Chapter 5
March 1st 2012 (?)
Welp as you might've guessed it Steve finds his way back to the Lakehouse. He says to himself he'll only come once a week, maybe twice, depending on where this goes. Though part of him wonders why he doesn't just move back in since clearly the renter after him never technically showed up. But the trip back and forth to his job is a lot to do daily and for the most part when he stayed in the lakehouse he was in his private practice with a more structured schedule but maybe he could for the weekends. He shakes that thought from his mind as he pulls up on the house and smiles to himself when he sees the flag raised. Then he gets a little nervous upon opening remembering the fact that he sent not one but 2 letters.
He pulls out the letter, nicely placed in a sealed envelope, Bucky must've taken time with this one. Steve holds his breath as he starts to read.
Dear Steven Rogers,
Hahahah I'm just kidding. You didn't have to send TWO letters but I appreciate the attention you're giving me. Don't worry about the first one I know a kidder when I see one...or read one? Bucky is actually a nick name of my middle name (I know weird but hey). Mom's called me that my whole life (unless I was in trouble then it was James), everyone pretty much does...except my dad. He always resorts to James its more mature "people want to hire a James they don't want to hire a Bucky." Which brings me to job- I'm a bartender! Or rather now I own the damn thing. I'm pretty proud of it but as you can tell it's not really a profession that needs the name James so as you might be able to conclude I'm in the infamous boat of people who are disappointments to their father. I think he wanted me to be a lawyer or something? I really never knew. I've been single for a while so I can understand your mindset of "bitterly unromantic". My family is from Indiana but we moved to Brooklyn when I was in my early teens/ So that's pretty much my answer to those ice breaker questions...what about you? What do you do? Where are you from? What's your favorite color?
I do agree if this is truly what we both think it is it has to have happened to us for a reason (soulmatism?) Who knows really but that brings me to the reason I'm writing this letter (besides answering you back of course) but I think we should come up with a plan on how to make sure the other is 90% certain we are in the times we say we are. I was waiting to get a good nights rest to come up with a way (I didn't want to do what you did and write to you after a night of an exhausting shift at work haha). So I guess your part is pretty simple. Just send me something that's supposed to happen this year, preferably a game I can bet loads of money on and become a millionaire. (I'm just kidding don't do that. I'll go through with the bet and then feel guilty for winning. Yes I'd never survive in Back to the Future. Was that the second one?) Well anyways make sure it’s something small, something I can’t bet on, but not something so 50/50 I’ll blame it on chance. I’ve been trying to think of ways I can prove to you that I am indeed in what you referred to as a “good year for you”. What happened, did you land a movie deal or something? Anyways maybe I can grab some magazines or pictures that show you the date and bury that somewhere on the property? Granted of course how would you know I didn’t just grab that shit off ebay and bury it. Idk an empty gallon of Milk with an expiration date of this year? Maybe grab a newspaper and take a picture of me holding it? Or does that only work in hostage situations? I don’t know, you tell me and I’ll do it. Maybe you can look up your “present me” and ask...me. Though I’m not sure where I’m living right now or if that will fuck up the space time continuum. I wish we had phones that could time travel as opposed to mail but I suppose mailing back and forth will have to do.
Please write back soon,
-Bucky :)
Steve takes it all in. Bucky's longer letter. He's grateful that he didn't make things awkward with his multiple letters and that Bucky seems like a lighthearted person as well. He's curious about Bucky's father there's obviously some tension there but Bucky feels good enough to mention it to Steve anyways. Bartender or rather now/then Bar Owner? Guess his theory of Bucky having a job that didn't have a normal schedule was somewhat true though he now knows that wasn't the reason he wasn't home when Steve stopped by. And Brooklyn! Steve used to live in Brooklyn . Matter of fact lived there most of his life. He moved a few years ago though. Before 2010 even and he doesn't recall knowing a Bucky.
