And I'll Be Me

S E V E N

"Well, if you don't trust me, then I don't know why I even bother trying to be friends with you. Friends trust each other." He said frustrated, and then stormed off.
--
It's been a few weeks since Barry stormed off, leaving me alone with my thoughts that night. I still haven't diagnosed why he was acting so strange. It hurts that Barry left like that, I needed him. Ever since Barry, Caitlin, Cisco and I we're thrown together that night, we've become a close group. Inseparable. I started to rely on Barry to talk to when I needed him. But he won't talk to me anymore.

I decided to finally get out of bed, clean my mother and I's house, and get dressed. I was finally going to go back to the animal shelter and check in.

Before doing that, I decided to go to the roof to think.

It was early, the sun was just starting to rise, and I watched to glow of Orange and Red take over the city, swallowing it like paint on a canvas.

I sat down and leaned against the edge, wondering what I should say to Barry, if I saw him.

I felt fast wind and looked over. The city's guardian angel, standing on my roof.

"What are doing here?" I asked.

"I wanted to speak to you." He said. He had a weird sound to his voice, like he was using some tech to make his voice different.

"About what?" I said looking up at him.

He stood there, looking down at the ground.

"Look, I don't know why, but I feel like I can trust you... I have this friend, and we kind of had a fight.. he won't answer my calls and I just want to talk to him, hear his voice.. see him. I really fucked up and I don't know what to do about it. I don't know if I should tell you this or not.. but I was affected by the particle accelerator. I have powers, flash. I don't know if I should tell him. I'm afraid he would think I'm a freak. The last time I talked to him, He was acting strange. Kind of like he's keeping a secret from me. I know I'm not making sense right now.. just forget I said anything. I'm just babbling."
I rambled.

"You were affected?" He asked.

"Yes.. And I'm scared that it.. changed who I am. I feel like a whole new person I don't recognize. I don't know how I'm going to face my friend like this. Look at me, I'm a mess.."

"Just remember, real friends are hard to find. You need to trust the ones you have before you lose them. Tell him. I'm sure that's he'll understand, maybe he won't react well when you first tell him. Believe me, I've had a few people who've not reacted well to my powers. But, it gets better. Soon it will feel like these powers you have are apart of you. Maybe they are not so bad. If he really does care about you, he'll understand." He explained.

"Thank you. You know, you kind of remind me of him." I said.

"About your mom, I think I found a way to find her. Once I find reverse flash, I'll make sure He wishes he never messed with us." He said serious. Us. A weird term for people who just met, and I didn't even know who he was.

"Is that a threat?" I asked.

"No, it's not a threat if it's a promise."

Something clicked in my brain. On Christmas when Barry and I went bowling.

"Don't threaten the bowling king." I warned, picking up a bowling ball, and walking towards him.

"Its not threatening when it's true." He smirked.

The flash started messing with his ear piece, talking to someone.

"I have to go, gotta run." He sais, taking off.

"Barry...?" I whispered to myself. Another thing clicked, anytime I would mention the flash around Barry, Caitlin, or Cisco. They all would tense up. I got off the ground and went into my room, getting dressed and getting ready to face them all at S.T.A.R. labs.

I grabbed my purse on the way out and got into my car, which I hardly use, and drove to S.T.A.R. labs. I parked a distance away so they wouldn't know I had arrived.

As I was walking in I heard Cisco.

"- bro that was AMAZING, you took all three of those guys out like they were nothing."

"Mr. Allen, you have gotten faster. We're making progress." I heard Wells say.

I barged in.

"Hi, Barry." I said, he was in his flash suit.

All four of them looked at me in astonishment.

"Can we have the room, please." I said looking at Caitlin.

"Oh, yeah." She said, practically running out with Cisco on her tail and Wells shortly after.

My heart was pounding a million miles an hour. Barry was pacing around the room.

"H-how did you find out?" He said stuttering.

"When we went bowling at Christmas, you said something that The Flash said to me thus morning.. I just can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner.." I said.

"Shaylea, I'm sorry. But I didn't know how you would react-"

"Barry, stop talking. Look, I can't exactly be as upset with you as I wish I could. I kept something from you too. But, it still hurts. You lied to me. Who all knows?" I felt hot tears running down my cheek, and I didn't even care.

"Joe knows.." he said, sitting down beside me.

"Barry, I need time to think. You stopped talking to me, and that hurt me enough already. Then, I find out that you were keeping a big secret from me, a life changing secret. I have to go.." I said, standing up and heading for the door.

"Shaylea wait." Barry said grabbing my arm and hugging me.

"I'm sorry, Barry." I said walking out, leaving him looking hurt.

I went to the animal shelter. Hoping that it would help me take my mind off of things. A lot has happened, and it all happened way to quickly. It was too much to take in. I decided to sign up to foster care dogs, maybe a pet would help. They assigned me My first dog, he was a chocolate lab. They are rare. I then went home, parking my car.
I fixed something small to eat and set up a place in my room for my foster dog-I really need a name for, and when I was finished I took a shower. I set out an outfit for the next day, unfortunately my main job was now at S.T.A.R. labs and I had to go.

I went and layed in my bed, staring at the ceiling with a million thoughts dancing around in my head like ballerinas, until I drifted off to sleep.

--

I awoke the next morning, going straight to the bathroom to get ready. I slipped into my spaghetti strap dress, and some black slippers. I added a thin layer of eyeliner and grabbed my purse and phone. Then exited my house, locking the door. I got into my car and headed to S.TA.R. labs for my shift.

As I walked down the hall, I heard Cisco talking. Once I walked in, I sat down in a chair, and completely ignored their conversation. Barry ran in with his super speed. He looked at me with sad eyes.

"Hey, guys? Can we have the room?" Barry asked. Caitlin and Cisco left, leaving Barry and I alone. Which I didn't want.

Author's Note:

Whelp. What do you guys think?? Is getting better, or worse? Did I have her find out about him too soon? Let me know in the comments!!

~Cookie Crisp/Mommy Bae Out