Hey guys! I've decided that every chapter I post will start with my top five of the day. (I really love John Cusack) okay. So top five for today will be:
Top 5 upsetting things of the day:
5. OUAT Wonderland will only have one season
4. Misha Collins is married!
3. They cancelled Raising Hope just like they threw away My Name Is Earl!
2. They made me care about Neal enough to mourn his death...goddamn them!
1. The damn librarian I've been crushing on for the past two years wasn't there today! (That really gets my goat)
I own nothing except everything the light touches!
Sorry for any mistakes.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter TextFelicity grabbed another glass from the counter placing it into the bucket by her feet. After she was done cleaning the debris from the bar top her rag found its way across the surface erasing the grime of the day. Unknown to her a figure was silently creeping up behind her. Suddenly she was attacked.
"Guess who!"
"I'm going to go with...Steven Amel?!" Felicity let out as the hands of the person using her as a swing came around her eyes.
"Pfft. Yeah you wish"
"Yes I do. Now get off of me before your mom walks in. Ellen will kill us if we break something" Felicity's common sense worked and Jo was quickly crawling off of her adoptive sister.
"To be honest with you, I'd rather have Jared than Sam. But don't let him know" Jo said as if it were a secret.
"Please," Felicity drawled, taking up her rag again, "everyone knows you're just biding your time before Padaleki miraculously leaves his wife and career for you"
"As long as we're all on the same page. So what's new with you? Haven't seen you in forever" the blonde says jumping up to sit on the counter Felicity just cleaned. Felicity isn't sure where the apple came from but Jo rubs the newly materialized apple on her shirt before taking a generous bite. The sound of her crunch fills the silence until Felicity speaks while grimacing at the display.
"Everything is alright with me," she said pausing her work to jump onto the counter next to Jo. "I've been babysitting more, which is good..."
She's cut off by Jo voicing, "For the rich stud muffin?" Jo asked around her mouth full of Granny Smith causing pieces to spray out between them.
They both started laughing when a piece almost hit Felicity in the eye. Jo reached over to swipe away anything dirtying her friend.
"You're so gross! Ugh!" Felicity said swatting her hand away. "Yes. It's for the rich stud muffin" she chuckled.
"Are you kids bringing that back? I used to call Bobby a stud muffin, you know"
"Ew! Mom!" Jo burst out again with a mouthful.
"Joanna Beth! That's disgusting. Don't speak with your mouth full and what have I told you. Tables are for glasses not for asses" Ellen scolded before sitting on a stool across from the girls. "Now who is this muffin?" Ellen asked as neither girl made to move off the counter.
Jo swallowed then said in a sing-song voice, "Oliver Queen. Lis has been babysitting his younger sister and she liiiikes him...Felicity and Oliver sittin' in a tree..."
"What are you three?" Felicity jabs at her ribs. Jo is quicker to the draw catching her wrist inside her hand.
"I'm this many!" She chirps holding up her palm.
Felicity only shakes her head in reply. "I don't have a crush on him. Not like he'd ever look at me anyway. He probably has a membership to 'models-r-us'"
"Think he'd lend me his card?" Jo interrupts.
"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Ellen scolds.
"Mhm...and he's a hot tamale..."
"'Kay. So tell me about what's up with you. Haven't seen you long enough to talk in a while, honey" she says patting Felicity's knee.
"Well, not much has really happened. School is school. Wilson still hates me, but who cares what eye-patch thinks? Right? Tommy and Laurel are still dating. She's a nice girl and all but I think he can do better. What else...?" She pauses to think.
"Why don't you tell me about what it's like to babysit for American Royalty?" The end of her sentence is dripping with so much sarcasm Felicity is afraid she'll have to clean it off the floor later.
"Please, they're not the Kennedys. Thea is a great kid though," she starts to chuckle, "she has a crush on Dean!" The others look shocked for a moment before they start laughing too. "He came to bring me some food last week and she couldn't stop talking about him. It was adorable. Oh and..." She waves her hand in the air as though he's just remembered something of vital importance, "did you guys know that all of a sudden Tommy and Oliver are friends!?"
"What?" Jo asked jumping down to throw away her apple core. She saunters back over but decides to stand. "How'd that happen?"
"Hell if I know. All I know is that I saw them hanging out earlier at the food court in the mall. Laurel and Sarah were there so I figure it was a double date. Told you guys, models-r-us"
XXXXXXX EARLIER XXXXXXXX
What was happening to him?
Why was he wandering around a strange mall looking for a guy he didn't even know?
[Rolling out of bed at noon Oliver crawled around on the floor looking for his horrendous cell phone. The alarm was blared the sound of a crowing rooster at maximum volume. His Dad liked to change the alarms on it every day with a new time to get up and a new obnoxious tone to do the waking.