He does agree with Bucky's idea. He wouldn't want either of them being fearful the other isn't honest or god forbid taking part in an elaborate prank. He'd have to think of something to tell Bucky that happened in 2010 save for any sports teams winnings. Thank god for Google. He's not sure what would be good for Bucky to do. The magazines might work, he's sure he could determine the decomposition and not newly bought and buried. The milk would be the easiest one but also kind of...gross? Picture with newspaper wouldn't really work, he could've had a picture like that with him before this. Though he supposes if it wasn't a historical newspaper and just any old Sunday paper that'd make sense because who would take a picture with just a paper advertising the best holiday deals with no historical significance to it. Would it be too much to ask for it all?
Steve sighs and figures maybe writing his thoughts TO Bucky would be easier than just thinking about it to himself. He opens his passenger door and looks around the car floor for paper. None. He opens his glove compartment and searches in there or any scraps. Also none. Dammit he knew he should have bought more legal pads. He looks in his backseat and manages to find an old flyer crumpled up. For a moment he thinks but knows that won't do either. So now his only options are go all the way back home to get a notebook for a letter that then wont be sent out until he makes his way up here again or go spend 50 dollars on a notebook made out of recycled paper at the hipster store about a mile or 2 away from the lake house. He sighs getting in his car with his decision, and drives off.
March 2nd 2010(?)
Bucky swears he almost catches the exact moment the mailbox "works it's magic" as one minute he's looking at the thing, no one is there and the flag is down, and he turns away for what he thinks was a second (okay maybe it could've been longer, time did pass strangely when he was writing) but regardless he looked up again and while still no one was there the flag was up. He jerks his chair from his desk so fast he startles Jack awake, the dog sliding on the wood floors trying to get up and get his bearings.
"Sorry, boy." Bucky laughs as he pets behind his ears.
Jack accepts the apology with a smile and a lick on Bucky's hand.
After another pat on his head Bucky makes his way to the door quickly and almost jogs down the walkway. Jack, of course, follows him down wondering why they were suddenly going fast. Bucky stops when he hits the mailbox and Jack didn't get the memo they weren't exercising so he runs past Bucky to the street. When he realizes he went to far and that his human friend all the sudden stopped their exercise Jack's eyes spot him at the box. He runs back to Bucky almost giving a look that he was trying to play his misstep cool. " Just decided to jog a little farther, dad. No big deal," Bucky voices the dog's thoughts.
Bucky reaches into the mailbox and thinks "Watch this time it's actually bills or a book of coupons and I ran out here for no reason," He says to himself and well...Jack. He feels inside and there's definitely a letter just this time it's in an actual envelope so that strikes Bucky as odd. Oh watch it actually is Steve's mail and now he'd have to contact a Steve that doesn't know who he is. He pulls it out and the envelop is definitely addressed to him from Steve but it's formal like it was the first time he sent something. He wonders if there's a reason. Did he give to much of his personal life away to Steve and now he wanted to go back to formal? He opens the letter, the paper being a texture he wasn't used to.
Bucky,
I'm going with it's okay to call you that now. Sorry about the paper. I ran out and had to get it at this store nearby. It was that or not contact you for a week. Sacrifices were made. It's made out of used paper so I guess that's good. Help the environment and such. They decided to throw in some free envelopes too since they upped the price so that's why you got those. Not sure what else I'd use these envelopes for.
Oh... well that helps. Bucky thinks as he stops for a moment. Way to jump to conclusions over a piece of paper, Barnes. He continues reading.
Now that I gave you that little explanation lets see personal stuff...haha. Glad you took my letter...letters well. I'm not sure which letter I'm more embarrassed by to be honest but I guess I'm glad I got that out of the way.
