Saving Steve (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Chapter 6 - Little Black Notebook

Hopping in, you actually laugh out loud when you stretch out your leg to hit the brake pedal and are a good foot away from reaching it - your seat still pushed all the way back.

You fix the seat and start it up, immediately checking your mirrors and your gas. But you do a double take when you notice the gas meter reads full. You could have sworn it had read nearly empty on the way back from the shelter last week.

Brushing off the oddity, you focus on the short drive. You're glad that you make it there before the last rays of sun disappear over the horizon. 

You enter through the back entrance from the parking lot and head straight to the kitchen where you find Blair finishing up the last of the dishes, Casey at her hip as they both have their backs to you.

"Seriously, Casey. Give me some space, man," you hear Blair complain.

"I thought you wanted me to dry while you wash?" Casey answers.

"Yeah. Dry. Not hover, dude. Take two steps to the left."

You laugh as you set down your purse on the table and both Casey and Blair stop what they're doing, looking back at you.

"Y/n!" Blair says, abandoning her rubber gloves and running over to you, taking you in a big hug.

"Ow, Bee," you hiss as she squeezes you around your waist, her arms digging right into one of the long bruises that are almost, yet not completely, healed.

"Sorry," she answers, letting you go. "I'm just really happy to see you," she says, widening her eyes as she nods subtly to Casey.

You look over, but your smile falters the moment you meet his gaze.

Casey's stare seems to darken a shade as his jaw tightens slightly. A sudden rush of adrenaline leaves behind a buzzing feeling in your fingertips as your intuition tells you this man isn't safe. 

But the moment that dark shadow crosses his face, it's gone. Perhaps you imagined it...after all you're still a bit jumpy from last week's ordeal.

He offers you a timid smile, which you return as he tears his gaze from you and looks back at Blair.

"Uh, Blair? Do you still want me to-"

"Go home, Casey," Blair groans, interrupting him. "I'll finish up."

"Great, see you tomorrow," he says, tossing you a nod as he nearly runs out the back door.

"Charming," you say sarcastically. "Looks like he's a real help."

"Better than being here alone. And he is actually a nice guy, despite his...personality," Blair says with a huff. "Anyway, your man's out there. By the door. As usual. If you want to talk to him, you should hurry. He's been leaving pretty much right after dinner."

Your pulse races and you feel a subtle warmth blossom in your cheeks. You'd be lying if you said you hadn't been thinking about him this week.  

"Okay, yeah," you mumble. "Thanks," you answer, giving her one last quick hug before hurrying out of the kitchen and down the hall. 

As you make your way to the main mess hall, each step you take causes your breathing to grow more rapid in anticipation. You're not sure why you're so nervous to see him again.

Reaching the main room you scan it quickly. Your eyes immediately travel to the chair he usually sits in. It's empty. Your heart sinks as you realize you missed him, but before you can be completely disappointed you notice a little black book under the chair.

The stranger's notebook. The one he writes in.

You hurry over, picking it up and glancing around the room once more. Not seeing him in the mess hall you look down at the book in your hands, tempted to flip through it. But you resist the temptation. Whatever it is, you can tell it's private.