Chapter 7: Interested Parties (Part 2)

A/N: I'm trying my best to finish this story even if life has been complicated and busy, so that I can continue working on "The Queens" and update that soon as well. So here's the continuation of the previous chapter. I hope those of you who love jealous Oliver will also love un-jealous Oliver. Let me know what you think.


Day Four had the teams vying for the top rank in the band competitions. Adventure Camp had a limited supply of musical instruments and amplifiers, so only the basics were provided for each team – a keyboard, a bass guitar, an electric guitar, a beat box, and two microphones for lead vocals. Felicity and Barry's team picked a Taylor Swift hit song, and their kids pulled it off so well that they won second place again. But Oliver and Isabel's team gave the other teams a run for their money when their kids executed an outstanding cover of a Bruno Mars hit. Johnny did really well playing the bass guitar, and one of Isabel's girls was terrific on the keyboard. Yet, the biggest surprise was Sammy. It turned out the chinky-eyed boy was not only a fast runner and a fast talker; he could sing, really sing! And his performance brought the house down.

After the winners and team rankings were announced at the end of lunch hour, Oliver finally had the chance to approach Felicity and spend some quality time with her. When people started leaving the dining facility to get ready for the afternoon rehearsals, they managed to find a table that was tidy enough in one corner of the mess hall, a corner that afforded them some privacy.

Barry needed to check in with the CCPD after he got a text message to call the captain of their precinct about a development in a murder case he had been working on before he left for camp, so that kept Felicity's partner occupied for some time. Isabel had decided that, since she wasn't getting anywhere in her pathetic pursuit of Oliver Queen, she would move on to her next best target, which was none other than Bruce Wayne. Isabel didn't mind at all when Oliver asked if their team could move rehearsal time that afternoon an hour later. Oliver and Felicity gave their kids some free time while the two of them spent time catching up.

The two friends spent the first thirty minutes exchanging highs and lows in the last three days. They laughed and scorned at Isabel Rochev's eccentricities and laughed even harder at the many reasons why they now pitied Bruce Wayne. Then they talked about Sammy's many talents, Timmy's health, and Johnny's sad family background. Felicity encouraged Oliver to continue being a good role model to those boys, affirming him more than once that he had been doing a fantastic job with them. They also talked about Gracey's intelligence. Felicity shared how much she wished she could find a scholarship in the hopes of getting the girl a better education that would lead to better opportunities in the future – like what Felicity was blessed to have had. Oliver promised to see what he can do about getting her that scholarship via the educational foundation that his parents had recently established for indigent teens in the Glades. Felicity appreciated it so much that she had to wipe away a tear that fell from the corner of her eye. Oliver took her hand in his and rubbed circles on her knuckles to reassure her of his support.

They were having such a great time bonding that they hadn't noticed that they had been conversing for nearly an hour. Talking about the lives and backgrounds of the kids under their care led them to talk about their own family backgrounds. Oliver discovered more about Felicity's painful past when she opened up about her abandonment issues that helped her identify with orphans. His heart went out to her; he could not imagine why her biological parents would walk out on the most wonderful girl in the world and leave her defenseless in a public park. He felt compassion for her but anger towards her birth parents. He realized why helping those girls meant a lot to Felicity, why she had a soft spot for boys and girls without one or both parents, especially those who had so much potential for greatness. He saw the kindness of her heart and the empathy she had for them. She cared, and she would keep caring, long after summer camp was over, and he admired her so much for that. Yet, one thought stirred in Oliver's mind: "Who was going to take care of Felicity Smoak?" The answer was clear to him. He would, whether she asked him to or not.

