Author's Note: Thank you to those of you who are reading! I really appreciate you taking the time to review as well! You guys are awesome for checking out the story and taking a second to tell me your thoughts on it. This chapter is slightly shorter than the others, and it's also all in Felicity's POV. I also broke the chapter up into two parts so this is the first part. The other one will be up shortly. ANd one last note, there are three more chapters left (including the second part of 4)! Please review!
Thank you to: John, Guest, bellapaige88, Anonynus13, belairdesi, Guest, & Shippersgonnaship!
Enjoy!
"Lovers and madmen have such seething brains
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cool reason ever comprehends."
A Midsummer Night's Dream By William Shakespeare
Chapter 4 Climax Part One
It was a Tuesday night and Felicity was sitting cross-legged on the floor of her room with Oliver relaxing against the foot of her bed. Their Macroeconomics notes were spread across the carpet, as they got ready for their first test.
Last night they had studied with John and Lyla in the library, but Oliver had texted her earlier in the day to ask if they could go over the material some more, since he was still unsure about some of the key concepts.
"Do you want to run over the basics again?" Felicity asked as she tried to stifle a yawn.
He shook his head concentrating on her perfectly typed up notes she had copied for him.
She always applauded herself for her excellent note taking skills. She liked keeping track of the powerpoints on her computer and writing her notes down – and perhaps doodling – to catch all the important concepts.
Besides sometimes if the Professor was going too slowly she wandered onto websites showcasing shoes and that wasn't ideal. Hence, why she had to write her notes too so she didn't drift off too much.
It made sense in her head, and when Oliver had asked about her odd note taking skills she had given him just that answer, but with more rambling about shoes. And maybe the cute shopping website she'd wandered on to, too.
Give her a break she was excited about the dresses. And shoes.
She was still debating about that gold dress…
Felicity shook her head and tried to concentrate on Oliver. Although, that generally wasn't too hard since most of her thoughts stayed with him anyway. She had found that with spending so much time studying and in class with him that she wasn't as immune to his charms as she wished. It may be impossible to be immune to his charms. All she could hope for was that she hid it well.
While he studied the pieces of paper Felicity took some time to study him.
In the last month and a half since they had gotten to know each other – more so than Laurel's Douche Ex and Laurel's Nerdy Roommate – she had found that he was nothing like how Laurel described. From the moment she had met him at the beginning of September she had seen so many different sides to Oliver Queen.
She had noticed the subtle changes, but what had really made her take notice was when they had gone to see the Avengers a few weeks earlier. Ever since then he had shown her a different side of himself, a softer side. And she wondered vaguely if Laurel knew this side of him.
It wasn't exactly the way he acted, he was still a bratty rich kid when they were in public, but she noticed that he reached out and touched her more. He complimented what she was wearing, and offered up conversation topics that made her wonder whether he was reading up on technology. He was playful and teasing with her, but he could also be caring and attentive. Like, when she had gotten sick a few days ago and he had brought her chicken soup and had gone to her professors to get her homework. Or how he showed up at the end of her work shifts to walk her home to make sure nothing bad happened to her.
She realized that it was the little things that really made their friendship so special. That the foundation of their friendship was built on an understanding and a desire to trust one another.
So it really should've come as no surprise that she was crushing on him. Hard. Very hard crushing on one Oliver Queen.
Sure, when they had met she realized she liked him, but more in a wow-you-are-ridiculously-hot-and-talking-to-me kind of way or in the I-would-totally-have-sex-with-you-if-you-looked-twice-at-me kind of way.
But she knew what Oliver was like…like running into a celebrity crush and being completely blind to reality. It wasn't going to happen, and Felicity knew she needed to accept that.
But that didn't stop her from desperately imaging possibilities with him.
She had to keep reminding herself that everything between them was strictly platonic. Oliver and her were totally unthinkable.
Not going to happen.
But she couldn't help herself.
So she allowed these little moments with him and she filed them away in the part of her brain labeled Oliver Moments.
She knew there were too many things standing in their way. One, being Laurel. Two, him not even liking her as more than a passing grade. Three, she was…well her.
