She made a point to buy a house on the opposite side of town. The realtor didn't even have to throw in any promises or bargains; Felicity just asked for a pen and signed all the necessary paperwork. The house was a bit larger than her old one: six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, two half-baths, a kitchen on both floors, an outdoor swimming pool, and an indoor hot tub. All of the space was entirely unnecessary and a bit ostentatious, but she grew up living in creaky apartments and had worked hard so that she could enjoy the materialistic things. Still, the extra space reminded her of fleeting conversations with Ray about having another baby. Her heart ached with sheer want at the thought of adding another member to what was once a happy family.
If Mia felt uncomfortable in the large house, she kept quiet about it. Between Felicity being at work and Mia attending school and dance practice, there was never really any time for the two of them to talk. They hadn't spoken about Ray or the pending divorce or the woman moaning underneath Mia's father in her mother's bed. Felicity knew that her daughter had questions that needed to be answered, but she wasn't ready to face the reality of it all.
She sighed as she watched Hunter and the other security details carry boxes into the kitchen. She had given them strict instructions to take everything in the house that belonged to her or Mia. It was a nightmare having to fight with Ray on who owned what. Finally they had agreed that he would keep the house and she would take the furniture. But she left her bed behind; Ray and his whore could keep it.
"Mrs. Palmer," Hunter grumbled, interrupting her thoughts, "what should we do with this?" Her wedding and engagement rings sat in the palm of his hand. She glared at them.
"Ms. Smoak, please," she responded, waving a dismissive hand, "sell those things and keep the cash for yourself, Hunter."
He shifted uncomfortably, "Ms. Smoak, these are worth thousands of dollars. Are you sure Mia wouldn't like to have them?"
"You're free to offer them to her," Felicity shrugged, "but when she denies them, consider this a bonus in your paycheck for this month."
Hunter, who was clearly at a loss for words, choked out, "Thank you, ma'am," and shuffled off to find Mia. Felicity counted his loud footsteps up the stairs and waited the thirty seconds it took for Mia to decline the rings and for Hunter to return to the living room. She gave him a smug smile and patted his shoulder as she walked past him and into her bedroom. Sitting down on the edge of her new, clean, untainted bed, she held her head in her hands and took in a deep breath. "You'll get through this," she whispered to herself, "You have to get through this."
She had no choice. Felicity Smoak was known nationwide for her SmoakTech company and all of her accomplishments. She was one of Starling City's elite; the press would eat her alive if she cracked. Felicity Smoak never cracked.
Yet there she was, adjusting herself into the fetal position as she continued trying to regulate her breathing. Tears pooled in her eyes and she didn't bother to fight them as they fell. For the first time since that god awful day, Felicity Smoak cried. She cried for Mia's damaged relationship with Ray, she cried for her marriage, and she cried for herself. She cried until her eyes ran dry and continued to cry even without tears. Sleep being her only escape, she closed her eyes and waited to slip into oblivion.
She woke to the smell of dinner being prepared in the kitchen: grilled chicken and scalloped potatoes. Her stomach rumbled but the thought of food made her nauseous, and, as much as she needed to, she knew she couldn't eat. She managed to drag herself out of bed and into the bathroom, peeling off her clothes and turning on the shower in what seemed like slow motion. For a moment she stared at herself in the mirror: completely naked, vulnerable. Her fingers ran along the small scars from having Mia by caesarean section, her mind flashing back to Ray holding her hand and stroking her hair as he told her she was going to be okay.
"Liar," Felicity grumbled to herself. It seemed like nothing would be okay ever again. Her eyes traveled up her body in the mirror and focused on her face. It was evident that she had skipped a few meals just from the hollows beneath her cheekbones. Exhaustion painted deep, purple circles under her eyes. She looked older, as if she had aged five years in five days. Felicity Smoak was cracking.
Unable to look at herself any longer, she tore away from the mirror and stepped inside the shower without waiting for the water to warm up. The cold droplets helped prove to her that this was not a dream: she was awake, and this was her reality. With shaky hands she lathered herself in soap, as if she could wash away the past week and everything that had happened. Every so often the memory of Ray massaging her soapy shoulders in their old shower would creep into her thoughts, reminding her of what she had and what she lost. When her knees started to wobble she turned the water off and grabbed her towel, leaving a trail of water as she walked into her closet. It was still very strange to only see her things and not his. She slipped on an old T-shirt and a pair of underwear and walked back to her bed.
