Elizabeth

The night air was promising to say the least as James, Steve, and I walked down the busy midway. A monorail sped over the epic fair while fireworks sounded off behind us in celebration for the exposition.

"Looks like everyone came to see what the great Howard Stark's up to." James said.

"Honestly, James," I said, walking down the staircase with my friends. "He may surprise you. You just have to keep an open mind, right, Steve?"

Steve shrugged his shoulders and replied, "whatever you say, Liz."

I knew Steve was still upset about his rejection after hearing his tone. Even James noticed it as he gave him a quick glance before looking straight ahead. That's when I noticed the wicked smirk on his face as he couldn't keep his eyes off a couple of women in front of The Modern Marvel's Pavilion.

"You know there's three and a half million women here." Oh God. Here we go as James asked, "how about we go show them a good time, Steve?"

I refused to let Steve answer because I was getting irritated by James as he had the nerve to suggest that when it was our last night together. "And what would I be doing then?" I asked, crossing my arms. "You and your women, James. That's all you ever think about."

"Come on, Liz." My heart beated against my chest when he put his arm around my shoulders and grinned down at me but it immediately clenched when I heard him ask me, "what kind of friend would I be if I just leave you alone?"

That dreaded word I couldn't stand. It's still insane to think how I had a simple crush on him when I was twelve. I then liked him even more when he comforted me after my father's passing. As time went by, I became in love with him. If only he looked at me the same way he did for all the other girls. That's why it hurt whenever I saw him gazing at a women from across a room or how he caressed her cheek and held her with such affection while kissing her.

When his arm left me, I wanted to feel his warmth again, but I wouldn't want to strain our relationship and make it complicated. However, I had a feeling that I was being watched, so when I looked to my other friend, he was looking between us both until we made eye contact. "What?" I asked.

Steve then looked straight ahead and responded, "nothing."

That was odd, but then again, it's Steve. He never said much whenever James and I interacted with each other. He simply watched us. There were times where I could've sworn I saw him smirk whenever James and I often teased or argued with each other.

As soon as we went past the entrance, we heard the speaker announce, "welcome to The Modern Marvels Pavilion and the World of Tomorrow. A greater world. A better world."

We went past a few several displays in glass cases but stopped when we saw a crowd forming near the stage. I looked over at the sign up ahead and saw that Howard Stark was going to perform. I grinned from ear to ear when I saw the stage lights turning on. "Oh my God! It's starting!" I exclaimed.

I then grabbed my friends hands and pulled them along to the front row as they shook their heads at my reaction. I didn't care that I looked so much like all of the other women here. Who wouldn't swoon over Howard Stark? Nearly all of the women screamed Howard's name when he came on stage as the speaker presented him.

The women on stage gestured toward Howard Stark stage right as he strode on stage in a suit and a top hat. He smiled on stage and went to the center of it before taking his hat off to one of the women and giving her a nice kiss. He was so handsome and charming. Almost reminds me of someone else I know as James rolled his eyes when he heard the girls around us shouting their love for him.

When Howard Stark stopped kissing the woman, they smirked at each other as she handed him the microphone while he took his handkerchief out and dabbed off the lipstick from his mouth before speaking into the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said. "what if I told you that in just a few short years, your automobile won't even have to touch the ground at all?"

The women on stage then went over to the red cadillac and took off the wheels. There was something attached to the car that replaced the wheels. The machines were too bulky. It made me wonder what Howard Stark was going to do what he promised us. Could he really make a car float or better yet fly off the ground? The suspense was killing me as I wanted to know if the Howard Stark could accomplish this. That's why I was somewhat thankful for Steve for offering me one of his peanuts that he purchased from the vendor earlier.

Howard Stark then thanked the women for taking off the wheels before standing over the panel next to him. "With Stark Gravitic Reversion Technology, you'll be able to do just that."

Howard Stark then worked on the panel by pressing a button or two and moved a switch up. A great whirring sound came from the car as the machines that replaced the wheels lit up. My lips parted slightly and my eyes widened when the car slowly ascended off the ground and floated just like what Howard Stark promised. I almost wanted to laugh because it was absolutely wonderful.

Even James and Steve were impressed when I looked at their surprised faces and I heard James mutter, "holy cow."

Before anyone had a chance to clap for Howard Stark's accomplishment as he turned to his audience with a satisfied look, the bulky machines sparked and the lights flickered as the car slammed on the stage, taking everyone aback. That's when I looked over at James and saw that he had a toothy grin on his face, so I gave him a look, telling him to not say anything cheeky. Thankfully, he didn't.

I then looked back at Howard Stark when I heard him speaking into the microphone again, "I did say a few years, didn't I?"

Well, that's a shame, and I was really looking forward to it too. At least the audience was being sympathetic to him by giving him a little applause. Even I felt like I had to. Howard Stark at least got the car a few feet off the ground, so he was nearly there to achieve his goal.

When I turned back to my friends, I saw that James was staring at something with intent. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and followed his vision. That's when I felt like strangling him when he couldn't keep his eyes off the women from earlier as they stared back at him. I wanted to pull him back to us when he made his way over to them and told us that he'd be right back while Steve and I watched him go. I should've known that he couldn't help himself. He was like a dog in heat.

