The Glory Days

Steve watched Bridget sleep soundly beside him, her head leaning upon his shoulder with soft snores escaping her lips every so often. She appeared incredibly serene as she dozed, her body relaxed in a slump against Steve’s, and with the utmost care, his fingers grazed against her forehead, moving strands of her brunette hair out of her face and behind her ear. His motion seemed to stir her as she buried her face into his arm, though she didn’t wake from her slumber, allowing Steve to breathe easy once more.

Looking around, Steve surveyed the rest of the bus only to notice that just about everyone else was fast asleep as well. It was only him and Jack, the bus’s driver, who remained awake at the ungodly hour of one in the morning.

“We almost there, Jack?” Steve asked softly, not wanting to disturb Bridget or the others around him.

“Just about, Steve,” Jack looked at Steve briefly through the rear-view mirror, soon giving a small chuckle. “You itchin’ to get to the next venue or what?”

Steve cast him a small smile in response to his tease. “More like the next motel,”

“Ah, well, I couldn’t agree with you more on that,” Jack stretched his body as best he could while behind the wheel, rolling around his neck before giving a sigh. “A nice warm bed sounds like heaven right about now. I can’t believe this’ll be our last show in the States.”

"Then it’s off to rally the troops." Steve sighed, relaxing in his chair and closing his eyes for the remainder of the ride.

Currently, Steve, Bridget, and the rest of the crew were piled in a bus, heading for their final show in the nation. Surprisingly, the Captain had taken off and bonds were selling like mad. It seemed the American public loved their masked hero. The immense popularity of the shows caused them to play bigger venues and even allowed their performances to become more show-stopping. They had gone onstage numerous times and to be honest, Steve couldn't remember the exact number. However, to Steve and Bridget, it was an act that never got old.

The two old friends had been able to reconnect due to the performances. While they were still performing in New York, they would always share a cab home, and soon after, Steve even gathered the courage to ask her out for coffee. When she had accepted the offer, he couldn't remember a time he had felt so invincible.

And now, as he sat beside her in their usual seats, he smiled to himself at how surreal the situation seemed. Never did he think that he would ever become so close with his elementary school crush. Bridget Spencer, the girl he had his eyes on, was now closer than ever.

The hum of the bus's engine began to soften and Steve opened his eyes to see what was going on.

"We've finally arrived," Jack sighed in relief.

Steve looked out the window and to his right, seeing the quaint motel they would all be staying the night at. Within minutes the bus became lively, everyone disembarking the vehicle and taking with them only what they would require for the night. As Steve and Bridget got off, they headed to Mrs. Kinney to receive their room keys.

After getting hers, Bridget began to walk over to Catherine, her assigned roommate for the night, who was impatiently waiting at the beginning of the hall.

"I'm sorry, Steve." Mrs. Kinney began, causing Bridget to come to a halt and eavesdrop in on their conversation. "The motel overbooked and the room you were supposed to have is already occupied. I'm sorry to ask this of you, but do you think you could possibly bunk with one of the girls?"

"He can stay with me and Catherine, Mrs. Kinney." Bridget piped up, Steve smiling gratefully at her.

"No he can't. He's a guy." Catherine objected.

"So what, Cathy? Cooties don't exist."

"Bridget, he is a guy and I am a single woman."

"Well, what does that make me?"

"Ladies," Steve interrupted. "Bridget, its fine. I'll sleep on the bus."

"No, you won't, Steve." She argued. "It's freezing on the bus. Cathy, suck it up. Steve’s bunking with us. You know we’d do the same thing for you if the roles were reversed.”

Catherine’s face grew red with anger and she rolled her eyes, stomping off towards Janice and the others with a scrunched up face. “Forget it, Bridget. I’ll bunk with everyone else.”

Bridget couldn’t believe how unreasonable Catherine was being, and the more she thought about it, she began to become frustrated as well. It didn’t take long for her to begin marching off in the other direction towards their room, an uneasy Steve following obediently behind. The silently steaming brunette slid the key into the door’s hole and twisted it open, shoving it open and walking inside as soon as it was unlocked. She flopped onto the nearest bed and gave an aggravated sigh.

