Author's Note: So umm... my great and grand idea for inspecting cannon plots and trying to find TEAAAA to use in my story sorta fell through... imma keep thinking but a lot of the plotlines I can remember don't really transfer to high school.
Also, sorry I didn't post last week... fanfiction . net was down and I didn't realize it was doing good until after Friday had passed.
On March 19th, an unexpected (and fairly unwelcome) snowstorm hit. School, predictably, was canceled an entire afternoon before, and the kids of AV high got, at the very least, a mid-week morning to sleep in.
At around eleven o'clock, Sara walked into Laurel's room and flopped down in her beanbag on her stomach. "Yo, did you hear the tea about Winn's dad yet?" she asked without much of a hello.
Laurel glanced up from her computer, where she was catching up on emails and hoping to start getting ahead on her homework. "The thing about his dad getting out of jail? Poor Winn; that must be really hard."
"It's so exciting though," Sara groaned. "Why does nothing exciting ever happen to us?"
"Your boyfriend's dad is an ex-felon, Sara," Laurel said, giving her a weird look. "How can you say nothing exciting ever happens?"
Sara sat up very suddenly, her eyes going wide. "What did you just say?" she asked, looking at Laurel with abrupt seriousness.
"Wait, you didn't know?" Laurel put her computer aside and scooted toward the edge of her bed. "Lewis Snart is Leonard's dad."
"How does everyone know that?" Sara asked, bewildered. "Dad knew that before I did, and you did, too! Leonard never even told me. He never talks about his dad at all."
"Yeah, that's because he's not a good guy," Laurel said with a shrug. "When you starting dating Leonard, I poked around a little. The name Snart was sounding really familiar, so I casually asked dad about it. That, uh... may or may not have been when he found out that you and Leonard were dating."
Sara's mouth fell open. "You told him?!" she cried. "I thought he was just using fatherly intuition! Is that how he knew who Len's dad is?"
"No, he knew before I did," Laurel said with a shake of her head. "Dad arrested Lewis quite a few years ago, just after I was born. Leonard would have been a baby. It was just for, like, some harassment and breaking and entering, not murder or anything. But when dad and I talked about it he thought that Lewis had been abusing his wife, and tried to get him in for longer."
Sara felt a shiver tremble its way up her body. "How could you not tell me this?" she whispered. "I mean, Laurel, if Lewis is abusive... he could be hurting Len and Lisa. He's got a little sister; she's like eight or something. I know his mom isn't around anymore." She curled in on herself, wrapping her arms around her knees. "Laurel, what if he is? What if he's hurting them?"
Laurel's eyebrows furrowed in concern and she walked over to squeeze onto the beanbag beside her sister. "Maybe we should talk to dad," she said quietly, putting her arm around Sara. "If you really thinking that he's abusing his kids, dad could talk to Leonard. I mean, he's got the power to do something about this if it is a bad situation."
Sara shivered again, squeezing her arms around her legs even tighter. "It's just awful," she breathed. "It's all just completely awful. How could he have not told me?"
"He probably didn't want to worry you," Laurel rationalized. "But maybe you should bring it up? He loves you, Sara. If anyone can help him with this, it's you."
Sara stood up abruptly. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she mumbled, but when she left Laurel's room she hurried into hers instead and shut the door behind her. She was freezing from head to foot and her stomach was in knots.
Could she really bring up something like this to Leonard? He was so closed off about his family life, even to her. Laurel seemed confident, but Sara didn't think she would be able to get through to him.
Then again, if she didn't try... was Sara dooming Leonard and his sister to a life with an abusive dad? What if she had been put in Leonard's life to be able to help him through this? And if she didn't try, and something happened... Sara wasn't sure what she would do.
Shivering harder, Sara buried herself underneath her blankets. Thea's party was in two days, and she didn't want to start anything super serious before then. Maybe if she just waited a little bit longer, Leonard would come to her on his own, and they could sort things out.
