NEVER TOO LATE
Chapter 2
A/N: Here's the second installment for this Olicity AU fic. Enjoy! (especially if you're a red velvet cake kind of girl) And if you do, even at the slightest, it would be nice to read a review or comment from you. Thanks!
Final exams were over, and Oliver couldn't believe that he had gotten an A- in Ms. Smoak's class. His final grade in her class was the first one he'd searched in the university website's learning platform as soon as word had gone out that grades were already published online and ready for viewing. No hyperbolic expression ever invented was adequate enough to describe the exhilaration he felt. He had never gotten a grade higher than B+ since his high school days.
When he passed the ICT building the day before winter break to return some books in the library, he ran into her in the hallway. He greeted her and thanked her for giving him the A- and she replied with a smile that brightened the rest of his day (rather, his week).
"Oh, you don't have to thank me," she had said. "You deserved it, Mr. Queen. You worked real hard. And it showed in your written tests, hands-on tech work, and digital outputs. I hope taking the class has been worth your while."
Oliver just kept gazing at her pretty face, admiring the sparkling eyes framed by dark-rimmed glasses. He mumbled softly, not intending for her to hear him say, "You have no idea…"
"Excuse me?" Ms. Smoak said tentatively, her eyes squinting a bit. She wasn't sure she heard him right.
"Oh, uhm… What I meant to say was… Yes, of course! I learned a lot from your class. You helped me better appreciate technology and discover how it can make business more efficient. Your passion for computers and ICT is really, quite contagious." He grinned at her widely.
"Thank you! I really love what I do here. I get to share my expertise and experience with the younger generation. Make a difference. You know? I find teaching more fulfilling than just sitting in front of a computer work station all day and fighting my way up the corporate ladder, especially as a female IT specialist. You see, I worked for your family's company for ten years, but when this university offered me a scholarship to the master's degree program five years ago at the recommendation of Walter Steele, I took it. So, here I am!"
Oliver was glad to discover details about the woman he intended to pursue. She probably wasn't aware that in her rambling she had inadvertently divulged some personal information that he needed to help him come up with a full-proof strategy to win her heart. He felt that the last twenty years had made him rusty when it comes to the tools and tricks of the dating trade, so he needed to be extra cautious and creative.
He didn't know exactly how he should feel about that tiny piece of information that she had worked for Queen Consolidated for ten years prior to teaching in the university. Why had she left the company? Had she been unhappy, or unsatisfactorily compensated? Maybe she weighed her options and thought that she would never get promoted to executive position. The corporate grind with its accompanying squabbles and intrigue that he was all too familiar with must have turned her off. It was safe to say that she was neither a social climber nor an ambitious go-getter who stepped on others in order to arrive on top. That was good to know, and he liked her all the more for it.
Oliver also wondered how different it would have been if he'd met her earlier. He had been able to visit QC a few times over the past ten years, and there might have been a slim chance that their paths had crossed at least once. He was sure he would have more than noticed the attractively smart blonde given the opportunity. But he would have been still married to Sandra then, and they had a son. It would have been a mistake.
That day outside the ICT library was perfect, though. They stood there talking candidly, and he felt as if he were floating on cloud nine in front of Ms. Smoak, his teacher. Correction, former teacher. So, Oliver took the chance to carry on a conversation that he hoped would lead to something more.
"Well, I'm glad you're here, Felicit-" He cut himself off when he caught himself calling her by her first name. Embarrassed, he immediately apologized. "Forgive me, Ms. Smoak. I didn't mean to-"
The adorable, amiable blonde interrupted him. "Oh, you can stop calling me Ms. Smoak, Mr. Queen. It's been a bit awkward, I must say – you calling me Ms. Smoak – since you're clearly older than me. Slightly! Slightly older than me, I think." She paused to chew on her lower lip for a second. When she had recovered from the brief babble, she composed herself and continued. "What I meant to say is that, the fall semester is over and you're no longer my student. That is, if you're not taking any of my classes next semester?"
"Oh no, I'm not!" Oliver quickly replied. "Not that your classes are impossible, or boring. Because they certainly are not! In fact, your class was awesome. You're awesome! It's just that… I've been meaning to… I've always wondered what it would be like to… call you by your first name." He dropped his gaze and stared at his shoes, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. He hoped she didn't notice the blush that crept up his neck to his cheeks. He felt like a schoolboy crushing on his teacher.
She chuckled before she responded with a grin, "Usually I'm the one babbling and talking in sentence fragments. You certainly don't seem like the type that would." Their gazes locked for a moment, and then she spoke again. "Anyways, you can call me Felicity from now on."
"Great! As long as you call me Oliver. Deal?" he asked, his right hand extended for a handshake.
"Deal," she replied, taking his hand.
Oliver froze. His hand burned with fire at the contact. How was it possible for a person to freeze and burn at the same time? Electricity coursed through his veins. It had been a long time since someone set him on fire this way. Way too long. He'd forgotten how amazing it felt.
Little did he know that the same simple handshake had also sent shivers up and down Felicity's spine. And she didn't know what she was going to do. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel.
That first touch changed everything. No longer were they just teacher-and-student anymore. Friends maybe? Maybe more.
So, yeah. Handshake. Something that normally took just a couple of seconds felt like a lifetime. But this was definitely not normal for them. It was as if his hand was glued to hers. He wouldn't let go. And when Felicity finally wiggled her tiny hand out of his bigger one and dropped it at her side, she asked, "Was there something else? Oliver?"
Oliver took the plunge.
After taking a deep breath, he answered, "Yes, there is. I… I was wondering if you would consider taking me up on my previous offer to have coffee? The fall term is over now, and I'm technically not your student anymore, so… Would you? Go out on a date? With me?" He asked tenderly, hope gleaming in his captivating eyes.
