Inspiration and title from: "Carolina Summer" by Chase Holfelder (the fic doesn't take place in North Carolina, but it's still a fun summer song and I really like it).
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or any songs that may be featured.
June 29th, 2014 (Part 1)
"Steve, hurry up! We're going to be late!"
"I'll be out in a minute, Nat," Steve yells back as he shoves the last of his toiletries into his suitcase and forces it closed. He hoists his suitcase off his bed and places it on the floor next to his backpack, which is filled with his electronics and other items he wasn't able to fit into his suitcase. Steve huffs out a breath as he shoves his glasses further up his nose, glancing around his room and double checking to make sure he hasn't forgotten anything since he, Natasha, and Sam are about to head out on a two-week vacation to Chincoteague, Virginia.
"Steve!" Nat calls again, sounding impatient.
"I'm coming," Steve says as he quickly grabs his bags and makes his way into their tiny living room where Natasha is waiting by the door with her arms crossed and a frown on her face that turns into a smirk as soon as she sees him.
"Well, it's about time," she teases playfully.
Steve smiles and shakes his head, waiting for Natasha to gather her bags and walk out the front door. He trails behind her, pausing only to lock their apartment before they make their way out of the building together and head over towards Sam's car.
"Sammy! We got some more bags for you!" Natasha calls in a singsong tone.
"Great, that's exactly what I wanted," Sam replies sarcastically, looking as though he's barely holding back an eye roll while he takes Natasha's bags.
Steve and Sam finish packing the car while Natasha claims shotgun. Once Steve is able to fit his belongings into the backseat, he shuts the backdoor and walks around the other side of the car, slipping into the seat behind Sam's and making himself comfortable for the long ride ahead.
Sam shuts the trunk and climbs into the driver's seat moments later. He starts the car and clears his throat before saying, "I don't know about you two, but I can already tell that this is going to be the best vacation ever and when am I ever wrong?"
"Well, you were wrong last week about the Dodgers winning against—" Steve begins.
"Details, details," Sam interrupts dismissively, as he pulls out of the parking lot and onto the main road while Steve and Natasha laugh.
They make a pit stop in Baltimore because Sam knows of a place that sells fresh crab cakes at five in the morning.
"You guys are gonna love this place. Riley brought me here once when we were temporarily stationed in D.C. and I became obsessed," Sam says with a nostalgic tone as he leads the way inside. Riley was Sam's best friend—they grew up on the same street in Harlem and joined the United States Air Force Pararescue right out of high school. Unfortunately, he was killed in action during the first mission of his and Sam's third and final tour.
"Steve? Hello? You gonna stand there and look pretty or are you gonna order something?" Sam asks.
"Hmm? Oh, sorry," Steve says, feeling embarrassed that he zoned out for as long as he did. He looks to the cashier and says, "I'll have whatever he's having."
The cashier raises an eyebrow curiously. "You want twenty crab cakes and the largest Slurpee we sell?"
"Twenty? Really Sam?" Steve says in disbelief.
"I told him it was a bad idea. He knows damn well he's going to be running to the toilet for the rest of the day if he eats too many, but does he listen to me? No," Natasha says with a frown.
"I'm not gonna eat them all in one sitting, Nat, don't be ridiculous," Sam says. "I'm gonna have a few now, store the rest in the cooler, and then enjoy them later when we're sitting by the beach."
Natasha rolls her eyes and Steve can see in her face that they're going to have on hell of a pit stop later.
Steve sighs and turns back to the cashier, deciding only to order a medium Slurpee. He pays the cashier and moves to stand next to his friends, who are lingering beside the vending machine located near the counter. Their food and drinks arrive quicker than Steve was expecting and it doesn't take them long to dig into their meals. Natasha and Steve eat two crab cakes each while Sam eats six and a half crab cakes and looks as though he could still put away more.
Natasha tells him to slow down so he doesn't have the urge to use the bathroom while they're crossing the Bay Bridge. Sam declares that he'll be fine before guzzling down his entire Slurpee in one go.
"Wow," Natasha says, sounding a little breathless as fully absorbs the experience of crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge at sunrise. "I've only crossed this bridge one other time, but Clint and I reached our destination before the sun rose. I can't believe we missed out on how gorgeous this is."
Sam hums. "Is Clint your other boyfriend?"
Natasha snorts. "You know he's not, you giant nerd," she says and Steve can hear the smile in her tone. Clint Barton is Natasha's best friend, whom she met in high school after moving to Annapolis from her native Russia. They took a trip to Ocean City together in Clint's hatchback once they graduated so they could have one last outing together before Nat went to New York and Clint was shipped out to Afghanistan.
"Giant nerd? I think that phrase better describes you," Sam teases. He reaches over and pokes Natasha lightly in the cheek a few times before letting out a surprised yelp. "Ouch! Steve, Natasha just bit me!"
Steve snorts. "You sound like the kid from that video. You know the one with those two British kids?"
"Oh! You're talking about the Charlie bit my finger video," Natasha practically exclaims before laughing. "That's one of my favorites!"
"Oh, look what you did now, Steven," Sam says with faux exasperation. "Now, she's not going to stop talking about memes for the next two weeks."
"In all honesty, it wouldn't be an outing with Natasha if it didn't include a few memes," Steve points out.
"True story," Natasha says before laughing again.
"Outta the way, I gotta pee like a motherfucking racehorse," Sam exclaims as he haphazardly parks the car in front of a gas pump before flinging himself out of the car.
Natasha rolls her eyes. "You should have known better than to drink all of that Slurpee in one go," she calls after him before turning off the ignition and getting out of the car with Sam's wallet in hand.
Steve climbs out of the car as well, yawning and stretching before turning to Natasha. "I'm going to go get some food—do you want anything?"
Nat ponders his words for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I'm good. Although, if you happen to find one of those Starbucks drinks that I like, I would be grateful," she says with a small smile.
"Can do, ma'am," he says before giving her a mock salute, which causes her to laugh.
Steve walks away from the car and enters the Royal Farms, immediately wandering into the candy and clip isle, grabbing two bags of Cheetos for himself, a bag of Honey Barbeque Chips in case Natasha gets hungry later, and Spicy Doritos for Sam. He then moves to the drink isle, finding Natasha's favorite Starbucks Vanilla Chilled Frappuccino Drink, a Coke for himself and a Brisk Strawberry Melon Iced Tea for Sam, though Steve doubts Sam will be sucking this down anytime soon.
He's paying for his items when Sam wanders out of the restroom, looking like a great weight have been lifted from his bladder. "Feeling better?" Steve asks once Sam is within earshot.
"I feel like I've just encountered Jesus in there," Sam responds, sounding completely relieved.
Steve snorts before accepting his bags, debit card, and receipt from the cashier. He wishes her a good day before following Sam out of the gas station.
"Oh shit, I still need to fill up the tank," Sam says as soon as he sees Nat waiting patiently by the car.
"I got you, babe," Natasha quotes with a smirk. She hands Sam back his wallet, laughing under her breath when he wraps his arms around her and places a sloppy kiss on her cheek in thanks. "Come on, you affectionate oaf, we still have two hours left until we get to the hotel."
"Are you sure I can't just hold you in the backseat while Steve drives the rest of the way?" Sam asks.
"My license is still expired. I haven't had a chance to renew it yet," Steve says. When Sam frowns, he shrugs, "I'll do it when we get back."
Sam snorts. "Doesn't help me now, though," he teases as he lets go of Natasha and claps his hands together once. "Alright, lady and other gentleman, who isn't as good looking as me, let's bounce."