But even Sara knew that that was pretty doubtful.
AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High
"Hey Ollie?" Thea asked casually as she came down for a very late breakfast on the morning of the snowstorm. Fat white flakes were drifting down in waves from the sky, and at least two inches had already accumulated on the driveway outside.
Oliver rubbed his hand through his sleep-mused hair and looked at his sister through bleary eyes. "What's up, Thea?"
"I was just... wondering," Thea said, continuing to keep her tone light. "If, ya know... mayyyyybe something is being planned for my birthday in two days?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Why would you think that?" he asked blankly, going back to his cereal.
Thea frowned. "Because it's my birthday and I have great friends...?" she said slowly, giving him a weird look. "And also, if there's nothing being planned, I'm going to invite Thea and Sara and Iris and Felicity and Caitlin and Kara and maybe even Maggie and Laurel and Alex over for another sleepover. Which means that you should probably be out of the house unless you want a lot of dares played on you."
Oliver gave her a disgruntled look. "So my choices are... be the target of dares, or get out of the house?" he asked. "What if I want to stick around for my little sister's birthday?"
Thea's eyes went wide. "Awwwwwww," she crooned. "You really care enough to be around for my birthday?"
Oliver spluttered a little, caught. "I- no- I- there'll be cake," he said, crossing his arms grumpily. "And I wouldn't want to miss out on cake."
"Sure," Thea said, giving him a grin and a pat on the shoulder. "Love you too, Ollie."
Oliver grumbled something under his breath and stuffed a spoonful of cereal into his mouth to avoid talking anymore.
Because he hadn't really given her an answer, Thea hopped on her phone after breakfast and texted Iris and Sara.
Thea: Guys guys guyssss are you doing anything for my birthday in secret because if you aren't I wanna do a sleepover
Iris: If we were doing something for ur bday in secret why would we tell you
Thea: So you are?!
Iris: I didn't say that lol
Thea: SARAAAA tell meeee
Thea: Sara
Thea: SARA
Thea: SARAAA
Iris: Stahhhhhp
Iris: Omg
Thea: Then tell me!
Thea: Because if not I wanna do a sleepover!
Iris: It's too short notice to plan one before your bday
Iris: Just wait until after
Iris: Sara and I can just come and hang out on Saturday or something
Iris: Ooh! Or we can ask if we can go over to Laurel's and hang with Alex and Maggie, too! Haven't done that in awhile
Thea: Yayyy fun
Thea: Okay
Thea: Sara where u at
Iris: She's probably still sleeping lol
Thea: It's like 11 in the morning
Iris: It's Sara.
Thea: True lol
Thea shut off her phone, figuring the conversation was over. She wasn't sure if she was still suspicious, excited, or disappointed. On the one hand, Iris hadn't actually said there was no surprise party. On the other hand, she hadn't said there was, and she had actually tried to get Thea to plan something else. Thea loved spending time with Iris, Sara, Laurel, Maggie and Alex, of course, but she could do that any old day of the week. She loved parties, and she loved birthdays, and she loved birthday parties.
Then again... she was only turning 17. It was that awkward age between sweet-16 and adulting-18, and she supposed it wasn't really an occasion for a big party.
But still...
She really did like big parties.
She would hold out hope for now.
AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High-AV-High
"Ah hem hem hem."
Everyone in the room, which happened to be in Cisco's house, for once, looked up and raised their eyebrows. It was a Friday. School had been resumed for one day before the weekend (and Thea's birthday), and the Nerd Squad was having an impromptu meeting in Cisco's living room.
"I knew this wasn't just to study," Caitlin accused, flipping her textbook shut. "Why are we really here, Cisco?"
"I have a proposal," Cisco said. "Not the marriage kind, by the way."
Winn raised his eyebrow. He was glad, at the very least, that the topic of conversation hadn't strayed to his dad yet, considering what had happened the last time he came to a Nerd Meeting. "That's... good?"
