The song for this chapter is Demi Lovato - Stone Cold

IRIS' POV:

I woke with a headache of epic proportions. With a groan, I rolled over in bed. I reached for my phone and checked the time. It was almost ten thirty. I shot up, frantically searched for the card Daryl gave me, and called the number.

He was very polite or maybe it was flirtatious, I didn't know the difference.

"I can squeeze you in before lunch. 11:45 sound good?"

I nodded even though he couldn't see it. "That's perfect." It was just enough time to get ready and get there. "Do I need to bring a sample of my work?"

"That won't be necessary, I just want to pick your brain a little. See you soon, Iris."

I thanked him again before we hung up. Excitement filled me as I jumped up and down for a solid five minutes, then I remembered I needed to get ready. Wanting to look professional, I borrowed one of Felicity's dresses. I didn't think the only dress I owned now, the black one from New Year's would be appropriate. Felicity wouldn't mind in the slightest, she had a bunch of them. I put on my black pumps. My reflection looked sophisticated. I had the best side french braid I was going to have with only thirty minutes left. My damn makeup took the longest. I hoped Daryl appreciated a good smokey eye and dark lip.

The car dipped and dodged traffic and thankfully got me to Picture News with minutes to spare. I thanked Jeremy, the driver, before rushing out. I wasn't sure why I was so nervous, I wasn't even sure if I wanted this. Stepping inside the office jump started my heart. Seeing the writers all comfortable at their desks, talking over a papers, on the phone with inquisitive raise of their brows. Daryl spotted me and came to stand in front of me with a pleasant smile.

"Iris, glad you could make it." His eyes scanned me and I had a feeling that they weren't supposed to, especially if I had a shot at getting this job, but it seemed like he realized that as he pulled his gaze away.

I offered a nervous grin. "Thank you for this interview." I didn't know what to do with my hands, so I propped them on my hips. "I'm sure you have other qualified applicants to interview."

He waved it off. "Just because someone has a degree in journalism doesn't mean they're cut out to be one." He checked his watch. "Let me grab my coat and we can head to the restaurant."

Restaurant?

"The interview isn't here?" I asked.

"I thought you'd be more comfortable not filled with a room of journalist while I ask you about dreams and hopes." He gave a handsome grin before leaving.

He was right, that was thoughtful.

I looked around some more and pictured myself pouring a cup of coffee while talking to coworkers. I pictured myself biting the end of my pen at my desk, struggling to get the last few sentences down before a deadline. Uncertainty filled me.

When I turned back I saw Daryl talking to a guy, the same guy that stared me down yesterday. They looked back at me as they spoke. My eyes narrowed as I checked around me. They were definitely staring at me. Okay, should I be freaked? I was probably just paranoid.

Daryl walked over with the same cool grin. "You ready?"

I nodded. As ever as I was going to be.

We ended up a pretty decent place, way nicer than I expected for an interview. Daryl assured me this would be on the company. The two of us sat in a more secluded area, per Daryl's recommendation. Which I was grateful for, I wasn't partial to total strangers hearing my business. Especially, in a place like these, where it seemed everyone oozed money and education.

"So," He started once we ordered our drinks. "Just tell me a little about yourself. It helps before you get into the big questions."

I bit my lip nervously. He probably wouldn't care that I was a vigilante, or training to be, so I went with, "I graduated high school early. I never really knew what I wanted to do for college, where I wanted to go. Winging it hasn't been the best decision."

He grinned. "You just graduated?"

"Yes. In december."

His brow lifted. "How old are you?"

Oh, shit. "Seventeen." I said hesitantly. "Is that a problem?"

If he was shocked he hid it well. "No. I admit, I thought you were a few years older."

Right. He saw me at the club at New Year's. I didn't know a lot of seventeen year olds that run on the trail either.

I gave a wry half grin. "Sometimes, I feel older."

He stared at me for a moment and I felt itchy under his bourbon gaze. I didn't know what to say or do. Thankfully, the waitress set down our drinks. I took a long sip of my water.

"You graduated early, you must be pretty smart." Hist tone was impressed. "What do you like to do for fun?"

Fight bad guys.

"Besides run into you," I grinned. "Lately, all I've been doing is running. I guess, literally and figuratively."

He nodded. "I know what that's like. When I graduated college, I didn't know which way was up. Journalism was the last thing on my mind. I had never taken a class for it. Then one day I walked into Picture News and demanded that I deserved a job even though I had no experience. The editor-in-chief overheard me and we had a lunch much like this one."

