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Chapter 14

Hi there!!! Sorry this chapter was so late I wasn't feeling too well so it took a while longer to type but here it is! It's quite long and the ending might have you a little shook but I hope you enjoy 😍.

I want to dedicate this chapter to the lovely ilovewestallen8. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays!!! 🎂♥️

Alright enough said. Let's get down to business.
XOXO
💜🖤

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Her breath came out in short huffs and her heart raced in her chest as she slammed the car door shut. She hadn't been able to do it. Going into his room, being in his personal space without his knowledge, it all felt wrong somehow. Like she was violating his privacy. When she sat down on his bed and looked at the picture of his younger self beaming out at her while being crushed by two people who she assumed were his parents she knew that she'd made a mistake. She shouldn't be there. That's when Iris started hyperventilating and panicked. She left the lab coat and the invitation on his bed and rushed out like the intruder that she was. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, tears began to form in her eyes and she blinked fast as the car pulled away. Looking back she saw him tumble out of the building and look around frantically. He was looking for her.
Barry noticed the expensive vehicle pulling away but didn't run after it. Partly because  he knew it would be a useless act and partly because he fully intended to see her again. He had made up his mind about going to the party despite his fears that he might not exactly belong in her world. It was a necessary discomfort. He had to see her again. To talk to her, get to know her, prove that his love wasn't just infatuation nor unfounded. Prove that she was in fact his soul mate.

The rest of the week seemed to tic by at a snails pace as the young lovers waited anxiously to be reunited. On the long awaited night Iris received her guests with a jovial sparkle in her eyes: a consequence of her nervous afternoon drinking. She wasn't tipsy but she was a little happier than usual. Eddie was one of the first guests to arrive and she kept herself entertained with her boy toy while she waited for her main man to arrive.

Minutes turned to hours and soon not even the copious amounts of champagne were enough to make her ignore the feeling that something was missing.

"Excuse me gentlemen, despite your near perfect behavior I do believe that my lipstick is in need of reapplying. I'll be right back," she flirted before leaving behind a group of well dressed men who shook their metaphorical tales after her like "good boys". Iris couldn't surpress the impulse to role her eyes as she walked away towards her bedroom to reapply her make up. It was a much needed recess from all the smiling and greeting and hosting. She slumped down infront of her vanity and took in her own miserable expression. This was meant to make her happy not make her feel like she was stood up at prom.

"Pull yourself together West," she told herself with a quick reminder that all she needed was concrete, un questionable and fulfilling pleasure. Emotions were for the weak, for children who still had a life ahead of them to discover the bitter truth.
A knock at her door brought her back from her depressing thoughts and she blinked away the tears she hadn't realised were forming in her eyes.

"Come in!" she shouted over the rumble of the music and chatter and Eddie walked inside.

"Hiding from your guests?" he asked as he approached her and placed his hands on her bare shoulders.

"No. That would be rude, you know me better than that," she smirked at him.

"Then what on earth is a gorgeous woman such as yourself doing all alone in  her room with so much great company out there?"