Chapter Two: Iris starts to date...Not Barry.

It was a beautiful friday spring afternoon, time has passed since that night, they know that they shouldn't bring it up at least not directly. But it did happen and it did change Barry's outlook on life and everyone around him as well. Barry and Iris were walking from the school building to the bus that they ride home on every week day, cause the west's house isn't so close to the school so Joe has them ride the bus to the coffee shop that is across the street from where joe works so that he knows that they are safe, then comes to get them when his shift is over at the ccpd. When they get up on the bus they go to their usual spot on the bus not the very front, not the very back but in the middle of the bus. Barry gets to the seat first since Iris was talking to Linda just before getting onto the bus as well, sometimes Linda will ride the bus with Iris and Barry and hang with them after school.

But something out of the ordinary routine happened. When Iris had gotten on the bus and walked straight past Barry to the back of the bus, Barry didn't think too much of it, sometimes Iris and Linda will want to continue their conversations and Barry can respect that. He pulls out his phone and opened that messages app and clicked on iris contact and just said "hey, i was waiting for you, i saved you a seat like normal and i understand if you want to keep talking with Linda, we can catch up at Jitters when we get off the bus" "talk to you later" is what iris was able to text. Barry looked down at his phone and frowned. He thought you know " one day i will get the confidence to tell her how i really feel about her" but for right now friends was good with him.

Iris was talking with Linda when She felt her phone buzz and she saw the notification come up that it was Barry. She looked up over the seats because she was sitting a few rows behind him, he was just looking out the window with a blank expression, she replied as quick as she could cause what Barry didn't know is that the new guy Eddie was sitting with Linda and Iris and they were in a conversation and she didn't want it to look like she wasn't listening or paying attention, cause she thinks that he might ask her something important.

Eddie was taking advantage of this moment to talk to Iris, even though Linda was there she had her earbuds in her ears listening to music. Which was nice because that meant that Iris and Eddie could talk to each other. Eddie has been wanting to ask Iris out on a date but she's always with Barry. When she was finished on her phone Eddie was going to do it, he was going to ask Iris out. He wasn't nervous at all, he was actually super confident. He always was.

That was a big difference between him and Barry. Eddie definitely noticed it, so when Eddie first met Iris he was carefully looking from afar noticing certain things, Linda had told him that Iris and Barry were always together, that they even lived together, (she never went into detail about why that was), which was nice of Linda to protect Barry. Iris and Linda have been Best friends for almost a decade.

So eventually she was going to hear about what happened so one afternoon, joe sat down with Linda, Iris and Barry at their dining room table and they explained it all without complete detail, but later after Barry went to his room, Iris and Linda went to Iris's room, which was directly across from Barry's room. Iris said that she had already asked Barry if she could go into details about what went on that night since they were all pretty close with each other.

Eddie cleared his throat and just said " iris, will you go on a date with me" ? Iris looked up from her phone completely speechless from what she just heard. Did she really hear Eddie, the coolest guy in school, and super popular i might add out on a date? He looked at her and smiled. She blushes and says yeah sure, what kinda date would it be? And what he did not expect her to say was that Barry could tag along. He was stunned he should have expected this to happen. Eddie said with a straight face no emotion whatsoever "i was hoping it could just be me and you" Iris kinda started to panic internally of course, like "oh no did i just ruin this for me" "i love barry but does he really have…no she's not going to finish that thought she said to herself. Iris said "okay yeah that's cool", what if Linda comes with Barry and us so it's kinda like a double date. Eddie thought for a second about it. Maybe Linda will be having so much fun with Linda that he and Iris can enjoy their date.

Linda was looking over at Iris after finishing her last song on the album she was listening to, it was her favorite to listen to every day, it's nice to tune out the world for an hour at a time, and why not. Linda was putting her earbuds away because they were actually about to get off the bus and head to Jitters coffee shop. Iris said " hey Linda could you do me a huge favor" ? Linda responded "girl you know i would do anything for you, you know that right" ? Iris smiled at that response. Okay here it goes… " do you think that You could hang out with Barry while Eddie takes me out on a date " ?

Iris came up with the best idea that she thought would benefit everyone, The bowling alley. Perfect.

Barry loves the Bowling alley with the arcade and food and the cool music and lights, Barry and Iris would go about once a month. And he wouldn't suspect a thing, she thought. Immediately Linda smiled and then Laughed and said " sure, is that all you needed to ask me" ? And if you can make sure that Barry has a fun time and that if me and Eddie want some space away from you and Barry that we could do that without it being weird"? Linda Said with a big smile, " Barry is my best guy friend, and besides I think you deserve this. Go have fun and I will hang out with Barry." Iris felt like a weight was just lifted off her chest. And at that moment the bus came to a stop. Linda started to gather her things and walk up to Barry that kinda seemed upset? Not sad? But just like Low. She tapped him on the shoulder, and he looked up at Linda. He smiled and Waved. Why was he so quiet? Linda thought to herself. She turned around to look at Iris who was talking to Eddie and About to get off the bus as well.

