Author's Note: My chapter labeling was all messed up what the heck. In the pages document where AV High is created, this chapter was labeled as Chapter 58 and the next one was Chapter 57. Not only is that wrong but… it doesn't even make sense lol.
The first thing Sara did when she got out of History was cry. Thankfully, it was her last class of the day, and she was able to hurry outside and find a bench to hide on. She curled into a ball and ducked her head into her arms, feeling so incredibly guilty. Leonard had been right. But he had been right without even knowing that Zari's feelings had changed. And now Zari had all of this awkwardness with the guy who was probably her best friend and it was her fault.
"Sara?"
Sara froze, a sob sticking halfway out of her throat. When she lifted her tearstained face it was to see Nora Darhk standing awkwardly in front of her, looking a little concerned.
"Hey..." she said, hurrying over to the bench and sitting down next to Sara. "What's the matter? Are you okay?"
"No," Sara replied with another sob. "I've messed everything up. I had this whole- this whole big plan to- to get Nate and Zari together and it succeeded except, come to find out, Zari d-doesn't even like Nate anymore. And so I've probab-bly ruined their f-friendship and I just feel so guilty and my boyfriend told me I was- was pushing too hard but I didn't listen and-"
"Hey..." Nora put a stiff hand on her back and patted it gently. "I'm sure it's not as bad as all that. I mean, Zari changes the guys she likes like the wind changes directions. And Nate... he's so chill. My guess is, they'll get through this in no time at all." She gave Sara's shoulder a squeeze. "Your heart was in the right place, and that's what matters."
Sara straightened up and wiped her face. "You really think so?" she asked, desperate for any form of validation, even from someone as random as Nora Darhk.
"Yes, I really think so," Nora said, then rolled her eyes. "Obviously I think so, or I wouldn't have said anything."
And just like that, tough, cool Nora was back. Sara smiled a little, opening her mouth to thank her newfound friend, but just then Ray Palmer walked over.
"Hello ladies!" he greeted, as he always did. Then his eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Sara, what's wrong? Have you been crying?"
"Just some relationship drama," Nora told him, getting off the bench so she could slide her arm through his. "Sara got it in her head that she should help Zari and Nate get together, only to find out that Zari doesn't like him anymore."
"Aw, she doesn't?" Ray asked, looking disappointed. He looked over at Nora. "I was a co-conspirator in this plan, remember?"
"No, honestly, I don't," Nora told him candidly.
"So... who does she like?" Ray asked curiously.
"She wouldn't tell me," Sara said, and her face crumpled again. "Guys, I think she's really mad at me. Which sucks, because I really like Zari! We were friends! Why did I have to go and- and meddle?"
"Sara, have you ever read the book Emma, by Jane Austen?" Nora asked, sitting back down on the bench. Ray pushed in next to her and put his arm around her shoulders.
Sara shook her head.
"It's about a young woman who plays matchmaker to a few people in her town," Nora explained. "And it leads to some pretty disastrous results, including inadvertently telling her best friend to go after the man that she, Emma, is actually in love with."
"I didn't know you liked classics," Ray said, looking pleasantly curious.
"We read it in book club," Nora replied, waving him off. "Point being, I recommend reading it. It's a little dense, but I think you could learn some things about matchmaking. Or at least come to the conclusion that you could have done a whole lot worse."
"Okay," Sara agreed, unsure if she would actually take the advice but appreciating that Nora was giving her some. "Thanks."
"You a little bit more okay now?" Nora asked, reaching over and patting her knee in that same stiff way from earlier.
"Yeah," Sara sighed. "I'm going to have to find some way to make it up to Zari, though."
"Give her some space," Ray recommended. "I'll make sure she's okay, so you don't have to worry about that."
She thanked them again, and then Ray and Nora left her alone.
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The students of AV High were a few days into their highly-anticipated Spring Break, and Felicity was a few dozen minutes into her date with Oliver, when Moria Queen stepped into the room.
"Oh," was the first thing out of her mouth as her eyes landed on Felicity. "I didn't realize you were here."
Felicity, so used to be greeted like this at this point, turned annoyed eyes on Oliver. "Do you never tell her I'm coming over?" she said in a low voice.
Oliver grinned guiltily. "Pretty sure I mentioned I was having a date," he said. At the moment, he and Felicity were on the floor of the upstairs living room, playing monopoly. Felicity owned about half the board and was winning by a wide margin, but he was still more interested in getting back to the game than in talking with his mom.
Moria shook her head. "Regardless," she said. "I have some news."
Oliver raised his eyebrow quizzically, glancing between her and his girlfriend. Felicity pulled a face. "I can... leave the room?"
"Or you could just wait for like two hours, mom," Oliver suggested. "Felicity's not going to be here all day."
