I didn't fear Ollie.

Well, actually, I didn't fear what Ollie might do to me physically. But the man was no idiot and he could tell when something was off. He was like another uncle to me and he loved me as much as I did him, so he would know just as well as Barry when something was up. And he wasn't clouded by familial love like my real uncle, so he might be able to catch on to something.

Bruce might have, too, but he had yet to speak to me. And that was just the way I was keeping it.

So, in reality, I only feared what Ollie was capable of doing to get to real answers. Which included bribery and black mailing me if he didn't like what I told him.

"Now, Wally." He breathed out, moving to sit down beside me, "I'm sure you noticed, but just in the case that you didn't, your uncle didn't know anything about our little phone call apart from the fact that you were in Mexico and you contacted me." He informed, blue eyes boring into mine. "I didn't withhold information because I wanted to keep you safe. I just wanted to keep him from doing something he would have regretted later on."

I knew he was telling the truth. If he had told Uncle B that I had been drinking tequila... Well... He was being nice to me now because I was injured. But if he had known I'd been drinking for much longer, he would not have hesitated in scolding reprimanding me, even if there were others around.

"Your uncle told us that the Rogues came looking for him when they found you. And they said they found you running around with a couple of trouble makers in their headquarters' parking lot."

I gulped almost inaudibly in fear. Had the Rogues told my uncle of my outburst? Did he know what I wished he didn't? If he did, why was he still hanging around my parents as if they were the greatest thing since whip cream?

Ollie leaned back in his chair and stroked his goatee. "They told us they brought you in as soon as they found you and, of course, scolded you. Then your Uncle told us that you took off running after having socked Rory in the jaw because you just... flew off the handle." His blue eyes glanced away for a second, then were looking at me with sharp intensity. "But their story has a gap in it and so does your uncle's. There's something either they're not telling us, or he's not telling us."

My eyes widened as he frowned down at me, now leaning forward so he could look me straight in the eyes. "Your Uncle told us James wasn't in his usual happy-go-lucky mood when the Rogues finally got him. And he didn't really have an explanation for it because nothing ever gets that kid down. And it couldn't have been you running away, because the kid was just as surprised to see you were gone as your uncle."

"What did you do that had James so quiet?"

I looked away from him the instant the question left his lips, not daring to really say anything. The Rogues hadn't said anything? They hadn't told my uncle about my outburst and how they found with intoxication clear on me? And my uncle had seen James sad but couldn't explain it either? No wonder Ollie said there were gaps in both their stories. But the gaps in my uncle's telling were because of the gaps in the Rogues'.

Normally, I wouldn't use my powers of speed to think. I would find it kind of arbitrary to think in a fast pace and rather enjoyed to keep a slow pace to remind myself that I was just human. And I would not use them around my uncle when in trouble because he could easily catch me thinking fast. But Ollie... I knew he knew me, but if I was lucky, he wouldn't be able to differentiate me thinking in a fast pace and me thinking in a normal one.

Unconsciously biting at my lower lip, I began to think up of anything that might get me out of the situation.

First of all, what did he know and what did he not?

Ollie knew I had been in Mexico drinking tequila. And he knew that I had burst out on the Rogues and punched Rory. And he knew that I had snuck into the house at four in the morning with Kate Huxley after a wild teenage party.

But he did not know that I had been on my way to drunk when the Rogues found me. Nor did he know that I had emotionally broken down in front of them, promising to be better and almost giving my darkest secret away by doing just that, and then punched Rory. And he did not know that I had been pretty okay until my father had beaten me to a bloody pulp.

He was here now because I had fallen down the stairs and knew a bit more than my own uncle will. And he was here because he at least cared enough to see I was acting differently.

What could I tell him?

I was merely a teenager acting up? No, that would never work. He was much too intelligent to listen to just that.

Maybe... I had overheard my mother telling one of her friends that she and my father were trying for a second child. Not many people close to my family knew, so I guess Ollie didn't either. I could tell him that I was just acting up and being rebellious because my parents were ignoring me and much too busy trying to make things work for another child to pay attention to me.

But that wouldn't explain why I was drinking in Mexico...

With a small flutter in my chest, I almost smiled and gave away the fact that I was thinking up of an answer.

"I know you won't believe me..." I began, already planting the seeds for him to give me a bit more leeway and try his best to believe me. "But my parents... They've been kind of angry with me lately."

A blonde eyebrow quirked but Ollie didn't say a thing. So I continued.

"I got a D on an English test," 'Not a lie', "Then I flunked my Spanish midterm," 'Two truths, I'm amazed with myself', "And then I blew up at them because they tried to tell me that I needed to get my grades up to get in a good college." 'Ah, here are the lies I am so accustomed to'. "Well, that only made matters worse and now I'm walking on eggshells with them." Then I raised my good hand and rubbed at my forehead. "Then they told me that they were trying to give me a little sister or brother and I... Well... It hurts..." I breathed out, forcing tears to come to my eyes to try and fool him. "It hurts to know I'm not good enough for them..." I whispered.

