Author's note: Since I am so far ahead in this story (have up to chapter 7 written and in editing process and currently writing 8) I decided to go ahead and update again this week... I will be updating every Saturday or Sunday from here on out unless my muse decides to start a protest on me again... currently have that problems with my one-shot pic series
Read and review what you think... I love getting feedback from you all... also check out the polyvore for the story
Thanks again to my amazing beta warehouseluver13
Disclosure: I own nothing of Arrow or it would be one this week and not off another week!
Felicity walked off the elevator with a small smile on her face. Friday night with Oliver had been so much better than she imagined it could have been. It also served to distract her from the call and ensuing fight from her mother earlier that day. After Friday night, she had enjoyed her weekend; finally finishing unpacking her apartment and exploring her new city. She had found a great coffeehouse about two blocks from her apartment the weekend before and when she ventured there one day after work last week she had met a woman her age that she struck an instant friendship with.
Sara Lance was something she never expected. She was fiery and feisty but also endearing and compassionate. She was grounded more than most people their age and that struck a chord with Felicity. Sara had told her a bit about her past, her family's history with the town and how her dad was a Detective with the SCPD. Felicity informed her about being new in town and Sara offered to show her around and help her find the best places in town to shop and eat and hang out. Felicity had sat in the coffeehouse Wednesday night swapping stories from college and past experiences with Sara and felt an instant kinship form between the two women.
When she met up with Sara on Sunday for an early lunch and some shopping, Felicity had forgotten all about her mother's claims of being an outsider and not accepted in Starling. Felicity had a life here now; wonderful friends and a great job she loved. She was looking forward to staying here for years to come.
So Monday when she arrived at QC she was excited to dive back into her work and challenge herself for a company she believed in. She had not heard from Oliver except for a couple texts on Saturday informing her he had fun the night before and would be studying and spending the weekend with his family. She was looking forward to seeing how their relationship developed.
Felicity was a lot of things but naive wasn't one of them. She had been used and burned by guys in her past. She also knew all about Oliver's past and where women played a role in his life. But she wasn't fooling herself. She knew that Oliver would never see her as anything more than a friend. She was not the type of woman to inspire a man like him to entertain romantic notions. And she was okay with that. Oliver would always just be a friend in reality but her silent dreams would always hold him as something more. Something he could never be for her.
As she moved from the elevator to her small office in the server room, she noticed how a couple of people seemed to be glancing at her as they whispered to one another. At first she thought that she may have spilt something on herself but after gazing over herself quickly, she discounted that option. She knew that she had gone out with Oliver Friday night and could have been spotted with him but she looked so different now that she didn't think that was possible.
Felicity had noticed the temperatures had begun to drop and that fall was here. Although the weather was not as harsh as her time in Cambridge, she did know that she needed to be sensible about her fashion while also being professional. That was why, while out with Sara Sunday, she had found a wonderful new tan overcoat. She was dressed today in a simple black collar dress with a rainbow panel that crossed the bottom of the dress as well as simple black flats. Her hair was back up in her simple ponytail and her glasses were back in their usual place. The difference in the looks between today and Friday night was as clear as night and day itself.
She was beginning to worry that maybe she would be getting fired or something when she entered her office and found a large bouquet of flowers sitting on her desk. She glanced at them confused at first as she walked around her desk and placed her bag on the floor next to her desk. The flowers were stunning, an exotic mix of pink lilies, purple irises, and white daisies. There were also hot pink roses and gerbera daisies mixed in as well. A smile crossed her lips just with looking at them. She lifted them off her desk, after leaning in a taking a deep breath of their fragrance in, and moved them to the back portion of her desk; away from her computer.
She studied the flowers for a couple minutes as she went about her daily tasks. Finally the mystery of their presence became too much for her and she searched for a card in them. Not finding one, she pondered who would send such a remarkable arrangement to her. She sat back into her chair, stumped when she heard a knock on her doorway. She turned to find a co-worker, the one that had shown her around a week prior, standing there holding a small card in her hand.
"Looking for this?"
"Yes. Thank you. I was starting to think it was a mistake. I'm not sure who would be sending me flowers. Not that I don't love them because they're absolutely gorgeous. It's just that I am new in town and don't really know anyone that would do this. And really don't have anyone in my family that likes me being here so not them either."
The co-worker, Jennifer Summers, a stunning, tall redhead, who looked as if she had just walked off the a catwalk somewhere, sashayed into the office; her eyes glaring at the babbling blonde behind the desk. "Well seems that you do know someone." She held out the small gift card out for Felicity between two of her fingers.