What could he possibly see in her? Especially when he had, had Laurel and just about every other girl that was leggier, prettier, brighter, than her. She knew it wasn't going to happen, she told herself it wasn't going to happen – but nope! Her brain was not listening.
It was just her luck.
"…basics of supply and demand." He finished looking at her solemnly.
She blinked slowly coming back to her surroundings. She had no idea what he had just said, and she was probably looking like an idiot.
She gave herself a little mental shake, offered him a little smile and bit her lip nervously. "What?"
"I said; can we go over supply and demand basics again before we call it a night?"
"Right, yeah, of course. This is your session." She said tapping her notebook with one finger nervously.
He tilted his head and she watched him narrow his eyes giving her that concerned and serious stare he always gave her when he wanted to have a real conversation.
"What's wrong?" he asked and she sighed internally itching to respond with 'What isn't wrong?'
Instead she gave him a melancholic smile and tried to get more comfortable on the hardwood floor. It was for naught though because it was a hardwood floor and those things sucked to sit on.
"Nothing." She answered eventually after stalling by scooting around a little, fawning getting comfortable.
"Felicity—" he began.
"What did you want to be when you grew up, Oliver?" she asked cutting him off and asking something that she had been wondering for awhile.
Why was he doing this?
Sure, she knew he was supposed to go to college at the desire of his family. But what about after?
She couldn't help, but think about that day in the cafeteria when this whole agreement started. Was he told what he wanted out of life? Did he have a say in anything or was his entire life dictated by his parents? And the mystery that was really bothering her was, who was Oliver Queen really?
She'd heard so many things about him from varying parties, but after spending time with him she couldn't help, but wonder who he really was.
"What?" he asked surprised.
"What did you want to be when you grew up?"
He paused an incredulous look coming over his face. She watched as he leaned into the sideboards of the bed and concentrated hard.
She waited patiently her mind conjuring up images of a little Oliver running around pretending to be a doctor, lawyer, CEO, clown, superhero, and everything in between.
"I don't know." He responded finally.
She frowned and raised a curious eyebrow. "You don't know?"
He shrugged, "I never really wanted to be anything. I mean, even if I wanted to do something, my dad always told me I'd own Queen Consolidated so…I don't know."
She blinked taking in his answer and then she felt an even deeper sadness at that answer loom in her chest. She nodded slowly not knowing what else she could say.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" he asked surprised.
She stared into his eyes taking in the sapphire like orbs that always seemed to gaze into her soul and see something she had yet to discover.
She was the first one to look away and she looked down at her notebook already moving to pull up notes on supply and demand.
"What did you want to be when you were little?" he asked breaking the tense silence.
She smiled fondly at the memory of her younger self talking in an animated tone and driving her mother crazy.
"A computer." She said finally earning a laugh from him. She successfully broke the tense silence and they turned back to their studying.
A few days later Felicity was eating lunch on the couch before work when Laurel came stomping in. Felicity quickly swallowed her sandwich already mentally making an escape route so she wouldn't get in the way of Livid Laurel.
"You should be glad you're an only child!" Laurel yelled flopping onto the couch beside her.
Felicity frowned feeling diminished that her escape plan was shot now that Laurel was beside her. She might as well listen, she still had an hour until work.
"Why is that?"
"Because you don't have to worry about Sibling Day! Do you know who just called me? Do you?" Laurel exclaimed angrily.
Felicity bit her lip not sure how she should answer that. Of course, she didn't know who called Laurel, but by her reaction it could be only one of two people, and she knew Oliver hadn't just called Laurel because she had left him taking their Macro test.
Besides she didn't even think Oliver and Laurel talked…if anything they seemed to be avoiding on another. Laurel was generally out when Oliver came over and when Laurel was home Oliver generally stayed away.
"Who?"
"Sara!" Laurel shouted waving her hands around angrily.
Felicity nodded slowly taking in the news. She wasn't sure what she could really say to that. She had never met Sara, but she knew all about her. Felicity thought the situation was shitty, but despite this Sibling Day thing Laurel hadn't really talked about Sara or what had happened over the summer. As a matter of fact she had been in a pretty good mood lately.
