Reciprocal Altruism || Snowbarry College AU

Less Than Three II

Caitlin took a weary seat beside him. "You text Felicity now?"

"Just to gossip about you."

"Huh."

"So?" Barry asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow.

"What?"

"Have you checked yet?"

Caitlin groaned, smacking her hands to her face and leaning forward. "No, I'm too scared to find out what I got."

"Come on, Cait, it's just one test score. It's not the end of the world."

"But it is! I spent so long studying and this is the first time I took the exam after our agreement, so this is the decider to tell if it was all worth it and—"

"Relax, Caitlin. If I tell you how I did on mine, will it make you feel better?"

"Depends."

"I got a 72%."

"That's great, Barry!"

And honestly, a C on a biotech exam was a great score, especially with a sweet curve.

"Except, I've heard there's no curve."

Right.

"Hmm, yeah." Caitlin pursed her lips questioning if the score was still considered good or not.

"And I really doubt this exam was any easier than the previous ones."

"Yep."

"So it's completely unfair that there's no curve."

"Mhmm."

"So, are you gonna check now?"

"...no."

Barry groaned. "C'mon, Cait. I promise I won't judge you. If you really want, I'll turn around and close my eyes, so you have full privacy and if you want me to leave, I'll leave."

"Okay." Caitlin nodded.

"So, you want me to leave?"

"No, I want you to turn around and close your eyes," she replied honestly.

"Seriously?"

"You promised not to judge!"

"About your grades!"

"Turn around, Barry."

"Fine."

Once Barry had stood up and situated himself with his back to her and the couch, Caitlin closed her eyes as well for a moment to build her confidence. Barry stayed silent and waited patiently for her.

When she clicked the app, it took a second for the score to load.

A second felt like an infinity.

An infinity in the darkest realm of Tartarus, that is.

The queasy feeling in Caitlin's stomach refused to settle and when the page finally loaded, Caitlin saw a...

Her phone clattered to the ground.

Barry turned quickly at the noise and he took in Caitlin's frozen expression. "Cait?" Barry said cautiously. "Grades aren't everything, you know."

"I..." Caitlin stuttered out. "I got a 97%."

Eyes widening, Barry leaned over to pick up her phone to see the test result for himself.

"Holy shit! Grades are EVERYTHING! Caitlin, you did it!" Barry cheered loudly. He reached out to hold her waist and brought her into a passionate hug. When he released her from the hug, he continued to keep his hands resting lightly on her hip as he grinned at her with pride.

Caitlin let out a breathless laugh and then once she came to her senses, she laughed out-loud again. "I can't believe it!" She jumped in his arms, and wrapped her own around his neck. Barry, tightening his grip on her, spun her around in a circle, whooping and cheering the whole time.

"I'm so amazing!" Barry exclaimed, setting her feet back down on the ground, "I managed to get a D average—"

"C average," Caitlin butted-in, though her previous class average said otherwise.

"—student to a NINETY-SEVEN percent."

"Guess this altruistic agreement is working out after all!"

"We should celebrate," Barry decided, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door. "Rule 57? Ice cream date as our first official solo fake date?"

It always amazed Caitlin that Barry remembered her long list of rules. But she tugged her hand back and Barry paused in his movement. "Isn't Iris in class right now? She wouldn't even know about this."

"We could go as friends?" Barry suggested. "No outside agenda. Just two friends celebrating one friend's great accomplishment of being the best life coach slash tutor slash therapist."

Caitlin looked at him wearily, not truly understanding or believing his true intentions.

Sighing, Barry said, "I've been thinking a lot about what you said a few weeks back. About staying true to myself and putting Iris on this pedestal. I've realized that maybe my whole life shouldn't revolve around Iris. I have so much more in my life. Track, my future career, Joe, my friends, and... and you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you. I actually like you, Cait. As more than just a fake girlfriend, and yes, I realize how weird that sounds, but I want us to be friends, because I genuinely enjoy hanging out with you. So please, let me take you out for ice cream to celebrate my great accomplishment—"

"You mean mine," Caitlin interrupted, a small smile growing on her face.

"—and we can hang out as real friends. No faking, no pretending, and no Iris. Just good ol' ice cream on our friend date."

"I do like the sound of that," Caitlin considered and then nodded firmly, "Alright, let's do it."