Chapter 2

"Hey, Steve, are you and Bucky coming for dinner at my place this Saturday?" Adeline asked Steve as they sat on a park bench. It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was a comfortable temperature to be outside.

"I'll be there," Steve said. "I don't know about Bucky. He seems a bit preoccupied, if you ask me."

"I know, but he should be able to get one free hour on a Saturday night," Adeline responded.

"Speaking of Bucky," Steve said, nodding over to where Bucky himself was walking with Gertrude. Adeline rolled her eyes at the sight of her clinging onto Bucky's side, batting her eyelashes like a lovesick puppy. They were walking in Steve's and Adeline's direction. Bucky was apparently too preoccupied with his new girlfriend to notice his two friends sitting on the park bench.

"Hey, Buck," Steve greeted as the couple came within earshot.

"Steve! Adeline!" Bucky said in surprise. "What are you two doing here?"

"Well, this is a public park and we do live in the same town so, I don't know. Give me your best guess," Adeline said with a hint of bitterness. Steve elbowed her in the side, giving her a warning glare. Adeline rolled her eyes, looking back up at Bucky. "Hey, my mom wanted to know if you're coming to the dinner this Saturday." Adeline continued to ignore the annoying leach on Bucky's right side, causing her to pout as she was not the center of attention anymore.

"Oh, that's this Saturday already?" Bucky asked.

"Yeah, Steve's coming," Adeline said.

"Oh, uh -"

"Buck, remember you promised me we would go see that new picture this Saturday," Gertrude said, tugging on Bucky's arm, her big brown doe eyes simply melting Bucky's heart.

"Right, I'm sorry, Adeline," Bucky said. His response made Adeline's heart drop. "I did promise Gertrude that I'd take her to a film. Tell Marie I say 'hi' and I'm sorry for missing it." Gertrude smiled as they began to walk away, resuming their gossiping.

"Unbelievable," Adeline said once the couple was out of earshot. "Bucky never misses one of my ma's dinners."

"Like I said before," Steve began, "I don't like her."

|Wednesday, July 4, 1934|

"Happy Birthday, Steve!" Adeline said, hugging the small boy who was now 16. She handed him a small gift and he graciously set it on the counter.

"Thanks, Adeline," Steve said, smiling.

"Where's Bucky?" Adeline asked. "He always beats me here."

"I'm not sure," Steve shrugged. "He said that he'd be here." So they waited. Ten minutes turned into twenty, then forty. Finally, they gave up and ate without him.

"I can't believe he actually forgot," Adeline fumed as Steve and Adeline walked past Fat Al's Salvage Yard. They all suspected he got a new dog but none of them were ever willing to check it out. "It's the Fourth of July, for heaven's sake!"

"Adeline..."

"He's such an ass!" Adeline continued as the sun began to sink below the horizon and the mosquitos began to come out, buzzing about in the still of the evening. "We are his best friends, Steve. His best friends. And he thinks that he can just blow us off because he found a new dame? Next time I see him, he's going to have a black eye."

"Adeline," Steve said, finally shutting Adeline up. "Can we just let it go? Please?" Adeline breathed, trying to calm herself.

"Yeah," she sighed, "sorry, I just ... He's such an idiot." Steve looked at Adeline with a knowing glint in his eye. They arrived at the park, spreading their blankets for the firework show. Adeline was still silently fuming, furious at Bucky for forgetting his best friend's birthday. As if on cue, Adeline spotted Bucky walking with none other than Gertrude Phillips. They were weaving their way through the seated crowd, looking for a good spot.

"You have got to be kidding me," Adeline mumbled, getting up. Steve quickly grabbed her wrist.

"Adeline, leave it," Steve pleaded.

"Steve, I said that the next time I see him, he's gonna have a black eye. I keep my promises," Adeline said, pulling away from Steve. She marched up to Bucky, her fingernails digging into the palms of her hands.

