Chapter 1
“Do we have everything?”
“Yes, mom.” Steve replied, slipping his flip-flops on.
“Did you make the sign?” Sarah Rogers asked, grabbing her car keys.
“Yeah, but I couldn’t find my sharpie-“
“It looks wonderful Steven, come on we can’t be late!” Sarah said, chuckling as he grabbed her son’s arm and dragged him down to the car.
--
Steven smiled a little to himself as he stood in the airport. It was the middle of August and JFK was really bustling with travelers. It was hot out, like it always was this time of year. The skinny blonde stood in light blue shorts that stopped just above his knees. A white and navy stripped tank top hung loosely on his skinny torso. He saw the plane from St. Petersburg come up on the incoming board and smiled, relieved he wouldn’t have to be standing for much longer.
He grabbed his sign and held it above his head. Steve had made it last minute that morning, having forgotten to do it the night before. Of course, something went wrong. He couldn’t find his fat black sharpie to write with, and had to settle for the glitter paint he would never use on his serious works. He had to say though, the purple looked the best on the poster-board. ‘James Barnes’ the sign read, in both English and Russian; ‘Just in case,’ Sarah had told him.
To be honest, when Sarah told him she had signed them up to accept and house an exchange student, Steve was nervous. He and Sarah had spent all of his seventeen years of life developing dynamic that worked for them. They had each other, and that was how it always was. Steve got sick a lot, and he didn’t want his mother worrying over him and another student in the house. Sarah insisted that it would be good for them, both of them. It was a learning experience and she was always saying how you couldn’t just back down from a challenge.
They had spent the weeks before this moment cleaning up their apartment and cleaning out the middle bedroom they used for storage. Once they felt it was ready, Steve cleaned most of the apartment while Sarah worked during the day. At night they would talk and think of how this would go. What the student would be like. Sarah found out the basic information: that he was coming from St. Petersburg and would be joining Steven’s senior class. He had no special needs or allergies.
A young man came over to Steve. His brunette hair was long and in a messy bun. He was dressed in a nice white shirt and tie, it almost looked like he was going to a formal dance or something. Steve smiled a little at him and lowered it sign. “James?” He asked, extending his hand. The other smiled and nodded, shaking his hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Steve.”
“Nice to meet you too.” He said. They took a moment, silently looking the other over. Steve couldn’t help but think about how hot the other was probably going to be in those clothes. Dress clothes and the simmering August heat didn’t mix well. Bucky couldn’t help but notice how bright the other seemed. He just looked like happiness, with his light blonde hair and bright eyes.
“Come on, Ma is waiting out in the car. I’ll help you with your bags.” He said, smiling. He grabbed one of the mediums ones. Steve didn’t want to strain and make a fool of himself just yet. He turned his head and lead Bucky out to where Sarah was parked in the out goings. “So…first time in America?” He asked, curious.
Bucky glanced at him and nodded, carrying his other two larger bags. “Da. I- uh. Yes.” He said, biting his lip. Bucky was caught off guard. They didn’t mention that Sarah had a son. Though now that he thought about it, it made sense. Steve would probably be going to school with Bucky.
Steve chuckled and looked back over to him, pushing up his glasses. “Well, welcome. I’ll be showing you around the neighborhood a little before school starts. Ya know, making sure you’re comfortable.” Steve said, laughing when he saw Sarah standing by the car.
She stood straight and waved excitedly at the two of them. “Hello, James! Welcome!” She said, quickly running over to hug the poor jet-lagged boy. He stiffened and weakly hugged back, not sure what to do. “I’m Sarah, but you can just call me ‘Ma’.”
“Hello-“ Bucky started.
“Come on, Ma. It’s too hot for that.” Steve laughed, continuing to go to the car to load Bucky’s bags into the trunk. Sarah snatched one from Bucky and joined Steve, shooing him away.
“Hush. I have it. How was your flight, James?” She asked, looking over to their new arrival.
“It was alright. Very, uh, cramped and long. I slept for most of it though.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck a little with his right hand. Steve noted that he barely moved his left hand. The blonde opened the back door after he made sure Sarah had the bags in the trunk without needing help.
“Alright, boys. Let’s go home.” Sarah said, walking around to get back in the car. Steve waited and gestured for Bucky to get in first, ever the gentleman. Bucky smiled and got in, sliding over to make room for Steve in the back seat.
“So, how old are you?” Steve asked, smiling at Bucky. He buckled up, Sarah pulled out of their spot and started the drive home.
