All the streets were named after apples, Felicity noticed as she explored the snow-covered neighborhood. So far she'd seen Red Delicious Road, McIntosh Avenue, Braeburn Boulevard, Gala Circuit, Cameo Court, and Fuji Drive. Her Aunt Debbie lived at 414 Granny Smith Lane. Well, they both did now, but that was still hard to think about.

Felicity clenched her fists inside her mittens and pulled them into the sleeves of her coat. The sky was growing dark and the cold was getting to her, but she wasn't ready to go back to her aunt's—uh, to go back home. She'd need to get use to calling it that.

She hadn't believed her parents when they first told her. It was the second afternoon of 2004, and they'd spent the first half of the day talking in their bedroom. It seemed important by the way they grew quiet whenever she walked down the hall. Felicity forced herself to stay in the living room to avoid the temptation to eavesdrop. Then her mom made macaroni and cheese for lunch, which was her favorite. She ate it warily, remembering the last time her mom had made it without being asked was just before telling her that the neighbor had killed her emerald tree boa after it escaped and was discovered eating his chihuahua. Felicity really missed Snugglesnake and his dangerous hugs.

Anyway, it turned out that the macaroni and cheese really was foreboding. Her parents sat her down on the couch afterwards and told her she'd be moving to Mapleville. Not they, just her. And Kermit, obviously. Her face had contorted in confusion before asking why. Her mother quickly answered with a fumbling explanation of bullies, which was strange because the Insufferable Six were more bearable now and anyway she'd be rid of them in June. Then her father patted her mother's hand and stepped in. It was astounding, really, how he always got away with telling the truth. She hadn't screamed, or argued, or ranted, or stomped upstairs to her room. All she'd done was sigh and nod.

Packing had been strange, since it was only her room emptying and filling the hall with boxes. She told herself it was practice for when she moved out and went to college, and it made her feel a little better. Packing alone took longer, but she'd insisted on it, saying something about wanting to know where everything was. It wasn't clear if her parents had bought that, but they let her do it anyway.

Oliver's suit jacket had been put in the bottom of a clothes box, their pre-dance picture tucked in the inside pocket. Her mom had slipped it to her one day when her father was gone, a knowing smile on her face. Oliver was dazzling, even though his smile wasn't genuine. It didn't matter, though, because the picture reminded her of all that had happened later. She'd been nervous, wondering if her father would come in and make her get rid of the picture and jacket, but he never did. To distract herself from the sadness and worry, she turned on the radio. "I Want Candy" started playing after a few commercials, and she sang along between giggles.

Mapleville was a two-hour drive from Starling City. The car ride there consisted of reassurances and her parents' favorite music, but she only half-listened. If only I'd listened, she thought morosely. I shouldn't have tried to get away with talking to Oliver with my dad around. I should've told him to go away and hope I'd see him some other time. It wouldn't be easy to run into him if he was two hours away. Well, he was at Harvard most of the time and that was on the other side of the country, but moving meant never seeing him in the summer or spring break or on holidays.

Oliver was her only friend. She had seen Laurel more often, but had never really talked to her. And her fellow math club and chess club members were nice to her, but she'd never connected with any of them. Oliver was as close as she got, but he was a bad influence; so bad that her father thought she needed to move away to keep from seeing him. It seemed like an overreaction, but her father was far too level-headed to make such a drastic move without a good reason.

She sure hoped there was a good reason, because she was already missing Oliver. And it seemed he'd miss her too. That desperate kiss he gave her was obviously a spontaneous reaction to losing her so suddenly. But he'd be okay eventually.

That kiss was really something, though. She'd loved every second, but he was Laurel's boyfriend and she didn't want to betray her. That's why she kept her massive, gigantic crush to herself. Well, that and it was just ridiculous. As if Oliver would ever actually want her. Yeah, he'd kissed her the last two times she'd seen him, but they were impulsive and hadn't meant he was attracted to her. There was the aforementioned second time, and then there was the time at prom. That one was a bit harder to understand, but it could've been to spite Karla or to just make sure Felicity had a great night.

Oh, he was so… Well, not perfect, but he was definitely physically perfect. Like, super crazy gorgeous. Those blue eyes, that smile… Well, just about every part of him, really. It was his personality that needed work; he was shallow, egotistical, and cowardly. But he was still funny, clever (sometimes), and sweet. So yeah, it was possible that she was in love with him. Just a little bit. So maybe it was a good idea to move. If she kept hanging out with him, she might've gotten sick of the friend zone and done something stupid. It was for the best.

