He didn't mean embarrassing. Gracie wasn't very unapologetically herself at all times, which could be a bit abrasive when he was in a low mood, but mostly he found it an admirable quality. The problem was not her, but not wanting to attract attention, still feeling far too raw and exposed to want the prying eyes of his peers to worry about. Slytherins preyed on weakness by nature, and his discomfort around his housemates was growing. But Kin had been a Gryffindor, which made the entire school feel less safe. Knowing his friends had his back, at least, made dealing with it a little easier.
After making confessions about his past and what happened in his fight with Kin, privacy was needed. Unfortunately, it could be difficult to come by. Getting the worst of it out over the journals was far easier than having to face the girl, let him word things a bit more carefully when his confession to Mariko early that morning took a lot more out of him than he had left to give. But after he had decided that letting his friends know, he was committed to getting it over with. They had expended so much energy in caring about him, in defending him in his actions, and they deserved to know the truth behind what they were getting mixed up in.
Gracie had taken it okay. He hadn't doubted her loyalty, but the reality of what he had done could be a lot to accept, and facing her was still the most difficult part of it. At the end of it all, she had still wanted to see him, and there was no more excuse to avoid her anymore when there was nothing else to hide.
He left the common room in a hurry, not sure just how long Gracie had been waiting outside for him, but feeling a bit guilty she was literally left out in the cold. "That's Steve's," he commented, eyebrows raised curiously at the sweater. It didn't quite fit her, but it was an oddly cute look. Bucky offered a hand to help Gracie up, not wanting to sit out in the hallway.