Trigger warning: EATING DISORDER

Caitlin stared at her reflection in the mirror and frowned. Too fat. That's what her mother had said to her after dinner. Caitlin had never even considered that possibility before but now? Now, that was all she had thought about. Her mother's words resonating something deep inside of her. Looking at herself in disgust, she marched out of her room and down the stairs to where her father was preparing breakfast.

"Just in time, Caitlin," he murmured as he plated up her breakfast. She shook her head, knowing her mother would have something to say about it.

"I actually said I'd meet Felicity for coffee since she's in town," she muttered and her father looked at her.

"Alright," he replied simply. She smiled gratefully before getting her car keys and heading out the door. She tightened her sweater around her and was that a tightness she felt pulling across her stomach?

Sighing, she made her way to her car and got in. After mulling over her thoughts for another moment, she drove to the center of the city and made it to the place she said she'd meet Felicity for coffee. She knew the two girls wouldn't have time to catch up when Felicity went back to college, and then when Caitlin went off to her own school. She knew that coming home for the Christmas holidays was always going to be a gamble, what with her mom breathing down her neck about every little thing she wasn't doing right. Her 4.0 GPA wasn't enough, nor was the fact that her teacher, Dr. Wells, had personally invited her to be on his team. The school had also entrusted her to be the tour guide of some new guy named Barry Allen who was transferring over for the spring semester. It wasn't like she was wasting away her college experience. She did a lot. It just never seemed to be good enough for her mother.

Once she made it into the quaint coffee shop, she spotted Felicity at their usual table.

"Hey. Already got your coffee," Felicity smiled at her.

"Thank God," Caitlin muttered as she took a much needed sip.

"Things that bad with your mom, huh?" Felicity winced

"I don't even want to talk about it," Caitlin groaned as she took another sip.

Felicity looked at her for a moment before smiling.

"At least you only have three more days and then you can return back to your safe sanctuary," she added softly and Caitlin nodded her head.

"I'm going to need you to be my escape plan for the next three days, Felicity," Caitlin muttered and her best friend laughed.

"Aren't I always?" Felicity checked and Caitlin nodded her head.

"Too true," she replied. The girls exchanged a few more words before falling into a comfortable silence. That's what Caitlin loved about Felicity. While incredibly outgoing and radiating bubbliness, Felicity never required Caitlin to talk too much. Caitlin had been painfully shy since birth, something that had developed into a low grade anxiety over the years. Felicity had always stuck by her side, even when things got really tough over the years, never pushing her out of her comfort zone.

Sighing, she finished the last of her coffee and got ready to go order a second cup.

"Can you grab a couple of bagels while you're up there, Cait?" Felicity asked and Caitlin thought it over momentarily. The coffee was enough to give her fuel for a while, and, still hearing her mother's words echoing in her head, she decided she really didn't have to have this particular snack.

"I had a big breakfast with my parents," she lied quickly, "but I'll be happy to get you one."

Felicity accepted that and smiled gratefully. Caitlin went to go refill her cup and ordered a bagel for Felicity. Once she made her way back to the table, she handed over the food and sat back down.

"How's Oliver?" Caitlin asked curiously and watched as her best friend's eyes lit up.

"Great! Seeing him this break has definitely been good for my soul. I miss him," she replied earnestly and Caitlin laughed softly.

"I know he misses you, too," she murmured and Felicity bobbed her head in agreement.

"It's tough being away from him, even though it's only a couple of hours,' she muttered. Caitlin would say she understood but she really didn't, having never had a serious boyfriend. There was Ronnie in high school but that had ended before it really began and she didn't have anyone else to compare it to. She remembered how happy her mom had been when she came home and announced the fact that she had a boyfriend. She had nearly given her dad a heart attack but her mom told her they finally had something to talk about. She also remembered how disappointed her mom had been when it ended two weeks later. She pushed the thoughts to the back of her mind and focused back on Felicity who was still chatting happily away about Oliver.

"What about you, Cait? Anyone on campus catch your eye?" Felicity asked curiously and Caitlin snorted.

"If they had you know you'd be the first person I'd tell, Licity," Caitlin laughed.

"And no, no one has. I'm just too busy at the moment, with everything that's going on. I thought Cisco was going to have a meltdown over my meltdown during finals week," she added with a grin that Felicity matched.

"I'm glad you two ended up going to the same college. It's nice someone's there to look out for you when I'm not around," she replied and Caitlin scoffed.

"I do not need anyone to look out for me, Licity. I'm a grown woman," she protested and Felicity just rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. I still think it's great he's there. Someone you trust and are comfortable with talking to," she replied and Caitlin dropped it, knowing her best friend had her best interests at heart. She glanced at her watch and sighed.

"I should get back and see if my mother has found another thing to be angry with me over," she muttered and Felicity smiled at her sympathetically.

"Three more days," she encouraged and Caitlin nodded her head.

She could survive these last three days.

She had to, for her sanity. Ignoring the soft rumbling in her stomach, she hugged Felicity goodbye and grabbed one more coffee to go. She had some things to get done for Dr. Wells and wanted to be able to pull an all-nighter if need be. After parting ways, Caitlin drove back to her house where she hoped her mother would be in a good enough mood to leave her alone. How wrong it seemed she would be.

Author's note: A college AU with Barry and Caitlin! (No powers). This is an idea I've had for quite some time and would love your feedback.