Barry woke up early that day. He slept well last night and with his weird dream, he decided to sweat it off. He jog around Central City. When no one's staring, he speeds up but when there's an audience, he runs normally.
My life will never be normal again. With my fast metabolism, fast healing, superhuman speed and high alcohol tolerance, it will never be normal again. He inwardly groan.
He decided that he might head to CCPD early to avoid another heated confrontation from Captain Singh so he jog back home. On the clearing to the door, his sense was assaulted by the smell of cooking. He enters the house and headed straight to the kitchen. There in the middle of the action, Iris was cooking breakfast.
"Morning Bar!" Iris cheerfully greeted.
"Morning Ris! You're up so early."
"And so are you."
"I need to extinguish some angst inside me. I feel giddy. You?"
"It's Eddie's birthday! And I'm planning on surprising him with a birthday breakfast."
"Well that's sweet."
"Do you think? Hmm I'm really nervous about it but I guess I can pull it all along."
"That's the spirit. Uhmm I think I should head first."
"Yeah go ahead. I'll just finish this then I'll make a separate breakfast for you and Dad."
"That sounds nice! Thanks Iris."
Barry headed to his room, shed his sweats then douse himself with the warmth of the shower. His mind automatically drifted to what has transpired between him and Caitlin last night. It was a fun side of her that he wanted to see again and he promises that he'll try to bring it out of her again.
Minutes of being under the refreshing water clears his puzzled mind and he's ready to face another busy day. Descending to the dining area, he seated himself beside Joe.
"Where's Iris?" Barry asked his foster Dad.
"After she made us breakfast, she hurriedly went to CCPD. Ed's birthday. She made him breakfast."
"I can see that. I must hurry. I remember I have some left-out assignments that needed to be done today. I'll take this."
"Take care. See you at the station."
Barry headed to CCPD first. He finished what Captain Singh prompt him to do then went to Starbucks to pick up his coffee before he goes to Star Labs.
Might as well pick up something for Cait, Barry thought.
Caitlin wake up with a massive hangover. Her hair tousled. Her little black dress from last night, lay pooled on the floor.
"Oh yeah! Not gonna do karaoke again." she chastised herself. She noticed the water and the aspirin on her nightstand and remember that maybe Barry left it there. She picked it up, headed to the phone to order something for breakfast. After 15 minutes of waiting, she wolfed down her breakfast, drink the aspirin Barry prepared and take her shower.
During this times that she's nursing a hangover, she preffered her shower's water cold. It refreshes her and makes her think clearly. She emerged from the bathroom with a towelette in her hair and her terrycloth robe wrapped around her body. She stares at her reflection in the mirror for 15 minutes. She noticed the bags under her eyes and decided that she'll work with that later. She choose a comfortable attire for today, grabs a sunglass to cover her hideous eyes then picks up her car keys then drive to work. She stops on a coffe shop to grab her daily dose of caffeine.
Upon arriving at Star Labs, she was greeted by the booming laughter of Cisco and Barry and after seconds, she heard a whooshing sound that indicates Barry's in the vicinity with her.
"Too loud." she told him.
"Good morning . I know that you'll be picking up your coffee on your way here that's why I bought you some croissants."
"Why thank you Mr. Allen."
Barry just followed her with a naughty grin on his face, signifies that he's teasing her about what happened last night.
"I can't remember most of what happened last night really."
"Summer Loving, had me a blast." Barry remindedly sang to her.
"Ohh that I do remember."
And Barry laugh his way to Cait's table. Cisco asked them about what happened with their espionage last night. Barry happily retell the story to Ramon and they both ended up laughing so hard when they went to the singing Caitlin part. Their laughter dies immediately when Caitlin shot them her venomous look that told them laugh-with-my-demise-and-you'll-die-a-painful-death.
Wells entered the scene telling Cisco and Barry that they need to do some pre-runs on Barry. They go down to the med bay leaving Caitlin and alone.
"So how's last night." Harrison asked Caitlin.
