It was the end of February, and things with Rebecca continued on much as they were.

She didn't want to tell anyone exactly what was going on, though Bucky was beginning to put the pieces together. Or rather, he already had.

Rebecca had said it herself. She didn't have any friends, and it didn't help that all of her old friends basically turned on her. Bucky knew that she absolutely hated it here and wanted to move back to Russia.

But there was nothing anyone could do, and none of Winifred and George's efforts seemed to be helping. Winifred had forced Rebecca to get a job at the same Starbucks that Bucky worked at, saying that she needed to help pay off the car somehow. However, Bucky knew that she'd never force her to pay anything, and had only gotten her to get a job with the hopes that she'd make new friends there.

Unfortunately, the majority of the people who worked at Starbucks were either old or girls even more stuck-up than Stacy.

A distraction from the whole Rebecca ordeal came in the form of Steve Rogers.

They were the new talk of, well, their friend groups. No one else knew about them yet, and Bucky was glad to keep it that way. Steve had only just come to terms with his sexuality himself, and he wasn't about to go blabbering about it to the whole school, and Bucky agreed that it wasn't the best idea.

Sometimes, Bucky just wanted to hold Steve's hand or briefly peck his lips before going to class as he had seen countless other couples do at his school. But he knew how his school reacted to new relationships, and especially those that involved two people of the same sex. It would be like they were some new exhibit in the zoo, and he wasn't about to put Steve or himself through that.

Eventually, he was sure, they'd come out to the school. Just not yet.

"How are things going with Steve?" Peggy asked one day on the way to their biology class.

It was still weird of her to be so supportive of her and Steve's relationship when the two had dated for a few months. Of course, it wasn't exactly real, but Bucky had always imagined that if he ever had anything with Steve it would hurt Peggy's feelings.

"It's great," Bucky said honestly. They were great. Steve was great. In fact, he seemed to be the only good thing in Bucky's life at that moment.

"And your sister?" Peggy asked, a little hesitant. Peggy knew about the accident, as did most people at their school, though no one else besides himself and Steve really knew the details. Or rather, the lack thereof.

"Not so great," Bucky admitted. "My mom's trying to get her to go back to school. I don't blame Rebecca for not wanting to. This school is crazy."

"It'll die down," Peggy assured him. "There always seems to be something new and interesting that everyone swarms to like flies to horse shit."

"Or to goat brains. . ." Bucky said, thinking of the dissection their teacher had planned for that class.

Peggy's face scrunched up in disgust. "Yeah. But at the same time, I think it might be cool."

"Cool. Right."

**

Bucky wouldn't exactly say that dissecting a goat brain was cool, but the worse thing about it was the smell of chemicals. Even by the end of the day his hands still stunk. He tried washing them a million times, especially after remembering that Steve wanted to take him out on a date.

His mind was a complete jumble lately. He agreed to go on this date with Steve, completely forgetting that he had to work. If he had remembered earlier, he could've tried to get his shift covered, or even cancel with Steve. However, with it looming so close Bucky was looking forward to it too much and ended up calling in sick last minute.

His manager wasn't too happy, but Winifred was. Rebecca ended up taking a shift, which as far as Winifred was concerned, it was another day that she wouldn't be moping around at home.

In the end, it all worked out and things were beginning to look up for Bucky by the time the last bell rang.

Bucky washed his hands one last time, and now, for once, he didn't smell chemicals. He inspected himself in a mirror, frowning slightly. Because Steve said that he liked his long hair he didn't necessarily want to get it cut, but it was getting to be a little ridiculous. It went a little past his shoulders and he didn't really not how to maintain it anymore. Brushing it only made it go all frizzy.

He decided that for now he'd just throw it up into a messy half-bun style. It made him look a little bit like Jesus, but it would have to do. Bucky had no idea where they were going for this date or what they were doing, but Steve had insisted that whatever Bucky was wearing was fine. Still, Bucky couldn't help but feel like he was a little underdressed for a first date.

He was kind of glad for the simplicity, actually. He didn't like extravagant dates, and he had warned Steve as much. Fancy dinners weren't his thing, and movies were just so unoriginal. In his opinion. Of course, everyone had their own tastes, but Bucky would be happy to just hang around at home eating popcorn and binge watching stupid shows like The Office.

As long as he was with Steve, he honestly didn't care what they did.

After one last look in the mirror, Bucky left the washroom, a smile stretching on his face. His excitement was growing more and more by the second. He had never though a day would come where he could say that he was actually going on a date with Steve Rogers.

He said one last goodbye to the few remaining friends, who wished him luck, then was going outside to meet Steve. They were going right after school, and though Bucky wasn't exactly sure why, he was going to take what he could get.

Steve was waiting for him, leaning against his worn down car. Bucky wasn't even sure what kind of car it was, not knowing much about cars himself, but he knew it wasn't exactly pretty. Still, it had taken up pretty much all of Steve's savings. Yet it was just his, somehow.

