i'm with you, every step of the way

Chapter 16

The first month of summer quickly passed by and July came, which means that it's Steve's birthday on the fourth. He's having a pool party at his house, and with him being popular, that meant most of the people at school are going. The rest of the football and basketball teams are there, and so is the rest of the cheerleaders.

The party was already in full swing when Natasha got there along with Maria and Pepper. There was a lot of people already dancing and swimming, girls running around in their bikinis and some guys were shirtless. Music was blaring everywhere and it felt like a school dance.

"Hey Nat, come on let's dance!" Pepper told her, leading her into the dance floor. Maria was already deep into the house, looking for Sam. They figured that most of the guys are probably swimming in the pool since that looks to be the most active part.

"No, it's okay, I'll just stay here. I don't really dance anyways." Natasha said, stopping in her tracks and shaking her head. Pepper looked at her for a moment before nodding and going to the patio area where the blaring music is coming from and the place for dancing.

Natasha awkwardly walked around the house, smiling at some people here and there. She knows she should look for Steve and that she shouldn't be awkward- he is her best friend after all - but being in the party showed Natasha just how different their lives are. Although she knows these people probably know her name, it's only because of what she went through. She can be really introverted and that's just something that's difficult for her to overcome, even though her job as a cheerleader gets her to be active and socialize at school.

She walked towards the sliding door that leads to the pool and saw her friends; the guys were all in the pool, playing with a beach ball, some playing with a game that involves perching girls up on their shoulders and the girls would then try to take the other girls down. Bucky saw her first and he smiled brightly, waving at her to go in. She went out, clutching her gifts carefully in one hand so that it won't get wet.

"Nat, come on, join us!" Bucky called out, swimming to the corner of the pool to get closer to her. She shook her head and Bucky pouted. "Come on, pretty please?"

"Nah, I didn't bring clothes," Natasha said. It's true, she really forgot to bring them. She could just cross the street and get some but she won't .

Bucky glared at her. "You didn't bring to swim clothes to a swimming party ?" She nodded. Bucky rolled his eyes, knowing that she probably just doesn't want to swim. "Do you want me to sit with you?" he offered. He knows how quiet she can be and she appreciates that, but she doesn't want him to babysit her the whole day.

"Nope, you go on and enjoy Barnes," she offered him a smile and walked away. He swam back to their game with a beach ball but kept an eye on her.

Natasha walked to where Steve was, on the other side of the pool. Unsurprisingly, he was surrounded by his teammates and lots of girls. The image of them all but rubbing up to Steve is annoying Natasha to no end and she has an urge to pull all their hairs out, but she ignores it because she has no right to feel that way. As she was getting closer, the girls could see her and shot her dirty looks. Natasha just ignored them and the way that they seem to creep closer to Steve. She put on the biggest smile she could and crouching down, she tapped Steve's shoulder.

"Happy Birthday Steven," she said in the warmest voice she could muster at that time.

Steve turned around and beamed at her. He has been waiting for her to come and was kind of disappointed that she wasn't there earlier but he knows she had to go somewhere that morning. Now that she's here, his party suddenly seemed livelier and happier, well for him, at least. "Thanks Nat! Come on, join us!" he invited. She shook her head and whispered a small "nah," and he nodded. "Maybe later?" he asked again, and this time, she nodded and smiled.