Paradigm Shift

[Alexandra Lawson]

Alex didn't want to be picked up. She didn't want to be lifted off the floor where she'd crumpled into a heap. She certainly didn't deserve Barry's sympathy after the stunt she had pulled. No, she should have just been left to lay on the floor and wallow in her shame and utter embarrassment. She protested weakly upon feeling the solid grip pull her up. She tried pushing Barry away but his size coupled with the strength-sapping pain that was still shooting through her made the fight in vain.

"No." She said pitifully, pushing against the bear of a man who was holding her. She quickly found her struggles to be useless and simply melted into the comforting embrace. "I'm sorry." She said, sniffling. She still couldn't bring herself to look at Barry. "I don't know what got into me." And then the floodgates opened. Alex began a tear filled ramble. "With Art gone I haven't been feeling myself. I really cared about him, Barry, I really thought we could have been special, you know? And now that he's gone before we even got a chance I'm scared, and I guess lonely. You're always here and I... Thought maybe... I don't know..." She ended up losing momentum and trailing off. Even to her own ears there was something strange about her explanation of what has just happened. Something just wasn't right. "Please, I'm sorry." She pleaded. "I..." She went to continue before it sunk in that she had nothing else to say.

[Barry Grep]

Alex tried struggling, tried pushing him away, but Barry latched on and held her with the determination of a parasite, rocking her back and forth in his arms and just holding her until finally she gave in and settled against his big bulk. She started apologizing, and Barry just held her as she admitted her fears, talking about that one kid Arty she had been dating. She was so scared and so lonely. How had Barry not seen this? Had he been wearing his clone helmet the whole time? Guilt like a one-ton weight dropped into his heart, and he instantly felt like a boss-level asshole for not being there for his friend.

"Hey, it's ok now. We're just gonna hit a restart button, ok? You said you're sorry, and you mean it. It's ok." He assured her, resting his head on her chin. "I'm sorry I didn't see how upset you were, Alex." He said honestly, squeezing her to him. "But.... you really aren't alone girl. You've got a ton of people who care about you!" He insisted with a big smile. But then that made him remember something. Ah ha! Scooting back with Alex still in his arms, he reached for the controller she had been using and flipped it over.

Attached to the back was a tiny pebble taped on. Barry chuckled at the sight of it. "Dis guy actually asked me if he could put this here before our playdate." He stated before looking at Alex. "You know a lot about penguins?"