Felicity took it and noticed it had been opened. She assumed it had been read as well. Felicity pulled the small card out of the envelope and read its message.
Felicity,
Thank you so much again for all you have done for me.
Had a great time Friday.
What do you say we repeat it?
Oliver
A warmth filled her knowing that he had fun just like she had and wanted to see her again. A slight blush formed on her cheeks as she read over the words again. She noticed that they were written in his scribble. He had gone and ordered the flowers himself and signed the card. He had taken that time out of his day for her. The thought brought a new wave of flush to her cheeks. She looked up to see a devilish gaze coming from Jennifer.
"So how do you know Oliver Queen exactly?"
"We met here a few weeks ago when I was running late for my interview. He showed me where to go. That's all."
"Well it seems more happened than you getting directions. Unless that's what he likes in bed." Jennifer snarled before turning and walking out of the office, leaving Felicity with a new wave of shame filling her.
Felicity looked out of her office to see some of her other co-workers staring at her and whispering; gossiping. She knew exactly what they all thought and blushed as she stood and closed her door.
She hadn't thought much about how it would look but they had all seen Oliver come to see her Friday and now she was getting flowers from him. Of course they all thought she had slept with him. Because the idea of the most eligible bachelor wanting anything else from someone like her was just unheard of and unthinkable. She felt the sting of fresh tears behind her eyes but brushed them away, needing to focus on her work right now.
/OQ\
/OQ\
/OQ\
Oliver hopped out of the car with a smile on his face, one that had not been washed away all weekend. After a great night out with Felicity on Friday, he had spent all day Saturday battling through his schoolwork as well as the office work; wanting to get ahead just in case he needed time during the week. He was inspired by Felicity's belief in him to do more than just the bare minimum. He wanted to do his best. He was surprised to find that he understood more than he thought originally and was able to study better now, knowing that somewhere in town was a bubbly blonde who saw the real him. The one he hid from everyone, including himself sometimes.
He was amazed that she had seen that side of him so easily. He had not shown that side of him in what felt like years if not longer. Having everyone expecting him to act a certain way meant that he hid away his true self. His family always saw him as the heir and scion. His friends saw him as Ollie, the guy always looking for a good time, a great party, and easy women. Women saw him as either a sexy man to warm their beds or an easy solution to get the life they dreamed of. No one, not even his sister, had ever seen the Oliver he showed Felicity; the one that struggled and was not as confident in all things. Who felt like he was failing at everything in life. Who carried the weight of the world on his shoulders as well as the emotional baggage from years in the elite life that he was born into.
He couldn't put into words what it felt like knowing she had not only seen that side of him but also accepted it. She didn't shame him or judge him. She only wanted to help him see the man she saw and embrace the man he truly was. Oliver had wanted to kiss her just for that fact. Getting to know her on a deeper level at dinner had not made that urge waiver.
Now it was Monday morning and he was stopping by to see Tommy before heading to his class. Tommy had moved out of his father's house over the weekend and Oliver had been so busy with his work that he had not seen the new place. Tommy had been excited to finally be out from underneath Malcolm's roof; finally able to live his life the way he wished without his father's judging glares.
As he made his way up the stairs to Tommy's door, Oliver wondered if Felicity had received her flowers. He had stopped by a local florist before even stopping to get his coffee, wanting to ensure that the flowers went out first thing. Oliver pulled his phone out to see if there had been any new messages but found none. A disappointed sigh broke free just as Tommy opened his door.
"Wow! Sorry if you were expecting a bigger welcome party." Tommy teased.
Oliver shook his head and moved into the apartment as he embraced his friend in greeting. "No man. I was hoping to get a message. That's all."
"Let me guess. From a certain bubbly, brainy, babbling blonde?" Tommy shook his head as a small grin broke across his face and he shut the door behind Oliver.
"So what if it is her? Is that a bad thing?"
"Considering she is the first reason I could actually get to go out and be social? No. But it is hard to pick girls up like we're used to when you are making googoo eyes for the nerdy girl in the corner."
"She's not nerdy!" Oliver snapped, upset that his friend was being rude towards Felicity.
Tommy threw his hands up in the air in mock surrender. "Got it! But I'm thinking I may need to revoke your player's card."
"Is that such a bad thing? To be interested in a smart, stunning, successful woman like Felicity? What, I can only date bimbos? Woman who are only able to discuss the finer points of fashion week and reality tv?"
