Well this is it, my story of high school Felicity and Oliver is over. Thank you for sticking with me and reading it!

Chapter 9

Underneath it all – No doubt

When Oliver had talked about camping on his graduation day, Felicity hadn't taken him seriously.

And in facts they didn't touch the topic again, until Felicity had informed Oliver that she was going to Central City for a few days to attend an IT Seminary for High School students. One evening, in mid June, she had come to his house and they were hanging together in his room. Oliver had suddenly remembered that plan and started googling for camping equipment stores in Starling City.

This was the moment Felicity realized he was being serious about it. A few days later they went together to the biggest store in town, where Oliver bought a tent, two sleeping bags, two mats and two camping chairs. Hah, the business is getting real, Felicity thought when she helped him carrying it all.

Felicity left for Central City on a Monday, and came back on a Thursday. The following Friday evening they left on Oliver's pick-up trucks, well, one of the many family cars he was allowed to drive.

Now here they were, amateur campers and ready to spend a few days just by themselves. They had chosen a nice spot near the curve of the river, not far from the Camping Center and the rest of the tents and vans. Distant only a couple of driving hours from Starling City, Green Hill was a popular place for vacations.

At Oliver's third failed attempt to set up the tent, Felicity rolled her eyes and stepped in front of him handing the matches.

"I think it's better you go and lit the fire for the barbeque. I'm taking care of this now, otherwise we'll have to sleep in the pick up!"

Oliver muttered something, most likely cursing at himself and stood up.

"You can do that, can you?" Felicity told him smirking. He took the matches and gave her a sharp look.

By the time Felicity has successfully set up the tent, the fire was burning moderately. Oliver took out a box of mixed vegetables Raisa had prepared for them, and then grilled the hamburgers.

"Excellent burger, Oliver!" Felicity said satisfied. The vegetables sounded more the concern of a mother for the children to have a complete meal.

"Well, I've always been the king of barbeques at my house parties!" he said proudly. "You said you've never been camping, but it looks like you've been doing this your whole life!"

Felicity laughed "Nah, I'm just a jack of all trades. I think you have to know a little bit of everything, you never know what happens in life!"

"Like what? Being stranded on a desert island?" he joked. Then he said more seriously:

"You're remarkable. I've always lived so carefree, taking nothing seriously. I'd be in terrible pain if I suddenly had to be on my own, I can't do anything!"

"Mrs. Raisa loves you too much, I daresay!" she said amused. "You're an intelligent person, there's nothing you wouldn't learn in a short time and with some practice. Well, camping tents seem to be a harder task, but we can work on it" she said winking and poking him with her shoulder.

Oliver smirked and moved close to her putting his arm around her shoulders. Felicity automatically leaned his head on his chest. Oliver looked at the river and said "I want to go swimming there."

"Now?" Felicity asked surprised.

"I was actually saying tomorrow. But now that you tell me…what about a-not-exactly-at-midnight swim?"

"The river must be cold!" she protested.

"Not so much actually!"

"I'm too tired to go and dig my swimsuit from my backpack" she opposed again.

"Underwear or naked is good enough!" he said on purpose. He saw Felicity's face change color and expression and it was highly amusing. In that moment he decided he was going to tease her. He stood up and took off his fleece sweater and running shoes. Then he walked down the river, took off the rest of his clothes remaining in his underwear. He turned around to look at Felicity, and said "I'm going. Are you coming?"

Felicity shook her head alarmed. She stood up and watched Oliver run into the river. She felt a warm buzz looking at his lean and athletic body. To be honest, she wanted to do the same thing, but she didn't feel comfortable. She envied Oliver for being such at ease with himself.

Felicity looked around, the moon was shining upon the river so it wasn't completely dark. She thought it could half hide her. Then she took a deep breath and walked to the river. Oliver was swimming not so far, so she quickly took off her clothes. When Felicity dipped her foot in the water she couldn't help letting out a cry.

