*warning: mentions of garlic bread*

1202 words

(Bucky's POV)

*right after last chapter*

God, that Rogers really is something. If I were any other kid in the school, I would have stayed on that swing set. Everyone seems to hate him and I can't figure out why. He stands up for everybody, is the nicest guy in the whole fucking world, and is just adorable.

He gets himself into sticky situations all the time. Usually he gets himself out of them, or the person whoopin' his ass just gets bored and stops. But this fight, that didn't seem the case. Robert is a big guy and he never quits.

No joke, the man never quits. One time his friend Mark dared him to eat 50 pencils. He had already ate 35 before he threw up everywhere and he continued to eat the other 15. The dude is crazy. And probably has lead poisoning.

So yeah, I was worried for the kid. Yeah, I stepped in and kicked Robert in the nuts. Yeah, I made sure Helen was okay. Yeah, I looked at the drawing he made of me. Yeah, it was good. My nose was a little big.

Does that make me a bad person?

No. (Noses are very hard to draw)

So now, I am standing at the front of the schoolhouse, waiting to return Roger's sketchbook.

*Ten minutes later*

I walk over to say hello when I see him walk out of the office with his mom.

"Hey Steve!"

"Oh hi James."

"I saw you got in a pretty bad fight there buddy."

"Yeah, and I heard you got me out of it."

"I think you were doing just fine on your own." I smirked.

"They had me pinned to a tree man! I was seeing double and choking on my own air!"

"Well, you dropped this while saving the day," I hand him the sketchbook. "Have a nice day Steve and Mrs. Rodgers."

"Thanks," he says shaking a little, "Y---eah Have a..have a good day James."

I stand back as they walk. Yeah he is in 5th grade, but he is still very small. He limps a little as he walks home. Poor kid.

Groups of girls come up to me and start screeching.

"AWWW James saved the day!" One with partially large forehead screams.

"Yeah, how'd you do it?" Another one asks.

"Bet he did it with his huge arms!"

To be honest, I don't like all the attention and plus, Rogers was the one who saved the day. I aint' no hero.

"Ladies, please. It wasn't me who did all the savin'. It was that Rogers kid-Steve," I wrap my arms around the girls, playing along. They all giggled and walked away when I gave one of 'em a peck on the cheek.

Girls. Gotta love 'em.

They are literally in 5th grade. I'm only in 6th, but I am mature for my age. I have to be. Got a family to help. Sure all the cursing makes me seem my age, it's what my pop tells me.

I sit through English thinking about well, let's say not English.

Yeah.

I'm about to doze off when I hear the final bell ring telling us it's time to head on home.

I walk to the door and I am stopped by Mrs. Washington, the teacher.

"I'm proud of you Mr. Barnes. Today you showed some true heroic acts!"

"Thanks, ma'am. But, with all due respect, that was Steve doin' all the saving. I just rushed in and helped." I replied, sick of hearing about how I 'saved the day'.

"Well, I'm sure glad you did. I was wondering, you know how Steve is skipping a grade at the end of the year? Well, I was wondering if you could be his buddy for a while, make sure he is safe." She asks.

"Steve's moving up a year?" Guess the kid is smart too, huh.

"Yep! He is the smartest kid in his grade and needs a challenge. You up to helping him?"

"Yeah, Yeah sure. Why not?"

"Alright, thank you James."

"No problem ma'am." I say as I walk towards the door. No one is in the hallway, thank God, I don't want to deal with people right now. I walk past a couple rooms and see Steve's picture hanging on the wall with the academic team. Small kid, you can tell he doesn't eat much. Next to the picture, an article is posted with the headline "Hero Saves the Day: Steven Grant Rogers brings Gold Medal Home for his School".

Dang kid. He never stops. I take the picture and article off the wall and put it in my pocket. I don't know why I do, but I have it now.

I walk home and see my mother and father sitting down at the table, talking. I walk down the hall and sit down in my room. I read more of the article because, well..... I'm bored.

"Steven Grant Rodgers is a small boy from Brooklyn, but he has a big brain. He saved the Academic Team of his high school from a nearing defeat. The question was: What is the 74 element on the periodic table. None of his classmates could answer, even though most of them were juniors and seniors! Rogers being the only elementary-grade participant swiftly answered: 'Tungsten, the strongest metal known on earth.' Way to go Steven!"

"This kid, huh. He sure has a way of saving the day." I whisper to myself.

"What was that honey?" My mom asks, leaning against my door-frame.

"Oh just nothing. I have been tasked to look after this kid who is skipping a grade next year, and it's only the first day of school!" I sigh, although I am not entirely upset with the situation.

"Oh, well it's just like your older brother used to do with you! Look what a man you've become! You got to help this little boy. Then you can make him into the young man your brother made you!" She looked down at her feet and then back up at me, tears falling off her face. I rush up and give her a hug, wrapping my arms around her as she hiccups into my shoulder.

"I'm just so proud of you son. You have turned out so well."

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

"OH my lasagna is done! Dinner time everyone!" She steps away and brushes her tears off.

"I might sit this time out. It's been a long day."

"Okay honey, get some rest."

I sit back down on my bed and start crying myself. Why? I don't know?

Fuck, I'm a grown man and I'm crying.

God, my dad would be so disappointed.

Everyone expects me to be this big, strong man when all I want to do is have someone who wants me for me. I know my mom does, but that's different.

I just want a friend, or a girlfriend.

Someone who sees me for me.

And not just a big sack of man candy.

"Oh wait James," My mom yells from the other room. "I made Garlic Bread!"

"Oh, well you should've said so! Coming!" I wipe my tears off with my jacket then hid the article under my bed.

Garlic Bread time.