"Believe it or not, Oliver, I am actually excited about this news, and... wanted to tell you and your sister as soon as possible," Moria replied stiffly. She held up her left hand, which, until now, had been covertly shielded behind her purse. "Walter proposed to me this afternoon, and I accepted. We're getting married."
Oliver's mouth fell open. "You're- what?"
"Congratulations!" Felicity squeaked, clapping her hands together. The noise rang out in the almost silent room and she quickly stopped, turning back to the board game to straighten her piles of money.
"We're getting married," Moria repeated. "We're both incredibly happy."
She smiled a tiny little bit. For Moria, that was a lot.
"Um..." Oliver blinked a few times, still thrown for a loop. "That's... um... that's quick."
The smile fell off of Moria's face. Felicity's hands stilled on the fake money.
"I don't understand what you mean," Moria snapped. "I've known Walter for nearly two years."
"Yeah, and dad died nearly two years ago," Oliver rejoined tightly. "That's what I mean by quick."
"Hey," Felicity said softly, putting her hand on Oliver's knee. "I'm gonna head home, okay?"
"No," Oliver said, fixing her with a look. "You- you stay." He glanced back to his mother. "I'm glad you're happy, mom. But I need time to process this."
"Of course," Moria mumbled, walking quickly out of the room. "I will go tell Thea the news."
She shut the door behind her, leaving the couple alone. Oliver let out a long breath and leaned against the base of the couch, head falling backward. "Sorry you had to see that," he said awkwardly. "I know it's always uncomfortable to watch kids and their parents argue."
"It's alright," Felicity shrugged, scooting around the game board to sit next to him. "You want to talk about it?"
"I just don't understand how she could move on so quickly," Oliver admitted with a deep sigh. "It's like... dad dies, and the moment she's done actively mourning him she meets Walter, and then a few months later, bam! They're dating. And now... they're getting married, apparently." He shook his head. "Dad was her world, you know? They were- they were really in love. They had their arguments, sure, but when he died it kind of destroyed all of us. And now she just acts like he never even existed."
Felicity reached over and took his hand. "My dad left us," she said. "When I was seven. My mom hasn't remarried, no, but... I honestly don't know if she's happy with that decision. I think that- that when you're married to someone, and you're used to having them there for you, all the time, in your life, and then they just... aren't anymore... it's lonely. I think your mom just might be lonely. She's got this big house and all of this money and power, but what she really wants is love."
Oliver ducked his head, silent for a long time. Felicity picked at her nail polish and worried that she'd overstepped. She didn't know Oliver's mother. Who was she to assume that she was lacking in love?
"Maybe you're right," Oliver murmured. "And maybe that's- maybe that's my fault. We haven't been particularly close in a long time. Maybe she's looking to Walter for the love that Thea and I don't give her."
He reached up and rubbed at his face and Felicity scooted a little closer so she could put her arms around him. Oliver kissed the top of her head and then rested his chin there, sighing. "I don't know if I'm ready for a step father," he admitted.
"No one expects you to be," Felicity told him firmly. "Or... no one should, at least."
Oliver shook his head dubiously. "I think mom does," he said. "She's wanted Thea and I to be onboard with this whole Walter thing for a really long time." He shook his head again. "Knowing my sister, she's probably just gonna be hyped that there's a wedding."
"Thea does like her romance," Felicity agreed with a soft snort. "But I think you could probably still talk to her about this, Oliver."
"Maybe I will," Oliver sighed. "It'd be good for her to hear something serious every once and awhile."
Felicity repositioned her head on his shoulder. She could think of quite a few serious things that Thea had to deal with -her dad dying, even everything with Leonard- but for now, she chose to be quiet.
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"Taylor Swift here we COMEEE!" Nia nearly screamed as Mon-El drove about ten miles over the speed limit, headed to Madison Square Garden. "I still cannot believe we're doing this."
"Me either," Kara beamed. She, Mon-El, Brainy, Nia and Winn were on a double-date-plus-one adventure to go see a long sought after Taylor Swift concert, the first thing they had done to celebrate the newly begun Spring Break. "I mean, Winn and I have been listening to her since we were, what? Ten?"
"Nine," Winn corrected. "We found the music video for You Belong With Me and watched it eight times in succession."
"Awww, little baby Kara and Winn watching music videos makes my heart melt," Nia giggled, putting her hand over her aforementioned heart.
"I believe I have heard several of Taylor Swift's songs," Brainy mused after a beat of silence. "I knew you were trouble."
"When you walked in!" Winn, Nia and Kara yelled.
Mon-El cringed a little and glanced into the review mirror to make eye contact with Brainy. "Part of me is wondering if we just should have stayed home."
"Don't be ridiculous," Kara huffed, patting him on the arm. "This is going to be the best night of my entire life, and I want you to be there. Also, there's going to be a ton of people around and the larger group we are, the more comfortable I'll be."
