Hello readers, first my apologies I have been on holiday and not had the chance to update. Secondly I hope to be able to update more now that I am home.

I would also like to say if I have offended anyone by not updating sooner then I am sorry but it was out of my control. All of you have left a review thank you most of them made me smile with the exception of one which made me doubt my story. A greater thank you Ekendall 1216 whose review is the reason I am posting this today while writing some more chapters. Also a massive thank you to my lovely beta reader who ensures you lovely readers don't have to put up with my mistakes. Thank you to you all for putting up with me. Please enjoy. Reviews always make me smile. :)

Chapter 11

Rachael's POV

Thea sat back in her chair and placed her breakfast plate on the coffee table.

"Rachael, I am sorry that I took those stupid pills and I didn't think that one hit would have that much of an effect."

I leaned forward in my chair and I pulled my hair from the bobble, which held it back.

"Thea you have to realise that although it didn't feel like much, the dose took a larger effect than you know."

"No Rach you're wrong. It was a weird effect; you told me all the different effects that you experienced and this didn't come close to any of them. It wasn't a slow burn, it was instant and it felt like a burning fire in my head but a cold numbing feeling everywhere else. I felt like I could do anything and I did exactly what I wanted. I wanted to prove I wasn't a little kid anymore but I did the opposite of that."

"No fucking kidding Thea. What did you say the drug was called? I think I might have a look into this."

A complete look of panic crossed Thea's face.

"Rachael you can't go looking into drugs. What if you get addicted again? Oliver would never forgive me and Laurel is already pissed that I might be working at CNRI for my community service."

"Thea I will be able to find out from any number of press reports or any detective on the police force. Or we could do it the easy way and you just tell me."

Thea pulled a face as I started to press buttons on my phone.

"Vertigo. The drug was called Vertigo."

"Pleasure doing business with you Thea. Anyway I promise I will not put myself within 20 feet of any Vertigo, I'll send someone from Starling Industries to start investigating. I will only start personally looking into it if you go to prison or another person I know is directly affected by the drug."

I placed my phone back into the pocket of Oliver's jeans as I sat back on the couch. Thea pulled her feet up underneath her as she moved on the armchair.

"So you have a lunch date with my brother? And what was that kiss about? Are you two dating? That would be awesome."

My hand flew to my cheek where Oliver had kissed before he left with John. My face burned red as I went to answer Thea.

"Well I don't know actually. I can't be in a relationship at the moment. And it's not a date it's just lunch with a friend."

Thea laughed as she stood up and held her plate in one hand.

"Rachael I know you had a crush on my brother. So we are treating this as a date and you are not going dressed like that. Come on, I think I have a couple of outfits that might do the trick."

Thea pulled me up from the chair using her free hand and I could tell from the look on her face that I was in for a hell of a morning.

oOoOoOo

Oliver's POV

As Dig and I sat in the Arrow-cave looking for more information on the Count, he kept looking over at me.

"Do you have a problem Dig or are you just trying to annoy me?"

Dig got up from his seat and came and sat on the table I was working at.

"You kissed that girl before we left the house. You said she only wanted to be friends yet you are making it quite clear that you want to be more. Oh and the puppy dog look has returned."

I straightened up all the papers on my desk to ensure that he wouldn't crush any of the information we had gathered and glared at him. I leaned back in my chair until if I went back any further the chair would snap.

"Yeah but you can kiss your friends cheek. That's normal. Anyway never mind Rachael, we are meant to be dealing with the Count tonight. Do we need a special plan of action or the usual scare tactics?"

John moved from his seat on my table and over to the map of the warehouse area that the Vertigo deal was taking place.

"Well from the information I got, the Count isn't going to be there tonight but one of his major funders is going to be in one of these warehouses. I think the scare tactics should work but you need to be careful."

I made a face as Diggle used the word "careful" and wondered if running around rooftops with a bow and arrow was careful.

"I'm serious Oliver. These particular set of drug dealers' hail from the largest and most organised gang in the whole of Starling City. They make the Triad look like a group of school kids and you don't want to know half of the things this gang is up to."

