Disclaimer: I don't own anything that looks familiar.

Words: 1221

Prompt: Red-Handed

Caught (But Not Really)

She had been having an amazing first date. Max had taken her to a gorgeous restaurant with outstanding food and they had been having interesting conversations. In all, it had been the best first date she had been on in a long while, if ever. It was going amazing until he showed up. Really, she shouldn't have been shocked; after all, it did seem like the type of place he would go to.

She really shouldn't have thought that she had been caught, like she was doing something wrong when the unmistakable voice asked. "Felicity?"

She swallowed before turning around and seeing the face that she dreaded. "Oliver, hi."

With fake cheeriness that she hoped he wouldn't notice, she introduced him to Max. "Max, this is Oliver, my boss. Oliver, this is Max."

"Her date," Max informed him, as he shook Oliver's hand. She could see them sizing each other up and she chewed at the inside of her lip.

"Oh, well it's nice to meet someone in Felicity's life." He said tightly, she could see the vein in his neck throbbing and she really hoped that he didn't do something stupid because they were finally on okay terms again.

They stopped shaking hands and as if actually noticing her for the first time, he stared at her. She could practically feel his gaze boring into her and it took everything in her to not make a scene. Despite her protest, her body did what it wanted and she blushed. And although, only her reaction was noticeable, they both jumped at the sound of coughing.

They all looked over to see the sight of a dazzling Laurel, who linked an arm around Oliver. "Hey Ollie, the waiter said that the table's ready. Oh, Felicity, hi."

She had nothing against Laurel, she seemed like a nice enough person but she also was the type of girl who Felicity would never talk to. "Hi Laurel, you look great."

"Yeah, she does. She looks remarkable." He said while staring at his girlfriend and Felicity couldn't help but feel a sting in the words, after all, wasn't remarkable what he used to describe her at one point?

"Well, we should get to our table." Oliver informed her.

Max piped in. "Yeah, you should. Nice meeting you."

Oliver seemed to ignore him. "See you Monday, Felicity."

Yeah, bright and early." She finished lamely, as they started walking to the other side of the room.

Laurel had glanced at her, as if to say that he was hers and she couldn't have him. She suddenly felt a little ashamed and pissed of. Max must've seen it on her face, as she turned around to face him because he cocked his head to one side.

"I'm sorry about that; he's not really a people person." She apologized, wondering if it was just her that felt the awkwardness of the situation.

Max's response was a raise of an eyebrow but didn't say anything for a few moments. "He was checking you out."

She had taken a sip of her wine, trying to get rid of the dryness in her throat when he spoke. "What, no!"

It seemed that her reaction was the one he was expecting because his eyebrows were still raised. "Are you sure that there's nothing going on between you two because I don't want to be the one getting in the middle of something when you're already taken."

She quickly responded, "I'm not a possession, so no, I'm not taken. And no, there's nothing going on between Oliver and I."

Noticing the tone of her voice, he apologized. "I'm sorry, I wasn't intending it to come out that you were a possession. It's just I'm really starting to like you, Felicity. And I would like to know if I'm the only one."

They gazed into each other's eyes, for a moment and she could see the honesty in them. She then smiled at his confession and took his hand.

Funny, sweet, stunning and into her, she didn't understand how it could get any better. "You're not the only one. "

She was trying to get the tension out of the atmosphere, so she added, jokingly. "Besides, it does help that you're extremely good looking, I mean, have you looked in the mirror? Of course you have, how else would you get ready and go about you're day and three, two, one, I'm going to stop talking." She babbled, feeling the warmth on her cheeks.

He chuckled, "Please, don't stop on my account. I find it extremely attractive and the fact that every time you realize you're babbling, you bite your lip. And I really hope that I didn't just offend you."

"I think that the babbling may be contagious. And no, honesty is a good trait to have." She replied laughing, as she felt her cheeks getting warmer than before.

"It seems as if you don't encounter it often." He told her, surprised.

She pondered for a second, trying to find the right words. "Let's just say that I find it, refreshing."

They finished the rest of their meal with small chitchat. And when he drove her home, the conversation didn't lag. In fact, she noticed that for the first time in an extremely long while, she wasn't the one talking. She also noticed that whenever she would speak, he would listen and actually hear what she was saying. It felt good, better than good, it felt amazing.

When they got to her house, he opened her door and walked her up the porch. They laughed, as she finally told him about the time she attempted to cook for her mom. When she unlocked her door, the conversation stopped.

"I had an incredible time tonight." He told her, and she heard the genuineness in his voice.

She nodded, "Yeah, so did I. I hadn't realized how much I needed this."

"A night out, with no worries or stress about anything else." He replied, finishing her thought.

When she stared at him with wide eyes, he told her. "I needed a night out too. We should do it again sometime."

Even after the night they had, he was still giving her an out if she wanted one. "I would really like that."

"Good," he told her before he pressed his lips to hers.

When she felt the slight pressure of his mouth, she thought that it would be filled with desire and heat. She was right but she was also wrong. The kiss was filled with passion and heat. But it was also filled with promises. And oddly enough, she craved that more than everything else, promises. Promises, she somehow knew he would keep.

The kiss eventually stopped, too soon for her liking and he pulled away. She bit her lip and for the first time that night, wasn't embarrassed when she felt herself blush. "Goodnight, Max."

He tucked a strand of hair behind her hair and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Felicity."

He left and she walked inside, touching her cheek. With a wide grin on her face, she took off her shoes and thought about how the night could've gone wrong so many times but it ended up being wonderful. For the first time in a long while, she fell asleep thinking of Max, not him.

AN Well, that took longer to update than I expected. Sorry about that. I've been on vacation and I finally sat down to write today. I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. And just to let you know, it will eventually be Felicity/Oliver but for now, I'm having fun with Max. (It's to prepare us for Felicity's love interest in season 3). Anyways, thanks for reading, the favourites and follows.