Warning Bells
A/N: I'm trying to get back into creative writing, I've not been able to write now for a long time due to other responsibilities, so needless to say I'm rusty. And I honestly have no idea what compelled me to want to do a high school AU. So there's a first time for everything. Oh, and expect this to be tropey. Very, very tropey. But I hope you enjoy it and thank you for reading.
Chapter 1
"Crap," she muttered under her breath. "I am going to be so late to History. I really can't afford another tardy on my record," Felicity Smoak mumbled, pulling her history book out from the bottom of the pile of books currently lodged in her locker in the hallway of Starling Academy. She gave another tug, this time harder, and the book suddenly freed itself from the pile, the force sending its owner backward onto her behind, blonde ponytail swinging side to side.
Clutching the errant textbook to her chest she scrambled to her feet, slamming the locker door shut and spinning the dial on the lock.
"Well that's not embarrassing at all," she chided herself. Turning, she took off at a run down the hall towards her classroom, praying she'd be a few seconds faster than the final class bell. Just four doorways away, she felt confident that she'd make it as she grasped tighter at the stack of books in her arms, including the History book she's blaming on her current troubles. Confident that is until she barreled right into a brick wall of a body that suddenly appeared coming out of the boy's bathroom, sending her spiraling once more to the ground on her bottom, books and papers flying everywhere.
Adjusting her glasses from her place on the ground, she looked up to see that the brick wall was none other than Slade Wilson, or as Felicity had nicknamed him in her head, Senior Class Jerk. He wasn't even moved by their collision, which Felicity's brain attributed to the fact that he was muscular and stout; every bit of what made him such a jock and a prided member of Starling Academy's football team.
"Watch where you're going, geek," the dark-haired boy glared down at her in his deep voice. He was flanked by two of his friends, whom Felicity recognized also as members of the football team. He pretended to dust off the sleeves of his school blazer all students were forced to wear with their uniforms. "I just had this dry-cleaned. Now it's got nerd germs on it."
Felicity groaned. Couldn't he come up with a more original insult? She pulled to her knees and moved to collect her books and papers. Now she was really going to be late. Quickly she gathered her stuff, trying to ignore the laughing boys above her. Arms full, she reached forward to grab her history essay that had fluttered out of her book, the piece she needed for the class she was surely going to get a tardy demerit for shortly when a heavy foot came down on top of the paper missing her fingers by centimeters. Startled, she withdrew her hand and leaned back.
"Slade," she looked up with a scowl on her face. "Will you and your thugs here please bully me another time? I'm going to be late to History and this essay is due today. I don't have time for your insults right at the moment. I'm free Thursday though. You can be ignorant asses to girls like me then. Ok? Good. Glad we understand each other."
Slade kept his foot firmly on top of her paper and glared. "Actually, Felicity now is the perfect time, seeing as how I've been wanting to speak to you anyway."
"Wow, you actually know my name." Felicity meant that sincerely, but wasn't sure she meant to say it out loud. She was here at SCA as a scholarship student, not one of the wealthy trust fund kids who went here. She tended to try to fly below the radar at school. Not being noticed was generally a good thing.
Felicity sighed and climbed to her feet. She had no real reason to be scared of Slade per say, she knew he or his lackeys couldn't or wouldn't actually hurt her here at school. Starling Academy was a private school and with the kind of money the parents paid in tuition came with it better security and monitoring. He could however, make her life miserable. He made a lot of people's lives miserable if she had to guess. "What do you want from me? I don't bother you, I don't look at you, I don't even speak to you."
"We do have a problem though," he snarled. "You're in my Algebra class."
"So? So are 18 other kids."
"But you're the only one of those 18 who is killing the bell curve that old man Parsons grades on. You're nerdy perfectness is making it difficult for me to maintain a C average in that stupid class."
"Again," Felicity spat at him. "So what? That's you're problem, not mine. I won't apologize for studying hard and earning my grades." She hoisted her books a little higher in her arms to emphasize her point.
"If I don't maintain the C, I don't play football. If I don't play football, Starling Academy wins fewer games and we don't go to the championship game. If we don't win the championship fewer colleges will recruit me to play for them. And if that happens it will all be your fault."
Felicity looked up at him incredulously. "Are you kidding me? It's so not my fault that you're too stupid to perform at an average level in a standard high school math class. It's not even an advanced placement class Slade." This oaf's sense of logic irritated her. "No one's guaranteed a bell curve in life. You know what? I take back what I just said. You're not even stupid. Just lazy. If you'd pay attention and not spend your time trying to impress your moron friends here during class you'd probably have an A and be the one ruining the curve for the others. And furthermore, it's just basic algebra, geez. Lay off the juice, dude. You're seriously not thinking straight."
Slade's eyes darkened dangerously in anger. No one spoke to him that way and lived to tell it. He began to respond to the petite blonde in front of him when the class bell rang at just that moment. Turning his head down the way for a quick evaluation of who was left in the hallway and noting it was now empty except for this annoying girl and he and his crew, he turned back and took a step back. Lifting his foot, he bent and picked up the history paper he'd kept Felicity from picking up. A dirty foot print marred the page. He took a menacing step forward, and Felicity reflexively stepped back. Grabbing her hand quickly, she squeaked out an "eep" as he caught her off guard. He laid the paper in her hand and stepped even closer as he bent to whisper near her ear.
