Author's Note: Halfway to 50!

I guess that's one way to look at it XD

Christmas break was great. Alex smiled lazily as she stared up at the ceiling, the clock ticking past 10:00 and steadily off into the afternoon. She had no school, no homework (at least until she got the motivation to get it done before the end of break), no commitments, and no social obligations what-so-ever.

Great.

It was about a half hour later when Alex finally pulled herself out of her warm, cozy bed and down stairs. Eliza Danvers was sitting at her computer in her pajamas, a mug of coffee in her hand. She worked as a science teacher in AV middle school, so Winter break was a time off for her, too. Kara was on the couch with a plate of waffles, watching Nickelodeon.

"Hey," Alex said, patting her head as she walked by.

"Morning, Alex," Kara mumbled, still seeming half-asleep. She wasn't particularly involved in the show on television, Instagram up on her phone. As she passed, Alex saw a text from Mon-El pop up. Kara smiled unconsciously as she switched over to her texts and Alex shook her head, trying not to be jealous.

"Good morning, honey," Eliza said as Alex gave her a hug. "How did you sleep?"

"Long," Alex said, smiling in a self-satisfied way. "It was lovely."

She followed Kara's example and made herself a couple of waffles and peanut butter before joining her sister on the couch.

"Checked the weather this morning," Kara commented, licking syrup off of her fingers. "It's supposed to snow tomorrow?"

"Mm, what was the percentage?"

Kara shrugged. "No idea. My weather app only shows that for 24 hours."

Alex snorted and pulled out her own phone. The chance of snow was weak- less than 50%- but it was still something.

"I hope there's not a lot," Alex muttered, tugging the blanket off of the top of the couch and wrapping up in it. "I don't like the cold."

"I like snow," Kara said, glancing out the window. "I like spring better though."

Alex shook her head. "That's just because you're birthday's in April."

"No!" Kara protested. "I would like it even if my birthday wasn't in April. You don't like winter and your birthdays in January- oh boy, you're turning 18 soon. That's terrifying."

Alex laughed. "Yeah, I guess I am," she said, before adding bitterly: "18 and never been kissed."

"Aw, Alex," Kara hummed. "You have an entire month. There's always time."

Alex gave her a look. "Yeah. Sure."

As usual, her thoughts turned to Maggie. Alex sighed, taking an aggressive bite of her waffle and trying to focus on the show playing in front of her. She was honestly getting sick of the weighty, loss like feeling that always came with Maggie. Things were pretty normal between the two of them now. They had been smoothed over with help from Laurel and constant avoiding and/or ignoring the topic of what had happened.

But Alex couldn't shake the feeling that she was missing something. It was Christmas vacation, she was spending it with her amazing, loving family. The day after Christmas she, Kara, Laurel and Sara were all going out to lunch. She had a great family, great friends...

But there was a hole. There was this one gap that just couldn't be filled until.. well, Alex didn't quite know. Until she found the right one? Until she got a girlfriend? Until she got Maggie?

"Hey, Alex, what's wrong?" Kara asked, jutting her chin out at her sister. "You're looking really sad."

"Nothing," Alex muttered, taking another aggressive bite of her waffle. "Just thinking about... stuff."

Kara shrugged, and didn't press. Alex shoved Maggie out of her head and focused on her breakfast.

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"Okay, so I need to run an idea by you," Sara started as she walked into Laurel's room without knocking.

Laurel looked up from her computer. "Good morning."

"Hi." Sara sat down on the floor. "How's it going?"

"It's going fine." Laurel closed the computer and sat back. "What's your idea?"

"Soooo... I know it's a little bit in advance," Sara said. "But I was thinking that I would invite Leonard to our sort-of-annual Winter party."

"What're you talking about?" Laurel scoffed. "It's totally annual."

Sara rolled her eyes. "That's all you got out of that? Anyway, we've only been doing it for, like, 6 years, and we missed a year. Which is why I said sort-of-annual, instead of annual, or not-at-all-annual."

"Fair, fair," Laurel agreed.

There was silence.

"So what do you think?" Sara pressed. "About my... idea."

"To invite Leonard?" Laurel asked, shrugging. "I dunno. I think that it's fine."

Sara lay back with a groan. "Well, thanks, Oh-So-Wise-Sister-Mine," she grumbled.

"What, did you want me to tell you not to invite him?" Laurel peered at her, confused. "Didn't you want me to agree?"

"I just wanted an opinion," Sara explained. "Because I've never had a serious boyfriend before... or a boyfriend in general... And it's not like I ever invited Nyssa to the Winter party. But, I thought it could be fun to invite Leonard considering we didn't go to homecoming together."

"Because he showed you up," Laurel reminded her flatly.

"Well, yes, because he showed me up," Sara agreed. "And I also might have kind of thought that it would be a good time to tell Dad I have a boyfriend and that we are actually serious and that he's amazing and gorgeous and kind and sweet and basically anything I've ever wanted and that-"

"Oookay, Sara, slow down," Laurel told her. "Maybe tell Dad about him before he shows up at our house? Just in case Dad reacts... unfavorably?"

