Caitlin managed to study for the full eight hours and she was proud of herself for not falling asleep. Plus, she made excellent progress on Dr. Wells' assignment. She packed all of her things up and left the library, walking briskly back to her dorm. Once there, she made her way up to her room and opened the door softly in case Lisa had decided to finally come back. Nope. Still with her boyfriend or someone else from her group of friends. Smiling slightly, she turned on her light and began to get ready for her hour at the gym, determined to work out since she did eat dinner.
Once she was back at the gym, she began her workout, pushing herself hard to help burn calories faster. After her hour was up she peeked down at the screen and grinned triumphantly. Six hundred calories and two hundred and fifty fat calories. Getting off the machine on shaky legs, Caitlin left and headed back to her dorm to get ready. When it was a suitable time to meet Cisco and Barry, she made her way out of her dorm and down to the lobby where, sure enough, they were waiting for her.
"God, what's with the excessive bags underneath your eyes?" Cisco demanded once he spotted her.
"Good morning to you, too," Caitlin deadpanned as she shrugged her sweater on.
"I just had a hard time falling asleep last night," she added. No need to tell them she had spent the whole night in the library and had yet to get any sleep.
"Well, we're about to go get some coffee so that should help," Barry said and she smiled gratefully.
"Absolutely,' Caitlin replied and the group made their way out of the lobby and outside. Caitlin fell into step next to Barry, smiling as their fingers brushed against each other periodically, sending bolts of electricity from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes.
Once they made it to the coffee shop, Caitlin felt instantly warmed from the cold outside. She smiled as she got a large coffee and then went to the table they usually sat at. As she sipped her coffee, she noticed Cisco ordering two bagels and shook her head slightly. The guy was always hungry. Laughing quietly to herself, Caitlin wrapped her hands around her cup to attain some heat. Her hands were always cold for reasons unknown to her and she was desperately trying to warm them up. Just then, Barry and Cisco sat down on either side of her and Cisco slid one of his bagels over to her. She frowned.
"What's this?" Caitlin demanded.
"Your breakfast," Cisco replied and Caitlin shook her head.
"I'm not hungry," she said but Cisco was stubborn.
"Caitlin, eat the stupid bagel," he said forcefully. Caitlin stared at the bagel, already calculating how much she would have to work out at the gym. Then another idea came to her. One so brilliant it left a small smile on her face.
"Alright, you're right. I am a little hungry," she agreed lightly. She picked up the bagel and began eating it, still sipping from her coffee periodically. Once it was all gone, she smiled at Cisco who smiled at her in return.
"Ready to go?" Barry asked and she nodded her head.
"In a minute, I just need to use the restroom really quickly," Caitlin replied and they both signaled that they'd wait for her.
She walked to the bathroom and, after checking around for other people, locked herself in a stall and lifted up the seat. After getting down on her knees, Caitlin took a steadying breath before pushing one of her fingers against the back of her throat. It took her about three attempts before the bagel came tumbling out. She kept pushing her finger down her throat until she was sure there was nothing else to throw up. She flushed and exited the stall. After washing her hands and rinsing her mouth out with water, she stared at her reflection. She couldn't necessarily believe that she had just done that and hoped she wouldn't have to do it again but she still felt proud of herself.
Once she made her way back to Barry and Cisco, she smiled.
"Ready to go?" Barry asked gently and she just jerked her head to the coffee machine.
"Let me get a refill really quickly," she murmured and Barry rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless.
"Of course, coffee addict," he teased and she laughed.
After getting her coffee refilled, she walked back to them a second time and slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Now I'm ready," she verified and they made their way out of the coffee shop and out into the cold winter morning. Caitlin handed Cisco her coffee cup and then tightened her sweater around her shoulders. She noticed that it hung more loosely on her frame and smiled slightly about that before taking back her coffee cup.
"Figured we could get dinner tonight before you go to the library," Barry said casually and Caitlin blinked up at him. On the one hand, she didn't want to have to do what she just did again; on the other, if she declined it would raise suspicions with both Barry and Cisco. Sighing slightly, she nodded her head.
"That sounds like a good idea. I'll have a salad again," Caitlin responded softly and Barry smiled gently at her.
"Sounds good," he murmured and Caitlin returned his smile as best she could. She knew she had no choice now but to get rid of her dinner in the same way that she got rid of her breakfast. She just hoped they wouldn't catch onto that particular side of her diet. Snuggling into her sweater a little more for the extra warmth, Caitlin nodded her head as she lead the way to Wells' class, already feeling her sleepless night catching up with her. Sighing, she took another sip of her coffee and prayed she'd be able to survive the day without falling asleep in any of her classes.
Author's note: Alright guys, I'm about to be on vacation so chapters may not be posted as regularly. I'll still try though. Thanks to everyone who is following this story! Means a lot.