Chapter Four
James turns over on his side while he sleeps when he hears someone knocking on his door. "Wake up, James! It's your graduation day!" He hears Bobbie announce from on the other side of the door. James opens his eyes feeling exhausted, but knows he has to get up anyway. "Don't make me come back!" She hollers while walking away from the door and back down the hall.
James rolls out of bed taking the sheets with him as he lands on the hard cold wooden ground. He lets out a pathetic tired sigh as he stands up to go take a shower. He stumbles into his bathroom feeling overly tired for it being one of the most memorable days in his life. He turns on the shower letting the water run while he takes off his clothes. He sighs before hoping in the shower letting the cool water hit his back. He washes his hair and body still half asleep. He turns off the shower feeling a little more awake. He wraps a towel around his waist before he steps out the shower feeling clean and fresh for the day. He turns on the faucet to brush his teeth as he runs his fingers through his soaked hair.
Once he is done getting his teeth brushed he changes in boxers and some basketball shorts to do some push ups and sit ups. "Hundred." He huffs one he is done doing his final sit up feeling ready for the day. He walks over to his bed noticing Bobbie had set out his clothes to go underneath his robe. His eyebrow arches up at the tacky tie laying next to his white button down. "God, mom..." He grumbles while picking up the shirt to put on. He laces up his loafers before heading out the door to head down stairs for breakfast.
"Oh my God!" Bobbie sequels when she notices her handsome son standing in the kitchen, "You look so handsome! Wait-where is the tie?" She asks walking up to him. James smirks while rolling his eyes.
"Mom, that was the uglies tie I've ever seen." James says while walking pass her to the table were his breakfast waited for him.
"But-but you look so handsome in it last Easter." She protests while following him back to the table.
"Leave him alone, mom." Francis chuckles while walking dressed in casual business attire. James looks at Francis with a mocking smirk while he pours himself a glass of orange juice. "What is it?" Francis asks feeling slightly judged by his youngest brother.
"Look, guys, I don't want a big fuss of my graduation today, okay?" James pleads while he stuffs his face with pancakes. They all laugh at his futile plead as they all start to eat their breakfast.
James jumps up from the table once he finishes his food. "Alright, I gotta go! I'll see you guys at the graduation!" He announces while he towards the door and grabs his cap and gown.
Everyone throws up their caps while the football field echoes with cheers from parents and loved ones. "Congratulations to the class of 2027!" The principle announces with a massive grin while all the students hug each other knowing this part of their journey is over. Griffin runs over to James while waving his diploma in the air. "James, we did it! I mean it's finally over! Life will begin soon!" He yells overly joyed. James laughs while he watches his friend trip on someone else's rob making him fall on his face.
"You okay?" James hollers out trying to catch his breath from laughing. Griffin stands up turning beat red while dusting off the grass off of his black rob. Griffin sticks up his middle finger at James while he steadily walks over to him. "Hey! Don't be using such profanities on school grounds." James yells out with a cheeky grin.
"You two haven't changed much," Francis says from behind with laughter deep in his voice. James turns around with a big smile while his brother gives him a massive hug. "So proud of you."
"It's only high school," James comments with a shrug. Francis rolls his eyes knowing how easy schooling has been for James.
"It's more than what some have." Francis adds while Clint and Bobbie walk up.
"Oh, look at my grown up man!" Bobbie sequels while hugging tightly onto James. James chuckles while hugging his mother back. James is handed a bouquet of flowers by his mother. "Alright, time for a family photo! This is a big event!" Bobbie announces with a sparkle of joy in her eyes. James and Francis groan at the notion of pictures. "Smile, boys!" She orders while they all stand there smiling in front of the camera while a stranger takes the photo. Once the photo is taken they all start to walk back to where the car is parked.
"Now off to a potluck at the house. Everyone will be there!" Bobbie adds while they all get into the car.
"Everyone?" James asks with a flicker of hope.
"Yup! Griffin and his family, all of your friends, and the neighbors!" James smile fades away at the listing on people coming.
"Anyone else?" He asks trying to hide his disappointment.
"Sam will be there." Clint says knowing what he is truly asking.
"Anyone else?" James croaks.
"T-that's all." Francis stammers to say. James looks down feeling disappointed while he thinks back on Bucky. They all ride in silence back to the house.
James watches as everyone talks and enjoying each other company, but his mind couldn't stop thinking on Bucky. It's been at least nine years since the last time he saw him. It seemed like after his parents died everyone who was a part of them suddenly was no longer a part of him. The pain from that was more than the pain he felt from the death of his parents. James stares aimlessly out into the field with the music from the house suddenly becoming fuzzy in his ears. He was happy to have graduated and moved on with life, but there were so many questions left unanswered that he couldn't really move on from. "Why you out here all by yourself?" Griffin asks finally finding James out at the barn. James turns to find Griffin walking towards him.
