Thanks, everyone, I love reviews! They are much appreciated and it really makes me smile when I get them! :) The song for this chapter is Matt Corby - Song For

BARRY'S POV:

"Okay, do this last equation then we can call it a day." I encouraged.

We sat on the couch, a box of pizza and a few sodas in front of us. I wasn't sure if I was cut out for this whole tutoring thing. Principal Sanchez wanted me to be back in good standing with the school after I gave it to Drew in the parking lot. At the time, I didn't know what I was doing, I just had to hit something and part of me knew that it had to come to this. He had to pay for what he'd done to iris.

So here I was, tutoring the new transfer in math and science after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Needless to say, I was a little irritated. I needed to get back out there, the rush I felt saving people could only be described as similar to how I feel when Iris smiles at me. A tiny miracle that I wasn't sure I'd ever get again.

Speaking of an angel, she opened the door and walked in. "Can I just tell you that being back at school sucks the biggest sweatiest dick." She had food in her hands. "Everyone was-Uh." She stopped in her tracks when she noticed us.

I chuckled then looked over at Ronnie laughing.

"Don't let us interrupt you," He cracked a grin at her.

She blushed. "Nah, that's okay." She looked at me. "Who's this, Barry?"

"Oh, right." I motioned between them. "This is Ronnie Raymond. He just transferred last week."

He stood up and towered over her as he held out his hand. "You must be Iris West."

She grinned as she took his hand in hers. "Yes, that is I." She made a weird face and fled to the kitchen with the food.

Ronnie turned to me as he plopped down on the couch. "I heard the rumors, but I had no idea she was so fucking hot, Allen."

I glared at him with hard eyes. "No."

"No as in you don't think she's Grade A meat?"

I leaned in closer to whisper. "Just no. If you try anything with Iris I will put my foot so far up your ass."

His forehead creased. "She's your girl?"

No. She wasn't.

"She's my childhood best friend. She's a sweet girl, don't mess around with her to prove something. She's not looking for a hookup in a parking lot, Ronnie."

He held his hands up. "Okay, chill Allen. I wasn't trying to step on any toes. I'll reign it in."

My eyes rolled as I grabbed the work and checked it.

"Hey, Bear." Iris came to lay her arms on the back of the couch, her chin on her hands as she looked up at me. "What are we doing tonight? I need to dress appropriately."

I leaned back to look at her, my hand rested on her elbow. "I'm not telling you. It's called a surprise for a reason, Flower."

She looked embarrassed that I called her a childhood nickname in front of somebody other than Joe. I couldn't much blame her, but I liked having Ronnie know there was history between us.

"Can I at least know the surrounding area? I'm not showing up in yoga pants and tennis shoes if we're going someplace halfway decent."

I smirked, knowing she hated it as much as she loved it when I did that. "You could just wear nothing."

She smacked my chest. "Behave in front of guests." She tried to fight her grin while she pushed off the couch and headed upstairs. "I'll be up in your room." She called.

I could practically feel both of us harden. Trust me, I know how weird that sounded, but hey. Iris West was not just any girl. Having her as a friend again was really testing my resolve. Having her upstairs and in my room was testing my willpower as a man.

Ronnie snapped his head around to stare at me. "Dude," He whispered. "You better be getting that."

I glared at him. "Don't talk about her like that. Besides it's not like that."

After I finished checking his work and gave him a few pointers he left. The stairs were starting to look ten miles long as I stared at them. With a sigh I made my way up them, I closed my door behind me. Of course, Iris was spread out on my bed with a textbook in her hands. Trying to respect both Iris and Joe I sat on the floor, leaned my back against the bed.

I just let her do her thing while I thought. Cisco popped into my mind. We hadn't spoken for like three weeks. On a scale of ten I'd say it was about a thirty. Sure, I really missed my best friend, but I didn't know how to trust him. Especially, around Iris. Her injuries could've led to something truly terrible.