Just under the bed he found it! Yes! Victory! Just as he was creeping back into bed he realized that he couldn't fall back asleep. He also realized that he had nothing to do today, as well as the fact that didn't know anyone here. No one except Felicity.
He'd gotten to know Felicity a little when they texted or when he coincidentally came home early those nights that she was over. He was known for being a shameless ladies man, but he was feeling out the waters. Felicity was different. He knew it the minute that he saw her playing with his sister. Other girls pretended to care about Thea because they wanted to get close to him and his money. But Felicity genuinely liked Thea. And Thea returned the favor.
His thoughts were abruptly stopped when his phone began to buzz on his stomach where he'd dropped it a moment ago. He picked up the call even though he didn't recognize the number. He did recognize the area code as local.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Oliver, right?"
"Uhm, yes. Who is this?"
"My name is Thomas Merlyn. I got your number from Felicity. I'm her roommate. Are you free? I think we should talk" Thomas said from the other line. This was really strange. Why would Felicity give this guy his number? And what could they possibly have to talk about?
"Yeah, I'm free today. Where do you want to meet?" Why not go along with it. It's not like he's a small guy. He could defend himself if need be.
"I know your new here. Do you know where the mall is?"
"Yeah. I've been there," he said remembering just yesterday when he took Thea out to get some of the new Frozen dolls. She cracks up every time Olaf sings In Summer. He smiles at the memory. "Want to meet in the food court?"
"Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Half an hour?"
"Sure. I'll be there" Then they hung up. That was bizarre.]
Oh yeah. That's why he was wandering around the mall for the food court. Suddenly it comes into sight. Not a minute after he asked himself how he was going to recognize a guy he's never met his phone rings. It's him.
"Hey, are you here?" Oliver asks as he picks up.
"Yeah. I'm the guy waving like a moron" Thomas chuckled. Finding him, Oliver waved back and ended the call.
XXXXXXXXXX
Tommy looked over and saw Oliver aimlessly walking over to the court. He couldn't let the guy suffer so he had called and waved his arms breaking the ominous air of their meeting. Even though he was trying so hard to be serious...he really was, only for Lis...it was his nature to put people at ease. He couldn't help himself.
He got to his feet as Oliver rounded the table. The goal of this meeting is to decide what he thinks of the notorious playboy. You can't believe everything the media spouts, but he has to be careful with everyone who tries to get close to Felicity. No matter how small the motion seems to be. He'd be damned if he ever let's anyone like Lincoln anywhere near her ever again.
"Hi. I'm Tommy. Sorry about the formality earlier. Just seemed to fit" Tommy said with a plastered polite smile.
"Hi. I'm Oliver. So is everything alright with Felicity?" Oliver asked before sitting in the chair opposite Tommy, who waved away the comment.
"Yeah, Lis is fine. I just wanted to meet you. She's spending a lot of time working for you guys and she says that you're friends" Watching Oliver was weird. He could see that the blonde was trying to school his features. He was suspicious of Tommy, also.
"We are friends. But I don't know anything about you. Can you prove that you know her?"
"Well if having your number wasn't enough, hold on" he said reaching for his phone. He dialed and put it on speaker. Three rings in; a laughing Felicity was on the line.
"Tommy! Hey, what's up?" There was laughing on the other line.
"Lis what are you doing?" He momentarily forgot that Oliver was sitting there listening. Her tinkling laughter could be heard through the line.
"Dean and I are shopping for some...put those back! No I will not allow brony pants in my apartment!" Then there was a deeper voice that both men recognized saying, "Come on! I make the bronies rock!"
"We're shopping for new clothes. Dean has to wear more than just his boxers if he plans to sleep anywhere near my space-yeah, those are good- what're you doing Tommy? Sidebar what do you want for lunch? I'll pick something up for you while we're out"
"That's okay Lis. I'm having lunch with a friend today"
"Ooh...is it a lady friend? Oh wait. It had better be Laurel if it's a lady date! Thomas Merlyn I do not condone cheating and if I find out you did I will kick your ass! Well, not me I'll have Dean do it because you could probably take me down. Oh better yet I'll have Jo come down on you! She's a damn scrappy fighter. One time she bit my ear! It was like fighting Mike Tyson! And then another... "
"Lis. I'm hanging up now. Love ya. Bye" Tommy cut through her ramble. There was a very audible sigh on the other end of the phone.
"Sorry. Sometimes I forget to breathe. I'll see you at home later. Say hi to Laurel for me annnnd remember that you guys have to make dinner tonight because I'll be babysitting. Love you bye!" Then she hung up.
"I think that was sufficient evidence" Oliver said to a smirking Tommy.
"Yeah, she's a whirlwind. Listen, I don't know you. Maybe you're a good guy, but your reputation precedes you and I love Felicity. She's my better half. We met the first day that she got here. I used to live next to Bobby, her foster father. She's been the single most important person to me since then. The only one that I can always count on without a doubt" he looked down at his hands on the table. The light catches the scar on his hand and he remembers the days when his father would drink too much.
