𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐒𝐒

𝐓𝐖𝐎

'𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈 𝐂𝐀𝐍'𝐓 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐖𝐄'𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇. 𝐖𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈 𝐓𝐎 𝐃𝐈𝐄?'

August, 1938

        JAYLEN WASN'T NORMAL. At least, she thought she wasn't. You would think with the amount of failed dates with men she had and how she stammered around women she would figure herself out by now. There had been so many times where she wanted to tell how she felt to Katrina and the boys, but she didn't want them to outcast her. She didn't want her to lose the only people who seemed to love her. 

        Steve and Katrina's apartment always seemed to be the hangout place, and the two felt so comfortable with the Barnes' that they gave them a spare key. So, Jaylen was currently spending her Saturday afternoon with Steve, sitting at his kitchen table as they listened to the radio. 

        Jaylen hummed to the song playing, writing her thoughts down in a notebook. Something she hoped no one would ever find. Steve sat across from the girl, quietly sketching her in his notebook. Steve often did this with any of his friends. If he found a good angle and time in the moment, he began to sketch away. 

        Although Jaylen considered Katrina her best friend, the bond between her and Steve was something special. They felt so relaxed around each other, so free. She didn't feel that way with anyone else.

        Steve looked up from his sketch, just about done and adding the final touches and details in Jaylen's hair and facial features. He made sure to add the freckle right in the corner of her left eye and the few wispy eyebrows out of place. "Whatcha writing in there?" 

        Jaylen looked up. "Huh? Oh, just some thoughts. Clears my mind sometimes. How about you?" Steve smiled, flipping the sketchbook around for Jaylen to see. He saw her face light up in awe when she saw the drawing. "Awe Steve, that's wonderful." 

        Steve smiled, flipping it back around to continue working on it. "Not my best work, but I think it's a pretty angle. The one with Bucky sitting on the ferris wheel has to be my favorite." 

         It got silent between both of them. Jaylen started to overthink everything as she usually did, and it came to her almost breaking down in front of Steve. "Steve, you think I'm normal, right?"

        Steve started to pay full attention, "What are you talking about? Why don't you think you're normal?" 

         Jaylen shrugged her shoulders, "I just- I've never found someone I've ever actually liked. And that's weird, right? Girls my age should like a boy at this point in their life." 

        Steve didn't think he should be the one to answer Jaylen's question, but he was the only other person in the apartment at the moment. Katrina and Bucky were both working. "You are normal, you're just not boy crazy. I think when you find the right person, you'll know. We're the same, and in a way Bucky and Katrina are too. We need the right person to connect with. Katrina and Bucky are able to talk with everyone, go out and find people they like." 

        Jaylen shrugged her shoulders. "I guess." 

       Over the Rainbow started to play on the radio, causing a smile to creep onto his face. "You wanna dance?" 

        Standing up, Jaylen nodded. "Yeah, that sounds nice." 

        Closing up shop, Katrina was the only one left in her silly little diner. The lights were dimly lip and door was locked. Tables were being wiped down for the last time of the day. Katrina didn't mind closing. It gave her some time alone during the day. The few minutes of peace she could get to herself.