A little confidence seeped into me. "You were given a chance with no experience, so that's why I'm here?"

"Not all of us know where we're going, Iris. It's okay if you don't either. Who knows, you may fit right in at Picture News. Without my mentor, Mason, I don't think I would've made it this far."

The waitress came back and we ordered.

"So being that I don't really know anything about journalism, if I did get the job, where would we go from there?" I asked.

He looked pleased that I was somewhat interested. "Ideally, we wouldn't throw you into the lion's den right away. I would have you as an apprentice."

There was a fluttering in my stomach at the way he looked while he said "I would have you".

I cleared my throat. "Honestly, Daryl," I didn't know if I should call him something more professional or not. "I'm not confident that I would be the right choice for a newspaper. I'm not that great of a writer."

He chuckled and I couldn't figure out why that was funny. He leaned forward, his eyes on me. "I find that hard to believe, Ms. West. Mason tells me you have a pretty popular blog. About the infamous Flash."

How did this Mason guy know? Had they googled me. Was I googleable?

They noise that came out of my mouth was not attractive in the slightest. A mixture between a dying zombie and mentally unstable beatboxer.

He smirked. "I have read a few of your posts from time to time. I knew your name sounded familiar."

I don't recall telling him my last name, but okay.

"Daryl," My eyes fell to the white tablecloth. "Just because I had a blog months ago doesn't make me capable of reporting the actual news."

His brow arched. "What's the difference?"

There was plenty of differences!

"I was passionate about The Flash" Even now I could feel a proud smile overtake my face. "He saved me, he saved a lot of people. I just wanted everyone to believe him as much as I did."

He frowned. "Did?"

I froze. "I mean, do. Still do." I recovered, but not quick enough. He didn't look convinced. If he even guessed that I knew who The Flash was then I couldn't take this job. The last thing I wanted was for Barry's secret to be out, even if I wanted a job.

He nodded.

My lips pursed as I scanned the restaurant for a distraction. Like last night, I saw Barry before I felt his presence. My heart lerched in my chest. He looked so handsome in his suite, looking effortlessly like a catalog model. Before a smile could fall on my face Thea came into view. She looked gorgeous in her silk teal dress as chatted up another man in a suit. She grabbed Barry's arm. He grinned at her and I was reminded why I wanted to hurt him. If that wasn't bad enough, it seemed they were heading our way.

"You've got to be kidding me?' I tore my gaze away from them, I propped my elbow on the table, my head rested in my hand as I hide from them with a horrified expression.

Daryl leaned closer. "I'm going to go out on a limb and say that he's the guy you didn't want to see yesterday?"

Shit. I was in the middle of an interview and I was practically hiding under the table.

I glanced at Daryl. "You'd be right." I gave a nervous chuckle. There was no way he'd hire me after seeing how immature I was.

"Iris?" The voice reached me to my core.

With what pride I had left, I looked up at the two. Thea was still talking to the man in the suit while Barry gazed at me, or rather between Daryl and I.

I wasn't sure if you could die of awkwardness, but I was placing a bet now. The odds were not in my favor.

"Barry," I swallowed the lump in my throat. I looked between them and tried to hide my hatred of Thea, but somehow I thought some got through. "Hi."

They sat down next to us. Really? Of all the empty tables in this area and they sit next to us?

Daryl looked at me expectantly. I gave him a look.

Right.

"Who are you?" Barry flat out asked.

Attitude much.

"This is Daryl, my..." Was he my boss? I didn't have the job. And I didn't want to tell Barry I was in an interview and that I didn't have my life figured out yet. So what did I call Daryl? I took a long drag of my water.

"I'm her lunch date." Daryl said.

I choked on my water. My what?

Daryl grinned at me.

Barry stared at me, so I just laughed.

"We were about to leave actually," I announced as I stood to my feet.

Just then the waitress dropped off our food. All eyes were on me. My face flamed.

Again, I cleared my throat with a grin. "Or not."

Barry gave me an expectant look.

"Daryl, this is Barry and Thea." I introduced.

Barry extended a hand first, Daryl gave him a strange look as they shook. I was so uncomfortable that I was tempted to tell Daryl that I wasn't hungry and we could be done with the interview.

I wished for my sunglasses in that moment. Sure it would look incredibly stupid, but at least I could block out their stares. I really couldn't remember where I put them last, then I remembered the suicidal guy from yesterday. They must've fallen off then. Damn. They were my only pair.

