Oliver had placed his hand on my lower back and led me to the dining room. As much as I'd like to say it didn't have any affect on me, it did. I could feel the warmth seep through my dress and onto my skin, a tingly feeling grew from where his hand was and spread through my body.
Two years ago when Oliver found me in the rain, that moment was just that, a moment in time that happened outside of everything else. There was definitely a shift in the dynamic and everything between us flowed a little bit better, but he was always going to be Tommy's best friend and I was his best friend's little sister.
At some point I subconsciously came to a realization that I'd spent my entire life growing up too fast and falling for Oliver wasn't something I was ready for. So any relationship I had with Oliver was going to stay platonic, any feelings more than friendly were pushed farther than the depths of my daddy issues. Not that my body always agreed with my mind of course.
"Felicity, congratulations on your graduation! I'm sorry we couldn't be there," Moira Queen called while gracefully walking down the stairs. It was amazing how Moira mastered the art of being sincere while also conveying that she was better than you.
"Thank you, and I completely understand. Tommy was there and supported me enough for everyone," I smiled back. She came forward and offered me a tight smile and loose hug. She reeked of Chanel and money. If you haven't noticed I hold a lot of passive aggressive resentment towards absentee parents, which she definitely fit the profile for.
"Come to the dining room, I'm sure everyone's ready for dinner," Moira said tightly as she looped her arm around Oliver's and pulled him farther along, effectively pulling his hand off my back.
Moira is a complicated woman. She was not one to have a stain on her family legacy. She definitely cared about her children, in a twisted sort of way, which led to having very high standards for any girl Oliver dated, not including the one night flings. Moira didn't appreciate her children surrounding themselves with people she considered "unrefined", but because Tommy was my brother and she approved of him she tolerated me, but being Malcolm Merlyn's bastard child wouldn't cut it with her. I'm sure this celebratory dinner was for appearance.
The dining table was set up nicely with a large spread and fancy silverware. I took my usual seat between Tommy and Sara. I was also very aware of Oliver sitting directly across from me and Laurel telling him about her latest problems. We made eye contact for a second and he tilted his head to the side offering me a smirk only his rich boy kind was capable of. I returned with a soft smile and motioned for him to go back to her conversation with Laurel. Also a reason Oliver and I would stay friends, because Laurel liked him.
Laurel's always had a thing for Oliver. When high school hit she really started flirting with Oliver and trying to start a relationship. Taking any chance to be near him. It's not exactly like he minded either, Laurel was one of his best friends.
Sara calls me late at night complaining about Laurel. She claimed it wouldn't be a good relationship because, to Oliver Laurel would've just been another fling, and Laurel would spend all her time trying to change Oliver when she wasn't a girl he would change for. Sara had a theory that Laurel just planned how her life would turn out and she wanted Oliver because he fit in her plans. Therefore, blinding herself into thinking she loved him.
I love Sara Lance. She's my best friend and my only girl friend. Tommy, Oliver, and Laurel were the same age and they were the iconic trio. Sara, like me, is younger, she is bold and absolutely brilliant. We were six when we met and Tommy dragged me to Oliver's where they were having a playdate with Laurel. Lucky for me Laurel took Sara along too. I rambled about nonsense and the usual response from both children and adults was to run away. Instead of running away, she responded with a simple "you're cute" and a sweet smile only little girls knew how to make. From then on she proclaimed herself to be my best friend.
Dinner went by quickly, but still too slow for my liking. Lately dinner's were always awkward because we were all pretending like we didn't know Robert and Moira were fighting and Laurel spent the whole time flirting with Oliver. Therefore leaving secretive side glances between Sara and I, as well as Tommy's occasional inappropriate innuendo. This made for a quick goodbye and an even faster exit.
On our way out the door Sara threw her arm around me, "Lissy, we are going to have the best time tonight! We're young and we're gonna dance till the sun comes up! I'm going to put your hot ass in a tight dress, Liss," Sara laughed as she slapped my butt. I yelped and jumped out of her grasp to stand next to Tommy.
"Absolutely not! You will not dress my baby sister like a hooker." Tommy warned as he glared at her.
"First of all, Sara, don't slap my ass, ever again, and Tommy, don't tell me how to dress. I'll wear whatever I want" I said.