"Gee, thanks for your vote of confidence," Sara huffed. "Fine, when it gets closer to the party I'll ask Dad if I can have him as my plus-1, and tell him he's my boyfriend. Who are you bringing this year?"

Laurel flopped back on her bed and stared contemplatively at the ceiling. "Man, I really don't know," she said. "Alex and Maggie will most likely end up going to Winter Formal together-"

"You think?" Sara asked, shocked. She, of course, had heard all about Alex and Maggie's secret (and secretly mutual) pining over each other. It was a big mess of romantic drama that Sara thought was hilarious and would never, ever, want to happen to her. She liked the way her and Leonard's relationship worked: Mostly simple, with brief bouts of necessary communication and a lot of tease-flirting and playful shoving.

"Oh, yes," Laurel nodded. "If, of course, Maggie gets her act together. Point being, I don't really have anyone to bring. See, when Dad started this whole 'Winter Party' it was pretty much for the sole purpose of not having us go to Winter Formal when we were older. But now the problem is that everyone else goes to Winter Formal, so we have no one to bring."

"Sucks for you," Sara snickered unsympathetically. "Leonard doesn't like dances. I'm still asking him to prom."

Laurel laughed outright. "I think that's his job."

"Pah, how old fashioned are you?" Sara scoffed. "You think he's gotta do all the work? He asked me on the first date, and to be his girlfriend, and all of that kind of necessary sappy romantic stuff. And I'm sure, if he values his life, he will give me something very cute for my birthday."

Laurel snorted. "I just love this respectful, appreciative relationship you two have going on."

"I know, right?" Sara grinned. "Me too. It's just lovely."

She stood up. "Welp, thanks for the help, knowledge, and encouragement. I'm going to go watch some Psych."

Laurel gave her an affronted look. "Not without me, you're not!"

Sara grinned, already backing out of the door. "First one to unlock the iPad gets to pick the episode!"

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"I can't believe you convinced me to do this," Felicity said, steadying herself with her ski poles and giving Oliver a nervous look. "If I break my leg before Christmas I blame you."

"If you break your leg I will be your personal nurse until it heals," Oliver assured her with a charming wink and smile combo that made Felicity start melting and oozing all over the ground.

John Diggle cleared his throat. "If I had known you two would be shamelessly flirting this entire time I wouldn't have suggested bringing Felicity along."

"Oh, so the truth's out!" Felicity giggled. "It was John who wanted me here, not you, Oliver."

"But me asking convinced you to come," Oliver countered. "That's gotta count for something."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Felicity said agreeably, exchanging smirks with John.

They started off down the hill. Felicity made it about halfway before her skis stuck and she tumbled forward. Her glasses fell off her face and she landed with a thump and an "oomph" in the snow.

Then the panic set in. "Glasses, glasses, shoot shoot shoot, where are my glasses?!" Felicity muttered, patting around desperately at the blurred snow. One of her skis jammed into the snow in the process and Felicity landed back on her stomach.

Her eyes welled with tears. She couldn't see anything without her glasses, and she could find her glasses without being able to see anything, and without being able to see anything she wouldn't be able to get down the hill to get help with finding her glasses.

She was stuck, halfway down the ski slope, unable to see, without a single person she knew around.

"Felicity?"

"Oliver?" Felicity gasped, head shooting upward, before she realized that that hadn't sounded at all like Oliver.

"No, it's Ray," the voice continued, and a tall, blurry form came towards her. "Hello!"

"Oh! Ray!" Felicity squeaked, pushing herself out of the snow. She felt a flush of embarrassment creeping across her cheeks because of course it had to be Ray to show up and see her like this. But hey, he was here, and she might as well use him. "Just first- before we talk- I lost my glasses in the snow and I have no idea where they are. I mean, they could be buried by now and I really can't see without them-"

A cold piece of metal landed on her nose and Felicity blinked as the world came back into focus. "Found them," Ray said, smiling proudly.

Felicity let out an enormous sigh of relief. "Thank you so much," she breathed, sitting back. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, and you're welcome again," Ray said with a grin, getting to his feet. He extended his hand and Felicity took it gratefully, letting him help her up.

"Felicity?!" a voice called from the top of the hill.

Felicity looked up. "Oliver!"

Oliver came skiing down the hill, snow flying as he skidded to a stop in front of them. "What happened? Are you alright?" He caught sight of Ray. "Who's this?"

"This is Ray Palmer," Felicity told him. "He's in my grade at school... his dad's the sports medic." She decided not to mention that they had dated back in middle school because Ray wasn't the type to label as an "ex-boyfriend".

