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When you first arrived at your new university, you knew absolutely nobody.
Moving through waves of unfamiliar faces, dragging your suitcase and heavy backpack down endless of hallways, until you finally find your assigned dorm.
And when you opened the door to see a gorgeous redhead already unpacking on one of the two twin-sized beds, you had no idea you were about to meet your first real friend.
Her name was Natasha.
The two of you clicked instantly—too easily, it surprised you. You became close friends quickly. Telling each other your background, family back home, and even gossips from your hometown.
Within days, she was already pulling you into her world. Introducing you to her friend group like you have known them since forever. That Friday night transformed everything.
“Are you sure it’s okay if I come?” You doubted. The nerves tugging in your stomach as you stop before the door of a dive bar.
Natasha just smirked, the kind that made it seem like she knew something you didn’t.
“Shut up,” she chuckled. “They’ll love you.”
When you walked into the bar, she introduced you to everyone—her sister Yelena, Wanda, Bucky, Sam…
…And Steve.
You could’ve sworn your mouth went dry—stomach burst with butterflies, the second you saw him.
As weeks turned into months, your friendship with the group grew. Tragically, so have your feelings towards Steve. You managed to keep it hidden. Telling yourself it was nothing—just a stupid little attraction to a gorgeous, Greek god-built guy who had a damning dimple, and smiled like he meant it every time.
Then, for the first time since meeting him, you got exactly what you’d secretly—selfishly—wanted, to be alone with him.
It was supposed to be a group study session in the library as usual. You were surprised to see no one there, since Bucky usually camps at a table after one of his classes, but you sit down on your usual table anyway.
Pulling out your books and laptop to start preparing, opening tabs of ebooks and too many PDFs– when Friday afternoon slowly bled into a string of cancellation texts from the others, except for one.
You sighed, deciding to continue alone (and not be too hopeful), till you saw him the second he walked in. No, you probably felt him before he even opened the door.
Steve grinned when he saw you at the usual desk, strutting his way over with his usual confidence that made you unable to look away.
“Hey,” he called, his dimple faint, already showing.
Then he sat beside you, dropping his backpack down, sliding an iced coffee over the table.
“Hazelnut latte,” continued casually. “Don’t worry– I remember the oat milk.”
You felt your heart stop.
“You remember?” you asked quietly, staring at the cup like it was something too sacred to touch. Fingers brushing over the condensed plastic.
He only shrugged, “Of course. You know why the others cancelled?”
“No… weird. Do you?” tilting your head.
He opened his phone to check a text. “Asked Bucky. Told me that something came up… didn’t tell what though.”
“Huh…” you exclaimed confusingly, opening your phone straight to your group chat.
You: where the hell are all of you !!!
pretty nat: emergency came up 😬
sam the bird: deadline got moved up, gotta grind
wanda my beloved: migraine, sorry guys
lena <3: 🤷♀️
You: ??? lena, thats not even an excuse
buckkk: 🫡 good luck, lovebirds
You blinked. Looking up to the side to see Steve already beaming at his phone, before typing back, slowly.
You: liars. all of you 🙄
Almost half a second later–
pretty nat: wow. rude. enjoy ur ‘studying’
sam the bird: use protection
You: WHAT?? SAM?????
wanda my beloved: sam chill!!
lena <3: LMAOOO
buckkk: proud of you stevie 👍
stevie: bucky i swear to god
Slamming your phone down, your face was flushed. Heat creeping up to your cheeks.
Mortified.
When you looked up to him again, he was already holding back his laughter. Hand over his mouth while his shoulders shake as soon as he fails to contain it.
“They planned this,” you huffed, still glaring at your blowing-up phone. For sure, the group chat.
“Oh absolutely,” he smirked, eyes bright with amusement and mischief. “Days in advance, probably—hell, weeks.” chuckling.
“They are insufferable.” You groaned, scrubbing your face with your hands.
