Steve

I woke up to the smell of coffee and bacon sitting up I saw Natasha in the kitchen buttering the toast I got up and walked over to her.

'Morning'

'Morning…I made you some breakfast' she put the toast on the plate and handed it to me.

'Thanks' I watched her as she took her own plate and sat across from me

There was an awkward silence between us

'How long are we away from New Orleans' I asked trying to start conversation

'Umm…we are about 4hours away so we need to make route soon so we could get there on time'

'Ok' silence fell again this time was interrupted by my phone ringing I looked down and saw Sharon's name across the screen. I picked it up and walked back over to the living room.

'Hey' she said happily

'Hi, how are things' I replied trying to keep my voice low

'Good I cannot wait to see you, I mean I am sorry about not being able to come Sam told me it's just you and Natasha. You must be going through hell…I mean she's nice and all but she can be a little…difficult to be around'

'Sharon…I' I looked back at Natasha who was taking a sip of her coffee. I walked outside to the porch and sat on the step.

'She's ok you just have to get to know her' I whispered

'Well I know she's your friend, and I am glad she's with you because, I know how much this trip meant to you but she's…you know.

'What?' I asked getting slightly angry by conversation

'Well…you know she has had a string of men and don't want her getting you into trouble on this trip.

'Sharon, that's uncalled for' I said angrily, Natasha is anything but.

'Sorry, Steve I know it's not my place but I thought you should be careful'

'Your right it's not your place, she's my friend and I won't have anyone talking about her like that' I shouted my blood boiling now

'Look Steve, it was taken out of context'

'No it was not'

There was a silence over the phone as she took a deep breath and replied

'I am sorry' her tone was more sincere

'I am sorry too' I replied not sure what I am sorry about but I wanted to end the tension

'Look Steve, I know you said that we should take things slow and I respect that it's just I do sometimes worry for you her influence is strange on you and I know you would defend her to the earth if she gets into any trouble'

I smiled weakly she's right she has a weird hold over me was it that obvious to others all along.

'Steve are you still there?'

'Yes, sorry'

'How long will it take you to get here?'

'Around 4hours'

'Ok…I am counting down the hours' she said sounding a little happier

'I will see you soon'

'Bye' she said hanging up

I looked out into the forest the light creating shadows though the branches. Thinking about everything that has happened last night and today. I rested my face in my hands trying to understand were to go from here knowing that I will have to eventually tell Sharon about how I feel about our relationship whatever it was without hurting her feelings.

Natasha

Steve talking to Sharon was hard, harder than I thought it would be but, I told him to move on with her. It was difficult the way things have become but it was for the best. We were two hours away from New Orleans and we have driven mostly in silence. Steve mostly stared out the window as I drove, we done everything in our power not to touch each other like it was a gateway to something more happening.

I thought about when we were at Dollywood and remembered him screaming and holding on to me on the rides.

'What are you laughing about?' he asked smiling

'When we on that ride and you were petrified '

'I was not'

'Yes you were' He began to laugh with me

'If I remember rightly I brought you a candle and candy floss to make up for the embarrassment of it all'

'Yes that's called a bribe'

His laughter began to fade as he looked straight ahead something changed in his in his mind. It was hard not to reach out and touch him. But I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking it too, how we are going to miss our time together and each other's company. We ended up driving in silence all the way there, no matter how much I miss him it was for the best.

We arrived in New Orleans late in the evening Steve took over driving half way so I used that time to take a nap. I woke up as he drove into a grand house which was being rented out for the wedding. Lights streamed up the path as we drove into to the parking area.

'We are here' he said parking under a tree

'It has been fun' I said looking at him undoing my seat belt

'Yes…I…loved being with you'

'Me too' I leant in and kissed him I had to one last time I needed to for my sanity after tonight what we had was a short romance in the past. His hand came under my top as his fingers graced my bra.

'Stop…we…can't…not here' I said as he began to kiss my neck

'Steve this has to stop' I said more forcefully as his hand dropped from under my top.

'I am sorry'

'No I am I should never of kissed you, we were doing so well' I said as I moved to leave.

'Wait…I am going to miss you' he said his hand rested on my cheek. We stared at each other for a minute knowing once we leave this car it's officially over. He kissed me again this time more slowly.

'Ok' he said nodding pulling away

'Ok' I replied 'Come on let's go' I sighed knowing that this was only the beginning of trying to return back to normal'