A/N: To know what led up to the current events in this chapter, you may need to read Flowers at Night, Chapter 5. Wishbone Flower
August sighed as she read the instructions on the two boxes of plan B. She hummed and then read the second one.
Claude chewed at the inside of his mouth, waiting for Auggie to pick something, while Bucky was leaning against the shelf reading along with her.
"Why not just take 2? I picked up more condoms... for another time. Just in case another accident like that happens."
August shrugged at Theo's suggestion. "Eh, only one is recommended, Buck. Thankfully, we came to our senses before it got too extreme. That bath bomb was way too strong. Uhm, this one." She handed it to Bucky, "and yes. More condoms." She patted his shoulder, then turned to see Claude now chewing the nail of his thumb. "Claude, I'm okay."
"Are you!?" He snapped in as low a yell as he could. "You could be preg-"
"And I'm not. This is why we're buying this pill. I know you didn't intend to finish inside me, but we need to be level-headed about this. I'm not ovulating, but I rather not take the chance. Come on." She took his hand and guided him behind her as Bucky frowned at her. "Say it. I know you feel just as guilty too, even if you're not saying anything."
Bucky sighed, then spoke. "I feel responsible."
"Well, you're being responsible more by buying me the pill, and getting more condoms-pick up some lube too, silicon and water-based. Here." She handed him the two she picked out and Bucky smirked.
"Are you even worried?" Bucky asked.
"Not so much. Worrying gets me nowhere. Also, once I take this... I'll be just that much safer. You're buying me ice cream too."
"Am I?" Bucky asked.
August simply looked at him and walked off.
"Pistachio?" Bucky inquired, hooking an arm around Claude's neck as he tugged him in the opposite direction of Auggie.
"You know it." She called out as she proceeded to walk away from them.
Claude scoffed and shrugged out of his boyfriend's hold to which he arched a brow. "Why aren't you freaking out about this?"
Bucky stopped walking and rested his hands on Claude's shoulder after setting down the basket. "Babe, we're being mindful to take care of it. And if it comes to... that, then we'll deal with that too, okay?" Claude nodded, eyes glassy as he swallowed softly. Bucky kissed his forehead. "We'll be fine." He pulled the younger one into a hug, pressing his lips to his temple as he comforted him.
It was a stupid and thoughtless mistake, and neither of them was in their right mind while it happened, but the weight of the guilt still rested on his back like a steel ball. Yeah, he didn't mind having kids, but not yet. Not while they were still this young. The world had so much more in store for them and he needed to find out what that was. When the older one pulled away he smiled along with him. "Thank you."
"I think you needed that hug more than, Auggie." Bucky quipped. Claude swatted his arm, and the two laughed as they turned to get the ice cream for their girlfriend.
~ ~ ~
August chatted with the girls as Bucky and Claude rang up the items. She had panicked a little after their senses came back, but she couldn't allow herself to go into silent panic mode because she still had the option to stop anything from happening. Claude had simmered down significantly from earlier when he nearly burst into tears apologizing. Bucky had this eerily calm aura around him as he got up and got dressed, then instructed them to do the same. He hadn't said a word, but she could feel the way he was kicking himself in the ass over what happened. She sighed, then looked up at them. The pharmacist looked like he wanted to question them, but respectfully didn't. The only words that he said other than, 'Hello, how can I help you?' and, If she knew when the pill should be taken?' He was professional and kind, his eyes didn't linger on her partners, nor did he question them. The staff here must see a lot of odd couples and questionable things in a day of working here, but as far as she was concerned, her business was to ensure she would not get pregnant and that her boyfriends stayed calm in turn.
Bucky swiped his card and was grateful that the pharmacist didn't raise a brow at the things they purchased today, which consisted of six boxes of condoms, two bottles of lubricant, one plan B, a huge tub of Pistachio ice cream, a large bottle of water and some trail mix with fruit and chocolate. They were handed their items in a bag with the receipt waved off with a smile and told to have a great day.
