Chapter Eleven
Summer dates became one of Angie’s favorite things. She liked waiting outside the Griffith in the warm weather and truthfully, she didn’t mind seeing Bucky dress for the weather. Seeing him show up made her smile and they often just spent time walking around and Angie didn’t mind that they just spent time together. Dinner, walks in the park and sitting in the very back of the movie theater were all things Angie looked forward to on their date nights.
The dates were nice and Angie loved being able to have those. She had been so career driven that she forgot to slow down and enjoy her life. He helped her with that. He encouraged her to slow down and enjoy the moments as they came. Usually, she enjoyed the moments more when he was there to share them with her.
Bucky didn’t plan on dating after the war. He truly didn’t have a plan at all so when Angie started paying attention to him, he didn’t know what to do. But as time went on and they talked more, he knew that he wanted to get to know her. He wanted to spend time with her. He wanted to spend those quiet nights sitting close together on a bench, listening to the faint music in the background while Angie struggled to stay awake against his shoulder.
As the fall weather approached, Bucky knew he had to begin changing their dates. More indoor dinners and he even began to think about the idea of taking her dancing. Angie had expressed interest in going dancing but Bucky was nervous about the environment but knew he couldn’t avoid going dancing forever. He remembered going dancing before the war and he enjoyed it. He missed dancing and decided she deserved a date she so strongly desired.
The week prior, Angie inquired about dancing again and Bucky couldn’t resist her sweet smile.
“You really want to go dancing, don’t you?” Bucky asked quietly as they sat beside each other in the L&L Automat in his usual booth.
Angie looked at him with a slight smile as she took his hand. “Of course I want to go dancing, James. I think that’s something I’ve wanted to do ever since we started dating.”
Bucky chuckled and nodded. “Well… why don’t we go dancing next Friday night? Put on your favorite dancing shoes,” he said quietly in her ear before leaning in to kiss her cheek and rested his head against her shoulder.
Angie’s smile widened and she nodded. “I’ll have to see if I can find them by then,” she responded as she leaned her head against his.
She found her dancing shoes. It took plenty of digging and she nearly tore her room apart but the squeal of victory was plenty to get Peggy to knock on the door and inquire what was going on. After Angie’s reassurances that it was nothing and Peggy had left her neighbor alone, Angie made sure to put the shoes aside so she could easily find them before the date.
She looked forward to the date. She picked out her outfit and decided to wear the necklace Bucky got her at the beginning of the summer, as she did most of the time. It wasn’t at all flashy and went well with any outfit she chose for their dates. As the autumn season approached, the necklace was the brightest part of her outfit, aside from her eyes. Angie knew how to dress for the weather with colors but would also ensure that she would be stealing his jacket by the end of the night. Not that Bucky minded. He made sure the jacket he picked out was in good condition, just for her.
Bucky couldn’t hide his nervousness in his eyes. But he knew he’d be okay with Angie by his side and while he was nervous, he knew that all he wanted was to see Angie happy. He saw the way she smiled when he told her to find her dancing shoes and he couldn’t bring himself to change his mind. When he walked to the Griffith and made his way inside, he was greeted by the intense stare of Miss Fry but was quickly distracted by Angie’s kiss on the cheek to greet him. He smiled at her and offered his hand to her, watching Miss Fry’s stare tear away from him and to the next young man who came into the hotel.
“I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to this,” Bucky remarked with a small smile as he took Angie’s hand and led her out of the hotel. “I’m sorry it took so long for us to finally do it.”
Angie let out a laugh and shook her head. “I’m just glad you finally suggested it,” she said, looking down at their hands with a small smile. “We’ll have a good night tonight.”
Bucky nodded his agreement and gave her hand a squeeze as they made their way to a small nightclub that he had heard about. When they made their way in, Angie looked around and swayed slightly to the very upbeat music. Bucky let out a small laugh as he watched her and offered his hand before leading her onto the dance floor.
