"All anyone wants is to be loved."
Which is true, Oliver thinks, at least. The only problem, the person he wants to be loved by doesn't love him. And that's obviously a major problem.
For a while he convinced himself knowing Tess was safe was enough. He was able to live like that. he was there to protect her even if she didn't think it.
Then when Tess joined watchtower he convinced himself having her around was enough. He can be near her. He can help her, make her laugh. He could comfort her, maybe even hold her, if he was lucky, and if she was upset enough. All of it under the pretense of friendship.
But, now he can't convince himself that anything will work except having her in his arms and being loved by her. Truly loved, like they had all those years ago.
But he sees Tess everyday and she hardly spares him a glance. And it hurts, a lot. And honestly, she scares him too much for him to say anything. Well, scares him, in that he's afraid of rejection.
One day, Clark notices Oliver staring. "Talk to her," he tells him. "Yeah, because that'll go over well. And I won't end up even more broken hearted then I already am."
"All anyone wants is to be loved."
Tess would agree with Oliver if she knew he thought that it was true. But she encounters the same problem. The person she loves, doesn't love her. Or like her, or even care about her, for that matter.
At first she just wanted Oliver not to hate her. Because he did. A lot. He threatened to kill her. Which hurt. A lot.
Finally she was welcomed into watchtower with semi open arms. He didn't hate her. But he didn't particularly like or trust her. But she told herself she could live with that. And it worked for while. Just not long enough.
Later Oliver began to trust her, and they became friends, or "friendly" in his words. Tess couldn't believe it. She thought this was it best she was going to get. She talked to him. And she was excited. But the excitement wore off. And she's stuck.
Because she was right about one thing. Friends was the best she was going to get. Because the way he used to look at her all those years ago, when they were together, is gone. And the look isn't coming back.
She stares, sneakily and discreetly, so no one notices. But she does. And she knows it.
One day Chloe did notice one of these discreet looks. She tells Tess after everyone leaves, "You should talk to him." Tess turns around and gives Chloe a should-I? look. "Because, he'll listen and understand. He'll completely agree and feel the exact same way. And we'll live happily ever after without my getting my heart broken," Tess replies sarcastically.
So both will go one feeling the same way until one of them isn't afraid of rejections anymore. Or that one of them decides rejection can't possibly hurt as much as living apart from each other. But until that day, life will go on as is.
