Little Heart has reached over 20 followers! Hurray & thank you, dear readers!

Today's my birthday, so I felt inspired to publish another chapter :) Hope you like it!

The Great Hall was packed on the day of the opening. There was a wide space of air above our heads, the sealing reached up eleven meters, and it made me wish I could fly. Nobody was using that space whereas Iris and myself were squished between sweaty bodies! (Not in a nice way.)

Jonathan Kirsch gave a very polite and pretentious speech. He explained why he wanted to do this exhibition:

"... Most of us live every day in the illusion that we can do nothing to better our living situations. You carry on with the same old job, and hobbies, for the rest of your life because you feel that you can do no better. My aim is to change that!"

Those were the exact words he used when talking to me. I frowned, cause he appeared like a robot or something!

"... I named it Asterion after a river-god in Greek mythology. I like to see life as a river: Sometimes it's calm and steady, but other times it flows in new directions and creates new streams. Pick a new stream and see where it leads you. Welcome!"

After 10 minutes or so, Kirsch saw me. I waved and the next moment he was standing in front of us with a sexy smile glued on his face.

"Miss Zoe! You're here! How is everything?"

Iris stared at him like a total groupie! (Apparently, he's on her 3-list along with Oliver Queen.)

"Just fine, doctor." I answered. "Let me introduce you to my friend, Iris West. She's a journalist from CC Pictures."

"Oh really? Very nice to meet you, Miss West."

"Would it be terribly inconvenient if I asked you for a short interview?"

"I would be delighted! I usually have a lot on my plate but you caught me at the perfect time. Let's walk through this way…"

I was left on my own for about an hour - one of the longest hours of my life! Firstly, I thought the exhibition was boring. Secondly, due to my powers, I got a bad headache from sensing the feelings of all the guests! I couldn't escape them, cause there were stalls everywhere! After 30 minutes I sat down on a pink square pouf. Exhausted but not on fire. I spent the rest of the time swiping pictures of cute puppies on my phone.

"All done!" Iris made me jump. I didn't hear her come, even if she was wearing heels (as always). She looked at me with a crooked smile. "I see you're enjoying yourself!"

I showed her the phone screen.

"Puppies."

"Point taken. Who doesn't love puppies?... Oh, that one's cute!.. It looks like Barry."

"It does?"

"Yeah! If Barry was a dog, I think he'd look pretty much like that."

We both looked at the beagle puppy: The head was close to the camera and the big eyes were looking up in a begging position. I giggled.

"I see the resemblance! But I don't think a beagle is the dog for me…"

"No, that border collie is very cute too. How can you ever decide for just one?"

"A good decision should feel like getting into a hot bath. I'll know the feeling when it hits me!"

Last monday I was extremely excited when I strolled to CCMA. That morning came the result of the Pocahontas-audition! But when I was nearly there, Cisco called and rearranged my schedule:

"A bank is being robbed a block away from your current position." he informed. "I'm trying to get hold of Barry, but you better get over there."

I ran as fast as I could with Cisco's voice guiding me inside my ear. Apart from my heavy breathing, I heard sirens and saw police cars outside of the bank in question.

"There's no way I'm getting through there. The building has a backdoor?"

"Quite right, my fair lady! Let's see… Bingo! It's pretty thick, though."

A small street lead me to the alternative door on the other side of the bank. By then I'd dropped my ordinary clothes and stood in the suit of Little Heart. The door was wide and grey.

"Can I burn it loose?" I asked and without waiting for a reply I started firing flames on its edges.

"Yes, but you need to get hotter." He inhaled. "Sorry. Bad phrasing. Go hotter."

I closed my eyes and envisioned the breaking of the door inside my head. Suddenly it squeaked and fell open once I kicked it with my boot.

"Nice work, Little Heart!" Cisco cheered on and I hurried into a green corridor. "Up a few floors and you're there. Just… Be careful."

A constant thought in my head was: I have no idea what I'm doing! What was my plan? (Exactly! I didn't have one.) And where was Barry? The Flash.

The thieves had broken into a room with only one door. A woman wearing a leather jacket was standing guard. As I peeked out from the corner of the wall, a quick wind breeze played with my hair.

"How's it possible for the fastest man alive to be late?"