Steve smiled at her actions, closing and locking the door softly after letting himself in. He walked towards the other bed and sat down, letting a sigh of his own escape his lips. Unlike Bridget’s, his was from exhaustion rather than irritation.

“I’m sorry,” Bridget apologized, her voice sounding muffled as her face was buried in the pillows.

“What for?” Steve asked curiously. He couldn’t figure out why she was apologizing. If anything, he should have been the one asking for forgiveness. His situation made her and Catherine have a go at one another.

“Cathy,”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Besides, you shouldn’t apologize for her. It was my situation that made you two have a fight in the first place. So for that, I’m sorry.”

Bridget mumbled incoherently, and Steve could only assume that she was telling him that his own apology was unnecessary. She soon sat up straight and pushed off the bed, grabbing her bag of clothes and heading for the bathroom. “I’m going to get ready for bed. Why don’t you do the same? You must be tired.”

She vanished into the restroom and left Steve to his thoughts. He couldn’t believe he was so calm about the situation. He was going to be sleeping with Bridget in the same room. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that this would, or rather could, happen in reality. As he heard the door handle jiggle, he was finally conscious of his nerves, and at the same time, he could feel a bit of excitement and adrenaline flowing through his veins.

Get a hold of yourself, Rogers,

Bridget came out of the bathroom in her new clothes and Steve held his breath. He had never seen her look so beautiful before – her natural beauty was, by far, the most captivating thing he had ever seen. She traded in her skirt and shirt for a white nightgown that ended above her knees, it hugged her torso fitly and as his eyes scanned it over, he found himself gulping audibly. Her locks of chestnut hair that were usually styled in waves, were now loose and flowing down her back and around her face, lightly bouncing with every step she took. The air held captive in Steve’s lungs finally escaped as he breathlessly watched her float towards her bed, and as he realized that he was staring, he shook his head and looked away.

Bridget sat down upon her mattress and looked over at her roommate, noticing him in the same clothes as before. “You don’t have anything to wear to bed?”

“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable,”

Bridget smiled at how considerate he was being. “Well, I want you to rest comfortably, so it’s fine with me.” She reassured.

Steve, once gaining permission, nodded his head and turned around to face the opposite wall as Bridget began to slip under the covers. He quickly removed his jeans and got underneath the sheets so she wouldn’t see him looking indecent, and then removed his shirt as well, letting the cool air caress his sculpted torso.

Bridget caught a glimpse of his well-toned chest and could feel heat rising into her cheeks. She had no idea that Steve had such an athletic physique. He definitely wasn’t the same as he was in elementary anymore.

Look away, Bridget. she ordered of herself, beginning to get comfortable in her bed so she would keep herself distracted.

Soon it was silent as the light on the nightstand was shut off. Bridget stared at the ceiling in her bed while Steve twiddled his thumbs nervously in his own. His attention was caught when he heard her sigh softly and move about restlessly in bed. He turned his head slowly towards the brunette and immediately saw the outline of her curvy body, the moonlight that was filtered through the curtains illuminating and bouncing off her dark hair and figure.

“Aren’t you tired, Steve?” Bridget whispered.

“A little,” he quietly responded. “Aren’t you?”

She smiled and giggled lightly as she repeated his words. “A little,”

“You slept a bit on my shoulder while we were on the road,” he commented.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she blushed.

“No, no, no, it’s fine.” He assured her with a smile. “Really, I don’t mind at all. It’s actually somewhat relaxing.”

The blush that was overtaking her cheeks just wouldn’t stop. “Thanks, you’re a really comfy pillow.”

Steve chuckled and felt somewhat relieved to hear her opinion. “Then feel free to use me any time you want.”

“You shouldn’t have said that because I’ll definitely be taking you up on that offer.”

The air that had once been tense was now cleared, and they both forgot the fact that they were sleeping in the same room. They chatted for a while longer and said their goodnights to one another before falling asleep within minutes, with a new bond that was that much stronger, even if by only a little bit.

Notes

Sharing a room with a guy who wasn't your husband was a big deal back then.

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