stitches {A Barry Allen fanfic} (UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

•chapter one: the nerd convention•

I have known Barry Allen and Iris West my whole life. The two were best friends. She loved English class, and Barry and I loved our science and math classes. Typical left-brained nerds being friends with the right-brained nerds.

But of course, Barry loved Iris, and I was stuck being Maddie the "best friend". I doubted I'd ever be more than that to him, and honestly? That was okay. I had enough on my plate as it was, and a relationship was the last thing I could consider feasible.

My double-life as part-time engineer and detective on Central City's police force was difficult to manage, but it kept me busy as I ran from my past. If I was good at one thing, it was keeping myself busy.

My life seemed to be pretty normal, that is until I helped Harrison Wells make that damned particle accelerator.

But wait. I should introduce myself. I can't just start taking about my past and not at least give you information as to who I am and where we are before I tell you this story. My story.

Allow me to start over...

My name is Madeline Kennedy, but everyone calls me Maddie. I am twenty-five years old, and I work as a police detective at the Central City Police Department- but you knew that. In my spare time, I read about all the drama going down in Starling City with Oliver Queen and all his dumbass shenanigans. And the Vigilante they're calling the Arrow. I enjoy Netflix and ramen noodles in my cozy, two-room apartment.

I also work a part-time job in engineering over at S.T.A.R. Labs, where I practically lived in all my spare time with my best friends and the man who adopted me when I was ten.

But that brings me to today. The day Barry and I had been waiting for for months and we were practically jumping out of our skins in excitement.

Harrison Wells- the biggest name in science, and my adoptive father- was presenting to the world his newest invention: the particle accelerator.

As soon as my shift ended, I closed up my desk, packed my bag, and ran upstairs to Barry's lab on the second floor. It filled the whole second floor- a giant room with big tinted windows, a leaky ceiling, shelves of liquids and lab equipment, a desk, and one very nerdy and awkward guy. My best friend.

He smiled at me as I entered the room and said, "Hey, Maddie. How are you?"

"I'm good," I say and grin. "You ready for tonight?"

His smile disappeared as he asked with an uncertain smile, "...Tonight...?"

I sighed. "Barry Allen. You're lucky you're cute, you know. And yes. Tonight." I raised my eyebrows and set my hand on my hip.

He stared at me blankly. There was a rustling behind me and I spun around to see Iris West appear from behind a shelf, a Big Belly Burger french fry sticking out of her mouth. I smiled at her and she moved to stand next to me, slinging an arm around my shoulders as she looked at Barry. Her dark hair was in curls, and she wore a nice outfit today- as per usual.

Iris always seemed to be so effortlessly beautiful. I wasn't surprised that Barry had such a big crush on her.

"He really doesn't remember, Maddie?" She asked and I smirked.

"Nope. Guess not." I replied and she pulled away from me and turned to him, crossing her arms over her chest. I tugged at my gun strap and smirked at the two of them. Barry squirmed uncertainly and seemed to look at me for help. I merely shrugged as he helplessly looked from me to Iris and back again.

"I can hear you two, you know." He grumbled. "It's very obvious I forgot- it's been a busy day, I'm sorry, Mads."

"Let me say this slowly," I begin, a small smirk crossing my lips. "Harrison Wells. Particle Accelerator. Science. Biggest opening of my family's entire life that I still have to get ready for."