria alone. His group of friends are nowhere to be seen, strange as they are normally bound to the hips. He made his way over to your table, sitting directly opposite you rather than a few tables away. Your eyes adjusted to the shape of him in front of you, once again a smirk appearing over his lips. As far as you had been aware, you’d never been this close to him. The smell of the intertwining scent of cigarettes and the metallic tang from exhaust fumes, a scent that would usually make her nose crinkle and try to avoid, filled the air between you. It was far from your vanilla buttercream shower essentials, but, you couldn’t help but feel enchanted by it.

“Hey, Sunshine,” The nickname was drawn out as he readjusted himself on the stool, leaning closer towards you. “Have you been missing me?”

Your pulse began racing at the sound of his voice, how was this the first time you’d heard it? And, it’s taunting you. You knew you should have asked him to leave, not only did she not want to be rude to him, but there was something about his presence that you couldn’t resist. There wasn’t a second that you felt uncomfortable or in any sort of danger, he had a warmth about him. Either that, or, you had inhaled too much for his scent.

Before you could speak up, Steve appeared at the end of the table, clearing his throat. The tension between you and Bucky had been cut, not realizing until now how hot you were getting under his gaze. “Is there a problem here?” He asked while looking at you, if it wasn’t for the hostility in his tone then you’d of never realized the question was toward Bucky.

Unfazed by Steve and his presence, Bucky chuckled at him. “No problem’s here, Cap.” Steve rolled his eyes at the nickname, another taunt from Bucky, this time a taunt at the legacy Steve had created for himself. Not one that sets butterflies off in your stomach. You switched your gaze between the two, a nervous glance at each of them. Your loyalty to your brother had always been at the forefront of your mind. He was another part of you, he was who you looked up to for almost everything. But, you were growing an attraction to Bucky. It may be playing with fire, but you couldn’t help it. It was warm and inviting.

Neither of them was backing down, the tension only grew, gaining the attention of surrounding classmates. Whispers, speculation, and curious glances added to your discomfort. Now would have been the perfect time to be read. Escape the judgmental gazes and the weight of uncertainty.

Bucky stood from the table only to lean over the table, getting closer to your ear. “You’re smart enough to know, Sunshine, you can’t stay away.” His whispers tickled your ear, once again sending shivers down your spine. Your cheeks began to burn, your palms felt sticky.

“Back off, Barnes,” Steve interjected with a firm voice and a shove to Bucky’s shoulder. You stood from your seat about to get in between the two as others began to crowd more closely. “Stay away from my sister.” His words were not only a warning to Bucky but the whole cafeteria. He stood tall showing he would stand up and fight anyone who ignored the warning. Bucky’s smirk faltered as he steadied himself on his feet, there was something that you couldn’t decipher now taking place over his face. Was it regret? Sorrow? Or was it something entirely different? It only served to deepen the tension in the room.

Thankfully, you thought, the bell rang to signal the end of lunch. The tension you didn’t realize you were holding released from your jaw. You began gathering up your book, homework, and stationery, preparing to leave. Your mind began racing with thoughts of the game you had found yourself in. The hardest test she would ever take, one she had not studied a second for. As you rushed out, you glanced back at Steve and Bucky, still locked in a silent standoff having a private conversation with their glares, neither wanting to back down.

Navigating your way through the hallways trying to dodge other rushing students to your next period, your mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Bucky’s words left you feeling both excited and nervous. Could you not stay away? All these years you had never once thought about Bucky in any way, positive or negative, and now, after one glance he had fogged your mind for days.

Turning a corner, you collided with another body not realizing that they were also turning. “Watch it.” A Sokovian accent exclaimed, her voice was thick with annoyance as she steadied herself and fit her coat. Wanda Maximoff: one of your most trusted allies. A transfer student who just never went home. You and Wanda became great friends not long after you volunteered to show her around the school.

“Wanda! Sorry!” You replied while also steading yourself, looking around to make sure you didn’t drop anything. You gave a quick look over your shoulder, half expecting Bucky to be lurking, a smirk plastered across his face. Nothing. Wanda looked past you towards when you had previously checked.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Rogers.” You scrambled your thoughts for a reply, not so much a ghost, how do you tell your best friend what just happened and sound normal? Of course, you trusted Wanda with more than you did Steve for the most part, you just hadn’t got your head around it yet.

“Sorry, it’s nothing to worry about,” You sighed, finally looking into your best friend's eyes, a concerned look on her face. “Just, a lot on my mind,” Raising your textbooks slightly to suggest that a lot on your mind was school work. Wanda stared at you with a questioning look, not buying it for a second.

Placing a hand on your shoulder, Wanda gave it a small squeeze letting you know that she was there for you. You had both formed a sort of unspoken secret language between only you two. The only other person who has a slight understanding of it is Peter Parker.

Peter was your next-door neighbor, he moved in when you both were little kids to live with Aunt and Uncle. You played together in each other’s garden, he was rare, he could play sports on the same level as Steve but also had your level of smarts. As you all grew up, Steve met new friends and went around town with them. So, it was just you and Peter left doing science experiments in the backyard.

It was great as kids, especially since your bedroom windows were opposite of each other. You both would stay up later than you should of, using a tin can phone you crafted together, helping each other study. Now, you both stay up late using your actual phones to help each other.

The rest of the day was a blur for you, consumed by the thoughts of him. You struggled to focus on your classes, you looked through textbooks and presentations, but, all you could see was that look on his face as he called you ‘Sunshine’. By the end of the school day, you were once again sat in the back seat of Steve’s car driving home. You knew you had to talk to someone about everything that was happening, someone with potentially some experience. Sharon. Your brother's long-term girlfriend, they had been in a relationship for as long as you could remember. Surely, she has experience.

“Hey Sharon,” Your voice uncertain as you watched Steve walking into the gas station to pay. “Can we talk?” Sharon glances back at you through the mirror on the passenger sun visor. “It’s about Bucky…”

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, her eyes fixed on you. “Bucky Barnes? What about him?” Her speech rushed as she tried to act like she knew nothing about Steve’s hatred towards him.

You took a deep breath and gathered your thoughts before speaking to the closest person to Steve about this. “I don’t know. There’s something about him that, I don’t know, makes me want to know.” You stopped for a moment to check on Steve’s location, still in a long line, waiting. You have time. “I can’t explain it, but, Steve has told me to stay away and that he doesn’t trust him.”

Sharon’s expression changed to a more sympathetic and understanding look, she closed the visor and twisted in the passenger seat to face you. “Follow your heart, sweetie. Only you can decide what’s right for you. Steve worries because he is a boy, he knows in his mind what boys can think and act like and he’s scared the worst with happen, but, he doesn’t own you or your actions. This is your story.”

At that moment, you had never been happier that Steve chose to be the nice guy for Sharon. You nodded back at her, you were still uncertain about a lot of things but as Sharon said, it’s your decision. Not Steve’s, yours.

158 notes · View notes