"What's on your mind, handsome?" Iris moved so she was laying on her stomach, her head on her shoulder as she looked at me. "Is it Cisco again?"

I turned my head. "Yeah."

"Why won't you just talk to him? I'm sure whatever he did, whatever you won't tell me, isn't worth losing a friendship with you over. Trust me, I know how it feels."

When she said stuff like that...I just couldn't help but gaze at her. We'd come a significant way since that day I gave her a ride. I was sort of glad that things played out how they did, we both got things off our chest. Granted, there were still things lingering beneath the surface for us both, we wouldn't bring them up.

"Barry, you're an amazing guy. Granted, you think too much of yourself sometimes," She grinned. "You're still a really great friend. And you can be sweet when you want to. I'm sure Cisco misses that."

I gave her a look. "You're very right, but Cisco and I have a completely different relationship than you and I."

She smirked. "How is that?"

"For one, I don't cater to his every waking need."

She sneered. "You do not."

I gave her a look.

"Okay, maybe you do. Sometimes. It's not like I ask you to, you just do it because you're my friend."

"I do it because I want to. Secondly," I leaned closer. "Him laying on my bed has never been so arousing."

She stilled, her eyes widened. "Oh. Is that why you're on the floor?"

My brow rose. "I don't think you want me to come up there."

She looked like she was considering it as she bit her bottom lip.

That was the last thing I wanted to see.

"Okay."

My forehead creased. "Okay, what?"

"Come up here." She didn't sound so sure of it herself. She gazed at me with those brown eyes.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Flower." How was I the one concerned for the basis of our friendship?

She looked embarrassed then she buried her head in the covers. "Why are we doing this?" She muffled. "Why are we like this?"

"I don't know." I put my arm on the bed and layed my head down. "Ten years changed a lot for us. Not that you weren't beautiful back then, but you've grown into this incredibly gorgeous woman and I'm really glad you turned out amazing. I don't know how I would've felt it things were bad for you."

She peeped up. "I should've fought harder for you. I think about what it would've been like if were always close." She propped her head up on her hand.

"Do you think we would've, you know, been together by now?"

She gave a tiny smile. "I don't know, maybe. Probably. Then again, we might've just been brother and sister practically."

I shook my head.

"What is it?"

I sat up, running my hand through my hair. "I just, I've never seen you that way. Even back then I had a crush on you."

Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth. "Shut up?"

"Yeah, I did." I grinned sourly. "And maybe that's why I pushed you away the hardest. I already lost one woman I cared about, I didn't want to lose another."

Tears pricked at her eyes, she blinked the back as she reached out. "Oh, Bear."

We wrapped each other up. I wasn't sure how long we stayed that way, but all I knew was that it felt nice and I didn't want to lose this ever again.

IRIS' POV:

I walked down the hall, keeping my eyes ahead of me when I saw something out the corner of my eye. Cisco fell to floor. Drew snickered over him with his friends as they sauntered down the hall.

I walked over and slid down next to him..

"You okay?"

He shrugged. "No."

I watched Drew and his boys turn the corner. He glanced back at me with a snicker and a wink. Hatred filled me. Ironic how I used to feel that every time I looked at Barry. Time really does change things.

"Cisco," I looked at him. "It's none of my business, but this rift between you and Barry isn't healthy. I hardly know you, but I know Barry. He misses you. A lot. I see you walking alone to class, sitting in the library. You don't have to be alone."

He nodded. "I do. I messed up big."

"Whatever it is, why can't you two just talk it out?"

"Because Barry hates me and he loves you."

I stilled. "What are you talking about?"

"It's always been you, Iris. Even when you thought he hated you, he was in love with you. I jeopardized that. That's all I can say."

While I didn't think that was Cisco's business to tell, I didn't know if i believed him. Barry Allen in love with me? I shook my head. We were friends.

"So that's it? You're just going to go through life like this? Stand up for what you want, Cisco."

He gave a sour chuckle. "It's not that simple, Iris. We can't all have sup-" He stopped talking.

