Inspired by the song, 'There Goes My Life' by Kenny Chesney

The sun was burning down as he chugged on his sweating water bottle. His teammates patted him on the back with a few cheers on the new record he just broke. Barry wiped the sweat from his face and smiled at them as they all drowned water to conquer the heat.

It had to have been the hottest day of the year but, he had to practice - he needed to get faster. The track meet was a week away and the results from it are crucial. He needed to impress the talent scouts that were coming or he could kiss his dream of college goodbye. He needed this to go off without any distractions.

He is called out from his thoughts as he hears the coach calling from the sidelines. "What's up?" he asked as he jogged over to his teacher.

The coach gave a smirk, "Impressive work out their Allen. You continue like this and there will definitely be a track scholarship with your name on it." He patted Barry's shoulder as he smiled with pride. "You deserve it, kid. I wish you only best in life," his coach gave a nod of pride then excused himself to be emotional in Barry's presence.

Barry let out a slight sigh as he recalls all the struggles he had to face to get here. Growing up, it had only been him and his mom - his father walked out on them before he was born. His mom was a young mother, who got pregnant in high school and never went to college. They struggled for many years but his mother never gave up on them. She pushed to give him the best life he could have. He wanted to repay her by getting a degree - in her honor.

A slight tear leaves his eye and he quickly wiped it away. Suddenly, his attention is brought back to the present by the sound of his teammates whistling. He looked over to the bleachers to see a delicate silhouette waving and a smile spread on his face. He walked over to the beauty and wrapped his arms around her - bring her in for a tight hug.

"Barry you're sweaty!" she squealed trying to escape his embrace to no avail.

He tightened his grip as he buried his face into her neck. "I don't care. You gotta learn to love it," he chuckled before releasing his hold on her waist but kept her close. Before he could say another word, his teammates continued their antics with whistling and cheers at the pair. She buried her head in his chest from embarrassment. "Hey, knock it off! Nothing to see here, go about your boring lives!" he yelled with a chuckle as the guys waved him off and walked towards the locker rooms. He turned to face his girlfriend - Caitlin, with a smile and pecked her lips. "Don't mind them, babe, they're harmless."

Caitlin bit her lip and looked into his eyes. A sigh leaves her lips as she pulls away from his embrace turning her back to him. "Barry, I need to tell you something," she breathed.

Concern filled his face as he heard the sadness in her voice. "Cait, what's wrong?" He stepped towards her, but she stepped away. "Caitlin," he breathed. "Look at me, what's wrong?" he begged with worry coating each word.

She took a heavy breath before turning to face him with tears streaming down her face. He immediately wrapped her back in his arms and tried to console her. He felt her tremble in his arms and was getting scared of what was causing her such distress. She buried her head into his chest. "I'm so sorry Barry," she mumbled as the tears stained his shirt.

"Cait, what happened?" he asked as he placed his chin on her head, holding her as she sobbed. "Whatever it is baby, we will be okay." He kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer. "I promise," he whispered, just wanting her to tell him the devastating news.

"No," she croaked as she pulled away from his embrace. "No we won't and it's all my fault," she cried as she shook her head. She noticed Barry was about to talk but, she beat him to it. "Barry, I'm pregnant," she breathed.

He stopped. Frozen in time. The world stood still as he tried to process the words that left her mouth. The shock was written all over his face as he shook his head, not wanting to believe it. He watched as Caitlin nodded her head as the tears dried on her cheeks. "Cait," he breathed as he felt his throat dry up. "You can't... that isn't... we used protection," he rambled and ran his fingers through his damp hair. "I can't -" he spoke but Caitlin interrupted.

"I don't want you to give up on your dream. You worked too hard to get here." She let a few more tears fall before wiping them away. "Go after your dream; I'll be okay," she gave him a half-smile and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye Barry," she whispered and walked out of his sight.

He watched her walk away and wanted to run after her but, his feet wouldn't move. He felt numb. He felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach. He wanted to scream. Instead, he ran - he ran as fast as he could around the track as the tears flooded his eyes. As the wind hit his face and anger filled his veins, he kept pushing himself to run faster. Soon his vision blurred and his chest felt tight from the lack of oxygen but, he kept running. When he felt his body couldn't handle the pain, he tried to slow down but, ended up tripping over air. He fumbled and rolled across the track, yelling in pain as he felt his body collided with the ground.

He laid sprawled across the ground as he looked up into the sky. Bruises and scrapes covered his arms and legs but he didn't care. He only wanted one thing in that moment - one person.

She walked over to the front door as the banging increased with each passing second. She gasped at the young man behind the door. "What happened to you? Are you okay? What are you doing here?" she questioned as she examined his body.

He waved her questions away and pushed past her door, letting himself in. "None of that matters right now, the only thing I care about is you"

"Barry," she breathed but, he would let her finish.

"Caitlin Snow, you have been a constant in my life. We have gone through everything together. You make my life better. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am today." He grabbed her hands and held onto them tightly.

"But Barry, what about your future? What about your dream?" she asked, trying to force him to choose himself. She did not want a baby to hold him back - she didn't want to hold him back. "You have been chasing after it for years. You need to chase your dream, Barr" she pushed.

He stared into her pleading eyes. He knew what she was doing - what she always did. She was trying to take care of him - put himself first. But, at that moment he didn't want to be put first. He wanted them to be first. Caitlin had become his everything - his first girlfriend, his first kiss, his first love. Wherever life was to take him, he wanted her by his side.

He licked his lips and gave her hands a light squeeze. "You are my dream, Cait," he breathed as he watched her eyes filled with tears. "And I will chase after you always."

Barry unlocked the front door of his house. His nostrils filled with the smell of cooking and laughter filled his heart with joy. He followed the sound to see as his wife and daughter preparing a salad. He leaned against the wall with a smile spread across his face.

"But mommy, daddy hates onions in his salad" her five-year-old giggled as her mother diced the vegetable.

"A little won't hurt him, I promise," Caitlin smiled at her daughter as she added the pieces into the bowl. She soon felt someone watching them and looks over her shoulder to see her husband. "Speak of the devil," she giggled.

"DADDY!" the little girl yelled jumping off the chair and running into his arms.

He picked her up in his arms and spun her around. "Princess!" he yelled with excitement then placed her on his hip. "How was your first day of kindergarten?"

A cheeky smile spread across her face. "It was awesome! I made a friend! His name is Henry," she squealed as Barry raised his eyebrows at the mention of a boy's name. "We played at recess together and shared snack," she added, the smile never leaving her lips.

"Sounds like an eventful day," he smiled back and placed her on the ground. "But, I don't know how I feel about you being friends with a boy," he joked.

"Dad..." she whined and crossed her arms. "He is my friend and I like him. You can't change my mind."

With that, she walked away as the parents chuckled at her antics. "Like mother, like daughter," he chuckled as he walked over to Caitlin and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her lips, "How was your day?"

"Better now that you're home," she smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You?"

He pecked her lips and rested his forehead on hers. "Same," he breathed and rubbed his nose on hers. "I missed you," he said pouting a little.

She giggled at him as she placed her right hand on his face, letting her thumb caress his cheek. "Me too," she breathed. He leaned in to kiss her again but pulled away at the sound of their daughter squealing.

"Eww! Gross! No kissy kissy," she whined covering her eyes and running back to the living room.

Caitlin giggled and turned back to her husband with an arched eyebrow, "What a life we live," she joked with a smile.

Barry smiled back at her, looking deep into her eyes with admiration and passion, before crashing his lips on hers. He pulled away when the need for air came and whispered in her ear causing her to smile.

"I'm living the dream, baby."

fin.