"Ohh...?" Oliver said, still looking awkwardly unsure. "Um, yeah! Yeah, I remember Ray." He turned his attention back to Felicity. "What happened? You didn't come down the hill with Dig and I so I went back up to go look for you." He caught sight of her red eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Felicity said quickly. "My glasses just fell off when I fell, and I kind of started freaking out. But it's alright- Ray found them. We're all good."

"I see..." Oliver said, sizing Ray up. "Well. Thank you for helping her."

John Diggle came skiing down the hill. He stopped behind Oliver. "There you are, Felicity," he said, letting out a breath. "We we're a little worried."

"Sorry, John," Felicity winced. "I lost my glasses in the snow."

"Why don't we head down the hill and go get some hot chocolate?" Oliver suggested.

"Yum, yes please," Felicity exclaimed. A couple seconds later she glanced awkwardly over at Ray. "Oh... uh... do you want to come?"

"Oh, no, it's alright," beamed Ray, much to everyone's secret relief. "I'm going to keep skiing. See you later, guys! Merry Christmas!"

He skied off down the hill and Felicity watched him go, smiling. Oliver huffed, a little disappointed that he hadn't been the one to find Felicity's glasses and help her when she needed it. "Alright, shall we? We'll make sure we stay with you this time, just in case you fall again."

Felicity nodded, and the three of them followed Ray down the slope.

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Sara Lance named the conversation "Double Date Squad"

Thea: Wow what a name

Sara: IKR isn't it great

Leonard: It's terrible.

Sara: Okay Mr. Cold

Leonard: It's Captain Cold to you

Thea: U guys are so married

Sara: AHAHAH

Sara: Don't make it weird Thea come on

Leonard: Are we rescheduling?

Sara: ?

Leonard: The double date

Thea: YES PLS

Leonard: I'm free whenever

Sara: Dude you need to get a life XD

Leonard: Why do I need a life? I've got you XD

Thea: OMG OMG OMG AWWW AWW AWWWWW

Sara: *blushing face*

Sara: Stop being cute when it can be recorded and used as blackmail

Thea: AWWWWWW

Sara: Theaaaaaaaa

Leonard: LOL

Sara: Anyway, dates n times

Sara: I can't do anything before Christmas

Sara: Currently dying in the car rip me

Leonard: I'll come to your funeral

Sara: That's nice of you

Thea: I CAN'T TAKE THIS YOU GUYS ARE TOO ADORBS

Sara: Nvm we can't do this double date

Sara: Thea might melt

Thea: Wait why?

Thea: Oh yeah lol

Leonard: lol

Thea: But seriously

Thea: Oooh should we go out on New Years Eve?

Leonard: Can't sry

Sara: Thought u said u were free all vaca? XD

Leonard: I'm free it's just complicated

Thea: Um okay XD

Sara: He's cryptic sometimes u get used to it

Thea: LOL

Thea: Okay so not NYE

Sara: Probably b zooy anyway

Sara: And I like matching the Rockin' NYE show or whatever it's called

Sara: Watching*

Thea: Yeah

Thea: So not NYE but after Christmas

Sara: And not day after Christmas because I already have plans

Thea: OK u social butterfly

Sara: :P

Thea: Roy what day works for u?

Sara: LOLLLL I forgot Roy was even on this gc XD

Leonard: Not all of us r obsessive texters like u girls

Sara XD XD XD

Thea: True tho

Leonard: Do you want to say the 2rd of January or something? Day before school starts?

Sara: I'll check w/ my dad one sec

Sara: He said he needs to check the calendar but he thinks it's fine

Sara: Didn't tell him it's a double date yet whoops

Leonard: It's ok my dad doesn't know we're dating yet either :|

Sara: I wanna meet ur dad

Leonard: No u don't

Thea: #thirdwheeling

Sara: Sry Theaaaaa

Thea: It's okie

Thea: My mom's not home but I'll ask her when she gets back

Thea: ROY DOES THAT DAY WORK FOR YOU

Sara: Lol he's probably missed all off this

Sara: Probably muted this chat ages ago

Thea: He was the one who reawakened the idea of a double date!

Leonard: That does not sound like Roy Harper

Thea: IKR he's a changed man

Thea: All thanks to me of course :) :P

Sara: Hey Leonard it's Laurel

Sara: Sry Laurel stole my phone

Sara: Laurel again

Sara: You treat my sister well

Leonard: Hi Laurel how's it going

Thea: Hey Laurel!

Thea: How's the car ride?

Sara: Sara again hello

Leonard: Hey Sara

Thea: This is confusing XD

Sara: Laurel again hello everyone

Thea: gtg guys ttyl

Sara: Bye Thea

Leonard: I should probably do some hw

Sara: Ok bye

Sara: ttyl

Tuesday, December 22, 12:04 PM

Roy: Works for me

Author's Note: That may have possibly been the most fun scene I've ever written for AV High.

See, this group chat is VERY similar to one my sister and a couple of friends and I had once and I loved that group chat so very much XD I miss that group chat D: (unfortunately I ummm happened to date and then break up with one of the members of that group chat so rip that)