Run Away

Ch 9

Bucky looked up at the art studio, it had big letters and a poster explaining what it was. Apparently, they taught plastic arts, music, dance, and singing, anything that is art basically. He got a memory back

He was drawing something with a pencil, a basket of fruits. Next to him, Steve Rogers was also drawing but he was drawing a beach instead

"Did you hear what happened in Hawaii?" a guy behind them talked to his friends

"What happened in Hawaii?" another guy asked

"My dad received an urgent telegram. Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan not long ago, maybe some hour. My dad left immediately in his uniform. It looks like we are entering the war" the guy with the military father said

"Wait, are you saying America is actually going to war?" Steve asked turning to the guys

"Yes, the army will start recruiting men above 18" the guy said

"You thinking about enlisting?" another guy asked Steve with a smirk, making fun of him. Bucky instantly grew angered

"Of course we are. We're talking about our country, we'll start training. Right, Steve?" he said coming to defend his best friend

"Right, Buck" Steve agreed with a nod and a smile

"Bet you 10 bucks he doesn't get in the army" a guy whispered to a friend of his. If only he knew then...

"Bucky?" Bucky was snapped out of his memory by Mikeyla's voice "C'mon" she called moving her head towards the door. Bucky walked ahead and they both entered. Mikeyla walked to the front desk where you ask for information

"Mikeyla, 5 minutes early as always" the lady said, she was pretty old and had white hair, she didn't look nice or kind either, she looked like a strict woman

"Yes, ma'am. If I ask my students to be on time I should follow the same rule" Mikeyla said signing her name into a book

"Aw, I'm glad kids your age still think that. Nowadays no one cares about manners and education" the lady said

"I'm not that young, Mrs. Liddell" Mikeyla said slightly pouting

"Yes you are, dear. And who may this man be?" the woman asked noticing Bucky

"He's a friend of mine, he came to see the class" Mikeyla said

"James Barnes" Bucky introduced himself shaking hands with the lady

"Marie Liddell, pleasure to meet you" she introduced herself before turning her attention back to Mikeyla "Now go ahead, dear, don't want you to be late because of me" the woman said

"Thank you, Mrs. Liddell"

Mikeyla grabbed Bucky's hand and guided him to the second floor of the building, they arrived to a room with a floor that looked like wood and mirrors in the walls, there was a piano in a corner that instantly caught Bucky's attention. He walked towards it while Mikeyla hung her jacket and her bag in a hook on the wall. She turned around to see Bucky staring at the piano, he slowly moved his hand towards it and pressed a key. Mikeyla only watched him with a smile. Soon a group of about 7 people arrived

"Oh look, the teacher is already here, what a surprise" a guy about 16 said sarcastically. Mikeyla rolled his eyes

"Hello, Alan" she greeted

"Oh, Mik, I have a new song I think we should try" a girl with blonde hair said enthusiastically

"I'll listen to it, Brit. Now everyone to the stage, it's time for warm up" Mikeyla said enthusiastically. The group of young people left their things aside and hurried to the middle of the room. Mikeyla then walked to Bucky "You can stay here or look around or dance with us" she offered

"I'll just watch" he decided already analyzing the people that had arrived, none looked like a threat

"Okay" Mikeyla nodded and went to prepare the music, a new rhythm for Bucky sounded. Mikeyla had put Bo$$ by Fifth Harmony and then started to give instructions for the warm up. Bucky watched studying the movements with a frown, the dance steps weren't familiar to him, neither was the music.

"Alright, let's start with 'Hands in the air', alright?" Mikeyla called "Places!"

The students got on their places and she started showing her the steps slowly, she used one or two words that Bucky didn't know what they meant but the students obviously understood and did as told.

"Careful with your step, Tom. Let go of your body, Brit. Alan, stop playing around" she would correct her students now and then. By the end of the class, she decided to test them and make them dance it all. She played the music and went in front of them. She danced with them and Bucky couldn't help but smile, she looked really happy and their dance looked like fun. He wondered if he could match Mikeyla's ability or at least her students'. As they finished they all smiled and clapped for each other

"That was amazing, guys!" Mikeyla prized "Alright class, that was all for today. Be safe, eat healthy, try practicing at home and see you on Wednesday" Everyone started leaving and Mikeyla approached Bucky who was sitting by the piano "I'm sorry, you're probably bored. I bet you would have preferred to stay in the apartment"

"You would lose that bet" Bucky said "It's actually pretty entertaining. Looks like fun"

"It is" Mikeyla smiled "You should try it"

"Nah, I'm good" he said "You have another class, right?"

"Yeah, but is really different. Ballroom dancing tends to be more difficult because you have a partner who you have to trust to not forget about the steps and don't let you go when you're dipping or when you jump or turn really fast. It has to be the guy who guides but it's difficult to let yourself be guided" she explained "Well, at least it is for me"

"Why is it difficult?" Bucky asked with honest interest. Mikeyla bit her lower lip contemplating how to answer

"I have trust issues, especially when it comes to guys that are not my friends or family" she said and shrugged "Bad past experiences. I still hope to find the perfect partner one day, in dance and in life. But I'm still young, there's no rush. Having fun is good for now"

"You are a dreamer, aren't you?" Bucky asked with a smile

"I'm an optimistic person" she answered smiling back at him

Both looked at each other with cute smiles, feeling comfortable with each other. Their moment was however interrupted when the students of the next class arrived. They were older than the others, the youngest maybe a senior in high school. Mikeyla stood up and started the class with a warm up with a different kind of music. 'Bailando' by Enrique Iglesias sounded and Bucky noticed this kind of music wasn't that strong, it was soft and the dance moves include a flow on the movements and also a lot of movement of the hips, Bucky caught himself more than once looking at Mikeyla's hips swaying side by side but looked away as soon as he noticed he was staring. Mikeyla didn't notice, she was busy teaching her class. By the end of the class she danced with one if the guys whose partner didn't assist. The guy wasn't that good of a dancer, he didn't match Mikeyla

The perfect partner? I could be the perfect partner Bucky thought Did I just think that? I can't think that. We just met He shook his head.

"Ready to go?" He looked up to see Mikeyla standing in front of him. The students had already left. Bucky stood up and followed her to the door "I hope you didn't get too bored. Next time you can bring a book or you can just stay in the apartment".

"I didn't get bored. Don't worry about it" Bucky assured. He certainly didn't get bored at all.