"Bucky, you should come out with Clint and me for drinks."
"No."
"Why not?" her irritation was clear even over the phone.
"Busy."
"With what?"
"Stuff."
"Name one thing."
He looked around the almost empty apartment. "Furniture shopping."
"Finally! So, are you shopping online or are you going out?"
He looked at his open laptop. "Online" he nodded.
"I hope you pick some nice pieces. I mean, you're apartment is so..."
"Boring?"
"Ugly" she sighed. "Its just awful Bucky."
"Nat!"
"It is. You picked one of the ugliest apartments to move into that I have ever seen. You had so many options, and that is what you chose, of course. I mean, obviously you based this on your financial situation, but still. You should ask your landlord if you can paint it and rip up that carpet. Its just offensive."
"Thanks Nat. I am going to go and bother my landlord about things I probably can't change."
"You don't know unless you try. Anyway, you should still come out with Clint and me."
"I'll think about it."
"Good. I hope you do."
"I will. Promise Nat."
"I met someone you might like."
He raised a brow. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yep."
"And you know them?"
"I do. Met them in person."
"Are you going to tell me about them?"
"Hmm... Nope. You will just have to come and drink with us sometime."
His eyes narrowed. She was evil. "Yeah, well, I am totally coming for drinks so I can find out about mystery person."
"Your sarcasm kills me."
"What?"
"If you change your mind, seven tomorrow."
"Thanks."
"Okay, bye Bucky."
"Talk later." He hung up and leaned over to his laptop. He looked through a few furniture sites, eBay... he gave up. Simply because he didn't really want to buy furniture. Nat just hated his apartment. Well, she had a nice place. Her job earned her a lot more money than his job had.
He may have been a procrastinator. He wouldn't lie about that. It took him over a year just to unpack most of his things after he moved into this apartment (not including the few books he had. He didn't have a bookshelf, okay?)
Maybe he should actually buy one. Maybe he should just ask his landlord about painting and changing the flooring.
He jotted both things on his to do list. He looked at the rest of his list.
-Go food shopping
-Clean kitchen
-And Bathroom
-Bookshelf?
-Landlord
He nodded. It was a good list. He would eventually get everything done. He set the paper down on the lounge next to him. He yawned and set the laptop on the coffee table. He stood up, stretching his arms up, before wandering into the kitchen. His apartment was only a studio apartment, but the kitchen was almost like its own room with the way the counter was positioned. He opened the cupboard and saw a can of beans that he didn't remember buying. He looked at the other shelves, not finding much else. He walked over to his fridge. "Why the fuck do I have no food" he groaned, his stomach rumbling.
He grabbed his wallet and keys, slipped his shoes on and made his way out of the apartment. He was surprised to see his landlord in. "Hey."
The landlord looked up at him. "What do you want Barnes?"
"I was wondering what the chances are... of giving my apartment a fresh coat of paint. Maybe pull up that carpet."
"I'll think about it. Come see me another time."
"No worries. Thanks for your time."
"I hope your rent isn't late this week."
"It will not be."
"Good."
Bucky turned around, pulling a bit of a face, and walked outside. The cool air nipped at his nose and made its way through his clothes. He looked down and realized he was still in his pajama pants. He face-palmed internally, before walking across the street to the Starbucks knockoff. It was so close to his place, so he would go there for their inferior coffee and cheap pastries often. Most of the staff knew him by name.
"Back again Bucky?"
He nodded. "Sure am Wanda." Wanda was his really good friend. He met her when she started working across from his apartment the previous year.
"Nice pajamas."
"Thank you."
"Wish I was in mine."
"Early start?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Too early. Five this morning."
He grimaced.
"I know." She looked around cautiously before beckoning him close. "So, I have this new job lined up, and its just so exciting. I will be finishing up here soon, I just... I haven't told my boss. I just feel like he'd be really disappointed."
"Well, if you definitely have a new job you are going to move on to, I don't see why you can't just tell your boss."
