Hello Again

"Barry you will not believe what I have been chosen to be a part of," Cisco exclaimed.

He was practically exploding with excitement so I decided to humor him, "What did you get chosen for?"

"Well after being a hard worker for eight months even though I'm an intern I was chosen to be in the construction of the new particle accelerator!" He exclaimed.

"Hey speaking of your job, have you seen Caitlin lately?" I hadn't seen Caitlin in eight months since I bumped into her at Jitters.

"No but to be honest with you. I didn't think you would stand a chance with being in a relationship with her."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because she was in a relationship but now she's free, a free lady."

Cisco grinned and said hello to two girls who giggled as they ran past in sports bras. I kept thinking about what he said and what would have happened if I saw her again after that day.

"How do you know so much about her?" I finally asked.

"I'm her best friend plus I'm her co-worker," he smiled.

He took his lollipop out making a sucking sound, "It's hard to take you seriously with that lollipop," I laughed.

"And I may or may not have been eavesdropping on my boss," he avoided my gaze.

I just laughed imagining Cisco behind a door struggling to hear what Dr Wells was talking about. He wiped something off of his T-shirt. There was an image of a turtle sunbathing with a dialogue bubble saying, "Am I hot now?"

"Anyway construction is scheduled to be finished around the summer if everything goes correctly." He paused, "I have to get home, I have finals next week and I need to study."

We said goodbye and parted ways.

-o3o-

I walked into Jitters still trying to decide what to get.

"Hey Barry what can I get you today?" Hal greeted.

His clothes consisted of a green leather jacket, brown jeans, and a tan cloth apron on top.

"Do you ever take your jacket off?" I eyed him.

"Believe it or not, I do," he grinned. "So guess what?"

"What?"

"I finally got a job as a test pilot!"

Hal had wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and be a pilot. His dad always said, "You never lived life until you fly," which is ironic since that was what took his life. His death nearly broke Hal but he still moved forward using his death as an incentive.

"Where and when are you leaving?" I asked.

"I'm leaving tomorrow in the morning to Coast City."

"Well then I guess this is goodbye then?" I asked reality setting in.

"Yes I guess it is," he said his smile falling apart.

I stood up and he came around the counter and we embraced. "You're like a brother to me Hal," Hal had been there for me like I was there for him when my mother died.

"Jordan! Get your ass in here!" Hal started to leave but stopped.

"Oh and Barry, I saw your girlfriend in the bar down the street."

-o3o-

I ran into the bar and spotted Caitlin sitting at the counter with a glass of Vodka. I sat down next to her and looked.

"Hello again Barry Allen," she said putting the glass down.

"How do you know my name?" I asked.

"Well Cisco won't shut up about you, trying to get you and me both together. But that's not gonna happen, unless you want to?" She both flirted and rejected me.

I laughed shrugging it off. "How are they allowing you to drink?"

"You'd be surprised at what people would do for money," she hiccuped.

She leaned her head on my shoulder and started sobbing. I felt awkward even though no one was staring. It was weird actually since we were the in the bar. I patted her back trying to calm her down. I didn't understand what was happening since she went from hating me to flirting to crying on my shoulder.

"Why? I don't understand why you boys are heartless monsters?" her question threw me off.

"Uh why do you say that? What happened?' I lifted her from my shoulder and looked into her eyes.

"My boyfriend, I caught my boyfriend cheating on me," she sobbed.

"I, I'm so sorry."

She got up and hugged me. I hugged her back. She smelled heavily of alcohol.

"That's not the worst part! He was cheating on me with who I thought was my best friend, Linda Park!"

"Come on I'll take you home," I tried to lead her out the bar but it was difficult.

She was unbalanced. I had to wrap her arm around my neck and half lead half drag her out. I managed to convince her to give me the car keys to her blue toyota. I unlocked the car and put her into the passenger seat. I almost got us into an accident several times since I still didn't have my license, and after getting lost a couple of times I finally found Caitlin's home. I helped her down and led her up to the front door. I was about to leave when she tugged on my sleeve.

"Can you come in with me?" she asked pouting.

I laughed nervously, "But your dad…"

"Is working on the particle accelerator and won't be back until tomorrow in the afternoon. Besides what harm can we do?" she smiled biting her lip.

She put her arms around my neck and threw back her head. I stumbled and fell on the steps. Somehow I managed to get her to land on top of me making me take most of the damage to the ribs.

"Oh the sun is too bright," she shielded her eyes to the afternoon sun.

I groaned in response. I layed there a bit with her laying on top of me before getting both of us up. I had to promise to go in with her so she could open the door. I led her into her bedroom and layed her on the bed. I went into her bathroom and turned the water on in the shower to warm.

"Time for your shower Caitlin," I came back into the room.

"Oh yay!" she yelled and started undressing.

"Oh god! Caitlin what are you doing!?" I said covering my eyes.

"What's wrong Barry?" I felt her body press against me.

"You're not well Caitlin you're intoxicated, you don't know what you're doing."

"Oh I do know what I'm doing but have you never seen a girl…" she started before screaming.

I uncovered my eyes just in time to catch from falling to the ground.

After showering I helped her pick some clothes out and picked a movie at random for us to watch while she dressed. I looked back at Caitlin who was laying down on her purple bed. She was starting to sober up a little. I put in the movie Yogi Bear and turned on the t.v. I layed in bed with her.

"I'm sorry to put you through this," she apologized.

"Don't worry bout a thing," I assured her.

She snuggled up next to me wrapping my arms around her.

"You truly are something Barry Allen."

"Why do you say that?" I started to run my fingers through her soft hair.

"Back when I got nude you didn't take advantage of me like so many other boys would have, your different than the others Barry," she said looking into my eyes.

"I would never do anything to hurt you Caitlin. Never."