"You want some more Honeycomb?" asked AJ pouring more cereal into Jenny's bowl anyway.
"Um, sure," said Jenny, without having a choice. She filled the bowl with more milk, and they chomped together at the table. Cass ate at the counter, looking at his phone.
"Hey, save some for the rest of us you two," said Sam coming down the stairs. He winked at Jenny as he walked into the kitchen and squeezed Cass's shoulders. Then grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and sat down at the table across from her and poured himself some too. "How was your evening?" asked Sam in a sing song voice.
Jenny realized he was talking to her. "Oh," she said through a mouthful of cereal. She swallowed as he eyed her shrewdly. "Uh, fine…"
"Mhm," he muttered, double tapping his tablet as an interface hologram appeared in the air between them. He gave her one last perceptive glance through the projection before he focused on the news.
He knew. He absolutely knew. Maybe he knew more than she did. She averted her eyes and tried to listen to AJ talk about his teacher's science puns and moving into the fifth grade, but her mind wouldn't let her. She felt differently this morning. Not about liking Bucky, her heart still jolted when thoughts of his kiss sizzled in her brain. But a fear that it was all a dream. That it hadn't actually happened or he hadn't really meant it. She hated how much she doubted men now. But it was like a needle poking at her; a quiet voice in the back of her head whispering not to be stupid. She'd been lied to, betrayed and pushed aside so many times, why wouldn't it be the same now? Words were just that. Promises could be broken without much consequence to the promiser, and all the devastation heaped on the naïve promisee.
Bucky was no where to be found this morning. Not on the couch where the blankets were already folded, and not in the kitchen eating pop tarts and plums which she learned he loved from the boys. She'd even casually sauntered past the window to see if the ship was still in the yard. The cloaking was on but the depression in the grass was clear as day. He was still here somewhere. She felt like she was back in middle school, waiting in first period for Zach Rylance to breeze into class ten minutes late with his floppy hair. It made her more nervous than she cared to be.
"…and then Mr. Williams said, "But don't take that for granite," which was too dumb for me, but Bekah laughed, and then..."
Jenny realized she'd been daydreaming while AJ had gone on a five minute tangent. "It sounds like he tries to make it fun for you guys," said Jenny, taking a sip of coffee.
"Yeah. I wish I could stay in his class, but…"
Jenny heard steps on the stairs behind her and swiveled around to find Sarah pulling her braids back into a pony tail. Jenny sighed and wiped her hand on her jeans as her palms began to sweat. "Morning Sarah," she said a little too loudly.
"Morning," said Sarah slowly, a little taken aback by Jenny's volume. She double tapped Sam's tablet, effectively killing the hologram. "No projections at the table," she said.
"You're just like mom," he said.
"Where's Bucky?" asked Sarah. "Pop Tarts still in the box."
"I'm sure Mr. Robot will be here any moment," said Sam.
A sigh stole out of Jenny before she could stop it. She looked up to see Sam eyeing her again, as he held a mug of coffee in front of his face. He raised his eyebrows, and she could tell he was grinning behind his cup. She stared back daring him to say something snide.
As if in answer to Sarah's question, from the basement Jenny heard his measured steps, just heavy enough to make himself known. "Morning," came Bucky's sleepy drawl behind her as he opened the door. She froze, her back straightening and put her hands in her lap. None of this, unfortunately, was lost on Sam.
"Morning Buck," said Sam. "How'd you sleep?"
"Like a baby," he said.
Jenny's stomach dropped slightly. She'd barely been able to close her eyes.
He walked into the kitchen, patted Cass on the back and poured himself a cup of coffee. She stole a glimpse sideways. He was clad in a fresh white tee shirt and jeans, his stubble strewn across his jaw, his hair mussed from his pillow so perfectly, she couldn't breathe. A new problem presented itself. How was she supposed to act now? They weren't together, they weren't exactly dating, and his demeanor clearly said, "I don't want anyone to know".
He walked back to the table with a box of Pop Tarts and sat down in the closest chair which happened to be next to her without so much as a glance in her direction. Taking a slurp from his mug with a grunt, he slid Sam's tablet toward him across the table, double tapped the screen pulling the hologram of the news up. Sarah sat on the other side and held out her hand. "I swear, you and Sam both," she said as Bucky handed it to her with a sigh.
"How about those words?" asked Sam smiling at Bucky.
Bucky glared at him.
Jenny decided to swallow her discomfiture and focus back on AJ who was downing his orange juice with big gulps when she felt Bucky's flesh hand slide against her wrist under the table. She stopped breathing. He took her hand tentatively, his callouses caressing her skin. It was as electric as lightning and sweet as Summer rain. Slowly she laced their fingers together and he stroked her wrist with his thumb, as he ate two Pop Tarts at once. Jenny squeezed their digits together, as her nerves blazed.
