Chapter Text
Having just arrived only 3 days before, Connie was still getting used to being away from home. New York seemed so alien to her. Everything was so fast-paced, a stark contrast to the quiet country life that she grew up in. When she wrote to her cousin Shirley that she was finally leaving for New York, Shirley was thrilled. She had arranged for a room for Connie at the same women’s hostel that she was living in and even managed to get Connie a job as a telephone operator together with her in the office near the docks. Shirley was no stranger to the big city life, having moved to New York at a tender age of 10 after her mother remarried. Despite the distance, they have kept a very close bond with each other through their letters.
Connie didn't feel like going out, let alone going dancing, but Shirley had convinced her that it was the best way to 'get to know people’ and ‘to be seen’. Shirley was definitely in the mood to dance. She had been in a good mood since noon. Connie didn't care much for dancing, she enjoys the music but she would rather stay home and read. Besides, she has never seen herself as much of a dancer, or even a suitable dance partner. Probably that was the reason why she didn't want to go. She didn't want to end up being a wallflower. But it seemed that Shirley had seen to that too. She managed to get dates for both of them with a couple of guys from the docks. One of them, in particular, was quite popular among the ladies.
"Wait 'til you see him, Con. A real sweetheart he is and charming too. A handsome devil this one, the kind that your brother Charlie would want you to stay away from. Broke a lot of girls' hearts down at the dance hall. But he's always such a chap, minding his manners and all."
"If he's so handsome, then why don't you take him for yourself?" Connie teased.
"Oh, me and Bucky goes a long way. We're just pallies now. Besides, I got a fella of my own," Shirley beamed.
Connie wondered if Shirley and this Bucky fella ever got together. Shirley doesn't seem to be the kind of girl who is ‘just pallies’ with guys.
"C'mon, it'll be a gas," Shirley claimed as she hooked her arm through Connie's and led the way to the dance hall. They could hear the band playing from across the street and steady streams of people heading inside. There were several groups of people hanging around outside, near the entrance. Leaning against the brick wall at the far end of the hall’s exterior were two guys, both equally good looking - tall with broad shoulders. One of them, the taller one, quickly put out his cigarette when he saw them approaching. His face lit up and he beamed at Shirley. But the other had a far-off look and his dark eyes hidden behind foppish brown hair, so dark that it could easily be mistaken as black.
"Hey fellas," Shirley greeted them. She tiptoed and planted a kiss on the cheek of the taller one before turning to Connie. "This here is Roy. He's a Supervisor down at the docks. Words goin' 'round that he'll be getting a promotion soon." She was grinning proudly as she mentioned that last bit to Connie. Connie smiled politely and gave a little congratulatory. Roy just smiled and gave a little shrug modestly, before giving Connie a shy 'hello'.
"And this here is, Bucky," Shirley pointed her chin to the other man. "Hey, Buck. Say 'Hello' to my cousin, Connie."
"Hey," Bucky replied, his cigarette hanging loosely at the corner of his lips. His voice was gruff like he had one too many cigarettes. Connie gave a stiff wave hello and a tight smile, but Bucky wasn't even looking at her. He took a long drag on his cigarette and looked down at his shoes before exhaling. This was not the kind of 'hello' that she was expecting from a charming chap.
"Jesus, Buck, did you come straight from work? I thought you said you were gonna get cleaned up," Shirley pout as Bucky chose to ignore her.
"I tried tellin' 'em," Roy chimed in. "I swear, I told him."
Shirley tsk-ed. "Couldn't you at least be a little happy to meet Connie? She's been looking forward to tonight all day," Shirley lied, raising her pencilled eyebrows, and smiled at Connie. Connie started feeling a little warm.
"I'm here, aren't I?" Bucky replied begrudgingly. He threw his cigarette to the ground and stamped it out before lighting another one. Shirley sighed.
"Is it Steve, again?" Shirley asked, her voice suddenly turning sympathetic. "Why don't you put him out of your mind of a sec and come have some fun inside?"
"Why don't you shut up about things you know nothing about?" Bucky shot back. Shirley knew better than to say anything else after that. She just sighed and apologised to Connie for Bucky's behaviour. She defended him and mentioned how he's not usually like this. Bucky hated how they were talking about him like he wasn't there, but he didn't have the heart to care.
More and more people were going inside and the crowd cheered as the music started. Shirley gave out a little delightful laugh before pulling Roy inside. “Come on, Connie!” she called out. "Oh, just leave him be, he's just being a spoilsport!"
"I'll see you inside," Connie called out to the back of their heads. She turned to Bucky to see if he was ready to go inside. He was still enjoying his smoke and had no interest in going inside anytime soon. The Bucky that Shirley had promised her was handsome with bright blue eyes and was generous with his smile. The Bucky standing in front of her was unkempt, unshaved and unattentive. He was lost in his thoughts and the more Connie stood there, the more she felt foolish.
She looked down at her buckled shoes and started shifting her weight from one foot to another. She was suddenly aware of how plain she was. Shirley had helped her styled her hair, so she would look more fashionable, but there was no hiding her dull blonde hair. She could never get it to shine or glow like the other girls with 'golden blonde hair'. She started feeling insecure and paranoid thinking that maybe the reason why Bucky was ignoring her was that she was not pretty enough for him. Which made her wonder what exactly did Shirley promised Bucky. Suddenly she felt homesick.
"So, I’m just gonna go. Erm, yeah, nice to meet you, by the way."
Before Bucky could reply, Connie turned around and started walking away. As crowded as it was inside, it was equally crowded outside the dance hall. Connie squeezed and excused herself through the crowd, glancing and smiling awkwardly, making sure she doesn’t end up stepping on someone’s feet. But as she was diligently looking down, a couple walked passed her and she was unceremoniously bumped into the arms of a burly man with crooked teeth and a smile that gave her goosebumps.
“Woah there babydoll, you a’right?” he asked as he helped her find her feet, his grip around her waist a little tighter than appropriate.
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you,” she replied with a nervous smile, as she tried to pry herself off him.
“Well, where're 'yer headin' off to, eh? The dance hall that-a-way,” he turned Connie back into the direction of the dance hall and was half pushing and half dragging her towards it.
“No, thank you. I have to go.” She could smell the alcohol off him.
“C’mon now, just one dance.”
Connie wiggled as hard as she could but it only made his grip tighter. No one seemed to be aware of her predicament. No one seemed to have heard her pleas. Except for one person.
“I believe the lady said ‘No’, Mayfield,” said a familiar gruff voice. She made a glance and saw a pair of piercing blue eyes looking directly at the goon harassing her.
“Bucky,” she said under her breath.
“Get lost Barnes, and mind your biz.”
He released one hand from her waist to push him away and as quickly as she could blink, Bucky punched him square in the face. Mayfield stumbled back and lost his balance. He crashed to the ground and would have pulled Connie down with him if it wasn’t for Bucky’s quick reflex.
He pulled her by the wrist and placed his hand on the small of her back. She clung onto his arm, shaking, but desperately trying to keep calm as she tried to ease her breathing.
“Go home, Mayfield, you’re drunk,” said Bucky coolly and turned, leading Connie away.