Candice was in her trailer on a break between shooting a scene. She was sat on her couch, Zoë curled up on her lap. She still hadn't gotten over what happened between her and Grant this morning. She didn't understand it. She couldn't understand why, after all this time dating Andrea, he just decided he liked her. She always felt guilty for liking Grant especially because he had a girlfriend and knew she couldn't be with him but she still acted supportive for their relationship, because she thought La made Grant happy. And that's all she ever wanted; for him to be happy. And it broke her everyday that she wasn't the one, but never let it show. Well... she tried not to anyway.
She heard a knock on her trailer door, she thought it was for her to be called to set, she opened up her door and Grant was stood there, waiting. Candice hadn't seen him since he left this morning to speak to Andrea. She didn't think now was the right time to bring up what happened between them this morning but she really needed answers. Maybe it was just the heat of the moment. She thought to herself. But it wasn't like that, there was meaning and feeling behind it. Just ask him. Why he did it. I need to know if he likes me too.
"Hey" candice said, gesturing for him to come in.
"Hey, erm... yeah I just came here to tell you that I did what you said and I spoke to Andrea and things are cool with us now." Grant said, entering her trailer and sitting down on her couch next to Zoë.
"Cool. So... you guys dating again then or...?" Candice said still standing. She kind of hoped they weren't. She felt the nerves build up in her stomach, waiting for him to answer the question.
"Uh, no, we're just going to be civil. She said she understands how I feel and she just wants me to be happy."
"Oh." She let off a relieved sigh. "You okay?" She said, going to sit down on the other side of the couch.
"Yeah I'm... great, actually." He said with a nervous laugh. There was an awkward silence where they both sat thinking about the same thing.
"Candice, about this morning -"
"Why did you do it?" Candice interrupted him. Grant froze.
"I..." he didn't know what to say. Do I tell her? Like, now? Is it a good time?! All these questions ran through his head. She was waiting for an answer. Grant took a deep breath. " do you like me?"
Candice felt her face heat up. She panicked. Do I tell him? Like, now? For real?! The same questions ran through her head. Play stupid. Make him say it first. She planned in her head. "Of course I like you, you're one of my best friends." She laughed nervously. Making Grant chuckle. Oh my God, this is actually happening?! They both thought to themselves.
" no, I mean do you like-like me?" Grant said swallowing the lump of nerve in his throat. Candice froze. She didn't know what to say. But she didn't let her fear take over. What the heck, just tell him.
" what do you want me to say Grant?" She said shrugging her shoulders.
"How you feel... about me." Grant had dreamt of this moment for 4 years, not once did he imagine he would actually be here living it. Nor was he aware of how nerve-wracking it was going to be. But he was finally going to get to hear her confess. That was mainly all he cared about right now.
" I mean I'm not going to lie to you, so... yeah. I like-like you. But you were with La and... I wasn't sure if you liked me too. I had an idea, but I didn't want to say anything because I don't want to be the reason you break up. I want you to be happy. And this morning, I was just caught off-guard and panicked - I'd been forcing myself to believe that you will never like me in that way that when you kissed me, I didn't know what to do." She said, her eyes glazing.
"I'm so sorry Candice." He looked up at her and noticed the tears in her eyes and a look of concern struck upon his face. He got up and ran to her. "I didn't mean for any of this. I want sure of you liked me back and I was just afraid that if I was to tell you and you didn't feel the same way, I could lose you. And I can't lose you. Since the day you walked into that audition room, I knew you were the one. But because you mean so much to me, the fear of losing you always took over, and so I never decided to tell you. I thought that by getting with Andrea, those feelings would go away. But that's just it... love doesn't go away. This morning I just had had enough of letting that fear win and something was telling me that you liked me too. And so I let it all out. And... I kissed you. And If i could change what I did to you and La, trust me... I would do it in a heartbeat because I recognise that it wasn't fair. And I have never, ever been so disappointed in myself. I just want you to know that I am so, sincerely sorry and I would really love if we can give us a shot. And I know it sounds crazy because I only just broke up with La, but I can't wait any longer. I love you Candice."
Candice really didn't know what to say. Of course she wanted to give this a shot. She'd liked him for 4 years but things didn't seem that simple.
