It started with casual conversations in the chaos of lunchtime, Caitlin's personal bubble quickly accepting the presence of Barry and his bright smiles and corny jokes. The group had taken to him quickly, Cisco and Barry bonding over comics (because war? there was no war. DC trumps Marvel every single time), Felicity babbling on about something not quite legal and Barry offering advice for improvements.

Caitlin loved watching them talk, her friends and crush interacting with such ease. There would be times where she would lean back in silence and watch everything unfold before her, watch the way they joked around, conversation between the three of them never lacking, never dull. And in her moments of weakness she allowed herself to fantasise about moments like this in the future, fooling herself into believing that this could possibly happen. That one day this could all be real and she would be able to have everything she'd dreamt of.

But his attention was never on them long, his eyes always flickering to her, a smile breaking out when he would catch her gaze. And he then he would turn away, nodding at whatever Cisco had been muttering about or complaining about the medieval technology the school possessed with Felicity, unaware of his effect on the poor girl, heat blossoming inside Caitlin after that one look, a blush tinging her cheeks as she got caught staring at him.

There were times the others seemed to catch on, Felicity or Cisco watching her in the corner of their eyes, lingering too long for Caitlin to feel comfortable. Which was wrong, because getting caught was the purpose of these weeks, the seeds of the budding relationship, however contrived it may be, were to be planted in their minds. But it wasn't artifice on her part, and being caught by her friends and the world, especially after Ronnie -

She wasn't sure how ready she was at all.

It moved onto casual touches, a hand on her shoulder, fingers skimming down her arm, stopping just short of sliding into her hand and never letting go. Her skin burned after every touch, her body tingling long after the moment passed, phantom touches teasing her when she was all alone, shivers running down her spine.

But he grew more confident over time, his arm rested on the back of her chair most lunches with no signs of awkwardness, his fingers playing with the bottom of her hair. He would sit closer to her every time, leaning into her as he talked with her and her friends, personal space a boundary they now shared with each other. She slowly relaxed into it, into him, at times subconsciously, unaware that he would turn his head mid conversation, smiling as he would feel her, as he would see her against him, laughing at something Cisco said or teasing Felicity. It took him by surprise the first time it happened, completely distracting him from his discussion with Felicity, so wholly focussed on the girl at his side, her smile and laughter lighting up her face, a beauty he had never noticed until that moment. Felicity had to snap her fingers in his face to bring him back to reality, smirking as he stumbled over words, a quick look back at Caitlin before turning to Felicity, striking up a new topic to avoid the topic of what just happened. But he adjusted quickly, still surprised by her action, but his attention not quite so captivated by her as before.

The rare afternoon he didn't spend with them left her feeling uneasy and missing his company. She turned constantly to his table, a fleeting smile on her face as she caught his gaze, before she would turn back to her friends. She was teased about his presence, about her crush on him, and she could only blush in response, denying that there was anything happening so terribly that all they could do was laugh.

There were afternoons when she could feel Oliver's eyes from across the courtyard, its intensity unnerving her. Whenever they would meet he never asked if there was anything occurring between her and Barry and she never offered any information. But the look in his eyes, the concern and sadness, the stilted conversations that would follow left her confused and empty afterwards. He was a close friend but she couldn't read him at all.

That Tuesday lunchtime, that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, countless moments of flirting with the idea of becoming something more in front of her friends reaching the precipice.

The bell had rung, and they started to pack, fully engrossed in their conversation, plans for the afternoon on their minds. They had been spending more time together in preparation, Barry often telling Iris that he would be with Caitlin, a small bloom of satisfaction inside him at her expression when she knew he would be spending more time with another girl.

"Do you want me to pick you up after the meeting?" They needed to work on their smoothness, Caitlin still jumping every time he would wrap his arms around her in a hug, body tense if he slid his arms around her waist, surprise on her face at pet names or the casual mention of being her boyfriend. It was small things that should never matter, but the possible suspicion of her friends and his made them both determined to act like a couple very much in love.

"No," she had bent down to pick up her bag, but he had beaten her to it, lifting it and placed it on her lap.

"What type of boyfriend would I be if I didn't?" Caitlin gave him a long look, but he simply winked in response, a smirk on his face as she conceded. "I'll see you later then." And with a quick squeeze of her shoulders he slid out of the chair and walked away.