"Someday," Cisco declared, a dreamy look on his eyes. "Someday, I will marry that Gypsy..."
Felicity cleared her throat. "What was your announcement, Cisco?" she asked, wanting to get back to her trigonometry homework so she could help Barry with his.
"I would like to offer the idea of a new member," Cisco said grandly.
Dubious stares met this declaration. "Ummm... who?" Felicity asked cautiously, glancing around to see if everyone was equally as unsure. "Do we know him? Or her?"
"Not super well," Cisco admitted. "But he's great."
"Another guy?" Caitlin pouted. "Why couldn't you find a girl and even things up a little."
Felicity nodded her agreement and they high fived. "Females in STEM for the win."
"Sorry, ladies," Cisco said, wincing. "But do any of you know Ray Palmer?"
Felicity looked at him incredulously. "Umm... like, Ray Palmer, the guy I dated in middle school, Ray Palmer?"
"You guys dated?" Winn said, his eyebrows furrowing in intrigue.
"Yeah, for like three weeks," Felicity replied with a slightly embarrassed shrug. "Which, let's be real, is actually a pretty committed relationship for 6th grade."
Julian laughed and Cisco pushed on. "So? What do you guys think? Ray is basically a genius in physics and killer in science, too. And he's just an all-around great guy. And I heard he makes good cookies."
"You had me at cookies," Winn grinned.
"That was literally the last word in his sales pitch," Julian said, giving him a blank look. "But I'm down for it. I think it's good to keep our doors open to people who may want to join."
Caitlin smiled happily at his inclusivity and linked her arm through his. "Good with me," she agreed. "But, tell me this, Cisco... have you actually asked Ray if he wants to be a part of our group? I mean, I know that it is so desirable to be apart of the Nerd Meetings, but..." She trailed off, giving him a searching look.
"Of course I haven't asked him!" Cisco cried. "What did you think I was gonna do? Walk up to him and be like, 'heyyy, Ray. Would you be interested in being apart of this group of friends I have who does nerdy math and science homework together once or twice a week? If you say yes, I'll ask them if you can join, but they might not let you, so don't get your hopes up to high.' "
Felicity's mouth fell open. "I am seriously hurt you think that we would turn Ray away from our meetings," she said, giving Cisco an offended look. "Especially if you had already invited him. I'm cool with him joining, anyway; it'd be nice to have some new blood. Even if that new blood comes in the form of my ex-middle-school-boyfriend."
"If you're worried about that," Winn said, knocking his chin at her. "I heard that Ray has a new girlfriend. I doubt he'll be thinking of you as anything but Physics smarts competition."
"Like he doesn't already," Felicity scoffed, tossing her hair back behind her shoulder as Caitlin laughed and held up her hand for another high five.
"So?" Cisco prompted, looking excited. "You all vote Yea for Ray?"
"Yes, as long as you never say that again," Barry snorted.
Cisco cheered. "Okay awesome because ummmm I might have totally kind of definitely already asked him and he may or may not be heading here right now-" The doorbell rang. "And that's probably definitely him."
"Cisco!" Felicity protested as the long-haired boy leapt for the door. She rolled her eyes. "I can't believe he just assumed we'd let Ray into the group."
Julian shrugged. "Actually, I think that we should be flattered that he'd assume we'd let Ray in the group," he said. "It shows the kind of people Cisco thinks we are, and I find no personal fault in being that kind of person."
"He's got a point," Caitlin agreed with a shrug.
"Hey, no support from the girlfriend," Winn teased, sticking his tongue out at her.
"Hey guys!" Ray called, interrupting the conversation as all six feet of him bounced into the room. "Thank you so so so so much for letting me join your group! I'm so excited. And I brought cupcakes."
"Never mind, Ray, stay as long as you like," Winn said, and dove for the food.
Author's Note: To the guest Korosenei (whose question I couldn't answer personally because you're a guest): Leonard will tell Sara why he stood her up, and it'll actually happen in just a few chapters ;)
