~ Caitlin's POV ~

Later that evening, an Uber drops me off at the address Barry texted me.

"Did I get the address right? There's nothing here? Wait... Is that music?"

I hear an upbeat song and follow the music around a corner to find a sprawling lot packed with beautiful cars and people who were dancing.

A car speeds past, doing donuts in the lot, and blasts music from an open window.

I walk through the lot, taking in all the exotic cars, mesmerized. Engines roar and loud music blasts from the speakers.

"Looks like you're in the wrong place, sweetheart."

I turn around and see Sara leaning against a white Corvette.

"Sara?" I said.

"And who are you?" She asked.

"I'm Caitlin."

"So, you're the chick Barry's been talking about?"

"Yeah, that's me. So, can you tell me what this place is?"

"You're looking at the biggest sideshow in West L.A.," Sara said.

"Sideshow?"

"We get together, show off our rides. Do some stunts, a little racing, make new friends, new enemies. You get the gist."

"Cait, hey! There you are." Barry waved.

"Sara? What are you doing here?"

"Keeping your girl company."

"Thanks, I owe you one."

"Anyway, I gotta go. Have fun." Sara winked at us. She then gets in her car, revs her engine, and speeds off.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had some business to handle, and there was trouble with the logistics. But my day's improving quickly now."

"Mine too. So, date to the sideshow, huh?"

"We were in your world last night. Now we're in mine. Think you can handle it?"

"You never know 'til you try, right?"

"Ain't that the truth."

"Can I just say, you're making it really hard to concentrate in that outfit," Barry said with lust in his eyes.

"You like?" I said seductively.

"Very much. You're beautiful" Barry said. I blushed hard. He then takes my hand and leads me into the sea of people.

"This is amazing! I never knew any of this existed. The people and cars."

"It's the only life I've ever know."

"I'm glad you're comfortable sharing it with me."

"It helps that I'm good at it, too. You've gotta earn respect out here."

"You don't have to prove anything to me, Barry."

"Sure I do. I've got something to prove to everybody."

A Few Moments of silence pass.

"Hey, you hungry?"

I nod.

"Follow me."

Barry leads me over to a food truck painted with street art and trimmed with bright neon lights.

The owner peeks out the window and spots Barry coming. He hops out, and they hug tightly.

"Caitlin, this my cousin, Hal. He's got more horsepower than sense."

"Wow! Barry never brings girls around, but I can see this is a special occasion." Hal said shaking my hand.

"So what're you having? Your orders are on me. Best street food in L.A."

"I'll take the quadruple-decker grilled cheese."

"Grilled cheese? Didn't realize you catered preschoolers, Hal." Barry jokes.

"Shut your fucking mouth, Barry. It's my favorite thing on the menu."

"Yeah, Shut your damn mouth," I said playfully sticking my tongue out.

Hal serves up a colossal tower of toasted sourdough and melted cheddar cheese with a side of piping hot tomato soup.

I dip a corner and take a bite. I moan.

"Okay, wow, can you please bring your truck to my high school at lunchtime? This food is amazing. You would make so much money."

"Can't say no to that."

"Barry didn't tell me he had a cousin in L.A."

"We aren't actually related. But we're family. Know each other for a long time." Hal said patting Barry's back.

"By the way, Barry... Oliver's looking for you," said Hal. Barry's face goes dark for a second.

"Oliver's here." Hal shrugs. Barry checks over his shoulder and sees someone.

"Alright, I'll go talk to him. Thanks for the heads-up."

Barry leads me across the crowd.  "Oliver? Who's that?" I ask.

"A personal mentor. A legend of the community. He taught me a lot about what I know. And I do some work for him."

"What kind of work?"

"Some odd jobs. Like delivering Hunter's new car."

"Then why do you seem worried about talking to him?"

"It's not me I'm worried about."

We stop in front of a tense-looking man stubbing out the last of a cigarette.

"Didn't expect to find you at a place like this, boss, hanging with a bunch of lowlife tuners. Especially with a pregnant wife at home."

"Lena and Kara are taking care of her. I wanted to talk to you."

Oliver looks me up and down. "And who might this be?"

"I'm Caitlin, Barry's date."

"I see. And have you been dating for some time?"

"I helped her out of a jam last night."

"You mean you were running from the cops again? You've got to stop being so fucking stupid, Barry."

"Yeah, I know."

"Well, Caitlin. I hope you don't mind if I borrow Barry for a moment."

"Of course not."

Oliver leads Barry a few steps away, but I can still see Oliver hand him something.

"I need you to look after my car while I take care of some things. Not a scratch on it." Oliver says handing over the keys to his car.

"Have I ever let you down?"

He studies me for a moment and then walks off.

"Barry... I thought tonight was going to be about you and me."

"It is about you and me," He said holding the keys out. "Who knows, maybe we can find a use for Oliver's car later. You'd like it."

"Maybe, but only if you can stay focused on us."

"Shouldn't be a problem. I've been known to have a one-track mind when I see something I want."

A DJ spins out of an SUV nearby, while a lighting rig flashes neon colors over a makeshift dance floor.

Partygoers dance with each other in an intimate fashion. Barry offers me his hand. "Dance with me?" He asks.

"Lead the way, Handsome."

He leads me into the middle of the crowd of dancers and spins me around to face him. He grabs me around the waist, pulling me forward so my thighs are against his.

"Move with me. Feel the beat."

Barry's hips move in time with the music, his body pressing into mine.

"Look at me," he says tilting my face up so my eyes find his, are foreheads touch.

I then wrap my arms over his shoulder.  He rests his hand on the small of my back.

"When the song hits the beat again, fall back against my hand."

"What? No way--"

"I'll catch you. I promise."

The beat comes, and I do what he says.  I bend back and then Barry pulls me towards him, again his fingers fully supporting me.

He dips me down, pulling me along and then back into his arms right as the song ends.

"Wow."

"I know."

Both out of breath. Barry rests his forehead against mine.

Barry then cups my cheeks and pulls me close. His lips press against mine.

As the music swirls around us, we hold each other, melting into the kiss.