A/N: Extra long chapter ahead! Consider it a birthday present from me to you! Even though my birthday was yesterday.

WARNING! Some mention of rape ahead!

Also, 315 reviews and 79,000 views? You guys are awesome!

Chapter 25:

Oliver POV ~ Sat. 28 February 2003 ~ 5pm

She was happy.

At least, she looked happy, he didn't exactly run over to ask. After all, it wasn't any of his business, right? If Felicity wanted to have a coffee date with Nathan Statham.

At least the guy didn't have much of a reputation. He was a new senior, just like Oliver, but he hadn't taken part in the prankings on Halloween, nor was he in any of Oliver's classes, so he didn't know the guy all that well. Oh, Oliver'd had the impulse to beat the crap out of him when he saw him with Felicity in the Strabucks, an arms wrapped around her waist, but a couple of the guys from his business class had interrupted, and he'd lost sight of them.

Still. She'd looked happy. And that's all he wanted for her.

Letty, who had been in almost as bad a mood as him lately, had asked around about Nathan for Oliver. Apparently, his friends said he was a fun guy to hang out with, got reasonably good grades, and came from an old family, who had inherited all their wealth. Letty had also talked to a few of his old girlfriends, but they hadn't said much.

Right now, Oliver sat of the field near the tennis courts, east of the boy's dormitory. Felicity was sitting at a picnic table a few yards away, accompanied by Nathan, of course. These days they were hardly ever seen apart. Felicity was reading a book, while Nathan kept distracting her by talking. Oliver clenched his jaw. She hated when you talked if she was reading, that way, she had to split her attention.

He saw Nathan lean forward to kiss her, and Oliver was about to jump up and… something. Okay, so he hadn't quite figured out what he'd do. But the point was moot, as someone suddenly stepped in his line of sight.

Blinking, he looked up, right into Katie's face. She'd raised her eyebrows at him. Oliver sighed and looked down at the grass he'd been shredding. He was steadily creating a little circle without vegetation.

"You know you look like a creepy stalker, right?" Katie asked rhetorically, and promptly sat down in front of him.

Seeing as she wasn't expecting an answer, Oliver kept his eyes on the circle of dirt.

She sighed. "I don't know why you didn't just tell her that you love her, before all this mess. It's obvious to anyone but you, you know."

Oliver glared at her, but didn't argue. He'd gotten to know Katie quite well, and knew that it would serve no purpose. "She's happy," he said, almost as if he hadn't been telling himself that for the last week over and over again in his head. It was his mantra now. He focused on the blades of grass again, tearing out a chunk of them.

Rolling her eyes, Katie shoved him lightly. "She loves you, you dimwit."

"Doesn't look like it from where I'm sitting," he said half-heartedly.

"She trying to get over you, and from the looks of it, I'd say it's working." She sighed. "Look, I know you still care about her, and while I haven't exactly been your biggest fan-" Oliver snorted at that. "-I know you make her happy," she continued, unfazed. "If all you want is for her to be happy, you'd be with her." She stood up and dusted herself off. "Food for thought." And then she walked off, towards the happy couple.

Oliver wanted to believe her. But looking at them now, he just couldn't. Katie claimed that Felicity still loved him, but was slowly getting over him. What was he supposed to do? March over there and kiss her? Much as he wanted to do just that, he knew Felicity well enough that, even if she loved him – which he still doubted – she wouldn't accept him. Not now. He was trying to be better, he really was. He was getting better grades than ever, he'd broken up with Laurel and had turned down several girls in the meantime. And the best part was that he wasn't even doing it for her… he was doing it because he wanted to be a better person.

So he'd have to wait, and stand on the sidelines, watching Felicity be happy. Until the day came that she needed him. And he'd be there for her. Always.

/*/

Katie POV ~ 5:30pm

"Okay, you guys, if you two don't stop, I'm going to puke," Katie said, making a face at Felicity and Nathan. She could totally see what Felicity liked about Nathan – he was, after all, handsome, funny and attentive, he gave her flowers and wrote her corny notes, and he gave her all his attention. But something about him made Katie dislike him. Though that might be because she'd finally developed a soft spot for Oliver. Still, she would never let Felicity know that she didn't like her new boyfriend, so everything was said with a wink and a smile.

Felicity grinned. "Sorry Katie. But now you know how I feel every time I see you and Cody together."