Steve, though he had been around Bucky all day, had all eyes for the boy. He was looking at him as if Bucky really had dressed up for the occasion, and Bucky suddenly found that his face felt very hot.

"Y-y-you u-uh," Bucky stuttered helplessly. While he had been excited seconds before, his nerves were beginning to kick in now that Steve was standing before him, looking like fucking Steve Rogers. Bucky took one last shaky breath before continuing. "You look nice."

Steve smiled shyly back at him. "So do you. Are you ready to go? I don't want us to be late."

He then opened the door for Bucky like a gentlemen, and went around the other side to climb in himself.

Then they drove. And drove. And drove.

It felt like hours when really it might not have even been one. The awkwardness grew when neither of the two would say a word to each other, and the longer the silence went on the less Bucky was willing to break it.

Bucky was debating whether it would be Steve's car breaking down first or night falling, though in the end neither were very close to happening. The sun was out and the February air was still oddly cool. It was like spring weather, and the heat from the sun only helped.

Finally, when Bucky could no longer take it, he said, "Where are we even going?"

He had been debating asking the question for the past five minutes, but was afraid to break the silence. But as it reached an hour of driving, he decided it was time.

Steve turned to Bucky for a spilt second and said, "I don't know."

"What?" Bucky didn't mean to sound so annoyed, but he did have homework, and a job, both of which he had dropped for this occasion. Steve was leading them to the middle of nowhere, and they had already wasted so much time. Regardless, he tried to sound more calm as he continued, "what do you mean?"

"I don't know," Steve said again.

It wasn't like they were lost. Well, technically they were lost, but it was almost like that was the point. They had already passed the last point of Bucky's knowledge, a Walmart. They had been driving in a straight line since forever, and it would be easy enough to turn back and find home. Still, Bucky just hoped that Steve had some sort of idea of where they were going.

There were stretching fields on either side of them as they cruised down the bumpy streets in Steve's jalopy. It really felt like a scene from a movie. Bucky wondered if they would ever stop or if they'd just keep going and going. At some point they'd reach the end of the map – fall right off the earth.

Unfortunately, Bucky's bladder had other ideas and at some point they'd be forced to stop.

And they did, at a decrepit looking gas-station. Their visit was quick, and after Bucky doing his business and Steve buying some unhealthy snacks they were on their way again.

They didn't drive for that much longer. Finally, Steve pulled up to the side of the road and let out a heavy sigh.

"Buck, I'm sorry," he said.

"For what?" Bucky asked, confused.

Okay, maybe this wasn't exactly what Bucky had envisioned, but Steve had nothing to apologize for. If anything, the open roads were doing a world of good for Bucky. He felt free, as if he could do anything. The future felt so close and yet miles away all at once, yet Bucky imagined he could do anything.

He had the feeling that it might not have just been the open roads muddling with his thoughts, but a certain Steve Rogers sitting in the drivers side next to him.

"This was a mistake," Steve said. "I wanted to take you on the perfect date, but I ended up getting so worried that I decided to just. . . I don't know. I thought that if I didn't have a clear plan maybe it would just come to me." He turned to look Bucky directly in the eyes when he said the next part. "That's just the way it is with you. I just know. But I guess not this time."

"It's okay," Bucky said, and he was being honest. As he had thought to himself before, he'd be fine doing just about anything with Steve.

Steve frowned. "No, it's not. Anything would be better than this. Whatever this is. I should've—"

Bucky was growing frustrated with Steve, and he leaned forward to kiss him just to shut him up. And it worked. When Bucky pulled away, Steve still had his eyes closed and he was definitely speechless.

"It's perfect," Bucky said. "And look, the stars are beginning to come out."

He stepped out of the car to stare up at the sky. And indeed, it was dotted with constellations, none of which Bucky could name or identify. Still, it was beautiful.

A few seconds later Bucky felt Steve's presence beside him and reached out to grab his hand.

"Wow," Steve said.

Bucky found himself staring at Steve's face rather than the stars, which he found was something much more worthy of saying wow to. In Steve's eyes, he saw the stars reflected – a whole entire galaxy and he couldn't look away.

"I'll get the blankets," Steve said, but Bucky was hardly playing attention.

When Steve returned again he laid a few blankets on the ground, saving a few to wrap around themselves. Though it was growing cooler as the night went on, they were dressed up enough that the extra blankets wouldn't really be necessary.

Speaking of which, Bucky had to wonder why Steve had so many blankets in the first place.

They settled themselves on the blankets laid across the grass, and it was just then that Bucky's stomach growled. He hadn't even realized that he was hungry with so many other distractions. But thankfully, they had boughten some food and drinks.

Just as fast as they had gotten comfortable, Bucky was forced to get up to get the food. He checked the front first, and when it wasn't there he went to the back seat. Thing is, it wasn't their either. Bucky had a sinking feeling, remembering Steve setting down the bag on the hood of his car before opening the door.

"No. . . ," he muttered under his breath.

"What is it?" Steve called out to him.