"We can't all have what?"

He shook his head. "Nothing, I'm just going on about nothing." He rose to his feet.

"I have an idea. Probably a bad one, but an idea." I grinned.

His eyes narrowed. "Oh, no you don't."

I brought Cisco back to my place after school. Hopefully, this would work. I wasn't one for sneak attacks, but this had gone on long enough. I was tired of seeing Barry half there. So I told him to come over when he got home. Cisco and I were in the kitchen.

Cisco paced the floor. "I shouldn't have come."

I sat at the table. "Relax. Everything will work out eventually."

A few minutes passed.

"I thought you had to go to work," Barry called as he came into the house.

"I do, this will only take a minute."

He stopped in the doorway when he saw Cisco. "What's he doing here?" He looked to me as if I had betrayed him.

I rose and walked to him. "This fight between you has gone on long enough. I know you miss him." I looked back at Cisco. "And Cisco misses you. So get over yourselves and squash the drama."

Cisco took a step forward, hope in his eyes. "I will if you will."

A grin formed on my lips as I looked at Barry.

He stared down at me with conflicted hazel eyes. I could see he was almost there, all he needed was a little push. Maybe a hard shove. He turned his gaze on Cisco. "I can forgive you for what you've done, but I can't forget."

The smile fell from my lips.

"What could be so bad that it can't be fixed?"

Cisco fled the kitchen, angry. "I should've never come."

"Can't wait to get back to Dr. Wells, huh?" Barry scowled.

Cisco halted. "What else do you want me to say? I can't go back and change the past, Barry."

He nodded. "Well, I hope you learn from your mistakes."

After a moment Cisco left and it was just Barry and I standing in my kitchen. And I realized he was about to turn that anger on me. Great.

He groaned. "Iris, I told you to stay out of it."

My arms folded across my chest. "I was only trying to help. Doesn't that count for something?"

He sighed, his hands ran over his head as he gave me some space. "Look, there's things going on, things that have been happening before you and I became close again, that I can't tell you about."

"What kind of things?"

Our eyes locked. "Things that would put you in danger if I told you about them."

In that moment I realized I've been pretending that Barry was the same seven year old boy, but I didn't really know him all that well. He's just been there for me, which was all I needed to know. Now I was questioning if he was who I thought he was.

"What's that supposed to mean? That doesn't make the situation go away."

"I only told you so you'd back off."

Offended, I popped my hip out and glared at him. "So now I'm overbearing?"

He rolled his eyes. "That's not what I said."

"But that's what you meant."

He ran his hands over his face, then faced me. "Look, there's some things that I want you to be apart of and then there are things that you can't be apart of. This is one of them."

With that kick in the gut I started for the door.

"Come on, don't leave mad."

I threw my hands up in aggravation. "Some of us have to work, Allen."

The next day, I was minding my own business walking to class when I was abruptly pulled to the side. Darkness surrounded me and all I could see was a tall figure. Thinking it was some big baddie I assumed the kick some ass stance I learned as a kid with Barry and my dad. Already in a not so hot mood my fist struck their center, which was a very hard chest.

They groaned.

"Remind me not to sneak up on a cop's daughter again."

Guilt sprouted. "Barry?" I leaned forward, my hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay? Why did you pull me aside like some psycho?"

"I thought it would be cool." He breathed shallowly as he looked up at me with impressed green eyes.

My hands searched for a light, but couldn't find one.

"Where are we?"

"The janitor's closet."

I pulled out my phone and looked around us. "Very funny."

He yanked down the chord a few feet from us and the tiny closet lit up. Well, that was prehistoric.

"We really shouldn't be in here and won't the light tell I don't know, a janitor, that we're trespassing?"

He took out his phone and turned on the LED app before pulling down the chord again. Our faces were the only things lit. "Better?"

"What's going on with you?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to see you."

I thought of how odd it was for him to wait in here until I walked by and grinned.

"In the janitor's closet?"