Felicity learned some new things about Oliver that day as well. She learned that Oliver looked up to his parents because of their achievements, especially the ones that were publicly celebrated, but he did not necessarily approve of all their decisions and choices in life. He expressed how he felt very sad and disillusioned when he found out that his father had had a couple of affairs in the past that he was sure his mother had known about all along but did nothing about. Felicity felt his pain when he shared how devastating it had been for him to see how his parents had gradually fallen out of love for each other over the years. He mentioned that this might have been one of the main reasons why he had messed up his life the way he did: he couldn't come to terms with his parents' failed marriage. He opened up a little bit about his insecurities that began when he was transitioning into puberty, insecurities that resulted from his parents' marriage being on the rocks. He briefly mentioned his fear that his younger sister Thea might get into deep trouble one of these days because of how rebellious she'd become.

Felicity could tell by the way Oliver spoke about his sister that she was someone he held vey dear and precious, perhaps even more precious than his own parents. Felicity saw in his eyes genuine concern for his sister. She thought that Thea was truly blessed to have a loving and caring brother. Felicity felt bad that the tabloids had not done him justice all this time, and that the public hadn't really seen the real Oliver Queen underneath the trappings of a public persona that had to keep up appearances. She had seen firsthand that he was indeed capable of loving someone truly and deeply. She wondered if Oliver had a spot left in his heart for another woman in his life to love.

That afternoon Felicity felt special. She had sat across Oliver Queen, listening to him bare his heart in ways that gossip magazines or television interviews would never be given the chance to capture. More importantly, she cherished the trust he had given her that day, because receiving that kind of trust made her feel connected to him. It made her feel loved.

In a similar manner, Oliver felt honored. He had sat across Felicity Smoak, baring his heart in ways he had never done with anyone in his life – not with Thea, not with Laurel, and certainly not this much and not this way, even with his best friend Tommy. Here was a woman who just… listened, but cared. She didn't judge him. She didn't even interrupt his speech, even if it came hesitantly a phrase at a time at first, and then eventually with steadfast trust. Oliver could sense that the more he opened up about things he thought were too embarrassing to share, the more he earned her respect. Her unconditional acceptance of who he had been and her admiration of who he was becoming had overwhelmed him that day. Simply put, the respect she afforded him made him feel connected to her. It made him feel loved.

Day Five arrived and the dance competitions were underway. The first category was the pair dance contest. Kimberly from Felicity's group was paired up with the tallest boy from Barry's group, and they did an upbeat modern jazz dance number. Barry himself choreographed it while Felicity made sure that their costumes, hair, and make-up were appropriate and presentable. The multi-talented Sammy was paired up with a pretty brunette to represent Oliver and Isabel's group. Their spirited rendition of the Bee Gees hit song "Staying Alive" became the crowd favorite that night. The pair was not only talented, they looked so cute in Sammy's classic 70s buttoned long-sleeved shirt with large, pointed collar and bell-bottom pants and the girl's smoothly flowing skirt, off-shoulder blouse, and high-heels. However, the judges did not necessarily agree with the audience's preference. Oliver's team only placed second to the tap dancing duo from Bruce Wayne's team that danced to "Singing in the Rain." The pair from Barry and Felicity's team placed third.

During the break before the second dance contest division, Felicity approached Oliver and Sammy to congratulate them. She had to fall in line, though, because several girls were already crowding around Sammy and Oliver. Felicity had to wave at Oliver for him to notice her, and when he did, he somehow navigated through the sea of raving young female fans to reach her.

"Congratulations! Your boy pulled that one off real well," she complemented him.

"Thanks," he said, touching her elbow. "But you ain't seen nothing yet," he bragged, grinning at her with a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, really?" It was Felicity's turn to talk big. "And what makes you think your boys can easily beat Barry's? They've been rehearsing just as hard. And you know what? Barry's a really great dancer and an exceptional dance coach."

Oliver's hand dropped from where it held on to her elbow. He didn't really like that she was bragging about her new partner and the really cool things that the guy could do. He tilted his head to the side and blinked. "Well, let's just see about that," he said after opening his eyes. He gave her a fake smile, put his hands in his pockets, and then walked away, leaving Felicity puzzled. She sensed that there was something off about her friend's response. She had only intended to poke fun, but it seemed to her that there was something he didn't like about what she had said. What exactly? She wasn't sure.

