Wow. That's the biggest word I have for last week's reviews. Wow. Every time I looked at my mail, someone had reviewed my story. It was so awesome! Thank you all for being such loyal reviewers and fans. I love you guys! Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying the 4th of July (if you live in the U.S.). I hope this doesn't distract from any beautiful fireworks. Happy Fourth!

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Oh come on, I don't smell that bad!" Steve remarked after one long morning of training. He had kept me extra long because he was introducing me to some new moves. He (and I as well, but I would never admit it) smelled like disgusting pigs that had soaked in the dirt too long.

Men.

"You wouldn't know a good smell even if you had a good nose-which you don't by the way!"

"It's better than that girly aroma you call perfume." He quickly wrapped me in a hug before I could protest.

"You are so gross." I gasped as he let me go. I walked over to the counter and grabbed a can of Febreeze. He didn't see it coming when I sprayed his shirt.

"Hey!"

"Awww, is little Steve sad that he smells like a decent human being now?" I shook the air freshener at him with a huge grin.

"Come here!" He yelled at me. But just as in every game of basketball, I dodged him.

"You'll never catch me alive!" I cried as I leapt over the couch and towards the kitchen. Sadly, I was not as fast as the super soldier. He had a hold of me before I could make it to the sprayer on the sink.

"No!" I screamed as he held me in his sweaty embrace.

"Looks like I caught you." He laughed.

"Why are men so smelly?" I tried to squirm out, but his arms were too strong.

"We're not gross. This is a manly aroma." I stuck out my tongue in response. But I stopped my struggling for a moment. Although I smelled the horrid aroma that was his sweat, there was something different about him that I hadn't noticed before.

Besides the nasty gym smell, he really does smell good...

I immediately reprimanded myself.

Stop that! He's you're friend.

I shook myself. What was wrong with me?

"Alright, you two. Wrestling time's over." My uncle's voice snapped us to close attention. He came strolling into the living room, looking refreshed, unlike the two of us.

"What's up?" I asked as Steve freed me from his grasp.

"Nat and I were just thinking..."

"Do you need me to babysit?" Anytime he mentioned him and his wife thinking about something, it usually meant he desperately wanted someone to babysit his demon rugrats. My place used to be an escape from the twins, but now it was used to watch the twins and give him and his wife a break. I couldn't blame them. They had to deal with miniature likenesses of themselves. I was already used to their personalities, so it made it easier for me to deal with their pint-sized versions.

"That obvious?" I could see the dark circles under his eyes. Aunt Nat's were just as dark. If they weren't careful, they might start to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation on their date.

"Just a little." He chuckled. "But please? We'd really appreciate it."

I couldn't turn down the twins. They were my little balls of joy...most of the time, anyway.

"Send them down whatever night you want." They loved my place. I may only be a few floors down, but Auntie Hannie's floor was the best in the eyes of little Barney and Natalia.

"Friday would be great." He breathed out a sigh of relief, one that said 'Thank God I've got an adult to watch my little monsters. And yes, they were that lucky.

Hannah

I was waiting in the coffee shop at seven the night before Carlyle's big test. Steve had gone up to get us some cheesecake brownies (our favorite) at the counter in the middle of his tutoring session. I figured that since the test was about WWII, he might be a tremendous help. And a change of scenery besides the one at the Tower was a plus. I usually wasn't one to get stressed, but Carlyle was about to drive me mad with worry. The test consisted of two essays, a map with points that had to be exactly right, written answers and a chronological order section with twenty events. I was about to pull my hair out!

I'm never going to survive this.

"You know you shouldn't stress so much."

I swore I jumped straight out of my seat. I quickly looked up at the voice's owner and locked eyes with Derek. I glanced down at the books and countless notes in his hands.

"I could say the same to you."

About the time, Steve intervened. He formed a slight frown when he looked from me to Derek.

"Ummm...Derek, I don't think I've introduced you to..."

"Captain America." He whispered, completely in awe. He dropped his books in his daze with a loud thud that attracted a few stares. But they quickly returned to their coffee.

"Sir, it's such an honor to meet you." He dove for Steve's hand and shook it as hard as he could. He had shifted from shock to excitement.

"Derek, keep it down." I told him quietly and he let go of Cap's arm. Now he looked plum embarrassed as he looked at the scattered mess on the floor.

"Sorry. I just...Hannah, you never said..."

"There's a reason for that." Steve towered over him, a glare that I presumed was threatening because Derek quickly shrank below him.

"It's a secret." I told him. He quickly nodded in understanding and Steve slowly backed off.

"So, are you here studying too?"

"Yes."

"Well, aren't you lucky to have a great study partner."

"You'd be surprised." I looked over at Steve. "He forgets some of his dates."

"Do not." He mumbled.

"You couldn't remember when the Battle of Heilbronn took place!"

"What kind of teacher expects you to remember that?" He asked incredulously. It was a lesser-known battle, but of course, our history teacher expected us to know the whole book by the end of the semester.

"Carlyle." Derek and I replied simultaneously.

"We have to know anything and everything about WWII if we expect to pass."

"Well...I suppose I could help the both of you." He looked to Derek hesitantly, who was speechless.

"I think that's a yes." I whispered to him.

It was a night full of surprises, I'll tell you that. Not only did Steve help us get through some major studying jams, but he kind of eased up on Derek. It wasn't like they were taking any steps to becoming best friends, but at least he got to know him a little better than just seeing him on campus.

It had been about an hour when we left the coffee shop, leaving Derek as he walked home.

"So what do you think of Derek?" I asked Steve as I placed myself behind him on his bike.

"Eh, he was okay."

And that was a good enough answer for me.

Truly, I had history tests like that. I love history and I take mostly history classes at my university, but tests can be hard! I only had ten events to put in chronological order, but I wanted to make Dr. Carlyle an evil teacher and put twenty. As always, reviews appreciated. And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for reading!