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44. A New Year's Kiss [B.A.]

The first things my eyes landed on was Barry. He was standing next to a table, chatting with his old flame and friend, Linda. I liked Linda a lot - she was a sweetheart, and still absolutely wicked in every way.

Cisco, Caitlin, and I made our way over to them, my heart pounding violently in my chest. Barry was dressed handsomely, his elbows leaning onto the table as he talked with Linda.

"Hey guys," I beamed, approaching them. "Happy New Year's Eve!"

"Hey!" Linda grinned, "Happy New Year's Eve! Y/N, I didn't think you'd show."

I shrugged, my face going a little red. "I could say the same for you," I teased, "Isn't this a little... light for your party scene?"

Linda rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "The real parties don't start until after midnight. You have so much to learn Y/N." She laughed loudly over the music, showing off her million dollar smile. I glanced at Barry, wondering if he was watching her cute smirk. But to my liking, Barry's eyes were fixated on me.

His eyes widened under my gaze, as he smiled lightly. "Happy New Year's Eve, Y/N. You look beautiful tonight. I mean, you always look beautiful, but tonight, it's just, you're just...."

"He's trying to say you look hot!" Cisco piped up, his voice borderline flat. I felt my cheeks heat up, and an embarrassing, soft giggle bubbling from my throat. Nobody except for Iris knew about my Operation Win Barry Over, and the thought of everything going down was driving me crazy.

"Well, thanks," I finally sighed, biting my lip and looking back and forth between Cisco and Barry. "From whoever meant to say it." I was glad to see that my shocked, yet smiling facial expression wasn't too different from Barry's.

"So, Caitlin, want to go get a drink?" Linda spoke up, looking at our friend who had been standing there quietly, a polite smile on her face.

Caitlin's eyes went big. "Oh, no, thanks." She politely declined, holding up her palm at Linda. "I'm not really a drinker." Everyone laughed, knowing full-well why Caitlin Snow wasn't a drinker.

"Well tonight you are!" Linda shouted, reaching for Cait's arm. She dragged her away immediately, laughing at Caitlin's pathetic struggle to get away.

"I'm gonna go with them," Cisco sighed, looking at me, and not Barry. Their friendship had been rocky since Cisco lost his brother, but I didn't understand why. Barry lost his father around the same time, and they both just seemed to lose each other. Maybe the new year would bring new beginnings.

Cisco stepped away, following an energetic Linda and a worried Caitlin. I looked to Barry, as he watched Cisco leave, a solemn look on his face.

"I know things are... tense between you two," I said softly, catching Barry's attention. "I don't know why, but maybe tonight's not the night to think about it. You've got a ton of friends here who want to spend this time with you. And tomorrow, it's a fresh start." I smiled thoughtfully at my friend, who slowly nodded in return.

"I guess you're right," Barry shrugged, almost to himself. "But not so much about the fresh start thing. It's a new year - not a new life."

I placed one of my hands over Barry's much larger one, willing my breathing to stay steady. "Don't be a downer, Barry Allen. This is a party!"