Lizzie decided that she needed some time separate from each boy. She just kept telling Riley that she was busy.
She didn't want to just start avoiding Bucky again so she decided to explain first.
She knocks on the door of the Barnes' house.
Rebecca opens the door.
"Hey, Lizzie! You looking for Bucky?" Rebecca asks.
"Yes, actually," Lizzie says.
"He's in his room, you can just head up," Rebecca says.
Lizzie walks up the stairs to his bedroom. The door is closed so she decides to knock.
"Go away Rebecca!" Bucky yells.
"It's not Rebecca," Lizzie says.
She hears him run to the door and then quickly flings it open.
"Hi," Bucky says out of breath.
"Hi, can I come in?" Lizzie asks.
"Yeah," Bucky says.
He opens the door and she doesn't know what to do. He sits in his desk chair so she decides to perch lightly on the edge of his desk.
"Is this a good talk or a bad talk?" Bucky asks.
"It depends on how you take it," Lizzie says.
Bucky stays quiet but gestures for her to go on.
"I'm in love with you, you deserve to know that first and foremost," Lizzie says.
Bucky wants to kiss her so bad at her confession but he can tell from her face that there's a but coming.
"But?" Bucky says.
"You terrify me," Lizzie admits.
Bucky's heart falls, he thought they had gotten over what happened last summer.
She can see exactly how he took her words and quickly reassures him.
"I'm not scared of you. I'm scared of us. Of what we could become. The love I feel for you scares me because you have the ability to destroy me," Lizzie admits.
"You know I would never hurt you," Bucky says.
"I know that but you may hurt me without meaning to. We are so different which makes us work so well together most of the time but the times where we disagree... we have the components for a ticking time bomb," Lizzie says.
"Are you staying with him?" Bucky asks.
"I don't know, I'm not going to go out with him anymore until I decide though. I know that's not the answer you want but it's the only one I have right now," Lizzie says
As much as Bucky wants to fight with her, he knows that will get them nowhere. He wants her to be absolutely sure he's what she wants. He doesn't want her to have regrets down the road and resent him for it.
"I told you, you're the love of my life. If it takes waiting a little longer, so be it," Bucky says.
This almost breaks Lizzie's resolve. She can see that all Bucky wants to do is fight but he is respecting her decision.
"Can I do something really really selfish before I go?" Lizzie asks.
"Anything," Bucky says.
And Bucky wasn't lying. There's not much this girl could ask him for that he wouldn't grant her.
"Can I kiss you?" Lizzie asks.
He gives her a nod. She leans over, bending down to his height and presses her lips to his.
It's the first kiss she initiates and she is surprised to see that there isn't as much guilt as there has been the last two times.
It's slow and soft. It's full with potential promises and it gives Bucky hope.
Lizzie pulls away slowly but stays close.
"I love you Ellie. I know you're doubting us but don't doubt that," Bucky says.
"I'm not doubting, I'm just scared. But know that I really do love you, Jaime. You don't know how desperately I want you but I have to be sure. I hope you understand that," Lizzie says.
"I do. I need you to be sure about us first. When we get together, I need it to be forever," Bucky says.
"I promise, the next time we talk, I'll have a decision for you. I won't keep you on the fence anymore," Lizzie says.
It's not a promise to be together but it's a promise that one way or another, they'll put the possibility of what they have to rest.
"Bye, Ellie," Bucky says.
"Bye, Jaime," Lizzie says.
She did mean it at the time when she said that the next time they talked, she'd have a decision for him but that was before he decided to do something incredibly stupid.
"You're dropping out of school?!" Lizzie yells.
She had just barged into Bucky's room without knocking. He quickly gets up and shuts the door behind her.
"Jesus, Ellie. Quiet down, my mom doesn't know yet," Bucky says.
"Maybe I should get her in here so we can talk some sense into you," Lizzie says.
"You know how hard good jobs are to come by. They said they can hold a position for me until I turn 18 but they need to fill the position soon. They are doing me a big favor already for waiting for my birthday," Bucky explains.
An education is so important to Lizzie. Bucky has so much potential and she doesn't want him to regret not graduating by only a few months. Having a high school diploma doesn't mean much, but it means something.
"What if I can help you do both?" Lizzie asks.
"How would you do that?" Bucky asks.
"I'll work with the teachers to bring your assignments to you. I've learned everything that you're studying right now so I can teach you what you don't understand on your own. You'll probably still have to sit for tests but I'm sure we can find some how make it work. It will be really hard on you but it will only be for 3 months," Lizzie says.
He wants to shoot the idea down but she looks so hopeful. School has never been super high on his list of priorities but it has always been high on hers. If it's important to her, it's important to him.
"Okay, Lizzie. If you can convince my teachers, I'll do it," Bucky says.
Lizzie let's out a sigh of relief.
"Thank you. Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy you got a job," Lizzie says.
"It's just a job at the gym. The pay is pretty good though. I might even be able to get a place of my own soon. I don't want to be a burden on my parents longer than I have to," Bucky says.
"You know your parents would never see you as a burden," Lizzie says.
"I know, I just feel like it might be time to move out soon," Bucky says.
"You shouldn't move until you finish school. You'll be busy enough as it is," Lizzie says.
"I shouldn't be surprised that Steve couldn't keep all of this from him," Bucky says.
"He knows me and he knows you. He knew that there are only two people who can break you when you're being stubborn, me or your mom. I guess he figured I was the safer choice for you," Lizzie says.
"You're sexy when you're bossy," Bucky says with a smile.
"Bucky," Lizzie says sternly but she has to fight a smile from breaking through.
"I know, I know, you're still thinking. Doesn't mean it isn't true," Bucky says.
Lizzie rolls her eyes. He was incorrigible.
"Behave Bucky. On Monday, we are going to talk to your teachers to work out a schedule," Lizzie says.
"They still might say no, you know," Bucky says.
"No, they won't. I can be quite persuasive," Lizzie says coyly.
"Don't I know it," Bucky says.