But sure enough, despite the best efforts of all the other dance groups, Oliver's boys were a smashing success. Their highly energetic street dance number won first place.

Oliver had seen seven of his boys pass the time back at the orphanage by experimenting with some street dance moves to popular, upbeat hip-hop music. He had thought they were pretty good. In fact, he wanted to suggest to Mr. Foster, the guy in-charge of the orphanage, that they audition for America's Best Dance Crew junior edition, whether or not they actually make it to the show because the experience could really boost their confidence. So when Isabel had eased his boys out of the essay writing contest a few days ago, he grabbed the chance to show off what his boys can do best.

As the boys danced their hearts out, Oliver watched their every move – their jabs, arm swings, chest pops, and stomps – and he felt very proud. A couple of the boys even put in some improvised Krumping moves, and Sammy threw in some back flips and a hand stand, making the crowd rise to their feet and cheer wildly at his stunts. When the judges had finished scoring and tabulating points, his seven boys were awarded first prize. The audience cheered, and as the loud applause died down, the boys jumped off the stage and ran to Oliver, enveloping him in a tight group hug.

From afar, Felicity could only smile as her heart overflowed with joy and pride. She stood at the other end of the stage near a huge Bose speaker, her arms crossed in front of her, beaming at Oliver and his boys who were oblivious to her presence. Barry approached her and said, "Hey, I'm sorry we didn't win. But our boys did good, right?"

"Yeah, they did. It's just that Oliver's boys did so much better," she replied, her gaze still fixed on her friend and his boys.

"That… I can't deny," Barry remarked with a smirk.

Barry observed his partner gazing at the boys from the winning team with radiance in her eyes and a warm smile on her lips. After a brief silence, Barry said to her, "I can see why you like him."

"And why is that?" Felicity asked, still not looking at her partner.

"I know you, Licity. You've always been a sucker for success stories," Barry replied.

Felicity's smiled widened as she turned to look at Barry. "I guess you're right," she told him, chuckling lightly. She thought that her long-time friend had made a very good point.

Barry knew Felicity all too well. They had become very good friends since the day her foster parents took him in for a couple of months when he was in between foster homes. (Barry's mother had been murdered, and his father was falsely accused, convicted, and sent to jail for a crime he didn't commit. He had been waiting for the judge and the social workers to finalize the papers that would make Joe West his legal guardian when he landed in Felicity's home.) Even after he'd moved to Central City, she had maintained contact with him, occasionally spending holidays with his family. They'd been close friends ever since.

"Let's go get a drink?" Barry asked Felicity.

"Sure," she replied. Barry then put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the exit of the mini auditorium.

That was the exact same moment that Oliver's eyes locked on Felicity from afar. He saw Barry's arm tenderly draped across her shoulders. A few seconds before that, Oliver had broken the group hug when he remembered the very person he wanted to share that thrill of victory with. His eyes narrowed and his forehead crinkled at the sight of them moving so close together towards the exit. He looked down and grit his teeth in displeasure. When one of the boys asked him what was wrong, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Nothing. Let's go celebrate at the kiosk. Ice creams are on me."

The next day, the day of the group musical drama presentations, added to the growing burden of frustration Oliver carried, just because he had no idea that there was really nothing romantic going on between Felicity and Barry. His heart ached when he saw them rehearsing a few lines over lunch. It ached again when he passed by the front porch of Barry's group's cabin and saw their team practicing an upbeat dance sequence and having so much fun at it. In stark contrast, he and his boys were on their way over to Isabel's group's cabin for their dreaded rehearsal of the scenes from The Sound of Music, which that impossibly stubborn woman insisted they present for the Broadway themed musical drama contest that evening, much to the dismay of Oliver's boys.

During the actual performances that night, Felicity and Barry became the darlings of the show. They acted out the roles of Danny and Sandy in Grease like professionals. Oliver thought they were so comfortable with each other, looking like long-time sweethearts having the time of their lives on stage. He wasn't the only one who thought that they sang their duet so well. Their voices blended smoothly. Barry and Felicity sounded and moved perfectly together, and they enjoyed it, too. Right after they bowed as the audience applauded, just before the curtains closed completely, Oliver saw Barry hug Felicity, and Felicity kissed him on the cheek.

