Hello! All you need to know is that this takes place at MIT and is a random one-shot from Felicity's POV. Very AU and a little OC at times. No mention of Oliver being the Arrow except at the end if you squint. Enjoy!

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, beep, crunch.

"Morning sleepy bear!"

I groan, thrusting my pillow over my eyes to block out the light from our lamp.

"You have to get up now Lis or you'll be late for your meeting. Plus we still need to go out for our coffee latte and chai tea run." The voice of my roommate Laurel Lance grates in my ears.

It is far too early to deal with morning people. "Just because you are an early bird does not mean the rest of the world is Laurel."

"You keep setting your alarm later and later. Hence, you need to get up now. I'm almost ready to go."

I stare at the clock sitting. 7:15. Fifteen minutes before we had to leave. I sigh, beginning the crawl down to the end of the loft. "If my bed weren't up in the air we wouldn't have this problem."

"No. We wouldn't have this problem if you didn't insist on writing articles until five in the morning."

Laurel waits for me at the bottom, clucking like a mother hen. She is dressed in her typical regalia – a patterned maxi skirt and a flirty top accentuated with long earrings and a teardrop necklace.

The sight makes me want to climb back up in my loft and hide under the covers from the day.

"I think today is going to be a make-up free day."

Laurel tsks in disappointment. "Do you want a repeat of last night? I saw you run into Ray at the party with your depressing and baggy clothes. You're lucky you two are friends and work together."

"They're my comfy clothes."

"How did that conversation go by the way?"

"Just like the rest of them. We ended up talking about the differences between PCs and Macs." I admit with a grimace.

"We need to work on your social skills."

"Your idea of working on my social skills is hooking up with some random guy at a bar." I argue. "Not my type."

Laurel skips her typical you-need-to-get-out-more lecture and opts to continue discussing my wardrobe for the day. "What if you meet a hot guy today? Or get an unexpected job slash internship interview?"

"I highly doubt that today is the day."

"Well it's never going to be the day if you always insist on wearing jeans and an old sweater." Laurel criticizes, shaking her head at my clothing choice. "At least wear this shirt. It makes your boobs stick out."

"Can you please not talk about my boobs this early in the morning?" I snap, even though I grab the shirt. "I'm just wearing this because it's cozy."

"Sure you are." Laurel winks, placing the finishing hairpin in her silky waves. "What time is it?"

"We should be fine. There is at least-" I freeze mid-sentence as my mind takes me back to last night. I glance down at my empty wrist.

Crap. "My watch is gone."

"You lost your watch? The one Ray gave you?" Laurel notes.

"Would I have any other reason to wear a watch unless Ray gave it to me? That thing is priceless!"

"Yes, yes, you and your tech gear." Laurel dismisses with a wave. "At least it was a romantic gesture. It's very romantic that he built it for you. Where'd you last have it?"

A blush creeps up my cheeks. "I left it in the men's locker room last night."

Laurel squeals with glee at the mention. "Roy gets so creative with truth or dare."

"Crawling through the air ducts and grabbing some guy's underwear out of his locker is more than creative." I say dryly. "Now I have to go get it now before I meet Ray for coffee."

"Have I mentioned how cute your and Ray's children will be?"

"Goodbye Laurel," I say, rushing for the door.

"You're not wearing your tennis shoes!"

I groan, throwing up my hands. "Are my flats okay Mom?"

Laurel smiles in approval. "Good luck finding your watch!"

Since visiting the men's locker room during the day is more taboo than visiting at night, the only available entrance is the air duct system. In a building as large as the gymnasium, there are multiple entry points offering undetectable access.

The air duct system is fairly basic, following practically the same route if someone were to walk through the halls like a civilian. The only real difference between walking and the air ducts is that one is hotter and much frequently less traveled.

I finally reach the exit. It appears as empty as last night and I don't have time to wait for confirmation.

I pull out the loose screws and push open the vent. I jump down and place the cover back on. Scanning the sticky floor, I fail to see the familiar silver glimmer.

I turn down to search in the next locker bay and freeze in my steps.

Not more than a foot before me stands Oliver Queen – in nothing but a pair of low rise jeans. My mouth falls open in a full on gape as I stare at the basketball star's half curious, half stern gaze.

Oh all things holy and pure.