"What did she say?" Felicity asked curiously.
"Just that she was coming this weekend for Sibling Day and I better save her a spot on the couch! As if I even want her here! Or to spend an entire weekend with her! She didn't even acknowledge the situation." Laurel said scowling.
Suddenly a jolt of emotion seemed to go through Felicity's body at the thought of Sara coming to visit. Did Sara still have feelings for Oliver? Did Oliver still have feelings for Sara?
They had to feel something for each other since Oliver was willing to ruin a serious relationship and Sara was willing to screw over her sister.
She tried to shove the emotions away, since it really shouldn't matter anyway. If Sara was not in the picture, then Laurel would be in the picture. Which she was, technically.
This was just another reason that she should really stop crushing on Oliver Queen.
He left a trail of heartache in his wake.
Oliver never talked about Sara, but Felicity was willing to bet that he still cared about her. And he'd want to reconnect now that she was in New Haven.
She felt her stomach drop in anxiety and she felt sick at the prospect of having to watch Sara and Oliver together.
She hadn't really had to see him with another girl. Well, once she had seen him kiss some brunette while walking to the library before a study session, but that was it. And he looked uncomfortable so she decided that it didn't count, although it still hurt. More than she wanted to admit.
She really needed to reign in these feelings.
Get it together, Smoak.
"Didn't you spend the entire summer with you? And she spent three months apologizing? Maybe she thinks you guys are okay." Felicity said encouragingly.
Laurel shot her an angry look. "We won't be okay for awhile. And I don't care if she spent years apologizing. She slept with the man I loved! That won't ever be okay."
Felicity felt a combination of guilt at her own emerging feelings toward Oliver and sadness that Laurel was always going to let this hang over her head.
"I'm sorry." She said for lack of anything else to say.
Laurel shrugged and looked at the silent TV. "It's not your fault. I'll just tell her not to come. It's fine. Everything will be fine."
Felicity watched her get off the couch and lock herself in her bedroom. She already knew that everything would not be fine.
Felicity eagerly embraced her cousin, Roy Harper, when he stepped off the bus stop in New Haven. He shifted uncomfortably in her arms and tried to shrug her off, but she hugged him tighter to her the more he struggled.
"Roy!" she greeted giving him a wide smile and tightening her hold on him.
"Breathing is going to become an issue, Felicity, if you don't let go." He said rolling his eyes at her.
She smiled even wider and pulled away taking in the little changes in her cousin.
"How are you?" she asked when he shifted uneasily in front of her.
"Fine."
"Roy…"
"Okay. I guess. Tired." He revealed in exasperation.
She smiled softly and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I missed you too."
He ducked his head and she squeezed him to her again as they made their way back toward campus and her apartment.
Roy had been coming to visit her since she had started at Yale. His mother thought it would be a good way to motivate Roy into going to college, but Felicity already knew Roy wasn't going to college. They had, had many discussions about it. Roy just came to spend the weekend with Felicity and since both of them hardly saw one another, neither brought up the fact that Roy wasn't perusing higher education.
Plus, Felicity didn't have any siblings and Roy was the closest person to a brother. It would be just another weekend hanging out. Although somehow as they walked back to the dorm Felicity already knew it would be much more than that.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Sara was supposed to be arriving around the same time as Roy. Despite Laurel's pleas Felicity had left the apartment early to get him and thus missed the arrival of Sara 'Slut-face' Lance. Laurel's nickname, not hers.
The closer they got to the apartment Felicity felt the tightening in her stomach at what kind of war zone she'd be walking into. She stopped suddenly and gripped Roy's arm.
"I have to be honest…" Felicity started.
"That doesn't sound promising." Roy said huffing.
"It's not. Listen, I live with three other girls."
"Are they hot?"
"Stop."
Roy rolled his eyes and waved her on to continue talking.
"One of their sister's are here."
"Obviously it's Sibling Weekend."
"They're kinda on the outs." She said uncomfortably.
Roy smirked, "kinda? Is this that Laurel girl who you lived with last year?"
