Author's Note: AHHHHH THIS IS NOW THE LONGEST FANFICTION (chapter wise) I'VE EVER WRITTEN!

OTHER THAN DRABBLE SERIES. BECAUSE THE BRAINIAC AND THE DREAMER IS LONGER.

Today was the day.

Thea drew in a deep breath as she stared in the mirror, hairbrush in hand. Her hair, which now reached nearly halfway down her back, was about to be brushed for the last time.

Well, okay, that was a bit dramatic. It was about to be brushed for the last time at that current, outrageously long, length, because today was the day that Thea got her haircut.

And of course today, of all days, her hair had to be looking especially good. She sighed heavily, knowing that in the end she would be happy with the way her hair looked, and pasted on a smile for the before part of her before-and-after selfies of her haircut. Something to put on her Instagram story today, she supposed.

"Thea!" Moria Queen, Thea's mother, called from downstairs. "We need to get going!"

"Coming, mom!" Thea sighed, tearing her hairbrush through her hair and forgetting to be ceremonious about it.

She shoved on her pink flats, stuffed her phone into her pocket, and ran downstairs.

After about a fifteen minute drive, Moria pulled out in front of Lady Clippers Hair Salon. Thea got out of the car and whipped around to face her mother. "I don't think I can do it," she moaned. "Maybe I should just do a trim? Cut the dead ends?"

"Thea Queen, I did not drive you to a hair salon just to get your dead ends cut off," Moria responded, used, by now, to Thea's last-second cold feet with her haircuts. "Every time you get a haircut, you tell me to remind you how much you love having short hair. It's a whole lot easier, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah, okay." Thea took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "Okay, let's go in before I change my mind."

Moria rolled her eyes and led the way inside Lady Clippers.

The interior was cute, small and themed with white and light blue and pink. There were white chairs with pale blue pillows for waiting costumers on one side of the room, while the other held a white-painted wooden desk for the hairstylist to sit behind. The walls were white, with two thick, artistic stripes of blue and pink going around the bottom. If Thea ever owned a hair salon (which wasn't exactly one of her plans) it would look like this, right down to the blue and pink glass bubble lamps scattered around the room.

"Mrs. Queen, Thea," Amanda Waller, the hairstylist in that morning, greeted with a reserved smile. She was a fairly reserved woman, just as a whole, but she had a solid grasp of hair and what looked good on who and Thea liked her.

"Good morning, Ms. Waller," Moria greeted, equally as reserved. "I called about Thea's haircut last week?"

"Of course." Amanda got to her feet and came around the desk. "What are you thinking of doing with your hair today, Thea?"

"Short," Thea blurted, before she lost the nerve. "Like, shoulder length."

Amanda sized her up and nodded. "Layers?"

"Yes, please."

Amanda brought Thea over to the chair and leaned her head back into a ceramic bowl to wash her hair. The process started, and when Thea stood up again, her hair was shoulder length and blown dry. She let out a squeal. "Oh, mom, look at it! It's so cute!"

"I knew you'd like it," Moria agreed, standing up to pay.

"Thank you so much, Ms. Waller," Thea gushed, unable to turn away from the mirror. "Oh just wait until Roy sees this. I hope he likes it."

"I'm sure he will, honey," Moria said distractedly. "Thank you, Ms. Waller. Have a nice day."

"You as well." Amanda sat down and watched as mother and daughter left the store.

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When Thea went back to school on Monday, two days before Christmas vacation started, everyone was shocked.

"OH MY GOD THEA!" Iris cried, running across the blacktop and nearly getting hit by a car in the process. "Your hair your hair your hair!"

"I know!" Thea squealed, grabbing her hands. "Isn't it amazing?! I literally took a shower in seven minutes this morning. This is the best haircut ever!"

"You say that ever time," Sara said, walking up behind them and rolling her eyes. "I do like it though. It's cute."

"Just wait until Roy sees you!" Iris continued, eyeing Thea from all angles. "OMG, you had better make sure I'm there to see his reaction."

"Iris, chill," Sara told her friend. "Don't get Thea's hopes up. You know how Roy is... he doesn't really get excited about things."

"Like you, apparently," Iris huffed.

"Okay, ladies, calm down," Thea said quickly, before an argument could start. "I didn't get this haircut for Roy Harper to see, contrary to popular belief. Even if he thinks I look like I taped a bowl to my head, I like this hair."

Thea got quite a few comments on her hair that morning. Most kids in school knew her, and so as she walked down the halls there were whispers and gasps and call of, "Nice haircut!"