Barry didn't realise what he had done, walking to class as though it were something that occurred every day. Caitlin barely realised it herself, a sharp gasp waking her to the words and the presence of the people around her.

She could barely look up, Cisco and Felicity both staring at her, a soft thud as Cisco dropped his bottle onto the table, his hand still hovering mid air.

"What the frack Caitlin?" they exclaimed simultaneously.

"I've got to go now. Bye." And she ran, leaving her shocked friends behind.

"How long?"

Caitlin winced at Felicity's tone, the words alone already indicative of just what she was referring to. She had two lovely weeks, two weeks free of questions and teasing, two weeks where Barry would come up to her and chat, two weeks of him lightly flirting and her blushing furiously at his attention.

"We have to go to practice Felicity, we can discuss this later." Caitlin was eager to leave the empty corridor, Felicity and Cisco standing before her, arms crossed as they attempted to pry the truth from her. But apparently Cisco was just as curious an just as determined to get to the truth, moving into her path, arms crossed, his eyes watching her worried.

"Caitlin, we know you - we know you're gonna run home faster than your boyfriend and avoid the conversation. So no. We talk now."

"Really Cisco, we can talk later. I swear I won't run away, but now isn't a good ti-" And her desperation leaked into her tone, knowing that things may get exponentially worse if they don't leave for their meeting now.

"Oh Caitlin, there you are." She flinched as his voice carried through the hall, his body turning the corner when she badly didn't want him to.

Because jogging towards her was none other than Barry Allen. Her boyfriend.

His approach slowed as he took in the sight before him, Caitlin surrounded by her two best friends, their determined expressions doing nothing to alleviate the growing uneasiness inside. He slowed to a stop beside her, gaze flickering between the three of them, the tension growing. It was then he felt her hand on his arm, gripping the material of his sweater, pulling him closer, pulling him in front of her her, a human shield in the line of fire.

"So - woah, did I walk in on something? I feel like I've just walked in on something. I'm just going to -" And he turned to run, but her hold on his sweater wasn't wavering and he hadn't the heart to pull her off.

"If I'm going down, you're going down too," she muttered through gritted teeth behind him, a snort escaping Cisco at her words. Barry turned his head, taking in her rigid frame and scared eyes, his shoulders dropping as he agreed to her silent plea. She let go reluctantly, arms wrapping around herself as she struggled to think what to do with them, gaze firmly on him as he moved from in front of her to beside her.

"Thanks." Sarcasm saturated his tone, but an easy smile slid across his face, his arms pulling her closer, the smile softening as she leaned on him, for strength and comfort, her head resting just underneath his shoulder.

"How long?" Felicity repeated, a small twinkle in her eyes as she watched the pair. Barry furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, Caitlin groaning beside him.

"Can't we talk about this later?" she pleaded. "Wells is going to kill us all for being late."

"If we're already gonna be late," Cisco shrugged, "might as well prolong our lives while we can. So how long have you guys been dating?"

"Do they- did Oliver tell you?" Barry sputtered, looking at them and then Caitlin.

"He confirmed it," Felicity nodded, face neutral but eyes shining.

"Then how -"

"You," Caitlin cut in. "This lunch."

"Ooh." He winced, an apology whispered under his breath toward her. " Officially- yesterday."

"And unofficially...?" Cisco lead, awaiting the response.

"I'd been pursuing her for two weeks, maybe more." Barry finished with a weak smile. They had planned this, but now it was occurring, now that they were finding out about the relationship, Barry couldn't help but feel fearful about the reactions of the people who had become quite close to him.

"I should have known, with him coming to the table," Felicity groaned, smacking the base of her palm against her forehead in annoyance.

"Pursuing? Who even uses that anymore? What are you, Mr Darcy?" Cisco muttered under his breath, Barry beaming as he caught the words, Caitlin blushing. But he caught their reactions, confirming what he had only suspected. "You've been reading Cait's favourite books to win her over I see." Barry lifted his hand, running through the back of his hair in embarrassment for being caught. He locked eyes with Cisco, a scrutinising look on his face, and for a brief moment he thought Cisco may not like the idea of him and Caitlin together. But his expression quickly melted into an approving smile. "Nice."

Barry let out a breath of relief at the approval, happy to have won over one of her friends so easily.