That's what she told herself as she unpacked. Aunt Debbie had offered to help, and Felicity had reluctantly let her. She was her father's youngest sister, but trustworthy enough to allow a glimpse of the jacket. And after her sympathetic reaction, she was given more than a glimpse. Felicity nervously showed her the picture inside.

"I've seen him on the news, but… Damn." Aunt Debbie's hazel eyes were wide as she studied the picture. "If my dad kept me from seeing a guy that hot, I'd be pretty pissed."

"Oliver's a bad influence," Felicity explained as she tossed her socks into the drawer.

"Yeah, and your dad moved you out of the city just to keep him away from you." She smirked. "This guy must really like you."

Felicity adjusted her glasses. "We're just friends. I mean, sure, I'm crushing on him, but how can I not? Anyway, he's out of my league and has a beautiful girlfriend and there's just no way."

Aunt Debbie's smirk grew into a grin. "Oh, so you are crushing on him? So that means you've imagined his big, strong arms around you, his soft lips against yours?" Though she was twenty-six, she often acted sixteen. She puckered her lips at her niece.

Felicity blushed. "Actually, I don't have to imagine it."

Those hazel eyes were wide again. "No!"

"Yes,"

"What?" Aunt Debbie gave a short laugh. "Just friends, my ass."

"We are, though!"

"Sure. Did he use tongue?"

"Um… Only on the last two."

"The last two? He kissed you more than once?"

"Aunt Debbie—"

"He frenched you more than once? How many times has it been?"

"Three." Felicity finished filling her underwear drawer. "The first one was an accident. We were in his car and I was just trying to thank him with a kiss on the cheek, but he turned his head at the last second. The second was at prom and he was just being nice—"

"Yeah, right."

"—And the third was when my dad told him he could never see me again. None of it meant he wanted me, though."

"Open your bespectacled eyes, Felicity!" Aunt Debbie waved the picture in her face. "He used his tongue! He used it twice! How does that not mean he wants you?"

Felicity rolled her eyes and dug through a box for her yearbook. "Do you know who his girlfriend is?" She found the book and flipped it to the junior prom page and pointed to the prom queen. "This. This is Laurel Lance. Every time he's kissed me, he's been dating her. So why would he possibly want me if he already has her?"

"Well, I'll admit she looks like a supermodel," Aunt Debbie said, nodding. "But maybe you have something she doesn't."

"Like what? Laurel is perfect. Like, Disney princess perfect. Why would Oliver choose an ugly duckling over her?"

"Maybe you're not an ugly duckling,"

"I am the very definition of an ugly duckling."

Aunt Debbie gave her a warm smile. "You remember how that story ends, don't you? Maybe he sees you as a swan."

"Whatever." Felicity took the picture and placed it back inside his jacket. "I don't care if he wants me or not. I'm more upset about losing the closest friend I've had since the fifth grade."

Aunt Debbie took out a stack of books. "You'll make friends here, Flick. Maybe you'll even meet a boy."

"I don't want to meet a boy," she answered, her voice breaking. "I wanna see Ollie again!"

Aunt Debbie frowned and pulled her into a hug, letting her cry.

"I didn't get enough time with him!" Felicity whined. "It's not fair! I only saw him four times!"

Aunt Debbie rubbed her back. "Sweetie, I'd like to tell you I'd help you see him, but Asher did this for a reason. Your father only does what's best for you."

Felicity sobbed into her shoulder. "Oliver was nice to me. He wouldn't hurt me."

"Not on purpose, anyway."

Her niece whimpered at the painfully truthful response. "Dad didn't have to send me away so soon, you know! Oliver will be in Cambridge until at least spring break! But no, he had to make a statement. He just had to snatch me away the moment he saw me with Oliver." Felicity sniffled and pulled a tissue from her sweater sleeve. "Couldn't I have at least stayed until something bad happened? And if he's so bad, then why does Laurel's dad allow her to date him? He's really protective of her, so why would he let her see him but my dad has to send me away? Is it because Laurel's pretty and I'm not?" Her tear-filled eyes met her aunt's. "Is Oliver embarrassed of me?"

Aunt Debbie wiped a tear away with her thumb. "I'm sure he cares about you very much."

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"I don't know what the reason is, Flick. But this is for the best."

Felicity bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah. Do you mind if I go for a walk?"

Aunt Debbie smiled kindly. "So long as you don't run back to Starling City."

"No promises," Felicity quipped as she left her new room.

Okay, so I listened to "The Way It Is" by Nicole Atkins over and over and OVER while I wrote this. I would have put it in the chapter, but it would've been anachronistic and I'm finicky about details. Anyway, I think it's awesome and relevant and illustrates Felicity (and Oliver's?) feelings well. Just thought I'd mention it.

Also, I know this chapter was short but don't worry because the next one will be much longer.