Chapter 4
“You came to the city quite recently didn’t you, Sam?”
“Kind of,” Sam Wilson answered, running a hand over his face, “We used to live in D.C., then mum got a job here, so we moved.”
“When was this?”
“Well…about…two years ago?”
“And how did you get involved with Tony Stark and his friends? What’s your relationship to them?”
“I’m not really part of the group,” Sam answered, “Mostly just Natasha, Clint and Sharon.”
“And why is that?”
“Well…Natasha and Clint decided they wanted me as their friend. No idea why. And Sharon and I got talking in Calculus…she’s better than me so she helped me out quite a bit and we got along.”
“And what happened during the last few months? Did anything change? Anything out of the regular?”
Sam frowned. “Yeah actually…” he seemed to be considering his words, “I mean…apart from the obvious, with Steve, Wanda and Pietro coming to school…there was a lot of tension lately…Natasha and Clint fought, which they never do…at least not openly. And I saw Sharon have an argument with Clint about something. Wanda was pissed at her brother. And there was something going on between Steve, Peggy and Sharon…” he trailed off, brown eyes unfocused as he tried to recall past events.
“Did people have a problem with Steve, Wanda and Pietro?” Maria asked, pulling Sam back into reality.
“Kind of?” Sam answered, “I mean…Steve’s not exactly from a rich family, y’know…neither are Wanda and Pietro. Some people didn’t like that. Tony was being a dick at first but he got over it. Natasha was suspicious but she’s that way with everyone, and Brock and Jack…well…”
“What about them?”
“They’re not really part of the group,” Sam explained, “Brock’s got this thing with Sharon where they have sex and then don’t talk for a week. He’s being an asshole about it too, always getting jealous when he sees Sharon with someone else. Jack’s his best friend or something, I don’t know. Never really talked to them.”
“And yet you got into a fight with Brock Pierce not so long ago, did you not?”
“Ahh…” Sam winced slightly, “Yeah…”
“How did that happen?”
Shifting in his seat, Sam averted his eyes, “I – er – I went on a date with Sharon. He didn’t like that.”
“Sharon Carter?”
“Yes.”
“Sam, tell me what happened.”
“Well…we went to this diner. One of Steve’s friends, Angie, she works there…”
“Hey,” Angie appeared at their table with a disarming smile and two menus, “Sam, right? And Sharon?”
“That’s right,” Sam answered, taking the menus from her, “Good to see you again.”
“You too. Can I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll have a coke, please,” Sharon answered.
“Me too.”
“Two cokes coming right up.” The girl vanished towards the kitchen, leaving Sam and Sharon on their own.
“This is nice,” Sharon remarked, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear.
“It is,” Sam agreed. And it was. It was comfortable. Homey. With dim lights and old-school rock music playing in the background.
Their cokes arrived and they each ordered a burger and fries, talking about school and Sam’s sisters and Tony’s latest antics.
It was relaxed. Easy-going. Sharon was a beautiful girl, strong minded and not afraid to stand up for herself, who had noticed Sam staring at her and straight out asked if he ever planned on doing something about his crush. He wanted to treat her right. The romantic in Sam was already planning possible future dates…the cinema maybe, as cliché as it was. A concert of Sharon’s favourite band which he knew was coming up soon.
“Y’know…” he began tentatively, not sure if it was appropriate to ask, “You never told me why you live with your grandma…”
Sharon smiled, averting her gave slightly and picking up a fry, dipping it into the ketchup, before answering, “Our parents died when we were still young. I don’t even really remember them. Just a feeling, you know? Like security. Warmth. Home. Granny took us in. I think she couldn’t bear the thought of her grandkids growing up in a home like she did.” She was still smiling when she looked back up, right at Sam. “She’s the only family we have left.”
They moved on to other topics. Talked about the upcoming summer, the exams, college.
“I want to go into law enforcement,” Sharon told him, “Make the world a better place. What about you?”
“I’m not sure yet…I’m thinking of maybe joining the army, like my dad did.”
“That’s admirable,” Sharon said and Sam could see that she meant it. “I’ve never done this before, you know? Gone on a proper date. Brock only ever comes crawling back when he wants to get off.”
It took all of his self-control not to grimace at the mention of Brock. “You deserve better,” he told her and Sharon smiled. It was both happy and sad.