"Yeah."
"The one with the hot blonde sister?"
"Sara's my age!"
"So?"
"So she's off limits! You're 16! And she's Laurel's sister and very much into Oliver."
"Who's Oliver?"
Felicity cringed inwardly mentally cursing herself for bringing him up to Roy. She had told herself that she wouldn't mention Oliver in front of Roy, especially after the Matthew Leland Incident.
"Just a guy."
"What kind of guy?"
"A guy…guy. He's not a big deal." She said trying to shrug it off.
Roy smirked widely at her. "Not a big deal…then why is this Sara into him? And why is Sara off limits?"
She sighed heavily and looked around the mostly empty campus. "Oliver and Laurel dated. Oliver cheated on her with her sister. Laurel caught them. It's tense to say the least. I mean, like really tense. Like North and South Korea tense. Well maybe not exactly, I shouldn't be comparing a really serious war to a feud between sisters, that kinda puts all this nonsense in perspective. Anyway, it's tense. Like sister slept with my boyfriend tense, which I guess is what happened." Felicity rambled.
Roy laughed and turned to continue walking toward the dorms. "Sounds stupid. Do you have any ramen? I'm starved."
"Yeah…we do." Felicity said hurrying after him.
"I tell you this, just to forewarn you that there might be trouble…" she hedged.
Roy shrugged and reached the door of the dorms. "Listen, if I can deal with Vegas—"
"Felicity! Funny seeing you here." A familiar voice called interrupting them.
Felicity turned away from Roy and toward the voice, smiling widely when she saw Oliver Queen approach her with a pretty young girl following after him. She watched as the girl looked over at Roy and then at her with a cool look.
"How is it funny that we're seeing her? We came to see her." The girl said rolling her eyes and giving Oliver a sardonic look.
Felicity watched Oliver's cheeks darken and she bit her lip to stifle a laugh.
"Thea this is Felicity. Felicity this is Thea. My sister." Oliver said introducing them reluctantly a pinched look forming on his face.
"Hi, Thea." Felicity said smiling at the girl.
Thea smiled back and then looked over at her brother with raised eyebrows. Felicity followed her eyes and saw that Oliver was giving her an indescribable look, his eyes were soft and they took on that intense quality that always made her weak in the knees, his face was relaxed and he seemed to be somewhere else as he gazed at her.
"My brother wanted to ask you to dinner. Both of you, Felicity and Felicity's nameless…brother?" Thea said looking over at Roy curiously.
"Dinner. Right. I wanted to ask you to dinner. If that's okay. I mean, it would be all four of us," he said taking a second to wave between the four of them. "And it wasn't funny haha seeing Felicity here, but ironic funny, like I was coming to find you funny."
Felicity smiled shyly, "usually I'm the one rambling."
Oliver let out an embarrassed chuckle and Felicity turned to address Roy completely missing the blush that came over her friend's face.
"You want dinner instead of ramen?"
"Whatever." Roy said shrugging and glancing over at Thea who was still looking at him with interest.
"What's your name?" Thea asked suddenly.
Roy smirked and glanced over at Felicity who blushed. "I'm so sorry! Where are my manners? Apparently nonexistent at the current moment. This is Roy, my cousin."
"Your cousin?" Thea asked looking at her curiously.
"We were practically raised together. Even though Felicity is a few years older than me." Roy supplied taking a step forward.
"He's the closest person I have to a brother." She added looking over at Oliver.
"And this is…Oliver." Felicity added forgetting that she hadn't introduced him either.
"Oliver? As in…The Oliver?" Roy asked smirking at Felicity who's eyes widened in fear. Her mind flashed again to Matthew Leland.
She could already see the scene unfolding, much like what had happened with Matthew Leland.
It had been after school. She had, had this huge crush on Matthew for years and wanted to ask him to the Sadie Hawkins dance, but was too afraid. Roy had found her diary one afternoon when she had been making them something to eat. He had proceeded to ask Matthew Leland to the dance thinking he was helping her out. Needless to say it was disastrous.