Now, I have seen Oliver before, even if he just transferred in two weeks ago. Many sightings in the halls and class. But I can't remember being inches away from someone with…so few clothes. That fact alone spikes my hormonal brain into overdrive.

"What are you doing in here?" His crystal blue eyes are full of suspicion as they scan me like an x-ray. I would have felt super self-conscious but I'm too distracted. His obnoxiously tall stature places his pecks in my direct eyesight. Oh Lord. "Hello?"

I blink a few times and step back as Oliver waves a hand in front of my eyes. My face reaches lava temperature as I stutter a half-hearted apology.

His pale lips adopt a pronounced shape when they ask, "What are you doing in here?"

A valid question. The type that I would ask if our roles were reversed. After I had chased him out screaming bloody murder of course. Numerous lies turn through my head but the truth squeezes out. "I lost my watch."

A God sculpted eyebrow arches upwards. The act draws my eyes back up to his face, which ultimately leads them to Oliver's lips. "In the men's locker room?"

I take a breath and one tiny step back. Time to at least appear serene and in control. "My friend Roy took it and he left it in here."

"He couldn't have gotten it himself?"

"I needed it now." I say, using every ounce of confidence I have. "What are you doing in here?"

Oliver looks taken aback. "I think that's pretty obvious."

"No I mean why are you here? Why now?" My mind races through facts about Oliver. "The basketball team doesn't practice until nine and you're here an hour earlier than necessary. Even the coach doesn't arrive until at least twenty minutes before. Why this early?"

"I was practicing. It's what they call dedication." Oliver crosses his arms, covering his pecks and top tiered abs. It also reveals him taking up the defense. "I hardly think you can question-"

"But you're getting dressed." I point out, pushing past a quick blush. "Why not just stay in your uniform for the next hour?"

"I have a coffee date in ten minutes." Oliver says. "Does that answer all your questions Sherlock?"

"It does actually, thanks." I reply. "Now if you don't mind, I'm going to continue looking for–"

The words die in my mouth as Oliver pulls out my silver watch from his jean pocket. "How did you find that?"

The right side of Oliver's mouth tilts up in a smirk. "Thought you were out of questions."

"That was before I knew you had my watch."

The other side of Oliver's mouth turns up, transforming the smirk into a tiny smile. "I found it before you came in. Figured I would turn it into the lost and found, but I guess I don't have to. Speaking of entering, I don't remember hearing the door swing open."

"I'm good at sneaking around. Some people don't even notice me at all." I cringe. Smooth Felicity. "I'm just...really good at being quiet."

"Are you sure that you didn't come through by an alternative method?"

I force a scoff. "Where else would I have come from?"

"The vents."

"That is the most uncomfortable and disgusting suggestion I have ever heard." I lie. "Good one."

Oliver shakes his head, flopping his hair around. "Just a question,"

I cannot stand the silence that threatens to creep up on us. "I'll take my watch back now."

He leans forward, dangling it before me. "As long as you promise to keep it out of the men's locker room."

I nod, my cheeks burning as Oliver cuts the already small space between us in half.

That's when I notice the giant cut running up his forearm. "What happened to your arm?"

Oliver steps backward and glances down at the scab. "I was goofing off with Tommy, playing some night games, and I fell."

I snort. More likely that you fell over because your BAC was too high. "Well, it is kind of hard to see the rocks on the ground without the sun."

Oliver's signature smirk comes out again. "Guess I'll have to learn to see in the dark."

I snort. "Yeah, and I'm the vigilante running around campus." His IQ must be lower than I thought. "That's kind of impossible."

Oliver's eyes glimmer like blue flames. The gaze shared between us electrifies the air. It is like he is trying to see through me and into my head.

I can't stand the silence anymore. As I glance down at my watch I realize I am out of time. "I need to get going."

Oliver tilts his head. "Places to be, things to see?"

I bob my head up and down. "Yeah." I spin around and bolt for the door, stealing a glance behind me just in time to see Oliver throw on a shirt. Now he puts it on.

At least you wore the sexy top. I shake my head, critiquing my appearance. Laurel was right. It should have been a makeup day.

Well there you have it! My one-shot.

Now I have a proposition for ya'll. If you leave a review - whether it be an in-depth critical analysis, a one sentence opinion, positive, or negative, I promise to write a review equal in thought and length for one of your stories (one-shot or one story chapter)!

Thanks so much for your time, hope you liked it!