After the announcements, Felicity got the opportunity to meet some more of Oliver's old friends, along with Elise, Jeremy's wife, who was the first kind person she met tonight.
While Oliver went to get them some drinks, Holly approached Felicity.
"You know, he'll get tired of you soon enough," Holly told her. "You're not exactly his type."
"Excuse me?" Felicity said, turning to fully face her.
"Oliver. He'll move on. Don't get your hopes up. He's great in bed, but terrible at loyalty."
"Oliver isn't the same person you know from high school," Felicity said. "If anything, this night has proven exactly that."
"You watch," Holly said. "Tonight, after he leaves you, I'd be willing to bet he'll end up in someone else's bed. Maybe even mine."
"What makes you think he'll leave me tonight?" Felicity asked, mentally slapping herself for going there.
"He's Oliver Queen. Trust me, our many many nights in bed have given me an extensive knowledge of all things Ollie."
"Okay. What's his favorite color?" Felicity asked.
"What?" Holly asked, thrown off.
"What's his favorite color?" she repeated.
"That's not important," Holly said.
"It's green," Felicity said. "How does he take his coffee?"
"This is irrelevant," Holly argued.
"Black," said Felicity. "When's his birthday? His favorite type of food? His biggest fear? Holly, there is so much more to a person than the physical stuff. And that's why our relationship is real and what you had was something that didn't matter."
"You wait," Holly said. "I'll prove you wrong." With that, she stomped away with her nose in the air.
"What was that about?" Oliver asked, coming up with a glass of red wine.
"This reunion is making me act like a bitch," Felicity said, taking her glass and taking a sip. "Oh, gawd, I needed that."
"I'm glad you aren't running for the hills," Oliver said. "I figured you'd be ashamed of me by this point."
"Oliver, I know you're different now," she said. "I'm not going to hold your past against you."
"Thank you," he said, putting his arm around her and kissing her temple.
"Although Holly seems to think you'll be paying her a visit tonight after you leave me."
"What?" he asked, surprised.
"She just informed me of that."
"She's delusional," Oliver said. "I definitely never said that."
"Yup. I told her that you had changed and that we had a real relationship and she said she would 'prove me wrong,'" Felicity explained.
"I would never do that to you," Oliver said. "You know that, right."
"Oliver," Felicity said, leaning up to whisper in his ear. "This is all fake, remember."
Oliver turned his head so his lips met her. Gently, he took her lip between his.
"I don't care," he said, whispering against her lips. "I still would never do that now. Especially to you."
He pulled away and she smiled, butterflies filling her stomach.
His phone beeped in his pocket. Pulling it out, he had a message from Diggle.
Felicity saw the smile slide off his face.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"So much for this not getting out," he said. He turned his phone around so she could see the message.
Oliver Queen has been hiding his most recent fling. the article had a picture of the two of them together, his arm wrapped tightly around her. As she scanned the article, she saw phrases like: Is it real? Or another One Night Stand, or Not his usual type, And Girls From his past, Enraged by Reveal of Relationship Status.
Felicity burst out laughing.
Oliver lifted an eyebrow, trying to figure out what was happening in front of him.
"You okay?" he asked, concern filling his voice.
"We haven't even left yet," her voice said, turning to a softer giggle. "You have stalkers everywhere."
"Why is that funny?" he asked.
"I don't know." she said, taking a deep breath. She started to down her red wine.
"Whoa, whoa," he said. "Slow down. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said, waving him off. "But I have a feeling this night is going to get a hell of a lot longer."
"We can go if you want," he said. "I'm pretty sure we've stayed our fair amount of time."
"Okay," she said nodding. "Let's go."
He placed their wine glasses on the nearest table before putting his hand on her back to lead her out.
On their way out, Holly grabbed Oliver's arm.
"Where are you going, Ollie?" she asked.
"We're headed home," he replied. "Nice to see you again."
"Wait," she said, slipping something in his hand. "I'm here until tomorrow. Call me once you ditch her."
"Won't be happening," he said, turning and leading them again towards the door, dropping the paper with her number on it in the trash.
When they got to the car, he held her door open as she slid in before jogging around to his side.
"You sure you okay?" he asked, once he had settled in his seat.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Sorry to freak for a second there."
"No worries," he said. "I just wasn't sure what happened."
"It just got a little too real," she said. "I just lost my head for a second there. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," he said. "It's all over now." He started the car and began to back out.
"What about the article?" she asked. "How do we handle that?"
"I don't know," he said honestly. "I really didn't think I'd be that big of a deal to the press anymore. It's not like it was some dirty secret. Maybe it'll pass in the next couple of days."
"And until then?" she asked. "Do we keep pretending?"
"We're together all the time anyway," Oliver said. "I don't think we'd have to act too much different. Besides, I'm no actor. The paparazzi don't follow me around. If they did, I'd never get to be the Arrow."
"That's true," she said.
He turned off toward the glades, headed for the Foundry.