It made sense. Thea had gotten nearly a foot cut off of her hair. It looked a bit different.

At lunch, Roy approached the table. He looked rather uncomfortable, because even though he had come to the girls' table multiple times before, eyes still followed his progress from all over the cafeteria.

"Hi, Thea," he mumbled. "Did you do something different with your hair?"

Thea burst into giggles. Iris face-palmed. Sara shrugged. "Told you. Boys don't care about these things."

Roy looked even more awkward. "Did you... not? It just looks different... did you get it cut or something?"

Thea held out her hand for a high-five and, confused, he accepted it. "Nailed it in one, Roy," she grinned. "Ten inches off, thank you very much."

"Girl, ten inches?" Iris gaped. "I thought you were only doing seven?"

"I changed my mind," Thea shrugged.

Roy shifted in front of them. "I... um... I like it. It looks... nice. Cute."

"Thanks," Thea beamed.

Sara laughed. "Nice move, Roy. She'll be glowing for weeks now and you won't even have to do a thing."

"Right," Roy agreed, pointing a finger gun at Sara and backing up. "See you around, girls."

As soon as he got far enough away, Thea turned around. "See?" Iris cried. "I knew he'd say something. OMG, that was was so cute. Roy Harper has been a changed man since he met you, Thea."

"Oh, stop," Thea giggled, rolling her eyes. "Roy is a good guy, deep down, he just needed a feminine touch to bring it out. Just like with Sara and Leonard."

Sara smirked. "I am a pretty good influence on him, aren't I?"

"And a modest one, too," Thea added sarcastically.

"Hey, you said it!" Sara protested.

"No I did not!" Thea argued.

The bell rang, making them all groan. "Time for class, girls," Iris sighed, standing up and stuffing her only half-eaten lunch into her bag. "Let's worry about our influential natures another day."

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"So, Caitlin, you turn 17 tomorrow, huh?" Barry mentioned casually.

Caitlin glanced up from her chemistry text book, her hair falling into her face until she let out a puff of air and blew it away. "Well, yes, I suppose I am."

Cisco blinked. "Oh shoot," he muttered. "Oh shoot, that's tomorrow?"

"I don't need a present, Cisco," Caitlin laughed. "If that's what you're worried about."

"Yeah, but 17 is big, Cait," Cisco complained. "I mean it's not 16 or anything but it feels big to me. You need a gift."

Barry smirked. "Just to pressure you a little more... I got her a gift."

"Barry," Caitlin sighed, shaking her head. "You did not need to get me a gift."

He shrugged. "You made me that cute card when I turned 16; it's only fair."

"Yeah, but I don't want you boys spending money on me," Caitlin said. "I didn't have to pay a cent for that card... well, I guess I had to buy the colored pencils but it's not as if I did that solely for the purpose of making your card."

Cisco nudged Barry in the ribs, determined to re-stake his claim as best-bestie. "She got me a gift..." he said in a sing-song voice.

"Cisco!" Caitlin gasped, turning dark red. "You aren't supposed to tell him! Gosh, Barry, that probably seems really hurtful and I'm super sorry... it's just, you know, Cisco's my best friend and everything- not that he's better than you in any way, you're super awesome, too! I've just known him since second grade and everything and-"

"Cait, really, it's fine." Barry and Cisco were both laughing now and Caitlin huffed, sitting back. "I do not need a birthday gift."

"Well, Caitlin does," Cisco sighed. "And so we're are back at my dilemma."

"You know what I say every year, Cisco," Caitlin reminded him. "Donate to the medical cause of your choice in my name. Gifts are for Christmas."

"But that's so boring-"

"Not to the people you're helping," Caitlin argued. "So many hospitals would be really happy to get even a small donation. I'm not saying you have to give like thirty dollars but you don't need to buy me anything. Wait until Christmas."

"But it's boring for me," Cisco elaborated. He let out a sigh. "Ah well. I'll think of something."

"Girls are so much easier to shop for than boys, anyway," Caitlin reminded him helpfully.

"Yeah, but you don't wear makeup!"

"Cisco Ramon." Caitlin gave Cisco a look. "One: There are more things that interest the average girl than makeup. Two: Never get a girl makeup for a birthday gift! Unless you know the exact brand she uses, the products she likes, and the items she already has. No one needs two of the same foundations or lipsticks. Three: I actually do wear makeup, just not a lot, and just not kinds you would notice."

Barry tilted his head. "Huh. I always wondered why you never look tired in the morning."

"The wonders of concealer, boys," Caitlin laughed. "It truly is a lifesaver some days."