Barry leaned his red-dressed head closer to mine.

"Iris and I were taking a walk and I forgot my phone in the car."

Well, at least he's honest. I felt a little better knowing he got my back. Then he offered to act as bait.

He appeared in front of the woman and smiled, teasingly.

"Hi there! I'm The Flash. Don't you think it's the wrong season to be wearing leather? I'm just sayin'!"

The woman stood there, frozen. Then she made a grimace as her eyebrows grew together, the teeth sharpened and her arms turned into wings! (Didn't see that coming, did you?)

"For real?!" Barry exclaimed and with a piercing cry she flew after him down the next corridor.

"What the *beep* was that?" Cisco exclaimed in my ear.

I hurried to the door. It was locked, of course.

"Are you sure this is the best way in?"

"Yeah, but you could also use the air vent! Nothing beats an element of surprise, right?"

I thought about my claustrophobia for a brief moment before getting a grip!

My elbows hurt as I crawled quickly through the air vent. When I reached an opening, I saw a hooded figure trying to open a safe right below me. I burned the grille and pressed myself through, pulling the figure to the ground. As we collided the hood fell off and I found myself meeting the gaze of a one-eyed man with green skin: A cyclops!

"Who are you?" I asked with a fireball in front of me. His large eye glistened like a child's and my heart began flickering.

The cyclops ran to the door.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" He screamed as the hot handle burned his hand. "Told you so."

In the blink of an eye (just realized now how funny that sounds!) the door smashed into pieces and Barry landed in front of me with a groan. The woman-bird-thing grabbed hold of the cyclops with her claws and flew straight through the window! I threw myself over Barry to protect him from the broken glass and then... It was over.

"On behalf of CCPD I'd like to thank both Little Heart and Flash for what they did today." said Detective West when we were back at S.T.A.R. Labs.

Barry crossed his arms. (He often does that!)

"No need, Joe."

"Truth is we're thankful for all the help we can get, because none of us are able to shed light over the situation..."

"Olivia can!" Cisco shouted out and Detective West gave him a firm look. "Bad moment?"

Detective West sighed.

"Here we were just getting used to metahumans!"

Caitlin took a step forward.

"If we keep to the information we've been able to gather from these creatures, despite their lacking in scientific value, Turbulent Bull appears to be a minotaur. The green robber, with only one eye, resembles a cyclops..."

"...And his flying girlfriend looks like a harpy: Half woman, half bird." Cisco jumped in. "All of them originate from Greek mythology."

"What were they after?" I asked. "I mean, what's inside the safe?"

"The safe belongs to a rather wealthy lawyer and it contains some legal documents, jewelry and a cup." Detective West explained.

The four of us frowned at the word.

"Cup?"

"Well, more like a chalice." Detective West took the cup out from a dark bag. "It's golden and no one knows how old."

"A collector's item?" Barry wondered.

"Probably. This lawyer thought it was nice, plus she had the money, so she bought it a couple of months ago."

I observed it. Sure, it was a fine piece with glittering stones on the blank surface.

"Who'd she buy it from?"

"Jonathan Kirsch."

Why does Jonathan Kirsch pop up all the time? First innocent coincidences, then the museum event and now this! How come he used to own an ancient chalice?

"We can trace it's age back to the 12th century," Caitlin explained after they'd run a few tests. "but it's not made of gold and the stones aren't that valuable."

"Then these monsters slash crooks were after the money." Cisco finished. "Case closed! Or am I wrong?"

Cisco looked at Barry, who then looked at me as if expecting me to answer.

"I have to say I believe there's something else behind all this." I said. "We should talk to Dr. Kirsch and ask him how he came to own this cup. And why he sold it."

Detective West nodded.

"I'll contact him."

"May I go with you when you see him? We're... acquainted... sort of."

Detective West smiled.

"Yes. You may."

Lauren entered the lab only minutes after he left, flashing her warmest smile.

"Better late than never… I've got the fortune cookies!"

Everyone gathered around the basket and picked up one each. Cisco gave away a laugh.

"Apparently someone is going to steal my cheese. What does yours say?"

Caitlin raised her eyebrows.

"A new job is in your future! I wonder what the pay's like?"

