November 29th

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Bucky stayed over on Thursday night and didn't leave until his mom and sister got back Friday evening. He spent the weekend with his family, having a belated and subdued Thanksgiving dinner. The rest of Ella's weekend was the same as any other year. They ate leftover sandwiches for three days straight and went on a family hike. She invited Bucky in case he needed an escape, but she was happy to hear his holiday weekend had picked up.

"So, a little birdy told me you had a guest for Thanksgiving," Nat smirked as she walked up to Ella in the school parking lot on Monday morning. Said birdy had already tossed Ella the keys and made his way over to meet Sam.

Ella rolled her eyes as she pulled on her coat, "so you and Steve are talking again then, that's good."

"Don't try and change the topic," Nat teased as they made their way inside. "I want to know all about it, are you two together yet? Spending your first Thanksgiving together is kind of a big deal."

"It wasn't like that, Nat. it's not my place to say, but it was actually kind of a hard day, so no. He didn't ask that question," Ella replied.

Wanda joined the conversation, leaning against her locker as she mirrored Nat's smirk. "You sound a little disappointed."

Ella frowned and shook her head, "no, I'm not disappointed at all, but I guess...I'm ready, whenever he is." She looked over Nat's shoulder and spotted Bucky walking towards them. "Now shush, he's coming," she warned her friends.

Bucky rounded Nat and gave Ella a kiss on the cheek. "Morning, Ella," he greeted.

"Good morning, Buck," Ella smiled before they all went in their separate directions for homeroom.

Ella sat through it with a vacant look on her face as she pondered Nat's words. She was hoping Bucky asked her out soon, she wanted to be able to call this something, give it a name, to make it feel a little more real. Because right now, to Ella, it felt a little like a dream. The bell pulled her from her thoughts and she picked up her bag, making her way into the corridor where she found Nat.

"Anyway, circling back to earlier, how are things with Steve?" Ella asked on the way to first period.

Nat gave her a telling smile, "good, I called him yesterday and we just chatted, got rid of any awkwardness."

Ella nodded, realizing her brother had been hidden away in his room for a good few hours yesterday morning. "That's good, glad to hear it," she said, reciprocating Nat's smile. As they made their way into the classroom, Bucky was already sitting in his seat. Ella glanced over at Nat before dropping down into the chair next to him. Nat looked at her like she was a lunatic.

"That's my seat?"

"Not anymore," Ella laughed. Nat smirked at the two lovebirds and made her way over to Ella's former desk, exchanging a joke with Wanda that Ella couldn't quite hear. Their stifled laughter was the only giveaway. When the teacher appeared, her eyes flicked between Nat and Ella as she noticed the change in seating arrangement but didn't say anything. One of the perks of being good students, Ella guessed.

Bucky leaned over, his shoulder pressed against Ella's, "what prompted this?"

"I missed you," she shrugged. "Plus we barely have any classes together so thought I'd make the most of it."

Bucky smiled, he shifted in his seat, adjusting so his thigh pressed against Ella's under the desk. She smirked, enjoying the subtle contact.

"Just don't start playing footsie with me under the table," she whispered.

Bucky snorted in response and they finally tuned into the teacher's talking, staying pressed close together for the rest of the class. As usual, they spent as much time together as they could of the course of the day, to everyone else their blossoming romance was nauseating, but they couldn't care less about what everyone else thought.

When Ella got home with Steve they heard their mom's voice calling them from the study.

"Hey you two, could you come in here for a second?"

Steve and Ella looked at each other and shrugged in confusion. Neither had any idea what their mom wanted. Ella followed Steve into the room to see their mom sitting at the computer.

"So," she started, "I'm booking the house on the Cape, but I was thinking maybe you guys would like to bring plus ones, friends, this year. So I was thinking instead of our usual house we book a three-bed?"

