Tommy Merlyn stood in a stance of rejection and weakness after witnessing the girl he was about to ask to prom get beseeched by another boy. His shoulders slumped and he hung his head in despair. A strong hand clapped onto his broad right shoulder, and the dark haired, 17-year-old boy caught a glimpse of the person and sighed. "Come on, it's not so bad." The owner of the hand said in his deep toned voice, a smile creeping onto his lips. Tommy shrugged him off.
"It is. Even Dana Franklin gets a date to prom. She's like the city door knob, everyone gets a turn."
"Except you." A new voice joined in to his left and Tommy elbowed Oliver Queen in the rib. He then tossed the withering rose towards the right side, hitting Colton Wayland in the face.
"Except me." Tommy repeated. He sighs once more.
"It's not too bad. Look, there is plenty of more girls to ask, and it doesn't even have to be from Starling Prep. Like, here, what about Abigail? That chick you met at Austin Hendrix's party couple weeks back?" Colt questioned.
"She moved."
"How about," Oliver stepped in, "Megan Tenner?"
"She's not allowed near Starling Prep after the stunt with the English teacher last year." Tommy informed.
The three best friends groaned in unison.
"There has to be someone." Colt returned.
"Well let's see here, almost every senior girl has been asked, even juniors too, you two have dates already, and I look freaking ridiculous for not having a date already. I mean, prom is in less than two weeks!"
Colton chewed on the inside of his cheek thinking. "If Laurel ever abided, I'd definitely would let you take her, I really don't want to go, but knowing her, she's only been dreaming of this day. I'm kind of stuck doing it."
Oliver rubbed his hands together, wearing one of his famous charming, mischievous grins "Well all I'm hoping for is just some McKenna and I time that night." Both boys rolled their eyes at Oliver's playboy's ways. Suddenly, the dirty blonde clapped his hands, and pointed at Tommy. "I've got it! Just ask Jo."
"Josie?" Tommy spoke surprised.
"My sister?" Colt simultaneously said.
"Why not? Even though she's a freshman, you know her, and I'm sure she would have a great time since she does have senior friends too! It's perfect."
"No its not!" Colton pressed back. "She's my sister, and far too young to be going!"
Tommy stood in the middle pondering. It was an okay idea. She was indeed a good friend, but honestly more like a sister to the brunette. But then he wouldn't have to worry about a date, and she would have a good time.
"Why not." He interjected between the small feud his two friends were having.
"What?" They both said.
"Why not?" He repeated, "I mean, Oliver is right. She is a friend, she would have a good time, and then I won't have to worry about getting a damn date anymore." Another audible exhale.
Silence spoke between them for a few moments. "Fine." Colton huffed, and the bell rang. "See you two around." He then approached Tommy, face to face, sizing him up. "If you hurt my sister, I will hurt you." He threatened, then stalked off.
"Good luck!" Oliver called out, as he hurried off, and caught up with McKenna Hall and her friends, butting in between the line, and wrapping his arms around their shoulders.
Tommy glanced down at the withering red rose on the ground. He bent down, picked it up, and clutched it tightly in his hand, as he wandered off to find Casey, a small grin perching on his lips as his blue eyes dazzled with glee.
...
He crept about on the rooftops, his lightweight feet taking him from building to building, after having a successful night. He went on a very romantic date with his new so-called 'girlfriend', then was able to take out yet another name on the list. Although Finley French did put up quite a fight, the man helping to coordinate with the Russian Mafia a human trafficking system, was now justly behind bars.
Oliver couldn't help but grin to himself. His life felt like it was in full swing, and he could accept the new path he had chosen. He was taking care of the city, with the very much appreciated help of Diggle and Felicity, he was in good terms with all of his friends, and best of all, he has a girl that can understand him for who he truly is now, not just by how he looks or his money.
As he was moving lithely through Midtown, a section of the city where a specific someone lived, a quick thought had popped into his mind. 'Why not?' He thought to himself, as he let muscle memory take him back to the apartment complex he remembered too well. He began to make his way up the seven-story building by fire escapes, until he reached the penthouse.
He quietly scaled over the railing of the balcony outside the apartment in the cool spring night, as Oliver pressed himself into the shadows, making sure his bow or sheath of arrows do not make a sound. The sliding glass door of the balcony was open, and soft, melodic piano music flowed outside. He pinched his eyes shut, letting himself melt into the sound.
Of course she would be up at eleven at night. Josie was always the nocturnal one between her brother and she.
He opened his blue eyes, and cast them out into the enormous living room, where across the way Josie Wayland let her hands roam across the mahogany black grand piano, as she played her favorite piece, 'Clair de Lune'. It sounded like she was about one fourth of the way through the song. Oliver observed as she swayed left to right, forward and back slightly, and knew her eyes were shut, as her finger tips struck the ivory keys. He noticed half a glass of wine perched on top of the piano.
