Chapter 6

As expected, Selene woke up with a headache. The young woman opened her eyes and was instantly blinded by the day lights that were coming through her windows. She closed her eyes with a groan before she carefully opened them again, trying to get used to her surroundings. She was laying on the couch and a blanket was covering her, how did she get here?

She got on her feet and looked at the time – it was nine in the morning. She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth to remove the last taste of alcohol. Then, she entered the shower and sighed contently as the hot water hit her skin. She tried so hard to not think about her problems but it was pointless. She recalled the sound of that man's voice on the phone, a man that was impersonating a dead person – what a sick thing to do. She shampooed her hair and her hands froze mid track as she remembered pieces of the night before. James had brought her home after he had seen her in this pitiful state.

Selene washed her hair and body, and left the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. She was definitely going to apologize to James, later, for her behavior. She wasn't the type of person to drink her issues away, but last night was really overwhelming.

The last time, Selene had seen Adam was when he had left for college. That day, he had come to her house to break up with her – a three year relationship. He wasn't fond of long distance relationship, so she had tried her best to understand him and they had parted on good terms. She had kept her facade before him, not wanting to show any weaknesses but that night, she had cried herself to sleep. One month later, she had gotten a phone call: Adam had been killed in a car accident – this was one of the worst days of her life. He was her first love and he still occupied a special place in her heart, even now.

So, when that person told her he was Adam, she had refused to believe it. Why would they do that? What did they want to achieve?

But what if Adam was still alive?

Selene shook her head, before she put a simple dress on. She didn't want to think of that possibility, because it would change everything. She didn't want to flee again because, after twenty years, she finally deserved to be happy...and this time, she was going to fight for it.

She heard someone knocked on her door and she went to see who it was. When she opened it, she smiled at the other person.

"Hi!" James said.

"Hi!" she repeated. "How are you?"

"I'm the one who should ask you that question," he replied, his hands inside his pockets. He seemed nervous.

Selene moved aside, signaling to him that he could enter her place. "I had a light headache when I woke up, but I'm feeling better now." Now that you're here, she thought. "I wanted to say sorry, I must have freaked you out. I'm generally not like that." She sat on the couch and he sat on the chair, facing her.

"It's ok, I understand. I was just worried about the man that was with you, yesterday. He didn't seem friendly. Is he causing you trouble?"

Selene bit her lip, not knowing if she could open her heart to him about this, but when she met his sincere blue eyes, she knew that she could trust him.

"Let's say I thought I could forget my past, but I was wrong." she told him, and Bucky nodded because he, more than anyone, understood what it was to have the strength to forgot the past and move on.

"So you're fleeing from it, why?" he asked her.

She looked at him. "Don't worry, I'm not a murderer or anything like that. You're safe with me." she told him, with a playful tone.

Selene noticed that he had went still for a moment. Had she met him uncomfortable? She frowned.

"Is it why you came here?" he asked her, and she raised an eyebrow at him so he went on. "You don't seem the type of woman who came to live in this building because she wanted to."

"I don't need more, I've learned to live simply." she just answered. "Besides, I don't mind living here since I have you."

She froze. Did she really just say that out loud? She glanced at James who was looking at her, shocked and she mentally scowled herself. Now he was going to think that she was a creep.

"Remember when I told you that I wasn't looking for friends?"

Selene nodded slowly, and he smiled softly at her.

"I lied." James declared, and her heartbeats increased faster. "I came here to avoid a past as well, I thought that being alone was a good thing, but you managed to change my thoughts. I don't know how to describe it but you made me feel like I'm worth it. I'm glad to have you here too Emma."

Selene was so happy about this outcome that she wanted to cry, but she restrained herself. Her soulmate wanted her in his life, she didn't scare him away. Perhaps, there was hope for her after all.

Before she could say something, someone knocked at her door for the second time today. It was David.

"Hello miss Jones, someone left this for you." it was a small white envelope and she took it, feeling something hard inside.

"Let me guess, tall and bald?" Selene replied and the other person nodded yes. "Thank you."

Selene closed the door back and inspected the envelope. She opened it to find an USB stick inside, as well as a piece of paper.

When you're ready... - A

"You ok there?"

She had almost forgotten that James was in the room with her, so she got startled when he had spoken. The young woman put the memory stick back in the envelope and threw it on the table. She didn't know what kind of games Elijah was playing but she had chosen not to play it.

"Yeah I'm fine." she replied, smiling faintly. She then went to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.

Didn't seem like it, Bucky noticed but he chose to pressure her. His eyes landed on the envelope and he wondered what this was about. The tall guy, she was referring to, could only be the man that brought her home last night. It seemed that she didn't like him by the look of it. If that stranger was harassing Emma, then he needed to be dealt with. Bucky was going to keep an eye out for him.

He glanced at Emma and he suddenly felt sad. She seemed pensive, deep in her thoughts as she hold the glass of water without drinking it.

Selene pulled herself together and drank the water, before she looked at James and smiled before joining him. Bucky was stunned to how she had managed to change her mood, the sadness had completely faded away.

"What did you decide to move here, James?"

"Why do you ask?" she raised an eyebrow at him before crossing her arms on her chest.

"I'm just curious. I want to learn more about you." She replied. "Don't you trust me?"

"Do you?" her interlocutor answered back, and she tried to fight back another smile.

If he only he knew how much she would trust him with her life. Her mother had told her about the bond between two soulmates. She hadn't listen to her mother's words very well because she had had a hard time coming to terms with this whole soulmate thing, but she recalled that time when her mom had spoken about the unbreakable bond.

"This is more than just finding your soulmate Selene. If they accept you, a bond will be created and you won't be able to live without them. You will be devoted to him…This is forever."

"Of course I trust you James." she said, sincerely. "And I hope, you'll trust me enough to open up to me."

"I wasn't always a good person Emma. I hurt people, in the past."

"Are those people the reason you fled here?"

James agreed with a nod of his head and Selene felt that he wasn't ready to talk about it yet. She understood.

"I guess this is why you didn't want my friendship at first," she stated, thoughtfully. "But you know what? I believe that your past doesn't define the person you are now! You're a good person James, and I don't need to learn about your deepest darkest secrets to tell you that."

Bucky's heart literally did a flip at her warm words, she wasn't lying to him and he realized that she was exactly what he needed right now.

"Are you sure you can handle being friend with me?" he softly asked her. "This is your last warning Emma." He said, as he stood up.

"Yep." She said, playfully. "I think I made it clear a numerous of time."

"Then, there is something you need to know about me."

Bucky didn't know what had taken over him at that moment, but he felt like he could trust her. He could see that she cared deeply about him and he started to feel the same way as well. It made him think of Steve Rogers, his best friend from another time who also cared about him too.

Emma watched, carefully as James took off his gloves and she briefly caught sight of his left hand. She shook her head – this couldn't be… Then he removed his jacket, and she held her breath as she stared at his left arm.

"Is that- Is that metal?" she wondered, as she got closed to him. He nodded, speechless at her reaction. He didn't scare her away, that was a first. He watched as she carefully put her hand on his metal one.

There was a slight pause before she spoke again. "I know who you are..."she whispered quietly, as she took his hand in hers. "...and I'm not afraid."

He didn't know how his arms found themselves around her but he enjoyed the warmth of her body against his. For the first time – since a long time – Bucky didn't feel like a monster.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

End of the chapter.

Thank you for reading it, I hope you liked it!

A big thank you to all of the people that followed my story.

Love you and see you next time.