A/N Ok umm, let's say this chapter is like a week after 12 so when it says Monday it's not like right after, don't ask why that's just what I'm making it. Also thanks for all the reviews and I really hate to say this, but I really don't know how many chapters I going to write after this. When I started I honestly thought I might get bored after 5 so this is really good for me, but its getting harder to get ideas that you guys will want to read... Let me know what you think, I'm thinking maybe get up to 18ish? After that I'll just start a new one. I don't know, feedback would be great! But you guys are awesome anyway, hope you like this chapter cause I was trying to include some other characters that you might actually like versus I don't know Laurel? :) Have fun reading and don't forget to review!
Felicity had Monday off of work but Oliver didn't so she planned on spending the day doing stuff at home. She figured it was the perfect day to sleep in, do some laundry, clean up the kitchen and maybe her room. But all that was put on hold when she heard heavy things being dragged across the floor outside her front door. If she didn't know any better it sounded like somebody was moving in next door.
She didn't want to make the wrong impression if there were new people moving in, so she quickly showered and dressed before heading out with a basket of dirty clothes to take down to the laundry room.
The hallway was full of boxes and chairs and tables that people were systematically moving into the apartment next to hers. But there were no tenants in sight. She moved around the boxes marked "G's clothes" and "P's books" and knocked on the door.
"Hello? Could anybody tell me who lives here?" Felicity called into the open room. It was almost exactly like her own, but mirrored. In her apartment the kitchen was on the right side, in here it was on the left.
"Hi!" A short brunette haired girl, wearing a red and white plaid shirt over a black tank top with a pair of skinny jeans and black combat boots, came running out from the bedroom. "I'm Gina, I live here. Who are you?"
"I'm Felicity, I live next door." Felicity set down the laundry basket by her feet to shake Gina's hand. "I was just coming to see what all the ruckus was. I didn't even know this place was vacant."
"Well it wasn't for long. It was my brothers place for a while but he's getting married so he bought a house, and this place is so close to my work that I couldn't pass it up. It's nice to meet you! I'd offer you a seat or a drink or something but as you can see all my stuff is still in the hallway."
"Oh don't worry about it, I should really be getting to my laundry anyway. But I have the day off and I'll be home all day so feel free to stop over to talk or something. It'd be great to have a friend in the building."
"Sure, yeah definitely. As soon as I get all my stuff in here I will be right over."
"Great, see you."
Felicity finished her laundry in record time so she could go back upstairs and bake some muffins for her and Gina. Normally she wasn't one to be nervous about meeting new people, but lately it had been harder than ever. Especially since she didn't have any friends, and this was really her only chance at making one. The only other people she had met since she moved was Laurel who was... No. And Tommy who was alright, but Oliver's friend more than hers. And then Oliver who she couldn't really consider a friend anymore.
When Gina finally rang the doorbell Felicity was so excited about the prospect of a new friend she could hardly contain herself.
After talking for nearly an hour it was clear to both of them that they would be very good friends.
"So you've only lived here for a little while right?" Gina asked.
"Yeah I suppose. Like a month and a half. It's been good for the most part. Better than it was before."
"What happened?"
"You know under normal circumstances I probably wouldn't tell you but I'm gonna be honest here, I don't have any girlfriends to talk to about things and my boyfriend Oliver he... Well I can't talk to him about everything you know? There are some things I just can't tell him."
"Well for what it's worth, you can tell me."
"I haven't had the best luck with guys to put it simply. I always fall for the wrong ones and eventually get my heart broken. Before I moved here I was with a guy named Kyle. We had a pretty good relationship for a while. That all ended when I found him in bed with my friend of course. I mean sure, she wasn't like my best friend, that wasn't really the point, it was just the fact that it was somebody other than me. Kyle and I didn't really sleep together at all, so I guess he wasn't getting what he wanted from me so he got it somewhere else. I dont know. But I knew after that I wouldn't be able to just 'bounce back' so I left. Found a new job, found this place, and then there was Oliver... Its never been easy for me to trust him. In fact I don't really trust him that much at all, even now."
Felicity felt bad for saying it out loud. But it was true. She didn't trust Oliver as much as she could, or probably should. Sure she opened up about Kyle but what about everything else? She couldn't tell him that yet. Not when there's still a chance this whole thing isn't real. she wasn't about to make the same mistakes again.
"Well for good reason it seems." Gina said simply. Taking everything in at the speed Felicity spoke was probably hard so she couldn't blame her for not saying more.
"So many things about him seem too good to be true." Felicity said. "And after Kyle I don't know how I can just... Jump back in with this whole relationship thing. I shouldn't be doing this at all, I know. But I like him. And I've never been great at making decisions under pressure."
"Well it usually is difficult to make rational decisions around attractive people."
"That's what I've found. I mean from the second I met him I knew that I would have a hard time saying no to anything he asked. I think I lasted like a day. He's just got one of those faces you know? And I of course made a huge mistake from the get-go so that was great."
"What did you do?"
"I agreed to be friends." Felicity winced. "Not the best decision I've ever made."
