I feel like all of these recent chapters involve a break-up. Hope you don't mind, guys.

Prompt from Fantasy Lover 4ever. Song 'Why Don't You Love Me' by Hot Chelle Rae. (I don't own it.)

So apparently I'm not allowed to have song lyrics written in this, which I think is the dumbest rule ever, because it's basically free advertising for artists, but my account has been threatened so I'm changing it because the creators of this website and many artists who probably don't read this are freaks. These lyrics will be posted in my profile until further notice. Sorry for the inconvenience.

See I can't wake up I'm living a nightmare
to
And you're cool with just being friends

Barry lie in bed one morning thinking. Thinking about Iris, thinking about his secrets.

She never could see the way he looked at her. He knew Iris to be a smart observant person, so why did she have to be so oblivious to this one thing? Barry loved her, why was she the only person who didn't seem to know it? Now he had to watch her be with Eddie every day. Barry had to constantly sit through them flirting and kissing and just being a couple. It was killing him, but she just wanted to be friends.

Left on the sidelines
to
Why don't you love me?

Barry was no longer the most important guy in her life, not including Joe because that wasn't the same. She, for the most part, left him out of the details, which he was grateful for, but he was sad to be left out of such an important part of his best friend's life.

He wished he could hold her in his arms, tell her he loved her more than anything in the world, and have the words reflected back to him. Maybe someday, he allowed himself that small hope. For now, could he confess a different secret?

See I'm just too scared to tell you the truth
to
Why don't you love me?

Eddie had put the request in to be transferred or get a new partner, but it was taking a long time. They hadn't told anyone because they didn't want to risk the danger it could put Eddie and Joe in if they couldn't get along as partners, but Eddie had broken up with Iris two weeks ago. He had told her he didn't think her heart was in the relationship anymore, if it ever was, and that wasn't what he wanted. He had hoped she would fight his theory, but it was only proven when she nodded with dry eyes. Her eyes remained dry, and even she was surprised. Iris had thought she loved Eddie, so why were no tears forming at the idea, no the reality, of losing him? The answer was obvious, but she was too afraid to give it merit. It wasn't worth the risk it presented. Barry. She couldn't tell him that he was the one she really loved, she would lose her best friend, no matter how much she wanted to tell him.

Besides he had been distant since he woke up.

Touch me tell me I'm your everything
 to
Why don't you love me?

Iris was excited. Eddie's transfer had gone through, (after a total of ninety four days and about three hours), he was Starling's newest officer. She no longer had to be pretending to date her ex-boyfriend, but that also got rid of her most realistic reason for not telling Barry about her feelings. Iris knew her Bear would at the worst be a little awkward.

She heard a key slide into the lock and prayed a contradictory prayer; please let it be Barry, but please don't let it be Barry. That seemed to sum up her thoughts lately. Iris was debating herself almost constantly and losing. This would be so much easier if he loved me. Why can't he love me back?

Barry entered the house he had called home for much of his life and saw the woman he loved all of his life sitting anxiously in the living room.

"I heard about Eddie's transfer. Are you ok?" Barry said sitting down millimeters from Iris. Both of their hearts raced, even by Barry's standards.

"Yeah. We broke up a few months ago." Iris said without expression.

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" Barry wrapped Iris in his arms, he would never admit it to anyone, but he was happy about the split.

"It wasn't a big deal, but we knew dad would be mad and . . ." Iris trailed off.

"And you wanted to protect them." Iris nodded. When did Barry get so smart? She laughed to herself.

Iris took courage from the fact he left his arm around her when he released her from the all too short hug.

"Iris, I have to tell you something." Barry said weakly, no longer meeting her eye. He had gone into the familiar 'I feel guilty' face that usually accompanied something like chipping a dish that he shouldn't feel guilty for.

"Me too, but you first."

Barry took a deep shaky breath. "I-I-I'm the Flash, Iris. I know I should have told you sooner but- but I was afraid. I was afraid of the danger you would be in if you knew, and I was afraid that you would look at me like I was crazy."

Iris knew she should have felt hurt that her friend was afraid of her not being accepting of this big secret, and she was, but the emotion she felt most keenly was joy, mixed with a bit of relief because the man she met with in secret rooftop meetings who had been hopelessly flirting with her, was the man she loved more than anything.

"You like me." Barry noticed that it was a statement rather than a question, but he was confused by her meaning.

"Of course I like you. We've been friends as long as I can remember. Longer even." Barry was worried that the way he had phrased the last part of his confession had made her question what their friendship meant to him.

"That's not what I mean, Barry. It was you on that roof, flirting like crazy. I know you like me more than a friend."

Barry was worried. He had only planned on confessing one secret tonight, but plans change. Maybe today would be a good day?

"More than like." Barry tilted his head just enough to see her eyes light up with, dare he hope, happiness. "I love you Iris. I've always loved you, and I'll never stop. I understand if you don't-"

"Stop talking Barry. I love you too." Barry stared at her for a second while her words sunk in. Then he leaned in closer to her and kissed her like he had been wanting to for years.