Chapter 8

The assignment was simple, find an outfit that would turn every head at the club so she could find a man to distract her from Barnes. Simple. She grabbed a red V-neck dress, knee length, thin straps, silk fabric. She knew red was her color, it made her light brown skin glow. Her hair was shoulder length and wavy, she curled a few pieces; it was simple but she liked the end result. She only applied light makeup, mostly because she wasn't very good at it. Black stilettos, small black purse, red lipstick and done.

Lizzy went to the common room to meet Nat and Wanda. Pepper was off being powerful and successful, but she promised to join next time. She was unhappily surprised when she walked in to find Captain America and co. looking like they were heading out on the town as well.

"Oh. I didn't realize Nat had invited you to join us."

"Well don't you look gorgeous," Sam said, "Nat didn't invite us, we didn't realize you all were planning to go out as well."

"Oh, I guess it was meant to be kind of a girls' night. You look handsome too Sam." He did, they all did. Lizzy tried not to stare at Bucky, she had a feeling she wouldn't be able to look away if she did, but she saw that he was wearing a black button up, leather jacket and dark wash jeans, overall a very Bucky outfit.

Bucky had no such compunctions, he openly stared at Lizzy, he really couldn't help it. That red lipstick, her dress showed off her curves, her soft skin, her gorgeous brown eyes; he couldn't tear his eyes away if he wanted to, and he didn't want to. Sam gave a very unsubtle cough and Bucky looked away as the other girls walked into the common room. They were smiling and laughing.

Then, like he had a sixth sense that there was drinking happening without him, Tony sauntered in in a pristine bespoke suit. "What is this? Are you all going out? And without inviting me?!" Tony said with mock anger and hurt.

Lizzy said sheepishly, "it was meant to be a girls' night Tony."

"And what's your excuse Capsicle?"

Steve blushed, "we weren't really planning on anything special."

"If you didn't know we were going out, why are you wearing a suit?" Wanda asked.

"I don't need an occasion to look perfect. Luckily for you terrible friends I'm ready to go, Clint is with his family and Thor is in Asgard so you can't disappoint them with your abandonment as well."

"Stop being dramatic Tony," Nat rolled her eyes.

"We really weren't planning to go out all together," Lizzy repeated, "just the girls."

"Well we're together now, we all want to go out, the more the merrier," Tony said. "Besides, it's on me," as if it wasn't already obvious.

Lizzy sighed, this just ruined all her plans for tonight. She had failed at staying away from Barnes and she wouldn't be able to find a date tonight, not with the guys around to drive away any eligible men. She was tempted to back out at the last minute, but there was no way to do it without being incredibly obvious about it. She was ready to go, so she followed the others into the car.

Bucky was just as disappointed as Lizzy. The whole point of this evening was to find someone else to bring home. How could he look for another woman when the one who was currently haunting his dreams was standing right there looking like something out of his fantasies? Sam and Steve shoved him forward before he could back out, he would just have to avoid Lizzy and hit on whichever girl at the bar was prettiest.