I crossed my arms and couldn't keep my eyes off of him as he charmed his way to the girls. That dashing smile could make any women weak in their knees, but whenever he did it for someone else, it made me jealous. Not the type where I would do something insane by dragging him away but the kind that watched from a distance questioning why he never saw me that way. My chest tightened even more when I saw him leaning in one of the girl's ear to whisper something, making her grin from ear to ear. It was to painful to watch, but I couldn't keep my eyes off it. And here I thought he would want to spend his last night with his friends, but of course, it had to be with a woman and two in that matter. Knowing James, he was probably praising good things about Steve to the other woman so that she would go out with him.

Having enough of it, I shook my head and said, "he's unbelievable isn't he, Steve?" When there was no answer, I looked around and saw that he wasn't anywhere near me. "Steve?"

I finally saw Steve a few yards away from me and heading into the recruitment center for soldiers. Not again. Looking back at James, I wondered if I should take him with me to stop Steve. But as I saw him having a good time with those girls, I thought I'd go off to get Steve back myself.

When I went into the recruitment center, I took in my surroundings and saw a crowd of people. Surprisingly, most of them were couples as the women complimented the men they were accompanying. I finally saw Steve standing on a small platform and looked himself in the mirror where it allowed men to see themselves in a soldier's uniform. Unfortunately for Steve, his disappointing eyes settled just above the collar.

Anyone with a heart would pity him, so I went over to him with a small smile and said, "you'll grow into it."

His head snapped over at me, a little surprised how I snuck up on him. He then turned back to the mirror, and I couldn't help but notice how his smile was anything but happy especially when I heard the tone in his voice. "I don't think I'll get any bigger than this."

"Steve," I began and put a comforting hand on his shoulder, "you should know that it's not the uniform that makes the soldier. Your one of the bravest men I know. Stupid at times. But brave."

He finally gave me a genuine smile and asked, "so you're not gonna talk me out of it?"

I shook my head, because I knew it'd be pointless as I replied, "I knew it'd happen. Besides, I don't even think there's anything James or I could say to make you stay here."

Steve looked away for a moment, taking in what I said with a small smile on his face. "So you're saying you're not gonna miss me?" I scoffed and he chuckled when I gave him a playful punch on his shoulder forcing him to rub it as he said, "I'm kidding."

"You better have been," I joked.

Steve sometimes was just as unbelievable as James but in a good way, but I was a little taken aback when I heard him say, "don't worry, Liz. I know who you'll miss more anyway."

My smile slowly vanished when I saw the small smile on his face, so I spoke up about it since I had a hunch as to who he was referring to. "Who are you talking about?"

"Bucky."

My heart beated against my chest rapidly like a gun firing off every second as I couldn't believe what came out of his mouth. I tried to shake my head and cross my arms to give myself comfort while confronting Steve about it, but I refused to look at him in the eye. I didn't want him to know how I felt, because I always believed that it would our friendship circle awkward for all of us.

I needed Steve to make sure that James was only a friend to me, so I lied the best I could. "Well, of course I'll miss him, but I won't miss him anymore than you. You're my friend, and...and he is too so-"

"I know, Liz."

I looked back at him, hoping he wouldn't say it, so I pretended like I didn't know. I was to afraid to ask, but I uttered the words, "know what?"

"How you feel towards Buck, Liz. I've known for a long time."

I shook my head and denied it the best I could by saying, "no. No. You don't know."

That's when Steve gave me a look, telling me that I couldn't lie my way out of it.

James

If I was going to war tomorrow, then I might as well enjoy myself. Good thing the lady had a friend for Steve. We could take them out dancing. Boy, Liz was gonna be so mad at me. Then again, she probably is. It should be alright though if she comes with. Who knows? She might even find some guy to dance with. Then again, Liz doesn't like dancing, so I'm pretty sure she'd want to get ready for tomorrow. I didn't think it'd hurt to ask her though.

When I turned around, I couldn't find my friends, so I excused myself from the girls and looked around. That's when I noticed the recruitment center. Oh great.

I headed inside with the girls waiting outside for me as I told them that I was going to bring my friends with me. I finally found Steve and Liz in front of a mirror talking to each other. I couldn't hear what they were saying, so I went over to them and heard Liz say, "no. No. You don't know."

"Don't know what?" I asked, startling them, especially Liz.

For some reason, they didn't say anything. Since when do they have any secrets? Finally, Liz opened her mouth to say, "how dangerous war is."

I looked back at Steve and realized what Liz meant. I didn't want to believe it, and I hated to say that Liz was right. Steve was the most stubborn man I ever meant. Maybe even more stubborn than me. Still, it wasn't like I was gonna let him get away with it. If Liz wasn't going to tell him, then I was.

"You're really going do this again?"

"Well, it's a fair," Steve told me. "I'm gonna try my luck."

"As who Steve from Ohio?"

I got really annoyed with Liz when she jumped in to try to calm me down. "Don't make a scene, James."