"So, does he know how long you- oww." Cisco recoiled as her elbow landed a hard blow against his stomach, the look that Caitlin sent his way cold, panic hiding under the surface of her anger.

"Ix-nay on it. Okay?" She hissed the words at him, her tone dropping low, silent threats hidden in her eyes.

"But -"

"I'd rather not have him running to the hills, Cisco. And I'm pretty sure that'll get it done."

"Fine." Cisco pouted.

"No, I wanna know, what did Caitlin do?" And he nudged her, his stupid face grinning like an idiot and Caitlin wasn't sure whether she wanted to kiss him or run from him.

"Nothing. I did nothing," She rushed the words out, too panicked to be genuine.

"Fine, don't tell me," he pulled a face at her. "But I don't think this relationship will last long if we're starting with secrets," he mocks, a teasing grin on his face.

"Oh really?" She arched an eyebrow in challenge, crossing her arms as she faced him. "You're willing to give up so easily then." The smile on her face was devious and playful, and Barry wasn't sure whether he would like where she was going. "Okay."

"No!" he exclaimed, hands up in surrender. "Okay," he conceded, "maybe secrets are good. Adds to the mystery." She smiled in victory, pausing as a smirk spread across his lips, unsure what he was planning. "Well, now they know I guess I can do this now in public," and he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her to him, laughing in her hair at the shriek of surprise. She pouted as he did so, his other arm securing itself around her waist, pulling her to his front, his head resting on her shoulder.

"Just because we're dating doesn't mean you can scare me like that," she snarked, relaxing into his arms, a smile on her face.

"I like it when you say that." It was spoken quietly, a whisper in her ear, a smile in his voice. Her heartbeat picked up at his words, breath catching as she processed his words.

"Well, we're dating so you should get used to it-" Her voice was small and uncertain. His grip on her tightened in response. "- Boyfriend." She tried wrapping her tongue around the word, a small thrill at its utterance, a pain at knowing it was all a lie.

"I think I will."

"You guys do remember we're still here right?" Caitlin jumped in Barry's embrace at Cisco's voice, her cheeks flushed as she tries to pull herself out of his arms, succeeding momentarily before he wrapped it around her waist again, pulling her into his side.

"Come on Cisco," and Felicity was already dragging the boy around the corner, her voice echoing in the empty halls, laughter in her tone. "They've clearly forgotten about us. We should give the two lovebirds some time together." The duo continued on, laughing and smiling, leaving a mortified Caitlin with a rather amused Barry by her side, his arm still wrapped around her waist, a delicious warmth filling her as his hand lingered.

"So, that happened." He dropped his hand, shoving them into his pockets, grinning bashfully at her now that they were alone.

"I know," she groaned, hiding her face in her hands, eyes peeking out through her stretched fingers. "Can we pretend it didn't?"

"No," he moved her hands from her face, expression lighting up as she pouted at him, this playful side of Caitlin, the version of her that was open and childish, he couldn't deny his fondness for her. Seeing her unburdened, it was a breath of fresh air that would somehow end up stealing his own, and he found himself promising to try and bring it out, not just for himself and the warm feeling inside, but for her, for her friends, for everybody.

"You suck." She stuck her tongue out at him, eyes warm as she watched him, a lightness filling her, her body relaxed as she teased him.

"Yeah well, you'll just get me back." And her smile dropped at his words, cold filling him at sight.

"No going back now," and he didn't understand why he heard sadness in her tone, sadness not for herself, but for him.

"No." And he reached down, clasping her hand in his, before squeezing. "Are you ready for everything then?" Laughter bubbled out from within her, empty and a little broken. He wondered then about her past; he knew so much about her and yet very little.

"No."

"Neither am I," he admitted, ducking his head, "but you're doing it with me and that's worth something right?" And she could hear the vulnerability in his tone, the same one that would constantly pervade his voice when he felt guilty for how she became embroiled in his plan, the one that would break her heart every time it reached her ears, the very same one that would cause her to fight the feeling of wrapping her arms around his lean frame, of pressing her cheek against his chest and remaining in his embrace until their feet were heavy and hearts light.

"You've got me Barry, always." She interlocked her fingers with his, squeezing his hand lightly.

It was all she could offer him, but when he looked up at her, eyes shining with gratitude and relief, the sparkle that disappeared moments ago now back, she knew it was enough.