Claude could have died from embarrassment at the items they just left the store with. Did that say a lot about his maturity? Or was that plan B the one thing that was making his insides twist? Whatever it was, he was happy to have left the store and the awkward silence which was filled with only the sound of beeping from the scanner. Walking out with his lovers was a relief, but then he heard some commotion and looked towards where a group of five teens sat on the bench in the park opposite them. He hummed looking to see if he recognized any faces, then a guy wearing a letterman jacket with an orange H lined in white made him realize that they were from Hillbrook High. "Foxes." He muttered.
"Babe, what's the holdup?" Bucky asked, after stepping away from the backdoor of the vehicle after he had set the bag on the backseat. His hand was still on the top of the doorframe as he waited for a response.
"Foxes," Claude repeated louder. Theo didn't question him further and shut the door then moved towards him and hooked an arm around his shoulder. "Our rivals." the teen turned and his face became visible as he laughed at something. Bucky clicked his tongue. "Reynolds Addams."
"Offense?" Claude asked.
"Exactly. He was the reason we nearly lost the season last time. That nasty tackle to Harry was low. Hm, prideful isn't he?" Bucky sighed and shook away the memory. "Don't worry about it. We'll beat them again this year."
Claude glared at Reynolds. "I know. We cannot lose to those jerks. Photographing that tackle was painful, poor Harry was almost benched."
~ ~ ~
Across the way, Reynolds laughed at a joke Ellis gave. He tapped Desirée's shoulder. "So girls, ya gonna make sure to up the ante and boast about ya boys this season right?"
Desirée chuckled and nodded. "Definitely, but you'll have to make sure you're winning otherwise, me and the squad will lose our motivation to keep you and the school in good spirits." A resounding 'ooh' hit him in the chest, which he acted out and she laughed. "Come on, dude. Just ensure that you focus on the objective and don't go astray like you did last time. Nearly cost our school a heap of issues with that dirty tackle-."
"Which was out of bounds mind you!" Ellis chimed in, annoyed that the school news was already recapping the last season's flopped games. We can't lose again to Warwick High, and we definitely can't lose with another scandal! No one will wanna take on our school at this rate." She stabbed a finger in Reynolds's direction. "You're way too rough!"
Reynolds clicked his tongue and pursed up his lips at the Burnette. "Whatever. I won't do that again. Sheesh, I already got enough lag from the coach. Lay off me, a little, Lis." He ran a hand over his buzzcut and sighed. He hummed as the girls changed the topic then caught wind of two people gawking at him and then noticed Bucky Rogers from Warwick. He smirked and nodded once towards the jock. Bucky simply returned the nod and patted his friend on the shoulder, indicating that they get into the car. They drove off a minute later and he chuckled to himself as he turned back to the girls.
Desirée caught onto his subtle nod and checked over her shoulder to see two guys getting into a car and driving off in the next second. Who? And why the heck had he... eh. It wasn't her business to dig further.
~ ~ ~
'"What was that nod for?" Claude asked, in response, Bucky shrugged. "Babe, you gotta tell me."
Bucky swung his head towards him. "Do I?" He chuckled softly, "You may be my boyfriend now, but you're still part of the news media team, can't have you knowing all my secrets."
Claude scoffed at the notion that he'd sell out his boyfriend. "Babe! How could you-"
"I'll stop you right there, Claude. During this season, off the field, we're lovers, and on the field, we are at odds. You make me look good on the news, but you can also make me look bad in the next article, so, no. I won't disclose that information to you." Bucky smiled at him and refocused on the street.
August hummed, leg folded as she caught Claude's shocked face. "Can you tell me?"
"Of course I can babe, just not around Claude. You get it, right love?" He then looked to Claude again who huffed out, and folded his arms, turning to look out the window. Bucky shrugged, "No hard feelings, but I know how much Ms. Von can press you guys to dig up dirty little secrets for the news, especially with the football season opening soon. You have interviews coming, and I can't afford to have you catching me off guard, babe."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Claude said waving him off without looking at him. "Hmpf, I won't even be conducting interviews."