"What about the public. If they hear that you broke up with La and then before anyone gets a chance to blink you are dating me, people are going to think that I made you break up with her or that I am some desperate, selfish bitch. I already have enough hate hitting me in the face every day I don't need any more. And I so want this... I really do but it just doesn't seem like the right time." Candice's heart broke having to reject him like this, this was all she ever wanted and she didn't think she could have it.
Grant knew he couldn't wait any longer and just by looking at her and listening to the tone in her voice he knew she couldn't either. "We don't have to tell anyone. It can be just you and me, our own personal little secret. Andrea's already instagramed that we have broken up so maybe in a couple of months or whenever you're comfortable, we can tell the public. That's if you want to. I know you like to keep a personal life." Grant was finally free of this chain that was keeping him from her, but he still had one last rope to untie. He still had to convince her to free herself as well.
Candice thought so deep about it. Her heart was telling her she should do it. Date him. You've waited for this guy for forever. You keep it a secret it can't hurt anyone. What you don't know can't hurt you right? You want him to be happy. You make him happy. Do it. Free yourself girl! Candice couldn't think of the right words so just pulled him into a tight hug. Their broken hearts have been put back together. They healed each other. They hugged for a whole 2 minutes straight. Not even dreaming of letting go. Holding each other in their arms, right here right now was all they needed. "I love you Grant." She said in a soft, relieved whisper. They'd liked each other for that long it feels right to say this 3 special words. Meaning every one.
They pulled out of the hug but still holding each others arms. Candice gazed into his deep ocean green eyes. Grants lips met hers once again.
A knock came from Candice's trailer door. "Candice, you're needed on set!" It was Kate.
"Uh... yeah OK I'll be there in a moment." Candice and Grant quietly giggled like 2 middle school kids.
"Awesome, have you seen Grant he's not in his trailer, he's needed too." She called.
"Shit." Candice whispered. "Uh yeah I'll call him. I'm pretty sure he said there was traffic. He shouldn't be long."
"OK. Well tell him to be quick."
"Be quick." Candice whispered to Grant making him laugh.
"Alright well bye, I gotta go get the others." Shouted Kate still on the other side of the door.
"Okay." Replied Candice.
Kate left. They were alone again. Candice kissed Grant one more time before she pulled away to get her coat. "C'mon we gotta go. I'll go out first, and see if the coast is clear and then you follow."
Grant laughed. "Candice I came into your trailer before. We don't need to be secretive about that."
"Oh yeah." Candice said with a smile. "But it's fun like this." She said opening up her door, peering her head out looking left and right."
"Because that doesn't look suspicious." Grant laughed.
"Come on!"
Grant casually walked out of her trailer.
"Be a good girl Zoë boo, Mommy will be back in a bit."
So cute. Grant thought to himself. He went to hold Candice's hand as they were walking inside the studio but Candice tapped it away with a laugh.
As soon as they walked into the studio, everyone could tell something was going on. Both Grant and Candice were glowing and couldn't stop smiling at each other.
"Well you're happy for a guy that just broke up with his girlfriend." Carlos said.
"Well you know I... I think it's gonna turn out for the best." Replied Grant, turning his head to Candice's direction, smiling again giving her a wink. Carlos pulled him to one side, out of everyone's earshot. Candice was joking around with Danielle in the other corner.
"So man, I'm guessing by the way you two walked in together that you told her and she confessed she felt the same way?" Carlos said smirking.
"That's exactly what happened man." Grant laughed. "Thank you so much Carlos, I don't think I would have ever told her if it wasn't for you."
"Any time. So what about Andrea is she okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah we talked about it and surprisingly she wasn't that upset about it when I went to see her about it this morning which is good. Everything's good." Grant's smile had never been so big.
"Awesome. Wait... you saw her this morning? So you didn't stay at your apartment last night?" Carlos said suspiciously.
"Uh no I stayed at Candice's."
Carlos looked at him, his eyes widened and eyebrows raised. "Oh no it wasn't like that nothing happened..."
"Hm" said Carlos, in disbelief.
"I'm serious!" Grant said raising his hands up in defense. " I might have accidentally kissed her this morning though."
"What did she say?" Carlos responded.
"Nothing." Grant shrugged.
"Nothing? Did she kiss you back?"