Daryl started eating his food and I wanted to kick him under the table, but I didn't think that would help me land the job. He was enjoying this, I could tell.

"Honey, you didn't tell me you had friends in town." He muttered, his eyes knowing.

I took all of my willpower not to laugh. This was not happening.

"We should get back to the office." I insisted, I check my phone. "Don't you have that interview soon?"

He shook his head. "Nope." A grin in place.

That time I did kick him under the table. Damn the interview. I couldn't sit here with Barry and Thea and pretend that everything between us was normal.

He over exaggeratedly checked his watch. "But we do have to leave soon if we want to make it to the board meeting."

I nodded gratefully as he signaled the waitress over for the check. Maybe God did love me after all.

We got out things together.

"Nice seeing you again, Iris." Thea gave a fake smile.

I gave one back. "Likewise." Bitch.

Daryl patted Barry on the shoulder. "Have a good one."

I avoided Barry's gaze like the plague as we walked past them. Daryl's hand went around my waist. I was too shocked to do anything but walk until we were out of distance. He held the door open for me and I took the opportunity to playfully hit him in the chest.

"What is your problem?" I angrily whispered.

He ushered us towards his towncar. "I thought you wanted my help. It looked like you were dying in there. What happened between you two?" Like a gentleman, he opened the door for me.

I slid onto the leather seats, contemplating whether or not I was actually angry about his little acting job. He started the car.

"Nothing that I want to get into."

"Hey," He looked my way. "By the looks of it, I just saved your ass. Give me something."

I turned my gaze onto him. "You lied to them, you said it was a date."

His brow lifted. "You lied back." A smirk in place.

Damn him and his chin dimple.

"I shouldn't have."

"Why? Are you scared that he sees that you've moved on?" He pulled forward.

Was I? That's not the point, he moved on first. Wait, so what was the point? Why did I care if Barry saw me with another guy? He broke off whatever it was we had. He was with Thea. If there was any doubt from Linda's talk yesterday, it was gone. They were on a date in a nice restaurant.

I sighed.

"Maybe the problem is that you haven't moved on?" He suggested.

My eyes snapped to him. "I am."

He didn't look convinced. "Whatever you say."

I folded my arms across my chest. "I am."

I had to be because he was so over me.

"Thanks, anyway. Sorry I wasted your time."

He glanced at me. "The interview isn't over yet, if that's what you mean."

My brow rose. "It isn't? Not even after I hit you repeatedly?"

He laughed. "Not unless you want it to be?"

If this guy wanted to hire me after what he saw then I guess it was meant to be.

BARRY'S POV:

I started to go after them when Thea gave me a look.

"You can not be that guy, Barry." She insisted.

Through the window I saw that Daryl guy open the door for her. She slid into his car. She was the last person I expected to see here. This wasn't exactly her style. Or was it? We had never actually gone out on a date. I obviously didn't know Iris as well as I thought. She had moved on faster than I thought humanly possible. A month, that was all it took for her to get over me. Maybe hadn't really felt the same way about me as I thought she did.

"It's not real you idiot."

I stared at Thea long and hard. "What?"

She nodded toward the exit. "Iris is not dating that hottie. There's no way."

"And why not?"

She looked at me like I was the epitome of dumb. "Did you see the way she looked at you, dumbass?" She said in her tough love kind of way. "And the way she looked at me. She for sure hates my guts." She grinned.

My head shook. "Why do you keep antagonizing her? You said you had no problem with her."

She grinned mischievously over her glass of wine. "Because it's fun to get a rise out of her. She's definitely jealous. You're welcome."

My eyes rolled. Thea had this theory that if she pushed Iris far enough that Iris would declare her feelings for me. You could see how well that was going.

"Just knock it off. She's getting on with her life." Which was exactly what I wanted. Even though I corrected the future, every night I still had the same nightmare. Iris always died and I couldn't save her. Once, I even dreamed I was at her funeral. That was enough to keep me from reaching out to her.

Thea leaned forward. "You know, I regret sleeping with you as much as the next girl,"

"Thanks," I half grinned at her teasing.

She gave me a sympathetic look. "She has to be some kind of stupid to not see that you're still in love with her and not me."

I gave her a look.

She held up her hands defensively. "Alright, geez. If looks could kill." Her eyes now on the menu. "You still should just tell her the truth."