“I know,” she muttered, taking Sam’s hand.
“This is gonna be really cheesy, but…d’you want to share a milkshake?” Sam asked, feeling brave. He knew he’d said the right thing when Sharon giggled and nodded her head. “Strawberry?”
“You know it.”
They drank their milkshake, holding hands and both blushing heavily.
It was perfect.
“I’ll get the check,” Sam told her.
“Only if I can pay next time.”
“So there’ll be a next time?”
“I sure hope so,” Sharon replied and for the first time all evening she actually seemed nervous.
“I’d love to,” Sam breathed.
“Perfect,” the blonde beamed at him, “I’ll just go to the bathroom real quick.”
Sam waited patiently for Sharon to come back, taking a few deep breaths. His heart was beating a fast rhythm in his chest and the world around him seemed just a little bit brighter than usual.
A loud bang from across the room made him jump and he frowned as Sharon came storming towards him.
“You okay?” he asked.
“Peachy. Let’s go.”
Sharon was already half out of the door when Sam’s brain caught up with what was going on. He turned around one last time to look at the door and saw Peggy standing there, pale and wide-eyed, looking as if she was about to cry.
“Sharon!” he called out when he’d finally followed her outside, “Wait up.” Fortunately, she did. “What happened? Talk to me, Sharon.”
Sharon turned towards him, taking a deep breath and running her fingers through her hair, “It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it,” she replied with a smile, “Walk me home?”
Sam considered her for a moment but it seemed clear that she didn’t want to talk about it, whatever it was, and he wasn’t about to pry.
“M’Lady.”
“And do you know why she was upset?” Maria asked.
Sam shook his head. “No idea,” he answered, “And I never asked but…they were sisters, y’know? Hell, I get into fights with my sisters almost every day…”
Maria nodded, making a mental note to look into that night a little further.
“What then?” she asked, “You walked her home.”
“I did..."
“I meant what I said earlier,” Sharon all but whispered when they had arrived at her house, “I’d love there to be a next time.”
“Good, because I want that too,” Sam told her, feeling nervous again, “I also really want to kiss you right now.”
“What are you waiting for then?”
So he did. Sam had kissed other people before…maybe not a lot, but enough to compare, and Sharon was by far the best kiss he’d ever shared with anyone. It wasn’t like in the movies, with fireworks going off in his brain, but there was something there…something almost tangible…a feeling deep inside him –
“Sharon?”
They practically jumped apart as a dark figure emerged from the shadows.
“Brock?”
It was indeed Brock. He was wearing a black hoodie which covered most of his face but Sam could feel the murderous glare Brock was giving him.
“What are you doing here?” Sharon asked, clearly annoyed.
“I could ask you the same thing. I called you. You didn’t answer.”
“I was on a date,” Sharon snapped, stepping towards him, upright and angry. “Go home, Brock.”
But Brock didn’t pay any attention to her, instead he pointed a finger at Sam and said, “You stay away from my Sharon.”
Sam opened his mouth to reply something, to tell this asshole to back off, but Sharon was quicker.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake!” she exclaimed, “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Brock! If I want to go on dates, I will bloody well do that, and you don’t get a say in the matter. Now leave, before I call the cops.”
It was then the front door of the house opened and an elderly woman stepped outside, frowning, “Sharon? What’s going on?”
“It’s alright, gran,” Sharon called out, “Brock was just leaving.”
Apparently not seeing any other option, Brock spat onto the floor and turned around, vanishing into the darkness of the night.
“You must be Sam,” Sharon’s grandma said, stepping forward, “Sharon told me about you.”
Sam froze slightly, “She did?”
Instead of an answer, Margret Carter simply winked at him and walked back into the house.
“Sorry about that,” Sharon muttered.
“Not your fault,” Sam said, “But I should be getting home as well.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“See you tomorrow at school?”
“See you tomorrow.”
With one last quick peck to Sharon’s lips, Sam turned around and walked down the driveway to get home. He felt like flying, his lips curled into a bright smile and he couldn’t have stopped if he had tried.
He should have known better.
“Brock waited for you?” Maria clarified.
“He did,” Sam confirmed, his lips pressed into a thin line, “I was lucky, I guess. Squad car came by, saw us and broke it up.”
“Thank you, Sam.”