Fresh Start

Chapter 5

Luckily for you, you didn't have much time next day to think about your date with Barry. It actually helped you in order not to get too nervous during the day. The dark side of it was that all that nervousness appeared the moment you opened your closet to decide what you were going to wear.

Your first thought, was calling Thea for some advice but you didn't want to tell her you had a date. She would tell Oliver and you knew how he would react. And since it was just a date, you didn't need your big brother to freak out like he would do if he knew about it. So you were on your own. The bright side was that you didn't need to think too much to go to the Big Belly Burger. It had to be something normal and casual.

Finally, you came up with a pair of ripped black jeans, a blue top and a leather jacket, along with your favourite Converse: the white ones. Before you even noticed, it was almost 7 so you took a little bag and put the phone, wallet and keys in it before heading out. As you were walking towards the coffee shop, your nervousness started to grow, which made you feel stupid. You had only known this guy for a few days, it was impossible to have such a crush on him. Anyway, there you were, like a fifteen-year-old teenager on her way to her first date.

By the time you got to your destination, Barry was already waiting at the door. You were glad to see that he was wearing something as casual as you were: a sweater, jeans and Converse. He was checking his phone but when he saw you he smiled and put it in his pocket.

"Am I too late?" You asked as soon as you were in front of him.

"I was early" he smiled. "Are you hungry?" He asked.

"Starving" you admitted.

"Me too" he laughed before you two started walking.

"I'm so happy you guys have Big Belly" you told him.

"Who doesn't have Big Belly Burger?" He said looking down at you.

"I don't know...maybe in a parallel universe or something like that" you shrugged and looked at him to see him smiling like he used to do a lot. Like he knew something you didn't. "You always have that look"

"What look?" He asked now confused.

"That look like...you know something I don't" you explained.

"Oh" he laughed and shook his head. "I was just thinking. It would be fun if there were actually parallel universes, right?" He asked.

"You mean like...one where I'm a boy and you're a girl?" You asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well, that would be interesting" he replied with a laugh. "I mean one when we are...us but with totally different lives and even different personalities" he explained.

"Sounds interesting actually" you laughed. "You could be the journalist and I could be the scientist?" You suggested making him laugh.

"That would be fun" he nodded. "Actually..." he said after a few moments of silence. "I wanted to apologise again. What I did this morning was awful. Leaving you there without an explanation... I really am sorry" he said looking down at you.

"Don't worry about it now, Barry" you smiled with a shrug. "I mean yeah, it was rude and I thought about killing you but I'm here now, right?" You said.

"And I'm glad you are" he replied.

You looked down to hide your smile from him. The effect he had on you was incredible. You barely knew the guy and he still could make you blush easily. It was obvious that there was something about him, something you liked even unconsciously. But you didn't really want to overthink it. If you did, you would screw everything up.