"Why would you want to help us? You don't even know us. We could be alcoholics. Then you would definitely not be helping us." Felicity said, taking a step back to put some distance between her and Oliver. The man was towering over her.
He chuckled "Well, you don't exactly look the part, so I don't think that will be a problem. I just need a tiny little favor in return."
Sara scrunched up her face in mild disgust. She shook her head.
"Yeah, no. I think we'll be just fine, you pervert."
Oliver's eyes went wide. "Oh! No! That's not what I meant! I just need a ride."
Felicity started chuckling. "Nice choice of words, Oliver."
He scoffed and shook his head. Sara frowned and looked from Felicity to Oliver. "Wait, you two know each other?" she said pointing from one to the other.
Felicity pressed her lips together. "Well, not exactly. We just met in the parking lot."
"Huh." Sara said, crossing her arms over her chest. "And now he wants to buy us alcohol."
"In exchange for a ride, yeah." Oliver said, an amused smile gracing his lips.
"Hmm…" She replied, narrowing her eyes. She eyed Felicity who shrugged and mouthed 'free alcohol'
"I think we can make some sort of arrangement."
Oliver beamed at her and grabbed the bottles from the two girls. He eyed them and shook his head.
"But, I'm not buying these. The cashier will never believe I would want to drink this."
Sara groaned and rolled her eyes. Felicity just chuckled. "I think he has a point. Sorry, Sara."
"Fine. Go pick out something manly, we'll be waiting outside."
Oliver chuckled as Sara pulled a giggling Felicity out of the store. The bell hanging above the door rang again as it fell shut behind them. It was hot outside, way hotter than it had been in the somewhat air-conditioned store. The two girls strolled to the car a few yards away. Felicity was smiling as she bumped her shoulder against Sara's.
"He's cute, right?"
Sara scoffed. "Hmm, really? I hadn't noticed."
"Liar."
They laughed as they reached the car, leaning against it side by side. Sara looked around Felicity's shoulder for a second before putting her attention back to her friend. "You know me so well."
Felicity shook her head, looking at her necklace while she was playing with it, twirling the little crystal between her fingers.
"Oh no. I know that look. Don't you dare, Felicity. We are just giving him a ride."
Rolling her eyes, Felicity looked up at her, head cocked to the side.
"Oh come on, I was not thinking about that. He's a good looking guy. Can't I just appreciate that?. I wasn't going to jump his bones and find the nearest flat surface. Not after last night at least."
"That's not…I'm sorry. That's not what I meant. I just want you to be careful. You have a tendency to… you know."
"To what?"
"To fall head over heels in love with someone you just met. I'm not gonna stop you, but I don't want you to get your heart broken. I mean, after Barry, just take it slow okay. And please just not this random guy who buys us alcohol."
Felicity groaned. Barry had been her first real boyfriend. Or well, that's what she thought. Three months into the relationship he had dumped her on the night of Prom. Just before they were going to spend the night together, with the confession that he was still in love with his childhood best friend, Iris West. Felicity was devastated, swearing off men all together. One night she was feeling particularly down and had had a few too many drinks. She had kissed Sara, and surprised herself just as much as her friend. She was frowning when she leaned back and shook her head.
"Sorry Sar, Imma stick with the boys." She had slurred.
Sara had chuckled and taken her home. It was a long night for both of them. When they came home and Sara had her tucked in safely, Felicity started crying. It was the first time since the break-up that she had really let it all out. She had been angry a lot, but had never actually cried about it. Sara had wrapped her arms around her best friend and had curled up next to her, in the tiny bed.
Ever since that night, Felicity started feeling better, stronger, and she knew what she wanted. To get out of Vegas and find a better life for herself. And she was so close to getting it. She wasn't going to let some guy, even though he was excruciatingly hot, woo her and ruin it.
"I'm just trying to make the best of it, you know. Have some fun, let my hair down. I mean, that was the whole point of this trip."
Sara nodded and looked at the door of the store again. "I get it. Just don't do anything that you will regret, alright."
Felicity smiled and chuckled. "Yes, mom."
She rested her head on Sara's shoulder. "I mean, he doesn't look like a serial killer."
Sara and Felicity both stiffened. Jerking her head back up, Felicity moved to stand in front of her friend, her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide in shock.