Ollie shifted softly after I had spoken up, but didn't say anything. I had to slather it on heavy now. And the lies that were about to tumble from my mouth were so comforting that they washed away the bitter taste of the small amount of honesty I had said had left.

"I ran away because I felt like my parents don't want me anymore. And they don't need me either." Now my voice cracked and I almost patted myself on the back for acting so well, "I ran to Mexico because nobody asks anything down there... And I needed a break, Ollie... I'm not a perfect boy that can grin and bear everything... I have feelings too..." I looked up at him, tears brimming my eyes, "I'm sorry that I made you worry... I just wanted to forget for once..."

Immediately the man sat up and took me in his arms, hugging me close to his body while stroking at my wild red hair. "Oh, Walls..." he sighed, shaking his head softly, "Alcohol is never the answer..."

"I know!" I gasped out, raising my good hand to grip at his black jacket tightly. "I know it was wrong and I know I should never have done it, but I-!" I yelled out, choking back a sob, "I couldn't help myself! I knew it would get me in trouble, but people finally paid attention to me again!"

And after yelling that out I was reduced to a quivering child, sobbing and crying as Ollie did his best to just try and calm me down. He spoke in a soothing tone and rubbed my back in circles, like I'm sure he had done to Roy many years ago, telling me that I was completely wanted and that I should never have resorted to such a stupid thing to get attention.

But he was a man that knew how teenagers acted. Roy himself had turned to alcohol about three years ago when Ollie had to leave for a very long League mission. So he thought that my story fully added up and that the blanks left by the Rogues were now filled.

I had never been prouder of my ability to lie.

Once I had finished crying and Ollie had made sure I wasn't about to start sobbing again, he held me by the shoulders and looked me square in the eyes.

"I get what you were doing, kid, but you went about it the wrong way. And I don't feel comfortable keeping such important information from your family." He told me, seeming so sincere that my throat closed up in guilt.

But I shook my head to try and clear it from those traitorous thoughts. I had to keep up the lie. I couldn't let anybody else figure my secret out.

He took this as me telling him I didn't want to tell anyone, "Walls, you were drinking tequila. That's not safe for someone your age."

... At least he didn't know I shook my head for my sake rather than as an answer.

"I know, but... What if I don't do it again? I promise I won't touch a drop of alcohol until I'm 21!" I pleaded, opening my eyes so they were now mimicking a kicked puppy look. Usually, this would guilt trip him.

I could see how his shoulder's tensed and did a small victory dance inside my own mind.

"I don't... I can't..." He stuttered, then sighed and looked down, "You're grounded, right?"

I nodded rapidly, doing my best to not smile in victory.

"Promise me you'll follow the terms of this punishment to a t, never touch alcohol again until you're at least 25, and I won't tell anyone about anything."

I cheered both inside and outside and hugged him tightly. It was back to acting like buffoon Wally once more.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I told him, smiling broadly, "I won't do it ever again, promise!"

He chuckled at me and patted my back, "I know you won't. Now, why don't you tell me just how you met someone like Kate Huxley? If she's anything like her mother, I would expect her to be the biggest prude on-"

"She kind of is." I interrupted him before he finished, then nestled back into the bed my smile still in place.

My secret was safe for at least one more day.

"She's only my friend now because I knew her back in first grade. And she has a boyfriend, just so you know, a guy named Mike Ferdinand."

His eyes widened in a comical fashion, "Wait... You mean to tell me you're not hanging out with her just to get some action?"

My face reddened at this and for once I wasn't acting. I was completely embarrassed just by the thought.

"Of course not! I'm not some hormonal stereotype that only looks at women to get lucky!" Now I raised my good hand and slapped him, all the while the unabashed Oliver Queen only chuckled at my reaction, "Just how much trash do you have in that mind of yours?"

"Sorry! Sorry!" He apologized even though his face was still covered up by that mirthful smile. "I just... You know... I just thought you were quite the ladies man."

Now I groaned in an exaggerated manner, "Ollie!"

He laughed once more and shoved me by my arm, and I only swatted at his hand.

Then we began to talk about anything and everything that came to mind, and for once I felt comfortable around an adult. It was the first time I didn't feel like he was talking to me to get information or to just fill time.

Ollie was talking to me because he wanted to.

And I had repaid his kindness by lying to him.

I was despicable. No wonder I kept the truth hidden.

So, yeah, Wally's an idiot. BUT! Do not worry, kind readers, the plot shall thicken even further in the next chapter! And Wally will have even more reason to keep the abuse a secret!

Hope you liked it!