When she, or even Colton, drank wine, it was a warning to those close to them that the Wayland siblings are in a bad mood. His lips formed a tight line, but soon he relaxed his muscles, losing himself to the beautiful tune. It began to slow down from the fast tempo, then ever so quickly it picked back up. Josie flicked a lose strand of light blonde hair from her face, as her loose bun bobbed up and down from the movement.
Soon enough the sound began to die down, and then she was done. She lingered by the piano, her hand delicately fluttering over some keys, but she never pressed down on them. She gave a soft sniffle. Oliver could feel his heart begin to race. He felt some what guilty for intruding on a private moment for her.
Slowly, Josie stood, and twisted around, as she plucked her wine glass off the grand piano, and began to head towards the kitchen which was next to the balcony. Oliver practically stumbled back into the darkness. 'I should go' he told himself in his mind, but he was frozen in spot. He wanted to see her. He needed to see her. Why? He does not even know.
She passed by the balcony, hesitating to take in the cool air, then made her way into the kitchen. Oliver took note of her appearance. Her hair was tied up, but she still let a few stray hairs frame her fragile face. Her curvy torso was being hugged by a tight gray tank top, and might he mention she was not wearing a bra. Moving down to her legs, he discovered a pair of black drawstring sweat pants that were too loose for her, meaning they must have been Colton's. Lastly, he noticed that she was wearing the necklace he gave her. Just at the sight of the piece of jewelry delicately place around her neck made his stomach do a flip.
He tried to peek through the window of the kitchen, and with her back once again turned to him, he predicted she must be pouring more wine.
Josie suddenly twisted around, and Oliver leapt back into the shadows, as she trotted out from the kitchen and towards the balcony. The blonde girl leaned against the door frame, and Oliver inaudibly sucked in a deep breath, as he stood to her far left, deep in the night, but still too dumbstruck to move. She sighed, and ran a hand down her face.
"Why do you do this to me, Ollie?" She spoke leniently under her breath, as her dull green eyes were gazing out into the starry night time sky. She then timidly shook her head, and began to down her drink before returning inside.
It was enough for him. Oliver quickly threw himself over the railing, and uncoordinatedly dropped down the ladder of fire escapes. His mind was reeling though. What did she mean?
...
The next morning, Josie awoke to a bright sun shining through her window. Her head was pounding with a hang over after all the glasses of wine she had from last night. Moaning, she sat up, and stretched out her aching limbs, then climbed out of bed, and rushed to her bathroom to take a nice, hot, long shower. She stood there, wasting time, and just numbly letting her mind go through her agenda she planned to do for the day. She would finish up getting ready, then desperately snatch some coffee before heading down to Starling City prep to see some past teachers. She was only hoping they might hire her for student teaching. She had about a years worth back in California, but she was hoping to get use to Starling City a little before applying for becoming a teacher.
It had always been her dream to become a teacher. Even if her father owned a mutli-million dollar company that spread nationwide, that she is 'supposedly' going to take over when her father can no longer manage, she really just wanted to settle for a medium-wage salary if it meant making young kids brighter, and giving them hope for a great future.
After stopping by the school, Josie thought she might go visit her father down at Wayland Trades, and catch some lunch with him. She felt awful after avoiding him all that night at the party, then when he was finally able to talk with her, she blew up in his face, but most of that was from the alcohol, and a little from the bitter grudge that hung over her from all the crude things he had done the past year or so. She did not mean to do blow up, but she just couldn't bear to go another minute with him trying to talk to her before she finally cracked.
The water became too cold, and she turned off the shower stepping out. She then went though her daily routine, and after twenty minutes or so, she was out the door with a pair of jeans, a loose baby pink tank, a cream blazer and a pair of tan ankle boots with heels.
Josie went about her agenda as she planned. A French vanilla ice coffee to go from Starbucks, her meeting with the teachers went well and she got a few offers, and finally she was heading towards Wayland Trades.
The familiar building glinted from the sunlight as she approached it. It towered among it's surrounding buildings. On the top stuck a large W made out of two arrows, one red the other yellow, the middle of the letter is where they connected. She parked her car in the far back of the lot, and on the journey up to the tower, she prepped herself of how she was going to speak to her dad. She didn't want to keep her anger with him anymore. He didn't deserve it.
When she walked inside, part of her wanted to immediately turn around and run out of there, but she composed herself, and continued inside. The secretary on the ground floor only smiled cheekily at her and greeted the young Wayland instead of stopping her and asking if she had an appointment of any sort. But Josie caught something else in the plump woman's features. The Look.
