Chapter Text
Barry’s right leg shakes nervously as his eyes trail around the plain office, never meeting the gaze of the two women sitting across from him behind a wide desk with tall neat piles of files stacked upon its surface. One file lays open before them. His. He finds the cactus in the corner to be interesting. So very interesting.
He peeks up at the two women quickly before looking away again. The oldest of the two with shockingly white hair tied back into a tight bun stares at him dryly. Mrs. Gloucester, his high school principal looks old enough to retire twice over yet carries herself as if she’s ready to go another twenty years in the public school system.
The second woman with permanent bouncing blonde curls shares a glaring smile full of teeth with Barry. He’s almost certain in some way she means it as a show of kindness. Almost. As the schools newest councilor (and therefore the most idealistic) Miss Jefferson was the one to call this meeting.
Barry’s head whips around at a solid knock on the office door. His foster father, Joe West, enters the office without waiting for an answer. Joe gives him a hard look and Barry shrinks further into his chair. It hadn’t even been all that bad. Could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for Iris’ quick thinking to find a fire extinguisher.
“You must be Mr. West!” Barry could hear actual excitement in the councilor’s voice. “Thank you so much for joining us today on such short notice. I’m sure you know why we called this meeting?”
“Barry’s science fair project,” Joe states curtly as he takes the seat next to Barry.
“I’m sure that you know this already, however for the record I’ll repeat it for you. At 11:47 this morning during Central High’s science fair Mr. Allen’s project caused a small fire. There were no injuries, well, besides a bit of singed hair. There is smoke damage in the North gym where the school’s science fair was taking place.”
“Barry and I are both very aware of the damages caused. And we appreciate the schools efforts in taking control of the situation,” Joe elbows Barry in the shoulder.
“Uh… yeah. Thanks,” Barry sits up. This is his chance to set things straight. None of this is his fault, “Look I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen but Tony Woodward tried to pus-“
“It was your project, was it not Mr. Allen?” This might be the first time he had ever heard his principal speak. Her voice is stern and hard, much like her spine when it came to dealing with her students. Barry can feel his own back straighten in response.
“Y-Yes.”
“And it was your body that knocked over the table of your project, was it not?”
“Well yes, but-“
“And it was your project that caused a blast strong enough to singe Ms. Cooper’s eyebrows completely off?”
“… Yes.
“Detective West, usually in this type of predicament your charge here would be expelled.”
“What! You can’t do that.”
Joe sticks his arm out in time to prevent Barry from jumping out of his chair.
“Mrs. Gloucester, I’m sure we can work something out that doesn’t include kicking Barry out of school,” Joe was never one to plead. Even now Barry is impressed by how even his foster father kept his voice. Barry was shaking all over. He wasn’t sure if he could speak out again. The thought of leaving Central High, the thought of not attending school with Iris… It was unthinkable.
“Detective West. Twenty years ago I taught you American History before becoming the principal of this fine establishment. In all my time here at Central High I have only expelled fifteen students. Ten of them caused less damage than Mr. Allen has in one day. ‘Small fire’ and ‘singed hair’ is saying it lightly. However, Miss Jefferson is conducting an experiment of sorts and believes Barry would fit in perfectly. “
“It’s not much of an experiment,” Miss Jefferson adds, “it’s more like group therapy for the troubled students of this school. It acts as an outlet for feelings and how to deal with them correctly. It is open for all students; however, it is mandatory for those facing an otherwise severe punishment.”
“I’ll do it,” Barry says quickly.
“I think I heard of this at the police station,” Joe says with a puzzled look on his face.
“I imagine you would have. A few of the students have begun a recorded.”
“I don’t care I’ll do it,” Barry repeats.
“Wait a minute, Barr.” Joe turns away from Barry. “If these are the kids I’m thinking of then I don’t want them around Barry. They are dangerous and bad influences.”
“I believe Mr. Allen could be a good influence on them. It’s a chance for these children to see that you can make a mistake and still bounce back to a normal civilian life.”
Barry leans back tuning out Joe and the counselor’s voices as they argue over the merits of Barry going to therapy. Again. When he was escorted from the gym to the principal’s office by a supervising teacher he never expected to hear the word expelled. He was always causing accidents in his science labs; sure, nothing at this size but no one was really hurt. Not even Tony and he deserved it. Barry snaps out of his thoughts as Mrs. Gloucester speaks again.
“Enough. Detective West this is it. Expulsion or counseling. Mr. Allen has made his choice. You know my and Miss Jefferson’s thoughts on the matter. The final decision is yours.”
Barry looks up at his foster father with the largest puppy eyes he can muster.
“Please, Joe. I don’t want to leave.”
“Fine. We chose counseling. But if anything happens to Barry because of this I will-“
Barry leans over to hug Joe. Better to stop him now before he says anything to ruin Barry’s chances.
◆◆◆
Mrs. Gloucester is the one to lead them out to the hall.
“Eighth period will be starting soon. Mr. Allen, you do not want to be in my office again. Joe, it was good to see you again.”
Barry waits until his principal is out of hearing range to speak.
“Well that went well.”
“Barry, I swear if any of this was on purpose-“
“It wasn’t! Tony really did push me into my project. The chemicals were volatile and it caused a chained reaction as the-“
“Save the science mumbo jumbo for the classroom, Barry. I’m glad you’re alright. That could have been a lot worse.”