"Why did you do that? You obviously didn't want to be friends, and I have a hard time believing he did."
"Well he offered it! And I thought I could handle it. I thought it would be a good thing. New place, new town, new friends right? I needed a friend and he was so adamant to get to know me and friends was safe. But like I said, I shouldn't have done it."
"Well obviously you weren't friends for long."
"Umm no, not really."
"How long?"
"About a week."
"A week?! No wonder you still don't trust him! How could you when you barely know him. I'm curious what pushed you to start dating, but you can tell me later. For now I want to know what the hell you were thinking!"
"Look, not one of my finest moments okay? I get it. But I don't know, it was so hard. I was desperate for affection and being friends and all, I banned it. Which was stupid, I know. I make a lot of stupid decisions okay? But I needed it. I tried finding someone else to date first okay? I looked at people at work, co-workers, customers, everyone, but all I could see was Oliver. And he already did so much for me that I didn't expect and couldn't expect from anyone else. The fact that all of it might not be real just... didn't occur to me."
"Well it does now I hope?"
"Of course. We wouldn't be having this conversation if it didn't. We spend so much time together, me and him, but every time he leaves I just sit around and wonder if he's just playing me. And to make it worse he has a history of being a player. He says he's trying to change and that he's been doing good but I've been trying to change too and well if I tell you I'm doing good, I'm probably lying."
"Well... I know I don't know you very well, and you don't know me, and while I appreciate that you trust me enough to tell me all this, you don't have to take my advice. I don't think you will, and really what do I know anyway? But... I think you should walk away. I don't know him, I can't speak with his side on my mind, but for you, if you're worried about getting your heart broken again I think it might be best if you leave now, before it gets too hard."
Felicity was quiet. She had thought about it before. Just walking away. But she wasn't sure if it was really the right decision. Hearing it from somebody else should make it more clear. But it didn't.
"But on the other hand..." Gina went on. "Maybe you should just take a chance. Go for it. What's the worst that could happen? You're clearly a strong person, you've dealt with it before, I don't think one more time is going to break you. It might be exactly what you need. Then again, I don't really know what I'm talking about."
"Youre kind of confusing you know that?" Felicity said with a laugh. "In fact, I'm pretty sure you just completely contradicted yourself."
"Maybe. That's kind of how I work... Honestly though, I don't really have it on any authority that either of my two pieces of advice would do you any good. I don't really control everything that comes out of my mouth, so you might just be best going with your gut."
"You could have just started with that."
"I could have." Gina smiled. "But would you have listened?"
Oliver was worried about Felicity all day. He hated leaving her home by herself like that, but she made him promise not to worry too much. He didnt like it, but if she said she would find something to occupy herself, then he trusted her to do it.
When he got back he quickly changed before knocking on her door. He heard laughter come from inside, but it definitely wasn't hers.
"Oliver." She opened the door with a huge smile on her face. "Come in, come in." She sounded like she had been drinking. "This is Gina. She just,moved in next door." She pointed to the petite brunette sitting by the TV. "Gina this is my boyfriend Oliver."
"Hi, Oliver." Gina smiled knowingly at him. They had talked about him. It was obvious. "So I suppose this is my queue to go huh?" Gina saSo sanding up.
"Only if you want to." Felicity said. "You're welcome to stay but I'm sure you have lots of unpacking left to do.
"Oh honey you have no idea. See you tomorrow?"
"I'll be here after 7." Felicity smiled closing the door behind her. "So how was work?"
"Boring as always." Oliver responded, angry with himself for being angry that Felicity's new friend ruined his 'hello' kiss. It's fine, he told himself. She should have a friend. It's not healthy to only know one person in town. "But you seemed to have a good day." He added.
"Yeah Gina's great. She was over almost all day. We really hit it off. Which was awesome cause I need a girlfriend around."
He couldn't help but pick her up and spin her around. "I'm happy for you." He said kissing her forehead.
"Really? Because you know I won't be able to spend every waking minute with you anymore." She looked up at him, seemingly unsure if he was really happy. But he was. Whatever made her happy, made him happy.
"I'm willing to compromise if it makes you happy." He smiled.
"Thank you." A look flitted across her face that he didn't recognize. It should have been happiness, but... It wasn't quite. She smiled, but it wasn't the same. "There's a couple muffins left, do you want one?"
"Of course."
He barely spoke the rest of the night. He let Felicity go on and on about how great Gina was, interjecting only when he needed to. Something wasn't right. He didn't know what it was really, but there was definitely wrong. Something happened today, something Felicity was leaving out.
He made her dinner and then went home. On the surface she acted perfectly normal but he knew, he knew that as soon as he closed the door behind him, that would change. He should talk to her about it, but how do you bring something up like that up without starting a fight? You dont. And he knew it.
A/N So I think some of you might know where I'm going with this, but you might want to reconsider that because I have 2 ideas for Chapter 14 and I think I'm going to incorporate both of them if I can, and theres no way you guys can guess the second one. If you've got ideas or guesses please let me know! As always, thanks so much and dont forget to review!