Nia nodded her agreement and Brainy fidgeted a little. "I'm sure there won't be that many people," he said uncomfortably.
"Actually, maximum capacity is close to 18,000 people!" Winn reported brightly. "I doubt there'll be that many there, but it's Taylor Swift. It's gonna be hopping."
"I cannot waitttt," Nia groaned, squirming in her seat.
After another hour, the five friends were all situated in their seats, with Winn in between Kara and Nia so they could fangirl with him, and Mon-El and Brainy ringing the group and sitting next to their respective girlfriends.
"18,000 people does not seem like so very many in a space this big," Brainy consoled himself. He had his jacket in his lap and was twisting his hands in it, tighter and tighter.
The lights dimmed. Brainy was hit by a sudden wave of sound as Nia, Winn and Kara let out matching, ear-splitting squeals, deep bass came pouring through the speakers and everyone around him roared with cheers.
Then Taylor Swift herself stepped onstage, and everything got a whole lot louder.
About halfway through Cruel Summer, Nia was singing her tone-deaf heart out when she grinned over at her boyfriend. She found Brainy pressed into the back of his seat, his face white and glimmering with sweat.
"Hey!" Nia cried, finding it hard to speak over the sound of the insanely loud music. She turned around in the tiny space in front of her seat and put her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, you okay?"
Brainy gulped and shook his head. Nia bit down on her lip, before she grasped at his arm and pulled him to his feet.
"We're gonna get some air!" she called over her shoulder to Kara, who had noticed their movements and was watching them in concern. "Be right back!"
Kara nodded, not looking very assured, and Nia pushed herself and her boyfriend through the row to the aisle. People weren't exactly happy about being crowded in front of during the very first song of Taylor Swift's set, but they were forced to let the teenagers pass.
Nia dragged Brainy up the steps, almost tripping over their edges in the dark, strobe-light-lit room. She waved off an irritated usher and pushed out of the venue and into the lobby.
When the door swung shut, the light steadied and the music was immediately much quieter. Nia turned to Brainy, trying to ignore the sinking disappointment she felt as she heard the last notes of Cruel Summer ring through the air and Taylor Swift started speaking.
She forgot what she was missing, however, when she gazed at Brainy. His eyes were wide and wild, hands shaking as he scrubbed at his face. "Brainy?" Nia said softly. "Are you alright?"
Brainy shook his head once again in response to her question. "I do not- I do not like loud noises, or- or large crowds, or flashing lights, or-"
"Then why did you want to come tonight?" Nia asked, eyebrows furrowing incredulously. "Did you not realize what this would be like?"
"You were so excited," Brainy murmured. He gripped his hands together in front of him and gritted his teeth. "I just- I wanted to be here for you, to enjoy this with you but the moment that song started I just- I just- I couldn't, and I'm so, so sorry Nia, because you should be in here, and not out with me, and-"
Nia cupped his face and kissed him. For a moment, Brainy was motionless but then he slowly brought his hands to her waist, kissing her back.
Nia let out a slow breath and drew away from him, resting her forehead against his own. "There is no place in the world I would rather be right now than right here, with you," she said quietly. "Never forget that."
Brainy dipped his chin. "Understood," he murmured. "Thank you, Nia Nal."
"So," Nia went on, pulling back to wind her arms around his neck. "If you can't go back in there I will sit out here with you for the entire concert, okay? But if you do feel like you can handle it, I think we should try going back inside."
Brainy nodded. "I believe- I believe that I will be able to manage it. Now that I am prepared," he decided. "And if I cannot... I will make my exit. I really do want you to be able to enjoy this evening, Nia, and not to worry about me. So if I feel I can't handle the lights, or the music or the- the people... I will spend the next few hours out here by myself. That is alright."
Nia relented reluctantly, then took his arm to lead him back into the venue. When they got back to their seats, they found that Kara had switched spots with Winn and that the song had changed to be considerably more mellow. "Everything alright?" she asked as Nia and Brainy took their spots.
"Just a little sensory overload; all good now," Nia told her with a smile, reaching over to squeeze Brainy's hand. "Here, Brainy, why don't we swap so I'm on the end."
Brainy nodded, allowing himself to be put next to Kara.
She, tactfully, didn't say a word about the lipstick on his face.
Author's Note: Okkk I'm gonna be completely honest here- I actually wrote the Brainia kiss twice because the first scene I thought up I didn't really like and man the kiss must be WORTHY OF THEM, Y'KNOW?!
Anyway. Had to throw in some Taylor Swift because 1- she's amazing and 2- You Belong With Me music video inspired this whole story! (side note- I'm fairly certain that the movie The Duff is just an extended version of that music video XD)