Reciprocal Altruism || Snowbarry College AU

The Evolution of Grandma Kisses III

After he left, it was just the two of them left: fake girlfriend and future girlfriend.

Caitlin unconsciously put her hand to her cheek to feel the last remaining heat from the kiss. Was it getting hotter out here?

Iris definitely noticed the kiss, but didn't say anything. In fact, after Barry had left, conversation had quickly dwindled down because their common ground had left. Caitlin could use no other words to describe it other than "awkward". Iris must have felt the same way because it didn't take long for her to get up and announce that she better get back to her dorm as well.

The two of them stood and began packing their things when Iris noticed something beside her. Picking it up and ruffling it out, the two of them realized that Barry had accidentally left his jacket on the bench.

"Typical," the duo commented simultaneously. When they realized they had said the same thing, they looked at each other and laughed. "Jinx!"

"I'll take it to his apartment and drop it off," Iris offered, folding it up neatly.

"Um, that's okay." Caitlin said, stretching her hand out to take the jacket. She wondered why she wouldn't just let Iris deliver the jacket. She knew Barry would be elated if Iris cared enough to drive to his dorm to give him his jacket, but something was holding her back. "I live closer to him, so it would be easier for me to..."

"Really, it's okay," Iris argued, and suddenly Caitlin could feel the air getting thicker. "It's not a big deal."

"Exactly," Caitlin agreed. "So just give me the jacket." Without another word, Caitlin had taken the item of clothing from Iris's hands. "I can just bring it to him," she said, bringing the jacket to her chest. "After all, I am his girlfriend." She made sure to stress the last word.

Iris smiled, gritting her teeth making it seem more like a grimace. "Of course. Right. Um... see you around I guess."

Caitlin suspected jealousy in Iris's tone and wondered if she should inform Barry on the new prospect. She honestly couldn't imagine why anyone would be jealous for Barry, of all people, but to each their own.

Holding the jacket closely, Caitlin brought the fabric to her face. The smell was intoxicating. It was just so... Barry. Like pine and nutmeg and... what was she doing? She shook her head and began her trek to Barry's apartment. All she was doing was dropping off a jacket. No biggie. But it was a biggie and Caitlin felt guilt in every step at the way she shut Iris down. Caitlin was the worst when she was stressed... which was basically all the time.

When she reached Barry's apartment, she knocked three times and waited. She hoped his club meeting was over and he was actually there. Otherwise, she wasted the walk here for nothing. Luckily, Barry was home at that moment and opened the door wide after just a minute.

He grinned a huge Cheshire cat smile as he greeted her. "Caitlin!"

She took in his relaxed state and looked him up and down, noticing he was wearing Pokémon pajamas with the tiny little characters all over his blue bottoms. "Nice PJs," she commented, a smirk gracing across her face.

Barry stuck his tongue out at her. "What's up?"

"You left your jacket at our library bench." Caitlin all but shoved the article of clothing into his free hands. "And now, I have to come and drop it off at your house. See, you made me break rule—"

"—13 of the relationship agreement, I know."

"Wait, you memorized it?" Caitlin was taken aback by the fact that Barry had actually read everything she had written.

"Of course I did. It was part of the agreement to memorize it. Rule..."

"36." Caitlin finished. They both laughed.

The sounds of whirring and teleportation caught Caitlin's attention and she looked past Barry and into his apartment. "Is that Doctor Who I hear playing?"

Barry scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Yep, own them all. I watch random episodes all the time when I'm bored."

"That's awesome." Caitlin smiled wistfully. "I haven't had time to watch it past the Tenth Doctor."

"You mean, you haven't gotten to Eleven?" Barry gasped. "He's one of the best! Come watch it with me...that is, if you're willing to break our fake relationship agreement." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Caitlin shifted on her feet back and forth as she considered her options. Rules were so important to her. She had to follow them. On the other hand, she did walk all this way to drop off a jacket. If she went back to her home now, she would have been greeted by nothing but the gaping absence of her best friend.

Noticing her apprehension, Barry put in his two cents. "You don't have to come in, Caitlin. I know you're a stickler for your rules. It was just a suggestion."

"I... break rules... sometimes."

The corner of Barry's lip quirked upwards. "Do you now?"

"Yes, I do. I can be fun and spontaneous." I can be like Iris, she thought to herself. That thought was enough to bring her to her final decision. Walking past him, Caitlin entered his apartment and took in her surroundings.

Welcome to my humble abode," Barry introduced, his arms stretched wide, "oh, fun and spontaneous one."

His home felt both cluttered and organized at the same time. Nobody else would have been able to navigate through the maze of his room except for him. He knew where everything was placed, even if it was in the wrong spot. It felt very homey and nice and overwhelmingly Barry.

He jumped onto the couch and patted the seat next to him, inviting Caitlin to sit in front of the television screen.

Caitlin did so, sitting so she was on one side of the couch while Barry was on the other, but before she could fully get comfortable, she turned to him with determined eyes. "This is just a temporary suspension. After tonight, we go back to the normal rules. Understand?"

Barry nodded, his face mock serious. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Now tell me what happened to Ten. Did he end up with Rose?" Caitlin cozied up on the couch and wrapped one of his blankets around herself.

Barry smiled softy as he looked at Caitlin. "In a way..."

They watched quite a number of episodes before Caitlin realized it was getting late... too late. She needed to get home before her night with Barry turned into a sleepover.

"Barry," Caitlin said, her voice sounding a little rough from tiredness and disuse. She turned her neck slightly to look at him and realized his head was leaning on her shoulder and his eyes were closed.

It seemed that during each episode, Barry and Caitlin had moved closer and closer together as they pushed each other, joked around, and threw pillows at each other. The two of them had moved to the center of the couch and were leaning against each other without knowing it.

She hoped she didn't look creepy just watching Barry sleep, but Caitlin couldn't help feel warm inside as she took in his relaxed state. His head was curled up against her, his brown hair all mussed up, and his mouth was slightly open leaving a little drool on the side. Caitlin thought it was the cutest thing.

He looked so innocent and peaceful. He wasn't thinking about any of his problems. He wasn't thinking about his dad in prison, his unrequited love for Iris, his track meets, his future...

All this time, Caitlin had been loading her problems on him and her stress about her grades, but she never took a moment to realize the stress Barry faced in his life, especially with his dad. Both their dads were in desperate situations where their kids wanted to help, but had no actual power to do so.

In a way, they were both stuck in the past.