Oliver really felt crushed and downcast. He reminisced the moment when she had kissed him on the cheek at the end of archery practice. "Apparently," he thought, "kissing a guy on the cheek was kind of routine for her whenever she felt happy about something." He had thought that she kissed him because she was beginning to like him back. But now he shook his head, thinking that he had misinterpreted her gesture, and that he, after all, might have been too presumptuous to believe that she had feelings for him as well.

For the rest of the evening, and up until his group was called for the last performance of the night, Oliver was green with envy. In fact, he was so jealous that in the last two months, that was the very first time he craved for hard liquor (his usual cop out), which he knew was not available in a youth facility like Adventure Camp. Earlier that day, he had already lost his temper with his boys and Isabel's girls during rehearsals and then again at the backstage just before the kids were supposed to go on for "Do-Re-Mi" (which, by the way, flopped because Isabel croaked on a high note and then the rest of the kids broke out laughing and could no longer sing). Oliver was the worst Captain von Trapp ever, playing his role and singing his Edelweiss solo with only one expression on his face the entire time – irritated. Later, he had also yelled at Timmy for missing his cue for the music in the final scene; the poor kid cried and was so upset he ended up having an asthma attack.

That was what it took for Oliver to come to his senses and realize he'd been acting like a pathetic, selfish, childish jerk. He nervously gave Timmy a puff or two of his medicine. As soon as he was sure that the boy's condition was stable, he stormed out the backstage exit and let out steam where no one else would see him fuming mad and cursing himself. He was terribly upset and guilty about the way he behaved that he didn't notice the tears streaming down his cheeks. After a good ten minutes, his anger began to fade and he gradually calmed down as he wrestled with the issue that confronted him.

Once again he reprimanded himself, "You have no right to be jealous! You gave your word that you'll be her friend. Just friends." He thought of Felicity and resolved that he would respect whatever her decisions would be regarding their relationship. He thought of Felicity and remembered how she had helped him calm down when he got angry with the wrestling referee last week. He knew she wouldn't want him acting this way. He was glad she wasn't in the backstage to witness him in yet another fit of anger. But then again, he wished she were there, because her presence would have certainly helped prevent his meltdown. If she were only with him outside the backstage, he knew what she'd be telling him to do: apologize.

And apologize he did. Before the kids went back to their respective cabins, he gathered them and asked for forgiveness… even from Isabel, who was more than amused to have witnessed firsthand how Oliver Queen groveled. He didn't care what that woman thought. All he cared about was righting the wrong, setting a good example of humility to the kids, and making Felicity proud… had she been there to see it herself. That night Oliver also resolved in himself that he wasn't going back to who he was before. Ever. He hated it, and he hated the disappointed look on the faces of those boys and girls whom he had failed.

That night, Oliver couldn't sleep. Yes, he had recovered somewhat from the misery of guilt and shame, but he missed Felicity. A lot. He closed his eyes and tried hard to recall how it felt like to have her hands in his, her fingers interlaced with his. He missed gazing at her lustrous blue eyes whenever she smiled. He missed her smarts, too. He missed her laughter… and the way her pink lips moved whenever she cracked a corny joke… or the way her blonde tresses danced with the sea breeze, like soft lace letting the golden glow of sunlight through. The memories seemed to be slipping away, just as she seemed to be slipping away from him into Barry Allen's arms. The prospect of losing her to him sent a wave of panic through his heart.

But who can blame her? Barry Allen was a pretty amazing, talented, brilliant, and cool guy. More importantly, he treated her right, and Oliver had seen that in the past few days. If he were truly honest, he'd have to admit that he'd seen it ever since week one. If Oliver was going to give way for Felicity to be happy, he decided he'd be willing to give way to none other than Barry. The possibility of that happening sure did hurt, even if at that point, it had been just that – a possibility. But Oliver committed to be a true friend to her, and that meant he'd look out for her and make sure she'd get only the best and the right things. And if that meant being with Barry, then he was willing to concede.

