Chapter 5: New Connections
The days following the fire were strange for Bucky. He tried to return to his usual routine, but the unsettling feeling lingered. Richard’s efforts to keep his spirits up had helped, though, and the walk they’d taken had sparked an unexpected sense of camaraderie between them. That evening, as they sat in the kitchen sharing a late-night snack, Richard started opening up more about his life.
“So, I don’t think I ever told you what I actually do for work,” Richard began, with a mischievous grin.
Bucky looked up, curious. “Now that you mention it, I don’t think you have. I’ve been meaning to ask.”
Richard leaned back, crossing his arms with an almost dramatic flair. “Well, my friend, I work as an assistant to an archaeological expert,” he announced, his voice full of pride. “We basically uncover and analyze ancient artifacts and sites. Most of the time, I’m assisting with research, cataloging finds, and keeping the expedition notes in order.”
Bucky’s eyes widened. “Seriously? That’s… amazing. I thought you worked at some office job or something.”
Richard laughed, shaking his head. “Oh, no way! Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of paperwork sometimes, but I get to travel and work on actual dig sites. Just last year, I was in Peru, excavating an ancient Incan site. It’s like being part detective, part explorer.”
“Wow,” Bucky said, genuinely impressed. “I had no idea. That must be incredible.”
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Richard grinned, clearly enjoying his reaction. “Yeah, I can’t lie—it’s pretty awesome. Every day is different. Some days, we’re knee-deep in mud trying to unearth pieces of pottery; other days, we’re trying to figure out if an artifact belongs to a specific era. I like the thrill of discovery, you know?”
Bucky nodded, fascinated by the adventurous side of his roommate. Richard’s energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and it made him feel a bit braver, a bit more adventurous himself. Richard wasn’t just his roommate anymore; he was someone Bucky genuinely admired.
“And what about you?” Richard asked, leaning forward. “I know you’re a developer, but I don’t know much about what you’re like outside of work. What kind of guy is Bucky Finch?”
Bucky chuckled, feeling a bit shy. “Honestly, I’m not that interesting,” he admitted. “I’m… well, I guess I’m just quiet. I’ve never really been the adventurous type.”
Richard tilted his head, giving Bucky a curious look. “I wouldn’t say that. I mean, you took a leap moving here for this job, and you’re putting yourself out there. And you’re dating Stacey,” he added with a teasing smirk.
Bucky smiled, feeling his face warm. “Yeah, I guess. Stacey’s… she’s incredible. She makes me want to be a better version of myself.”
“See? That’s adventurous,” Richard pointed out, his tone light but genuine. “Trust me, Bucky. Adventure isn’t about being fearless. It’s about embracing what makes life unpredictable. Like that weird feeling you had before the fire. Maybe it was a warning, maybe it was something else. But you trusted it, and it kept you safe.”
Bucky felt a surge of gratitude. Richard had this way of seeing things from a fresh, positive angle. He made Bucky feel like his instincts weren’t just strange or unexplainable, but maybe even a little extraordinary.
“You know,” Bucky said, his voice thoughtful, “I never really had a lot of close friends. Growing up, I was always kind of the odd one out.”
Richard smiled, giving him a friendly punch on the shoulder. “Well, that’s ancient history now, my friend. You’ve got me, and you’ve got Stacey. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even end up joining me on one of my digs someday.”
Bucky laughed, shaking his head. “I think I’ll leave the digging to you.”
For the first time since moving to Oakridge, Bucky felt something shift. Sitting here with Richard, trading stories and laughter, he realized he’d found something he’d always wanted—a friend he could rely on, someone who made him feel braver, bolder, and even a little adventurous. In Richard, he’d found not just a roommate, but a friend who helped him see the world through a new lens. And with Stacey by his side, he felt ready to face whatever the future held—whether it brought new love, ancient mysteries, or more strange feelings that seemed to foreshadow the unknown.