"That I saw her die and I went back in time to save her life and drive her away? Not happening." I picked up the stupid menu.

"Fine, be an idiot. Just don't mope to me when Iris moves with that sandy blonde hottie. And she will. If not with him then with someone else. And you want to know why? Because she thinks you're over her, Barry. You're so obviously not, so grow a pair and step up or just move on already."

A huge part of me knew she was right, but I couldn't go there with Iris. Not because I didn't want to, but because I was scared out of my mind. What if she got hurt because of me? What if she died because of me?

Thea chimed in again. "And you know Iris isn't giving up this whole vigilante thing," She whispered. "So you're either on board with it or you're against it. I'd suggest you get on board or you'll lose her completely." She tacked on a dumbass for good measure.

After we ordered food I thought the conversation would be light, but I was so wrong.

"So I have some news." She started. "I want to help Oliver."

My face dropped. "What?"

She rolled her eyes. "I want to help out." she glanced around to make sure no one was listening. "It'll be so awesome."

"Thea, have you lost your mind?"

She gave me her famous bitch face. "Hold on a second, Barry Allen. You are not my brother nor my boyfriend. You don't get a say in what I do. I'm following Iris' example." She shrugged.

A groan left me. "There's no way Oliver is going to let his baby sister fight crime." I whispered angrily.

She grinned sneakily. "So we won't tell him."

I gave her an incredulous look. "Not tell Oliver that you want to be a vigilante? Are you kidding me? He'll kill us both when he finds out, Speedy."

Her hand swooshed around the rest of the wine in her glass. "Well, we better start my training now."

My head shook. "Absolutely not. I can not help you on this."

Her green eyes pleaded with mine. "Please, Barry."

I stared at her like she lost her mind. "I can't help train you and refuse to agree with Iris training. How hypocritical is that?"

She shrugged. "That was one is on you not me. If you would listen to anything I've been telling you the past few months you would be happy with Iris, but no. Stay stubborn. See where that gets you, dumbass."

Despite myself I laughed at her antics. If anything she was a good friend when I needed her. There was never any feelings beyond friendship with us, we both deeply regretted that night. Through everything, she's encouraged me to work things out with Iris, despite popular belief. One thing I loved about her was that she always gave it to me straight, no sugar coating.

Later that evening, Oliver came to Thea's apartment.

"You know," He grinned. "If you don't want Iris to think you're dating my sister, you probably shouldn't stay in her apartment."

We briefly hugged.

"You're probably right." I laughed.

Thea was looking at something on her tablet, her earbuds blasting loud music. She waved at her brother then went back to doing whatever it is that kept her attention.

"Before we do this," I ushered him towards the kitchen. "You have to promise to keep Iris out of it. I know she's been going out with you and Laurel. I don't want her involved in this."

He shrugged. "Too bad."

I gave him a look. I thought he had my back on this.

"Look, you drove Iris away. You made Laurelpromise to train her, to slow her down, she's ready whether you want her to be or not. You can't keep Iris from doing this, no matter how much you love her."

If Thea was serious about joining the team then I hoped he would remember that.

"Fine." I headed for the door.

IRIS' POV:

"I got the job?" I screamed over the phone.

Daryl laughed into my ear. "You got the job."

Laurel shook her head with a grin as she got ready.

"Can you start tomorrow?"

Could I start tomorrow? Hell, yes!

"Of course." I beamed.

"Great, I'll see you at nine."

Nerves kicked in.

As if he could sense that, he said, "You'll do great, Iris."

A warmth came to my face. "Thanks."

"See you tomorrow." He hung up.

I slid the phone onto the desk. I put my scarlet mask on. No matter how many times I was in here I couldn't get over how cool Oliver's lair was.

Laurel smirked at me. "Is that the someone you were talking about?" She applied her dark red lipstick, which drew my attention.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I turned away from her. Wasn't even going to lie, she looked hot in that black leather suit. She always did.

She laughed. "Someone's nervous. You must really like him."

"Who are we talking about?" A familiar voice asked.

I suddenly felt my body go aflame in my very own scarlet and black leather suit that Oliver had made for me. It was a bit snug, but if Barry's stunned face was any indication I knew I looked hot.

"Iris' new man." Laurel smirked at Barry like she was throwing it in his face. I guess she was sticking with the girl code.

Barry stepped forward, but stayed his distance from me. "Daryl, was it?"

This was so not a conversation for now and in front of people, so I just fake a grin.

