Chapter One, We're Just Swimmin' Round in our Glasses
Hopeless. Lost. Those are just two of the many words that Caitlin Snow could use to describe how she was feeling at the moment. How did she get to this point in her life? Two loses in the span of two weeks was something she was not prepared for. Yet, there she was, looking down at her second glass of Vodka soda - Half a glass of Vodka, and a splash of Club Soda. A strong drink, but one that was much needed.
Where to begin? Well, for starters she found out earlier in the day thatshe failed her board exam to become a certified BioChemist; 7 years of hard work down the drain. She had been waiting her whole life to get her PhD, and now the moments leading up to this were gone, all because of one thing. One very traumatic thing.
Holding back tears while listening to a very muted and muffled "Don't Stop Believin'" fading out in the background, she downed the last of her drink. Cringing from the taste (she always hated when she got to the bottom of the drink, when she was home she liked to pinch her nose to try and block out the bitter taste the Vodka gave off. She looked around at the ghost town before her, setting the empty glass down on the bar. "I'll take another, and while you're at it, go ahead and start a tab for me, please," she told the bartender.
The bartender, better known as Jake, nodded and gave an understanding smile. Jake worked most nights, or at least the nights in the prior few months that Caitlin had been in. He was always so pleasant to be around, and that was all that Caitlin needed right now.
Looking down at her watch, she saw that over an hour had passed and wondered why the bar was so empty. It wasn't normal for a friday night in Central City. She hoped that more frequents would arrive soon, maybe some that she already knew. Not that she necessarily wanted company, but it couldn't hurt.
She must have spoken too soon, because the once cold and empty seat next to her now gave off an unwanted warmth. She looked over to her left and saw a man (at least in his 40's), wearing a black suit with a loosened emerald green necktie. He wasn't half bad, with dark, deep set eyes and perfectly slicked brown hair, wearing wrinkles under his eyes, showing off years of hard work. A face she didn't recognize.
He looked at her and gave a toothy grin, taking a sip of his beer. She gave a frigid smile and turned away, looking back down at her own drink, knowing what was about to happen but trying to avoid it at all costs.
Clearing her throat, she adjusted her white collar, one that she wore under a charcoal sweater. The sweater had seen better days. Caitlin wasn't one to dress, "frumpy" but desperate times call for desperate measures. She felt cozy in the sweater. Safe. It helped her out of that bed the morning, which was a victory in itself.
Waking her up from her thoughts, she heard the man mutter something. "I'm sorry, what was that?" she said, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I said, do you come here often?" he repeated himself, giving the same toothing grin he gave her before.
"Uh, I-, yeah just in the past few months..." She knew how uneasy she sounded, but she wasn't in the headspace for a proper conversation.
"I'm here most nights, the names Matt. I think would have remembered seeing a pretty face like yours. What's your name, cutie? Let me buy you a drink, huh?" he said with raised eyebrows and darker eyes than before.
She felt her cheeks turn a deep shade of red, but not for pleasant reason. Caitlin's face only tended to go red for one of two reasons: embarrassment or frustration. In this moment, she couldn't tell which one she was feeling more.
As she went to open her mouth, and say the words that no one could've prepared for, she heard a voice, "Heeeeeeey! There you are. I've been looking all over for you!"
She turned to look behind her and saw a tall and lanky guy (he had to be at least six feet tall), displaying an outfit similar to hers but he looked more put-together. She couldn't help but notice his anxious but inviting green eyes. He was handsome, that's for sure, and Caitlin could point out a nice looking guy when need be.
She looked at him with confusion written all over her face. She thought to herself, Is this guy forreal? He's either drunk and thinks I'm someone else, or maybe, just maybe he's trying to help me out?
She gulped, deciding to play along. "Oh, hey! Um, yeah, I uh- came a little earlier and forgot to shoot you a text to let you know I was here." With an unsuspecting half smile, she motioned to the chair to the right of her, that was currently occupied by her purse. After picking it up, she clutched it close to her body.
The older man that had been sitting with her,she smirked to herself at thought of his name. Matt. It had been an annoying classmate's name that was forced to sit next to her during her sophomore year of college. Huh. Maybe all Matt's are irritating by nature? She thought to herself.
Letting out a low growl that made Caitlin jump, Matt grabbed his beer and scooted his stool out. Leaving a tip for the bartender. He went to join a group of suited up men in the back booth of the little bar.
"I'm sorry, you looked uncomfortable, and I figured I could-", the nameless and handsome man began.
"Thank you." Caitlin interrupted with slight relief in her now hushed voice.
"I didn't see you here earlier. The bar was quite calm when I got here," she started, looking around slowly at the once empty bar that was now overflowing with people. College kids, women and men in business attire, and even a few people who looked like they used a Fake I.D to get in.
"Oh, I got here a little while ago. I normally stay to myself and try to pick a quiet booth in the back where I can read articles on my phone," he said while pointing to the back booth that was now occupied by Gary and his friends. "But as you can see, that spots taken tonight." He smiled, holding out his hand for Caitlin to grab and shake. "I'm Barry, by the way."
She reached up her icy hands from her now, watered down drink, and shook his hand. "Caitlin," she introduced herself with a nod. She noticed his hand shake was firm, remembering something her dad used to tell her, a handshake makes a man, or something like that.