"I was thinking more women who don't say much until you get them into bed and then it's a selective vocabulary." Tommy chuckled as he passed Oliver a cup of coffee and leaned up against the counter in the small kitchen.
"Don't you want more than that? I mean like don't you want to be able to take a woman out for a real meal, where they eat real food and not just a salad, and actually talk about things in life? Like work or family life or just anything really."
Tommy thought about what his friend had asked for a minute before nodding his head. "Of course. One day. But we have time for that later in life. Right now I want fun."
"But we're not getting any younger."
"Okay have you been talking with your mom again?" Tommy laughed but Oliver only glared at him.
"Dude I'm serious. I have a year and a half left of school then I start working towards taking over the company. I'm so busy with school and the company and my family that I am too tired to deal with the women we meet in clubs. Women who are more interested in vacations around the world and shopping trips. I want something real. Someone I can talk to when my day is hard. Someone to really laugh with. Someone who sees the real me, not the one everyone thinks they know."
"And Felicity does that? Ollie, I have known you most of my life and I know you man. This… this is your mother talking through you. You still want to let loose and live life. I get that you want to do right by your dad and family but don't let that suck the life out of you. Don't let it change you."
"It's not changing me! I'm growing up. That's what life's about. Growing up and finding out what you want out of it. I just want different things now." Oliver pulled out his phone and checked his messages again but still no word from Felicity.
"No you don't! You just think you do because that's what your mom tells you. What is expected of you. I know you man. You'd never be happy settled down and tied to a simple woman, no matter how hot. You're not ready for that life yet. Maybe in a few years but you think you have to want that now because of what happened to your dad. Like if you aren't exactly like him, you will fail him. But what happened to him, while sad and tragic, wasn't your fault Ollie. So stop blaming yourself."
Oliver bowed his head. "I don't blame myself for the boat going down. I blame myself for how my dad saw me before he died. We had just discussed me dropping out of yet another college, my fourth in 4 years, and I could see and hear how disappointed he was in me. My dad died thinking I was never going to grow up and be a man, one he could be proud to call his son. That's why I am busting my ass in school and with my family and at QC. I want to look back one day and know that if he was standing next to me, my dad would be proud of my life."
"Yeah because it was his life not yours. You are living for him and not for yourself. Where do you stop living in his idea of you and actually live?"
Oliver growled, getting frustrated and knowing his friend would never understand. This was an ongoing argument amongst them. Tommy had not accepted the change in Oliver's ways. He wanted his friend to stay as he was forever, be Ollie. But Oliver was not that same careless, selfish guy anymore. He had responsibilities. Not only to QC or school but to his family. He missed out on seeing how proud of him his father could have been but he had a chance to make that happen with his mother and sister. Something he intended on making happen.
Oliver glanced down at his phone again and huffed another sigh out. Still no message. Oliver was considering if he should just call her to see if she got them but he wanted to surprise her with them. Maybe he would call the florist and check on the delivery. Just as he reached to call the florist, Tommy snatched to phone and looked down at it. "So why are you so anxious on a message for the girl? I haven't seen you to wait by your phone to hear from a girl since the blowout with Laurel."
"Because I sent her something and I want to make sure she got it and read the message with them." Oliver said, ripping his phone back out of Tommy's hands.
"Sending a girl lingerie again?" Tommy's eyebrows danced suggestively.
Oliver rolled his eyes at his friend's antics, their argument already behind them. "No! That is your move not mine. I sent her flowers."
"Flowers?! That's it. I'm revoking your player's card. Dude! Flowers is such a pathetic move."
"I thought it was sweet and the girl in the shop thought it was sweet."
"Of course. She was one, trying to make a sell, and two, a woman. She would have told you anything if it meant you spending money on another woman. It screams desperate."
Oliver glanced down at his phone and hated that he still hadn't received a message. He noted the time and knew he had to leave to get to class. "I sort of am." Oliver breathed out as he stood. "I gotta go man. I'll see ya later." With that, Oliver crossed through the space between them and said goodbye to his friend before leaving, his cheerful mode exchanged with one of strife.
/OQ\
/OQ\
/OQ\
Felicity heard the small bell above the door ring and look that way as a man crossed into the shop. After the reaction to the flowers in her office, she needed guidance on how to handle to situation. She didn't trust herself in this because her heart and head weren't agreeing for one thing and in the past she hadn't had the best judgement when it came to men. So once she had collected herself enough to be able to think about it all, she text Sara and invited her out for lunch in order to talk it over with someone else and get their opinion.