"Adeline?" Bucky questioned once he saw the furious look on Adeline's face. She balled her fist and punched him square in the nose. People around watched the interaction, their mouths agape while Bucky tried to stop his bleeding nose.

"You complete ass!" Adeline yelled. "You idiot! Screw you and your girlfriend! I hate you! You jerk!" She punched him on the shoulder, causing him to draw back further. Bucky finished wiping his face as Adeline continued to fume. He grabbed her upper arm, dragging her away from the gaping crowd to the edge of the woods.

"What the hell?" Bucky demanded, his grip was tight around her upper arm, revealing how angry he really was.

"What the hell? Really?" Adeline questioned angrily, yanking away from his grip. "I should be the one asking you that! You left your best friend on his birthday! You remember him? Steve? Oh, and I'm here too. My name is Adeline Adams, pleased to make your god damned acquaintance." Adeline held out her hand out for a handshake, quickly bringing it to his face, slapping him across the cheek. He groaned, placing a hand over his cheek.

"Oh, God, that was today," Bucky breathed. "I'm so sorry, I - I just forgot."

"Oh, right, you forgot," Adeline said sarcastically. "Everything is forgiven."

"Really?" He asked, bringing his hand down from his cheek.

"No!" Adeline shouted, slapping him again.

"Okay! Okay," Bucky said, grabbing her upper arms, holding them to her sides so she wouldn't hit him again. "I'm sorry."

"It's the Fourth of July!" Adeline hissed. "How could you forget that? We do this every year! What's your deal? Is Gertrude carrying your first child or something? You're glued to each other!"

"No! She's not ... You really think I'm that kind of person, Adeline?" Bucky asked.

"I'm not really sure what to think, James," Adeline retorted. Bucky winced, knowing she was mad when she used his real name.

"Okay, Adeline, I'm sorry, I really am," Bucky said.

"Tell that to Steve, not me," Adeline said. "He's the one you stabbed in the back."

"Okay, okay. It's just - the reason I've been spending so much time with Gertrude, well I think she's the one," Bucky stuttered, his cheeks glowing red at his confession. Adeline would've laughed if it wasn't for the seriousness in Bucky's voice. He couldn't be serious. "Adeline?" Bucky asked, shaking her a bit.

"Fine," Adeline said quietly, staring into Bucky's brilliant blue eyes. "Fine, I understand. You don't have time for your friends."

"Adeline, that's not -"

"I said I got it!" Adeline snapped, slapping his hands away from her shoulders. "Just don't come crying to me when she breaks your heart." There was a loud bang, causing Adeline and Bucky to look to the sky which erupted in color. "Go enjoy the show." Adeline walked away, leaving Bucky standing at the edge of the forest, dumbfounded as the fireworks continued to echo throughout the night. She walked back to Steve, picking up her blanket and storming off. Steve looked back, shocked, quickly following his friend.

"Adeline!" Steve called. "Adeline, wait up!"

"Leave me alone, Steve!" Adeline called back as she quickened her pace.

"Adeline come on," Steve said as she felt his hand in hers, tugging her to a halt. He turned her around, seeing her watery eyes. "What happened?" Steve's voice was soft and it invited Adeline to open up.

"She's the one," Adeline replied thickly, angrily wiping away a tear.

"What?" Steve asked.

"Gertrude," Adeline said. "She's the one Bucky loves."

"Adeline," Steve said sympathetically, pulling her in for a tight hug.

"I hate him so much," Adeline mumbled into Steve's shoulder. What Adeline hadn't realized, and had yet to figure out, was that in order to hate someone with as much passion as Adeline hated Bucky, she had to love him equally as much. And she hated him. A lot.

~*~

Adeline felt numb for a few weeks after the Fourth of July incident and Adeline and Bucky went back to sharing Steve. It was early May of 1935 and it was Adeline's day to walk home with Steve. However, when she came into view of Steve's locker, Bucky was leaning against the locker just next to Steve's, his back turned toward Adeline. She huffed, thinking that maybe she should just leave without Steve to avoid confrontation. Instead, she swallowed her pride and walked toward the two boys with her head held high.