She nodded. "True. I think... it just makes me nervous."
He smiled kindly. Well, he hoped he did, he had no idea. "Look, if it comes to it, I can help you out."
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Is your brother back?"
"He is still back home. Hopefully he will come back soon. I miss him."
Bucky nodded.
"So, how is everything with you?" she asked, starting to make his coffee.
"Well... I know you can keep a secret. I met someone."
She raised a brow. "You met someone?" she asked in a hushed note. "Like... someone you want to date?"
He felt his face flush a little.
"Oh my god. Who is it?"
"I..." he sighed. "I don't really know him."
"Wait... what do you mean? You said you 'met' him?"
"I know. Um... its complex."
"Can you wait and tell me in five minutes? I'll be on break then and we can talk about it."
"Of course."
She passed him the coffee and pastry. He went to pass her the money and she shook her head. "I'll cover it. You go sit down."
He nodded and sat in one of the booths. He looked out the window sipping his coffee.
"So, tell me about his guy?"
He looked at Wanda. "Oh, yeah..." he felt a small smile play on his face.
"Wow... you really like this guy."
"Its pretty bad" he admitted.
"But... you don't know him?"
"Its complex."
"How?"
"We met online."
"What do you mean? Like, internet dating?"
"Basically."
She raised a brow. "I wouldn't have picked you as someone who tries internet dating."
"It was for research."
She chuckled. "Research? You're great value."
He shrugged. "I was. Actually what happened was I was going to write about it like... maybe two years ago-"
"Was this another thing you were going to do but didn't?"
"Possibly."
She frowned and shook her head.
"But I made this account and I actually forgot about it."
"Of course you did."
"And then I remembered it just last week, and I thought, fuck it, why not update it? I was pretty bored."
She sighed. "I don't want to ruin your day, but you do realize that most people on those sites aren't who you think."
"I know, that is why I haven't tried to meet him. I am just in love with his picture."
She smiled. "That is so romantic and so unlike you."
He chuckled. "Thank you."
She shook her head. "Well, I think the best thing to do would be to ask him to meet up. Is he local?"
"I have no idea."
She looked at he time. "Okay, I have twenty minutes. Where is your phone?"
"At home."
"Okay, I have back up." She pulled her phone out of her apron and passed it to him. "Go to your profile."
He raised a brow.
"Just do it."
"Okay." He logged into his account.
"I think what I find so great about this is that you don't even have any social media accounts... but you having a dating profile. Its hilarious."
He sighed. "Thanks Wanda."
She smiled. "Welcome."
He passed her back the phone.
"Wow, your profile picture is beautiful." She looked at him. "You never look like that."
"Its an older picture. I think last year."
"You're a slob now."
He chuckled. "Basically."
She sighed and touched his hand. "I still think you're wonderful, and if this guy is real, he will too."
"You think?"
"Absolutely." She looked through the profile. "He is the only one who has messaged you."
He nodded. "Yeah."
"That is weird. I mean... you actually look like a decent human being, not an absolute caveman."
"That is a more than adequate description of how I look now."
She nodded sadly. "Unfortunately yes." She set the phone on the table and pressed on the mans profile. "Steven Grant. Huh."
"Do you know him?"
She shook her head. "I don't know... I feel like... I've seen this mans face before. But where, I cannot be sure." She frowned. "I am sure I know his face." She looked up at Bucky. "If I ever see him, I will tell you."
"Thanks."
She nodded. "Steven Grant..." she murmured. "Interesting. Can I read the messages?"
"Sure. Nothing explicit."
"Good. I am too young for that" she joked.
He rolled his eyes. "What sort of person do you think I am."
She shrugged. "You could be some sort of weirdo who sends dick pics-"
"No. God no. I don't think anyone would want to see... my dick" he whispered the last two words.
