isabellebear

The next day was the worst.

You woke up expecting Alpine to be right there by your side, annoying the fuck out of you with her meows for breakfast but instead was met with silence. You rolled over in bed and hid under the blankets like it would protect you from the ugly truth. Alpine was still missing.

And you were still in your clothes from the other day. Steeling yourself to face the day you had a shower and ate the last piece of bread with butter.

While you sat there eating your breakfast, your mind wandered to last night and how –

Fuck. Bucky. I threw myself at him like a weirdo. What was I thinking? Oh god he must hate me.

Groaning you leant back on the couch like you were a Disney princess.

Ding dong.

Wondering who on Earth would be at your door before seven you opened the door and was greeted by a familiar fluffy white devil sent from hell.

“ALPINE? BABY WHERE WERE YOU?”

You grabbed your annoying cat who you still loved very much and put her inside and shut the door behind you.

“Oh my god thank you so much– Bucky?”

Your neighbour was standing there like a guardian angel with a giant grin on his face.

“She turned up this morning at my door meowing for food. I gave her some tuna, I hope that’s alright.”

Still stunned he had found Alpine and Alpine was back you barely registered his words. “Oh, um yes that’s fine thank you, I was worried about her.”

He chuckled, “I’m aware or was you crying in the middle of the street not you being worried.”

Overcome with mortification your face turned red and you made to go back inside,

“Well thank you Bucky but I need–“

“Hey no,” he lunged forward and grabbed your wrist, “I didn’t mean to tease you.”

There was a pause as you turned around and you both looked into each other’s eyes.

“Are you ok Chelsea?”

You sighed and looked away, “I am now, I got Alpine after my accident, and she’s been a constant in my life.”

He gracefully ignored asking about your accident and looked at you with a concerned expression on his gorgeous face and hair and arm and oh my god I’m staring at him.

You cleared your throat and looked pointedly at his hand still wrapped around your wrist. He let go and stood back, leaning against the balcony post. A silent but comfortable pause filled the air.

You opened the door behind you and asked Bucky, “do you want to come in? I can make pancakes?”

Why on this freaking Earth would you say that. WHY CHELSEA WHY?

His face lit up and he nodded, “I would love that.”

Not expecting him to agree you belatedly realised your house looks like a bomb went off with clothes and bric a brac everywhere.

You opened the door for him and he walked through, getting his first proper look in lighting even though he had been here last night.

“Um so just have a seat at the bench, the pancakes will be ready in about half an hour.”

“Well thank you very much Chef Bardow,”

Why does my last name sound sexy in his voice? Why does anything he say sound sexy?

Half an hour came and went, the kitchen filled with sounds of laughter and chatter and smelled like sugar and maple syrup.

While you were turned around in the kitchen, watching the pancakes to make sure they don’t burn, you missed Bucky’s wandering gaze.

His face softened as he watched you smile and hum to yourself as you worked in the kitchen. He watched as you stuck out your tongue to pour in more batter. He watched everything you did with a smile on his face.

His eyes also wandered

Once they were done you both migrated to the dining table, albeit covered in stuff but you managed to clear out a bit of room.

“Woah, are you sure the pancakes need any more syrup? They’re drowning!”

Mock annoyed, you gasped and put a hand on your chest, “Are you judging my pancakes? I would have you know I’m half Canadian, so this is my culture thank you very much.”

He retaliated, “Oh I’m sorry Miss Canadian; would you like some more?”

“Actually, yes I would.” You poured out more of the syrup watching the humour in his eyes.

An hour passed because after all, time flies when you’re having fun.

Eventually Bucky had to go but not before offering to help clean up.

“Oh, Bucky you don’t really need, you should go.”

“No please, Chelsea, I insist,” he grabbed you wrist and took the plate from your hand while looking into your eyes.”

“Oh, um ok.”

You both walked into the kitchen and started washing up the benches and plates. While you were standing at the sink you felt a presence behind you. Bucky stood behind you like a warm blanket in winter and wrapped his arms around you to drop another plate in the sink.

His arms left you and you shivered at the loss of his heat.

Turning around you cleared your throat and marvelled at how tight his shirt stuck to his chest and his –

Girl! What are you doing?!

“Well thank you Bucky, you helped a lot.”

He smiled down at you, “It was my pleasure. I’ll see you around.”

“Oh Bucky, hey,” you nodded your head at him that was definitely not cool like you hoped.

What the fuck was that.

“Hey you,” he nodded back that was way cooler than yours.

