AN: This heat wave is killing me! Anyway enjoy this chapter!

Oliver couldn't help the wave of panic that overtook his body as his eyes met Laurel. He wasn't prepared for this! He'd spent the last couple of days thinking about his relationship with her and he'd come to a couple of conclusions.

Before the island he'd been immature and quite frankly a big disappointment. He couldn't handle their relationship and he'd hurt her. He could take complete responsibility for that. Being with Sara was one of the biggest mistakes he'd made in his life and sadly enough she'd paid with her life and Laurel with her heart.

On the island she was a beacon of light in the darkness. For five years he'd had one personal goal; get back to Laurel. He'd never thought too hard on the why of it. He'd needed a light at the end of the tunnel and she'd been it. However if he was honest with himself he'd been holding on to an impossible and unreal dream. He'd idolized their relationship and had failed to acknowledge that their relationship was rocky long before he and Sara ended up on that boat together. Laurel then had 5 years to grow her anger and resentment to him and grew closer to his best friend in the process.

When he'd returned from the island he'd been jaded and broken. Not wanting to let on just how he had changed, he had slipped back into the Oliver Queen persona and with it the familiarity he felt with Laurel. He had hoped they could rekindle their romance even though he'd realized it was pointless the second he'd seen her with Tommy the first time. But he'd been selfish. He'd wanted to recapture that person he once was if only for a moment and he saw Laurel as the only way to do so. The truth was that he would never be the old him again. He was a completely different person now, forged in the hell he'd been forced to live in for the last years of his life. Laurel was no longer compatible to any part of his persona, she could never understand him. Not like Felicity. It was that epiphany that prompted him to break things off with her. Only he'd been too cowardly to face her. Now he would have no choice.

He chanced a look at Felicity only to see her eyes already upon him. She looked uncertain and seemed a bit afraid about his reaction to Laurel's sudden appearance. He knew that he'd been giving mixed signals to her lately but that was going to stop now. He gave her smile to put her at ease and squeezed her hand that he hadn't realized he'd been holding the whole time. She seemed slightly more at ease as he slid out the booth to greet Laurel.

'Laurel, I didn't know we had plans.'

Oliver internally cringed at the almost accusing tone of his words. He was slightly annoyed at her showing up like this but it was a dick move to make. Nothing he could do about it now and he tried to disguise his faux pas with a smile.

'We didn't, but it feel like I haven't talked to you in a long time and I wanted to see you.'

'I'm hanging out with some friends; you're welcome to join us.'

Oliver walked back towards the table and waited for Laurel to follow him silently cursing himself for extending the invitation. What was he thinking?! He just needed to get this break up over with, why prolong the inevitable?

'You remember Diggle, my bodyguard? His girlfriend Carly and you know Felicity.'

Laurel greeted them all courteously but Oliver could see, by her slightly put off expression; she had hoped to spend some time alone with him. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she settled her gaze on Felicity. Oliver reclaimed his seat next to Felicity but kept a respectable distance, something that all occupants of the table were aware of, except for Laurel who seemed blissfully unaware of the sudden silence that had descended upon the table.

The group fell into a random conversation topic about the merits of having a dog over cats. It felt a little awkward at first but soon enough they were arguing animatedly.

'Dog! I mean they're cute and cuddly but they don't sit on everything and bring dead things into the house.'

Laurel scrunched her nose at Felicity as she said this, even more so as she saw her boyfriend nod in appreciation of her argument.

'Cats are so much more independent though. They walk themselves and use a litter box instead of having to be walked three to four times a day.'

'Well, what's the fun in that? The whole point of a pet is to spend time taking care of it!'

Oliver rolled his eyes at the useless conversation, but it was funny seeing his girls getting all riled up. He almost forgot his plan to talk to Laurel about breaking things off.

'Ladies, I think we're at an impasse. I think we should just call it even? Agree to disagree.'

Oliver felt good about breaking up the little quarrel between the two, besides that he really needed to talk to Laurel alone. However the relaxed atmosphere had put him a little too much at ease as he leaned over to Felicity and not so subtly whispered in her ear;

'I think you're right though, dogs totally rule.'

Then he winked at her. Her small giggle made him smile, but the smile quickly disappeared as he took in Laurel's heated eyes and thin lined mouth.

'Oliver? Can I talk to you for a minute?'

Here we go. It was the only thing that went through his mind as he saw their relationship crash and burn in front of him. It was no surprise to him of course and crazy enough he couldn't even make himself feel bad about it; it was a long time coming.

He followed Laurel to the back of the restaurant feeling Felicity's eyes on them as they went. As they sat down at the most far left booth Laurel wasted no time to get to the point. Oliver decided to play the dumb boyfriend and see what happened.

'What the hell Oliver?'

'Come again?'

'You're supposed to be my boyfriend and you side with her?'

'Come on Laurel, it was just a harmless discussion and besides I really like dogs more than cats.'

Laurel's eyes widened and he realized he'd said the wrong thing.

'It's like you don't even care. You've spent more time with them than you have with me over the last two weeks, ever since…'

'Ever since what Laurel? Tommy? Afraid to say his name?'

Laurel looked at the table not able to meet his eyes. Oliver was actually starting to get angry. Ever since Tommy's death she'd been clinging to him as a lifeline. He was broken yes, but she refused to acknowledge anything happened to begin with. Having heard Tommy's deathbed confession of his love for Laurel, it made him angry she would dismiss his friend that way. He knew she was hurting, but Tommy deserved more. He realized ever getting back together with Laurel in the first place had been a mistake. Oliver saw his opening and knew that the pain that would be caused by his next words would be inevitable.

'That's what this is really about isn't it, because can you honestly say that I'm your boyfriend? Because I think that I'm just a substitute for Tommy.'

'That's not true!'

'Laurel please, I'm not an idiot.'

Laurel had the decency to look contrite, knowing that she often underestimated his intelligence.

'I think this was a mistake. I love you Laurel, but I'm no longer in love with you. Nor are you with me. Tommy loved you so much, that doesn't just go away seeing as I know how much you loved him.'

She didn't correct him.

'It's over.'

Once more, no comment from Laurel, she couldn't even look at him, knowing that everything he said was true. She stood up whispering an 'I'm sorry' before grabbing her coat and walking out the door.

Oliver felt a huge weight lifting off his chest as she left. He knew their friendship was now probably irreparably damaged but he knew he could no longer keep up the charade. He wasn't in love with Laurel. It just took him falling for another amazing woman to realize it.

He quickly re-joined his friends and ignored their concerned looks. It was Carly that broke the silence that had fallen over the table.

'Laurel is not joining us?'

'Laurel won't be joining us ever again.'

Oliver made sure to look at Felicity as he said it and couldn't help but grin at the blush that overtook her features. Yes, things were looking up for Oliver Queen.

God this chapter was hard! This entire story wrote itself until now. Is it decent? Let me know. (Review!) Anyway, next chapter Thea meets Felicity! Yay!