Catalyst (probably not going to update anymore, don't watch the show anymore)

I exited Captain Singh's office at the CCPD; in my hands were all the case files for the four husks found in the city. The precinct was quiet today, and so was the rest of the city—we barely had to send Barry out this morning.

After my meeting with Captain Singh, Barry and I were going to have lunch in the lab, and I had packed both of us meals. We haven't gotten to do fun, couple things in such a long time.

I walked out of the offices and into the main hall, passing by the secretary's desk as I walked up the tall flight of stairs to the Crime Lab Barry shared with Julian.

Even though Julian and I broke up nearly two years ago, we still maintain a good relationship. We were together for three years, and the entire time Julian was the sweetest and most caring partner I've ever had—he genuinely cared about me. Things just ended up not working out for us towards the end, since I was so busy with school and he was busy with work, so we mutually decided to go our separate ways.

As I reached the top of the stairs, I slipped my backpack off one of my shoulders, and opened it to safely store the casefiles. I walked down the short hallway that led to the Crime Lab, and entered it.

It had been months since I was here last, but nothing was different.

Julian sat at his desk, typing on his computer and drinking his plain, black coffee—he always liked it that way. His dirty blonde hair was messily parted to one side, exposing his pretty waves. I loved running my fingers through his hair because it was always soft.

I quietly walked into the lab, and when Julian heard my footsteps, he turned around and smiled. "Hello there," he greeted me.

"Hey," I replied softly, noticing that Barry's desk was empty. I asked him confused, "Where's Barry?"

Julian rolled in his chair to the paperwork basket on his desk, and huffed, taking a stack out, "He ran off with Joe's daughter about ten minutes ago, didn't tell me where or when he'd be back."

"Fuck," I mumbled, pulling Barry's chair away from his desk to sit in.

"What?" he looked up from his work.

Quickly, I pulled my phone out of my back pocket, and angrily texted Barry, "Where are you?" I set my phone on the desk next to me, and rubbed my temples, frustrated. "After my meeting with Singh, Barry and I were going to have lunch together," I explained, sighing, "but I guess that's not happening anymore."

"How have you guys been doing?" Julian asked, leaning back in his chair slightly.

I shrugged, and sighed, "Not good . . . We fight a lot, and it's over the stupidest things like what to have for dinner or which sheets we should get for the bed. Usually we have a screaming match once a day, and after that he just goes off somewhere for an hour and comes back perfectly fine."

Julian tilted his head at me sympathetically, and suggested, "I'll have lunch with you. I mean, if you want to."

I smiled, feeling butterflies in my stomach, "Yeah, that would be nice." Standing up from Barry's chair, I brought my backpack over to Julian's desk, and sat down on a stool that was in front of the window. "I brought chicken, rice pilaf, and steamed veggies," I stated, pulling the Tupperware dishes out of my bag.

"Sounds nice," Julian replied, scooting his chair in front of me.

The light from the window reflected off his blue eyes, making them turn into an ocean inside of his head. He's always had beautiful eyes. And a beautiful smile.

Just being around Julian makes me feel better. He's able to make me forget all the shitty things that are going on in my life—he's always been able to do that for me.

As I opened my container, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I ignored it.

­­­________

I lounged on the couch after work, reading the lab reports Singh gave me this morning, and I still hadn't seen Barry since he came to Star Labs. My thoughts raced, and I couldn't focus on the sentence I had read four times already.

Why doesn't he want to spend time with me? Does he not like me anymore? Can he not handle me?

He's always with Iris. They're always together giving each other these little looks, and I can't figure out what they mean.

Does he like her better? Any other girl is an upgrade from me, I guess. I wouldn't want to be with a crazy bitch either.

The front door closed quietly, and Barry hung his brown jacket on the coat rack. I looked up from the report, seeing Barry ignoring me as he walked into the kitchen to find something to eat.

"So," I asked, raising my eyebrow, "where have you been?"

Barry pulled a granola bar out of the pantry, and quickly stated, "Out."

"With who?" I questioned, feeling the cold enter me.

"Joe, Iris, and Wally," he replied, chewing his snack, looking for more food.

An awkward silence hung in the air.

I broke it. "Where were you at lunch?" I snapped.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Barry sighed, making himself a sandwich. "I thought you said we were having lunch tomorrow, and Wally really wanted to hang out for a bit."

I rolled my eyes, and sneered, staring him down from the couch, "You know how I know that's bullshit? Julian told me that you left with Iris, not Wally, with Iris."

"Wally was talking to Joe when she came upstairs," Barry sighed, growing annoyed with me. He looked in the fridge for something. "Do we have anymore rice pilaf from last night?"

"No," I huffed, sitting the reports down onto the coffee table, and kicked the fleece blanket off my legs, "Julian and I had a very nice lunch with it."

Barry turned around, and firmly stated, "I don't want you to be around that guy."

"Don't care," I snapped, picking up my report and blanket as I stood up.

"Finn!" Barry groaned, "There's something not right about him, alright? He just seems like a bad dude."

I growled, stomping to the bedroom door next to the TV and fireplace, "No, you're the bad dude, Barry. Julian treats me with respect unlike you." Behind me, the bedroom door slammed close, and I set my blanket and reports down on the edge of the bed.

He just makes me feel like shit all the time. He never wants to be around me. He fucking hates me now.