"Alright, alright kids", the teacher shouted. "I know you're all very excited to be back at school after such a long holiday, but I have terrible news."

The students went really quiet all of the sudden and Bucky twitched nervously on his seat. Nervously he glanced behind him at Steve Rogers. Their eyes met and Bucky turned his head quickly. Calm down Barnes, he said to himself, you probably just caught his attention cause you're nearly dancing on your seat.

"You will be assigned new lab partners…", the teacher had to speak up because the class volume had increase with the protestations. "I'll hear no more of it my decision is made!"

He cleared his throat and took a paper off his binder.

"James Barnes", he said loudly, pointing theatrically with his finger Bucky on the first row. "You stay there. Steve Rogers you join him."

Bucky's eyes widened and he took a deep breath as Steve joined him. Whatever concentration he had left he used it to master a straight face so that when Steve sat next to him he could look at him nonchalantly and not like he was one of the seven wonders.

"Hi", Steve said, showing his ridiculously white teeth… with his perfect triangle chest and his stupid American flag t-shirt…

Jesus Barnes! Get a hold of yourself!

"Hi", Bucky answered in a little voice. He cleared his throat. "I mean, hi", he said in a more masculine tone. "I'm…"

"I know who you are."

Bucky stopped himself had the last second from giggling like a little girl and instead stared at Steve with wide-eyes.

"Why do you seem so surprise?" asked Steve, smiling (aka exhibiting his very white teeth again).

"Sorry", answered Bucky, smiling as well, brushing his long brown hair off his face. "I just didn't think a guy like you would notice a guy like me."

"I think you're really noticeable", Steve said.

That time, Bucky's brain was too late and half of a giggle had come out before he could stop himself.

"I'm nothing compare to Captain America over here", he answered.

Steve laughs which meant that somewhere a puppy was probably being birthed.

"What, me?" he said. "Captain America… I like the sound of that… No, but you've got this handsome and mysterious vibe with your long hair and everything that I could never compete with!"

Bucky shook his head, smiling at the table.

"Alright folks", the teacher suddenly said and both Steve and Bucky jumped. Everyone was seated with their new lab partners. "Take a good look at the face of your new neighbor because you will spend the rest of the year with him or her and I expect you'll be needing to see each other also out of class."

Steve looked at Bucky, smirking.

"I could live with that", he said.

Bucky ran his fingers through his hair and pinch his lips to stop them from smiling too widely.

"Good", he answered.