"Oh, I'm making a scene?" She shut her mouth when I reminded her, "they'll catch him. Or worse, they'll actually take him."

Steve looked disappointed when I snapped at Liz. He always did have a soft spot for Liz. Their mom's were good friends since they were nurses and naturally met each other through them, so it wasn't a big surprise for me to see Steve's expression. She told me that once that she liked to defend him from anyone who bullied him, but I think she mothered him too much. Sometimes I even forget that she was a year younger than me.

"Look," Great. Steve's lecture. Just what I was waiting for. "I know you don't think I can do this."

That's when I got in Steve's face and told him off, "this isn't a back alley, Steve. It's war."

I didn't appreciate how Liz put her hands on my chest to push me away a bit from our friend when I was trying to help him from making the biggest mistake as she said, "alright. You made your point."

I didn't get why she wasn't upset as me. Steve was the first friend she made when she came to America. I found it unbelievable why she wasn't begging him not to go.

"I don't understand why you're not upset about this anymore than me."

I didn't mean to take my frustration out on Liz. Thankfully, she wasn't fazed by it. She's probably used to it by now since we get into arguments a lot. "Of course I'm upset about it."

Steve then defended her by saying, "trust me she is."

"Why are you so keen to fight?" I asked, turning to Steve. "There are so many important jobs."

"What do you want me to do? Collect scrap metal in my little red wagon?"

"Yes. Why not?"

Liz tried to tell us to stop fighting, but I wasn't having it. I wasn't gonna let my best friend go to war, knowing that there was a possibility that he could die. It's bad enough that Liz was going to volunteer as a nurse. God forbid she had to take care of Steve in one of the nurse's beds. I don't think she'd handle it to see either of us there, especially if we lost a limb or worse, our lives. She always tried to put on a tough act, but she was sensitive enough as it is. And, despite our differences, I wanted to make sure that never happened. After all, she may be a friend, but she'll always be family just like how Steve and I are.

"I'm not gonna sit in a factory, Bucky," Steve told me. "Come on, there are men laying down their lives. I got no right to do any less than them. That's what you don't understand. This isn't about me."

I glanced over at Liz, and when we made eye contact, she looked away. I knew she wasn't going to fight for Steve to stay here. So, this was how it's going to be? I shook my head, refusing to believe this. "Right. 'Cause you got nothing to prove."

Steve and Liz didn't say anything as they stared back at me. I wish that Steve and Liz would stay here. Now, I had to worry about both of them. I was concerned with how the Nazis would kill Steve right away on the battlefield, and Liz's emotions were going to get the better of her by seeing the horrors of war. I didn't want them to go through with that. I knew I could handle it since I prepared myself by training for it.

"Hey Sarge, are we going dancing?"

I smirked at the women behind me and replied, "yes, we are." I then turned back to Steve and asked him, "one last chance?"

Steve smiled and shook his head, telling me that he wasn't going. That's when I turned to Liz, hoping that maybe she wanted to spend her last night with one of her friends while her other friend went to go enlist himself.

"What about you, Liz? Wanna go?"

All she did was stare back at me, and she looked over my shoulder at the girls before giving me a small smile and shaking her head. "No. You go. Have fun. I need to go pack anyway."

Damn it. I was hoping she'd want to at least have her last night be happy before heading to the campsite. But, when her mind's made up, there's no talking her out of it. She was even more stubborn than Steve.

I looked back at Steve and told him, "don't do anything stupid until I get back."

Steve then smirked as he replied, "how can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."

I shook my head and went over to Steve telling him that he was a punk as he called me a jerk when we hugged each other. Hopefully, this wasn't our last goodbye. I then looked over at Liz and smiled when I noticed that her eyes were watering up but tears didn't fall yet as I heard her mutter, "boys."

As soon as I let Steve go, I went over to Liz and hugged her. She breathed out a sigh of relief and held me. My smile quickly vanished when I felt her hold on me tighten. She was afraid for me, and she had a right to be. No man ever knew what would happen to them in war.

When we let go of each other, I noticed a tear roll down her cheek, so I smirked and joked with her a bit by asking, "don't tell me you're actually crying for me?"

She laughed a bit at my joke and tried to wipe away her tear as she told me, "no. I'm not. I'm just upset, because who else am I going to make fun of?"

I smirked at her cheekiness until she turned to Steve to give him a hug and hugged him tight too as she told him to look out for himself. When she let him go, we all wished each other well. Liz and I then walked away from Steve, leaving him alone so that he could enlist himself, but we both stopped and turned to him when we heard him call out to us, "don't win the war 'till I get there."

I gave him a salute and Liz gave him a wave before crossing her arms to give herself comfort. It's something she always did. When we walked away again, I headed towards the girls, but I stopped myself when I heard Liz sniff as she was walking away from me to get ready for tomorrow. I didn't want her to be alone at this time knowing that she may not see her friends ever again. Steve and I were all that she had after her parents died. In a way, she reminded me of Steve: strong yet so vulnerable. I just hoped that this damn war doesn't break her.

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