And if Roy even caught wind that she had any feelings for Oliver whatsoever he would either intervene or take to threatening, which was his new thing apparently from what her mother said.
"The Oliver?" Oliver asked glancing over at Felicity curiously.
Thea's smirk widened, "are you talking about my brother, Lis?"
Roy chuckled and eyed Thea. "I'm only allowed to call her that."
"What do I have to do to be allowed to use the nickname too?" Thea teased.
Oliver frowned, "first of all, back off she's fourteen—"
"I'm sixteen." Roy said shrugging.
"Second, have you been talking about me, Felicity?" Oliver asked turning to the nervous looking blonde.
"Of course not!"
"Yes."
The two cousins looked at each other, Felicity sporting a bright red face and angry eyes, while Roy was smirking at her mirth filled eyes. She knew by one look that something was brewing in that brain of his, probably a bad idea.
"You're sixteen?" Thea asked breaking the silence.
"Just turned it a few weeks ago." Roy said proudly.
"Can you drive?"
"What did you say about me?" Oliver asked trying to ignore the conversation between the two younger people in their foursome.
Felicity blushed even deeper and avoided his eyes. "So…dinner?"
"Felicity?"
She huffed and glared over at Roy who was watching her with interest as was Thea.
"Just…about the stuff with Sara and Laurel."
"Oh."
"Yeah. I was forewarning him about…the fighting."
"Right."
"Yeah."
The silence stretched for a few seconds until Thea clapped her hands together.
"Dinner?"
"Yes!" They all chorused and headed toward the all night diner in the middle of campus. The one Felicity had turned Oliver onto, with the really good strawberry milkshakes with the chocolate drizzle.
Felicity already knew what she was going to have too.
She felt like an idiot for bringing up the Sara and Laurel stuff and she wanted to convey that to Oliver, but he was a few steps ahead walking with Thea.
She looked back toward Roy who was walking with her quietly.
"Don't make this into the Matthew Leland thing." She mumbled quickly.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He replied innocently.
"Whatever. Just don't do Leland."
"Why would I do Leland? It's obvious you don't like him and he doesn't like you." Roy said woodenly.
"It's obvious?" she asked in surprise.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "What's the deal with that Thea chick?"
"I met her at the same moment you did."
"What do you think her deal is?"
"She's a Queen."
"A Queen? Wouldn't she be a princess?"
"That's her last name, idiot." Felicity said shaking her head.
Roy opened his mouth to reply when Oliver and Thea turned around to face them. For a moment Felicity thought they were about to get reprimanded when instead Thea came to fall into step beside her.
"So how did you and Ollie meet?" she asked curiously.
"Macroeconomics."
"Sounds boring." Roy said.
"It's not." Felicity said looking over to Oliver to back her up.
He smiled slightly, "it is."
"What's your major?" Thea asked in the same curious tone.
"She's into computers." Roy said taking Felicity's arm and pulling her away so he could switch spots and be closer to Thea.
Felicity rolled her eyes and looked over at Oliver who wasn't quite glaring at Roy, but was pretty close.
"He's harmless." Felicity said making him look at her.
He raised an eyebrow in doubt. "Really? He's a sixteen year old boy."
"Believe me, he likes to think he's tough, but he's not. He's a softie at heart."
Oliver's face melted into a smile and knocked her shoulder gently. "So have you met Sara?"
Felicity shook her head not particularly wanting to talk about Oliver's ex…fling?
"She's awesome. You'll like her." He said.
"I'm sure." Felicity said turning away.
Silence fell on the two of them as the other two chatted merrily beside them.
"When did you pick up Thea? I thought she wasn't coming in until Friday morning."
"A little while ago. My parents changed her flight to tonight. I told them that was when all my friends' siblings were showing up."
Felicity nodded and they continued their way to the diner in silence. Once they arrived the four of them grabbed a booth and the waitress came over with menus.
"Felicity got me hooked on this place." Oliver said barely glancing down at the menu.
"I bet she did." Roy muttered earning a kick under the table from Felicity.
He grimaced and she smirked across the table at him.