"So, what do you like to read?" she asked. Barry looked at her with a confused expression. "You mentioned that you liked to read articles when you come here, if your booth isn't taken that is," she said lightly.
"Oh, I like to read up on random things, mostly science related. I've been really into Fritz Haber the past couple of days…" he said, looking at Caitlin's face, not knowing if she was interested or bored. "I'm sorry, I geeked out on you for a second." He laughed.
"No," she said, almost too quick, making Barry move back for a second. "I actually went to school to be a BioChemist," she said, trailing off.
"That's so awesome! Wow, so you're certified, I'm assuming?" Barry now seemed more interested than ever.
Caitlin swirled her straw around in her drink, feeling the tears stinging her already tired eyes. "I actually-" she started to say, but swallowed back her tears. "I just found out today that I did not pass my boards to become certified," she admitted, downing whatever what was left of her tasteless Vodka, calling Jake over for a refill.
Watching the small-framed and tired girl chug the rest of her half filled drink, Barry knew instantly that he hit a nerve. "I'm sorry. It was rude for me to assume."
She looked over to him, trying to put on her most sincere smile while grabbing the new drink that was placed in front of her. "No, no need to apologize. You couldn't have known, right? I mean, who chokes on a test that they prepared their whole entire life to take?" She grabbed her glass and felt the slow burn of the alcohol go down her throat. After the glass was empty, she looked back to Barry and asked, "Can I buy you something? A drink or food maybe?"
"You don't have to do that," he said, shaking his head. "Anyways, isn't it me who should be asking that?" he asked, smiling while doing finger guns at her.
She giggled to herself. "I mean, it's the least I can do for sitting here, making you feel uncomfortable after you tried to relieve me of the very same feeling not even ten minutes ago," she slurred apologetically, feeling her drink slowly sneaking up on her and her vision starting to blur in a familiar way.
"Well in that case, I'll take another Jack and Coke, please." he smiled.
"Jack and Coke, huh? Haven't had one of those in years," she said, her voice drifting off in a memory. "That was my dad's go to, we would drink those together when either of us had a rough day. I switched over to good ol' Vodka with Club Soda though - less calories," she shared, winking at Barry.
Her eyes widened. She was taken back by what she had just did. Was she flirting? Or trying to? At this point, she was in over her head, and the Vodka wasn't helping.
"You know, I did hear somewhere that the lighter the alcohol, the less calories," he said, smiling.
She grinned back at him. "Hey Jake, I'll take another Vodka Soda and a Jack and Coke for my new friend Barry," she shouted, patting Barry on the back a few times.
Barry laughed under his breath at the clearly drunk and suddenly confident girl beside him.
"No way, I'm cutting you off, girlie. This is what, drink number five for you?" Jake questioned.
"I've only had three, dude. C'mon, you can trust me." She winked at the young and put together bartender.
"First of all, no. Second of all, you never call me dude, so you just played yourself dude," he imitated her, using the same tone Caitlin used before. "Here's your tab," he said while sliding Caitlin her receipt. "Why don't I call you an Uber?"
She shook her head. She knew that money was about to be tight, with her dad gone and her once promised career at S.T.A.R. Labs down the drain. She couldn't afford any extras. Signing off on the paper in front of her, she looked up at Jake, knowing he had her best interest at heart. "I'll just walk home, my apartment is right up the street. It'll only take me five minutes at most," she stated with a tinge of sadness in her voice.
"Why don't I walk with you Caitlin? My dad's house is a few blocks from here," Barry offered. "I'd feel better knowing you got home safe. Who knows what kind of trouble is beyond those doors, better yet, at that booth over there."
She looked over to see Matt and his friends taking turns shooting all kinds of drinks, one by one. Caitlin was normally cautious when it came to new people, but with Barry, she felt safe. Why is that? Is it the Vodka? Or was is her gut feeling telling her that she would be okay? That maybe this was an opportunity for a friend? One that shares her love of science and clearly is a caring person.
"You know what, Barry? I'd like that. Foreward. March!" She shot off her stool, raising one arm in the air and nearly fell over. Barry caught her in time before her head made friends with the ground.
He laughed, a laugh that that gave Caitlin the biggest butterflies. "Woah there, soldier," he said back to her, still laughing at the previous comment Caitlin made.
"You're pretty quick Barry. Hey, what's your last name?" She looked up at him, realizing the height difference. It wasn't much, but it was enough.
"It's Allen." he said, receiving a full on smile from from the beautiful woman he held in his arms.
"I like it."
"Well thank you, Caitlin…" he trailed off.
"Snow. Caitlin Snow," she provided him. "You know, snow like the ice crystals that precipitate from the atmosphere and undergo changes from the..." she said, but stopped herself, realizing that she was rambling. "Sorry, I geeked out on you for a second," she stated, realizing she just used his own line against him.
"You really are something, Caitlin Snow."
She felt a blush rise on her face, one that she wasn't familiar with. She cleared her throat, "You ready, Barry?" she asked.
"Ready when you are," he said, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to steady her as she grabbed her purse and starting stumbling to the door. She thought to herself, when one door closes, another opens, and this new door that opened, was one she was excited to walk through.