"Steve, did you, uh, remember to grab that bag you left on your car?"

Steve laughed nervously. "Of course. Why?"

"It's not here."

"Hmm."

"Huh."

It was settled, then, that they did not have any food. How in the world they had driven off without anyone noticing the bag going flying, Bucky did not know. But he was forced to return to Steve empty handed with an empty stomach.

Steve heaved a dramatic sigh. "That was the only food we had. We're literally an hour away from any civilization."

"Now you're just exaggerating. It's only fifty-five minutes." Steve gave him a look. "As long as we have enough gas to get back, everything will be fine."

Steve didn't respond. Bucky completely understood. This lack of food was affecting him too, and it should not be taken lightly. He found himself struggling not to laugh, unsure of whether Steve was being serious about how downhearted he seemed.

"We do have gas, right?" Bucky stared at him pointedly.

"We have gas."

Bucky rocked back and forth on the back of his heels. "So what's the plan?"

"I don't know!" He rubbed his cheek in frustration. "I've ruined this whole thing! We're going to starve, there's no toilets, and it's really cold! I should've just taken you to see a movie. No, that's a horrible idea!" He plopped down on the ground and Bucky joined him. "I'm a failure."

Bucky shook his head. "And I thought I was dramatic."

A bird decided at that moment to take a shit, and it landed right next to Steve's hand, only inches away from the blanket. Before Bucky knew it, they were both laughing hysterically. The whole situation that they had gotten themselves into was ridiculous, but Bucky wouldn't have it any other way.

They just sat they for a while, staring up at the stars. It got colder and colder, though the blankets lay abandoned a few feet away. Instead, they used each other for warmth. Bucky leaned heavily against Steve, resting his head on Steve's shoulder. Steve had his arm around Bucky's waist.

"That looks like. . .a bear," Bucky said, pointing up. "See it?"

Steve looked, narrowing his eyes so much that Bucky wondered how he could even see at all.

"No," Steve said at last. "All I see is a bunch of white dots. But wait— no. That right there looks like a knife."

Bucky didn't see it, but he nodded along as if he did. Steve told a whole story about this 'knife' constellation. Bucky took in every single word without any of it really sticking in his brain. It was nice to just listen to Steve's voice.

It went like this for a while, them taking turns sharing stories about different made up constellations. And when they got bored of that, Steve tilted Bucky's head towards him and they began to kiss instead.

They kissed slowly at first, then more fiercely. The only time their lips ever seem to disconnect was when they need to breathe. It was like they were making up for all the time they hadn't spent together when they should have.

Bucky felt Steve's tongue slide across his bottom lip and gasped, but eagerly open his mouth. Steve's tongue was between his teeth and it was all Bucky could do not to make any sounds, falling back against the ground. Steve was hovering over him, his fingers undoing the bun in Bucky's hair while Bucky slid his hands underneath Steve's hoodie and let his fingertips roam Steve's chest. Steve shuddered, and it wasn't from the cold.

Bucky tore his mouth away from Steve's and lightly kissed his jaw. Steve winded his hands through Bucky's hair, tugging lightly, which Bucky didn't know if it were intentional or not, but didn't care either way. Bucky moved to his neck, mumbling against his skin, "Я люблю тебя."

Steve pulled away from Bucky, his hands gently cupping Bucky's cheeks. Bucky thought he wanted to say something, but then Steve just stared at him with a dazed look in his eyes and his mouth slightly hanging open. Bucky drew his hands away, closing them into fists at his sides. Suddenly, he felt as if he'd done something wrong.

But then Steve reached for his shirt, his hands shaky as they pulled on the fabric. "Can I?" he asked.

Bucky was afraid that they were moving too fast. Not for his own sake, but for Steve's. Steve was the one who didn't want to go too fast, and Bucky was worried that he'd only end up ruining everything by agreeing to this, whatever this was.

Bucky was willing to go as far as Steve wanted to, he just wanted Steve to be sure.

"Are you sure?" Bucky asked.

"Yes."

Then Bucky nodded, and Steve slowly drew the shirt up and over Bucky's head. Steve just stared at him for a moment, as if Bucky looked like a statue of a Greek god. When Steve smoothed his hands down Bucky's chest they were steady with confidence. Bucky was practically beneath him as he hovered over him, Steve's hands sliding down to the dip of his waist.

It wasn't long before Steve's own hoodie was removed, and then his shirt. It was just skin against skin as their mouths collided again; their body heat made up for the cold outside.

And then, after a while, they lay again side by side to stare up at the stars. The stars were pretty, but Bucky was sure that the next day he'd be remembering other things.

**

A/n: I was worried about publishing this because I don't really do good with  making out scenes. . . Lol I'm just an asexual female, though I do know more about gay sex than I should. . . I could probably write smut not too horribly, but I never will. So yeah, no smut for this story.

Also, do you think they're going too fast in their relationship?

What are some good colleges in New York, or the whole country, actually, other than the obvious? Sorry I'm a Canadian who knows nothing.