Sam looked back and forth between them. "Ok," said Sam to Cass and AJ. "School, work. I'll drive you."
"Don't you have some government officials to call?" asked Sarah, just starting on her toast.
"After. Don't you want to show up with a superhero?" he said.
"Yeah!" said the boys in unison. They ran upstairs to grab their backpacks, abandoning their plates and bowls.
Sarah shook her head with a smile and kissed Sam's cheek. "You always gotta do the most," she said. She grabbed her purse.
A buzzing came from Bucky's back pocket that reverberated against his chair. He let go of Jenny's hand and took out his phone. She sighed, the tickle of his touch lingering on her skin, his warmth still on her fingers.
"Shit," he said scooting his chair back from the table. "No… No," he said.
Jenny looked over at him, and her heart sank. His eyes were filled with panic. He gripped the phone so hard she thought he would crush it in his flesh hand.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I have to go." He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.
"Bucky," said Sam. "What's going on?"
"Emergency. Sam, I'm sorry."
"What about the magician?" Sam asked. "Aren't we gonna work that together?"
Bucky paced to the couch and pulled on his leather jacket, throwing his things into his bag. "I can't think about that right now."
An acute dread rose up in Jenny's chest. He was leaving. He was going to leave her here. She vaulted out of her chair and took his arm. "Bucky stop," she said.
It was like she wasn't there. He swiveled his head around the room, then slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out the front door.
"Bucky, wait." Her voice sounded strained in her ears, frantic. She followed him across the grass in her bare feet, tripping on a branch, stepping on a hard rock. "Stop!" She grasped his hand pulling hard, and he finally halted. She took his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "What is going on? Please, talk to me."
"I have to go home," he said, misery in his face and voice. Slowly his eyes focused on her, and she could see he was coming back to earth.
"Take me with you," she whispered. "Please take me with you. I want to be wherever you are. Even if it's dangerous. Don't leave me." Her fingers were desperate against his cheeks.
"I can't ask you to do that," he said. "It's… personal."
"I don't care. I want to be in your world. Please."
"Oh Jenny…" He dropped his bag on the lawn and took her face in his rough hands too. "You do, don't you?" Their breath mingled in the chill morning air.
"I do. I do so much," she said, putting her forehead against his.
He sighed, closing his eyes. "I want you to too. But I don't know how to explain… You'll… I'm…"
"Sh," she whispered placing her fingers over his lips. "It doesn't matter. I'll follow you. Start the engine. I'll be down in two minutes. Don't you dare leave me here. Swear."
"Jenny…"
"SWEAR."
His eyes softened and the side of his mouth twitched. "I swear."
"Good. Now tell Sam goodbye. We're coming back right?"
"I don't know when…"
"Don't leave."
She ran past a confused Sam on the porch and up the stairs to his room. She grabbed her laptop, and stuffed her clothes into her suitcase, knowing she was forgetting things, but they stayed on the outskirts of her concern. All she could think was if she didn't get to the ship now he would leave and she'd never see him again.
She dragged the suitcase down the stairs, thumping each step, possibly scuffing the hard wood. She would pay Sarah back later. She passed Sarah on the porch, holding her hand to her head, concern written all over her face. Jenny wanted to give her a proper goodbye, thank her for her lavish, unnecessary hospitality but she didn't know how. Jenny gave her a weak smile and picked up her suitcase. She walked down the porch steps.
"Jenny," called Sarah. Jenny turned, to see Sarah giving her a pointed look. "Make sure you're number one."
Jenny nodded again, not understanding, but trying to file it away to think about later. Cass and AJ were hugging Bucky around his middle, begging him not to go, while Sam had his arms crossed in front of him.
Cass scowled at Jenny, hugging Bucky tighter. "You did this," he said, venom in his voice. "You're taking him away. Leave us alone."
Jenny's heart dropped. How many times had she said that to Bucky? Now the shoe was on the other foot, and it cut her straight through. "Cass."
"Hey," said Sam.
"I wish you never came here," said Cass. He let go of Bucky and ran back to the house. AJ sniffed, and followed reluctantly, looking back every few paces. A wave of guilt crashed over her. They were a tight unit of five and she was a wrecking ball, smashing through their bond.
Sam scratched his head. "Wish you'd talk to me," he said.
"There's no time," said Bucky. "Just trust me Sam. Please."
"Be careful brother. I'll keep the wheels turning, but don't forget you're a part of this. I want you back here ASAP. You hear me?"
"I hear you."
Sam grabbed Bucky's fist and pulled him close, slapping his back, emphasizing his care. Bucky nodded and took both his bag and Jenny's walking them into the ship.
"I'm sorry," said Jenny.
Sam grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. "Take care of him. I've never seen him like this, and that's saying something."
"I will," she gulped. She didn't know how, but she'd try. "Promise I will."
She ran into the ship and the door closed.