Brooklyn, New York, February 1934
Valentine's Day was just around the corner and Bucky finally felt somewhat ready to finally ask Josephine out on a date. His body was practically buzzing with nerves, and he had been rambling on about how he wanted to ask her to Steve during their class. Bucky and Steve walked out of their classroom and Bucky frowned when Josephine wasn't at their usual meeting place. The three of them always met there after class so that they could walk to lunch together.
"Where's Josie?" Bucky asked as he looked around, brows pulled together in confusion.
"Maybe her class ran long or something," Steve shrugged.
"Her class never runs long, Stevie." Bucky retorted. "And she's never late. Ever."
"Buck, she's probably just talkin' to her teacher about something." Steve tried to reason with his friend.
Steve looked around and stiffened when he finally spotted Josephine. She was walking beside Thomas Stevenson, a well-known boy in their grade. She was giggling at something that he had said. Steve swallowed nervously and glanced at Bucky, who was still looking around wildly.
"Buck, I-I found her," Steve stuttered slightly, dreading Bucky's reaction.
Bucky followed Steve's line of sight and stilled at what he saw. He watched as Josephine's eyes sparkled as she spoke to Thomas excitedly. Shit. Bucky knew he should've acted sooner on his feelings.
"Oh." Bucky's shoulders slumped and his lips pulled into a frown.
"Maybe they're just talking about a class they have together," Steve suggested, attempting to reassure his friend.
"He's definitely flirtin' with her," Bucky grumbled as he continued staring at them.
Meanwhile, as Thomas talked with Josephine, he felt two pairs of eyes on him. He glanced up and saw Bucky and Steve staring at him intensely.
"Um, Josie, is there a reason why your friends are staring at me?" Thomas' brows furrowed slightly.
Josephine glanced back at the boys and sighed heavily. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "They're just waiting on me. We eat lunch together every day." She waved it off. "Um… so, I'll see you in a few days?" she smiled hopefully.
Josephine had immediately said yes when Thomas asked her out for Valentine's Day. She was still harboring feelings for Bucky, but she figured that there was no way that he could possibly have the same feelings for her. If he did, he would have done something about it by now, right? So, Josephine decided that it was in her best interest to try and move on.
"Definitely," Thomas smiled at her. "I'll pick you up at six."
"Alright," Josephine beamed excitedly. "I'll see you then, Thomas."
"See you then." He parroted. "Now go be with your friends." He added, leaning down to peck her cheek innocently.
"Bye Thomas," she waved before she walked toward Steve and Bucky. "Would you both stop staring at me?" she glared, clearly annoyed with the both of them.
"What were you doing that jerk?" Bucky demanded as they made their way to the cafeteria.
"Thomas is not a jerk, James." Josephine rolled her eyes. "He's kind and wants to take me out on a date on Valentine's Day."
Bucky's eyes widened at that. "What?! He wants to take you out for Valentine's Day?"
Josephine pursed her lips tightly and crossed her arms. "Is it really that shocking that a boy wants to take me out on a date, James?"
"N-no, i-it's just…" Bucky trailed off, swallowing nervously.
"I mean, I know I'm not as pretty or popular as Dot, but god forbid a boy be interested in me romantically." Josephine scoffed.
"That's not what Bucky's insinuating," Steve cut in, trying to diffuse the situation.
"But why Thomas Stevenson?" Bucky questioned. "He's so popular and so—
"What? Too good for me?" Josephine cut him off. "God, are you that superficial?"
"No, Josie," Bucky huffed. "You know that's not what I mean."
"Then what do you mean?" Josephine questioned as
"I just… don't think he's right for you," Bucky argued.
"You're just saying things and giving no concrete reasoning!" Josephine snapped in annoyance. "Why don't you just mind your business, James?"
"I just want what's best for you." Bucky defended. "Thomas Stevenson has a ton of girls fawning over him."
Josephine reeled back and nodded. "Oh. Okay. So you do think I'm not good enough for him. And that he could find someone better."