“Uh what, what are you doing here?” You wrapped your arms around yourself again, leaning in the doorway.

“I believe this cat is yours.”

“Oh my god Alpine. I didn’t even know she got out. I’m so sorry, here let me grab her.”

You reached out and grabbed her, kissing her on the head before throwing her in the door. Shutting the door behind you, you leant back on it.

“Uh – is is that all you came here for?”

Uh hello brain? Please start working soon!

Bucky smiled and brushed his hair off his forehead.

“Ah no actually, you never showed up to the barbeque.”

“Oh yeah I’m so sorry, my boss decided he needed an article due today, so I was caught up in it. But did you have fun at it?”

He chuckled, “I would’ve had more fun if you were there, but I know the feeling all too well. What do you do for work?”

Excuse me? More fun? With ME?

Surprised that he continued the conversation you stuttered,

“I – I – I’m a journalist for New York Times.”

“Wow that’s a stressful job.”

Smiling you replied, “Not really, it’s just my boss that’s stressful.”

As you went to ask him what he did, a ding came from your laptop.

You groaned, “I’m sorry that’s probably my boss asking where the article is.”

Bucky laughed, “Well I’m sorry to end this conversation. I’ll see you around Chelsea.”

SORRY TO END IT? “See you Bucky!”

Closing the door, you turned your back and leant against the door.

I’ve only met him twice and both times he’s made me feel seen.

The next day you decided to go into the public library to get your information for your next article. Saying goodbye to your beautiful princess Alpine, you shut the door and got in the car.

A spluttering sound emerged from your car as you put the key in and turned it on. Trying again it continued spluttering until you decided to get out and catch the bus. That was until you found out your nearby but stop was closed for repairs.

You groaned and just decided to walk the few miles to the library. In heels.

By the time you got there your feet and calves were aching and you had pit stains through your blouse. Luckily the library was mostly empty, and no one noticed you limping into your seat.

You grabbed out your laptop and headphones and started researching.

A few hours later you decided to go get some lunch from the nearby pizza place. They served the best margherita pizzas and were so much cheaper than any other place.

You waited in line for your pizza when you felt someone step close next to you.

Turning to ask them to move away you stopped.

What the hell is he doing here?

“What the hell are you doing here?”

James freaking Barnes was standing next to you like it was the most normal thing in the world.

“Oh you know me, can’t help myself around my two favourite things.”

“Two?”, you asked incredulously.

“Yeah two, pizza,” he paused and looked into your eyes, “and soft drinks. Anyways see you around.”

He gave you a cheeky grin and turned around and left the store.

Oh that cheeky son of a bitch. I thought he was going to say – NO! Will not go there.

That evening you walked home, limping when you opened your door.

“Alpine,” you called out, “I’m home!”

Instead of hearing her normal meow back and coming to see you at the door – silence.

“Alpine? Baby where are you?”

You shut the door behind you and took off your heels. You then spent the next 20 minutes scouring the house trying to find her.

No where to be found.

Fear gripped your heart as your mind went to all the dark places she could’ve turned up. Composing yourself you grabbed your phone and went outside to look for her.

“Alpine! Baby?”

Nothing.

A light flicked on, on Bucky’s balcony.

“Chelsea? What’s happening?”

Hyperventilating, you replied, “It’s Alpine. I can’t find her!”

He ran across the street gripping your shoulders and tears started falling.

“It’s ok we’ll find her, I promise.”

Dammit Chelsea, your cat’s missing and now you want to climb someone like a tree. Not ok.

“Thankyou!”

You leaned forward and wrapped your arms around him. He stiffened beneath you but eventually relaxed and wrapped his arms around you.

Realising what you just did you let go and leapt back.

“Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

Mortified you turned away from him.

“You go right down the street and I’ll go left. Meet back here in half an hour.”

You turned and smiled and then walked away from him, hoping he wouldn’t see you cry.

Half an hour came and went, still no sign of her. You saw Bucky waiting in between your houses, his phone light shining in the darkness like a beacon.

“Bucky! Did you find her?”

He shook his head, arms and hearts empty.

“No.”

It was the one word that broke you. Your baby girl who had been the light in your life was missing and nowhere to be found. Collapsing on the ground sobbing, you dimly recognised Bucky squatting down and wrapping his arms around you.

“Come on Chelsea, let’s get you home.”

He picked you up and led you over to the door, opening it for you like a gentleman.

Bucky dutifully ignored the underwear on the ground and took off your shoes and tucked you into bed.