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Caitlin woke up on her 17th birthday and found nothing much had changed. Her alarm still went off much too early, she had the same clothes in her closet and the same moisturizer and light makeup routine. Her hair curled the same and she still remembered to unplug the bathroom night light.

There was one difference. When she walked down the stairs to the kitchen, she found her mother waiting for her.

Usually, by that point in the morning, Dr. Carla Snow was up in her room, gathering her things to head off to work. Today, on the other hand, she was sitting at the kitchen table with a small wrapped box in front of her.

"Happy birthday, Caitlin," Carla said warmly, getting up and hugging her daughter.

Caitlin smiled, pleasantly surprised, and Carla handed her her gift and a card. Inside the envelope was a white card with a clean, neat, Happy Birthday in calligraphy on the front. On the inside there was a note in her mother's handwriting.

Dear Caitlin,

Most brilliant minds (myself included) forget how to be good at anything other than their craft. You, however, combine brilliance, grace and beauty all into human form. I am so incredibly proud to be your mother. Happy birthday, and keep showing an example that the rest of the world can try to follow.

Much love,

Mom

Caitlin eyes welled unexpectedly. "Thank you," she whispered, unused to such kind words from her mother.

"Open the gift," Dr. Snow urged, a bit uncomfortable with all the sentiment.

Caitlin neatly pulled off the wrapping paper, somehow managing not to rip it, and opened up the jewelry box. Inside was a silver necklace with the letters S, T, E and M dangling off of it.

"STEM," Carla said. "Science, technology, engineering and math."

Caitlin nodded, practically beaming. "I love it," she said. "I love it so much. Thank you, mom."

She hugged her mother tightly, and then handed her the necklace so she could put it on.

Felicity Smoak was the first person to comment on the necklace. "Oh, my gosh," she gushed. "I love that so much. Where did you get it?"

"My mom got it for me for my birthday," Caitlin beamed. "Thank you!"

"I need this necklace in my life," Felicity said approvingly. "Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thanks," Caitlin laughed. "Now we are in the world of seventeen year olds together."

Felicity grinned, and a second later, Cisco popped over her shoulder. "Aww, look at you, Caitlin. All growed up."

"Nice grammars, Cisco," Felicity snickered, patting his shoulder. "I'm gonna head to my locker, 'kay? See you guys in class."

Julian came up behind Caitlin and wrapped his arms around her waist. She jumped, before laughing a little. "Good morning, Julian."

"Morning, Caitlin," he said, sweetly kissing her cheek. "Happy Birthday. I do have a gift for you- I'm just going to have my mom bring it when she comes to pick me up so you don't have to, like, carry it around all day."

"No worries," Caitlin assured him. She raised an eyebrow at Cisco. "Would you stop fangirling? It's not as if he's never been sweet before."

Cisco blushed. "I am not fangirling. Even though you guys are totally my OTP."

They gave him blank looks. "OT...P?" Julian asked, confused.

"I'll explain another time," Cisco said, thinking that five minutes before homeroom wasn't the time to start a class Cisco liked to call 'Introduction to the Language of Shipping'. "And, Caitlin, while we are on the topic, I put my gift in my locker so you could have it all day."

"I thought you didn't have a gift?" Caitlin reminded him, laughing, as he rooted through his incredibly messy locker and tugged out a clumsily wrapped box.

Caitlin smiled and took it from him. "Thanks, Cisco," she said, unwrapping the box. Cisco took the wrapping paper back and stuffed it back in his locker. It would probably remain there until the end of the school year. Possibly longer.

Caitlin opened up the box. Inside their was a pin with the words, 'World's Best Friend' painted on it. There was a note, too:

'Happy Birthday, Caitlin! Thanks for being the World's Best Friend. (BTW I also donated to the SPCA so that this adorable cat can have food for the next four months. I know you really want a cat and your mom won't let you get one, so maybe it's the next best thing?) Love, Cisco'

"Oh, Cisco," Caitlin murmured, tearing up. She hugged her friend tightly. "Thank you."

"Love ya," Cisco grinned.

"Love you, too," Caitlin laughed, attaching the pin to her sweater. "And I love this."

The bell rang. Caitlin, Julian and Cisco grabbed their bags and headed off toward homeroom.

Later, after school had ended, Julian held true to his word and approached Caitlin with a gift bag. "No waste," he explained. "That's why I didn't wrap it."

"You know me well," Caitlin grinned, opening up the bag.