He shrugged. "Maybe I wanted to have my way with you in here." He smirked.

My finger presented itself between the middle of us. "Kiss my ass."

He chuckled. "Seriously, I know that I was a jerk yesterday and the previous days. I didn't mean to yell at you, I just...this thing between Cisco and me, it's between us. I can't involve you in it."

"Are you in some kind of trouble? Barry, my dad's a cop, which you already know. He can help you."

He shook his head. "I'll manage on my own. I just wanted to know that I appreciate what you did."

I made a face. "And you couldn't have told me that over text?"

He gave a tiny grin. "Some things are better face to face." His eyes ran over me.

My throat felt dry. I avoided his eyes.

Two days later:

BARRY'S POV:

Just one more.

My biceps burned as the lactic acid built up. Just one more. I pulled the seventy five pound dumbbells up to my chest with a strained breath. My muscles screamed in happiness once I put the weights down.

I was the only one in the weight room this late on a Friday, which I was glad about. When I worked out I tended to make some weird noises, more like grunts that I didn't want anyone to hear. Being that I was kind of avoiding Iris the last few days this was the perfect place to be.

She called me and stopped by but I had to tell her I was busy with school work and tutoring and Linda to have much time. I knew she didn't buy it because she was Iris and she could see through bullshit with a telescope. If I was smart, I'd tell her to give me some space, but I'd know how that would sound, like I didn't want the relationship, but I did. Quite honestly, I wanted more and I got the inkling Iris wanted more, but neither of us would risk what we just got back. Tricky stuff.

On my way out my truck with my bag swung over my shoulder I noticed Linda leaning against the passenger door. I thought back to when it was just her and me running around playing tag. Those were good days. I missed those days. Despite her outward appearance, she wasn't a stereotype popular girl. Yeah, she was popular, but she was also brilliant and honest. Easy going when you were being honest with her, which was why we were having so many problems. I wasn't being honest with her about so much. She didn't trust me. I couldn't blame her.

Her arms were crossed, she wore a tired frown as she noticed me.

I stopped in front of her, not knowing what to say.

"We need to talk, Barry."

I nodded. "I know."

"Are you sure you know because you've been acting like everything's been okay."

With a sigh I grabbed her hand and lead her to the bed where we sat. There was no easy way to do this. I didn't have a great track record when it came to keeping people in my life.

"I'm sorry." I told her.

She nodded. "Me, too."

We stayed quiet.

"I'm not mad, just disappointed. I thought we were closer than this. Ever since you brought Iris back into your life things have been stiff between us."

I couldn't disagree with that.

"This isn't about Iris."

She nodded. "I know, but I also know that you still think about her, I'm not stupid, Barry." She playfully shoved my shoulder. "I have eyes. The way you look at her, the way you've always looked at her hasn't changed. I just thought I could ignore it. Now that you've made up, there just wasn't room for me."

Guilt washed over me. "Linda, it's not like that."

She gave a sad smirk. "Yeah, it is. I don't blame you. This relationship has become more of a burden than a reward and we both know it's time to call it quits."

I nodded. "I think you're right." I should've done this long ago, it wasn't right to date someone while you're constantly thinking of another person.

She held her hand out. "So, let's call it."

I grasped it and shook her hand. "It's been one hell of a ride, Linda Park."

"You, too, Barry Allen." She nodded.

I pulled her to me, wrapped my arms around her. "I'm sorry this couldn't work out."

Her arms squeezed me as she gave a muffled cry. "Me, too."

We stayed like that for a while until she pulled away, her eyes down.

"I need to get going. My mom's making dinner and I kind of have to be there."

I nodded as I let her go. "See you around?"

She grinned. "Yeah."

IRIS'S POV:

During work Eddie had come up and asked me the one thing that I thought was off the table, "Do you want to grab something to eat after you clock out?"

Surprised, I had to think about it. I was already behind in school work, and I didn't think it would be the smartest thing to go stuffing my pie hole, but I couldn't deny how unlikely it was I'd get this opportunity again. So I took it.