"So you guys met in Macroeconomics? Did he beg you to help you pass? Or ask you to do his homework?" Thea joked.
Felicity smiled fondly and glanced over at him.
"No…he didn't beg. He…pleaded. I felt bad. Plus I helped Tommy last year in Micro, so I figured I'd extend my services…strictly platonic services that is." She said flushing.
Thea smirked in glee at her. She opened her mouth to further the discussion, buy Roy cut her off.
"You knew Laurel too, Lis." He said looking at Oliver and then Thea.
"Oh, you know Laurel?" Thea said visibly deflating.
"She's my roommate."
"Lucky you." Thea said scoffing.
Felicity looked back and forth between the Queen siblings with interest.
"Do you not…like her?" she asked boldly.
Thea shrugged and looked over at Oliver who was shifting uncomfortably beside Felicity. She tried not to focus too much on how often his knee brushed against her own.
"I…like her. I just don't think she brings out Ollie's best qualities, you know? Like she's very serious and Ollie is so very…not. I mean, spending so much time with him you must've noticed he isn't Mister Perfect, like Laurel." Thea rationalized.
Felicity turned slightly and met Oliver's eyes. He was watching her intently and she felt the familiar swooping of her stomach every time he gave her that smoldering look.
"I don't know, he is kinda perfect." She muttered before she could catch herself.
Her cheeks brightened and she looked back across the table at the two smirks on Thea and Roy's face. Specifically Thea's. Roy just looked smug. Too smug. She had a sudden flashback to Matthew Leland and hoped Roy wouldn't do anything to 'help' her.
"I mean, like perfect…ish. Like I could see what Laurel saw in him. Not like physically. I mean, of course physically, but mentally too…not like I consider dating him – you. I just…understand the attraction. Uh – not like I'm attracted to you either. You're attractive just not…my type. Or something. I'm going to stop." She rambled wishing she could slither under the table and pretend she hadn't said anything.
Thea's smirk had turned to a wide grin.
Roy looked amused.
And Oliver had that content smirk on his face that she had noticed begin to appear when she rambled.
"So! Milkshakes?" she said jabbing her menu with her pointer finger.
"So you think my brother's hot?" Thea asked disregarding the menu.
Felicity felt her cheeks flame up the brightest yet and refused to meet Oliver's eyes. Or really anyone's for that matter.
Because this was a very inappropriate conversation to be having with her platonic friend's sister. Or with her cousin present.
"He isn't bad to look at. But…that doesn't matter. We're just friends. Platonic friends. Nothing more." Felicity said firmly still avoiding Oliver's eyes.
Thea opened her mouth to ask something else when she let out a muttered 'ow' and glared at Oliver.
"So…Thea likes to talk. A lot. Ignore her. Tell me about Felicity growing up?" Oliver asked looking over at Roy who leaned back into the booth with disinterest.
"She was a genius. Like she is now. Our mothers would always compare us though. Lis's mom would always want her to go out more, like me. Have friends and stuff. While my mom wants me to go to college, like Lis. We used to joke that we got the wrong mothers." Roy said looking over at Felicity who was watching him.
"It wasn't that bad. Roy's just pissy cause his mom sends him here every year to encourage him to go to college if he just pushed himself harder."
"I'm not going to college." Roy protested.
"Why not?" Thea asked sipping at the water the waitress had set on the table for them.
Roy shrugged and gave her what Felicity had patented his Bad Boy Look.
"Not for me." He said casually.
Thea nodded slowly taking in his answer. "So what are you going to do?"
"Whatever I want. I live in Vegas, baby. Anything is possible in the City Of Sin." He said flirtatiously.
Felicity snorted and looked over at Oliver who was most definitely glaring at Roy now.
"You live in Las Vegas?" Thea asked with interest.
"It's where Lis and I grew up. We grew up near the strip. It was okay. Both our mothers are—"
"And Roy will end up doing something meaningful with his life. Thea, are you going to college?" Felicity said swiftly.
Both Queen siblings looked back and forth between Roy and Felicity curiously.
