Chapter Three
Bucky stood in his bedroom, which was very plain with only a bed, a table for his things and a rack where all his clothes hung. Anytime Angie saw him, he was dressed in some worn down clothes just for the reason that the jeans stayed together and held up sturdy and the shirts were hardly worn on the construction site.
He went to the rack and pulled off a sweater that needed to be worn. It was in pretty new condition and he finally had a reason to wear it. He hadn’t even worn the sweater since before the war but he was glad to have kept it. He set it on the bed and found a pair of dress pants to compliment the sweater and looked at the outfit before pursing his lips. It was too much, wasn’t it? No, it would be okay. He shook his head and went to freshen up. Brushed teeth, hair combed over with a bit of hairspray to hold it in place did the trick. He changed into the dress pants and sweater with his collared shirt under it and stared into the mirror for a good five minutes.
Angie wanted to spend time with him. With him. He let out a slow breath and ran his hands through his messy hair. He combed through it and made sure it was presentable. Why was he worried about how he looked for this? It was just cider. Another exhale. It was different. A date, perhaps? He didn’t know. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the change of routine. But it was a small change. He could do this.
Another glance in the mirror. He looked alright. He knew that this could be fun. He looked at the crumpled piece of paper that read the Griffith Hotel with a few instructions on it. It was close to his small apartment so he’d be able to walk to the hotel and they would catch a cab to the place Angie insisted had some of the best cider ever. After a few moment’s consideration, he grabbed his sport coat. It was bound to be a quite chilly evening and he wanted to be prepared. He picked up his things and placed them in his pocket before leaving his apartment and watching the busy streets of New York City. Men hurrying to catch cabs, the occasional vocal cursing from various drivers. Bucky took extra precautions, watching the street and making sure no cars were going to hit him.
New York City was busy, chaotic and just beyond his comfort zone; however, he kept his focus on his destination. Soon enough, he found Angie standing right outside the hotel, dressed in a sleeveless sundress like before with a light long sleeve jacket over it to keep her warm. She had pulled her curls out of her face so her hair was half up. Bucky sucked in a breath. She was a very beautiful woman.
“Well, don’t you clean up nice,” Angie commented with a small smile as she stood in front of him and tugged on his coat slightly, “I feel a bit underdressed,” she teased.
Bucky laughed a little and shook his head. “Don’t. You look lovely,” he reassured her with a smile. “I’ll catch a taxi and you give them the address, yeah?” he suggested to which Angie agreed to with a smiling nod.
After catching the taxi, Bucky opened the door for Angie and let her in before climbing in beside her. Angie gave the taxi driver an address that Bucky tried to remember from the past. Nothing came to mind. Angie’s excitement was obvious as she looked over at the man with a proud smile. “You’ll love this cider. I promise it’ll be some of the best you’ve ever had.”
Bucky chuckled, arm resting against the backseat of the taxi as he looked at her expression. “I’m sure it will be,” he reassured her and the taxi driver glanced back at the pair with a shake of his head.
Angie seemed to look proud of herself. She looked at Bucky with a grin and rested a hand on his leg. “That’s where I want to go one day,” she pointed to the popular theatre that had lines of people waiting to see the latest play. “Not to see a play, but to be on the stage,” she corrected herself with a chuckle.
The hand on his leg brought Bucky back to reality and he glanced out the window at the theatre. He couldn’t imagine being in that room. All the people, the closeness and the intimacy of the theatre was too much for him. Blame it on the dark rooms and the chatters and the unexpected surprises of the productions. “You’d be good,” he told her with a small smile. “Maybe I’ll see a play with you being the star one day. Just promise not to forget about me.”
Angie moved her hands to her lap and offered him a sweet smile. “Never. How could I forget my mysterious regular?” she asked.
Bucky shook his head as he looked out the window. “Stuff happens. Besides, you’ll be on Broadway, meeting all these famous people and you’ll find a famous, handsome husband,” he told her and gazed in her direction with a gentle smile. “That’s the life you deserve.”