"James, what are you doing here?" Adeline asked, her voice tight. "It's my day with Steve."

"I think you two should talk," Steve said, hesitantly closing his locker, looking between the two.

"No, Steve, don't -" Adeline began to follow the small boy, but she stopped when she realized that if she did leave Bucky, she would never hear the end of it from Steve. Adeline sighed, turning slowly to face Bucky who was not the Bucky she always saw in her classes. His eyes were red and his shoulders slouched forward.

"Well, are you dying?" Adeline questioned.

"No," Bucky said with a small smile.

"Then can I go?" Adeline asked.

"You know, I've missed that sharp tongue of yours," Bucky said.

"Yeah, well you should've thought about that before you replaced Steve and I with that new dame of yours," Adeline responded. Bucky's small smile fell upon the mention of Gertrude.

"Yeah, about that," Bucky said. "We're not together anymore." Adeline felt a hint of pity for him. He looked crushed, he really cared for her and Adeline suddenly felt like she had been completely irrational about this whole ordeal. However, all the times Steve and Adeline were replaced by his clingy girlfriend outweighed her pity.

"Congratulations," Adeline said in a monotone voice. "How does it feel to be replaced?" Bucky looked down, rather ashamed.

"Adeline, I'm sorry," he said. "I was being such an ass."

"If you're looking for forgiveness, you're looking in the wrong place, Barnes," Adeline said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"No, I just want us to get along again," Bucky said and Adeline shifted, thinking it over in her head. She wanted her Bucky back. The fun Bucky that would always do crazy stupid things with her and Steve. "If not for me, then for Steve. Let's just get along for Steve." Adeline slowly nodded her head.

"Fine, for Steve," she said. "But I'm still mad at you, James Buchanan Barnes." Bucky smiled, nodding his head.

"Understood," he said. They walked out together, enough space between them and slowly, things started to fall back into place.

~*~

Graduation came faster than anticipated for both Adeline and Bucky alike. They were definitely on better terms now that they both had their heads on straight. Bucky hadn't had another girlfriend since Gertrude. He really took their breakup hard. He had found out that she had been going out with another man for the whole month of April. Adeline felt bad that the breakup had to go sour, but she was silently and guiltily glad that Gertrude was out of the picture. It was the day of graduation. Adeline was in her best dress and Bucky was in his best suit and tie.

"Happy graduation, Adeline," Bucky said, pulling out a small box from behind his back, holding it out to her.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Adeline said, taking the box.

"Of course I did. You're my best girl," Bucky said with a wink. "Also, I know you got me something.

"What? How'd you find out?" Adeline asked, looking up at him.

"Steve," Bucky responded with a chuckle. "He's a really bad liar." Adeline laughed, giving Bucky his gift. He opened the box to reveal a blue silk tie that reminded Adeline of his eyes.

"Thanks," Bucky said, a smile on his face as he was already taking off his old, stained tie, replacing it with the silk one. Adeline then opened hers to reveal a beautiful gold ring.

"Bucky," Adeline breathed, looking at the simple gold band. "How did you get this?"

"Steve helped," Bucky said, shuffling his feet. "It's a graduation gift from the both of us."

"Bucky, I love it," Adeline said, sliding it on her right ring finger. She pulled Bucky in for a hug and he gladly reciprocated.

"I'm glad you like it," Bucky said. She pulled away, noticing his poorly tied tie. She untied it, adjusting it, then tightening it.

"There," she said, folding the collar of his shirt over the tie so it looked sleek. "Now you look like a true gentleman." He chuckled, looking down at his now properly tied tie.

"Adeline I -"

"Alright, let's get in line!" Mr. Jameson, now older, called over the chatter of the graduating students. "James, Adeline, come on, in line. I never thought I'd see you two graduate." Bucky and Adeline chuckled, getting in line.

|Saturday, July 13, 1935|

"So, Adeline," Adeline's Aunt Deloris began, "when can we expect children?"

