James arrived a little early to school on Monday. He actually had to see Steve again, he couldn't avoid it. His first periods went as it had on his first day, he paid attention for a few minutes this time. Third period rolled around too quickly and James was nervous about seeing his old friend.
"Hey James." Steve smiled, walking over to James' desk.
"Leave me alone Steve." James rolled his eyes.
He wanted to talk to Steve, in fact he kind of wanted them to be friends again, but it had been so long since he had a normal friendly conversation with someone. Aside from Brock, who didn't think should count since they were dating, he didn't really talk very kindly to or with anyone. James didn't really know how to respond to people when people say something genuinely nice to him, most people are afraid of him, or are trying to pick a fight.
"I just need to know what I did?" Steve replied, nervously fiddling with his hands, "I haven't seen you in five years and you don't even want to say hi to me. We were best friends, what did I do?" He asked sadly.
James sighed, "You didn't do anything, alright? Just leave me alone."
"Alright I'm sorry I keep bothering you." Steve looked down and headed back to his desk, "But don't expect me to leave you alone forever, I really missed you. I want to be friends still."
That hit James in the gut. He missed him. Steve had missed him. And he said it. Brock never told him anything like that. Did Steve really care? No, of course not, Steve was the one who wasn't there for him, Brock was there, Steve's just trying to trick him! Isn't he?
James couldn't focus through the rest of the class even if he tried. Not that he did that very often. He kept thinking about Steve. It was always stupid Steve Rogers. Steve seemed to like him, the old him at least. He didn't deserve Steve treating him so well when has been a jerk, he knew that, but Goddamn it he actually liked it.
After what felt like forever there was only five minutes left of the class. James glanced over at the blond, finding his focusing on his notes. He pulled out a piece of gum and wrote a short message on the wrapper. He tossed it over to the other teen.
Steve looked up when he felt something hit the side of his head. He noticed a piece of gum sitting on his desk. He questioned if it was actually for him or not, then he saw the note. He knew that hand writing it was a little smaller and neater than he remembered but it belonged, undoubtedly, to James Buchanan Barnes.
'If you really want to know meet me at the side of the school during lunch. - James'
Steve smiled at the little note. He glanced over at his old friend who was looking at the clock. It was nice that he wanted to talk, Steve had missed him a lot, he wished they had stayed in touch.
Steve put the price of gum in his mouth and pulled out a pen.
After class James saw Steve walk out of the classroom without bothering to stop by his desk. After Steve was gone he left the room and headed to his locker. He opened his locker and a gum wrapper fell out. It was the gum wrapper. The back of it said 'Okay, I will. - Steve' under his note, the other side was a little sketch of a german shepherd puppy.
James smirked briefly, then pocketed the gum wrapper. Just as he was about to head to his next class someone crashed into him. It was a girl. James recognized her but didn't know her. She had short, poorly cut dirty blonde hair, she was a little tall for a girl, not big by any means and obviously likes to keep toned. She looked completely panicked.
"Shit. I'm so sorry!" She got up off the ground, "I really didn't mean to run into you."
James just glared at he. He really hated physical contact, he honestly even hated it when he had to shake the principals hand. He's alright with his dad, he's alright with Brock, but anyone else he can't handle. When your in a gang your trust in people leaves quickly.
"I... I really... Really didn't mean to." The girl stuttered, "I swear."
Everyone was staring at them. The weird girl had just ran into the most feared guy in school. They were whispering.
"I suggest you all shut the hell up and get moving. This ain't a show." James shouted, he stared the girl down and lowered his voice, "Look kid, I'm in a good mood today so get moving before I change my mind about letting you off easy."
The girl kept her head down and rushed past him. James walked down the hall towards his next class as he walked he could hear people whispering. They were still whispering about him.
'This is a good mood?'
'I expected him to put her in the hospital.'
'Are we sure that's the guy who beat up Matt?'
'I bet it's all just an act, he only beat up Matt to make us scared.'
James slammed his fist on the locked next to him, nearly punching one of the kids in the face, "I told you to shut the fuck up!" he shouted.