Angie scoffed and looked at him. “Now that’s no way to think, Bucky,” she noted as she folded her arms. “Remember what we talked about yesterday,” she noted with a raised eyebrow. “Besides, who are you to decide what I deserve? You hardly even know me.”
Bucky shook his head. “Well, I do know that you like to meddle yourself into other people’s business,” he noted with a small smirk of his own.
“Well, now that’s just for your own good,” Angie protested with a chuckle. “Anyway. Bucky? Is your actual name or is that a nickname?”
“See! You’re doing it again,” Bucky responded. “But my full name is James Buchanan Barnes.”
“After the president?” Angie asked.
“After the president,” Bucky confirmed with a nod.
Angie gave him a thoughtful expression. After a few moments of studying him, Angie smiled softly. “James suits you,” she said. “Not very many people fit the name James. But you do,” she mused, reaching up for the hand that rested on the back of the taxi’s backseat.
Bucky smiled a little. He felt safe with her. He felt comfortable with her. He opened his mouth to say something before Angie’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“We’re here,” she told him in an excited whisper as the taxi driver raised his eyebrows. Angie chuckled and reached into her purse to pay the taxi.
Bucky frowned. “Absolutely not,” he told her as he reached for his own money. “If this is a proper date, you don’t reach for that purse at all tonight,” he said as he paid the taxi driver and Angie shot him a look as they got out of the car.
“Now aren’t you chivalrous,” Angie commented with folded arms but couldn’t resist a smile. “Besides, I asked you out so wouldn’t that make it my responsibility to-”
“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Bucky told her. “Now, take me to some of the best cider ever.”
Angie grinned, grabbing his hand and leading him to the stand where there was a middle aged couple, closer to their fifties sat.
“Why why, what a lovely young couple,” the woman stood up and grinned. “I sure hope you want to try some of our cider. It’s some of the best.”
“That’s what I’ve heard,” Bucky chuckled, looking over at Angie who flashed a sweet smile at him. “How much for two glasses?”
“Oh, two dollars, honey,” the woman said as Bucky fished in his billfold to pull out two dollar bills and the woman hurried to get some fresh hot cider.
“Now, kiddos, it’s Friday night,” the man quipped as he stood and folded his arms. “Why aren’t you two out dancing?”
“Oh, they’re far too crowded for our liking,” Angie explained quickly so Bucky wasn’t stuck to explain. “Besides, we wanted somewhere peaceful and I’ve always enjoyed coming to get your cider.”
“Ah, I knew I recognized your face!” The man grinned brightly and lit a cigarette. “You decided to bring your boyfriend along this time, didn’t you?”
Angie chuckled slightly and smiled up at Bucky, who seemed slightly uncomfortable. “Oh, he’s not my boyfriend. This is our first time going out together,” she responded as the woman came back with two cups of cider.
“Now, this is fresh so be careful,” she advised with a slight chuckle as Bucky grabbed the cups and handed one to Angie, who took it and smelled it almost immediately.
After inhaling the cider with a satisfied smile, she took a sip and looked at Bucky. “Come on,” she said. “I want to show you one of the best spots to sit,” she walked over to a picnic table and sat down, holding the hot drink close to her chest.
Bucky followed close behind before sitting down beside her and looking around. “This is… awfully quiet,” he said, leaning back against the table to see the busyness of New York City from a distance. “I never pegged you for a quiet kind of girl.”
Angie couldn’t hide her smile as she looked at him and back at the night’s sky. “Sure, I prefer the big city but I also like coming out here,” she responded as she shivered slightly and took a drink of her cider. Bucky frowned a little, turning to set his cup on the table and he shrugged his sports coat off and slipped it over Angie’s shoulders without a second thought. Angie looked over at him, shocked. Eventually, that turned into a small smile as she pulled the coat tightly around her shoulders. “Thank you,” she murmured.