Steve was quick to answer, of course, he was on board with that, and Ella wasn't far behind. Although her mom's emphasis on the word 'friends' threw her a little. Her first thought, of course, was Bucky, but maybe that wasn't an option. They weren't even allowed to stay in the same bed yet, so inviting him on the family holiday did seem a little far-fetched to her. Still, a lot could change in seven months, she thought. They both thanked their mom, suddenly a little more excited than usual for summer. As they left the study Steve turned to his sister, he jabbed a playful elbow into her shoulder.

"Let me guess, you're running upstairs to invite Bucky?" He teased.

"I don't think that's what mom meant when she said we could bring a friend," Ella countered. "How about you, going to ask Natasha?"

Steve shook his head, "pretty sure she said her family is going away as soon as school ends."

Ella was surprised, maybe he would've invited her if he'd had the chance. In the end, a quick text to Sam confirmed he'd be Steve's plus one. Ella's problem was also quickly solved when Wanda said she wouldn't be able to make it. If Bucky could come her parents were just going to have to deal with it.

Ella dropped onto her bed, laying on her back with her legs dangling off the edge. The sun was setting and the light was casting a golden hue over the room. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and called Bucky.

"Hey, Buck." She smiled when he picked up the call.

"Hey, Ells, what's up?" He asked.

"Well, my family go out to the Cape for the first week of every summer, and this year they said we could bring plus-ones, and I was hoping you were free," she said, crossing her fingers. Ella held her breath as she waited for his reply.

"I don't have plans," he replied. "Are you sure your parents are okay with you inviting me?"

"Well, no," she answered honestly. "But we have plenty of time to work on it."

Bucky protested, the last thing he wanted was to piss off her parents but Ella stayed firm. She promised she would take all the blame if they had anything to say. When she went to the kitchen later that night to get herself a drink she bumped into her mom.

"Did you figure out which friend you'll be bringing?" She asked her daughter, the same inflection as earlier on the word 'friend'.

Ella grimaced, she was really hoping her mom wouldn't ask who she was bringing for a while, and she wasn't about to lie. "I asked Bucky if he could come, and he's free," before her mom could say anything she attempted an excuse, "neither Wanda nor Nat were free."

Her mom pursed her lips, considering whether to voice her opinion. She decided against it until Ella pushed.

"Come on, let's hear it," she groaned.

Her mom's voice came out a lot softer than Ella was expecting. "I'm just worried, sweetie. Maybe it's moving a little fast? It seems like just yesterday you were with Christian."

"Mom..." she protested.

"No, don't argue. You know I'm right."

Ella frowned, she didn't agree at all. Sure, her relationship with Christian hadn't technically ended all that long ago, but it had been dead in the water for a long time. Plus, Bucky was...well, Bucky. It was entirely different and as close to perfect as Ella could imagine. She was not about to let her mom rain on her parade.

"You're not right," Ella firmly stated.

Her mom gave her a look, and it only worsened Ella's mood. It was one of those 'I know best' looks that Ella hated.

"I just worry, Ella," her mom said with a sad smile.

"You don't need to," Ella argued. "I know what you're going to say, you're going to tell me that you went through all that shit with Laura. But I'm not her, I'm not making the same mistakes," she snapped. She instantly regretted it. If there was anything worse than talking about Laura, it was talking badly about Laura. "I'm sorry," she muttered.

Her mom pulled her in for a hug. "I trust you," her mom said, "and believe me Laura hated it just as much when I'd say these things to her, and she said a lot worse in return."

Ella snorted, that sounded about right. Ella had always been tame in comparison to her sister. She and Steve both had, actually.

"The curse of the eldest child," Ella smirked. That was what Laura blamed everything on.

Sarah laughed, over the years she had come to accept that her eldest daughter had a point, but with Laura gone her motherly instincts had doubled down. She gave a deep exhale, still hugging her daughter.

"Okay. You can bring Bucky, but no funny business. I guess your dad and I will just have to accept you two sharing a room."

"How about next time he stays over?" Ella smiled.

"Don't push your luck," her mom laughed. "Now get to bed, it's a school night."


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