Sorry about your dad. That's rough. But Bar Owner is cool! Do you enjoy that? Being a lawyer doesn't sound like much fun, especially putting in the amount of extra schooling you have to go to. I'm not one to talk though I went to school to be a Doctor. First ER, then had a private practice which was really nice but they sadly shut down so I had to go back to ER. It's miserable which is why I'm glad I had this house when I did. Bad break up and losing job/going back to old job all in the same year. Look at me, very woe is me. I'm sorry. Home life was okay. Don't remember too much of my dad. He was away a lot so my mom mostly raised me. He passed away when I was 11 or so. Had a good pension and life insurance so I was able to go to medical school... regret it only slightly now. It's funny you say you moved to Brooklyn because that's actually where I was born (and raised). Moved a little more into the city when I moved up in my job. My mom still lives there though, she'll never leave, and of course some high school friends. Some of them are famous bar hoppers. I wonder if they've been to yours haha. Oh and my favorite color is blue.
Now as far as your idea of letting me know you 110% for sure are not in on some practical joke umm would it be too much to ask for all of those things? I'm sorry it just feels so much easier to fake being in the past than the future. As far as on my end I could definitely tell you something ...or a few things just to cement in your head where...or when I am.
I'll start with a few umm... going off what I remember (and what google confirmed) Corey Haim dies in about 8 days from now. (Now since I know you're most likely not famous and I don't think there's any other way to stop it I'm going with the fact you probably can't change this from happening.) In less depressing news at the Academy Awards the Hurt Locker wins picture and Sandra Bullock wins best actress (not for the Hurt Locker). On the 15th Sacha Baren Cohen and Isla Fisher get married? I'll admit I had to look up the last one. Hope that helps a little? I'll give more each letter until you believe me if that works? :)
Write back soon!
- Steve
Bucky keeps a note of the ending part. Corey Haim dies, Hurt Locker wins so does Sandra Bullock, He really doesn't know much about Sacha Baren Cohen or Isla Fisher, matter of fact he wasn't even aware they were together so that part doesn't have much meaning to him. He goes inside and makes his way to his computer. He types in Corey Haim just in case and sees that the actor is still very much alive God (supposedly) in a little more than a week he's gone. He didn't know much about Haim just some movies he watched when he was younger but it's a weird feeling knowing someone is going to die. He looks up the others: Hurt Locker and Blind Side. He definitely heard about both and knows they're getting Oscar buzz so this could be just Steve's prediction. It's not too surprising or far fetched. He might need more than a dead 80's movie star and 2 famous people he barely knows getting married but he'll see when the tabloids come in. He debates writing Steve back now or waiting till he's done his part or at least waiting until Steve's events happen. He did say write back soon though....
So he does. He writes more about his home life, tries not to pry too much into Steve’s but still lets him know he’s interested. Asks him more questions to keep the personal part going. He asks him about where in Brooklyn he grew up, he might know some people he does. He doesn’t say “and maybe we can meet” doesn’t want to freak him out. He gives him the name of his bar with a slight panic, he doesn’t want Steve to stop by but also doesn’t want Steve to say something about it offhand that he doesn’t know yet. He writes it regardless and hopes for the best. Best being Steve never hearing of it, maybe he changes names some time from now till then.
Now as for what umm future references you gave me... Bucky writes.
That’s sad about Cory Haim. I didn’t see too much of his things but I know his name and I saw him in The Lost Boys. Definitely can’t stop his death but umm can I stop Hurt Locker from winning the Oscar? Hahah I’m just kidding. I’m still not convinced Steveo you could just be good at predicting things. I’ll wait till these happen and see how I feel. In the meantime in answer to this letter you can send some more. As far as my part I’ll get started on those when I get my days off from work this week.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely, with l, -
Bucky
P.s I appreciate the paper. I like a change.
Bucky scratches his nose thinking he should trash the letter and just write Steve back when he finds out about Corey, or the Oscars, or whoever and whoever getting married. He looks at Jack and can see the dog judging him.
“Alright alright,” He says to himself and the dog. He rolls his eyes. “Alright.” He makes his way back to the mailbox Jack trailing him again but this time seeming almost as if he was making sure Bucky delivered the letter.
“Okay Mr. Bossypants. You happy now?” He turns to Jack, hand on his hip.
Jack barks like he was saying yes and makes his way down the walkway and back to the house. This time Bucky is the one to follow him inside.