"Just thinking." James answers vaguely. Griffin sits down next to him with his arms folded across his chest.
"Your mom sent me out here to find you," Griffin says with a sigh knowing that some days are harder for James, and today seemed like his depression was heavier today than normal. "She didn't want you to be alone with your thoughts." He adds noticing the dark circles under James sleepless eyes.
James smiles softly knowing she's always worried about him, "I'm fine." He reassures distantly. Griffin nods his head knowing he's not, but not about to fight him about it.
"It seems to be a party going on over there." A man with a thick german accent says into his phone.
"I don't want to make a scene, so wait until there's only them there." A female voice with a British accents orders from the other end. The man nods his head agreeing.
"I'll call you back when everyone is gone." He says before hanging up the phone, "So James Rogers this is where you live." the man scoffs with amusement.
"I want to make a toast to these two fine boys who have finally succeeded, and now on their way to adulthood! I wish them the best of luck, to Griffin and James!" Griffin's father holds up his beer bottle proud of his son and the boy he claims to be like his son. Everyone takes a sip of their drinks. Someone clicks their fork on their beer bottle as well raises it up.
"I also have to say something but directed towards James. I remember when he was born he looked nothing like he does now. He was a towhead and looked more like his father. I know if they were here today they would be so proud of you, especially your mom. Congratulations!" Sam announces with tears brimming his eyes. James smiles weakly towards Sam knowing he has always been there for him.
"Well if everyone is done making announcements and toasts we shall now dig into the cake!" Bobbie exclaims in good spirits. Everyone chuckles as they agree it is time for the sweet treat.
Sam walks over to James with a big proud smile, "I meant every word I said." James chuckles at his statement.
"I believe you." James laughs with sad eyes. Sam looks downwardly seeing the true feelings James is feeling. Sam puts his hand on James' shoulder letting him know everything is going to be okay.
"Your life is about to change. 'Bout to go to New York for school, and be a hotshot soccer player like you already are. Plus, you most likely will get a girlfriend if not more when you get there." Sam encourages with a wink.
" I hope I get a girlfriend. I'm almost twenty, and still haven't found a girl." James points frustrated. Sam laughs knowing it's true.
"You're not almost twenty, you're not even nineteen in a half." Bobbie corrects overhearing their conversation.
"Still." James quips defensively.
"Don't try to grow up too fast..." Bobbie whispers to him while walking past him. James smiles knowing his mom still sees him as the nine-year-old lonely boy. James turns his attention back to Sam wanting to ask the question that's been on his mind all day.
"Go on and asks." Sam encourages knowing what James want to ask him.
"Why isn't he here?" James asks with pain dripping in his words.
"I tried to convince him to come, but he refused. I don't know James, I really don't." Sam answers with a sigh of frustration. James nods his head knowing he should just give up, and accept the fact that he'll never see Bucky again. "Hey, don't let this bring you down. It's your big day." James smiles knowing Sam is right. Francis walks up noticing the seriousness of Sam and James's conversation.
"I don't mean to interrupt this sulking moment, but I was wondering if James would like to go get some ice cream after this party." Francis interrupts with a cheery smile.
"Why ice cream?" James asks happily to see his brother.
"Because ice cream is your favorite thing, and it always cheers you up." Francis answers with a wide grin.
"What makes you think that I'm sad?" James asks with forced smile.
"You're always sad kid, it's a part of you or something." James shakes his head at Francis's words.
"Sadness is not a part of me, depression is. It's two different things..." James corrects sarcastically with a laugh.
"You have sick humor." Francis comments while shaking his head.
"I know." Sam laughs at them while walking away to find some more booze.
The party slowly came to an end while everyone left one by one each helping in some way to help clean up. It wasn't long until night had fallen upon them making everything come to a sudden end. The only people left at the house were James, Francis, Sam, Bobbie, and Clint giving them time to unwind and reconnect. They all sat out on the porch enjoying the cool summer night.
"Let's go, James. I think I'm ready for that ice cream I promised ya." Francis says while taking his keys out of his pocket. James hops up from sitting down on the porch with child-like excitement.
"Let's go!" He hollers while running down the porch steps.
"Wait, wait where are you two going?" Bobbie asks with a giggle.
"Going to get some ice cream," Clint answers for them with a wink towards the boys. "Let them go, Bobbie, they never get time together."
"Alright, go on." She agrees with a sweet smile.
