Outcasts Snowbarry

Chapter 3

Caitlin
I'ma fucking moron.
Ileft my purse back at the apartment and now I
have to sustain on vending machine garbage until
Igo off and feed again. There is no way I'm going
to get through this day without compromising
one thing. And now, walking into the familiarity of
my workplace, it's gonna be hard to tie myself
over when there are hundreds of warm bodies-
coming from their scolding hot showers-walking
around like hot happy meals. This is just not my
day.
I'm gonna have to feed on my lunch time and be
back in my seat before I get tagged. I normally
don't get tagged but when I do it's fucking
embarrassing. Think of it as a family with three
kids, I'm the middle child people forget about,
but get the most reprimanding when I'm actually
seen.
My job doesn't require a lot of responsibility, or
actual work for that matter, tons of people here
share my shift but they needed someone extra I
guess just in case one of them pulls a Jerry
Maguire and quits right in front of the firm. They
can't afford to lose employees, especially in the
kind of work that is involved. All firms are
basically in the mentality that the world will stop
turning if they lose workers, this one is no
different.Working here wasn't the pits but it was a good
distraction from whoI really am. I had one friend
here, I guess "friend" is what I call him since he
had tried to be my friend but I take every
opportunity to brush it away. Never quite figured
out why I did. I guess I'm not one for friends. I
thought he had a thing for me, and then I realized
maybe no one is talking to him too. People are
hardly personable here. All work, small talk at
best, personal problems is your business, don't
eat at the desk, overtime is almost mandatory.
I'm always one of the last ones to leave here, this
guy, the only guy who talked to me, he's usually
home by the time I begin my last assignment for
the day. He always left on time, the bastard.
Speaking of, I felt like someone is watching me
and lift up my attention from my first task and
caught his not so subtle eyes on me; a slight smile
and wave was sent my way. I wanted to roll my
eyes but l couldn't find it in me. Both of us seem
like the most isolated individuals working here. I
caught his lime green eyes from across the room;
he seemed to be keeping his staring on me as he
made copies at the scanner station.
My lips parted as he moved away, going back to
his station as I lingered my stare following his
body until he sat down. I guess you could say l'm
a tad curious why he still cared to befriend me,I
was starting to think nothing was going to work
when that incident in the break room involving
the office cake. I could still remember him
blushing under his nerd guise, when he took his
glasses off to clean up the mess I caught
something I hadn't seen before, it almost scared
me. I felt myself staring until he caught me and I
immediately left him standing there.
I covered my mouth as I giggled, trying not to
draw attention to myself, not that anyone can see
me. I wanted to keep it that way. Knowing who I
am and what I can do, I don't want anyone
getting close to me.
After a few hours I dropped a note in my box that
read my boss was out to lunch and I was on my
mine. I winced as I glanced at the clock, 25
minutes wasn't enough time to feed, and it's not
the way it worked for me. I instead stood up and
rummaged through my pocket for some dollars.
This was the best I could do for now. This was
going to be difficult. I know you're probably
saying, why didn't I feed in the morning? Well I'll
tell you why: it's too obvious for someone to see
me during the day. At nightI could get away with
it, even the night watchers don't last very long at
their posts; a residue of the Meta-Human
Registration act.
Igot the saltiest bag of chips from the machine
and dragged my tired, monotonous body to the
table. Think of going on a diet but worse, yes
worse than being around a controlling vegan. Yes
it was salty but I hate doing this when I have to.
Feeding on heat is the only way I knew how to
survive. Think of biting into the best meal you've
ever had, or eaten the creamiest pasta dish ever,
that's not even half of what I feel.
Not that anyone working here would understand,
they don't know what it's like to be me,
constantly hiding, waiting until the moment is
right to finally be free.
Asl aimlessly ate the door to the break room
opened and in walked him, four eyes, Mr. Can't
Stop Looking at Me, Mr. Can't Get a Hint. I
observed him closely, pulling my body on tight
alert when he went to get a cup of coffee. I could
use one right about now, but l was going to wait
until he left to step anywhere near him. I could
smell his thermos and it was making my hands
shake like I was on cocaine. His body radiated
heat more than the others; I could feel it drip off
his pheromones as he strutted around the break
room. Part of me was aroused actually butI can't
admit that to myself. He's more like great steak
dinner.
This would be so easy for me...I could drain his
heat but that would be too obvious again,
cameras everywhere and they'd lock me up just as soon as I was caught. Even though I didn't
want to, I watched his every move anyway.
He took off his glasses as he sat on the other
table, placing his coffee in front of the chair as he
took a seat. I watched him exhale and look my
way.
"Good morning, Caitlin."
I coughed, unable to speak for a moment. For a
guy who looked the way he had, it didn't match
well with his direct tone of voice. I keep forgetting
we did work a few cubicles down from each other
and we're forced to wear our ID tags. I'm
surprised he still remembered my name.
"Morning." I was polite, attempting to not notice
the obvious heat stewing between his hands.
He laughed softly as he took a long sip of his
coffee. "You don't like me, do you?"
He raised his brows at me, an amused expression
spread on his face. I didn't like it.
lopted for the safe answer. "I don't know you. It's
impossible not like someone you don't know."
Ilooked to his ID even though I vaguely knew his
name, Barry or something. But on the tag it read
"Bartholomew Allen." Around the office people
call him Barry I think.