We strolled side by side. I wasn't sure if it was as awkward for him as it was for me, but it sure felt like it. "So, Eddie, I have to ask. Is this a date or...?" My breath in a cloud in front of me. My peacot was doing little to nada for me.

He gave a shy grin. "I'd very much like it if it was."

A little stunned, I responded with an awkward laugh.

"Unless you don't want it to be?" He gestured cautiously, worry in his blue eyes.

Did I want it to be a date? Yes. Of course. I've never been on a date before, I just didn't know this was my first opportunity. I would've dressed to the nines and shaved my legs if I knew this evening would lead to the only date I was likely to ever have.

I nodded. "I just didn't think you saw me that way, like ever." I gave a nervous laugh.

He grinned. "No, I saw you that way. You're in high school, Iris. I'm about to graduate from college, that's kind of a big gap in our lives."

"So what changed? It is because I'm graduating in December?"

His brow rose. "You're graduating early?"

I nodded. If I could stop thinking about hotties and put my attention to hardcovers, I'd be okay.

"I don't know what changed. I kept thinking what if that turned out to be something great and what if I miss it because I'm trying to do the right thing. And I know that you and your friend are complicated-"

"We're not complicated."

He gave me a look. "I think he thinks its complicated."

Truly, it was complicated and I didn't know what that said about Barry and I that Eddie noticed. But Barry and I weren't ever going to take that risk, at least I didn't think we were. So I deserved to have a date with a hot college guy. Didn't I?

"That doesn't frighten you off?" I asked him, my hands in my pockets.

"Honestly, yes. But things are not always what they seem, so I thought I'd ask you anyway."

I grinned. "So you knew this whole time I had a crush on you and you didn't say anything because I'm still in high school."

He scratched his jaw. "That about sums it up. But your dad's a detective, I should've waited a little longer. He's a little scary."

My head shook. "What my dad doesn't know won't kill him, besides I'm about to graduate in a few months. And it's not like we're getting married. It's just a first date. A test run."

He nodded along. "You're right." I could tell he was still nervous. "Here," He offered me his coat. "That's what they always do in the movies, right?"

I nodded. "Thanks. So what do you like to do for fun?"

"Uh, I like to watch the news, read the newspaper. Criminal Minds is a favorite of mine. Law and Order." He gave a sheepish grin. "I'm a bore, I don't know what to tell you."

I laughed, pulling his coat tighter. "No, we're on the same page. All I really do is study and work. According to Barry, I'm a grandma on the excitement scale."

He gave a tiny grin.

There was awkward silence for a minute.

"So how'd you get into Criminal Justice?"

A little life came to his eyes. "Believe it or not, I was undecided my freshman year and I went to Starling City with a friend for a weekend bash. One thing lead to another and I had too many drinks. The next thing I know is I'm stumbling around downtown. A group of guys jumped me, they thought I looked rich or something and-"

"The Arrow saved you?"

He nodded. "He swooped in and saved me from possibly being killed. I owe him my life. And I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to be like him, so I signed up for Criminal Justice."

I bit my lip. That was a horrible thing, but I could completely relate. "I have this blog, it's anonymous, and it's a dedication to The Flash."

His eyes widened. "That's your blog?"

I gave a tight smile, nervous that he'd seen it. "Yeah,"

"I'm impressed, Ms. West. I'm one of your followers."

I grinned. "Thank you. You have your coping methods, I have mine." I turned to him, an elated grin in place. "He saved my life and I've seen him do impossible things. Everyone was tossing around this idea that there was something saving people, so I decided to put a name to it."

"That's amazing. Even though he isn't abiding by our laws, I respect the work he does. We're going to need him around." He looked hesitant, but continued. "Have you noticed the tension in the air lately? It's like something's waiting to make a move."

My brows knit together. "You think something bad's going to happen?"

He sighed. "I don't know, it's just a feeling I can't seem to shake."