Angie knew that Bucky must’ve had some practice dancing before but the way he held her and led them made her think that this couldn’t have been his first time taking a girl dancing. The way he held onto her so he wouldn’t drop her, the way he stole a kiss in a moment of stillness.
They danced until a song ended and Angie pulled him in for a kiss. “I’m gonna grab a drink,” she said as she pulled away with a small smile.
Bucky chuckled. “I’ll come with you. I’d like a drink as well,” he said as he took her hand and led her to the bar and went to order their drinks.
Angie found a seat at the bar and watched Bucky with a fond smile when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She frowned and turned around, her frown quickly turning into a smile when she saw who it was. “William? What are you doing here?” she asked with a laugh, hugging him quickly and pulling back.
William chuckled, hugging her back before she pulled away. “I could ask you the same question, Angie. I’ve never seen you around here before,” he remarked.
“Oh, I don’t come in very often,” Angie responded. “I’m actually here with my boyfriend,” she responded as Bucky came over to them, handing Angie’s drink to them. “James, this is William. He’s a friend from high school,” Angie explained, looking at her boyfriend.
“We go a lot further back than high school, Ang,” William remarked as he held out his hand. “It’s good to meet you, James,” he said as Bucky raised an eyebrow.
“You too, William,” Bucky responded, shaking the other man’s hand and looked at Angie before looking at William again. “Most people call me Bucky though,” he corrected as William chuckled and took a sip of his drink.
“Bucky it is then,” William responded as he put a hand on Angie’s hand that was resting on the bar. “Take good care of her. Her father is not very nice to the guys any of his daughters bring home,” he remarked.
Seeing William’s hand on Angie’s made Bucky stiffen slightly as he took a slow drink. He took a breath and looked at William. “I plan on doing just that. Angie has been very good to me,” he said as he put an arm over Angie’s shoulders while she quickly pulled his hand away from William’s.
“James and I met shortly after the war,” Angie explained, putting her hand on Bucky’s that was around her shoulders. “He’s been an absolute gentleman. My father would like him.”
William smiled. “Well, it’s good you found someone. He seems like a nice guy,” he responded.
Angie nodded, taking a sip of her drink as she looked at Bucky then back at William. She smiled a little, thinking about her relationship with Bucky. She let go of Bucky’s hand so she could move her drink to her other hand to set it on the bar. Bucky took his hand off her shoulders.
They chatted for a little bit, Angie seemed happy to catch up with someone she hadn’t seen in awhile and Bucky merely sat back and listened to their conversation. After some time and an empty drink, Bucky picked up their glasses. “Why don’t I get us some more to drink, Ang?” he asked and kissed her on the side of the head and went to do so.
William watched Bucky walk away and he looked at Angie. “So, what does he do for a living?” he asked as he leaned against the bar, slowly sipping his own drink.
“Oh, well, he works in construction,” Angie responded. “He’s been trying to adjust after being overseas for years. We’ve all been trying to find a new normal after… well, everything.”
William nodded slowly. “I see. I’m sure that’s been a good way to adjust. Establish the routine and all.”
Angie nodded, smiling a little as she thought of the first times she had started talking to Bucky, especially him mentioning his routine or trying to figure out life. “He’s been doing well adjusting and I’m glad he was willing to take me out on a few dates,” she chuckled as she looked at the bar for a second before looking over at her friend for a moment. “What about you, William? Are you seeing anyone?”
“Me? Oh, no,” William let out a laugh and shook his head. “I haven’t really dated much, especially after coming home. I’ve gone dancing with someone a few times but nothing I really wanted to pursue much, you know?”
Angie nodded. “It took James a few months to get comfortable with even coming here but I’m glad he agreed to it because he’s a great dancer,” she responded with a small smile. “I haven’t had a decent partner in years. I think the last time I had even half a decent partner was probably when we went to prom together.”
“Angie, we were great together,” William said as he took her hand in his and put his hand over it. “I just wish we could have lasted after high school.”