Bucky's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, Josie—
"I'm going to the library." Josephine sniffled. "Stevie, you can take my lunch. I'm not very hungry anymore." She told Steve. "And I'm walking home by myself today."
"Josie, come on, that's not—
Before Bucky could finish what he was saying, Josephine walked away briskly, leaving the two boys alone. Bucky's shoulders slumped and he shook his head at his own stupidity.
"I made her cry," Bucky whispered, hating himself for it. "She's crying 'cause of me."
~/~\~
After their last class of the day, Bucky and Steve walked out of the schoolhouse and looked around.
"There's no way she actually went off by herself," Bucky mumbled, searching for Josephine.
"I don't know Buck, she was really upset earlier," Steve muttered.
"I know that, Steve." Bucky snapped, immediately regretting it. "Sorry. I just… she's never walked home from school by herself."
"We can knock on her door and check on her when we get home," Steve suggested. "She'll be fine, Buck. She probably just needed to cool off."
"I'm so stupid." Bucky reprimanded himself. "I've probably lost my chance with her and I've upset her. I can't lose her as a friend, Stevie, I just can't."
Steve sighed heavily, sympathizing with his best friend. "You won't lose her as a friend, Buck. One fight isn't gonna ruin your friendship. And it's one date between her and Thomas. Who knows what'll happen."
"We never fight." Bucky shook his head as they got closer to their apartment complex. "And it's my fault. I shoulda just kept my big mouth shut."
"All you can do is apologize," Steve replied as they walked up the stairs of their complex. "I don't think she'll be mad at you forever, Buck. You're one of her best friends."
Bucky just sighed as he stopped in front of Josephine's front door. "I think I need to do this alone, Stevie."
Steve nodded in understanding. "Let me know how it goes?"
"I will," Bucky promised.
Steve nodded and walked toward his apartment. Bucky took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves before he knocked on the door. After a few moments of anxious waiting, Anna opened the door.
"Hi Bucky," Anna smiled softly.
"Hi Mrs. Howard," Bucky swallowed nervously. "Is Josie home? I...I know she walked home by herself today. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. And maybe talk to her for a bit?"
Anna nodded and moved aside for Bucky to walk inside the apartment. "She went straight to her room when she came home and hasn't come out."
Bucky swallowed nervously and walked toward Josephine's room. He stood there for a minute before he finally found the courage to knock on the door. After a few moments of silence, he heard shuffling and the door finally opened. He looked at Josephine and he could practically feel his heart breaking. Her eyes were puffy and red, a clear sign that she had been crying.
"What do you want, James?" she questioned, her voice slightly hoarse.
"Can I come in? Please?" Bucky practically begged.
Josephine eyed him warily but eventually stepped aside so that he could come in. Bucky felt the tiniest bit of relief at that and walked into her room.
"Josie, I'm so sorry about today," Bucky started sincerely.
"Why'd you say those things?" Josephine asked, sniffling lightly.
"I didn't mean them. Not at all, Josie, I promise." Bucky swore, taking her hands in his. "You are more than good enough for Thomas. You're the very best he can get. In fact, I think you're too good for him."
"Really?" Josie sniffled.
"Really." Bucky nodded.
"All I wanted was yours and Stevie's support," Josie replied. "This is my first date ever and I'm actually really nervous. What if I mess it up, James?"
"You won't. You couldn't mess it up." Bucky assured. "And of course Stevie and I will support you, Josie. I'm really sorry about earlier. I just… I don't think there's any guy on the planet that could measure up to you."
"Well now you're just trying to boost my ego." Josephine laughed.
"Nah, it's true," Bucky assured. "And I promise that Stevie and I will support you. If this guy even thinks about treating you poorly, he'll have to answer to us."
Josephine giggled and hugged Bucky tightly. "Thank you, James."
Bucky hugged her back tightly. "Forgive me for being an idiot?"
"You're forgiven." Josephine nodded.
Bucky smiled at that, relief flowing through his body. All he wanted was for her to be happy, even if it wasn't with him.
A/N: I hope you all are enjoying this story so far! Reviews are much appreciated :)