Felicity went back to sipping her coffee when a familiar blonde head passed by the window. Soon Sara was smiling at her as she reached the table and Felicity pulled her in for a hug. Sara sat down and Felicity waved over for the waitress to come and take her order. As soon as the new order had been placed, the girls settled in for their talk.
"So what emergency has you calling me for advice?" Sara asked as she looked across the table at her new friend and saw a change in her attitude. She seemed more downtrodden than she was the day before.
"Well remember how I told you I went out with someone on Friday night?"
"Yeah. Drinks and dinner. You said it had been great. I saw you two days later and you were still smiling. So what changed? Guy turned into a jerk? Forget to call or ask you out again?"
Felicity shook her head and a small grin grew as she heard a slight protective tone enter Sara's voice. She loved how close they were already and knew that Sara would be a true friend for years to come. "The opposite actually. He sent flowers to my office today and asked me out with them."
Confused, Sara stared at her as the waitress came and dropped off Sara's coffee and sandwich. Sara thanked her and picked up half her sandwich, getting ready to take a bite as she asked, "So what's the problem?"
"It's who he is." Sara cocked her head to the side still confused as she chewed her sandwich. Felicity fiddled with her cup, nervous to say this next part. "It's Oliver Queen." Felicity breathed out, barely a whisper.
Sara gasped and started to choke as she took in the words. Oliver Queen. Sara sipped down some of her coffee and finished her bite before reacting. "Oliver Queen? Like Oliver Queen, future CEO of Queen Consolidated, Oliver Queen. That Oliver Queen."
"Yes but you really don't have to keep saying his name like that."
"How?"
"How are you saying his name?" Felicity asked puzzled.
"No! How did you meet him?"
Felicity huffed a sigh out and told Sara all about meeting Oliver in the lobby of QC nearly a month ago and how a week ago she had helped him study for a test he had in his Business Law class and then he had invited her out Friday night to thank her for her help on Monday. She proceeded to tell her about meeting up with him at the club and meeting his best friend, Tommy Merlyn, then about their dinner together and how they had spent nearly two hours talking and laughing in the restaurant before calling it a night. She showed her the card that had accompanied the flowers that morning and told her what type of drama it had caused in the office already. By the time she was done, Felicity felt more lost than she did before.
"So let me get this straight. Oliver Queen, your boss' boss' future boss met you in the lobby of QC, his family's company, while you were late for your job interview then a couple weeks later you bump into him in a park during your lunch hour and help him study for a test. A test he passes and so invites you out to celebrate that and thank you. You have a great time. Both of you. Then you go into work and get flowers from him, something he has never done for a girl. Trust me on that. He asks you out again and you are second guessing it because of a couple gossiping bitchy co-workers and the fact that in about 2 and half years he will be your boss. Well your boss' boss' boss. Is that right?" Sara stated, a tinge of amusement in her voice.
"In a nutshell. That and I had drinks with two billionaires after calling one gay."
"You called Ollie gay?!" Sara laughed.
"No! Tommy. He made a joke about coming to QC to hit on people in the IT department and I noted that most are either married or men. Then I proceeded to state that it was okay with me if he was into that sorta thing. You know men. And it just came out like I was calling him gay. You know how my babbles are. I told you I can't control them or when they happen and I was really nervous because it had been a couple years since I had been in that sort of setting. A club or party I mean. And Oliver was there and I was his date for the evening, which is very intimidating."
"Trust me I know." Sara mumbled as she finished her coffee. When Felicity stared back at her confused, Sara decided to explain. "Ollie and I had a thing a couple years ago."
"Oh!"
"Yeah. I know him and Tommy. He dated my sister Laurel for a while. He was always cheating on her and I had such a crush on him that I convinced myself that if it was real between them he wouldn't cheat. I thought that he would leave her and I could try to get with him. I just had to show him what we could be like. Unfortunately this was right around the time his father died and everything changed. We… we had decided to get away for a bit. His family was on him about school and growing up. Laurel was pushing him to move in together and take their relationship to the next step. She had their lives planned out and everything. It was so crazy. And my family was on me about school and finally getting a major and degree and starting my life. We just needed a bit to be free. To live. We were going to go on the boat with his dad but at the last minute I told Ollie I felt weird being on it with his dad knowing all that was going on with us so we went to his dad's cabin just outside of town. That's where we were when the news came in. His sister called him and we came home. When we showed up at the Manor, Laurel was there and everything fell apart. Laurel didn't talk to either of us for a week. Then she finally broke and started to yell. First at me then a couple weeks later Ollie. I moved away to give everyone some space and time. I have only been back in town 6 months. My mom and dad weren't doing good so I came back to see if there was anything I could do. Unfortunately they couldn't work out and are breaking up."
