Author's Note: Thank y'all for the reviews! They are really appreciated!
LostInMiddleEarth: I have enjoyed your story on here as well! Thank you so much, I'm glad you have enjoyed it!
Crazyforkasey: yeah I agree, I was a little stunned by the lack of stories on here about Buck as well so I thought I might add to the pot.
Lucille shut the door to the Frigidaire and bit into the apple. Wandering aimlessly over to the backdoor, she leaned up against the frame and crossed an arm over her middle. She heard heavy footsteps on the stairs.
"Ruby, we are already running late." Hoobler hollered as he entered the kitchen.
He swept his uniform coat off the back of the chair with an exasperated sigh. She glanced over, lifting an eyebrow and motioning to the ice box.
"Help yourself if you are hungry," She grinned, "Ruby might be a while."
Hoobler scoffed, "That's putting it nicely."
"If I remember correctly, I warned you about her little issue with time management."
"You didn't give me the details though," He leaned over the table towards her and lowered his voice, "The woman has been getting ready for almost an hour. We were supposed to be there at 7."
"Well if someone didn't keep on distracting me, this wouldn't be an issue now, would it?" Ruby trotted down the steps, her red lips pursed and gaze blasé.
"Who me? Distracting?" Hoobler winked at Lucille.
The Corporal held out his arm, Ruby fitting to his side like a puzzle piece. Giving a tight, obligatory smile to her roommate, Lucille's eyes shot away as though she had been stung.
"Give me one more second, Donald." Ruby murmured, patting her sweetheart on the breast pocket of his jacket.
Hoobler sighed and gave her a peck on the forehead, "Fine."
As he shut the front door behind him, Ruby took a step towards Lucille who had her back to the room. Peering out the mesh screen, she was watching the breeze stir the wildflowers that lined the high hedges around their backyard.
They had been lucky that Ruby's parents knew a family in the village who had a house for rent. Upon arriving in England from Kansas, Lucille Swain had become close with British nurse Ruby Stalwhite. The two of them had decided to stay and nurse in England instead of venturing into mainland Europe. Both sets of parents had been overjoyed by the decision.
"Please come with us," Ruby tried once more, "I'm sure it wouldn't be as bad as you are thinking. I have seen him at the Pub only a handful of times recently. He might not even be there."
"It's too much for me," Lucille snorted, her stomach tightening at the thought of facing Buck Compton, "I just can't stop seeing him standing there like an idiot."
"He is kind of an idiot."
Lucille smirked, "You have to say that because you're on my side."
"Yeah maybe," Ruby shot her a grin, "Come on, old lady. What do you say?"
Lucille heaved a sigh, "You said Hoobler has been talking about them leaving again soon?"
"They have had several drops cancelled recently but he said the brass is itching to get them into action."
"I promise you this, Miss Stalwhite. The very minute we get news of them leaving, I will head down town with you for a pint."
"I'll probably be needing one then, eh?" Ruby's eyes lost their joyous crinkles at the corners as her mouth tightened.
"Ruby, nothing is going to happen to your man." Lucille laid a hand on her shoulder, "Don't think about any of that. Go have a good time for me."
"When did this conversation turn into you comforting me?"
"They usually end up that way." Lucille gave her a little push towards the door, "Now scoot before Hoobler smokes through a whole pack of Lucky Strikes out there."
The front door swung open, "Ruby Stalwhite!"
"Coming!"
She could hear their murmured bickering fade as they made their way from the front door. Lucille sunk her teeth one more time into the unmarked green underside of the apple then tossed it into the waste bin.
It was late when there came a heavy knock at the door.
The sound drew Lucille out of a light sleep where she sat by the radio on the back porch. Her last cigarette still glowed in the crystal ashtray next to her. She had picked up the habit since living with Ruby, something her strict, religious mother never would have allowed. Between the smoking and the sex, she could only imagine Mrs. Swain's horror at what her baby girl had been up to in England.
Tightening the sash around her rose silk dressing gown, she padded with bare feet down the hall. She could only assume it was either Ruby having forgotten her key or Hoobler trying to get her drunken friend up to her room.
She definitely didn't expect it to be Buck Compton standing bleary eyed on their front step. He leaned forward, propping his muscular forearm on the door frame. Lucille's heart careened up into her throat.
"What are you doing here?" She glowered, crossing her arms over her chest.
He pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket with a flourish and presented it to her. Lucille glanced at his hand and then met his blood shot eyes, their sharp, arctic blue brilliant despite his inebriated state.
"Go ahead," He prompted, giving the paper a wave, "Please."
Lucille sighed and snatched the paper from his thick fingers. Without another word, she walked back towards the kitchen. He followed, setting his cap on the kitchen table. Without asking, he opened the Frigidaire. Lucille unfolded what looked to be a letter. She read it silently, playing with the loose end of the long braid over her shoulder. Buck stood up straight, tossing an apple in the air like a baseball. Lucille's jaw dropped slightly as she peered up at him past the paper. He flashed her his million dollar, golden boy smile.
"So what do you say to that, Swain?" He slurred as he took a loud bite out of the apple.
"Did she send this to you first?" Lucille asked, her hand dropping to her side.
Buck leaned back against the table and threw the apple into the air once more, "Does it matter?"
"Yes." Lucille snapped.
She laid the paper on the table, the heat rising in her face as he stood there drunk in her kitchen, eating her food. His ego knew no bounds. She had known that getting involved with a jock out of UCLA was a mistake.
"What difference does it make, Lucie?" He spouted out of the side of his full mouth, his brow furrowing, "It's over and I'm glad."
"Really? You are glad?" Lucille crossed her arms, "Then tell me why you have managed to get yourself sauced and then came straight here?"
She marched over to the Frigidaire and slammed the door that he had left ajar. If this conversation continued much longer, there was a good chance he would end up with an andiron thrown at his big head.
"I wanted to talk to you," He set the apple down as she leveled him with a steady glare, "Ah Christ, Lucie. I was going to send her a letter first but I didn't know exactly- well it's a hard thing to tell someone."
"She seems to have managed it quite efficiently." Lucille barked, "This whole thing has been a mess from the beginning. Perhaps it's best if we dropped it-"
Buck barreled forward and grasped her by the shoulders. Despite the hostility humming in her brain, Lucille couldn't find it in her to protest as he kissed her. He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and the other around her waist as she melted into him. He tasted of smoke and weak British beer.
"I won't be your consolation prize, Buck Compton." She murmured into his mouth.
Dipping down, he hooked an elbow under her knees and picked her up with ease. He nudged his nose against hers with a heart rending grin.
"You could never be anyone's consolation prize, Lucie Swain."