"Well, I guess. I haven't decided on anything yet. But I've always wanted to do something in fashion. When I was younger I wanted to be just like Lindy my personal shopper, but—"
"You have a personal shopper?" Roy asked incredulously.
Thea looked momentarily self-conscious and then nodded emphatically, "So what?"
Roy put his hands up in surrender, but chose not to say anything, which Felicity was very thankful for.
"So Felicity, what do you want to do when you're finished with school? I mean, you have a ways to go but—" Thea began.
"Not that much time actually. I'll be done after the end of next year." Felicity said feeling proud and nervous at the prospect of graduating.
"But I'm thinking of staying and doing Grad School. I was considering MIT though for Grad School just because of their pro—"
"That's insane! I thought you were Ollie's age!" Thea exclaimed in amazement.
Felicity glanced over at Oliver who was staring at her with the same awed expression.
"You're almost done?" Oliver asked quietly.
"Well, yeah. I'm a junior. Didn't you know that?"
"Why are you taking Intro to Macroeconomics then?"
"Because I thought it would be fun. And helpful. Mostly fun though. I liked Micro so I figured I'd take Macro. Besides I've finished most of my major requirements and wanted something unrelated." She said logically.
Thea and Oliver stared at her in astonishment neither knowing what to say. Roy laughed loudly and shook his head.
"Same old Felicity," He muttered. "In high school she took every math class available because she said they were fun."
"Math is fun." Felicity protested.
"Can you do my math homework then? It's Algebra and I don't get any of it." Thea asked.
Felicity smiled, "you sound like you're brother. I can help, but I won't do it."
"I don't sound like that! I do my own work."
"But you have asked me to do your homework."
"That was one time! And I was tired." Oliver said indignantly.
Felicity laughed, "whatever helps you sleep at night."
"So how old are you? You definitely don't look 21." Thea asked curiously.
Felicity hesitated for a brief moment and Roy looked at her with raised eyebrows. "19."
"You're only 19?" Oliver asked in admiration.
She blushed again and nodded. "Yeah. I'm supposed to be a genius so I graduated early…and well here I am."
"That's pretty cool. Maybe some of your smarts will rub off onto Ollie. He tends not to make the brightest decisions." Thea teased making him scowl at her.
Oliver opened his mouth to say something when the waitress came over and asked them if they were ready to order.
Since Felicity and Oliver had basically already memorized the menu they told the waitress their order, but Roy took a little longer and Thea took the longest because she needed to go over every item. Finally the orders were placed and the four went back to their conversation.
"I can't believe you're 19. I feel like I don't know you at all." Oliver grumbled.
Felicity gave him a sheepish look. "You never asked."
"What else do I not know about you?" he asked now turned fully to her.
She blushed slightly at having all of his attention on her, but she tried not to let that get to her.
"Not much. I'm pretty much an open book." She said shrugging.
"Ha! Oliver, don't let her fool you! Felicity used to be Goth and if I decide I like you I'll share the pictures with you." Roy commented smugly.
Felicity gasped and looked at him irritation. "Roy!"
Thea laughed loudly, "wow, Ollie. The Frat Boy and The Goth. Could you get any further from you usual type? It's kinda refreshing you know…opposites do attract."
Oliver opened his mouth to respond, but Felicity quickly cut in.
"No attraction of opposites! We're just friends. Really. Platonic friends." Felicity said adamantly.
Thea smirked and nodded slowly. "Sure. Right. Friends."
Both Oliver and Felicity missed the knowing look Roy and Thea exchanged.
Once dinner was over Oliver and Thea walked Felicity and Roy back to the dorms.
"We'll probably see you tomorrow." Thea called out as they walked away.
Felicity noticed that her eyes stayed on Roy and she made a mental note to ask Roy what was going on there. She had seen their flirtations and she knew Oliver had as well. He's pointedly glared at Roy numerous times throughout dinner. She also listened to him make some not so subtle threats.
Dinner had been so fun that she had forgotten about the warzone she and Roy would be walking into. They walked down the hallway and came to a stop right as the door opened. Nyssa stepped through the threshold and nearly smacked into Felicity.