She burst out laughing. "I am so sorry, why the fuck did you whisper that? It was hilarious! Oh god, your face was so serious!" she slapped the table with her hand. "Okay, okay, I'm composed" she wiped her eyes. "Don't do that to me again."
"Is this really because I whispered that?"
"Bucky, the way you said that was hilarious. Hoo" she breathed.
"I was being serious, I mean... its just a dick."
"You are probably the only man in the whole word who would say that their dick is just a dick."
He rolled his eyes. "Of course I am."
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have laughed."
He shrugged. "Its okay. I guess this whole dick conversation has been awkward."
She chuckled. "Not at all."
"Thank god. Just don't ban me from here. The next coffee shop is too far to go too."
"Seriously? Bucky, its like, three minutes away."
"I know, but my apartment is right there" he pointed directly across the road.
She smiled, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous." She scrolled through the messages. "He called you beautiful."
Bucky flushed a light pink. "Uh... yeah..."
She smiled. "Hey, he is right. You scrub up well. Like I said, your profile picture is beautiful. Bucky, if he is real you will be the luckiest person in the word. Let me come around and make you look nice so you can meet him."
"Okay."
"Well, I want you to bring him here before I leave. Its safe and my boss will kill anyone who causes trouble so if there is a problem, you will be fine."
He nodded. "That is true. Okay. Send him a message."
"You send it."
"Nope. Your phone, you can send it."
"Okay. How about this" she said, fingers typing quickly. "'Hi Steven, I don't know you if you are local, but meet me at Grinders next Tuesday at 11am.'"
"Okay."
"Okay. Should I add love Bucky?" she smiled sweetly.
"No. No, no, no, no. Just say... I hope to hear from you soon. James."
She nodded. "I love it. I always forget you're actually James."
"I know. I think everyone does."
She nodded. "So, let me know how it goes. You have my number, don't you? I know I have yours."
"I don't know. Send me a text."
She nodded. "Well, I am sorry, but I will have to love you and leave you. I hope he messages you back."
"We'll see."
She smiled. "You have a good day" she kissed his cheek. "I really like catching up with you."
"Same. What days are you on?"
"I'm here until Saturday. Then I will be back next Tuesday."
He nodded. "Okay. I will definitely see you again."
"Why do you always come here?"
"Because of you."
She scoffed. "You're so cheesy."
"Well, if I told you the truth you wouldn't be impressed."
"Oh no... what happened?"
"I have no food in my house."
She shook her head somberly. "I am so disappointed in you."
"I know."
"Go food shopping."
"Okay."
She smiled. "Good. Go down the street to the convenience store and buy food."
"I am going to."
"You better."
"Promise."
She didn't look like she believed him, but she kissed his cheek. "You have a good day."
"You too." He kissed her cheek, but she turned and he ended up kissing her nose.
She chuckled. "Get out you dork."
"Okay." He watched her walk back behind the counter. She said something to her coworker and walked out the back.
He walked outside and looked down the road to the convenience store. He walked down towards it, regretting his choice already. He walked inside and walked around, grabbing a few thing. He looked at the prices and frowned. Convenience stores were so expensive. He walked to the register and set the items on the counter. He avoided conversation with the clerk, paid in cash and left the change. He walked back to his apartment.
Once back inside he unpacked the items and sat back on the lounge. He crossed his legs and propped the laptop awkwardly on his knees. He almost flipped the laptop when he saw a reply to the message Wanda had sent for him.
I would love to. How did you guess that was local to me? Steven.
Bucky blinked. Good guess? Then he realized that he had to thank Wanda. He reached over to the coffee table and grabbed his phone, seeing the message from Wanda. He smiled the message that simply said Wanda. He wrote excitedly. He said yes. He set the phone down on the lounge and looked back at the laptop screen. Hi, I had no idea that you were local to that coffee shop. I am glad that we can finally meet. James.
He set the laptop down and lay on the lounge, feeling his phone poke into his hip. He moved it out from under him, placing it on the coffee table. He closed his eyes.