Hello! Thanks again for following my story and for the lovely feedback. This will be my last update for a while, as I'm leaving for a very much needed summer holiday. Happy reading!

Chapter 6

Crazy in love – Beyoncè

Felicity was chatting with Jeb and Emily outside school, waiting to get in. The most talked topic in these days was the upcoming prom that was going to be held the following Saturday, the day after the last day of school.

The theme of 2003's prom was "Stairway to heaven". The Prom organization committee had taken inspiration from the famous Led Zeppelin song. Felicity and her friends could not attend it, because the school rules didn't allow freshmen.

Yet Felicity was going to be there because Jeb's brother Colin had been hired as a DJ for the prom, and she had been working on the music software for his computer. Since Colin's partner wasn't able to be there, he had asked Felicity to be on his place. She had then talked to school's principal, getting his approval.

Oliver had arrived with Tommy and his girlfriend Laurel. Felicity had never really spoken to her, although Oliver had once introduced them to each other, presenting Felicity as the chick who had helped him study. Laurel seemed unimpressed, but had kindly greeted her. Laurel and Oliver were discussing about something quite loudly, and Tommy looked annoyed. In facts he got away from them with the excuse of noticing a girl he knew. When he walked past Felicity, he winked at her.

When Felicity arrived in the C.S. classroom, Oliver was already sitting in his place, his face looking like thunder.

"Oliver hi! What's that grumpy look on you?"

He winced and grumbled "Nothing…the day didn't start well"

She waited.

"I had a discussion with my girlfriend. Things that happen when you drag things…." He stopped, realizing he had given out too much. That was an interesting choice of words, she thought.

"So it's something that can be resolved right?" she said cooperatively.

Oliver winced again "Yeah, yeah….I guess so"

Felicity saw that he wasn't keen on talking about it, so she changed the topic. All she could come up with was the prom, but a second after she asked the question she realized it was still related to his girlfriend.

"Are you going to the prom Oliver?"

"Uhm…yeah" he said distracted "Are you?"

"No, I can't"

"Oh, why?" he seemed more interested.

"I'm a freshman, I'm not allowed. It's written in the school rules. Freshman can't attend, and sophomores only if they are invited by a junior or a senior. But of course, you know nothing about school rules." she said, sticking out her tongue.

"Touché" he finally smiled. "I'm sure you'll get invited next year!" he said.

"Who knows? But the truth is….I'm actually coming to the prom this year"

"How come?"

"Colin Carter is the DJ for the party. His brother Jeb is my best friend, so I'm helping him with the computer stuff since his partner isn't able to come"

"Really! Will you be in charge of telling us to put our hands up in the air?"

"Ahahah no. I helped Colin with the music programming software, so that's my field. I might ask him for some songs though"

"I'll be seeing you in a tuxedo then!" she added amused.

"Yeah, very classic. There will be hints of my favorite color!" The bell rang and Mr. Norrington entered the class. Felicity went to her desk and wondered what could be Oliver Queen's favorite color. She thought that somehow green seemed to suit him well.

Felicity was in her room, nervously looking at herself in the mirror. She wasn't wearing a fancy prom dress, or waiting for her date to pick her up, but she definitely felt like she was going to attend it like anyone else.

She was wearing a pink 60's style dress and black heeled shoes. Her lipstick matched the dress. Colin was going to pick her up at 6 p.m. and go straight to the Starling Academy Hall, where the prom was going to be held. They were going to a have a stage box where to put all of their equipment.

Around 8 p.m. people started coming in. From the stage Felicity was having quite the view on them, and she was very excited to see people she knew more or less, all dressed up. That was something to talk about with Emily and Lorena.

Oliver and Laurel were one of the last couples arrived. They were both looking gorgeous; no doubt they were going to be elected Prom King & Queen. Oliver's suit was black and he was wearing a green tie and a green and white flower in the pocket. But they looked a bit stiff, as if there was still something not cleared between them. Oliver didn't notice Felicity for a while, halfway the prom he had walked past the box and winked at her raising his drink. No alcohol was allowed, but the more popular people in that prom were definitely going to meet for an after party at someone's house. Last year it had been Oliver's, this year, it was still unknown.

Felicity couldn't help looking at Laurel and Oliver. They were a beautiful couple, at least from the outside, and definitely they were the centre of the attention in the hall. For a minute Felicity dreamed of being in her place and to be able to dance with Oliver.

There was a moment, when the hall was at its loudest since Colin had put "In da club", when Felicity saw Laurel and Oliver talking quite vividly. Definitely they were arguing again. Then Laurel shook her head and left the dance floor. Oliver followed her but she stopped him and mouthed something like "I'll call a taxi."