Oliver Queen, willing to concede to whatever was best for a woman he wanted? This line of thinking and feeling was so not Oliver, and he knew it. His old self would never have allowed another guy to get the girl he wanted because whatever Oliver wants, Oliver gets… regardless. He lay in his bunk bed musing, and he couldn't believe how much he'd changed just in the last couple of months. He realized that it has been in giving of himself that he found meaning and purpose in life, and he wasn't about to give all that up now, even if it hurt like hell to even think that he may never end up with Felicity Smoak.

As he pondered the situation, it became clear to him that he did not just want Felicity anymore. He had gotten past that. Now, he wanted what's best for her. He realized that it's the same thing he's wanted for Thea, for his parents, for really good friends like Tommy and Laurel, and for the boys under his care – in other words, for every single person in his life he truly cared about. He had only known Felicity for a little less than three weeks; nevertheless, to his own astonishment, he already desired for this very special woman to have every good thing that life could offer, and more.

That's when it dawned on him – the difference between "falling in love" and choosing to love. Falling in love is often the theme of those cheesy and fluffy romance novels, movies, and love songs that reflected popular culture, and Oliver recalled being "in love" at least once in his life – with Laurel Lance. But actually loving someone is different. The former is primarily based on feelings and attraction, and is often self-centered in motive. The latter is based on sober, careful thought that guides both desire and decision, and is always other-centered. The thought of losing Felicity to Barry (or to someone else that would really care about her, for that matter) still hurt, but something else made Oliver smile: he realized that he was learning how to love. He was learning what it means to truly love a woman… particularly, an incredible woman named Felicity Smoak.

Oliver smiled, his heart barely able to contain the joy that filled it to the brim. The realization that he had begun to love this amazing woman with pure, sincere intentions comforted him and slowly lulled him to sleep. It wasn't a love based merely on fleeting feelings. It was a deep desire for her highest good. Yes, he was still, no doubt, very much attracted to her, but this love that was beginning to build up in his heart? It went way beyond physical attraction. It came from his soul. So, he resolved that Barry or no Barry, everything would be all right, because he knew where he stood. He stood on her side – the side that constrained him to do what was best for Felicity even if they did not end up together. And there was no other place he'd rather be.

The next morning, all campers and chaperons boarded two Adventure Camp buses headed for Coast City for the tour and the shopping spree that Ray Palmer had promised everyone a few days ago. The boys, girls, and adults were all excited, making their way to the buses with zest.

Oliver's group was the first one to arrive at the parking lot after breakfast and was immediately allowed to board Bus No. 1. He made sure that all of his ten boys were seated in pairs and had everything they needed for the trip. Caitlin Snow's group arrived a few minutes later. She greeted Oliver and then directed her girls to take the seats in the rear section of the bus. Hal Jordon's group came next, and they occupied the middle section of the bus.

Oliver sat on one of the seats up front, just behind the driver's seat, waiting for the rest of their bus mates to arrive. He greeted Hal with a high five, and his pilot friend informed him that aside from his group, Bus No. 1 had been assigned to the groups from Starling City and Central City. That meant they were waiting for Barry's and Felicity's groups to board the bus. The thought of being in the same bus as Barry and Felicity made him a bit uneasy at first, especially when he looked out the window and saw the pair from afar, looking like they were enjoying each other's company as they approached the bus. Oliver looked away and closed his eyes. He reminded himself of last night's realizations and resolutions, and in less than a minute, he was able to relax.

Barry and his boys got on the bus, heading straight towards the back. They were a rowdy bunch, and it took a while for him to get them all settled. When they did, he greeted Oliver, "Morning!" Oliver greeted back with a small yet genuine smile on his face.