Bucky nodded as he offered her a small smile. “Of course,” he responded as he turned to pick his cup back up and took a sip. He looked up at the sky, where the sun had set and the only light were the few lanterns hanging around the place.
Angie had closed whatever gap was between them and she smiled a little up at him. “See? Isn’t this better than spending your evenings alone?” She asked, holding the hot cider to her lips with an interested expression.
Bucky shrugged slightly and looked down at Angie. “I suppose so. You mentioned wanting to perform at that theatre back there. Why?” he asked, blowing on his cider to cool it a little. Though the night’s chills did just fine with that.
Angie chuckled, holding her cup with both hands to keep them warm. Her eyes tore from him and she turned her attention back to the stars. “I grew up wanting to go there. It felt right. I remember doing those little plays they make us do in school and that’s where I belonged. I’ve always known. Though… My father wants me to go to school to be an accountant.”
Bucky shook his head and sighed. “Are you going to do that?”
“What, become an accountant?” Angie laughed a little and shook her head. “And be miserable for the rest of my life? I don’t think so,” she commented. “Being an actress is my dream. I don’t want to throw that away.”
Bucky offered her a small smile as he sipped the hot beverage in his hand as he glanced at the city lights. “I miss this,” he said after moments of silence. “The peacefulness of it all.”
Angie looked at him, more interested than anything. She rested her head on his shoulder. “It is quiet,” she agreed and let out a breath as she sat up just to sip her cider quickly before relaxing slightly “I imagine you didn’t get much quiet during the war?” she asked with a sigh.
Bucky shook his head, absentmindedly putting an arm around her shoulders. “I don’t think I can recall a moment of quiet,” he told her as his attention stayed on the lights. “So I take what I can get.”
Angie nodded. “I see,” she mused as she sighed and took in the moment of peace and quiet. She stayed close to Bucky and eventually relaxed into his side as if she was made to stay there. She inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. “I hope that this is relaxing. I know you prefer to stay somewhere you’re used to but… it gets awful lonely,” she noted.
Bucky sighed and nodded. “This is nice,” he looked at Angie and smiled a little. The pair had stayed where they were in silence.
Eventually, whatever was left of the cider had gotten cold, Angie had closed any space there was between the pair in hopes of stealing any body warmth Bucky had radiating off his body. Bucky looked at her and laughed slightly. “Are you about ready to leave?” he asked with an amused smile.
Angie looked at him and laughed a little as she shrugged. “Oh, I suppose so,” she responded as Bucky stood and offered his hand to her.
“Well, either you’re about to freeze to death or fall asleep on me,” he commented with a slight chuckle.
Angie took his hand and stood up. “Well, if it had to be one of those two options, I’d prefer the latter,” she remarked with a small smile. She glanced back and saw the older couple playing a card game. What the game was, she couldn’t tell but Bucky merely chuckled when he saw the couple.
“Let’s get you home,” Bucky said as he led her out of the small, intimately lit area to grab a cab. He let Angie in first before climbing in after. The ride home was much quieter. Angie had dozed off on Bucky’s shoulder and he held his arm around her as he looked at the window. The theatre had just gotten out and there were pairs or even groups of people gathered in deep discussion or young men with their arms around the young lady they had decided to take out to the theatre. While he couldn’t hear the conversation, he heard the excitement buzzing around the group.
Soon, they had arrived back to the Griffith Hotel. Bucky paid for the cab and nudged Angie awake gently. She sighed quietly and sat up straight. Bucky helped her out of the cab and offered her a small smile. “Thank you. For tonight,” he smiled gently. “I’ll see you soon, yeah?”
Angie smiled tiredly at him and nodded. “See you soon, James,” she said gently. She leaned up to kiss his cheek quickly and hurried inside.
After a few minutes, Bucky waited to make sure she had gotten in safely before turning and heading home to his apartment. For the first time, he had felt like he had something to look forward to since before the war. After he got back to his apartment, he went to bed. Despite the good night he had, he still had work in the morning and it was going to be an early day.