Nathan smiled as well, but Katie felt like it didn't reach his eyes. "She's right, though, love," he said, and accentuated it with a kiss to Felicity's cheek. "I've got to run. I'm making a phone call to my mate back home. I'll see you tonight?" he asked, softly rubbing Felicity's back.

Felicity blushed and nodded. Something about that struck Katie as weird. Not that Lissa didn't blush all the time, but it was her timid way of acting that confused her. Katie herself was staying over at Cody's place, so she hadn't asked about Lissa's plans.

She raised an eyebrow at her friend, but she just shrugged and pretended to read in her book. Katie looked over her shoulder at Oliver, only to find him gone. He must've left before Nathan had…

"Have you talked to Letty lately? She's been so angry all the time, and Dylan won't squeal," she asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from anything awkward.

Lissa looked up. "Not really. I mean, I've seen her around, and we had lunch a few days ago, but that's it. She hasn't been angry around me," she said. Then she grinned. "Maybe it's just you she's pissed at. What'd you do?"

Katie rolled her eyes. "It's not just me, other people have been saying it too. Even Oliver noticed. He asked, but Letty just punched him in the shoulder."

Felicity frowned. "Really? That doesn't sound like her…"

"Punching people? Actually, yeah, it kind of does sound like her. Just usually not Oliver. She actually sort of likes him. Most of the time anyway."

Felicity looked down. "Oh crap. Nathan left his bag here," she said, picking it up.

Standing up, Katie took it from her. "I'll run after him. He's probably headed for the boy's dorm anyway. You keep studying. I doubt you've gotten much done with loverboy all over you."

She smiled. "Okay, thanks! It's getting dark anyway, I'm heading back to the dorm. I'll see you there."

Katie slung the bag over her shoulder and set off at a jog. She'd been in track for years, but she didn't like how competitive people were here, so she'd quit. She still loved running, though.

She reached the building soon enough, and was about to enter, when she heard a voice coming from the side. It sounded British, so chances were it was Nathan. She was about to round the corner when she heard part of the conversation and froze.

"Yeah, she's hot, but completely inexperienced." There was a pause. He was already on the phone then. "No, it's been a week, and I'll be glad to be done with it… Yeah, flowers and everything… What?... Oh, I'm thinking tonight. Her roommate's out, so we'll have the place to ourselves."

The more she heard, the more concerned she got. What the hell was going on?

"Of course she's going to want to, but even if she doesn't, I'll just slip her some of the 'magic potion'. She'll be willing then."

The leer was clear in his voice, and the sound made Katie sick. But what he was saying… He couldn't mean… could he?

She stumbled away, somehow managing to avoid attracting attention to herself. She was so shocked she could barely walk. You heard about these sort of things on the news, in the papers, but it just didn't happen to you or your friends, it was impossible. Except, that it wasn't. It was happening right now.

Katie wasn't sure how, but she managed to find her footing, and raced back to Felicity. She had to tell her!

In her haste, she wasn't looking where she was going, and collided with something. Hands shot out to steady her before she could fall on her ass. "Hey, what's the hurry?" Oliver asked, frowning at her.

She was gasping, and her thoughts were all over the place. She probably wouldn't make any sense, but she had to say something! "I – Nathan – he – and he said that – oh god, this can't be happening! I need to – Felicity, she needs to know! He'll – he can't! I need to–" she stammered.

"Hey, calm down. What about Felicity?" he asked as he pulled out a tissue. Katie sniffed and suddenly realized that she'd been crying. Or maybe it was just the cold wind. Probably the former, though. "You okay? Try that again."

Taking a few breaths, Katie managed to get her breath under control. "I just overheard Nathan talking. And he was saying all these things… Oliver, I think… I think he's going to use date rape drug on her. He said that she'd be willing, but even if she's not, he'd just give her a little 'magic potion'. I need to tell Felicity, she needs to know!"

Oliver had gone really still, his face blank. "Make sure she stays in tonight. And don't tell anyone what you heard."

"But–" Katie started, but faltered when she saw the look in his eyes. His face might be blank, but those blue eyes had just gone stone cold. A shiver ran down Katie's spine, and she was really happy she wasn't Nathan right now. "I'll make sure she stays in."

Oliver nodded, and walked off without a word. Katie wasn't sure whether to be relieved or worried. She put the thought out of her head and walked back to her own room. On her way there, she called Cody to cancel their date, telling him she wasn't feeling all that well.