Barry gathers his things and stands up and just scans the bus and his eyes land on Iris. She was talking to Eddie and then she started to Laugh. That made Barry's heart sink down into his stomach. In that Moment That Barry was looking at Iris, she was looking back at him and gave a smile. And God that smile could light up the darkest room, Like man that can not be science, he said to himself. He gave a shy smile back and then turned to get off the bus before the tears started to fall. Linda followed close behind him. He didn't even turn around when he got off the bus, just made a b-line straight to jitters to the normal table that he always sat at. Whether he was alone or with other people. That was the table he wanted to sit at. Linda always questioned it but was chill with it. Iris knew the real reason why Barry only ever sat at that one table. Iris started to gather her things and head off the bus watching from a distance because of course she will always care about Barry. Always. That will never change.

Eddie takes Iris's bag and carries it for her which makes her have butterflies in her both get off the Bus and head towards the coffee shop. Iris stopped and said to Eddie " hey i'm gonna call my dad and see if i could go over to the precinct, and ask him about the bowling alley," Cause Joe was a Cop. Since it was Friday night and Joe was probably working the late shift today, since it's only a few blocks from here, he would be okay with the 4 of them hanging out there, and maybe give them some money as well. She wasn't going to tell her dad that it was a date. He would immediately shut it down. So the fact that Barry will be with Linda, will just look like a group of friends hanging out on a Friday night. Joe would be happy that Barry wasn't at home watching movies by himself. He would do it all the time almost everyday. It always concerned Joe when Barry was quiet. He remembered what he was like before that night. When everything changed for Barry. Forever.

Iris was on her way back to jitters with a one hundred dollar bill in her front pocket and a huge grin on her face. It was happening Her very first date.

Tonight will be a night that everyone will remember.

Bear was up at the counter ordering his usual order a Decaf Latte. when it gets warmer out he likes to get it iced. Linda comes up behind Barry and Asks him to order her something while she goes to use the bathroom. after that long hour bus ride from school she had to go. Linda always gets a pastry along with a small coffee with two shots of espresso. Barry grabs the drinks and the pastry and heads back over to the table. He sits down and gets comfortable cause they have about 5 hours before Joe will come to get them to take them home. Barry couldn't wait to get Back home, go into his room and cry himself to sleep.

Iris and Eddie open the door to Jitters and lays eyes on Barry. He's just Nose deep in his homework. only Barry would want to do homework on a Friday afternoon. She walks over to the table and sets her bag down and asked where Linda went. He didn't even look up at her and just said " she went to the bathroom" which was good because she had to go to the bathroom as well, and she could talk to Linda alone. Iris turned to head back to the bathroom when Eddie tapped her on the shoulder and asked if she wants him to order her anything. she said "my usual please and thank you." Eddie didn't get a chance to answer because She was already in the bathroom. Eddie asked Barry what her usual was, because he knew that Barry knows that.

Barry looks up from his books and sees Eddie. Not the person that he wants to talk to but it's about Iris. when it comes to iris, he will always help, no mater the situation. Barry clears his throat and said that "her usual coffee order an incredibly heavy cronut and One americano with an extra shot" Eddie said thanks to Barry and walked over to the counter to order.

While Eddie was waiting for The coffees and cronut to be done, Iris and Linda had gotten back from the bathroom and were sitting with Barry at the table. Eddie walks across from the counter over to the table and sets the order down on the table. she said "thanks for the Cronut and americano with extra shot, just the way I like it" and at the same time as iris responded Barry looks up at her and said "just the way you like it" and she smiles back. Eddie sits down next to Iris which meant that Linda was next to Barry. Iris was taking a sip of her coffee when Eddie asked "how was the talk with your dad, what did he say"? Barry looks up confused. What did Eddie mean but that. Barry picks up his coffee and starts to take a sip when out of nowhere Iris takes a one hundred dollar bill and slams in on the table causing Barry to choke on his drink.

Iris was immediately concerned along with Linda and Eddie. Iris says in a sorrowful tone " Omg Bear I'm so sorry, are you okay"? Eddie asked if he needed some water, and Barry just nodded his head while coughing. Iris felt really bad a that moment. Like why did she do that? she was just so excited about the date she didn't even think about how Barry can get startled from loud bangs and booms. Especially Because of that night.

Once Eddie came back to the table with a cup of water and handed it to him, Barry gave a thumbs up as a thank you and started to drink the water. Once some time had passed iris thought that it was a good time to Bring up the Bowling alley. iris said " so the reason why I went to go talk to My dad", aka Joe to everyone else. He gave me this Money so that we could all four go to the Bowling alley tonight. since it's Friday night and Joe works late that made sense to Barry. At least they don't have to spend all day in the coffee shop. Barry thought to himself Im gonna tell her tonight. How I feel, how she makes me feel.

The group starts to gather their belongings and walk across the street to put their school bags in joe's office and head towards the Bowling alley. Iris's first date, and Barry finally going to iris that he loves her. always has and always will.