Oliver seemed to curse something and then he went back to the tables sitting near Tommy, to whom she said "The same old story…" Then he got back again and walked to the drink table to get something. Felicity called him from the stage and he stopped.

"Hey, is everything ok? Can I do something for you?"

"Leave it Felicity, I'm not in the mood" He said sharply and walked away. Felicity's eyes opened up wider. She understood he was upset but it was kind of disappointing he had dismissed her.

Colin saw her lost in her thoughts, and mistaking it for being tired, told her to have a break. Felicity accepted the advice and after grabbing a glass of coke on the drink-table, she decided to go out on the patio, where she could be alone for a few minutes. But since it was a full moon night, and it was illuminating the patio, more couples had decided to go out and dance there.

Felicity sighted and mumbled. She moved near the baseball practice pitch, where she leaned on the chain-link fence.

When she left, she was taken aback as Oliver appeared in front of her, looking concerned. Felicity tightened her lips and looked at him.

"Felicity, thank God you're here, I thought you had left" Felicity didn't respond and waited.

Oliver noticed that so he swallowed and said carefully "I own you an apology. I was angry and I was rude to you when you were just asking how I was feeling"

Felicity still said nothing but kept looking at him. Oliver understood and said "I'm very sorry."

Felicity nodded and said "Apologies accepted. Are you still upset?"

"Not so much. Well it's my fault because I've avoided a long term problem" he paused and looked at Felicity. That kid seemed like someone he could opened up to. He leaned on the fence near her and continued.

"See, I've been with Laurel for a couple of years now, but my feelings for her are not the same anymore, I don't reciprocate them as much as she does. That's why I told you this morning about things being dragged… I haven't found the courage to face her and do something, not to count that my behavior has been sort of…questionable. She definitely suspects something and has been sort of pressuring me into talking. We've planned a holiday together after graduation and sometimes I feel like it's the last thing on earth I want to do"

Felicity bit her lips. Oliver had just told her something very personal. She wondered if he expected her to say something, and she almost panicked because she knew nothing about relationships. She decided to say the most simple and efficient thing that had come to her mind.

"It looks like you've been dancing around the truth for a while" she said cautiously.

"I definitely have" he nodded.

" Honesty is one of the most valuable things we have and that we can give. It might hurt at first, but in the end it will be rewarding. I suppose you can apply it to your relationship" She cleared her voice "I'm sorry" feeling a bit embarrassed "It wasn't my intention to give you an unasked advice"

"I appreciate your frankness. You're saying something I already know but I just avoid because I'm quite the asshole"

"You're not an asshole!" Felicity rushed to say.

"I am, believe me. If I haven't been an asshole with you, and I really hope so, it's because you make me want to be as far from it as possible"

Felicity's jaw dropped. Oliver himself couldn't believe what he was saying. He stared at Felicity, who was looking so pretty in her pink dress and he made an impulsive decision.

"Felicity, would you…ehm would you dance with me?"

"NO!" she said hastily. "I mean. I would love to but I can't. If they see me I'm going to get into trouble, because I shouldn't be there if it wasn't for the job"

Oliver smiled. "Can you hear the music?"

"Hmmm…yes?" Colin had decided to homage Led Zeppelin by playing "Stairway to heaven" and they could clearly hear the guitar intro.

"Then we can dance right here." he said locking his gaze into hers. Felicity nodded slowly.

Oliver took her hand into his and put the other one on her hip. He pulled her close and danced with her under the moonlight, overlooking that she had stomped on his feet a few times. He thought that he was going to miss Felicity once school was over. He really liked being with her, he felt happy and like he couldn't care about the rest of the things around him. He wondered how it would be to go out on a date with her. Another girl would have been appalled by going on his dad's boat for a weekend, but Felicity seemed different. Hiking and having a picnic, going to the movies, visiting some science museum. Having fun and laugh at stupid things. Oliver was aware that he wasn't worthy of her innocence. And that he should stop all these thoughts because he needed to deal with the Laurel situation. Otherwise he would prove to Felicity that he was an asshole.

Felicity was overwhelmed: she was dancing with Oliver! Just a few hours ago she had dreamed of being in his arms on the dance floor and now it was real. Felicity could look into his blue eyes and see the freckles on his nose: she had decided a while ago that they were her favorite traits about him.

She realized then that she had lost the track of time and it was necessarily to go back to Colin. Felicity didn't want to separate herself from Oliver but she had to, so she abruptly stepped back and said:

"I'm sorry Oliver, but I have to go back now! Or Colin will think I've run away."

"I understand!"he nodded.

Felicity walked slowly backward but then she suddenly went back at Oliver and kissed him on the cheek. Then she grinned and run back into the hall.

Oliver blinked twice and then he let out a little smile. He then touched his face and thought that this was the best kiss he had received in a long time.