Chapter 6
After knocking on Felicity's office door three times and getting no response Oliver decided he was going in. There he found Felicity sitting at her desk, her back facing him as she looked at one of her computer screens.
"Felicity, I wanted to talk to you about my laptop." He stated. "I knocked, but you didn't answer." He stood waiting for a response. "Felicity." He repeated still not getting a response. "Felicity!" He repeated louder but she still did not answer.
He took a step closer and as he did he heard what sounded like muffled music. He tilted his head and realized that Felicity had headphones on and was slightly swaying to the music. He smiled as he watched her begin to move back and forth in her chair. A couple seconds later she was singing softly to the music and her chair was moving as if she were dancing.
He couldn't help but chuckle at her movements until suddenly she spun her chair around to do another dance move.
She took a startled breath and quickly pulled the headphones out of her ears. "Oliver!" She said with a fright as she fumbled with the music that was coming through her phone. "How long were you standing there?" She questioned with embarrassment.
"Long enough to hear the live performance." He joked. "I knocked, but you must not have heard me."
"Yeah, I'm sorry I was just doing a system check and the music helps me focus." She said embarrassed. "How can I help you?" She asked gesturing him to sit down.
"I was wondering if you were able to work on my laptop at all?" Oliver said taking a seat on the edge of her desk.
"Oh yes! I have it right here." She said getting up and walking over to a table against the wall. Oliver followed.
He looked at the boxes filled with parts and cables that were covering the table. He picked up a piece from the table and examined it. "You have a lot of stuff sitting around here." He said with a smirk.
"Stuff? This is more than stuff." She informed him. "That." She began to explain. "is an IP extender and it is more than just stuff."
Oliver put the item back in its box giving her an I'm-sorry-I-touched-it look and watched her pull the laptop out placing it on the table in front of him.
"Here it is. I fixed the screen, backed up all the information and formatted it. Works like a charm." She said proudly.
"Looks great." He said flipping it open.
"So how are the wedding plans going?" Felicity asked as she hopped up to sit on her desk.
"Well…" Oliver said with smirk. "I guess it's going well. I mean, I really was hoping for something simple and not this extreme event that's in the works. "
"I know what you mean." Felicity admitted. "I'd love something outdoors. A little backyard wedding in the middle of the afternoon, fresh flowers all around and a gazeebo and dancing, fun dancing."
Oliver smiled at the thought of it. Felicity described the perfect wedding. He'd have loved to be standing in front of the gazeebo on the grounds of the queen estate waiting for his bride to walk towards him. He let out a heavy sigh at the thought of it knowing that his mother would never allow things to be that simple.
"Dig and Lyla have a few things planned already." Felicity said interrupting his thought.
"What! Oh yeah." Oliver said with a head shake. He folded his computer closed and walked over to the desk where Felicity sat. "Honestly this is the first time I've ever been a best man and I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to do."
"Are you serious? The Oliver Queen has never been a best man in a wedding. I'm shocked." Felicity joked. "I can't believe that. I mean this is the first wedding I've actually been in to be honest."
"Yeah, well in case you haven't noticed the friends I hang around with are not really the marrying type. I mean Tommy-" He stopped himself before he finished the sentence remembering that Felicity was dating Tommy. "I didn't mean-"
"It's ok Oliver. Tommy and I are not serious. I mean we're dating yes, but I have no idea where or if this is going to go anywhere. For now we just are." Felicity reassured him. "Weddings were never really my thing. I mean I grew up in Vegas and most weddings there are the equivalent to ordering take out at a drive through window. When I left home at 16 I went right to college, got my masters and after that, here I am. Friends are few and far between so weddings….well, what can I say."
"Well ... Tommy is a lucky guy and I hope he sees what I see." Oliver said standing up. "I'd better get back to my office. Thank you for the laptop."
"Just doing my job Oliver." She smiled.
"You know I was serious about the best man stuff. I really could use the help." Oliver turned as he headed towards the door.
"I guess we'll figure it out together." She smiled assuredly and stood up. "Look I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
"Is it lunch time already?" He looked at his watch.
"Yes it is." She said fixing her glasses. "You know I owe you lunch. You are welcome to join me if you like."
"I'm not too fond of the cafeteria here." Oliver said making a face.
"Come on." Felicity said grabbing her coat and then his arm. "We'll skip the cafeteria and go for prime dining."
"Should I be scared?" Oliver said setting his laptop down and following Felicity's lead.
