Dark Angel ϟ Barry Allen

xiii: for her

"I'm surprised that you wanted to get drinks with me," Melanie stated as she sat down next to Barry. They were at the local bar. Barry had sent her a text message, asking her to meet for a shot or two. He didn't specify whether or not it was just as friends, but the brunette figured it wasn't anything too serious. Of course, she was nervous that Barry knew she was the girl in the dark suit, but she figured it would come out soon enough.

Barry shrugged, smiling up at her. Melanie knew that Barry couldn't get drunk, so she knew this was directed at getting her drunk. "I needed a drinking partner."

Melanie sighed. "You picked the worse drinking buddy. I'm not much for getting drunk."

"Iris told me you weren't doing so well," Barry said, catching to the chase.

The brunette bit down on her lip as she lost the feeling in her legs. "This-- this was a mistake, then." Her body was shaking as she turned to walk away.

"No, Melanie, it's not. You may not be comfortable with talking about what's going on inside your head, and I'm not trying to pry. I have my secrets that I don't want to tell people, and I get it. I do. I want to get to know you better. Iris is my best friends, and you seem to be one of hers."

Melanie wanted to leave, but something inside of her said otherwise. She'd seen what kind of person Barry was. She felt relaxed with Barry-- as much as she could. "Don't ask me to open up. If you haven't noticed, I'm kind of a very anxious person."

Barry gave Melanie a heartfelt smile. The two started in on some conversation, which made Melanie more comfortable, but she wasn't ready to completely give her secrets to Barry. Of course, he may've been really accepting of all her dirty little secrets, but Melanie wasn't ready for it.

The two talked all night, and it wasn't like the night that Melanie had stayed over at Iris's house. It was more intimate. They didn't have the basic things to talk about. They had to get more creative in knowing each other. Most of the time, they talked about science. It was a thing they both knew a lot about. Whether it was the complete memorization of the law of thermodynamics or the cellular regeneration they'd first encountered as they met each other.

Barry learned she could handle herself, not that he didn't already know that through visiting her gym. Melanie began to understand what fueled Barry. He wanted to help as many people as he could, and being a forensic scientist, he seemed to be doing his best.

When the night was nearing two, Melanie decided it would be best to call it a night. Barry walked out with her. She genuinely had a good night. Her anxiety had drifted away around him, and she normally didn't believe on relying on a man to keep her happy. She didn't mind it was Barry who made her comfortable; she just minded that he was in love with Iris.

"You're cooler than I thought," Barry stated in awe at the well-rounded girl in front of him. He laughed at himself. "I didn't mean it like I thought you were lame or anything. I just didn't know much about you, besides you didn't sleep very well. You keep surprising me. You have a degree in biology and work at one of the best labs in the United States, but you don't flaunt it."

Melanie scoffed, feeling her cheeks turn red. She hated being flattered. "You want to know something else that would surprise you?" He looked highly intrigued. The brunette could say a dozen of interesting things, but she didn't say anything. Her lips pecked his cheek. "I know you're in love with her, and I know you did this for her. Please don't try to get to know me for her."

The brunette walked off into the night. The street lights casting a shadow that Barry watched walk away. He didn't know how to act. He may've showed up for Iris, but he stayed for Melanie. He wanted to know her; he wanted to see the ideas swimming in her head. Iris was wonderful, beautiful, and everything he'd ever strived for, but Melanie was indescribable.

They didn't have a past, which is why Barry wanted to hide his feelings for her. She was beautiful in different ways than Iris, she held intelligent conversations he'd never believed he could've had with someone who looked as astounding as Melanie.

Barry couldn't sort out his head, so he ran.

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