WORD: Meatball

Author's Note: A special thanks to my sister who thought of 10 random words for me. Gee did she make it hard XD

"Dude, just ask her out," Cisco groaned.

The conversation he and Barry were currently having seemed to be the only one they ever had anymore. Barry would come in looking like a lost puppy, Cisco would ask what was wrong, and Barry would say that he wasn't sure what to do. Then Cisco would say, "About what?" in an impossibly patient voice, and Barry would go on to explain his whole conundrum with Caitlin and his feelings and how everything was going in the opposite direction that he wanted it to.

Barry's words, not Cisco's.

"Cisco, it's not that easy!" Barry protested, which was another (lie) thing that he liked to say when talking about his feelings and Caitlin and directions. "What if she rejects me? That would ruin everything."

"Dude, it would be a little awkward for like a month and then you would move on and it would be totally cool," Cisco said, rolling his eyes. "C'mon, it's just Caitlin."

"Just Caitlin?!" Barry exclaimed. "No, it's not "just" Caitlin. It's beautiful, amazing, perfect, wonderful, sweet, caring Caitlin, who looks fantastic all the time and-"

"Okay, stop right there," Cisco cried, slamming his hands over his ears for good measure. "I don't want to hear another thing about her shiny hair and her soft skin because I swear I might puke."

Barry pulled a face, which wasn't fair, because it was Cisco who was disgusted.

"Okay, fine," he allowed. "I won't say anything else. Just please tell me what to do."

Cisco buried his face into his hands, massaging his head gently. "Okay, Barry. Here's what you do: when you see Caitlin next, go up to her and say, 'Hey, Caitlin. Would you maybe want to go out to eat with me sometime?' And then she says yes and you say good and then you go about your day with little sweet "hidden" smiles. Got it?"

Barry frowned a little. "That's it?"

"That's it."

"I, uh, guess.." Barry murmured.

"Have a plan though, dude, in case she asks where you two are going to eat. I don't need you floundering around and turning purple in embarrassment, okay?" Cisco advised. "Take for Italian or something. Maybe you two could go all Lady and the Tramp with the remaining meatball."

Barry laughed weakly and rubbed the back of his neck.

Caitlin took that moment to come in. Barry wince-smiled at her, looking a little panicked. He glanced at Cisco and the techie gave him an reassuring nod.

"Heeey, I gotta go get something, be right back!" Cisco quickly excused himself, sending Barry a thumbs up and wink as he left the room.

"Uh, right," Barry muttered, rubbing the back of his neck harder. "So, um, I was wondering if you would... um..."

Caitlin tilted her head, glancing behind her. "Are you talking to me or Cisco's desk, Barry?"

Barry laughed nervously. "Um, uh, you," he babbled. "So, uh... Hey, Caitlin."

"Hey, Barry."

"Uh, haha, right," Barry stuttered. What had Cisco said to say next? "Would you... um... maybe want to go out to... uh- uh- meatball-"

"Meatball?"

"Meatball! With me. I mean, no! No." Barry shook his head, desperately trying to reorient his brain. "Would you like to... to..."

"Sure," Caitlin said, looking like she was trying not to laugh.

"What?"

"Sure," Caitlin repeated, raising her eyebrows. "Dinner? Pick me up at seven on Friday?"

Barry blinked at her, eyes wide. "You... seriously? Like, actually seriously?"

"Yes, Barry," Caitlin sighed, exasperated. "And we can even get meatballs."

Author's Note: Alright... one down... nine to go! Hopefully I did okay on this one :D