"Oh Sara. I'm so sorry." Felicity reached out for her to support her friend.
"It's okay. It's not your fault. My dad says it is a long time coming but I think what happened with me and Laurel tore my family apart. I hate it because now we seem like four separate people instead of a family. Laurel only talks to me when it's necessary and even then she is only civil. My dad tries but he can see the tension and hates it. My mom checked out completely. She moved to Central City to focus on her career. And me. I know that I was supposed to be on that boat and I wouldn't be here if I hadn't second guessed that. So this is my second chance at life and I am not wasting it. I want to live life to its fullest but that is something my sister and father don't understand because they don't know that I was suppose to be out there too. Ollie and I decided that we didn't need to share that information with anyone. I hope you…"
"I won't. It's safe with me Sara. I just… I can't believe that just one choice could have meant I would have never met you or Oliver."
"Yeah."
They were silent for a bit, processing all that had been said, before Felicity looked down at her phone and saw that her lunch hour was almost over."Sara, I have to go." Felicity stood and pulled out a few bills to drop on the table to cover their lunch.
"What are you going to do about Ollie?" Sara asked as she stood and followed her friend outside, the heaviness of their conversation hanging over them.
"I really don't know. I mean I want to say yes. I liked spending time with him and my mother said that I wouldn't meet anyone or have a life here. I would just be an outsider and not fit in. Not that I only want to see him to prove my mom wrong."
"I get that." Sara smiled as they stepped outside and started to walked the couple blocks back to QC.
"But it's Oliver. Not only is there the complications with who he is at QC, which I am sure there are some rules about fraternization within the company. But there is the gossiping and whispering and looks at the office. Not to mention his history. You said yourself. He cheats. So I would have to be crazy to open myself to a guy knowing there is a high likelihood that he would cheat on me all the time. Not that he even looks at me that way. I mean, he's Oliver Queen and I'm just me." Felicity dropped her head, embarrassed that she could ever imagine Oliver wanting a romantic relationship with her.
"Hey Oliver is different. Ollie was the cheater. But Oliver changed. Losing his dad the way he did woke something up inside him. He grew up. Now he is very serious about school and his family and QC. I don't see the old Ollie in him anymore."
"But can I trust that? What happens if he changes again? If this isn't permanent? And what happens if we do get together but it doesn't work out? I'm going to be the one that will have to leave her job. He owns the company. I don't want to lose QC. I like the company and love what they stand for. I want to grow within it. I was hand recruited by Mr. Steele himself. If I start a scandal for his company within the first two weeks of working there, what does that say about me to him?"
"Nothing because you won't start a scandal. Felicity, how do you know it won't work out? That you and Oliver won't be great together. You said it yourself that Friday night had been the best date you had ever been on. That has to mean something."
"Yeah that I should have never let that happen. He is my future boss. It's going to be hard to work for him when everyone thinks we're sleeping together. They're going to think I get every promotion not because of my skills in the workplace but my skills on my back!" Felicity huffed as the words and looks her co-workers had that morning replayed in her mind.
Sara came to a stop as they stood outside of QC. She turned to Felicity and could seen the war going on inside the small blonde. "Felicity, you can't live you life by the terms of others. At the end of the day it's you that has to be happy with your life and choices. I get that you don't really know Oliver and all you've heard is bad. Trust me. I'm mixed up in that. But he is different. The flowers and the fact that he is trying to change is proof of that. It doesn't matter what made him change, only that he wants to. He wants to be this new version of Oliver that you met. Not Ollie. He left him in his past. But you know what. If you don't want to believe what I say that's fine. Be friends with him. Get to know him. Outside of QC and away from the public and cameras. Oliver knows how to be private. I think he would be willing to be private and be friends for now if it meant he got to spend time with you. Get to know you better. All I'm saying is give him a chance. Don't judge him for his past or for what others say about him. You wouldn't want him to do that for you, right?"
Felicity thought about what she said well after they had said their goodbyes and she had gone back to work. Her mind wandered back to it all afternoon without decerning on a decision. Felicity went home and thought it over further. Finally, ready to put it behind her, Felicity texted Oliver before bed.
Thanks for flowers. So pretty. Raincheck for Friday?
A few breaths later, a chime made her jump as Oliver's response came in. A single, simple word that dragged deep in her and clenched around her heart.
Sure.