"Hey, is everything all right?" Oliver said concerned.

"It's freezing!" She yelled.

"Ahah, the quicker you come here, the faster you'll get used!"

"You make it easy" Felicity mumbled to herself. She had barely walked into the water when Oliver came back and took her into his arms.

"What are you doing? Don't you dare throwing me in the water Oliver!" She hissed.

"I won't, love!" he said amiably but still amused. In facts he walked further in the river but didn't drop her. Felicity held him tighter and he could almost feel the goose-bumps on her arms.

"Look at you" he said. Felicity had to catch her breath when she saw the way he was looking at her.

"What?" she said with a husky voice.

"I think I've been bewitched by Felicity Smoak."

"Well, you've done that to me a while ago, Oliver Queen." she whispered. Oliver couldn't help it and kissed her slowly.

"Hey you're really cold." he said suddenly realizing she was shivering.

"It's not the water." She confessed, while running her fingertips on his neck. For the same reason Oliver felt his body reacting just the contrary, as if blood was boiling into his veins every time he felt her touch on his skin. If he could just jump into a sink full of ice…

He then cleared his throat and said "We better get out of the water" and carried her out and brought her to their fireplace. Once they dried and dressed themselves, they started to clean the place. Oliver threw some water on the fireplace and made sure there was nothing left of the fire, while Felicity stored away the leftovers.

Felicity yawned "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I am tired, the seminary was kind of demanding."

"Well it's almost midnight, it's been a long day" he said in a soothing voice "You want to go in the tent?"

"To sleep?" she asked mindlessly. Then she gasped and realized it sounded like a double meaning.

Oliver smiled broadly "To sleep yes!" Then he added tongue in cheek "I wouldn't think you had something else in your mind yet"

Felicity didn't know what to say. In the water she realized she wanted him, and she knew that he felt the same but was respecting her timing.

"Hey" He said putting his arm around her shoulder "All at the right moment Felicity " They walked into the tent "But when the time comes, I promise it will be unforgettable"

The end

Epilogue

2013 The Arrowcave

While waiting for the computer to download the upgrades, Felicity decided to put some music on. She was alone, while Diggle and Oliver were out on a mission. She took a memory stick out of her purse and turned up the volume of the speakers.

She was humming along a tune when Diggle and Oliver came back to the lair.

"It sounds like an early' 00 revival here" Diggle said amused.

"It's an old playlist from high school times" She said looking straight into Oliver's eyes.

"Hey I remember this one. It played at my last prom as a student, in 2003!" he said mouthing the words of In da club.

"It's been 10 years since you met" Diggle asserted.

" 10 years in which we lost 5 of them" Felicity said melancholically.

"Hey" Oliver said with his "Felicity voice" placing gently a hand on her shoulder.

Diggle immediately changed the subject.

"So did you and Oliver dance that night?"

She smiled sweetly "We did, sort of."

"What do you mean?"

"Well as a freshman I wasn't allowed to attend the prom, but I was helping a friend DJying the music for the night so I was there anyway…"

"And we ended up dancing to Stairway to heaven on the patio outside the gym" Oliver finished the sentence.

"You had quality stuff over there I recon" Diggle said.

"Do you remember your prom John?" Felicity asked.

"You sound like it was ages ago" he winked. He mumbled and then said "It was 1996…I voluntarily danced when No diggity played. Then my prom-date forced me to do the Macarena dance with the rest of school. Ugh not a proud moment."

Oliver and Felicity chuckled at the thought of Diggle following the choreography of that dance.

"It was a carefree time really! It was just a month later when I joined the army."

"Lot of things has happened, to all of us" Oliver said looking proudly at his friends.

"I didn't even ask how the mission went!" Felicity asked alarmed.

"The Arrow took the man down and brought him to the police " Diggle answered.

"Well done boys! It's half past seven, what about dinner?"

"Let's go to the Belly Burger then" Oliver offered.

And so they went off.