"You hungry?" he asked.
"Starved."
They made their way to the buffet that had been uncovered and picked over while they were gone. They loaded their plates up and found an empty table near the dance floor.
When they sat down, another friend of Oliver's joined them at their table.
"Queen!" the guy said coming up with a thin blond girl behind him. "It's good to see you. These seats taken?"
"Go ahead," Oliver said, beckoning to the chairs. "How have you been, Martin?"
"Pretty good," he said. "This is my fiance, Aubrey. Aubrey this is Oliver Queen."
"As in, the Oliver Queen?" she squeaked beside him.
"Ouch," he said, putting his hand over his heart. "Don't sound so excited."
Oliver laughed, extending his hand towards her. "It's nice to meet you, Aubrey. This is my girlfriend, Felicity.
"Pleasure," Aubrey said, shaking her hand. Martin just nodded in her direction.
Martin picked up a conversation with Oliver, completely ignoring the girls. Felicity ate her food, flinching ever so slightly when Oliver's arm came around her shoulders. Aubrey, tired of being left out, leaned forward to strike a conversation with Felicity.
"So what's it like dating Oliver Queen?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" Felicity asked.
"Well he's so famous!" she said. Whispering, she continued, "I would give anything for a night in bed with that man."
"As far as the famous part, we aren't really public, so that hasn't affected me any more than it would with my job."
"Your job?"
"Yes. I'm the VP at Queen Consolidated."
"Oh, cause you're dating Oliver."
"No, not because I'm dating Oliver. Oliver didn't give me the job. Ray Palmer did."
"You know two billionaires?" she gasped.
"You sound like my mom," she said.
"I do?"
"It's just something she said once."
"Okay."
Felicity was starting to get the idea that this girl wasn't very bright.
"So what do you do?" Felicity asked.
"I'm a model," she said.
"Seems like a lot of girls from Starling High are."
"Oh, I didn't go to this school," Aubrey said. "I met Martin through my friend Holly that I model with."
"Holly," Felicity said, puzzled. "That name sounds familiar."
"She's right over there," Aubrey pointed.
"Oh yes," Felicity said. "I met her earlier."
"She says she's not talking to me because she dated Martin first. But Martin says she's just making that code thing up."
"What code?" Felicity asked.
"The Girl code."
"What high school did you say you went to?" Felicity asked.
"Oh, I didn't. I was homeschooled until I got a steady enough modeling gig. Then I just stopped doing the work."
"So you dropped out?" Felicity asked.
"Dropped out of what?"
"Nevermind," she said.
Somewhere in her conversation, Oliver had started rubbing slow circles on her shoulder where his hand reached.
Turning her attention to the guys conversation, Felicity ached for intelligent conversation.
"You should have seen her man, she was so hot," Martin was saying.
"I can't say I miss those days," Oliver replied. "I'd rather spend every night with one woman I love than with some random person." He looked over only to find he now had Felicity's full attention.
Felicity smiled.
"Wow, you have changed," he said. "What, did she brainwash you?"
"Didn't you say you were engaged?" Felicity asked.
"Yeah, so. Nobody was talking to you, dollface."
"Dollface?" she asked.
"Hey," Oliver said, tensing up and tightening his hold on her. "Don't talk to her like that."
"Like what? A pretty face. That's all she is."
Felicity opened her mouth, but Oliver beat her to it.
"You couldn't be more wrong," Oliver said. "She's not pretty, she's beautiful. And she's the most intelligent, kindest, caring woman I know. And she deserves the highest of respects."
"Whatever, dude. If you want to be brainwashed like that, be my guest."
Felicity turned her head and whispered in Olivers ear. "Can I have the car keys?"
"What? Why?" Oliver asked, scared she was going to leave.
"I need my tablet," she said. "There's gotta be something on this guy. If not, there's always the no flyer list."
Oliver chuckled. "How about we dance instead." Turning to Martin, "Excuse us."
He got up and held out his hand, which Felicity took gratefully. He led her near the middle of the dance floor before bringing them close together.
"Sorry about that," he said.
"It's not your fault," she said. "I image some people never grow up."
"I can't believe he convinced someone to marry him," he said. "I can't imagine why he'd want to. He clearly doesn't love her."
"Aubrey seemed nice enough," Felicity said. "She's just not very smart."
"That's nearly everyone compared to you," he said.
She blushed. "Thanks, but that's not what I meant. She hasn't had much education. And she's pretty, well uh...dingy."
Oliver laughed. "That must have been some conversation."
"Hmm, yeah."
"Can I cut in?" came a voice beside them.
They turned to spot a tall brunette.
"Ariel," Oliver said. "How are you?"
"I'm good," she said. "And you."
"I'm great," he said, looking at Felicity. "Uh, Felicity, this is Ariel, Ariel, my girlfriend, Felicity."
"Girlfriend?" she asked.
"Yes," Oliver said. "For the past 3 months."
"So," she said. "How about that dance?"
"I'm going to have to politely decline," he said. "But it was great seeing you."
"Right," she sighed. "You too."
As she walked away, Oliver pulled Felicity close again.
"Sorry about that," he said.
"Another ex-girlfriend?"
"Well, I wouldn't call them girlfriends…." he said.
"I am so glad I met you after the island and not before it," Felicity said.
"I don't know," Oliver said. "I think if I had met you before, I would have changed anyway."
"Why?"
"Well, when you met me, I was a killer. Now I'm the police's best friend," he said. "Thanks to you."
"That wasn't me," she said. "That was because of Tommy."
"I went to the island because of Tommy," he said. "I came back because of you."
"I thought you came back for your family."
"I came back because when you nearly died because of that landmine, I knew I couldn't take the chance of losing you."
"Oliver," she whispered, unsure if they were still pretending or not.
"I just…" Oliver realized he was getting way over his head. "Thank you, Felicity."
Before long, the Senior President made his way to the stage to make his speech and some announcements. Felicity turned to face forward, her back against Oliver's chest, his arms wrapped around her. Pretend or not, she was perfectly content in their current situation.
I understand the mixed feelings for Laurel, but just for the record, she's not the bad guy. Depending on how far I take this story, this may or may not be revealed later on. Anyway, what I was aiming for, is Laurel is desperately wanting to be a hero. She wants to help too, which is why she keeps approaching Felicity. However, Felicity is really insecure around Laurel because of her previous relationship with Oliver, but she also knows if Laurel doesn't back off, she'll eventually find out about Oliver, whose secret she swore to keep. So that's why she's been so forward about Laurel staying away. I hope that makes sense.