Chapter 2

Previously...

This is her boyfriend for heaven's sake. They're freaking moving in together. Iris thinks to herself. And OMG Barry! This must feel like hell to him. How can she get herself out of this juxtaposition? Eddie keeps singing, "All I want for Christmas is you… you … baaaabayyy." Iris nervously smiles at him and then turns to face Barry.

She could have sworn Barry was sitting on that old wingback library chair just seconds ago. How could he not be there? Did he just freaking disappear into emptiness? She was getting worried. Why would Barry just opt and leave without saying anything? That was so not like him. Now she was really getting worried.

"Guys?" Iris whispers nervously. "You guys!" she says a little louder as she tries to get Eddie to stop singing. "Hey!" She finally yells. Everyone turns to her but the background music keeps playing.

"Are you okay?" Cisco inquires. "What's going on Iris?" Caitlin continues.

"Are you guys seriously oblivious to the fact that Barry's just... disappeared?" She has a confused look on her face.

"I mean who am I to talk I just noticed he was gone about a minute ago. What kind of people are we?... What kind of person am I?" Iris starts to break down as the walks back and forth pondering.

Caitlin and Cisco exchange a knowing look. They immediately knew he used his speed to leave unnoticeably.

"I'm pretty sure he's alright. He's ... Barry!" Caitlin says with a knowing look written all over her face.

Cisco backs her up, "Yeah, Barry's probably taking a walk down the street to watch the Christmas light displays. Your neighborhood really goes ALL OUT by the way." He nods.

"Yeah. Barry can take care of himself hun; you have nothing to worry about." Eddie reassures her and attempts to wrap his hands around her waist. Iris turns the other way and faces Cisco and Caitlin.

"But why would he leave in such an ... odd manner...?" She whispers to both herself and the others. She then takes out her phone and dials Barry's number. He doesn't answer.

She's even more worried at this point. Barry has never NOT taken her calls no matter where he was or what he was doing. She always knew he was the one she could count on. He has always been the only constant in her life. In the words of Oasis, he was her ... Wonderwall.

"He's not picking up, why isn't he picking up?" She says in a tone that could only be described as concerned yet anxious. She was on the verge of tears like she was going to lose it any second.

Eddie turns her frame to face him. Her eyes were glassy at this point and he had never seen her this worked up before about anything in the life of their relationship. He found himself speechless.

"Eddie, I need to find him. I need to get out there and find him. It's like freaking 20 degrees out there Eddie; he might be freezing to death for all we know." Iris starts raising her voice, and then she turns towards the door and just walks out.

Eddie tries to walk out with her but Caitlin gives him a look that could only mean - don't get in the way.

"AT LEAST TAKE A JACKET!" he yells at her disappearing silhouette.

"IT'S FREEZING! ... It's freezing out there." He whispers in defeat.

Iris just keeps walking aimlessly down the streets. She has no idea where Barry would go. He doesn't drive so she's sure she can catch up with him. She's getting really cold. Her fingers and ears are beginning to get numb. She takes her hair out of the bun it was in and lets it fall over her ears. She starts hugging her frame as she walks. "I'm going to kill him for making me do this." She viciously whispers to herself.

She's now been walking for 10 minutes and still no sight of Barry. She's uncontrollably shivering at this point but the thought of giving up has yet to cross her mind. "Where are you...Bearrr?" she starts to whisper as she turns to look at their local Dive Bar across the street. The "We're Open" sign was on.

"One would have to be pretty lonely to even think about spending their Christmas Eve at such a place." She thinks to herself. Almost suddenly, she sees the silhouette of a young adult guy with his hands in pocket and his head bowed down walking towards the Dive. She takes a closer look and comes to the realization that it's Barry!

"BARRY! BARRYYY!" she shouts out while waving and jumping. He obviously can't hear her, she assumes. She looks for oncoming vehicles on both sides of the road and crosses the road.

"Barryyyy! Ugh, please don't make me run!" She says to herself. She's now running towards him and trying to catch up.

She finally does and she's now breathing heavily. She's walking and calling out, "Barry! Hold up!" Barry finally turns to face her. She's panting like she just ran a mile and her hands are now on her knees because she's exhausted.

"Go home Iris." He simply says to her and keeps walking.

Now she's really angry. "Why are you doing this Barry? Did you really think we wouldn't notice you were gone? Cause that's jus –"

Barry quickly cuts her off. "Oh, I'm sorry Iris; I guess it's just kinda impossible to think while you and your ... boyfriend were being Central City's Cutest Couple." He shouts, turning to faces her.

Iris looks at him, utterly shocked by his tone and slowly replies, ""You know that's not fair." She looked like she was going to start crying any second. A strong wind blows and she hugs her frame and looks down.

"Oh Iris. Not fair?" Barry starts walking towards her with an intense look that could also be described as passionate.

"Are you seriously going to talk to me about unfairness? If there's anyone in the world who hasn't experienced a day of unfairness in their life, it's you, Iris West. Seriously Iris, when have things ever not gone your way?"

"Barrr –" Iris cries out.

"No Iris, I'll tell you what isn't fair." Barry starts. "Watching you go off to Senior Prom with Nate Evans wasn't fair. You telling me in excruciating details how your first kiss went with Shane Voss was far from being fair."

"Barry.., stop." Iris keeps trying to make him stop talking.

"And waking up from my coma just to see you moved on and fell in love with Eddie Thawne felt like someone literally put a dagger through my heart."

"Stop!" Iris begins to scream.

"Iris, I haven't even started. My paren - "

"BARRY JUST STOP!" She finally screams at the top of her lungs.

FIN

How do you like the angst? Lol

I so wasn't planning to go down this road but I'm glad I did.

Thanks to all of you who are sending me great feedback.

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