We giggled.

"Your natural charm will attract someone special." Lauren read.

I noticed a blush on her cheeks… Did it mean that someone special already is in the picture? Caitlin woke me up from thinking and encouraged me to open my cookie. As I folded out the tiny piece of paper I was met with the mysterious words: CHANGE IS COMING.

"That's what I got!" Barry exclaimed and walked up next to me. He was right, we were both holding the same fortune.

"I hope it's a nice change!" I said and changed the subject. "By the way, who wants to look at puppies with me this afternoon?"

"My fiancé Ronnie is coming home and we've already made plans." Caitlin replied.

I winked at her and turned to the others. Lauren said she was busy (with someone special, perhaps?) but Barry grinned widely.

"I'll go."

After a little convincing, Cisco agreed as well.

My hands were placed on the black wheel and the rain smacked against the car windows. Cisco was sick and had to stay home while Barry and I had two hours of driving to look forward to...

"Remember, you agreed to this voluntarily." I pointed out and smiled at Barry on the passenger's seat.

He giggled.

"I don't hear anyone complaining! Despite what you think, I'm not as easily bored as you."

"For your information, the exhibition was one of a kind on the boring-scale! I'm actually easily entertained."

Our eyes locked for a second before I had to look at the road again.

"I know. I'm just messing with you."

"Yeah. I've noticed you like that!"

We didn't say anything for a few moments and that's when I turned on the radio. The powerful voice of Cher blessed us with the refrain of "If I Could Turn Back Time". We started laughing hysterically!

"Of all the songs!" I cried out of irony.

Cher sang and Barry responded, almost singing!

If I could turn back time...

"I actually can!"

If I could find a way...

"Just give me a call!"

I exhaled.

"Barry! You can sing!"

He was pretty modest about it but I was too exhilarated to care!

"What song should we sing to next? Ooh, I know! Singing In The Rain!"

Our drive turned into a carpool karaoke! We sang and laughed, tried harmonies and laughed when they failed… My light was shining through my chest all through Ben Rector's "Brand New", WALK THE MOON's "Shut Up and Dance" and especially when Barry did a high-pitch voice to Earth, Wind & Fire's "September".

"Next, I have to see you dance!"

"In your dreams! But even then you wouldn't be impressed, cause I'm not much of a dancer."

"I believe that when I see it!"

My phone started ringing. It was Eric and I didn't hesitate to answer.

"Hey, Olivia. Since you weren't there this morning, I thought I'd let you know…"

"You know the cast!" I cried, happily.

"Yes and about that… It looks like Lilly got the part of Pocahontas."

My light disappeared at once.

"What? Lilly?"

"If it helps I think they made the wrong choice."

"Yeah, no, she's… She's great. Lilly's great. She deserves it…" I felt a lump in my chest. It turns out, when it comes to being happy for someone who has what you wish you had, I'm as egocentric as the next person.

When I hung up, I turned off the radio and went numb. I nearly forgot that Barry was sitting next to me.

"What was that about?" he wondered.

I filled him in. As I did, I felt the tears pressing on my eyes and my head became warm. That story means so much to me and I know I would've done a wonderful job! Barry put his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Oz." Now I just felt stupid for getting this upset. Really super-hero like! "I'm sure you were great, they are the ones who're blind if they don't see everything you have to offer. And d'you know what else? Struggle and strife always come before success!"

I took a deep breath as he padded my upper back.

"Always?"

He smiled, teasingly.

"... At least in the dictionary."

His attempt to be funny made me grin and I said I've always dreamed of playing Pocahontas.

"Tell me about your other dreams!" Barry insisted. "There has to be more than one, if I know you correctly. What is on your bucket list?"

I thought for a moment before it struck me: I want to go out of town, miles away where no one lives, and look at the stars. You never really see them in a bright city.

"What about you?"

He looked down at his hands and smiled as a way to hide his pain.

"I wish my dad will be released from prison." I wish that, too. "Other than that, I have no idea."

"I suppose it's better to live and appreciate the moment rather than long to the next…" I thought out loud and then gave him a playful look. "You're so wise, Bear!"

He met my gaze and smiled widely.

"Thanks, Oz!"

Olivia Zoe

25th of May 2015