A/N: Hi! So this took a while, mostly because I couldn't write for three days as I was on camp.

This chapter is dedicated to Sam, who is now on camp.

So here ya go!

The hot coffee lands on his arms.

And he speaks.

I know what he is going to say. Even before he says anything.

"Ow, ow, fire, hot hot!"

I kind of want to crawl into a hole at this point.

Never mind, I could crawl into the hole my heart currently has.

My knees give way, and I slump to the ground, defeated.

No.

NO.

NOT TODAY.

The stranger gives me a once over, and I silently mouth the words I've had on my body all my life, as he takes in a breath and crouches down. I pick up my phone and play with it without turning it on.

"I'm Barry, by the way. Now who and what the heck are you?"

I glare up at him.

He's hot, gorgeous, smokin' (I don't know), but I can't do this.

"Caitlin." I don't know why I say it.

It just came out.

Stupid soulmate marks.

I guess then it's a good thing he doesn't understand me.

He tries, "Hey. Um I know your name is Caitlin."

Nevermind.

"And what I said is on your arm, isn't it? We should get a coffee, soulmate."

As he says this, he pulls me up with him.

But when he says soulmate, I pull away.

He frowns. "Is there something wrong?"

"You can't be my soulmate." The lie escapes my lips, like my name.

"Why not? We've exchanged the Words." I feel bad for him at this point.

"I've already met my soulmate." Again, just gone. Whoosh. Damage done.

He blinks, staring at me in disbelief for a few seconds.

Then he starts to crumble.

He starts to collapse from within himself.

The tears stream, and I (weirded out but still feeling a need to help the poor guy) give him a hug.

"It doesn't make sense though. Both of you have introduced yourselves in the same matter."

"It doesn't matter anymore. I'm sorry for having wasted your time," Barry says, through tears.

My heart breaks a teensy bit.

"Here." I cuddle into him. I cry a little bit too. "Look, this has not been the best day for me. My soulmate just cheated on me."

Barry gives a little gasp, then cuddles me closer, which sends weird butterflies into my stomach.

Caitlin, what's happening?

"I've never heard of anyone doing that. Is that even legal?"

"I have no idea." I point at myself. "Scientist, not a lawyer."

Barry pokes his head up. "Me too." Well, he's stopped crying, and is wiping tears on his shirt. He's taken off the jumper at some point during our conversation.

"You're kidding."

"Nope. I'm a forensic scientist with the CCPD." He proudly announces.

"I work at STAR Labs. I'm sort of an everywhere person there."

"Well, I'm the only forensic scientist there. So it's not like there's a small demand." Sarcasm now. Wow.

Ah, what the hell. I'll go get some coffee with the guy. "Come on." I stand up and take my comfort sweater off.

"What?"

"That coffee. You look like you need a pick-me-up."

"Thanks, but I don't want to intrude."

"Since I technically live alone now, want to grab some Big Belly Burger from the drive-thru and have that coffee at my place?"

"I, uh-" Okay, I was not about to be rejected now.

"Come on. I'll drop you off at the very least."

"Who says I don't own a car?"

Crap.

I look him up and down. He seems the homely type, to be honest. Plus, there's nothing wrong with the public transport here.

"Nobody. But I require companionship. And I feel like you don't. I don't know, but you give off that feel."

"Then you'd be correct. I don't own a car. And if you're sure," I don't know why, but my breath hitches as he looks directly into my eyes, and the next words he says are so slow and romantic, I might have to slap myself later (to make sure I'm not in a dream), "I'll come with."

I feel myself blushing, and my answer becomes a clumsy delay. "Uh, sure, cool. You want to go now?"

Barry gives one last glance at the shelves before returning his sunshine gaze to me.

He smile, and nods. I give him two hands to pull him up, noticing the exact texture of his hands (soft, and smooth), his strength (I had a feeling he was of a gentle disposition), and his warmth (his hands were warm, sure, and only a teensy bit sweaty).

He helps me with my bags, and I smile a teensy weensy bit.

Nice to know chivalry isn't dead.

At this point, I wanted to get drunk off of my ass and cry.

But nope. If Ronnie was home, I was going to show Barry off. If not, nice and peaceful afternoon.

I click the little button on the car remote, and get into my Volkswagen Bug.

"You sure you don't want me to drive?" Barry looks hopefully over at me.

"I'm not sure you even have a license. And even if you did, I wouldn't let you drive." I glance back at him a couple times as we pull out of the carpark.

The nearest Big Belly Burger was only a couple of streets away, but it didn't have a drive-thru (this is why the mayor should bring a McDonalds - we don't want to go to Starling just because we want some), so Barry and I got to wait inside.

Barry goes to grab a table for us. The place is pretty empty, but there are still some kids with parents and clocked-out people needing a treat.

"Hey!" I yell over to him. "What do you want?"

He comes up. "I'll order with you. That way, I can pay for you."

"No, I'll pay for you."

"No, I'll pay for you," he boops my nose.

Game on, mate.

"No, I'll pay for you."

The bored-looking cashier cuts in. "Hello, welcome to Big Belly Burger. What can I get you today?"

"I'll have a cheeseburger combo with a Coke, thanks," I request, cutting in before Barry, as if to say I've won.

"Cool. Anything else for the two of you?"

"I'll have a Big Burger Combo, thanks. With a Sprite," Barry orders.

"Yep. That's all?"

We nod.

"That comes to a total of twenty-one dollars, thanks."

I pay first. Barry keeps trying to cut in, but I block him successfully.

Our order comes within minutes, and we both sit down at the table Barry picked out earlier.

Like with all fast-food chain tables, there is the distinct smell of industrial-grade chemical cleaner. But we don't mind.

I don't know why, but I feel like the entire world has just - disappeared.

I feel butterflies in my stomach when he looks at me (that go absolutely nuts when he smiles at me).

I feel the electric tingles (like when you touch a plasma ball) radiate and then dissapate when we 'accidentally' touch hands.

I feel the sudden, bold, burst of courage as I go and take his hand, and then the jolt of electricity nearly making me close my eyes in pleasure just from that one touch, like I'm on Cloud Nine, as I do.

I now know why nobody wants to leave their soulmate. I thought I'd felt something like this, in the early days of Ronnie and I's relationship. I feel a slight stab wound as Ronnie just pops into my head, but I squeeze Barry's hand, and when he squeezes mine back, I forget about Ronnie.

I feel the slight disappointment when our meal order is called out and I remain behind to make sure no one steals our special booth.

I feel the sudden urge to impress him, so I let out my hair into it's au natural state.

I feel his gaze look over my new hairstyle as he comes back with the food, and to distract myself I grab my food, unwrapping my burger quickly.

I feel adoration towards him as I gaze into his eyes over my burger. I register how we both notice how the other eats (still polite, nothing primal in his manner).

I feel happy.

I smile.

"Let's go back to my place," I say, half an hour later, after we have both finished our food.

I had found out he had not seen my favourite movie, nor had I seen his, so we were going to swing by his apartment to get his copy of it before we returned to mine.

I hold his hand after I drive the car out onto the road again.

I squeeze his hand.

He squeezes mine back.

A/N: I hope this is long enough to appease you for the week. It's my last week of school, so after this week hopefully I can update twice or three times a week.