"Sorry. I had to get out of there. Miss Priss is on the warpath. I guess her sister…Sara? Said some things that got her panties in a bunch and now she's gone on some crazed bender." Nyssa said shaking her head in frustration.
"What kind of bender?" Felicity asked nervously.
Nyssa raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "The kind that involves alcohol and attempting to clean. Her sister left awhile ago claiming to go on some walk, but if I was her I'd probably stay away. Far away. Maybe sleep at that guy's place…Laurel's ex."
Felicity felt the familiar churning of jealousy in her stomach at the mention of Oliver and Sara together or Oliver and Laurel or really Oliver and anyone that wasn't her.
She was aware she was being petty. But thank God no one could read her mind.
"You think she will sleep there?"
Nyssa shrugged, "I don't really care. I'm leaving ground zero though. I was annoyed with Laurel before when she was going on her rants about her ex, now that she's drunk and ranting it's really annoying. She needs to get over it."
"It was her sister."
"So? My dad's an evil arse and you don't see me going on about it. She's self centered and someone needs to tell her to get over it." Nyssa gave her a pointed look.
"I'm not doing it." Felicity exclaimed and Roy laughed.
"Whatever. I'd do it, but I'm not her friend. Maybe that guy she's been seeing will talk some sense into her." Nyssa said indifferently.
"She's seeing someone?" Felicity asked feeling a combination of hurt that Laurel didn't tell her and curiosity to know whom it was.
"Yeah, but if it was serious wouldn't she be over everything between her ex and sister?"
Felicity shrugged her mind still on what Nyssa had said about Laurel seeing someone. "Who is it?"
Nyssa sighed, "do I look like her secretary? I don't know. All I know is that I saw her kissing some guy when I was coming home the other night. I didn't see who it was or anything. And I don't really care. I have to go. I'll see you later."
Felicity watched Nyssa leave wanting to know what else she knew. She was only snapped out of her pensive thoughts when Roy knocked the large backpack he'd been lugging around all night against her shoulder.
"I don't care if your roommate is crazy right now. I just want to go to sleep." Roy said.
Felicity nodded and opened the door leading him inside. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the living room was empty. She nodded to Roy to go to her room and just as she was about to head after him she heard Laurel's voice.
She ushered Roy ahead and silently moved toward Laurels' door to hear her talking on the phone.
"…just so angry. She always does this. And I know I shouldn't feel so hurt. But I am." Laurel slurred slightly. She paused and Felicity watched her take a sip of the vodka that had been sitting in the freezer. "It's not even about what happened this summer. It's about how she is with me. I'm over what happened…for the most part. But she can be such a bitch! I mean, I know she's my sister and one day we'll look back on this and laugh, but – yes. Yes. I know. Sure. I wish you could come over…or maybe I could come over – oh. Thea's there? She'll definitely see me sneak in or you out. Okay. Right. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow." Laurel said before hanging up.
Felicity moved away before she could see her and swiftly went into her bedroom wondering if Laurel had taken Oliver back after all. Despite what she had said maybe they decided to ride the Merry-Go-Round Of Hell again.
Did them getting back together have something to do with why neither of them had been around one another lately? Maybe they wanted to keep their relationship a secret after everything that had happened over the summer. Especially after everything Laurel had said. It would make her seem like a hypocrite…so maybe they were trying again in secret?
Felicity couldn't imagine them getting back together, but knowing what she did about their previous relationship it didn't seem farfetched. And it explained Laurel's current good mood.
Besides the only other person who would be around Thea would be Tommy. And why wouldn't Laurel mention she was seeing Tommy? Why hide a relationship with Tommy from her?
Felicity felt sick as she attempted to help Roy set up the blow up mattress, her thoughts swirled around the idea of Oliver and Laurel.
But as much as she tried to tell herself that it was inevitable that Oliver and Laurel would get back together it seriously didn't sooth the pain she was currently in at the thought of them as a couple again.
So yeah, she really needed to get this crush on Oliver Queen under control before some serious damage was inflicted. Especially because there was seriously no way a guy like Oliver could ever like her.
(A/n: What do you think? Please review! More will be soon!)