"Ohh noo, no, no, no, wrong choice of words. Why do I talk?" She cringed and placed her hands on Sara's shoulders, more of a reassurance that she wasn't going to leave her side than the other way around.
"It's okay." Sara said, gently taking Felicity's hands off her shoulders.
"I'm sorry, Sara."
"Hey. It's fine. Now, not a word about it, here he comes."
Felicity looked over her shoulder to see Oliver striding over to them, bag casually thrown over his shoulder, big stupid grin on his face. She smiled as she turned around completely and leaned against the car. Sara placed a hand on her waist and cocked her head to the side.
"What took you so long? We were beginning to think you got scared." She smirked.
Oliver scoffed and shook his head. He held up the brown paper covered bottle and smiled, handing it to Felicity.
"Thank you." She said, gladly taking the bottle and smiling brightly.
"I guess it's too late to call shotgun." He said, looking from Sara to Felicity, raising his eyebrow.
"Yeah, nope. That won't be happening. You see, I have the shotgun veto around here, so you basically have to suck it and sit in the back." Felicity said, smiling sweetly.
Sara chuckled and rolled her eyes, pushing away from the car and walking around it, shaking her head. Oliver stared at Felicity with his eyebrows raised and the hint of a smile on his lips. Felicity shrugged and opened her car door.
"Come on, hop in." She said, jerking her head to the back seat. Oliver grinned and threw his bag into the car, climbing over the side as Felicity got settled in next to Sara. She shut her door and before Oliver had the chance to buckle himself if, Sara had stepped on the gas, making the dust fly up behind them and they were speeding down the highway. With only two more hours before they would reach the outskirts of Los Angeles, that gave them plenty of time to get to know each other.
"You know." Oliver started after he and Felicity were halfway into the bottle. "I actually wanted to wait with this until we get to the city, but, you know, screw it."
Felicity leaned over the back of her seat to see what he was doing. He reached into his bag and pulled out the two bottles that he hadn't been willing to buy them at the store earlier.
"I don't believe it!" A tipsy Felicity exclaimed.
Sara frowned. "I thought you said the cashier wouldn't believe the bottles were for you if you bought them." Her hands tightened around the steering wheel as a truck honked at her.
"Well, I never said I bought them." Oliver deadpanned.
"No way. You actually are fun!" Felicity giggled, grabbing Oliver's face and pressing a sloppy kiss on his cheek. Sara raised her eyebrow and pulled Felicity back into her seat. Felicity squeaked in surprise. Looking over her shoulder, Sara shrugged at Oliver.
"Sorry about this one, she's a lightweight."
"I am not!" Felicity scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest, leaning back against her seat. Sara just rolled her eyes and looked over her shoulder again. Oliver had an amused grin plastered on his face.
"Well, Oliver, normally I wouldn't be okay with this, but as you put it so excellently yourself: screw it." Sara smiled, looking at him through the rearview mirror.
"Oh my, call the news, Sara just smiled! I should steal booze more often."
"Yeah, no. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Don't worry I'm joking."
"Good." Sara nodded and clicked on her turn signal to get past a bus as she sped up.
"So where are you two from? And I'm asking this in a non-creepy kind of way."
Felicity chuckled. "Vegas."
"Glamorous."
Sara shook her head. "Yeah, no. Way less exciting once you actually live there. How about you?"
"Well, I'm originally from Starling City, but for the last few months I've been traveling around the country."
"That sounds so cool. Where are you going now?" Felicity asked, turning around again and leaning her arms on the top of her seat.
"Back to Starling, actually. I have a few things to set right and my family needs me."
"Nothing too serious, I hope?" Sara asked as she turned onto the junction, leading them right into Los Angeles.
"It will all work out once I'm there."
"So you'll have to leave soon?" Felicity said quietly. Even though the alcohol was still making her ears ring, she was sad that they would have to say goodbye so soon.
Oliver nodded and placed his hand over hers, smiling softly.
"Unfortunately, yes. But it has been an absolute pleasure."
He would never be able to describe the feeling he got when Felicity's face lit up and her cheeks turned rosy pink. It was strange the way he felt about her, even if they had only just met that morning.
