Honesty

Chapter 4: New Beginnings

hello wonderful people

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"Right, you all packed?" Bucky asked as they shut the trunk of his truck. They'd been packing all morning and in the blazing august heat, it was hard work. Kaia had been strangely quiet as they worked, despite Bucky's attempts at conversation. She'd said a word here and there, but nothing like her usual self would reply.

Kaia stared at her reflection in the window, the tinted window disguising the boxes and suitcases that took up the entirety of the backseat. "Yeah." She sounded dejected and JB's big brother instincts kicked in quickly.

"How about we go get a drink? There's smoothies in the fridge?" Kaia was a sucker for a smoothie and she couldn't resist the offer, especially with Bucky's wide smile.

"Sure."

Their fancy air-conditioning system made sure the house stayed cool all throughout the summer, even when the outside temperature was excessively hot. Bucky poured the smoothies into 2 glasses and added a blue straw into Kaia's glass, just as she liked it.

"Okay Kai. Talk to me." He sat across the island from his sister, the bar stool swivelling slightly as he adjusted his weight. Kaia just stared into her drink and stirred the straw around, a million thoughts swirling through her mind. "Hey, what's going on? Is it because mom and dad are gone?"

Kaia scoffed and looked at her brother. "There's nothing new there. Except more money."

Bucky shrugged in agreement. "Okay, so what is it? College?"

"I just-" Kaia sighed and slumped back in her chair. She considered her words for a moment, pulling her knee up to her chest to rest on as she thought. "It's a lot. It's new, it's different and I just don't know what to do."

"You and Yelena are guaranteed roommates right?"

"Yeah we got it confirmed last Friday."

"So then it's just like you guys are having a giant, year-long sleepover!" He did small jazz hands to try and bring some life into his words, but it only brought a small smile to Kaia's face. Which was better than nothing.

"That's not the part I'm worried about. I'm just scared that I'm not gonna be good enough for this programme. I mean, Natasha's the captain for god's sake! And she's amazing! Which means everyone else is gonna be amazing too, and I'm gonna be the worst in the class and-"

"Okay woah hold up. Do you hear yourself?" Kaia just stared at him blankly, so he continued. "Kai, it feels like you've been dancing since before you could walk, so-"

"No, I-"

"Let me finish. You auditioned for this programme right?" She nodded. "And they accepted you based on your audition alone, yes?" Another nod. "So the professors think you're good enough. And that's really all you need. But there is one more person who needs to think you're good enough, or you're not gonna get the most out of your course."

"... and that is...?"

Bucky smiled softly. "It's you, Kai. If you don't believe in yourself you're just gonna hold yourself back."

His words hit a spot somewhere inside her and she had to swallow hard to keep the tears at bay. "When did you get so wise?"

"Since I spent every day with Sam. He's like Mr Motivational."

Kaia laughed and sipped her drink thoughtfully. He was right, annoyingly so. But it wasn't going to change her mind that quickly. She needed time, and she needed to leave. The build up was the worst part and it was only going to make her spiral more if they sat here doing nothing. "When can we leave?" She asked.