Felicity stood by my side, touching the suit like a little kid. "It's pretty cool."

Laurel surveyed me, something foreign in her eyes. "I like the look," She leaned against a table. "You should keep the french braid as part of your identity. It's hot." She placed her bleached blonde wig on her head.

My face should've melted by now.

Felicity cleared her throat. She was the only one I told about the kiss with Laurel. She hadn't judged me, she just laughed. A lot.

I gave a nervous chuckle as I avoided both Barry and Laurel's gaze. So I looked to Oliver. "What's the plan?"

He walked us through it with Felicity's help before we headed out.

"Be safe." Felicity instructed. "Don't die."

Laurel chuckled as she put her arm around my shoulder. "We don't plan on it." She leaned in close to me to whisper into my ear. "You'll do fine tonight."

I forced a grin.

Barry turned away from us when I glanced at him. I made a face at him.

"I saw that." He said.

There was no way.

"Superspeed remember."

Okay, maybe there was a way. I tried not to laugh.

The car ride there felt oddly ridiculous with all of us in the back of a van that Thea drove. Just us chilling in our suits across from one another. Awkward silence filled the air. Barry kept meeting my glance and I wanted to switch places with Oliver so it wouldn't be so bad, but that would be weird.

When we were almost there Laurel turned to me, her hand on my leg. "I got you a gift." She handed me my own pair of escrima sticks.

"Oh my God," I hugged her. "Thank you."

She squeezed me tight. "You earned them."

I pulled away, excited to examine them. They were black with three red rings towards the tip. I flipped them in my hands and it felt like magic.

"Glad you like them." She grinned. "You'll definitely kick ass with those."

My hands dipped and dodged them in the air with practiced skill. My eyes slid up to Barry's. He watched me with careful eyes, I couldn't really tell what he was thinking. Whatever it was, I couldn't watch it any longer.

The van stopped and the only thing to do was spring into action. My heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. This was my shot to prove to myself that I was good enough to do this, to help people. This was my shot to prove to Barry that I hadn't screwed my life up on a whim. After tonight, either he accept it or he doesn't.

"Be careful." He told me as we jumped out of the van.

"You, too."

I pocketed my sticks as we went for our posts. Laurel and I were crouched behind a stack of crates while Oliver and Barry surrounded the gang of baddies.

Why couldn't people just make money the honest way? If Oliver made his presence known then they'd expect the Arrow. Not all four of us. Laurel and I could take out the six baddies while Barry grabbed the drugs and put them in the truck. Thea would drive them away and call an anonymous tip into the SCPD. Easy.

"Look what I found?" A voice yelled from behind us.

Laurel and I turned to see a balding guy with his gun pointed at us and a shit eating grin on his face. I quickly put the earplugs in as Laurel opened her mouth and let out the supersonic Canary Cry. The guy dropped to his knees with his hands over his ears.

I took the plugs out and rose with a kick to the guy's face. He slumped to the ground, out cold. I grabbed his gun and slid it into an empty holster.

Gun shots fired. We ducked and peered around the crate to find Oliver taking out the guys one by one. But the drugs were still well protected. Laurel and I split up with a nod. The first guy that spotted me was coming up the stairs. I easily disarmed him with a swift knock of his wrist, then I kicked him down the stairs. With the gun in my hand I unloaded the magazine and dropped both. The guy was starting to stand and I threw him the rest of the way down the stairs. I jumped over him and headed for the closet guy. He tried to shoot me, but I kicked the gun out of his hand. He snarled at me, thinking his size would intimidate me.

I ducked his throws, punching him in the stomach. Two other guys jumped in. I leaned back, evading their hits. I punched two of them in the throat while I kicked the third guy, he stumbled back. One of them hit me in the back. I punched the closest in the jaw, he faltered. My leg swung out and kicked them both in the chest. One fell while the bald guy swung out at me, I dodged it and kicked his foot from under him. I twisted someone's arm and flipped him in the air, he fell to the ground with a thud. The sound of battle surrounded me, I just hoped Barry was getting the drugs out of here. They could be criminals if they didn't have something illegal to sell.

A punch hit me across the face, drawing me back to the fight. I grabbed my escrima sticks and hit a few keys body of them stayed down after the blows I delivered. The balding guy was left. He tried to hit me, but I jumped in the air and kicked him back a few feet.

