2003

Chapter 1

Clocks - Coldplay

Tommy Merlyn strived to keep Oliver Queen's pace while rushing through the school's hall. Second semester had started a month ago, and in May they were both going to graduate from Starling Academy, a private and elitist high school in the city. Tommy was a diligent but average student, Oliver was very lucky. And he was an excellent football and baseball player.

"Seriously Oliver, you're not stupid and computer science can't be that difficult! How on earth you managed to get an E, I don't understand!" Tommy said trying to not laugh.

Oliver slowed down and turned to his best friend.

"Hey! Programming stuff is not my thing at this point. Should have known better that it's not only about surfing on the net!"

"All the guys can do that! You are a shame to the male gender. Like, how many girls do you have in that class? Zero?"

"So what? Well, there's one girl, a freshman I think. She's the best…she's here with a scholarship and has just won a prize for a software program. Actually, they were celebrating it in class last monday". Oliver said the last sentence rolling his eyes.

"Oh God…I can't even begin to imagine a group of nerds partying!" Tommy touched his chin and then he said in a serious tone "If that girl is good, you should ask her to help you revising!"

"What?" Oliver looked abashed.

"Come on! Teacher Norrington said you can retake the test next week. You don't have much time and reading the textbook by yourself is not going to improve things!"

Oliver started to walk again toward the cafeteria and said

"Yeah I surely need help, but I'm not going to ask that kid!"

"Why, is she that ugly you cannot stand the idea of spending a few hours with her?"

Oliver sighted. That kid. Heck he didn't even remember her name. She was short, with glasses and a brown braid. "Ah, she is ok!"

"Seriously, why not? Is it because Oliver Queen doesn't want to ask for help to a nerdy freshman?"

Oliver raised an eyebrow "It's not that! You know I can talk my way around people"

"Especially girls…"

"Especially….Tommy you really know how to be annoying!" He frowned.

"Oliver, you have a problem and then you have the solution. Give her one of your smiles and she'll be at your feet. Easy!"

Oliver sighted again "Ok ok! Whatever…I'll ask her tomorrow"

"Good boy!" Tommy patted his shoulder while they entered the cafeteria for the lunch break.

Oliver and Tommy were part of the popular group of the school. Their table was exactly in the center of the cafeteria. Oliver sat down and started to eat his lunch lazily, without paying attention to his friends chatter. He was surprised to find himself looking for the freshman kid. He didn't find her in a dark corner. She was sitting at a table near the window, the sunlight gleaming on her face. Oliver recognized with her some other students from the Computer Science class. They were talking vividly, and she seemed quite excited. She was a fast talker, he remembered that. A few times in class he'd wondered if it was humanly possible to talk that fast.

"It's going to be amusing" He muttered to himself and smirked.

Felicity Smoak was always the first to walk into Mr Norrington's classroom, as her previous class, Spanish I, was right in front of it. Felicity wasn't really into languages, she would rather study any scientific subject, but since it was compulsory to choose one, she had picked up Spanish. It reminded her of their lovely neighbors, the Solano. She grew up with their kids but had probably learned no more than a dozen words in Spanish. The old Mrs Solano adored her.

Felicity was so lost in her thoughts, she didn't realize what was happening until she heard someone clearing his throat. She lifted her head and saw Oliver Queen standing in front of her and smiling.

She froze for a good 10 seconds. Then she quickly looked behind her. There wasn't anybody else, so he was definitely smiling at her. Oliver Queen, son of one of the richest man in town, handsome and charming, the most popular guy among girls. Why on earth he was doing in front of her? Felicity wasn't surprised that he barely acknowledged her existence in the classroom.

"Hello!" He said sitting at the desk in front of her.

"Hello?" She said in an interrogative tone. It was a serious thing.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked politely.

"Ok!" She muttered looking at her wristwatch "You have actually 5 minutes before Mr Norrington comes in. He's always right on time, but I suppose you don't know that because you're always late" She said breathlessly but then slowed down "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

"Hey that's ok! You are actually right" Oliver shrugged.

Oliver cleared his voice again and then looked at her directly into her eyes.

"See, I know you are the best at Computer Science"

"You do?" She asked with the tone of someone you didn't believe what you were saying.

"Yeah, I happen to know that. And since I'm quite rubbish at this subject, unless it's about surfing on the internet" This line made Felicity snort "I thought I might ask you for help"

"Help? From me?" Felicity seemed clueless.

"Mr Norrington said I need to retake last week's test next Thursday. So I was wondering if you could help me revising a few times!"

Felicity was stunned. Oliver Queen has basically just asked her to tutor him in Computer Science. No way she could have expected this. She wasn't sure what to answer, so she bit her lips and spoke.

"To be honest, I'm going to be quite busy in the following days with the computer science club" Oliver raised an eyebrow at the thought of that kid being busy "See, we are taking part at a contest organized by the IT department of the city council. If we win, we'll go to a national contest that will take place at the MIT" It looked again as if she hadn't breathed at all.

"Aaah, that's interesting!" He said nodding.

"But….I think it won't be a problem to spare a few hours for you" Felicity tilted her head.

"That's very kind from you!" He seemed peeved.

"Hmm…let me think. Today I can't. Tomorrow, at 4 p.m.? Would that be ok?"

"I have baseball practice but I'll make sure I'll be there on time!"

"Great! Ehm…good! I'll be the in the Computer Science Club room. You know where it is?"

"Of course…the Club building!"

Oliver stood up.

"Thank you…" He seemed to hesitate.

"Felicity, my name is Felicity Smoake" She said rolling her eyes.

"Oh I know your name Felicity!" He said apologetically and went to the back of the class, where he usually sit.

The bell rang and Mr Norrington entered the class. He was surprised to find Oliver Queen already there. Something must be wrong.

After 50 minutes the bell rang again. Felicity was still gathering her books when Oliver walked past her patting her shoulder. She met with his best friend Jeb at the locker.

"You won't believe what I'm about to tell you!"

"Surprise me!" He said in a flat tone.

"I'm tutoring Oliver Queen at Computer Science!"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Don't tell me! At first I wasn't really sure what to answer him. And then I found myself saying that I could spare him a few hours!"

"You said that?" Jeb laughed.

"I did. But hey, I'll believe this thing only when I'll see him walking through the Computer Science club , oh it's going to be amusing!"

And they walked together to their next class, English.