What Would I Give Up?- Snowbarry High School AU

Chapter 13

"How much further?" Caitlin asked, a few metres behind her boyfriend as she stopped for a moment to catch her breath and drink some water from her bottle. They had been walking for almost two hours now and it hadn't been an easy journey. The climate was hot and dry with a steep path lined with rocks and mud. 

"Not long now, I'd guess about ten minutes or so" Barry smiled as he turned back to face her. He went back to her and helped her up a particularly steep rock.

"This better be worth it, Bear" she grumbled as he continued to lead her up the path. It wasn't that she didn't trust his judgement, it was more that he didn't trust the stability and strength of her own legs. Once more she was shocked by his stamina and eagerness, his optimism was something that she had always admired. 

"It will don't worry. Trust me" he reaffirmed, squeezing her hand with enthusiastic vigour. "Okay, how about I carry you for a little bit? Maybe not the whole ten minutes but to give you a little break. I don't want you getting blisters because of me" he offered with he heard her grunt with pain with each step she took. She nodded and he helped her onto his back for a piggy-back ride up the rest of the dusty trail. 

"Are you sure about this? I don't want to cause you any pain or be too heavy for you. What if you slip?" Caitlin asked worriedly in his ear as they continued their hike up the trail. 

"Cait, you're as light as a feather, don't worry about me. Just sit tight and relax, we're not far now" he shook his head with a chuckle, paying her worries no mind. 

Just as Barry said the two teenagers arrived at their destination quickly and with much less grumbling than before. Despite her initial doubts, Caitlin found the clearing more than worth the trek. It was surrounded by lofty, green trees that created cool shade. There was an old wooden bench with a metal dedication engraved to the founder of the city, William Penn, from which there was a pretty breathtaking view of the city below. The couple sat side by side on the bench, Barry's arm draped over her shoulders, as they looked out at the urban paradise. 

"I'm glad we brought food, I'm starving," Caitlin said excitedly, taking off her backpack and opening it. She took out a plastic bag filled with smaller containers which held the picnic that she had carefully prepared this morning. 

Once again, she had taken use of the excuse of her 'friends' from school to explain who she was eating it with when her parents asked. It was her excuse for everything in the last few months and in some ways she was beginning to feel bad. After all, her parents were so pleased to hear her finally fitting in at school. But it couldn't be helped- the alternative was them being forced to come to terms with the uncomfortable truth that their daughter had a boyfriend and a boyfriend that they probably wouldn't approve of at that.

Barry was expecting a simple picnic but Caitlin had surprised him with fancier delicacies than he'd expected. Instead of simple sandwiches, she'd somehow managed pastries, cakes, muffins, tarts as well as sandwiches. 

"Wow! You really went all out!" he exclaimed with surprise.

"Well, I wanted to spoil us. I think we deserve it, we have a lot to celebrate, don't we?" she replied with a beaming smile. 

She didn't have to do all this but he hadn't the heart to tell her. She was ever so happy and had good reason to be. Just yesterday, they had both received their acceptance letters from their desired universities. Caitlin had been accepted to Harvard and he to John Hopkins. They were both ecstatic and she had been on her own little cloud of joy- it was adorable to watch. There was nothing that gave him more delight than seeing her so happy. It only made her more beautiful. 

"I suppose we do deserve it... I'm so proud of you" Barry smiled at her, kissing the top of her head right before tucking into the delicious spread in front of them.