27. Girls Are Confusing

"Girls like it when you make sacrifices for them and do the things they want to do."

Mr. Barnes' words of wisdom echoed around the cavity of Steve's rapidly emptying head. It was Bucky's idea, to put his Dad's claim to the test, but every time Steve even thought of talking to girls, rationality and common sense fled, leaving him feeling like a bumbling fool.

Because of that, Bucky had volunteered to go first. To pave the way, so to speak. Steve stood on the playground beside Bucky and Mary-Ann as his best friend squared his shoulders and headed towards his chosen girl, Nina. With perfect timing, he intercepted her right before she could reach the school's heavy front door and struggle to juggle her school books and her lunch bag to free up a hand.

"Here, let me get that for you, Nina," said Bucky. He grabbed the handle and pulled the door open.

Nina smiled widely at him. "Thanks, Bucky!"

"Say, you wanna hang out for a bit after school? I could push you on the swing, if you like."

"Sure, that'd be fun. See you after Home Economics!"

Bucky gave Steve two thumbs up and rejoined them on the playground as Nina disappeared into class. "Alright Steve, it's your turn."

Gently nudged by his best friend, Steve stumbled forward. Several students were congregating around the front of the school, but it wasn't until he spotted Janey Wallace that his mouth went dry and his heart started fluttering like a rabid butterfly in his chest.

He glanced back at Bucky and was given a gentle 'shoo' motion. Beside him, Mary-Ann was sulking quietly for some reason.

Steve dashed forward and cleared his throat. That got Janey's attention. She glanced up at his approach, and slipped a blank mask over her face.

"Here, uh, Janey, let me get the door for you," he offered. He grabbed the handle and pulled. The door chose that exact moment to stick. Steve added his second hand and pulled harder. A hot flush crept across his face. The door was awkward. Everybody knew it. Sometimes, even teachers walked into it when it failed to open at a gentle push or pull.

It wasn't until Janey—whose hands were free—took ahold and added to the pull that the door opened, and it did so with such force that Steve went staggering back into Janey, knocking her to the ground.

"Oh my God, Janey, I'm sorry," he said. He moved to help her up, but she held up her arm to stall him. "Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine." She dusted off her skirt, then tutted when she spotted a small tear in the material. "This was brand new, my Ma's gonna kill me!"

"Oh. Err. Do you, uh, maybe want to hang out after school? I could swing you on the push. I mean, push you on the swing."

"Um, no. I think you've done quite enough pushing for one day, Simon."

She disappeared into the school, and he called after her. "It's Steve!"

He rejoined Bucky and Mary-Ann. "I don't get it," he said dejectedly.

"Girls sure are confusing creatures," Bucky agreed.

Mary-Ann merely snorted, and declared, "You two know nothing about girls!" before storming off into the school. Steve wasn't going to argue; she was absolutely right.