Adrenaline laced through my veins. I looked to Laurel and she was doing fine on her own while Oliver raced after the head of the operation. I noticed the drugs were gone except for one crate. Needing something to do I joined Laurel in kicking some ass. I kicked a guy's back, he tumbled forward. Laurel knocked her baton into a guy's stomach then hit him across the face.

"Let's go!" Barry yelled.

Laurel looked back at me and gestured for me to follow.

What? We still had some ass kickery to do. As if on cue, the police sirens rang in the distance. To remember me by I gave the closest guy a parting uppercut. Which was a mistake because I heard the click of a hammer pulling back on a gun. Before I knew it, Barry had me pinned to a wall, every part of him against me. My body hummed to life.

He glared at me with angry eyes. "I told you to be careful."

My eyes slid behind him and I pushed him out of the way to knock my stick into the baddie's head that was coming for us. He groaned, but he wasn't done. He punched out, hitting me in the stomach. I swerved around and kicked him in the lower back. He swiftly hit me in the mouth, my head knocked back and I tasted blood. He tried to uppercut me, but I twirled my stick and hit him in his bloody fell to his knees, I kneed him in the face. Of course there was always the one guy that wouldn't quite, all I had to do was roundhouse kick him for him to stumble back, I grabbed his arm and twisted so I could flip him onto his back.

My eyes found Barry's. "Now we can get out of here."

The sirens were a lot closer.

He nodded, clearly impressed. He picked me up.

"Wait, where's Laurel?"

He gave me a look. "She's on the back of Oliver's motorcycle." He sped off.

We were back at the lair in no time. Obviously, we beat everyone there so it was just us two. Barry set me down. He slid back his his mask, his brown hair sticking up all sexy like.

I took off the mask, my hand rubbed the back of my neck.

"Iris," He said after a moment.

"Don't." I held up a hand as I turned from him. "Don't say that I was reckless and stupid. I did what I had to help catch those guys. It was exhilarating. I was good out there, Barry."

"No," He started.

I turned to him.

"You were great."

That was the last thing I expected to come from his mouth.

Even with that said he still didn't look happy about it, like there was still this great threat out there ready to ruin his life. Somehow, I thought I'd feel better about this after tonight, after he saw what I could do, but things between us were still shit.

"Are you really dating that Daryl guy?" He blurted out.

I stilled, not expecting him to care enough to ask. I was kind of hoping I could get by with the don't ask don't tell policy. Obviously not the case here.

Without thinking it over, I told him, "No, not that it's any of your business." I started to take off the suit, but it was a little tighter than I thought. I struggled for a minute before he came to my aid. "These things should really come with a zipper down the back." I joked because the feel of his breath on the back of my neck put me on edge. He worked some kind of magic and before I knew it he had my top off. I was glad I worn a bra under that. Even still, I could feel his eyes scanning down my body. I took a step back and gave him an appreciatory half grin.

"I'll have to figure that out next time." I threw on my black sweater and kept the leather pants on.

"Or you could get Laurel to help you take it off." He suggested.

My hands found my escrima sticks, I turned them over a few times as I surveyed him. Was he jealous? Not there was anything to be jealous about. With a smirk, I shelved them above Laurel's baton spot. I walked over and picked up an arrow, I weighed it in my hands.

I looked to Barry. "How fast can you," I threw the arrow. "Dodge an arrow."

He caught it no problem. A smirk on his face as he walked over. "You're going to have to be faster than that." He placed it back on the shelf.

"Are you leaving tonight?" I blurted out.

He shook his head. "Tomorrow."

I nodded. "Where are you staying?" I didn't think he slept at Oliver's last night.

He looked uncomfortable.

"Thea's?"

He met my gaze. "Yeah."

I nervously scratched my back. "So last night were you serious about your mom? Do you really think she's alive?"

He perked up a bit. "Joe and I combed through the case and things didn't add up. I told Dr. Wells about the man in the yellow suit, he thinks I might be onto something. We've been looking for clues, going over living room in my house. Her grave is empty, Iris." A hopeful grin on his face.

Hope sprouted in my chest. I didn't want to hear it when he first told me about it, but maybe there was a chance Nora Allen was still alive. I was still scared he'd be crushed if nothing turned up.

I grinned. "That's great," My hand found his.

The door opened and I tugged my hand away. Thea was the first to walk in, then Laurel, and then Oliver. They looked at us like they were walking into something. There was nothing.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm famished." I patted my stomach.

A/N: I tried to make this chapter longer for yall cuz the last few have been on the short side.