Reciprocal Altruism || Snowbarry College AU

Life Coach/Tutor/Therapist II

Now that she was alone, she had more time to think and process everything.

Maybe Barry was right. She did know everything that was on the test and as she looked through older tests she realized she made the simplest mistakes that she could have easily fixed.

Granted, studying was very important, but having confidence in oneself was almost just as important.

Caitlin had to work on that, and she felt that Barry could really help her with that. Plus, she would never admit it to his face, but she did enjoy the studying sessions with Barry. And plus plus, he owed it to her— him making her his fake girlfriend and all. And plus plus plus, it was probably helping Barry study too since he seemed to learn the material along with her. And plus plus plus plus... eh, she ran out of reasons.

Since Barry was gone, Caitlin decided to go over her old notes and rewrite them. Popping in her earbuds, Caitlin worked on the bench with the warm sun shining down on her.

As she worked, music blaring through her earbuds, she noticed a group of people pass her and sit at the table nearby. It was Iris and her squad of the popular crowd.

Caitlin was able to watch as Iris talked to her crowd, the people hanging on to every word that daintily fell off her lip as if it were gospel. Caitlin could definitely see why Barry was head over heels in love with her.

"Why are some people so perfect?" She muttered into her journal, pen bleeding harshly into paper as she redrew one chemical bond after another. She hated that word. She despised it. But, there was honestly no other way to describe her. Iris was perfect.

"Because they work hard and earn it," a voice interrupted her musings.

Caitlin turned her head to see a beautiful girl. She had dark brown hair and an oval face that looked like it was always smiling. She wore stylish clothing and held herself in such a manner that turned the heads of all the men wherever she went. She looked and acted like everything Caitlin wanted to be and wasn't.

When Caitlin didn't say anything the girl continued, "Hi, I'm Linda."

She held her hand out and Caitlin shook it. It felt like some kind of official business transaction.

"You're Barry's new girlfriend, right? Katy Cold?"

"Caitlin Snow." Caitlin corrected.

Linda laughed in a way that sounded like bell chimes. "I knew it had something to do with winter."

"Yep. That's me. Barry's girlfriend." Caitlin smiled, nervously chewing the bottom of her lip. "He's my boyfriend." The words sounded incredibly awkward coming from her mouth, she definitely had to get more used to that.

"You should consider yourself to be very lucky. Barry's a great guy." Linda smiled.

"Do you like him?" Caitlin asked and then winced at how blunt, rude, and possibly oblivious she sounded.

She remembered that Linda used to date Barry a little while ago. Maybe she still had feelings for him. Maybe she could be Barry's fake girlfriend instead of her! Although, Linda would probably not like being used by Barry if she genuinely had feelings for him... Good thing Caitlin couldn't relate. What was she thinking about again?

Linda laughed. "Me? Still like Barry? No way. You shouldn't be jealous. We dated for a while, but... I always got the feeling he was way too into Iris. Like obsessed."

At Caitlin's silence, Linda realized her mistake and corrected herself, "I mean, I'm sure he's not in love with Iris anymore."

She didn't sound very convincing. Caitlin tried not to enjoy watching Linda floundering so much.