"Good. I actually had fun and I feel gulty about it."
"Because the pair don't arrive?"
"I don't know. Maybe they did but I was so drunk and Barry was supporting me so we didn't notice if they were on the crowd."
"You deserve the off "
"I.. well thanks for the vote of confidence ."
"I need to go back to what I'm working."
"Yeah yeah go ahead."
It's been hours and today's might be a meta-free day. Caitlin stack all her medical kit neatly. She cleaned it and organized her things that she just neglected whenever she's in a hurry to patch Barry up. Cisco on the other hand, is still busy running tests with Barry. When he told Barry that he's finished with him and that he'll be upgrading his suit, he told Barry to go home first.
Arriving at Star Labs common room, there he saw Caitlin infront of the computer. It was turned off and he can see that she's staring at her reflection longingly. Her mind is straying into some lala land he doesn't knew where. He notices that Caitlin is fidgeting with her left hand, specifically with her ring finger. He saw that the engagement ring is absent. He doesn't want to broke her stupor but he also don't want to see Caitlin reminiscing her memorable but sad past.
"Uhhm Cait."
He noticed that her posture went rigid when he called her. Then it hit him. Cisco told him that Ronnie calls her "Cait". Only him. Her parents called her "Caity", Cisco called him "Caitlin" Dr. Wells and other people around her "Miss or ".
She stood up from her seat, arranged her bag and things. She's ready to go.
"Uhmm are you going home?"
"Oh yeah yeah you?"
"Yeah. Cisco told me that if I don't have anything to do, might as well I head first. He's still upgrading my suit."
Caitlin remained silent. Her head bowed.
"Cait?"
"Yeah? Sorry I zoned out."
He stopped walking, stopped her too. He put her arms on her shoulders and turns her around to face him.
"Cait if you have problems, you can trust me with it. You can tell me. What's on your mind?"
"You."
"What?" that statement seriously got him whipped. He doesn't know how to explain the pitter patter in his chest.
"About last night. I'm sorry for that."
"Oh that?" He felt a little disappointed.
"Yeah. I feel like I have been a burden to you last night."
"Cait, you're my friend. It's actually okay."
Cait still remained quiet so he push through with another question.
"Actually Barry, I feel guilty. I have fun last night and I feel like I'm leaving Ronnie behind."
He gaze at her and he can see that there are imminent tears on her eyes, ready to spill. If he ever met the most honest and loyal woman in the world, it will be Caitlin. She's sniffing now. He is now walking on egg shells so he must thread carefully.
"Cait, I know that you already knew it but Ronnie's dead. Even though you didn't like it, he dies a hero. He saved you so you can be alive. He loves you so much that it's better him in there than you. He will never detest you for being happy again, for moving on. We're still young. I realize that I have moved on from Iris now. And hey, you and me should have someone new to be crazy about. We deserve that. You deserve that."
That brings a genuine smile on Caitlin's face. She felt her burdens are lifted up on her chest. It feels like it's never wrong to be happy again, especially on finding someone new to fall madly inlove with.
"Yeah you're right. It's time for me to find someone who I can be crazy of."
She gaze at Barry and for a moment, he felt that time has stopped. Barry calculated in his head that it will only takes a little bit of leaning to kiss her. He can see that she's expecting it too or is that his imagination? His mind is on whirlwind. If he kissed her, it will be an epic fail. They're friends. The magic between them was put to an end by the drops of Caitlin's coffee on his shoes. When does he move so close to her? He stepped back. He can plainly see now that she's gripping the paper cup unusually tight. That must be the reason for the drops.
"Once Cisco sees that, he'll flipped. You know how he reacts with dirt."
"Yeah and it's my fault."
"Enough with that. We should head out, eat Chinese takeouts or do karaoke again? What do you think?"
Caitlin laughed at that, he slapped Barry's arm while walking towards the door.
"Not gonna happen Allen. Last night was a humiliation."
"No it's not. I actually love the Caitlin I saw last night. Happy, unguarded, warm.. uhh you know?"