“I will be turning…” Bucky took a moment, biting his lip. “восемнадцать –eighteen in March.” He said, catching his slipup because he forgot the word. Bucky hadn’t been studying English that long, just under two years. Russian would always be his home though, and it got confusing for him having to go back and forth between English. Steve gave him another smile, warm and welcoming. It didn’t seem like he cared that Bucky wasn’t that well-versed.
“I just turned seventeen in July. I’ll still be in your grade though, I’m just a summer baby.” He said, putting his window down as Sarah pulled onto the highway.
“My sweet little summer baby~” She sing-songed from the front. Steve blushed and sunk in his seat a little.
“Ma stop it.” He muttered, looking at Bucky from the corner of his eye. The air from the open window whipped his hair around, making it go in his face, but he ignored it and offered a smile. Bucky returned it and chuckled, shifting uncomfortably in his hot clothes.
“Hey, you okay? Why don’t you take the tie off? It’s almost 100 degrees today.” Bucky stopped and gaped at Steve a moment before he laughed. “Right! Sorry. We have a different scale, either way it’s hot.” Bucky chuckled under his breath and nodded. He took his tie off and rest it in his lap.
Sarah looked back at them from the mirror and smiled. “Once we get closer to home we are stopping to get ice cream at Danny’s.”
Steve beamed. “I’m okay with this, but I want a milkshake instead.” He said and bumped Bucky’s shoulder with his. “Have you ever had a milkshake?”
Bucky gave a shrug. “I’m not really sure…?” He said, looking out the widow and watching the world pass.
“I think you might like it.” Steve said. “I recommend chocolate.”
Bucky nodded timidly. He wasn’t used to this, these people were so happy. It made him feel all the more self-conscience about his own issues. Before Bucky realized it, Sarah was pulling off the highway and onto a bridge.
“Welcome home.” Steve said softly, smiling at Bucky. This boy…The Russian thought. He was like someone just took sunshine and gave it a body. His hair was whipping into his face still from the open windows and he just wanted to reach out and brush it away. Then he realized… in certain light, his hair was as light as snow. Он похож на снежинку… He looks like a snowflake.
“Home?” Bucky asked, shaking himself from his thoughts. Steve took his glasses off to clean them and nodded, Sarah started to speak before he could even open his mouth.
“Yes, Home. This is Brooklyn, where we live in New York. It’s your home for now, sweetie.” She said, smiling at him in the mirror. Bucky brushed his own stray strands of hair out of his face and nodded. He could get used to this…
----
Sarah parked outside of Danny’s small ice cream shop while Steve and Bucky leaned against the car. Steve smiled at him, still chuckling. “You’ll have to get used to summer clothes fast, we are in the middle of a heat wave.” He said, eyes shimmering with a sympathetic mirth as he watched Bucky squirm in his dress clothes.
“They said I should look nice when I meet you.” He shrugged, undoing a few of the top buttons. He would roll up his sleeves, but he didn’t want to risk showing his scars so soon. Steve just nodded and crossed his arms over his skinny chest. Bucky easily had a head on him, and yet Steve had such a huge personality.
“Are you scared?” Steve suddenly asked, tone gentle. Bucky raised a brow at the unexpected question.
“испуганный? Нет. No… Why would I be scared?” He asked, watching as Sarah came back with a paper tray of milkshakes.
“Well, I mean- You’re in a new country about to start high school… It’s a little scary.” Steve shrugged and hopped away from where he was leaning on the car to meet Sarah half way. He took two and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Ma.”
Bucky thought over Steve’s words and let out an almost silent chuckle. He should be scared, but he had been through so much worse when he was only a child. He could handle this, he was sure of it. Steve walked back over to Bucky and handed him the cup.
“Okay, rules of milkshakes. Don’t drink too fast, no matter how good it tastes. Trust me. They will hurt you in the end.” He said, a teasing smirk pulling at his lips. Bucky scoffed and rolls his eyes just taking a sip from the straw. His eyes went wide and then both Sarah and Steven were laughing.
“Good?” Sarah asked, drinking some of her strawberry one. Bucky nodded.
“шоколад, - Ah. Chocolate is delicious.” Bucky said, turning a deeper shade of red. Steve smiled around his own straw, getting back in the car.
“Come on, boys. Let’s get home so we can get Bucky settled and then I can make dinner.” Sarah said, climbing back into the driver’s seat.
Bucky slid back in next to Steve and smiled. They both still had their straws in their mouths, sharing a quiet laugh. Steve winked at Bucky as he buckled himself in. “Told you. Chocolate is the best.” He said as Sarah started the car.