“A lot worse. Like school closed for an entire month worse.”
“You can’t skip school that easily kid,” Joe says as he slaps his arm around Barry’s shoulder.
They both laugh as Barry leads Joe to the exit. Before he leaves though, Joe turns and faces Barry with a serious look.
“I’m worried, Barr.”
“I promise I will be way safer next time and keep Woodward as far away as fifty feet from all chemicals.”
“That’s not what I meant, Barry. This counseling, these kids you’re going to be around… They’re not the best. Not the worst but darn close.”
“I’ll be fine Joe. They can’t all be that bad if they’re still here. And you heard Gloucester. If I get sent to her office again I might as well leave the state.” It couldn’t be as bad as Joe makes it out to be. Could it? Barry tries to think of which students would be part of the therapy group but none come to mind. It’s at moments like this that Barry curses his non-involvement with the general student body.
“She’s not all that bad. I was in detention with her almost every week my junior year of high school and she likes me plenty now.”
“You didn’t almost blow up her precious school. And you know what? I’m not even surprised you use to be a trouble maker.”
“Don’t go repeating that to Iris now.”
“I won’t.”
“I expect you home for dinner.”
“I’ll be there if you are.”
Barry waves Joe off before entering the school again. The fire trucks are gone as is the smoke that was drifting out the gym windows just hours ago. He manages to reach the hall for eighth period English just as the bell rings for the end of seventh. Students exiting the classrooms call out his name and a few pat him on the back thanking him for the longer lunch break. Barry smiles shakily back at his fellow students that didn’t know his name that morning. He doesn’t bother mentioning that he could have canceled school for the day or even the next week. No reason to take heat for not making a bigger mess of things. Taking his seat in class he doesn’t have to wait long for his friends to show up.
“Dude. That was awesome.”
“Hey Cisco. Sorry about leaving earlier. Got my ear pulled to the principal’s office.”
“Gloucester spoke to you? How are you not on your way to hell?”
“Really, Cisco,” Caitlin says as she takes the seat in front of Barry, “Give Barry some space. He’s gone through a very traumatic time today. How are you Barry?”
“I’m fine, really. They called Joe in, they talked about what would happen to me, and then I was released. And no Cisco, our principal isn’t a demon in disguise. Though, that new councilor might be.”
“Miss Jefferson? I think she’s delightful. She has a lot of ideas for the school.”
“And she’s hot.”
Barry turns away as his two friends continue to bicker. He considers himself lucky to have them. After what happen to his mom and dad no parent wanted their kids around him. It was pretty much only Joe and Iris for the year after. Then Cisco and Caitlin came along. Caitlin had always been there, just in the background until she and Barry discovered their mutual love for science in the seventh grade. Then Cisco’s family had moved to Central City for his brother’s music training. As a fellow science enthusiast he bonded with the only other kids in the school that could recite the periodic table of elements backwards by memory.
“Barry,” Caitlin’s voice brakes Barry’s train of thought.
“Huh?”
“Class is over.”
“Already?” After everything that had happen today he isn’t the least bit surprised he spaced out during a lecture on grammar. Maybe he should have taken the EMT up on her offer?
“Yeah dude. Your eyes glazed over and everything.”
The three walk out of class together on their way to the sophomore level of lockers. Waiting by his own locker is Iris, his foster sister and best friend. When she spots him she runs up hugging him tightly.
“Oh Barry! Are you okay? That was so scary. When they dragged you off I was so worried. I tried to stop the fire fighters from trashing your project but they wouldn’t let me get close enough. They said it was too dangerous. You worked so hard for weeks on that project. It’s just not fair. You deserved first place but they gave it to some freshman for a project on sound waves. Sound waves, Barry. What are sound waves compared to something that can cause a blast like that.”
“Well actually, sound waves can-“
“Not the point, Barr,” Iris pouts.
“I’m fine. Totally fine. My punishment isn’t even that bad considering I almost got expelled.”
“Expelled,” both Iris and Caitlin exclaim loudly.
“Dude again, awesome. Well not awesome but you’re still here at least. What did you get?”
“I have to attend group therapy with other ‘troubled’ kids.”
“Wait.” Caitlin pales. “The therapy Miss Jefferson put together?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“Barry, that isn’t just for troubled kids. It’s for trouble makers.”
“I know that. Jefferson mentioned it.”
“I don’t think you realize who I’m talking about. Mark Mardon is in this group. You know, the kid who has it out for your foster dad for cuffing and putting away his brother. Mick Rory and Axel Walker. Leonard Snart, Barry.”
Both Cisco and Iris become considerably paler. All three of his friends had history with the names mentioned. Not even Tony Woodward would go near someone like Snart. Barry stares at Caitlin for a few seconds then says only two words, “Well fuck.”
“You need to go back to the devil’s office, get on your knees and pray. There is no way you can survive therapy with Snart.”
“Cisco’s right Barry,” Iris states warily, “You are too good to be around people like Snart and Mardon. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Barry pulls back slightly from the group shaking his head.
“No guys. I made my choice and I’m not going to back out now. Maybe if I keep my head down no one will notice me. Might even get out early on parole for good behavior.”
Barry’s attempt to lighten the atmosphere doesn’t work. But he’s still able to fake a smile of reassurement before leaving his friends behind for group therapy with the very worst Central High has to offer.
hind for group therapy with the very worst Central High has to offer.