He only leaned in. Voice lower as if he’s sharing a secret.
“Honestly? I’m not mad about it.” He shrugged. Making you look up to him, folding your hands down on the desk.
“In fact,” he leaned back on the wooden chair, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m kind of glad they did it.” Face etched with that annoyingly attractive smug grin of his.
Oh you don’t know whether to slap or kiss that smile off his face.
“That so?” you raised a brow. Lips slightly tugging at the corner of your mouth.
“Mhm.” he hummed. Leaning forward again, resting his chin on his palm. Studying you, with his eyes on your lips a beat too long.
“Because,” dragging your name out teasingly, “I may or may not just like spending time with you.” He smiled wider.
You were going to have a heart attack at this point. Unable to even mutter a word, your mouth parted, before it closes again.
His teasing grin turned into something softer. Eyes holding your gaze, open and sincere. Completely smitten.
Steve didn’t care how obvious he was being with his own feelings.
Because for the love of god, he wanted you to know.
The air between you changed, suddenly thick with tension and something unspoken.
He was still leaning forward with his chin resting in his palm. Eyes fixed on your face like he was memorizing every detail. Your wide eyes, slightly parted lips that he wanted to kiss so bad– before looking at your eyes again.
You swallowed. Mouth feeling too dry.
“I–” you finally spoke up, before stopping again.
His gaze moved to your lips again. Just a beat too long, making your breath hitch.
“You okay?” he asked. Brows slightly knitted as his worry showed.
You nodded, though your heart was hammering so loud you were sure he could hear it.
“Yeah– yeah.” You stammered. Taking a deep breath and finally exhaling, letting at least some nerves dissipate.
“Just– I didn’t know–” hesitating, “I didn’t know you felt that way…” You muttered.
He smiled at that. Softer than you ever see him.
“Guess I got tired of hiding it…” He confessed gently. You can see how his cheeks are now dusted with pinkness. Making yourself flushed harder.
You finally distracted yourself. Eyes landing on the long forgotten laptop and watered down ice coffee he brought you, till you felt him shift.
Not touching you. Not yet. But near enough that you felt his warmth and his faint scent of cologne. Lavender? You didn’t care, you just know that it was addicting and you needed more.
Your fingers twitched. An attempt to chase him.
He noticed.
“You don’t have to–” his voice was gentle, careful, but you didn’t let him finish.
Instead, you leaned in just an inch. Close enough that you felt his breath fanned your face, that you could see the tiny freckle on his cheek, the crinkle around his eye as it searched your expressions for permission.
Your stomach flipped. All you could focus on was him. Not the quiet sounds of pages turning, patrons murmuring throughout the library. Only Steve.
He moved slowly, intentionally—giving you time to say no and pull back. Nose brushing yours, just barely there, as your breaths mixed with his.
“Okay?” he breathed quietly.
You nodded.
And then–
A loud THUMP echoed somewhere behind the shelves, making you jerk and pull back.
“Shit!” someone hissed, followed by distressed whispering.
“Sam, I told you not to hover over the shelves–”
“I didn’t hover–”
Steve froze, eyes wide, before groaning in frustration and dropping his forehead on the table.
“Oh my god,” you sighed, heat flooding your face.
From the shelves, Natasha’s recognizable voice carried over, “abort. ABORT.”
Steve finally looked back up at you. Cheeks red, eyes bright as he held back his laughter.
“So…” he started, signature grin already painted on his face, “that was… almost something.”
You smiled back, shy, breathless, and entirely undone.
“Yeah.” You giggled, “almost, huh?”
He finally let out a chuckle, gaze still lingering on your lips a beat too long.
“Rain check?”
You nodded, “rain check,” a small grin on your face.
“Come on out you fuckers!” You called out, making Steve laugh harder, before all of them stepped out. Sheepish smiles on their faces.
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© need_y, 2026 ༝ kudos, comments, and bookmarks are appreciated. thank you for reading! ᢉ𐭩