That look that people give her so often now because she was there when her brother was shot and killed. She had received it all week, and seeing it once more set her teeth on edge. The blonde was really getting sick of it.
She rode the elevator to the top floor, and stepped out, heading towards her father's office. Her father's newest secretary, the woman this time was young, maybe late twenties or so was practically glaring at Josie, her sharp brown eyes burning holes though her skin as the blonde approached her.
"Do you have an appointment miss?" She hissed out, flicking her fake deep red hair over her shoulder. Josie could not help but raise an eyebrow at her. She nearly snorted too.
"Uh, no, I was just hoping to stop by an-"
"Well, if you do not have an appointment to see Mr. Wayland, you are more than welcome to set up one with me." Josie's patience began to fade. She only rolled her green eyes, and faced the enormous glass doors, thankful her father's office was made of glass. He was in a heated talk with another man, and Josie began to wave her hand, trying to catch his attention. "Ma'am, Mr. Wayland is in a meeting, do not disturb him!" The secretary warned. It was the bitch's tone that finally made Jonathan Wayland lift his eyes off from the other man and gaze out of his office. When he saw his daughter, he could not hide his smile.
He held up a finger signing 'one more minute', then turned to the other man.
Josie faced to the secretary once more, then gave her a sadistic smile. "I don't think I really need an appointment to see my dad, do I?" The red-head scoffed, her nostrils flaring, before pretending to busy herself with paperwork.
Finally the two men stand and shook hands, then start to walk towards the double glass doors. They exited out, and Josie was able to get an eye full of the mysterious man.
Malcolm Merlyn smiled towards the blonde girl as the he and her father step out of the office. "Good to see you, Joscelyn. And glad to have you back."
"Good to see you too, Mr. Merlyn. And thank you." His blue eyes lit up.
"Will I be seeing you again tonight?"
"What do you-" But she already stopped herself. How could she forget? It was Tommy's twenty-eighth birthday! And she still does not have a present! "Yes! Yes of course!" The smile grew wider. Malcolm spoke quickly to her father before departing from the two.
"What was he here for?" Josie asked as she and Jonathan reentered his office.
"Business conduct. Nothing important." She slowly nodded, as her father rushed to his desk, and began to gather some papers. His deep brown hair was beginning to gray of the sides, and his wired spectacles drooped down from the bridge of his nose, like usual. "So why did you stop by?" He asked, glancing up from his desk to give her a questioning grin.
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out for lunch. It's the least I can do after last week. And about that-"
"Say no more, Jo. I understand. I was not there for you when you needed me most, and I completely deserved every word of that fret from that night." He paused. "But I can't do lunch, I have a meeting in a few minutes. Rain check?"
She nodded, slightly hanging her head.
"Josie." She glanced back up at her father, holding his gaze, matching his dull green eyes with her own. "I truly am sorry for not being there. When Colton died, and your graduation, and I know work is a horrible excuse, and I promised from here on out I will always be there for you." She only bit her lip. She saw right through his words, knowing this was just another promise they both knew he would not keep.
"Okay, Dad." She then swiveled on her heel and headed towards the glass doors, fighting back her tears she could feel threatening to leave her eyes. Jonathan called out to her, pleading for her to stop, knowing he struck a cord, but she refused, and rushed out towards the elevator. Once inside, she let herself go. The tears pouring out of her eyes, and down her face. She felt so overwhelmed, so frustrated, heartbroken, angry and sad all at once.
Walking out to her car, she wiped her tears in frustration, but they continued to pour out. She had held them back for so long, after isolating herself from her life for almost a year. Now all those bottled up emotions were breaking out.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket the moment she entered her car, and she saw it was Laurel. She answered it, struggling to keep a calm tone. "Hey." Her voice failed her, breaking slightly.
"Hey! I was just wondering if you remembered about to-" Laurel quickly spoke, but balked when she caught her friend's tone. "You okay?"
"Yeah," Josie sniffled, wiping a tear, "fine. Do I remember that today is Tommy's birthday? Yes, yes I do."
Laurel hesitated. "Yeah, are you still coming tonight for the dinner- Are you sure you're okay, Josie? Have you been crying? You can tell me what ever is wrong. I'll understand."
"A little." She ignored Laurel's suggestion "Yes I'll be there, I have to go Laurel, I'm on the road." And she quickly hung up, letting the tears continue to fall down her cheeks as sobs raked her body.
She began to realize that no one really does understand. How could they? Her brother and her best friend are dead, her mother is a scandalous witch, her father is a flakey liar, and she keeps her friends at a distance because she does not know how to bring them close. She's a mess that no one can fix because they would not know how to.
'That's not true,' she reminded herself, 'there is one person who had endured just as much pain.' But would he even listen to her? It was worth a try.