Malcolm was a hateful man. Drinking away his sorrows every night after the murder of his wife. Tommy was only six when the abuse began but it continued his whole life, until he moved out. He'd been hiding in the space between the two properties where the fence and giant oak created a sort of shield from the world. He would crawl inside that space to forget everything. Felicity had found his safe space the day she arrived. She was looking for her own. After apologizing for encroaching on him, something inside of him clicked. Something about Felicity drew him near. They shared the spot after that. Soon she discovered what his father would do and he discovered that she wasn't a stranger to abuse of this nature either. They leaned on each other. Some night she would sneak him into her bedroom to care for his wounds. Both physical and emotional.
On nights when the pain of everything was too overwhelming he would cry on her shoulder while she sang softly to him. Always something uplifting. He felt his love in every fiber of his being. He would do ANYTHING to keep her safe.
"So I want you to know something," he said looking back up to meet Oliver's eyes. Expression the definition of serious. "I will do anything for her. I don't care what that entails. And though I have a handsome face, I'd brave prison for her. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Oliver returns his gaze, "yeah. I understand"
He was going to keep going but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. Turning back he saw his girlfriend Laurel with her sister Sarah. They crashed the lunch effectively ending his threats, but Tommy gave Oliver a look that said 'we're not done yet'.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Oliver couldn't go home; not yet. He was so riled up from his earlier confrontation with Tommy. He learned a lot about Felicity. And he had a lot of questions about her still.
1. Bobby was her foster father?
2. Dean was sleeping with her? In his boxers? Were they together?
3. She has a lot of guy friends.
4. Tommy was willing to murder him if he hurt her. Which he didn't plan to do, he didn't even know how he felt about her yet. They'd only been talking for the past three weeks. But it was still threatening.
It was eight o'clock. He couldn't go home yet. She was there. But he didn't really want to be anywhere else and he couldn't stop thinking about her! It's driving him insane. Not just those burning thoughts trying to figure out the mystery of her. It was also her smile. The way she lit up a room armed with only her happiness. It was her wit. She always had something snappy and thought out to say. Her beautiful eyes. Her lips...
He needs a drink...or thirteen. After all, the more I drink...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Felicity just finished putting a very sleeping Thea into her room after falling asleep watching Frozen, when her phone begins to ring. It isn't generic though. It's the tune of the Twilight Zone, because that's how she feels when they talk. Like this isn't really her life.
"Shouldn't you be partying somewhere?" She answers not missing a beat. The voice on the other line is deeper in tone. It most definitely is not Oliver's.
"Well, I was trying to go home but this guy is wasted and I figured I should probably do something about that. I asked him who I should call. He kept slurring the word Felicity" deep voice said. "Do you know where I should take...-what's your name? - Oliver?"
"Yeah, uhm, I'll give you the address. Can you call me when you're outside though? I just put the baby to bed" then they exchanged information.
Twenty minutes later she was in the Twilight Zone again.
Swinging the door open Oliver's body weight is transferred to her slim frame. "Thank you so much Mr. Diggle. I'd ask if you wanted to come in but it's not my home and I don't actually know you"
He smiled at that. "You can call me John. I'd be worried if you did ask me to come in. I have a private security firm, so I understand the dangers. Here's my card, just in case. He may need it when he's sober"
"Sorry. This doesn't usually happen" she tried to explain, but he waves her off.
"I'm just glad he's safe this time. Good luck with him and don't hesitate to call"
"Thanks again!" She called after him as he made his way to his car. Shutting the door she let out a hefty sigh. "Great. What am I supposed to do with you?" She muttered.
"Just love me Felicity..." He groggily replied. He was clearly passed the point of no return.
When they finally reached the couch, she gave up on trying to get him up the stairs, she laid him down gently. Removing his boots and socks she laid a throw blanket over his sleeping limbs. She couldn't leave now. Not when he's this smashed. She's seen all of her boys this drunk. It always gets worse during the night. His parents wouldn't be home until the day after tomorrow.
That's how Felicity ended up soothing Oliver to sleep twice after waking in a panic to vomit his brains out. The second vomit fiesta gave him some sense. He grabbed Felicity's hand tiredly leading them both into his room. She was willing to look after him so he didn't drown in his throw up, but she hesitated when he led her to the bed.
He gave a halfhearted attempt to pull her in. It alone was enough to make her smile. So she told herself it was in his best interest for her to be close at all times. She sang to him softly to lull him to sleep. The same way that she would for Tommy. When he breathed her name in his sleep a little later she knew she was done for.
Notes:Goddamn that was long. I've been writing it sporadically all day. Let me know, okay. PLEASE!?
My friend says we need to figure it how to get memberships to Guys-R-Us and I concur. If any of you guys figure it out you'll help a sister out, right?