"Oh, well I'm going to be going to college," Adeline responded as politely as she could. "NYU actually." Adeline's whole family was in town to celebrate her graduation and she was overwhelmed. This was the fourth relative to ask when she was having children and each time she had to dodge the question.

"A woman such as yourself shouldn't be going to college," her Uncle Benjamin said. "You should find a husband and settle down."

"I'm sure your parents are going to want grandchildren soon," her Aunt May said.

"A pretty girl like you shouldn't have any problem finding a good man."

"You're going to have beautiful children." All Adeline could do was nod and smile. She was just dying for Bucky and Steve to get here so she could talk with them instead of being told what a good mother she would be.

"I've heard you've been hanging around with Bucky Barnes lately," her cousin Charlotte said, sitting down next to Adeline at the kitchen counter. "When's that going to happen?"

"What do you mean? We're just friends," Adeline responded.

"Oh, come on, Adeline," Charlotte said. "He's a looker, I wouldn't blame you. Besides, you two have been the talk of the town. You're always together."

"Oh, yeah?" Adeline asked, taking a sip of her champagne.

"Oh, yeah," Charlotte responded. "Come on, you two can't just be friends. Especially with the way he looks at you. It could make any girl melt!"

"He doesn't look at me in any way," Adeline said. "I promise, Charlotte, we're just friends."

"Whatever, darling," Charlotte said, turning in her seat to look over the mingling people. "Speak of the devil." Adeline turned around in her seat to see Bucky and Steve weaving their way through Adeline's relatives. Bucky's eyes lit up upon finding Adeline. She instantly got up, leaving Charlotte behind.

"Bucky, Steve, I'm so glad you guys could make it," Adeline said, wrapping her arms around Bucky then Steve.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Bucky said with a smile.

"Good, because everyone keeps asking me when I'm having children," Adeline mumbled. Both Bucky and Steve burst out laughing, causing Adeline to scowl.

"Well, when are you expecting? Who's the father?" Bucky asked.

"Stuff it, Barnes," Adeline responded with a laugh.

"Hey, Steve and I were wondering if we could take you dancing tonight if you're not otherwise occupied," Bucky said, looking around at the party.

"My God, yes," Adeline said.

"Oh! Your boyfriend is handsome!" Adeline's Aunt Judy exclaimed, pinching Bucky's cheeks between her fingers and kissing his forehead, leaving a bright red stain. "Come, come, let me tell you a bit about Adeline so you're not surprised when you join the family." Judy led Bucky to the parlor and he looked back at Steve and Adeline helplessly. Adeline's mouth was agape and Steve was laughing next to her, clutching his stomach. Dinner seemed to go by too slow, yet it was entertaining for Bucky and Steve.

"So, which one is your boyfriend?" Adeline's grandfather asked from across the table.

"Neither one, grandfather," Adeline said, tired of hearing the question.

"Well, what's a young lady like you doing with two fine young men?" He asked.

"They're just friends, grandfather," Adeline said and her grandfather scoffed.

"I may be old but I'm not blind," he said.

The last relative finally left, leaving Adeline, Bucky and Steve along with Adeline's immediate family.

"Ready, Miss Adams?" Bucky asked, holding out his arm for Adeline.

"Absolutely, Mr. Barnes," Adeline said with a laugh, lacing her arm with Bucky's.

"Your family is fun," Steve said as the three walked to the dance hall.

"Yeah, try living with them," Adeline responded dryly.

"It's nice that you have them all there for you though," Bucky pointed.

"Yeah, I suppose," Adeline said. "Sometimes they're too 'there for me'."

"Hey, when are you having children again?" Steve asked with a smile. Adeline punched his shoulder, laughing nevertheless. They made it to the dance hall, the band already playing upbeat music. Adeline smiled, grabbing Steve's and Bucky's hands, dragging them up the stairs into the main hall. Off to the sides there were bars filled with people. Everyone had a drink in their hand as the smoke hung low in the room from the cigarettes. The girls were laughing, sitting on men's laps, taking long drags from their cigarettes.