You whispered, so quiet that he had to lean in to hear it, “Thank you Bucky.”

You couldn’t help it, the sigh left your lips. Mortified you looked around hoping no one saw you until you remembered you live alone.

“Ugh, I need to get a grip on my life.”

Not that it was any of your fault, life just had a way of getting in your way. After the accident, work and life just wanted to make your days as hard as possible.

At least in return they sent James Bucky Barnes as your eye-candy neighbour. He moved in a few weeks ago and since then has chosen to mow, weed, garden and relax in his front yard, which was directly across from yours. Shirtless. Not that you were complaining. With his rippling muscles flexing sexily as he bent down to pick something up. His chiselled jawline – geez.

I need to leave the house more, you thought, ridding your mind of your neighbour.

There had only been one interaction between you two and that was when he moved in.

A WEEK AGO

A white van pulled up in the driveway across the street, a big moving company sign on the side. A car followed it quickly, parking precariously close to the van. You had been wondering who would move in after the Cardew’s moved out into nursing homes. They were such a sweet couple who always gave you leftovers from their dinner. In return you watered and tended to their garden when they went travelling in their camper van they lovingly named ‘Betty’.

Leaving your computer at your desk you grabbed the welcome basket you prepared with chocolate, flowers and a card and went over to meet them.

In hindsight you should’ve changed. The dress you were wearing wasn’t the most flattering for your figure, but it was comfortable when sitting down at a desk for long periods of time.

A person got out of the car, adjusting their jacket and gloves and turned towards you at the sound of your voice.

“Hello! It’s nice to meet you- oh.”

It wasn’t your fault. He was hot. And by hot you mean gorgeous, stunning, beautiful. Built like a bodybuilder who didn’t skip leg days. He had short dark brown hair with brooding eyes underneath his hair. Brooding? Man, you need to get a grip on life.

The mysterious neighbour coughed pointedly looking at you with a slight grin, making you realise you had been staring unabashedly at him.

Flustered, you cleared your throat and tried again.

“Hi sorry, I’m Chelsea, Chelsea Bardow. I live across the road from you. I brought this basket as a welcome gift from the neighbourhood.”

You gesture the basket towards him, a nervous grin on your face. Once your new neighbour grabbed it you wrapped your arms around you, a small shield against his gaze.

Oh my god he probably thinks I’m a weirdo. The weird fat girl who’s bringing him gifts when he hasn’t even entered the house – wait what is he doing.

He put down the basket with a smile on his face, tucking his fingers in his belt loops.

“Thanks Chelsea,”

My name has never sounded sexier.

“I’m James Barnes but people call me Bucky. Nice to meet you.”

BUCKY? A NICKNAME? FUCK!

“Nice to meet you Bucky, I have to get back to work now but will I be seeing you at the barbeque next week?”

“I wasn’t thinking about it but if you are, I will,” he said with a slight smirk on his face.

Flirting? Already? Quick Chelsea think, use your brain.

“Oh, uh ok, well see you then I guess.” You waved awkwardly.

Smooth, real smooth.

You turned and hightailed it out of there, missing his little chuckle as he watched your receding figure.

PRESENT DAY

The day of the barbeque came and went. You had planned to go but then your boss decided to make you write another article that was due on the day of the barbeque because for some reason, he doesn’t like you right now.

You could hear children and laughter, and the occasional frying of sausages. Adults chatting about work and family, dads huddling around the barbeque, dogs having the best day of their life with all this sausage.  Bitterly slumping in your chair, you went back to work, blocking out the sounds of fun.

Was Bucky there? Was he looking for you? Oh my god why would he look for me we’ve literally only met once. But – NO. Agh!

‘Meow’

“Oh, hey baby,” you cooed, “how are you? Did you kill any lizards yet?”

Alpine, your beautiful white, fluffy cat who you were pretty sure was half ragdoll, rubbed up against your legs and then left to go probably chase a lizard in the front yard.

She was a rescue kitten; you had found her when the accident happened. Hiding around the corner from the building, small and scrawny with matted and dirty fur. You had taken her to a vet and a few weeks later, she was back in your arms. That was a few months ago and she had firmly planted herself in your life, one of the few constants in your whirlwind of a life that had been a reminder to keep pushing through.

Later that night when the barbeque was finishing up and there was only small bits of chatter around, a sudden knock on your door made you jerk out of your stupor staring at the stupid article for your stupid boss.

No! Money is good Chelsea, money is good.

Repeating your mantra and wondering who on Earth it could be, you stood up and went to open the door.

Bucky?