Later that day, or rather early the next morning, you finally gave up and were ready to go home. The light of your computer screen dulling, before turning off completely; it was a relief, to say the least, because now it would no longer irritate your eyes. You took your headphones off, putting them on the table beside you, and folded your arms, resting your head on them for a brief moment. You were tired – no, you were absolutely exhausted and more than ready to go home. Looking forward to your comfortable bed, you stood, and were about to grab your bag, when a hand landed on your shoulder. You bolted upright with a scream, and turned around so quickly you were sure you were at risk of getting whiplash. After such a fright, and happening in such a short span of time too, you doubled over and wrapped your arms around yourself, in an attempt to catch your breath. “Wow,” the person who had surprised you said, “Didn’t mean to scare you there.” “Sure you didn’t,” you huffed, “Asshole.” You were sure the person, whomever they were, would have walked away after you comment; so you felt it was safe to stand up, red cheeks and all. You came to regret your decision instantly, because there you were you stood, in all you breathless, red cheeked, messy haired glory, in front of Barry. “Oh shoot – I’m so sorry Barry!” “Don’t worry about it, Y/N.” he smiled gently at you, “Sorry for having scared you.” You stood still at his reply, not that it gave you a shock of any kind – it’s just that you were too embarrassed to say much about anything. You were sure if you opened your mouth again, that the only words that would come out, were words of apology. You were ready to snatch up your bag and run, when Barry opened his mouth to speak. Despite him having apologised to you, you were sure he was going to say something awful. “I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.” Oh God, you thought, what could he mean by that? Apparently you had spoken your thoughts out loud, because Barry responded. “I know you look at me when you think I’m looking the other way.” You backed up, mostly out of embarrassment and a futile attempt to further yourself from the situation, and were suddenly right against your desk, “I just want to know one thing… Why?” You opened and closed your mouth several times, imitating a pet goldfish. You couldn’t find the words, let alone the air, that would allow you to respond. As you had said to Suzy earlier in the day, you just couldn’t tell Barry that you liked him; which is why, you reasoned, you should be grateful that he had either figured it out or someone else had told him. But you weren’t, grateful that is, because now you had to deal with it. “Uh, why, uh-” you scratched the back of your head, “Why what?” “Why do you keep staring at me?” he frowned, “Do I have something on my face? Did I forget to shave a spot? Have I got a pimple? Look, it’s not that I don’t mind you staring at me, it’s just-” “Woah, hold up a second,” you cut Barry off, “What do you mean by you ‘don’t mind me staring at you’?” Barry stood staring at you awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck, before he replied. “I thought it was pretty obvious, y’know – the fact that I have a massive crush on you.” He let out a large sigh, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders, “I have since you started working here.” “That was almost a year ago Barry!” “I know! I know! I should have said something sooner, but-” “Stop!” you burst out, “Stop! Stop!” “Oh god, what is it? You don’t like me back do you? Have I just royally messed up our friendship?” “No!” you laughed, “No you haven’t. I like you too, Barry.” You both beamed as you said this, “It’s just that we could have been dating for almost a year now, and instead we were running circles around each other like a pair of idiots.” “Hey! I resent that comment,” he chuckled, “but at least we’re both at fault, right?” “Right.” You smiled again, “We’re two peas in a pod, you and me. How we were clueless for the better part of a year, I’ll never know.” “Well,” Barry licked his lips, wetting them, “At least we’re not clueless anymore. Which, uh, reminds me-” you nodded, signalling for him to continue, “Would you, uhm, do me the absolute honour of being the other pea in pod? My girlfriend, I mean.” “Barry,” he looked at you hopefully, “There’s nothing that could make me happier.”