He made to his next class while everyone was silent. Drama, he hadn't been to this class at all last week. He'd been sent home then stuck in detention before he ever got to go. The late bell rang right after he walked in. There were a few chairs, including chairs you would see around a dinner table and a bar stool, there where a few wooden boxes as well.
"Welcome, you must be James." The teacher smiled, she was something. Crazy dress colored hair, weird rainbow makeup, honestly James kind of liked her style.
"Yeah." James mumbled.
"Take a seat, anywhere works including the floor." She gestured to the room.
Most of the class was on the floor. James sat on the bar stool and dropped his bag onto the floor. Next to him sitting on one of the wooden boxes was a tall boy. He had long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, wore a green untucked button up shirt, black skinny jeans, and loose black tie. He was wearing makeup, green eyeshadow, applied very well, and black lipstick even. This made James think that maybe it wasn't a boy, non binary maybe, possibly a girl, regardless they were attractive, not in a way that made him want to be with them, just good looking.
"I take it you only joined this class because it was the only elective not filled to the brim." They stayed looking at their nails.
"Yeah? How the hell did you-" James began but was promptly cut off.
The other person smirked a little, "I've got a real talent for reading people."
James was about to reply when the teacher spoke up, "Alright we have a new student, you all know what we do when we have a new student."
A girl in the front of the class rose her hand, when the teacher pointed to her she said her name, grade and some random fact. This went through all five other people in the class before it reached the black haired kid.
"Loki Odinson, junior, first class bit-" They were cut off.
"Mr.Odison do not finish that statement!" She demanded as Loki smirked. "And you?" She looked towards James, the last one to go.
"James, senior, I'm new."
"James that isn't really what I meant by a fact about yourself." The teacher giggled a bit.
The teacher began some lesson about building suspense, at least that's what James remembers of it. He quickly stopped listening. He instead began drawing on his metal arm with an expo marker.
"You are a performer." Loki half asked half stated.
"What?" James replied.
"You aren't an actor, that is clear. Although, you must be good at it. You do seem to be a performer of some kind." Loki explained.
"Dancer." James answered, not looking up from his arm.
"Hm, you never struck me as a dancer, you don't exactly look the part." Loki stated glancing towards James, "Ballet, tap, and contemporary I'm guessing."
"Jazz." James added, "You missed jazz, I thought you said you were good at this."
"I can't get everything correct, I got that you weren't an actor, you are a performer, three of your dance styles, and your sexuality." Loki smirked.
James scoffed, "Never told you my sexuality, you can't know that you're right."
Loki sighed, "No, but I can figure out gender and sexuality better than I can anything else." They explained, "Pansexual, am I not right?"
"You are insane." James replied, "But you're right. And you asexual, non-binary?"
"Well, for today." They chuckled "I'm gender fluid."
"So will you always wear makeup or just, feminine and non binary days?" James asked.
"Why?" Loki raised an eyebrow.
"I would like to know the difference and not have to ask." James shrugged, "I may be a jerk and bitch but I can at least respect pronouns."
"I typically wear makeup on feminine days, non binary will either be makeup and masculine clothing, or no makeup and feminine clothing, and I'm sure you could figure out masculine days." Loki explained, "Though there are days where I have decided to crush all gender norms in my fist."
"You know you're actually pretty cool." James stated, "So far everyone else hear is an idiot."
"I have a feeling Thor is part of the reason for this statement." Loki guessed.
"Your brother?" James asked.
"Sadly." Loki replied. "And sibling, Thor is non-binary."
They talked for the rest of the period. When it ended they parted ways and James headed to the side of the school. He quickly got bored waiting for Steve and pulled out a cigarette. He didn't smoke often, honestly he hated the taste, but it could relax him and for some reason talking to Steve was making him nervous.
"Hey!" Steve jogged over, grabbing James' attention.
"Hey." James replied, puffing out some smoke before putting out the cigarette on the bottom of his boot.
Steve picked up what was left of the cigarette, putting it into his mostly empty water bottle before tossing them both into the trash, "I wouldn't keep smoking if I were you."
"Yeah, yeah. It's bad for my lungs. It could kill me. I've been told." James rolled his eyes, "So what did you want to know?"