"So, uh, I know it's a little cliché," Julian said, a bit embarrassed as Caitlin pulled out a jewelry box and opened it to find a bracelet. "But I wasn't really sure what else to do, so I went to the store and got a bunch of charms that I though represented you." He paused, nervous. "Is it weird?"

"No, Julian, it's perfect," Caitlin smiled, inspecting the bracelet. It had five different charms on it: a beaker, like one that would be used in Chemistry class; a heart; a C; a metal square with engraved plus, minus, division and multiplication symbols; and a 17.

"Oh, good, I'm glad you like it," Julian said, letting out a heavy sigh of relief. "It's your first birthday since we've been dating and I've kind of been stressing about perfect gifts and all that."

"There is no need for you to stress about a gift," Caitlin told him seriously, giving him a look. "I don't like you for your money or your expensive gifts, I like you because you are sweet and special and you. Even if you got me a pair of too-small socks, that opinion wouldn't change."

Julian nodded, blushing and staring at his toes. "Alright," he muttered. "Duly noted."

As promised, Barry also got Caitlin a gift. He caught her when she was waiting for the bus, right before taking Iris home. "Hey, Cait! Happy Birthday."

"Thanks, Barry," Caitlin said, accepting his hug.

He tossed her a wrapped box, unable to keep the grin off of his face.

"Barry, you didn't have to-"

"Open it. You will see. Just open it."

Inside was a small set of colored pencils and a blank card. There was a sticky note inside:

Now you haven't spent a single cent on me, not even for the colored pencils and the card. Happy Birthday! -Barry

"Thank you, Barry," Caitlin laughed, shaking her head. "It's absolutely perfect."

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"Alright, ladies," Iris said bracingly as she faced Thea and Sara. "We are headed off to Christmas Break. What do we have for plans?"

"We have to get hot chocolate and walk around downtown at least once," Thea stated. "And bring candy canes around with us. I've heard that mint makes boys fall in love," she added dreamily.

"We all have boyfriends," Sara said flatly. "Well... Iris and I have boyfriends. You... kinda of have a boyfriend?"

"I have a boyfriend!" Thea protested.

"Well-"

"So, boy talk is definitely on the menu, along with hot chocolate and candy canes," Iris intervened quickly. "We should also totally go sledding. Maybe invite Barry and his study group, too?"

"Good for me," Sara said. "I'm coming back from my Mom's the day after Christmas. And then my grandparents are coming over for two days after that- not that I still can't go do something that day."

"We'll find a time," Iris assured her. "Even if it's the day before we go back to school."

"Well, actually," Thea started. "I'm-"

"We'll find a time," Iris repeated, laughing. "Now I gotta scoot. Barry was just going to give Caitlin her birthday gift and then we were going to head home."

Thea's eyes lit up. "He gave her a birthday gift?! That is so cute! Honestly, if you two weren't dating, I would totally ship it."

"You ship it anyway," Sara snorted. "You just ship WestAllen more."

Iris gave them both annoyed looks. "Well, Barry Allen is my boyfriend, and Caitlin Snow is in a committed relationship. The two of them aren't getting together, even if they were interested in each other."

"Of course," Thea said quickly, not wanting to offend her friend. "Of course not. I was kidding, Iris. Barry is a very sweet boy and I'm sure he would give a gift to anyone. Heck- it's no different than him giving a gift to Cisco! I-"

"I get it, Thea," Iris sighed. "See you two later."

She turned and jogged off across the blacktop, and the other two saw Barry waving at her from his car. Thea gave Sara a look. "The fact that I might kind of ship Barry and Caitlin together was supposed to stay between you and me."

" 'Kind of'?" Sara scoffed. "You literally came up with the ship name Snowbarry. Obviously you had put some thought into it. Like a lot of thought."

"I'm good at coming up with ship names!" Thea protested. "And I like doing it." She huffed, rolling her eyes. "Look, I'm going to head home."

"Uh huh," Sara said, shaking her head and watching as Thea stomped off. "See you later."

What a great way to start Christmas vacation- all three off them annoyed at each other. Sara sighed.

Maybe it was good that they were going to be away from school (and each other) for awhile. They needed a break.

Author's Note: I tryyyyy not to have too much friend-drama in my story... but hey, I have to make this at least a little realistic.

I know it's not at all realistic. But who wants a fanfiction to be realistic?

OKAY YOU SNOWBARRY FANATICS! Considering they were kind of a central duo in this chapter I feel like this is a good time to say: The review box below is not the place to ask me when I will be updating Snowbarry Season 4.

Also, I don't know if I'm going to update it ever again. We'll see. But if you want to leave a review, talk about this story. Don't ask about my updating schedule, please.