Chapter Text
7 Days Left ...
“Angie Martinelli.” He said, pointing across the room to a woman leaning against the wall gossiping idly with her friends.
Peggy craned her head up from the couch. She looked across the red solo cups to where Angie was standing. She was extraordinary that’s for sure.
“The one that I had sociology with?” She shook her head, “No way, she’s too nice.”
“That’s the deal.” Howard shrugged, drunkenly falling down on the couch next to her.
Peggy bit her lip, “So if I can sleep with her within a week, I win?”
“Totally.” He chuckled as he finished off his last beer and dropped it on the carpet, “It’s not my 21st birthday if I don’t dare you to do something stupid.”
6 Days Left ...
“Peggy.” Angie called out from behind the counter. There was almost nobody in the café this late at night, so the lack of response was a bit unnerving. She really didn’t want to throw away another cup of coffee today,
“Peggy.” She said, raising her voice.
Just then she spotted the English student passed out on her laptop keyboard ever so peacefully. Angie sighed, a little too tired from the day’s shift than she should have been, yet nevertheless, found herself walking across the room towards her.
Angie put a gentle hand on her shoulder, rousing Peggy just enough, softly saying “Hey there.”
Peggy squinted into the light, picking her head up slowly and making quick sense of her surroundings, “Did I really fall asleep?”
Angie pursed her lips and nodded, a little concerned for the foreign student’s well-being. “I guess you really need this, then.”
Peggy took the coffee into her hands and nodded, still a touch out of it at this point. Angie smiled at her before heading back towards the counter. Peggy’s attention was refocused on her computer where her scholarship application for ROTC sat. Nobody tells you that you have to do more work once you get accepted and everything. Even once you’re in college it never stops.
She took one sip of the coffee and instantly remembered her weekend bargain.
“Angie!” She said with a start.
The woman looked up from where she was cleaning, “Something wrong?”
“No, it’s fine. Wonderful coffee, just – “ She paused, “I know this is strange but could you look over this essay for me?”
Angie shrugged, abandoning her rag and leaning on the counter, still so far away, “Why don’t you have Stark look it over for you?”
“Do you honestly think Howard is the best person to proofread a paper?”
“And you want somebody you’ve only had one class with to do this for you?”
Peggy smiled, “Please?”
Angie rolled her eyes, “Fine. I’ll close up.”
Peggy nodded.
“You’re awful at sentences, Peggy. These are all so wordy.” Angie shook her head, highlighting something else.
Once they had managed to get to the library things had gone pretty smoothly. They were seated at one of the tables in the back where nobody else would make too much noise and Angie was unfortunately destroying her scholarship essay.
Peggy put her head down, “Americans have such a different idea of these sort of things.”
“Don’t blame this on America.” Angie had a coy smile on her face.
They were joking now. Peggy’s hopes flared up again. Joking was good. Joking was great in fact. All great things start with joking and Angie was fabulous at it. There was a certain chemistry to banter and if she had it with Angie then her foot was already in the door.
Maybe that wasn’t exactly the best phrase. Foot in the door sounds manipulative. Not that the bet she had with Howard Stark wasn’t manipulative. It did go against a few of her tenants of feminism, but she’ll be damned if she turns down a bet from him. Their competitiveness was almost deafening.
But Angie was cute. And there was nothing wrong with that.
“America is the source of many of my problems.” Peggy responded finally.
“Then why are you here?” Angie raised her eyes from the laptop screen to meet Peggy’s.
“To meet people. To see beautiful sights.” Peggy stated calmly.
It was a good line, Angie would admit. Although she wasn’t about to read into anything. Not tonight at least. Angie scrolled up to the top of the page.
“Why do you need to apply for a scholarship? Doesn’t the military pay you to go to school here?” Angie asked.
“It’s far more complicated than that. But 5 am wake-up calls make up for how much they pay to send me here regardless.”
“You have to be up in five hours?”
Peggy smiled nervously, “Sleep isn’t exactly a priority in my life anymore.”
“I love sleep. I couldn’t survive a day without it. I need eight hours plus a nap and maybe some more shut eye. What else could possibly take priority over that right now?”
“Talking with you isn’t too bad.”
Angie smiled, returning her eyes to the computer, “Want to see my comments?”