"Tomorrow will be better," she promised herself, "it has to be." And once again she let the darkness overcome her.
She woke up before the sun had risen. Normally five o'clock in the morning would've been considered an ungodly hour and she would've gone back to sleep, but today she was happy she had a few hours to herself before everyone else woke up. She stretched out in her sheets, feeling the tightness of her muscles. She needed a run. She usually avoided exercise like the plague, but she was well rested and could use the opportunity to burn off anger and stress. She slipped out of bed and threw on leggings, a sports bra, and a light jacket. Grabbing a pair of sneakers off the shelf of athletic shoes she never wore, she tiptoed throughout the house and snuck out the front door.
Sucking in a deep breath of fresh air, she couldn't help but crack a genuine smile. For the first time in six days she was completely alone. She wasn't surrounded by people at the office, she didn't have Hunter hovering over her, and she didn't have her mother or her friends blowing up her phone. She was actually alone. The only noise she could hear was the soft chirping of birds and hum of automobiles driving past her. It was lovely.
She started off with a light jog as she wove through the streets of her neighborhood. It was a bit yuppier than her previous subdivision, but she appreciated her new scenic route. She passed houses with intricate gardens and waved at the rare neighbors who were also up so early. When she finally felt warmed up, she broke into her version of a sprint and continued looping throughout her neighborhood.
She had just settled into a comfortable pace when she saw him running on the opposite sidewalk, his hair shorter but his face exactly the same. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and even without her glasses she could tell that he had acquired a couple tattoos and what seemed to be a few battle wounds as well. He stared straight ahead as he ran, sweat dripping down his perfectly define abs.
Felicity swallowed.
He must've felt her staring because he lifted his gaze from the ground and locked eyes with hers. When the shock registered across his features, her feet tangled together and she fell flat on her ass on the pavement.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," she groaned, rubbing the offended area, "damn it!"
"Felicity?" He called, crossing the street to reach her.
It was definitely him. He had the kind of voice that you could never forget. She gawked at him in stunned silence. This could not be happening.
"Felicity! It's Oliver! Ollie! Come on, don't you remember me?"
She almost considered saying no. She thought about pretending to have amnesia, or saying that she was actually Felicity's long lost twin from Las Vegas. Either way it was bullshit and he would call her out on it.
"Hello Oliver," she said quietly, "How could I forget you?"
And how could she? She had spent most of her middle school years and all of her high school years by his side. He had been her absolute best friend, her first love, and so much more. But she had never intended to ever see him again, and she cringed at how cruel fate was to have her end up moving into his neighborhood.
He held out hand, "Let's get you up, yeah?" She tried not to pay attention to the rippling of his muscles as he pulled her to her feet.
"Thanks," she mumbled, "I should probably get going."
"Get going?" He ask, clearly upset, "But we haven't seen each other in years! Thirteen years, Lis."
"Fourteen," she corrected him, "it's been fourteen years."
"Even worse," he shook his head, "you just disappeared. I tried calling and emailing; I even went to your house. Your mom said you and Ray just ran off. You guys eloped, I guess. And then you came back and started that company. I tried to visit you but your receptionist said you were always busy."
She shifted uncomfortably, "Yeah. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry? That's it? " He looked pissed off.
She just nodded.
"Fourteen years, Felicity. I never saw you after graduation. I thought we were past what had happened and then you just left without saying goodbye."
"I'm sorry," she repeated, giving him a small shrug, "really."
They stared each other down for a few moments before Oliver closed his eyes let out a deep sigh, "Well, how have you been?"
She glanced down at her watch and groaned, "I have to head back. I need to be at the office in an hour."
"I guess we'll continue this conversation over drinks tonight," he said casually, "I'll send my driver over to get you."
She blinked at him.
"I have my own driver," she panicked, "but I'm busy tonight."
She took a few steps back and waved at him, "Goodbye, Oliver."
"So that's it? You're just going to disappear again?"
"It's what I do best," she answered, giving him a sad smile.
And once again she was running from Oliver Queen.