"Yeah but she pulled away after a few seconds." Grant smiled just at the thought of it. He'd finally done it. It still felt so surreal.
"Well I'm happy for you man." Carlos said giving him a gentle push on the shoulder.
"Thanks Bro. But I kinda promised Candice we'd keep this a secret until she's ready."
"Yeah sure. You might wanna be more careful with the way you're acting then because as soon as you walked in here everyone could tell somethings going on." He laughed.
"Really was it that obvious?"
"Yeah. But it's okay you can trust everyone in here."
"Yeah." Grant said, still smiling.
"Right everyone, places." Philip Chipera (the director) called. He pulled Candice and Grant to one side. "Candice, Grant, so this scene we really need to signify even more how much Iris means to Barry. That she's his lighting rod you know? So if we could have Barry, staying close to iris all the time, he's never more than 7cm away from her sort of thing. I've heard you guys have a lot of natural chemistry and directors don't usually have to tell you what to do and you just do it and it's great so I'll leave, what you wanna do to yourselves, let you do your thing!"
Candice and Grant looked at each other, not being able to stop themselves from smiling. "Yeah that'll be awesome." Grant replied. He took her hand, this time Candice letting him, and walked over by the computers. In the scene Barry had lost his speed and so had to stay at S.T.A.R labs with Iris and help direct Killer frost, Vibe and the Elongated man in a search for a meta that can control and give life to animate objects with her mind. Grant sat on the chair by the computers and Candice came and sat on his lap, one arm round his neck.
"Awesome, guys that's great!" Philip said, rather pleased. "Ready, set and ACTION!"
"We're gonna get you your speed back you know." Iris said, looking him in the eye. Both of Candice's arms were wrapped around his neck now. Grants hand touched her upper thigh making her heart flutter but she still managed to stay in character.
"Yeah I know. I just feel useless you know? Caitlin, Ralph and Cisco are all out there trying to find and fight this meta and I'm stuck here without my powers. Just useless Barry Allen."
"Hey, you are not useless! Barry Allen or the flash, that guy is a hero."
"How do you do it?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I might be 'the flash' but you, you are the true hero here. I couldn't do what I do without you here. I rely on my speed so much whereas you, you're IRIS, a strong, heroic, intelligent woman that we all rely on. Me, I'm just 'Barry'."
"Hey, 'Barry' is the most perfect man I know. I never used to think I belonged here. I always felt like I was useless and didn't play an important part in what we do here. But you, you proved to me and taught me that my role here is important. And there is so much I can do. Even as an ordinary woman. I am trusting you can do the same thing."
An alarm beeped from the computer. It was Cisco's meta human warning app. The satellites had picked up the location of their meta. Iris unwrapped her arms from Barry's neck and bent forward to speak to Vibe, Killer frost and The Elongated man through their earpieces. "Guys, 5th and main. We got a hit."
Barry sat there just staring at Iris.
"C'mon Barry, time for you to be a hero."
"CUT!!" Philip called. "Beautiful guys. Love it. I don't think I even need to be here." He laughed. "Ready for the next bit let's go! Ima let you guys do your thing again, you're awesome."
"Ok" Grant and Candice said in unison with a chuckle.
"Ready, set and ACTION!!"
Barry stood up, putting his hand on iris' waist from behind. "Right. What do you need me to do."
Iris looked at him with a pleased smile. "Scan the satellites so we can get an image of what they're facing here."
"Alright." Barry searched the satellite and an image of a monster truck appeared on the screen. It was roaring aggressively, no driver inside. "Oh my God. Now what do we do?!"
"Hack into the security cams. I'll do that, one second." Iris pressed a few buttons and they had an image of the scene up on the TV screen. Cisco, Ralph and Caitlin were already there.
"Killer frost you can just freeze it right?" Asked Barry through the mic.
"No, she can't. The engine will melt the ice. None of their powers will work on this thing. I have an idea." Said iris confidently. She picked up a gun from underneath the desk beneath her.
"You're seriously not gong out there?" Barry asked concerned.
"Not me, we."
"What?"
"Let's go. Remember this shrunken gun Cisco made... well we're gonna shoot this truck with it, making it small enough to crush and then Caitlin and everyone else can deal with the meta.
"OK. " Barry said with a nervous sigh.