"Actually Dig I think I will look into this gang but I'll deal with the Count first."

I glanced down at my watch and saw that it was nearly 11:30. I made my way over to the sparring mat and Diggle followed.

"Right. Okay a quick half an hour practice and then we need to go. Yes, before you say anything, because of my date with Rachael."

"Actually Oliver, I wasn't going to say anything before you called it a date."

I threw a punch at John and started the sparring practice.

oOoOoOo

Rachael's POV

I sat on the edge of Thea's bed as she pulled out half of her wardrobe looking for the 'perfect' outfit for my date with Oliver.

"Thea do I have to remind you that it isn't a date; its lunch with your brother? So the outfit that I'm wearing will be fine."

Thea waved her hand at me from inside her wardrobe.

"The hell it will. You are wearing men's clothes and while that is appropriate for hiding in a house, it isn't for going out in public. You are wearing a respectable outfit from my wardrobe, not my brother's."

I rolled my eyes as she continued to throw clothes everywhere around us.

"Slight problem there Thea. I am at least three inches taller than you. How am I meant to fit into any of your clothes?"

Thea pulled a dress bag out from the wardrobe and placed it on the bed.

"Yeah I know but you know how I like to shop. So I might have seen a dress I thought would have looked good on you and kind of bought it."

I stared at Thea with a shocked look on my face.

"Thea you shouldn't go around buying other people stuff. However, it is a very lovely gesture and it means a lot. What did you think I would need a new dress for anyway?"

"I just thought that you might need a new dress. I know how much you hate shopping for yourself so I'll do it for you."

With that Thea tugged lightly on the dress bag zipper and revealed a stunning red dress.

"Still going to complain that I bought you a dress, Rach?"

I shook my head as I touched the dress and Thea went back to putting the clothes back into her wardrobe. I changed into the red dress and Thea turned around as I fiddled with the dress.

"Wow you look amazing. My brother won't know what hit him."

I laughed as I spun around and the dress landed just above my knees.

"It isn't a date or at least it isn't starting as one. However, if your brother turns it into one I might play along."

"I knew you wanted to date my brother. Please make it work, you two would be awesome together."

The door downstairs opened and Thea and I looked at her clock, which read 12:25pm.

"Anybody here?"

Oliver's voice rang up from the hall.

"Rachael and I will be down in a minute."

I gaped at Thea as she ran from the room and made her way downstairs.I looked in the mirror. Thea was right, if this was a date then I guess it was time for me to get back into the dating game. Besides, I really liked the thought of dating Oliver Queen.

oOoOoOo

Oliver's POV

I was standing at the bottom of the stairs when Thea came running past me.

"Your outfit will do for your date but please don't mess it up."

I glanced over at Dig who was standing next to the door.

"Told you it was a date Oliver. It just seems to be you who can't admit it."

"Right the pair of you, this is not a date. It is lunch between two friends."

Thea raised her hand as I said friends.

"Yes Thea?"

"Cut the crap, we know you like Rachael as more than a friend. You always have except Bruce Wayne then Tommy and Lex Luthor somehow managed to make a move on her first. Don't treat her like a friend because she has enough of those.

Thea's bedroom door could be heard closing from upstairs and Rachael appeared on the landing. She looked amazing. The strapless red dress that she wore clung to her curves and made her look even more gorgeous than I had previously thought. She still had on her glasses and she had let her hair fall down around her shoulders. I cleared my throat and offered a hand up to her.

"You look great. Ready for lunch?"

"Yeah of course and I'm surprised that you're early. I thought I would have to wait on you for a while."

"Nope, I wouldn't do that to a girl like you."

"A girl like me? You'll have to explain that one to me over lunch."

I smiled as we walked over to the door. I may have actually looked a little bit like a puppy dog and I couldn't help but walk faster so that I was right next to Rachael. I only wished that I didn't have to be anywhere tonight because I wanted to spend the rest of the day with her.