She hated lying to him, but Oliver had said not to mention it to anyone. And she believed that he meant it.

"Hey Katie, I see you didn't find him," Felicity said once Katie had closed the door behind her.

"Huh?" she asked, confused.

Felicity gestured to her back. "You still have Nathan's bag. I assume you didn't find him."

She looked so unconcerned, and happy. It was strange that Katie had just heard something so awful, and had her whole life turned upside down, but for Felicity, everything was still normal. She was completely untouched by that. Logically, she know that Felicity hadn't heard, and so she wouldn't feel any different, but… it was such a horrible discovery that she felt like it should be visible somehow, like Felicity shouldn't be so happy when something so horrible had been about to happen.

Felicity looked up from her book. "Are you okay? You look kind of pale."

Katie shook her head. She needed to focus. "I'm not feeling so hot. I cancelled my date with Cody," she said, making her voice sound a little raspier than usual.

Immediately, Felicity jumped up from her desk. "Really? Is there something I can do? Should I call the nurse? Here, sit down," she said quickly, pulling out a chair. Lissa was a worrier, and Katie planned on taking full advantage of it tonight.

"Don't call the nurse, it's not that bad, but…" She bit her lip for full effect, waiting for her friend to take the bait.

"What? What is it?"

Bingo. "Could you stay with me? I didn't want to ask Cody, and I feel really awful…"

"Of course!" Lissa replied immediately. "I'll just text Nathan and tell him I can't make it tonight."

Katie smiled, and suggested they both change in their pajamas and watch some Doctor Who reruns. Felicity had raised an eyebrow at that, considering Katie wasn't such a huge fan of the show – she'd liked it okay, but she was so not buying little tardisses and long weird scarves or anything – but she'd just shrugged and went with it.

Nathan never did answer that text…

/*/

The next morning they woke up to knocking on their door. It was Evie, the girl who's room was across from theirs. She told them that Nathan had been beaten up and was being held at the infirmary.

Felicity barely stopped to grab her jacket before she was out the door, running. Katie remembered to grab both their shoes and her own jacket, before she followed her friend, dropping her keys and shouting at Evie to lock their door.

They arrived in record time, but the nurse told them that they couldn't see Nathan. "But I'm his girlfriend. Please?" she pressed.

The nurse smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry. He asked specifically not to let you in."

Felicity just stood there, openmouthed, and Katie's heart went out to her. She couldn't imagine Cody doing that to her, let alone what it would feel like. "Could I go in, maybe? I just want to wish him well, I'll only be a minute, I swear."

The nurse hesitated. "Alright fine. But I'll be timing you."

Katie went inside, and quickly spotted the only occupied bed. Nathan was propped up on pillows, his left arm was in a sling and he had a black eye and a split lip. Honestly, she'd thought he would look worse. He frowned at her as she came closer, but didn't say anything.

"She really liked you, you know. But I know what you were planning, and you deserved far worse than what you got. You are disgusting, and I hope you rot in hell," she said quietly, turned on her heel, and left.

As she exited the infirmary, she heard the nurse talking to Felicity. "He has a dislocated shoulder and two cracked ribs. He was obviously beaten, but he refuses to say anything. He's asked for a transfer back to England," she explained.

Felicity had tears in her eyes. "But why? Why won't he just say something? And why won't he talk to me?"

"I'm sorry, dear, I don't know," the nurse answered softly.

Katie stepped in and gave Felicity a hug.

She'd wondered the night before if she should be worried or relieved, but all she felt now was relief and sympathy for her friend. She was having her heart broken, and she didn't even know why.

And she'd never know what Oliver had saved her from…

A/N: So, I know some of you wanted Felicity to just be happy with a guy for a little while, but then this idea popped into my head, and I felt like it was too good of an opportunity for character development for Oliver.

If there is anything else you'd like to see in this fic, please tell me!

review replies:

Guest: Well you got your wish! Nathan is gone!

Stacey: I hope you didn't mind Nathan's speedy departure! But Oliver is well aware that he loved Felicity, he just doesn't think he deserves her. And their friendship is on the mend, as the next chapter will show. I'm glad you're back to reviewing, and I'm happy that you're enjoying this!

Krissie: Well, I didn't pass my exam, but I had a pretty good birthday, so I guess my week sort of balanced itself out. Thanks so much for your review, I'm glad you think this story is good!