"Are you afraid of the unknown Oliver?" She said letting go of his arm to slide her jacket on as they stood waiting for the elevators.
He watched as she pulled her ponytail outside her coat and adjusted her jacket. And watched for the elevator to arrive. She really was a beautiful woman, but she didn't flaunt it and that made her even more attractive. He could see why Tommy was so drawn to her and didn't know if it would be a good idea for him to get involved in the crazy plot Tommy and Laurel had suggested.
"I…" He started.
She turned to him and tilted her head. "Is everything ok? Did I do or say something wrong? Cuz seriously sometimes my mouth says things before my brain stops me and then I start this whole babbling thing where I don't even know what I'm actually saying and before I can stop I say something completely inappropriate and I can't stop….like now." She bit her lip to stop herself. "I'm sorry.. You were about to say?"
"It's nothing." Oliver shook his head and chuckled. It was only lunch and really what could go wrong with lunch. The elevator doors opened. "After you." He motioned her to get in the elevator and they rode down to the lobby.
"So let me get this straight. Kangaroos are a serious problem why?" He asked as he took a french fry from the paper tray in the middle of the table.
"They are always pregnant and when they aren't they have a baby in their pouch and not to mention that time when I was at the zoo and saw something I can never unsee between the male and female kangaroo. Do yourself a favor and never youtube it. I saw it live and I don't think I will ever recover from it." Felicity said taking a bite of her burger.
He picked up his burger and took the last bite. And took a sip from his drink.
"See I told you this is the perfect lunch." Felicity said grabbing a fry from the center tray. "And when you order the tray of fries to split it saves room for the ice cream that comes with it."
"I will admit that you are the master of ordering at the Big Belly burger." He laughed noticing that she had ketchup on her chin. "That color looks good on you too." He joked.
"What?" She questioned raising her eyebrow.
"The ketchup red is your shade. You should wear it back to the office." He said pointing at her chin..
She touched her face and then looked back at her hand to see ketchup. She quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe her face.
"How long were you going to let me sit there with that on my face? She asked embarrassed.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe just until we got to the lobby." He said with a wide smile.
She grabbed a fry and threw it at him and then wiped her face with a napkin. "You missed." Oliver chuckled.
She glared at him. "A gentlemen would not have let me sit there for that long with ketchup on my face."
"Well according to the internet I'm not a gentleman." He said making a face and waiting for her response.
"How could I forget the infamous Oliver Queen Ladies man extraordinaire, no woman is safe from your charm until the beautiful Laure Lance captured your heart." She smiled as she sipped her drink.
Oliver half smiled and looked down. "Yeah…Laurel."
Felicity sensed his discomfort and tried to change the subject. "Tell me about the police officer-"
"No way!" Oliver interrupted. "We both know that you already got all that information off the internet and don't need me to tell you the details. And I'm sure Tommy filled in any blanks."
Felicity gave an evil grin. "You know, you are right." She stopped and bit her bottom lip like she wanted to say something.
"What?" Oliver asked. "You look like you have something to say. You know if you can't say it to your friends then there's a problem."
"So we're friends?" She asked with a questioning look. "I thought men and women couldn't be friends?"
Oliver thought for a second and then nodded. "Yes Felicity. We are friends." He sat up straight and gave her a confident smile.
"Friends." She smiled back. "I like that."
"Besides, I know about your kangaroo issues and that's not something you tell just anyone." He laughed then sighed. "Thanks for lunch Felcity." He said starting to clear the table
Felicity smiled widely. "My kangaroo problems are not funny and you better be aware or I'll send you the video!" Felicity made a face at him and looked at her watch. "Oh have to get back to the office. I have a meeting in 20 minute and I need to get some paperwork together. Oliver thank you for the lunch company and next time we can discuss that bad hair you had in that picture from high school you had on your laptop." She gave an evil smile took her drink from the table. "I'll see you at the office Oliver."
He watched as she headed out the door. Oliver never had a woman as a friend really. They always wanted something more from him or vice versa, but there was something different about Felicity. She made him feel like a regular person and not some rich party boy and it made Oliver feel good, better than he had in a long time. For once he could just be himself without having to put on a show. Just thinking about it brought a smile to his face.
Suddenly his phone beeped a text message and he pulled it out of his pocket to read it.
Thanks again for coming to lunch with me. Next time don't eat all the fries.- F
Oliver shook his head and laughed. Felicity Smoak was definitely different from all other girls.