"Might I have this dance?" Bucky asked, holding his hand out for Adeline. However, before accepting, she looked back at Steve, unsure.

"Go on, I'll watch," Steve said with a smile. Adeline eagerly turned back to Bucky, placing her hand in his. He led her out to the dance floor and they fell in with the beat. They began swinging in and out, Adeline laughing. This was where she belonged, this was where she felt at home. She was with the two men she loved and things couldn't be any better. After a few songs, Bucky went to get drinks for them while Adeline and Steve sat at a small table close to the dance floor.

"You know, he really cares about you," Steve said as they stared out at the dance floor.

"And I really care about the both of you," Adeline said.

"Adeline, you don't get it," Steve said, looking at Adeline. "He really cares about you. More than two friends should."

"We're just friends," Adeline said, continuing to look away from Steve.

"That's shit and you know it," Steve said. "If you don't do something about it, it's gonna be like Gertrude all over again."

|Monday, September 2, 1935|

It was Adeline's first year in university and she tested into a higher level debate class. She had almost regretted not heeding Steve's advice to do something about Bucky. He had a new girlfriend come July of 1935. It wasn't any of her business and she knew it wasn't but she couldn't help but get jealous. Adeline knew it wasn't fair to Bucky to continue leading him on so she decided to push her feelings to the back of her mind as she made her way to her first class of first year. She walked into the large lecture hall, looking around, seeing only men in suits sitting in the seats. Adeline huffed as the men looked at her like she was from another planet.

"You must be Miss Adams," the relatively young male professor said.

"Yes, professor," Adeline responded.

"Could I have a word with you?" He asked, gesturing to the hallway.

"Is there a problem, sir?" Adeline asked, adjusting her books in her arms.

"I'm just concerned about the class," he said, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his very expensive pants.

"What about it? I assure you I am perfectly capable of this level of debate," Adeline said. "If you talk to my high school professors, I'm sure they would -"

"That's not what this is about," he cut her off. "If you haven't noticed, not many women are in this program. It's more of a male profession to pursue this sort of political science."

"I can assure you that teaching a man will be just the same as teaching a woman," Adeline said tightly, glaring up at the professor.

"I know you are capable of this Miss Adams. I simply fear you will be a distraction," he said, cutting straight to the chase. Adeline bit her lip, anger boiling beneath her skin, threatening to burst out.

"Well, what would you like me to do?" Adeline asked, trying to keep her anger at bay.

"I am encouraging you to seek out other options," he said gently.

"So, I'm not allowed to be in this class because I'm the only woman?" Adeline asked, standing up now.

"I'm simply saying -"

"And I'm simply saying that I can do anything any of these men can do, if not better," Adeline snapped. "So don't hold your breath." Adeline walked back into the lecture hall, taking a seat as far away from the group of men as possible.

On most days, Adeline kept to herself as best she could. She was already on the professor's bad side and she didn't want to make it worse. However, there was only so much she could do. She led a quiet first semester and aimed to do the same for second semester. However, that all changed mid March of 1936.

"Adeline Adams, right?" One of the men asked after class as Adeline was collecting her books and papers.

"That's me," Adeline responded, barely pausing to look up at the man.

"I'm Thomas," he said, obviously not planning the conversation to go this way.

"Okay," Adeline said, walking around him.

"Hey, wait," Thomas called, jogging to catch up to her in the hallway.

"What?" Adeline asked, stopping and turned to Thomas, giving him her full attention. He wasn't hard on the eyes. He had sharp cheekbones and dark brown hair. It wasn't as dark as Bucky's but it was darker than her chestnut brown. He had hazel blue eyes and wasn't in bad shape. Adeline guessed he went to the gym after classes.