Caitlin didn't know what to say. Is Barry admitting his love to her, or he's just praising her? Whatever it is, it makes her feel like a whole woman gain.
"Thanks Barry. That is so nice of you."
They were about to talk again when Cisco emerged from the lab.
"Woah guys you two still here?"
"Uhh yeah dude. We were just talking about something."
"Ohh I see. Well, I just upgraded your suit man, test it tomorrow. Caitlin, can I hitch a ride with you?"
"Sure Cisco. You Barry?"
"Thanks, but you two go ahead. I'll talk to Iris first. You take care."
Caitlin boarded her car. She puts her seatbelt on and ignited the engine. He's going to Iris. It will always be Iris. But he said that he's moving on right? What will he do there? Maybe Barry lied to her, or maybe after he dropped her to her apartment, he go went and see mystery karaoke girl. Maybe he said that to her just to make her feel better not to declare his love for her.
"Caitlin, what are we waiting for? Christmas?" Cisco questioned her, breaking her thoughts.
"Oww sorry. Disn't notice that you're already inside."
"What's you're problem friend?"
"Nothing Cisco. It's just I'm stressed. Hang-over you know."
"That's what you get with drinking above your average alcohol tolerance."
"I know. And it's not gonna happen again."
"Have you made Barry his own buzzing drink?"
"Yeah! I haven't. With all the metas out there, and me patching up Barry and making sure his vitals are normal, I haven't had much time doing that."
"Maybe next time. When we have a good reason to celebrate."
"Yeah you're right. Important things first."
Then they drive off into the streets of Central City. Cait dropped Cisco on his house and she went on her apartment happy and light.
On Jitters, Barry is talking with Iris about his blossoming feelings for someone. He told her that he's afraid he might ruin something that is so special, so genuine and so big. What they have is more than friends can offer. It's heaven sent. He also told her that he doesn't want to push her or whatsoever into liking him.
"Did I know her?"
"Iris, for now it's a secret. So what can you say?"
"Hmm well Bar, do you believe that if you have instincts you must follow it?" He nodded.
"Well if you're afraid, you should take it slowly. You should approach her like you're approaching a demented tiger. With ease and calculation. You must drop hint by hint and study her reaction everytime you drop it."
"You mean flirt with her openly?"
"It's not like that. Make her feel that she's important for you. That she's loved. That you care."
"What if she decided that she doesn't feel the same for me?"
"Barry, I know you're smart. Smartest guy I actually met. You know what to do with unrequited love right? You need to stand up again. The world is like a supermarket, there a lot of apples to choose from, well if you don't like apples you can pick pears."
"Yeah I get it. Thanks Iris."
"So see you at home? I'll be going home late. Dinner with Eddie."
"Yeah yeah okay."
Barry walked that night, slowly. He wanted to think of the possibility of that one day when he can shower Caitlin his love but what if she doesn't feel it back? Iris is right. I should drop subtle hints and let fate do its plan for them.
Barry finally arrived at West's residence. Joe's already settled on his bed because he can hear his soft snores. He went to his room, change his clothes and plopped into bed. He's tired but his mind is on full alert. Thinking of Caitlin everynight will do no good to his health and his heart. Might as well get some sleep and be ready for tomorrow's start. And so sleep he does.
Back to Caitlin's apartment, after she finished 3 episodes of Doctor Who, she decided to sleep the day off and padded towards her room. On her way, she can see the laundry basket the little black dress she wore last night and it brings a smile unto her face. It is planned that whatever happens to the two of them, she'll let it. She's not going to throw herself into Barry like a mad woman. She will wait until if there's a reason to wait and so she tucked herself and drift to dreamland.
Once again, both the speedster and the doctor dreamt the same dream from previous night. The blurred wedding. But this time, it shows the bride and groom's faces.
"I now pronounce you. Husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride. To everyone present here, a round of applause to our newlyweds, Mr. Bartholomew Allen and Mrs. Caitlin Snow-Allen."