Cobalt Blue

Chapter 5

A/N: Italics represent Barry's thoughts
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The fieldtrip up north is nothing but amusement filled for both Barry and Caitlin. Well, mostly on Caitlin's behalf because it's not everyday she got to escape the confines of her textbooks, let alone spend at least the next couple of days out in the wilderness with her bestfriend, whom she still harbours feelings for (despite having basically friendzoned him) even though the choice to keep things on the down low wasn't of her own doing. But she needs to set that thought aside real quick because this trip was also going be their first step in rebuilding a stronger friendship and she wasn't about to let a silly mistake ruin this opportunity; Both her and Barry needed this time to straighten things out between them. So as the vehicle came to red light, she thought that school (of all things) would be a great conversation starter.

"So um, Bar. How's being back at school so far?" She said while admiring the contrast of city life merging with the forestry in the distance.

He's scratching at the back of his neck, feeling an unresolved nervousness bubbling in his stomach before he answers, It's actually been a little too surreal at times. More than what I expected to bounce back into, sometimes I still find myself getting anxious over the littlest of things, and I wish I could tell you about everything but- "It's good, I guess." It's a good thing you're always there to snap me back into reality, I really wish nothing had ever happened because now I'm more nervous than ever because I feel like something's changed between us even if it hasn't- "Even though you do seem to take things quite literally at times." But I don't mind because you're adorable when you try and tease me.
And for the first time she'd brought about this topic he could feel the dread in the pit of his stomach begin to resolve, there were so many things he wanted to- no, needed to say, but the relief that shot down his spine when a smile danced across her lips, left him with a nostalgic feeling he couldn't help but smile back at.

"On the contrary, you goof. You just don't like being teased by an academic superior. Right? Quite the interesting person she is.. as I've heard."

"As you've heard, huh? Well you can say that again. I've never met a girl as competitive about her everyday life as she is about her schooling." He huffed.

The uncomfortable silence that had filled air hovering above them for the past half hour was slowly dissapating. Barry still found it amusing how she could pick a conversation out of thin air with ease, just like she'd been able to many months ago; Not that he expected that to change any.

"You talk like you know her better than I do. I'm feeling jealous." She joked to lift his spirit even more.

"Oh yeah? I never knew the Caitlin Snow was capable of feeling jealous." His statement almost earned him a death glare if it weren't for the silliness of the conversation they were already in.

"Really? And what else am I not capable of doing? Please do tell, Mr. Allen."

"Oh, of course. If I may start, you cannot take a compliment." She laughed at the sincereness in his statement.

"And what makes you say such a thing?" She scrunched her nose up at him. Now it was his turn to laugh.

"Well to start off, you get this cute little crease on your forehead when you receive the compliment, then you bite your lower lip when you don't know how to respond, and finally you reject it when you have no clue what to say-"

"I do not! I don't believe you! You're just making that up because.. because.."

"You can't take a compliment?" He cut her off and she couldn't help but bite her lip in the process.