"Oliver, back me up. Tell Barbie she's not going out dressed like a hooker," Tommy begged Oliver.
"I highly doubt Laurel would let Sara or Felicity out dressed like hookers," Oliver laughed. Laurel looked up at the mention of her name and realizing it was Oliver, she batted her eyelashes at him.
Oliver threw his arm around Laurel and she let out a twinkly giggle and her cheeks turned pink. Tommy being Tommy ran and jumped on Oliver's back effectively throwing them both to the ground in fits of laughter, Laurel not too far behind offering a hand to both only to be yanked to the floor as well.
Eventually Tommy and Oliver kept rolling on the floor ruining thousands of dollars in expensive clothes, while Laurel got up and came to stand between Sara and I. She hooked her arms through ours and proceeded to give us rules for tonight. She was the responsible one that mothered us, don't get me wrong though, Laurel loved to party just as much as Tommy and Oliver which is why they were friends. She just ensured that no real damage or harm came to us and kept us from getting into too much trouble.
"Okay, ladies you know the rules, only a couple of drinks, stick to lighter alcohol and keep an eye on your drink the whole time. Don't go off with strangers. If you need anything, find me or one of the boys," these were rules that Laurel put in place last year when Sara started high school and we started going to parties with them. But there was one more rule that we always abide by, "if Tommy and Oliver get arrested what do we do?" Laurel asked.
"Get to the car and don't get caught." Sara and I sighed in unison. We'd been in that kind of situation more than necessary. "Good, I raised you both well," she responded with a smug smile. By now we all had resumed walking to Tommy's car to drive back to our house to get ready and go out for the night
Oliver, Laurel, and Sara told their parents that they were spending the weekend at our house so we could stay out all night and nurse hangovers undisturbed. Tommy jumped in the front seat and Oliver took the shotgun, leaving the girls and me to slide in the back.
"Besides the plans for tonight, what's the plan for this summer?" Sara questioned. Ever since I've moved to Starling Tommy and I would travel to the most beautiful places. Our trips started with just Tommy and I with Isa, then extended to Oliver, Laurel, and Sara coming with us. Last summer was the first time we'd gone without Isa. Our parents weren't insane enough to let us go alone, we'd go with bodyguards every year.
Daddy dearest wasn't too concerned with where Tommy and I went as long as we were home when he was, which was virtually never. Moria hadn't minded either, because we had protection. That's the best part about rich people, you could be completely unsupervised as long as you had bodyguards. Laurel and Sara's parents, took more convincing, especially because their father wasn't too fond of Oliver and Tommy, but their mother was a free spirit and she wanted her children to have the opportunity to travel and see the world.
I was the unofficial planner, "As soon as you're all out of school next month, we are heading straight to Europe to a family villa in Barcelona for the month, then we'll come back to Starling for two weeks, and straight to Singapore for two weeks after that. I don't have anything planned after that, maybe Cancun, Croatia, Bora Bora, I'm not sure yet. But since we are gonna be in Europe for a while I think we should take smaller trips for a day or two to the neighboring countries or unless you guys don't like that. Oh we could always go to Greece or Rome, I wanna go sightseeing!" I sighed dreamily. Until it hit me that I'd been babbling again and I blushed a light shade of red.
Tommy looked at me through the mirror and flashed his big brother smile at me, "You always plan the best trips Lissy, wherever you want to go will be great," he said and leaned closer to Oliver, "anywhere in Europe with hot girls." Tommy remarked true to his playboy ways.
Oliver laughed and agreed with Tommy, making Laurel scowl. The ride back wasn't very long and we were pulling through the gates pretty soon. Sara was jumping out of the car before it fully stopped. She was our wild child and very excited to go out. I laughed and was not fully prepared for Sara to grab my arm and pull me to my room.
She bolted straight for my closet. "Oh my lord, Felicity Megan Merlyn, I'm in love with your closet," Sara sighed dreamily from the closet doorway.
"You only love my closet because you bought half of the things in there," I remarked. Sara liked to shop and I have a rich daddy with a no limit credit card. By now Laurel had also made her way to my room and headed straight for the closet.
"What are we thinking tonight? Twinning? Theme? Slutty? Give Tommy a heart attack and dress like hookers?" Laurel said jokingly. "Actually let's twin tonight, it'll be easier to spot you guys just in case." she cautioned.