Oliver saw Felicity standing just outside the door of the bus, letting her girls board the bus one at a time. He could hear her loud voice as she gave instructions to the girls to take the remaining seats on the left side of the bus. Oliver saw her combing her fingers through her blonde hair, looking irritated, and then she started yelling, "Bekah! Amy! Hurry up! Bus won't wait forever!" In a matter of seconds, the skinny girl and her chubby companion who had been lagging behind hopped in, catching their breath as they slumped into their seats.

Felicity was right behind them, looking as pretty as always even if she appeared a bit irked by the tardiness of two of her girls. That day she let her hair down again, but straightened instead of curled. She must have worn contacts, and Oliver thought she looked even more beautiful without her dark-rimmed spectacles. Her pretty face and attractive figure were accented by her bright green sleeveless shirt, tight-fitting Guess jeans, and Keds sneakers.

When Felicity saw him, the agitation on her face disappeared and was replaced by the most charming smile, as she said to him, "Good morning, Oliver! This seat taken?" She was referring to the empty seat beside Oliver directly behind the driver.

"Huh?... Uhm… No, it isn't," was all he could say. Oliver wasn't really prepared for that. He was expecting her to go all the way to the back of the bus to sit with Barry.

Felicity removed the pink, floral-printed knapsack that had been slung over her right shoulder and sat down beside him. Judging by the look on Oliver's face, she immediately sensed that he must be feeling awkward about something. She had been noticing something different in his behavior in the past couple of days. Even though he'd greet back whenever their paths crossed, he seemed distant and aloof. She had caught him stealing glances at her from afar, but there was this sad look on his face. So, she tried to lighten the atmosphere and asked, "Something wrong? I hope I didn't steal this seat from someone else, did I?"

"Oh… no," Oliver replied timidly. "I… just… I thought you were going to sit back there." He pointed his chin towards the rear of the bus.

"Oh? What made you think that?" she asked again. "I thought you'd be happy to sit with me on the way to Coast City and back, so we could talk about the other night. I never did get to congratulate you, you know. Your boys did a fantastic job with that dance number."

Oliver smiled upon hearing that. Of course he was happy that she chose to sit with him. He was thrilled. He'd never been more thrilled to ride a bus in his life than he had been that morning. At the back of his mind, he also wanted to find out more about her and Barry Allen, so he mustered some courage and answered, "Of course I'm glad you took this seat. It's always good to spend time with you." He smiled. She smiled back. "It's just that I expected you to sit with Barry. You two seem to have gotten along real well these past days," he added. Oliver kept his fingers crossed as he spoke that last sentence. He looked straight into her eyes as he waited for a response.

"Barry?" She chuckled. "I've had too much of Barry Allen to last me a lifetime. We've known each other since we were kids coz he lived with us for a while when he was waiting for a more permanent foster home. We connected easily, you know, both of us being parent-less. And of course, we both love books, movies, science, computers, gadgets, and a whole lot of other stuff. I already know everything there is to know about him."

She gasped and stopped in the middle of her rambling when she realized the implications of what she had just said, and then she continued. "By everything, I didn't mean everything as in everything. No, of course not. I meant that he and I go way, way back, so we know a lot about each other, not necessarily very personal or physical stuff. You know?"

Oliver laughed. He laughed because he thought her babbling was utterly hilarious and adorable. He laughed because he felt foolish to have brooded over assumptions that she had something going on with Barry. He laughed because he felt relieved that the two of them were just very good friends. He laughed because he was happy to have cleared the air.

He gave her a pat on the knee and replied, "I get it. Don't worry." He then looked away and stared out the window for a while, shaking his head at the thought that his pent-up jealousy over the past few days, last night's outburst, and the apprehensions that kept him awake until past midnight had all been a waste of energy. He had assumed wrongly and had totally misinterpreted Barry's and Felicity's behavior towards each other. Never in his life had Oliver been glad about making a mistake.

The bus soon left for Coast City, and for the next forty-five minutes, Oliver and Felicity enjoyed another quiet, relaxing conversation.