forum One-On-One (Closed)

Started October 24, 2018 by @Imperfect_Autumn group

tune

Barry gave Caleb a one-shouldered shrug, staring down at the floor. When he had finally managed to compose himself, he brought the tarnished ring out from under his short, thumbs brushing the fraying cord.

Kasey finally pulled her phone out, realizing that she hadn’t gotten any notifications. She didn’t need Barry to text her back, but he usually would have…

And he’d even opened the text.

What if something had happened? What if he was hurt?

“I’m fine Caleb, just… angry. Thanks for trying to talk to me, I know I can be difficult to be around sometimes,” Barry sighed, looking away. Caleb quickly shook his head. “Barr, that’s not true at all. I know you don’t like to open up, so if you need some space I’ll give it to you. But you’re never difficult to be around, you’re my friend.”

Kasey took a few deep breaths to calm herself. He was probably fine. There was no reason to worry.

Stop thinking something bad is going to happen to someone you care about. It doesn’t do anything good for you.

Caleb hugged Barry again, pulling back. “I’ll leave you be, now.” Barry nodded. “Thanks. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“Okay.” He looked away.
“I’ll be here if you need anything.”

(Low-key stalking the Macha/Tyler rp, and it’s super cute!)

Kasey looked down at the hand in her hand and bit her lip. With a long sigh, she forced herself to set it down. He would respond when he wanted to.

(Awe, thank you! Huntzie is fab rn)

Barry didn’t respond to Kasey’s text for a long time, maybe up to an hour. When he finally did, he was too drained to send more than one word.

Sorry.

(Thanks! I'm super excited for preggo Kenz. Lol.)

By the time Barry had responded, Kasey was distracting herself by binge-watching Agents of SHIELD and eating an entire thing of chocolate chunk brownie ice cream. She glanced over at her phone and smiled a bit.

KASEY: It's okay. I'm glad you're okay enough to respond.

(Loll)

Barry sighed, chewing on his lip.

BARRY: I guess. Yeah. Sorry.

KASEY: Don't apologize. I'm sure you had a good reason.

Barry stared at the message for a moment. Finally, he decided on an answer.

BARRY: Idk.

Kasey frowned slightly and chewed on her lip. What did that mean?

KASEY: Did something happen?

Barry bit his lip, feeling too detached from reality to carefully weigh out his next response. The anger had dissipated, leaving him with only numbness.

BARRY: I guess.

KASEY: Oh… Do you want to talk about it…?

BARRY: I don’t want to dump my problems out on you, Kase. I’ll be fine.

KASEY: It's fine, Barry. But if you don't want to talk about it, then I won't push you.

BARRY: I bumped into someone I hadn’t seen in years. It didn’t go well.

Kasey frowned and sighed. She really had meant what she's said; if he didn't want to tell her about it, then she didn't want to make him.

KASEY: Do you want to come over? Or should I come over? Or… We could just stay in our separate dorms. Whatever you want to do.

BARRY: Can I come over? Caleb’s in here rn.

KASEY: Of course. The door is unlocked.

She sighed and put her ice cream away. At least he was willing to come over.

Barr told Caleb he was going out, stuffing a pair of keys in his pocket and crossing the hallway. When he got to Kasey’s room, he tentatively turned the knob, entering.

Kasey looked up from her bed, where she had resumed her position of one leg crossed over the other and leaning back against the headboard. Her door was open, so she could see Barry come in. She gave him a small smile and patted the bed beside her.

"Hey, Barr. Come sit?" she said softly.

Barry bit his lip, approaching her quietly. He sat down on the bed, his face devoid of any emotion. It was as if he had been completely drained, he was just…. hollow.

Kasey watched him worriedly. She reached over and gently took his hand in her own, looking at them wrapped around each other before glancing back up at Barry.

"I can tell that you're not okay… But you don't have to tell me about it if you don't want to. We can just… sit here."

Barry’s face stayed completely blank as he opened his mouth to explain. “I saw a woman on the street. She was my friend, the one who killed herself’s mom. She was not a good mom. Tortured her when she was a kid, and her dad joined in a lot of the time. She skipped out on Morrigan’s funeral. This ring?” He brought it out from under his shirt. “Morrigan had a matching one. Her mother had it when I saw her in the street.”

"Oh, Barry… I'm sorry…" Kasey whispered, chewing on her lip. She looked back down at her lap; she wa never really good at the whole comforting thing. "I'm sorry that happened. I'm sorry you had to see her, and that she had the ring. I'm sorry that you had to be reminded of that…"

“And I’m sorry for dumping my problems out on you.” Barry looked away. “I’m sorry. For being a burden.”

"You're not a burden, hun. I want you to tell me stuff like this. You're not dumping anything on me," Kasey assured him softly, looking up at him again. "Please never feel that you are."

Barry still wouldn’t look her in the eye. “I’m sorry,” was all he could say, tone frighteningly flat.

Kasey chewed in her lip, incredibly worried about him.

"You don't have to be…" she whispered. She carefully wrapped her arms around him, hoping that it would help, though she did t think it would.