I wondered what that could be? I hadn't felt anything like that, but I have been feeling this electric tang to the air whenever Barry was near.

We turned toward the grunts to find Cisco was on the ground, getting kicked and punched by Drew and his goons. How had we not seen that sooner?

Eddie and I crossed the street. "Hey, what's going on here?" He demanded.

I went to Cisco, who was bleeding on the cold ground. His lip was busted, his eye swollen. I knew there were wounds I couldn't see. "Are you okay?" I clutched him to me. Tears ran down his face and it broke my heart.

"Oh, you gonna cry, Cisco?" Drew asked.

Eddie put space between them and us. "Why don't you guys head home before we have to involve the cops."

"No." Cisco demanded.

I rubbed his arm.

Electricity crackled in the air. I swung around in time to see Barry charging Drew.

"Barry, no!" I begged.

He wailed on Drew. Eddie tried to step in but Drew's goons held him back. Drew was fighting back. I didn't want this to be a fair fight, but it was turning into that.

"Stop it!" I left Cisco to pull Barry away from the chaos only to get knocked on my ass, my jaw stung from a punch. My hand flew to my face.

Barry looked back at me with a bloody nose and shock in his hazel eyes as he registered what happened, what Drew did. That only seemed to anger him more.

Eddie pushed the guys off of him and helped me up. "Iris, are you okay?"

I nodded, tears in my eyes. I'd never had anyone hit me before, least of all a guy. Barry beating the crap out of Drew for my benefit again didn't help much. "Make it stop." I begged Eddie.

Cisco was up before we knew it and he had Barry back in a headlock. I didn't know how strong he was, but holding Barry back in the rage he was in was something I didn't think he had in him. "Stop. It's over."

The goons stood in shock as Drew groaned on the ground, his face bloody and beaten.

Barry struggled. "Let me go." He struggled away and scrambled for Drew. Cisco fell back down.

"Barry, stop!" I cried.

He paused mid punch to look back at me. Our eyes locked. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. Some anger faded when he took me in. I pleaded with my eyes for him not to keep going. With a scowl he turned back to Drew. He grabbed his shirt as he stood, dragging Drew with him.

"If you ever come near my friends I will make sure you can never play soccer again." He threw him a few feet back. He pointed to the other two guys. "That goes for you two also."

They glared at him as they helped Drew stand and eventually stumbled down the street.

Barry turned to Cisco, regret in his eyes. He reached down to help him up.

"You didn't have to do that, but thank you." Cisco offered a casual smirk.

Barry nodded. "Yes, I did."

I hadn't noticed that Eddie still had me wrapped in his arm until Barry looked at us. Suspicion and more anger all over him. I pulled away from Eddie and stumbled to him.

Surprisingly myself I punched him in the arm.

He held his shoulder. "Ow, why?"

"Because you could've gotten really hurt, Barry!" My eyes scanned his face. A bloody nose, a busted lip and a bruised cheek. My hand went out to touch them.

He winced. "Easy, Flower." He reached out to touch my jaw, his eyes surveyed me. "Are you okay?"

I nodded. "Thank you for defending me." A tear escaped my stupid sensitive eyes.

He wiped it away. "Always." He offered a half smirk that made me laugh. He looked over my shoulder. "Are you on a date without me?"

My eyes widened as I remembered Eddie. Shit. I was still wearing his coat.

"Um, I hate to do this, but can we have a raincheck?" I handed him the coat back.

He nodded. "Of course." Although he didn't look too sure about it. "You guys okay? Do you need a ride somewhere?"

I was about to tell him yeah because I walked to work to clear my head when Barry stepped in, his hand on the small of my back. "I'll take her home. I have to explain why she has a swollen jaw." Even as he said it I sunk into him, needing a little comfort right now. I sighed as I realized how this would look.

Eddie gave me a tight grin. "I'll call you."

Yeah, right.

"Okay." I waved lamely at him.

A/N: Hope yall enjoyed. Please review. Also I'm thinking about starting another Flash story.