Bucky shrugged. "Doesn't matter."
"You're such a meanie," Claude mumbled.
"A meanie," Bucky raised a brow, "like when you were begging me to go faster in the bathroom?" Claude whipped about, eyes wide and face red.
"S-shut up!"
Bucky gripped the wheel a little tighter, "That's not what you told me while riding-"
"Bucky!" The older one laughed out as Claude cried out his name.
"Yeah, just like that." Bucky laughed at Claude's expense. "I'll stop though. Hah, you act like we weren't all tangled around each other last night. Hey, Auggie, you take the pill, yet?" He found her eyes in the rearview mirror and she nodded.
August yawned. "Yeah, thank you by the way."
"No problem at all. If you need to rest for the day then we'll leave you alone. Right, Claude?" Bucky asked, the younger one simply yawned and then nodded.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," August smacked Theo's arm then, "and stop teasing, Claude." She scolded. "He already feels guilty enough as it is."
"Okay, okay." Bucky brushed off her assault, laughing as he carefully turned into another lane.
Claude huffed, "he's wrong. I wouldn't sell out my boyfriend for views. Not even if they ask me to."
Bucky grinned. "Glad to hear it-I'm still not telling you."
Claude rolled his eyes. That was the most unfair shit he had heard until now, but he got where his lover was coming from, he just didn't like that it insisted that persons in his positions did go low to stay relevant and on top of hot topics. "So, will you tell me after the season?"
Bucky shrugs. "That depends."
He said no more and Claude smacked his arm lightly. "Depends on what?"
"On if I want to." Bucky was as nonchalant as he could be, cause he knew it would piss Claude off. The younger one sucked his teeth and he tried to not laugh in response.
"You two are being so childish. Claude, quit groveling and Buck, stop leading him on."
They turned to look at her and spoke in unison. "But-"
"Shut up, and stop it." August glared at each of them and Bucky sighed and moved forward when the light changed. Claude pouted and didn't say another word. She exhaled and shook her head, going back to her convo with the girls and the rest of the ride to her place was quiet.
~ ~ ~
Bucky stopped August as she was leaving the car, Claude had already gone ahead inside to put the ice cream in the freezer. She arched a brow. "Yes?"
"You're not mad at me, right?"
August looked at her lover, his brows frowned as he held the top of the door and pouted like a kicked puppy. "Mad about you endlessly teasing Claude, or about the bath bomb incident?" He made eye contact and she knew which one it was.
"I always tease him. But I messed up when I didn't check what I was doing. I just want you to know that if you did get pregnant I'd be there for you no matter what. Claude too," he took his eyes off her to stare at her knees as he said the next thing, "We even spoke about it, even though he was freaking out. We didn't mean to. I... should have been more careful." Bucky found her soft eyes again, "can you forgive me? And if the pill doesn't work... I'll take responsibility."
August reached out and cupped his face. "Thank you. And I know why you were teasing Claude so much. So thank you for distracting him from worrying so much, I'll be okay. This pill is hella strong, but I'll also go to the doctor just in case." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, lingering for a second longer before pulling back. "Don't feel bad about the bath bomb, it was a mistake, but a very fun one. Honestly, it would be fun to tell our child how they were conceived, if I'd gotten pregnant."
"Lord Auggie!" Claude cried, "Do you have no common decency? I was panicking after I came to my senses."
August laughed so loud that both of them jolted backwards and she snickered when she noticed. They looked so innocent at that moment. "Unicorn, I am so sorry, but come on, that would be a crazy story."
Bucky exhaled all the weight on his shoulders at her tearing up while laughing at their expense. He shook his head as he walked away from his girlfriend. "You are so unserious for that."