"I was just wondering if you would help me study," he said sheepishly. "Everyone knows you have the best marks in the class." Adeline raised her eyebrows, rather surprised. Most men these days asked her how much she cost per hour.

"Oh," Adeline said, letting her surprise show in her voice. "Yeah, sure. Uh, how about the coffee shop on 57th street. Be there tomorrow at seven."

"Seven, perfect," he said, scribbling a note to himself on his notebook. "Thank you, Adeline." Adeline turned and walked out the door, a stupid smile on her face.

~*~

It was seven in the morning and both Adeline and Thomas were there by 6:30. They had their books open and coffee in front of them by 6:40.

"Yeah, that one," Adeline said, pointing to his textbook.

"I hate the textbook questions," Thomas mumbled as he read the next question.

"Tell me about it," Adeline sighed.

"You skipped a class, you can't tell me that this is hard for you," Thomas said with a playful glint in his eyes.

"It comes naturally to me," Adeline said with a shrug.

"This is university, Adeline, nothing just 'comes naturally'," Thomas accused. "So what's your secret?"

"I don't have one," Adeline laughed. "I study."

"But how do you study is my question," Thomas said.

"Well, usually with my friends," Adeline responded. "I don't just sit in my room and stare at the book."

"Oh, right, Barnes," Thomas said. "Are you two...?" Adeline laughed, shaking her head.

"No, we're just friends," Adeline responded.

"There's an awful lot of talk about you two," Thomas said. "And it's not about you two being 'just friends'."

"We've known each other since the first year of school, of course we're close," Adeline explained. "Hate to disappoint, but there's no romance between us." Thomas' eyes shifted to Adeline's scar, silently asking if someone was the cause of it. Adeline shifted, placing her hands on her lap so the scar was out of sight.

"Excuse me for staring," Thomas said, his face flushed.

"It's fine, I really shouldn't be hiding it," Adeline said. "It's really a stupid story."

"Care to share?" He asked. "I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, no, it's fine," Adeline said with a chuckle. Adeline retold the story of Fat Al's dog causing them both to end the story in a fit of laugher.

"I told you it was stupid," Adeline exclaimed.

"Bucky actually made you go over?" Thomas asked, beginning to sober.

"Yeah, that punk wasn't man enough to check it out himself and I was so damn eager to prove myself to the jerk that I went and got myself this." Adeline showed off her scar.

Every morning without fail, Adeline and Thomas went to the café on 57th street for a cup of coffee and a study hour. Those study sessions soon turned into something more. They almost always ended up talking about something other than what was in their textbooks or what was on their next exam.

|Monday, October 5, 1936|

"So I hear you really found someone. And don't try to brush it off this time. I know you've been seeing someone," Bucky said as he walked with Adeline after some time in the park. It was dusk and the sun was just setting, causing the sky to explode into beautiful colors. The leaves were on the ground and winter was just around the corner.

"Yeah, he's real nice," Adeline admitted. She never really talked about her relatively new relationship with Thomas, fearing that it might put a damper on their friendship. "What about you?"

"I'm just concentrating on my job right now," Bucky responded. He was acting rather distant and it bothered Adeline.

"That's understandable," Adeline said. "How is your job anyway?"

"Alright," he responded with a shrug. "It pays the bills." Adeline wasn't surprised when Bucky had found a job over at Goldie's Boxing Center as a trainer. He was good at it and both Adeline and Steve were proud of him. They fell into a silence. There was almost never silence between the two friends, at least never one so heavy. She finally stopped, Bucky stopping next to her.

"If you want to say something, just say it," Adeline said.

"What do you mean?" Bucky asked.

"You're acting weird," Adeline said.

"Weird?"

"Yeah," Adeline said. "I feel like you're not telling me something. You okay, Buck?"

"I was hoping Steve would tell you tonight, but obviously, seeing as he's not here, I guess I have to," Bucky said.

"Tell me what?" Adeline asked nervously.

"It's Sarah," Bucky said. "She's in the hospital."