NO HERO · BARRY ALLEN | ✘

Twenty-Three: To Be or Not to Be

Mason sits his ass on my desk and holds up a portfolio. "Did you ever view the footage in your camera?"

I'm back at the Picture News office after Barry dropped me off then went to get an ice pack.

I shrug. "Yeah, I did. But I don't have it anymore."

"And why not?" he says, more angrily than worriedly.

"I dropped it in the.. blender."

"What the hell? I don't think that's even remotely possible."

"I was cooking but I mistook the flash drive for a piece of garlic and dumped it in the pot. Sorry."

"I taught you to lie well, I'm so proud!" Mason wipes a fake tear. "Whatever. Bring it ASAP. I need to see it."

He slides off (taking down a few papers with him and onto the floor) and I lean down to pick them up. I see two more hands picking up papers twice as fast.

"Oh, Iris. Hi," I swallow.

"I've been meaning to talk to you.. about Barry."

I can feel every muscle in my body tense up, even in my eyes. "Whatever for?"

"Uh, for yesterday. We went for coffee yesterday. And he said some things that just made me confused."

"Such as?" I force myself to look her in the eyes.

"Well, for one, he was telling me that he thought about me and that I thought about him. Did he just completely forget you? And he said that he had ESP? I don't understand anything going on in his mind."

"And you're telling me this... why?" Even as brave as I may sound, I can feel my heart nearly breaking in half.

"Because," she says with a hint of defensiveness creeping up in her voice, "you deserved to know your boyfriend is saying these things that don't make sense when he should be with you. You have a right to our conversations regarding your relationship."

"Thanks for telling me. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that though but it was very informative."

Iris bites her lip and rewords, "I know that saying it would cause serious issues in your relationship, but you had the right to know."

"So you told Eddie and he punched Barry."

"Wait, what? Are you mad about that?"

"No, but why would you tell Eddie?"

She seems taken back. "I-"

"Do you think about Barry?"

"No! I don't. How is this necessary when you already-"

"And furthermore, I knew that he still had feelings for you but I thought that eventually it would pass. Clearly I was wrong. So thank you for telling me and being an honest person while risking our friendship at the same time. It really gets me through the day, knowing someone I love is always thinking of someone else." I stutter at my last words. I'm close to the breaking point.

She clenches and unclenches her fist. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. You need to talk to Barry about it before he does something stupid."

Iris puts the papers back on my desk and heads back to her desk. Joe comes to visit her and wraps her in a big hug. If my father were here maybe we'd hug like they do.

After another hour or so of typing nonstop until my fingers bleed and trying to block out all of my emotions, I close up shop.

Mason comes trotting back with a smirk. "You look like you just received the worst news of your life. Maybe you finally realized that it's just not a big head but something else. So. Plans for next week?"