"Hah! Guys wait. Come on, I'm not even on my cycle. Claude, baby." August didn't mean to make a joke, but they were but being so serious and she didn't want them to keep looking at her as if they committed a crime against her. She sighed after wiping her eyes and followed after them. "I know they hate me right now." She muttered to herself as she checked her phone. August glanced over to where her boyfriends sat in the living room and chuckled. "Y'all really gonna give me the silent treatment? I'm not being mean, honestly. I'm so happy that you two treat me so well, and are mindful of my wellbeing, but this is not the end of the world. The issue was nipped in the bud before it got out of our hands and we can move forward knowing that. I'm sorry I laughed, but I just don't like seeing how freaked out you were."
"Auggie, it was shocking. I could have gotten you pregnant." Claude said.
"But you didn't. Look," she walked over to him and sat between them. "I lied, I don't regret laughing at y'all, but," she said when they groaned, "I'm okay. This is the first time an accident like this happened, but my mom never shied away from teaching me about this kind of situation. I was taught how to handle this. As a young woman, this is my reality. But we took care of the mistake, got condoms, and will definitely hide the sex bath bombs away from, Bucky." She snickered again when she heard Theo click his tongue beside her.
"You're the worst." Bucky tickled her waist, making her jump and scream-laugh before Claude joined in.
"Such a meanie. How can you shamelessly dunk on us like that?" Claude was happy she wasn't mad at him or Bucky, but it was a relief to see her laugh even though it was in making fun of their gloomy and worried states. She fought back as they tickled her, but they refused to let her go when she attempted to flee-Bucky pulled her onto his lap and he moved closer to resume her punishment.
"Hah! S-STOP-AHH HAHA W-WAI-NO!" Tears burnt August's eyes as she restlessly fought off her boyfriends from their onslaught of tickles. She gasped, panting and shaking once they finally ceased their attack. Damn, she might have grown abs while laughing so hard? She opened her eyes, her vision blurred as she brushed away the tears. "Both of you suck." She chuckled.
"We know." They said in unison.
"Let me go. I need to pee now."
Bucky thought about it got a second, "after you embarrassed us and still laughed in our faces. Nah, you can go ahead and pee yourself."
August sucked her teeth. "Now, you know, that ain't funny. Let me go Theodore, or I'll take my revenge sooner rather than later."
Claude's eyes widened. "Oh, so there's a revenge plot going on? Am I included too, or is this just Bucky's punishment?"
"Both, if you two don't let me go pee! Please, let go." She tried not to beg as she struggled in Bucky's arms, but the grip he was using was rather firm. Hm, his arms felt so hard, right now. Damn, the perks of having an athlete as a boyfriend.
"Are you enjoying his embrace right now?" Claude asked.
August looked up. Wait, she said that out loud? "Oops."
Bucky and Claude watched as the blush on Auggie's face grew and they snickered. Bucky spoke first. "I'm not even gonna question what you said. Go pee, Auggie." He removed his arms from around her, but she did not move right away.
"You're much more freaky than I imagined, babe," Claude said.
August glared at him. "You're one to talk. Should I remind you of your actions?" She asked, while still unmoved from Theo's lap.
Bucky snickered and had to cover his mouth. "You two are just as freaky as I am. Why are you even trying to roast each other?" They looked at him and rolled their eyes. "What? Am I wrong? Cause I didn't lie." They didn't speak, but their expressions surely said enough. "On that note, I'm gonna shut up."
"That's what I thought." August stood then and walked off.
Claude shook his head. "Well, today was a mess."
"So messy." Bucky flopped back against the couch, closing his eyes.
Claude leaned against his arm, humming, "So, you really not gonna tell me what that nod from Reynolds was about?"
"Claude."
"Okay. Just checking."
~ ~ ~
August didn't join the boys back after using the restroom, instead, she walked back into her room and looked at her recent painting and the easel that was folded in the far left corner of her bedroom and smiled. She was lucky, wasn't she?