Angie shook her head. “William, it couldn’t have worked. We wanted different things and…”
William sighed. “Things are different now, Ang. I’m a changed man and life is way too short for regrets.”
“Please, stop. It doesn’t matter if you’ve changed or if I’ve changed but I’m with someone and I’m happy and I don’t have any interest in leaving him just because you think that you can provide something he can’t,” Angie said, her tone slightly exasperated at the conversation and she glanced behind her as if she were seeing if Bucky was back yet. When she saw she was still alone, she tried to pull her hand away as William’s grip tightened. “Please let go of my hand,” she said, trying to pull her hand away once again. When she couldn’t get her hand away, she lifted her other hand to slap William hard in an attempt to get him to get let. William grunted as he finally let go of Angie’s hand and touched his cheek.
Bucky came back over with two glasses in his hands when he saw Angie slap William. His hands dropped the glasses on the bar rather hard as he walked over to William and Angie.
“What the hell is going on?” Bucky demanded as he got in between Angie and William, his back to Angie. Bucky faced William with an expression that demanded an answer. Patrons had seen the commotion and stopped to see Bucky staring at William, who looked rather indifferent.
Angie’s eyes widened in panic as she grabbed her boyfriend’s shoulders from behind to hopefully calm him down. “James, don’t,” Angie said in a quiet tone, her voice trembling slightly. She had never seen Bucky like this before and while she knew he was likely capable of this, she didn’t expect to see it so suddenly.
William scoffed and shook his head as he watched Bucky for a second. “Nothing for you to worry about, Bucky,” he remarked as he looked at Angie, who barely peeked out from behind to watch. “Besides, this really isn’t the look you want Angie to see,” he said as he gingerly rubbed his cheek.
“I leave for five minutes and I come back to see my girlfriend slapping you in the face. No lady should ever be in a situation where she has to do that,” Bucky warned William as Angie forced herself to try and pull Bucky away. Bucky pulled his arm away from Angie and took a half step towards William.
William scoffed and shook his head. “It was not what it looked like. You’re making something out of nothing.”
Bucky got too close to William, grabbing him by the shirt. “It doesn’t matter. You’re lucky I didn’t see you put your hands on her,” he snarled as Angie let out a cry and pulled Bucky away from William, forcing Bucky to let go of William.
“Let’s just go,” Angie said, her face showing the obvious discomfort between the two men and the growing stares of other people in the bar. She took a shaky breath and held onto Bucky, keeping him away from William.
It took Bucky a minute before he reluctantly led Angie to grab their coats and walk out. Angie folded her arms tightly close to her chest as they walked away from the nightclub. Anytime Bucky tried to take her hand or touch her shoulder, she roughly pulled away. Bucky looked hurt at the idea before he finally spoke up.
“Angie…” he started as Angie turned her head sharply.
“What the hell was that back there?” Angie demanded, dropping her hands and stopped to face him quickly.
“What the hell was what?” Bucky asked as Angie scoffed.
“That little superman stunt you pulled at the club!” Angie exclaimed as she ran her hands over her face and took a deep breath. “You had no right doing that, especially to one of my friends.”
“I’m sorry that I walked away for a few minutes then came back to see you slap someone in the face because I wasn’t there to keep anything from happening,” Bucky shot back as Angie shook her head.
“No. I was completely fine and completely capable of taking care of myself and I am for sure not a damsel in distress for you to come to rescue,” Angie responded. “Just… take me home. I’m not talking about this right now.”
Bucky opened his mouth to argue before reluctantly nodding his head. “Okay,” he agreed, knowing it would be pointless to argue now. “I’ll take you home,” he said quietly, walking alongside Angie. She still refused to take his hand when he offered it to her and even refused to take his coat.
When they arrived at the hotel, Angie took a deep breath and pursed her lips. “Well…goodnight,” she said and before Bucky could respond or even kiss her goodnight, she had already disappeared into the hotel to hide in her room and drink the half bottle of schnapps she had saved for a rainy day.