"Fair enough."
He looked at me as if he was studying my
features. I got this creepy vibe from him suddenly.
He dropped it when he stood up and threw out
his cup.
"See you around, Caitlin Snow" He smirked then
turned the opposite direction. He stopped and I
slowed my breathing. "Oh, try not to scrunch up
your nose when you lie to me next time." He
winked slightly, moving out of my view and
walked back to his desk the other way.
Istood there with my mouth gaping, unsure of
what just happened. Barry andI never spoken
this much and he assumed I hated him? Granted
he isn't far off from the real reason, I'm more
perturbed by the looks he would give me. I had
no other opinion on this guy.
Scarfing down the rest of my chips I threw the bag
away and washed my hands before heading out. I
nearly bumped into someone and looked up
groaning.
"What are you doing Snow?" My supervisor
breathed on me as I straightened my posture.
"Just on break."
She eyed me, observing me for a cool twenty
seconds. "Well great, run this errand for me, add
an extra hour if you need it."
She handed me a list of a food order. I'm
supposed to fetch take out for the lazy bitch right
in front of me. Ugh, as if her fat ass needed
anymore carbs to balloon it up.
"OK. sure."
"Be back before noon Caitlin. No later" She said,
with that she left me standing there, wondering
why the fuck I took this job to begin with.
Lately the team members are turning me into a
personal assistant which I never signed up for but
they offered to pay me extra in overtime ifI took it
up. Plus, I had to. I'd rather just sit on my desk
and do a minimal amount of work then be a
doormat for my boss. A few times I did manage to
get lucky and drain some people, felt so much
better than lunch.
Theard the TV volume being turned up a few
clicks and rolled my eyes. Typical. I've better
things to do than deal with these fascist rules.
Tuning it out I heard the gist of the report. It's
beyond me why anyone would care about us
Metas to behind with.
I sneered as I saw the news anchor grow ten
times serious during the report.
".authorities are on standby for the final decision
on the Meta-Human Registration act. No clear
decision has been reached. Above all top
authorities believe they are still a threat to
society. The Senator is to give a statement shortly
to determine the final outcome. This is News 7,
eyewitness breaking news; we will keep you
updated as the story unfolds. The Senator asks
that you don't interact with Meta-Humans, if you
see one, report this finding to authorities. They
cannot be trusted. All the latest news continued
at seven."
My fist clenched as it almost returned to my true
form. The one I hid from the public on a daily
basis.
"Shame isn't it?" Barry asked, appearing next to
me, almost startling me.
Iclucked my tongue and tried not to get
distracted by his heat that was pouring around
me like a furnace.
"What should I care?" I shrugged, that chip on my
shoulder coming back. "It's not my life anyway..."
"Oh, just that one and three people you know is a
Meta; l'd say that matters to them also. Think it's
pretty fucked up the way the governmentis
painting them all with a broad brush."
Ialmost laughed at what I thought was a dead
serious tone he showcased just now. Why would
he care so much about this issue? Maybe he knew
someone like he said, but still, he sounded like it
personally affected him.
"You know, you shouldn't talk like that around
here. People get suspicious enough." I said,
wanting to close the subject.
When Barry eyed me like I was confusing him. I
turned around and made my way to the elevator.
I almost forgot I was on the clock; even though no
matter what my supervisor was gonna lash out at me anyway.
I have this overwhelming urge to suck heat, like a
milkshake on a hot day. I turned around and
Barry was almost nose to nose with me. I put
some needed distance but it didn't take. The guy
actually stepped inside the elevator with me.
"Sorry, it's just wrong. I mean what if it's someone
you know? A friend? A relative? A wife? Husband?
It's gotta be shitty for them."
I really just wanted him to go away. I was feeling
antsy. My body was on full overdrive andI needed
to get my heat fill. Like a pro I tried not to think
about how delicious it would be for me to drain
Barry's heat source. I held myself back, for the
security camera's sake.
"Yeah, I guess. Being so open about your support
gets you in trouble though. I mean, I wanna keep
my job."
"It's gotta be rough, keeping a secret like that.
Can't imagine what they must be going through. I
imagine they may be extremely lonely."
What is this guy on?! "I wouldn't know, I actually
have to go, so can you please?"
The elevator dinged to the lobby and I breathed a
sigh of relief as Barry didn't follow behind me. I
had a feeling he was burning a hole in my back as
Iwalked away, couldn't blame him, my as was
probably too much for him to handle, I've been
told.my job."
"It's gotta be rough, keeping a secret like that.
Can't imagine what they must be going through. I
imagine they may be extremely lonely"
What is this guy on?! "l wouldn't know, I actually
have to go, so can you please?"
The elevator dinged to the lobby and I breathed a
sigh of relief as Barry didn't follow behind me. I
had a feeling he was burning a hole in my back as
I walked away, couldn't blame him, my ass was
probably too much for him to handle, I've been
told.
Ugh,I really need to get myself laid. FirstI gotta
do this favor for Empress Cunta then my meal
ticket.I couldn't shake what Barry was muttering
to me as l took a cab to my destination.
What the fuck was he talking about? How would
he know what it was like to be a Meta? Like
someone as annoying as him would know what it
feels like. I beg to differ. If there was one thing
knew as Killer Frost, my better half, is that l can
only trust myself.
Everything else is just a distraction; even a
nuisance like Barry Allen.