"I can make your life miserable Felicity. Don't taunt me. Do the right thing and drop your grade." Leaning back, he continued to glare at her as he tossed a nod at his boys and they turned and sauntered off down the hallway in the opposite direction.
Felicity sighed and said to herself in a low voice, "Oh trust me, I need no help being miserable. I manage that well enough without an overgrown jock with a God complex helping." She looked down at the paper in her hand, the footprint a reminder that her day was not going so well. She rubbed at the dirt, but only succeeded in smudging the print. "Great, just great." She shoved the paper back in her book and headed towards her classroom.
She could hear Ms. Davies monotone voice from outside the door. She'd already started the lesson. Slipping in the door, she found her seat a few chairs from the back as the history teacher droned on about the War of 1812. Maybe she'd be lucky and the teacher was so engrossed in her lesson she didn't notice her.
Looking up from her powerpoint presentation, Felicity's bubble of mild hope burst. "Nice of you to join us Ms. Smoak. You can pick up your tardy slip at the conclusion of class," Ms. Davies said.
"Yes ma'am," Felicity answered softly, not wanting to draw attention to herself. "Sorry I'm late." She couldn't help but notice a few smirks from those around her.
"Way to go girl. Embrace your inner rebellion."
Felicity turned her head towards the almost whispered voice of a smiling Tommy Merlyn. She shot him a glare that held no real heat and rolled her eyes. "Just a typical day, Merlyn. Just a day," she whispered back.
Tommy flashed a grin in response and turned back to the boring lecture about a war that happened over two hundred years ago.
The rest of the class progressed without any interruptions or obstacles and Felicity managed to pay attention and take what she felt were an adequate amount of notes. At least enough to help her study and pass the next exam. Not soon enough, the class bell finally rang. Felicity gathered her things and headed to the front of the classroom where Ms. Davies nonchalantly handed Felicity a tardy slip.
"I don't suppose you'd be interested in hearing why I was late, would you?" she asked hopefully. Ms. Davies just shook her head no and looked at her over the reading glasses perched on her nose. Shoving it in her pocket, Felicity turned and headed out of the room, towards the throng of students making their way through the crowded hall to the next assigned class. "We're like lemmings all dressed in the same little suits" she said to herself as she caught up with her friends at their locker.
"I love lemons," Caitlin Snow said by way of greeting, tossing her chemistry book in her locker and pulling a physics book out in its place.
"Lemons are great with tea," Iris West asked, waiting with Caitlin.
"I said lemmings," Felicity said, elongating the "m" for emphasis. "You know, like the rodents that all look alike and run off the side of a cliff. She pointed behind her to the throng of students all dressed alike moving hurriedly. Not lemons, like the yellow fruit."
The girls just looked at their friend. They were use to Felicity-isms, as Iris had coined them.
"Whatever," Caitlin said. "Lemmings, lemons, none of it cause me to care today. It's Friday!"
"What's with her happy mood?" Felicity half-grumbled.
"Date night with Ronnie Raymond," Iris answered, bumping Caitlin's hip while Caitlin smiled sheepishly. "Haven't you been listening to her go on and on about Mr. Dreamy all week?"
Felicity laughed. "That's right. Hunk night for Caitlin." The three girls headed down the hallway towards the Physics class they all had next.
"Felicity! Wait up!" The girls paused, all three turning at the unexpected voice calling out to their blonde friend.
"Speaking of hunks," Iris whispered. "Let's go Caitlin. We'll get the scoop from her in class." Caitlin and Iris then hurried way laughing.
"Don't abandon me!" Felicity called after them. "Great friends I have," she grumbled softly. Turning around, she looked up into the bluest eyes she'd ever seen. And she swallowed hard. Because guys like Oliver Queen did not engage in conversation with girls like Felicity Smoak.
"Oliver," she said, trying to sound aloof. "What can I help you with?" What can I help you with? Geez Felicity, what are you? His pharmacist? "I mean, why do you want to talk to me?"
He looked at her funny, and then seemed to shake it off. "Why wouldn't I talk to you?"
Felicity looked down in thought for a second and then back up. "The people in this school who aren't my friends who generally want to talk to me based on today's progression so far hasn't gone very well." He looked at her, confused once more.
"Was that an actual sentence?" he grinned.
"You know what? Never mind. I ramble. Often. Babbling, really." She looked away. Nope, not recovering well. Still not sounding cool. Or even coherent.
Oliver Queen was the hottest guy at Starling Academy. He had classic chiseled looks, was athletic, came from one of the wealthiest families, and when he smiled Felicity swore glacial caps probably melted just a little. He was popular, something Felicity was definitely not. So she was genuinely confused herself as to why he'd want to share physical space with her, never mind have a conversation with her. Popular kids had their own clique. Felicity wasn't a part of his world.
"I need your help."