They watch as the two boys head towards Francis's rental car excited. Once the boys drove away and out of sight, Sam turned towards Clint and Bobbie. "You said that you had something important to discuss with me." Clint clears his throat before asking Sam this awkward question.
"Is Natasha and Steve really dead?" Clint asks with his chest growing tight with anxiety. Sam stares at them blankly taken back by the question.
"W-why do you ask that?" Sam stutters feeling suddenly anxious.
"Francis was in the Ukraine not too long ago for National Geographic, and he said he heard something that implied that they are alive," Clint explains further knowing that Sam is trustworthy. "If anything they are just rumors from the villagers, but he said HYDRA is at it again to capture James."
"HYDRA?" Sam asks remembering his recent conversation he had with Nick Fury. "What about it?"
"They found him," Bobbie interjects with fear in her eyes for James. Sam's eyes grow wide at the news.
"What? How?" Sam suddenly feels angry.
"We don't know." Clint answers while rubbing his eyes.
"But tell us, please. What is the truth?" Bobbie pleads slightly hoping that they were truly dead. Sam hesitates before telling them anything because he knew whatever he tells them could change everything for James. Knowing that no matter what they do HYDRA will eventually find James he decides to tell them the truth.
"Yes," Sam whispers barely enough for them to hear. They gasp at the news truly confused.
"But how?" Clint asks remembering the reason he retired from Superhero work long ago.
"They played dead so that James could have a normal life. They sacrificed for him." Sam explains knowing nothing will justify their actions.
"You don't agree with it," Bobbie observes.
"I never agreed with it, but I wasn't going to go against Steve. I knew why he was doing this, I understood why. I saw why." Sam explains somberly. Clint and Bobbie suddenly became silent as they try to understand the information they just received.
"I think it's time to make our move." The man with a german accent says into his phone.
"Then make the order, I'll be there soon." The female orders with a hint of excitement in her voice.
"Yes, ma'am." the man says while nodding his head to the other vehicle parked next to him.
"Com'on, tell me the truth have you slept with her?" Francis asks with a goofy smile. James turns beat red at the extremely awkward question.
"No! God, I don't even know if I like her." James says while stuffing his face with chocolate ice cream.
"It's not about liking her..." Francis says while rolling his eyes.
"I'm not like you. I just don't go and just sleep with anyone." James adds with a shrug.
"I can respect that," Francis says with a chuckle. "But she's into you right?"
"Yeah, she is. She's always been. I think it's more I'm mysterious and that makes her attracted to me." Francis snorts trying not to spit out his ice cream from James's ridiculous claim.
"Wow," Francis laughs, "Are you serious? You're going with the mysterious trope...? Way over done, man, look you are not mysterious. You are very readable. You're just emo." James tries not laugh at his brother's truthful claim of him.
"I am not emo." James says defensively.
"Not 2007 emo, but maybe a little bit of 90's grunge with also 2017 skater style...think Twenty One Pilots. You are the classic kid who loves rock and alternative music. Which makes you attractive to her, plus you are the captain of the soccer team." Francis explains with a teasing smirk.
James smirks while flipping off his brother which only makes Francis laugh even more. "Ohhh so big and bad for throwing up the middle finger at me. Just say the words, you're a big kid now."
"I would, but it is a public place with children, dick head," James whispers harshly with a glint of laughter in his eyes.
"Oh and don't forget the minimalistic tattoo on the inside of your left bicep and the other on your right rib," Francis adds remembering those tattoos cause James got them when he turned eighteen in Chicago.
"The tattoos are a tribute to my parents, remember?" James explains with a soft smile, "The one on my rib says 'I am loyal to nothing except the dream.' which my dad said and then the one on my bicep is a crescent moon with a quote from my mom that says 'What you carry with you, it weighs you down, down, down.'. Dad helped me pick those quotes out from everything he remembered them saying."
"I never understood the crescent moon," Francis says honestly. James looks out the window out into the black sky.
"The night my mom left the moon was a crescent moon, and I have never forgotten that because that was the last time I saw her," James explains looking somber again.
"I think-" Before Francis could finish his sentence a fire truck flies down pass the ice cream parlor they were at. "I wonder what's going on..." he says know noticing police and two ambulances going in the same direction."
"I don't know let's check it out. It could be an accident." James suggests while standing up. Francis follows James out of the parlor down on the street.
"Or not..." Francis shallows dryly when noticing smoke in the air and flames in the direction of their house.
"You don't think...?" James asks suddenly feeling anxious.
"I don't know..." Francis answers in horror of the thought.
Author notes: Hey guys! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a long while! School has been hectic and also having work...ugh adult life... But I finally got this chapter finished! Luckily summer is coming so I should have more time to update chapters!
-C.R :)