"I wouldn't be able to walk properly with this heels Dig.." Felicity said holding his friend's hand while he helped her getting out the limousine.
"You are going to be fine… " Answered the bodyguard with a smile. "And you look stunning, by the way"
"Really?" Felicity was checking her own pink dress over and over again and when she finished she started checking her hair on the mirror.
"Stop Felicity… you look beautiful and the paparazzi are heading this way to take pictures of you. So smile!" Diggle put a hand on her back and pushed her towards the main gate of the library before returning to the limousine.
"Oh God… Dig! Dig! Come here! " whispered Felicity looking at his friend but Diggle was smiling from the car and driving away. "You are going to pay for this John… " She continued walking down the red carpet and looking at her shoes trying not to fall. Unluckily, she stepped on her dress and lost balance.
"Shit!" she screamed starting to fall. Suddenly she felt two strong arms grabbing her tightly from behind while dozens of camera flashes were surrounding her. She covered her eyes with both hands trying to identified her hero.
"Oliver?" she whispered holding his arm and trying to get some balance while the flashes were still stuck in her eyes.
"Are you ok miss?" she heard trying to focus her eyes. "No, sorry, I'm Barry. Barry Allen. I work with Starling City Police" Felicity focused his eyes one more time. Light brown hair, green eyes… "By the way blondie, you almost fall in front of everyone. I think tomorrow you are going to be in the front page of every online magazine…" Said the strange guy looking at her with a funny smile.
"Oh, yes! I feel like Jennifer Lawrence during the Oscars ceremony…" She looked at him quite angry trying to fix her dress. "But you are not Bradley Cooper. Not. at. all"
She breathed deeply three times and turn around leaving him behind… Stunned.
"Great! " She whispered to herself "Tomorrow I'm gonna be the blonde who looked ridiculous at the annual gala.. Fuck! And where is Oliver by the way? I don't need to be here but he wants me to… for what? he is not here! oh yes he is but with Mrs. Rochev, no, Mrs. skinny legs, this stupid bitch…" She stopped realizing other guests looking at her like she was crazy. She recognized Thea and her handsome boyfriend walking towards her.
"Felicity! Are you working today too? My brother is an asshole!" said Thea smiling. "Where is he by the way?"
"Hi Mrs. Queen he is with Mrs. Skinny… Shit! I mean…" Felicity closed her eyes covering his mouth with her hand. "Sorry he is with… " Roy and Thea started to laugh out loud and she ended up smiling too.
"With Isabel?" Thea said still laughing "Gosh! My brother taste with women is worst than ever.. Ugh!"
"But not with you, Felicity. You never wear this dresses while you are in Verdant… Wow, you look gorgeous!" exclaimed Roy catching Thea's look. "But not as beautiful as you baby…" Both girls smiled at him and started walking towards the stairs.
They didn't reach the hall when someone catch Felicity's arm.
"What the h…" She said turning around and facing Barry. Again.
"You didn't tell me your name and I assume you are not Jennifer, right? Because I am not Bradley but I am Barry, both with "B". Perhaps your name is with "J" like Jennifer, could be Jane or Jacy…" He was talking and looking at his fingers counting each one of them..
Felicity was looking at him, shocked. Oh my gosh, do I act like this when I'm babbling? she thought. No freaking way… right? right?!
"Perhaps Jacy, or Jacqueline because you look like a First Lady.." he looked at her with a flirty smile.
"Ouww, he is so cute!" Thea said from the distance. Felicity felt her cheeks blushing but not because she was being embarrassed… She needed to stop this show, NOW or she was going to punch him in the face.
"Shut up Barry with B. My name is Felicity with F." She exclaimed leaving him speechless. "F.E.L.I.C.I.T.Y, ok?"
They stared at each other for a few seconds while a smile was growing on Barry's face.
"Felicity… it means happiness, you know that?" he said still smiling.
"Yeah, the same thing I'm feeling right now!" and with that she turned around and started walking as fast as her heels let her towards the bar. She needed a drink.
She forgot Thea calling her from the distance, grabbed a glass of champagne and drank it in one gulp. Much better, she thought.
When she finished her drink she finally took a look of the National Library. It was beautiful… just as she remembered. She saw the main hall and smiled at the memory of her father holding her hand, like every Sunday when they spent hours reading all kinds of books. I miss you Dad.
She felt tears on her eyes.. she started to breath deeply, closing her eyes, trying to stop them from falling. When she opened them again she regretted it. Oliver was at the other side of the main hall dancing with Mrs. Skinny legs. He looked perfect: black tuxedo, bright smile and those beautiful eyes staring at her dance partner… who also looked perfect. Damn her.
Felicity stood there for a few minutes watching them dance with the saddest look on her face. When the song ended Oliver decided to finish dancing ignoring Isabel's smile. He put his fake face and look around trying to avoid her. Everything around the room seemed to stop when his eyes met hers. The music, people talking… Everything was in slow motion, even her own heart. Oliver's eyes left their Mr. Queen coldness and she saw something that it was not there before. A spark. A light coming directly from his heart. She stopped breathing when without keeping his eyes from her Oliver started to walk towards the bar where she was standing. She couldn't move but everything collapses when Moira grabbed Oliver's arm and stopped him just five meters away from her. Oliver kissed her mother politely and she saw clearly how he was bringing back the perfect son face. Felicity took a huge breath and left her glass on a table, slowly, trying to regain her senses.
"Here you are Felicity with F" whisper Barry on her ear but noticing how out of place she felt. "Are you ok? You look pale" He said with a concerned look holding her arm. "Let me buy you a drink… it the least I can do to make you smile"
She looked at this stranger with a sad smile and she couldn't fight anymore. Barry was trying to be nice and she was being a bitch. She smiled at him blushing a little and looked over his shoulder for a second. She saw Oliver talking with Isabel and Moira and how his face tense when his eyes met Felicity's again. He stopped talking and even Moira and Isabel turn around to look at the same "thing" that had caught Oliver's eye.
Felicity hid behind Barry and held his hand tightly trying to forget Oliver's gaze burning just a few meters away.
"Come on my Bradley Cooper, I need that drink"