We decided to dress in the same colors but not exactly the same. Laurel picked a tight, strapless black midi dress with nude heels to make her long legs never ending. Sara slipped on a black lace teddy and long black palazzo pants also wearing nude heels. As for me, Sara threw a classic short little black dress and nude heels at me. Nearly making me legally blind.
"Come sit Lissy, I'll curl your hair," Laurel motioned for me to sit in my dresser chair. I followed her request and dropped into the chair handing her a curling wand.
"It'll be weird without you Liss, at school I mean," Sara whispered. "My first two years at high school and they were the only ones I had with you."
"It won't be so different, I'll still be going through online school, I just won't be there," I replied.
"That's what's gonna be different Felicity," Sara deadpanned. "I liked having a genius best friend until you graduated two years too early." she said with a straight face.
"Alright I'm done, turn." Laurel announced. I turned and looked at myself in the mirror and I had to admit I looked pretty. A little on the slutty side at this particular moment, but still pretty all the same.
"Thanks Laurel," I said genuinely. She smiled at me and then shooed me out of the chair to do her own hair.
"Knock knock, are we ready to go ladies?" Tommy asked from my doorway. Oliver trailing behind him. They looked good, both in nice dress shirts and dark dress pants. My look lingered a little too long on Oliver and I turned before I got caught staring.
"We're almost ready, I just need to finish my hair," Laurel called over her shoulder.
"Come on Laurel! Hurry up, I wanna leave," Sara complained.
"You just wanna get drunk, Sara," Olive snorted.
"Hey, don't expose me, it's a night of celebration. Drinking just happens to be a part of it," Sara claimed and pursed her lips at him.
"Alright I'm done, we can leave," Laurel said. Sara hooked her arms through Laurel and I's and then proceeded to walk briskly to one of Tommy's cars.
"Wait, I need to grab my set of keys," I said and turned to start back towards my room. I didn't notice Oliver whisper something to Tommy and follow me back, or at least I pretended not too until I reached my room.
I walked into my room and headed straight for the keys on my desk, but I stopped in my tracks when I heard my door close. I turned around and saw Oliver leaning against it.
"Oliver, what are you doing here?" I asked softly. Being alone in a room with Oliver when he looked that good was making my non platonic feelings float to the surface and making my skin feel hot.
"I got you a graduation present. I wanted to give it to you before dinner, but Speedy wanted your attention," he said with a chuckle. He walked closer to me and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a small black velvet box and held it out to me.
"Oliver, you didn't need to get me anything," I retorted.
"Take it Felicity, it's for you." He grabbed my hand and placed it into my palm. I opened it slowly to reveal a stunning pear cut emerald necklace on a simple silver chain.
"Oh my, Oliver… it's beautiful. I can't take this." I insisted while trying to push the box back into his hands.
"Felicity, I got you a gift because you deserve something beautiful that just belongs to you. Tommy loves you, but his gift giving skills could use some work," Oliver and I both laughed at the memory of Tommy giving me keys for a new car only to remember after the fact that I wouldn't be sixteen for another two months. "It's not just from me either, Speedy picked it out. She would be very upset if she found out you rejected her gift."
"Guilting me is a cheap shot, Oliver Queen," he took the necklace out and moved behind me to clasp it around my neck.
"It was made for you Felicity," one of his hands had moved to my waist and the other one on my shoulder. I was vaguely aware that we should leave, but my mind was too focused on how intimate this moment was. I turned around and stepped out of his grasp.
"Oliver, you shouldn't be getting me expensive gifts and standing so close…" I whispered and bit my lip to keep myself from babbling.
"I got you a necklace, Felicity. I put a hand on your waist. It doesn't have to be anything more than a necklace and a hand." He moved to place a hand back on my waist and one on my cheek. I leaned into his palm unconsciously. "This is just a hand, Felicity."
In that moment there were a lot of unspoken words between us and we both knew it was more than a hand or a gift.
I sighed into his palm, felt him snake his arm around, and pull me into a hug. I stepped back breaking the hug, but still in his grasp. "He's my brother, Oliver. This isn't right." I whispered.
"I know," he responded softly. We both walked out of my room and fell back into being playboy Oliver and genius Felicity.