In A Blink ➳ Barry Allen/The Flash

04.

chapter four ; the beginning fall

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The smell of warmed maple syrup wafted through Natalie's new home as she took the bottle out of the microwave and poured the pancake batter on the griddle. After she had woken up due to the sun shining through her window, she had gotten ready for the day and attempted to wipe the appearance of exhaustion from her face.

As she patiently waited for the pancakes to cook, Nat realized she had nothing to do besides unpack, which she wanted to put off for as long as she could. Deciding nothing would be better than cousin bonding time, she called Caitlyn.

On the 3rd ring, she heard her cousin's voice sound from the speaker, "Hey Nat,"

"Hey Cait! I was thinking, maybe I could come and hang out with you at your work today. Isn't it S.T.A.R. Labs still?" Nat asked, flipping the pancakes on their uncooked side.

When she didn't hear a response, Nat abandoned the pancakes and grabbed her phone from the counter, holding the base of it to her mouth. "Caitlyn? You still there?"

"Uh yeah, I'm here. Don't come. I'm..I'm busy. But I'll swing by later and we can grab dinner. Okay?" Caitlyn said, stuttering into her phone.

A frown formed on Natalie's face as she finished cooking the pancakes, "Alright," she said, disappointment filling her voice.

"I'm sorry," Caitlyn said before she hung up.

Natalie ate her breakfast in silence as she sat on the couch with her legs criss-crossed. The silence gave her time to think and wallow in her thoughts.

She had no idea what she was going to do once she got to Central City and now that she was here, she still had no clue. She had no job which meant no income, which meant that soon she wouldn't be able to pay bills. Natalie didn't want to ask Caitlyn for help getting a job at S.T.A.R. Labs, she was no where near qualified for that, and it seemed too soon to ask one of her new friends.

Friends, Natalie didn't really have "friends" in Central City, they were more like acquaintances. She had only just met Cisco, Barry, and Iris. She doubted they would want to help a stranger get a job.

Natalie felt overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions and kept telling herself to breathe. Everything was going to work out fine.

She attempted to clear her thoughts, but seeing as that wasn't working, Natalie decided to go running and changed into yoga pants and an old high school sweatshirt.

As she began running down the street of her neighborhood, her thoughts of possible troubles were whisked away by the pounding of her heart, working hard and strong.

Slowing down to a jog once her throat began to dry and breathing became harder, Nat wasn't focused enough to see the person in front of we before the pair collided.

It was a pretty nasty fall. Whoever it was, her little body had managed to knock the other to the ground. The person writhed and groaned from underneath of her as she pushed herself off and repeatedly asked if they were okay. "I am so sorry. I-I didn't see you. Oh my god. I really am sorry, are you okay?"

The person she ran into pushed themselves into a siting position on the ground and ran their hands over their face. From what Natalie could tell, the person was male and had brown hair. The guy, still sitting down, mumbled an "I'm fine" before he finally stood up and looked at Natalie.

"Barry? I pushed you- oh my, sorry-" Nat rushed out as soon as she realized that guy was Barry.

He waved his hands and eventually gripped her shoulders and gave we a little shake to get her to stop talking, "Natalie, I said it was fine. It was an accident. And you might want to clean that up?" Barry said before releasing her shoulders.