It was Felicity who froze this time. There was a moment of absolute silence when neither of them breathed. Then, she heaved a sigh and replied, "Oliver, I'm afraid I still have to decline. I hope you don't take it the wrong way, because it's really not about you. It's just me. I prefer to not date. Anyone. Not anymore. I'm happy this way."
She knew that it was a lie, and for years, she'd been trying to convince herself that it was true. She wasn't happy; she was lonely. But she was safe. What was wrong with her? The nicest, most handsome guy she has ever met was standing in front of her, signifying that he was seriously interested in her, yet she chose to run to her go-to place – the danger-free zone where she was shielded from getting hurt ever again.
"Oh. I understand." That was all he could say. In dismay.
That was a lie, too. Oliver didn't understand, but he wasn't sure what else to say. If he tried again, she might misinterpret it as him being pushy. He couldn't figure out why a wonderful woman like her would prefer to live alone and find it satisfying. But who was he to question her preferences. He didn't want her to think that he didn't respect her wishes. So they parted ways amicably.
Thinking that he wouldn't get the chance to greet her later on, Oliver turned around and greeted her, "Merry Christmas!" That was how he found out that she was Jewish. He held on to that additional piece of information for future reference. See, he wasn't planning to go down that easily. He was just going to take some time to regroup, to figure out how he was going to get her to change her mind.
Christmas and New Year's went by. He spent the holidays with family at the Queen mansion, trying with all his might to distract himself with the festivities from the nagging thought of a certain blonde beauty that had captured his heart. The problem was, Oliver Queen couldn't get Felicity Smoak out of his system. He'd go to bed wondering if she were watching a late night movie, reading a book, or working on something in her computer. He'd wake up thinking about her. Did she sleep in during the holidays, or was she an early riser regardless? Did she work out and go for early morning runs like he did? (She sure had nicely toned muscles on her limbs and on the other parts that mattered.) His face would light up with a smile at the thought, and more than once Connor had teased him for grinning like a fool when he spaced out while daydreaming about her.
Oliver did find out during winter welcome that Felicity was a health and fitness buff like him. Connor mentioned that he saw her jogging on campus the day he returned to the dorm. It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so there were supposed to be no classes, and all university offices were closed. He deduced that she must live on campus then, perhaps in one of the faculty housing facilities. So, the next day, he went for a jog on campus before his first class for the spring semester was supposed to start, hoping that he would run into her again. He didn't know what he would do if he did, or what he would say to her. All he knew was that he had to see her again. That day, he didn't. And the day after, and the day after that.
He wondered why he hadn't seen her anywhere on campus in the last three days when the spring semester classes were supposed to have started already. Had she gotten sick? Last autumn, Felicity never cancelled class because she was sick. She was present and punctual the whole time. He couldn't resist the urge to find out if anything had happened to her, so he went to the ICT department asking for Ms. Smoak. He didn't plan on seeing her; just knowing she was okay was enough for him. The receptionist of the department willingly shared information, because he had used his Ollie Queen charm on her. The middle-aged woman not only told him that she was on leave until Inauguration Day holiday and would be starting her classes the following Monday; she also inadvertently mentioned that Ms. Smoak always went home to Vegas this time of the year, and that this year was special because she was celebrating her fortieth birthday with family and friends. The lady even added that Ms. Smoak was a hard-working and diligent teacher who really deserved a relaxing break, as she was working on completing her doctoral degree that will culminate in a dissertation defense scheduled towards the end of the spring semester.
Forty. Wow. Oliver was pleasantly surprised to find out that Felicity was only three years younger than him. He had mistaken her to be in her early or mid-thirties because she definitely looked much younger than most forty-year-old women. She looked so… refreshing. She reminded him of sunshine and rainbows after a gentle rain. She was like a breath of fresh air. How was it that this gorgeous, charming, intelligent woman was still single? It puzzled him intensely. But he was extremely happy about it too, knowing that she was still available.
One thing scared him though. She was well on her way to having the letters Ph.D. attached to the end of her name. He, on the other hand, was still striving to finish a bachelor's degree. If he decided to pursue her regardless of her initial negative response, would she even consider giving someone like him a chance? He felt like he was way out of her league.
The pressure intensified that weekend when Walter Steele, a good family friend, dropped by the coffee shop just to say hello to him and Connor and Thea. The man had just arrived from spending the holidays with family in London and had wanted to bring their overdue Christmas presents. During their conversation over brewed coffee, Connor mentioned that Oliver had done quite well in business school last semester and even got his first A- in Ms. Smoak's ICT course. Walter congratulated Oliver, of course. But since Ms. Smoak's name rang a bell, Walter steered their conversation in her direction. The polished Englishman and CFO of Queen Consolidated spoke nothing but praise for Felicity, recalling some instances when her brilliance and impeccable work ethics had helped QC's IT department grow and expand in the ten years that she had been there.
And that was when it suddenly hit him. If Felicity had worked for his family's company for about a decade long, there was a good chance that she had become familiar with Ollie Queen's old self – the one that he had long abandoned. If he did the math right, he would have already been living in Central City for five years by the time she had come on board. But still, she may have heard of both rumors and facts about the sordid past of the Queen family heir, the notorious billionaire-playboy and college drop-out. Could it be that this was the real reason why she had turned him down when he'd asked her out twice and just couldn't be straightforward about it?
He thought he had gotten over regrets of his troublesome past at some point over the last twenty years. He had worked so hard to become a changed man and a decent person. Now those regrets resurfaced, mixed with a subtle dose of a lowered self-esteem.
Those issues surrounding Felicity Smoak threatened and frightened Oliver, and for a while, Connor and Thea speculated about why he had become quite broody. Oliver spent the rest of the week thinking things through, weighing his options, and counting the cost. The words of his son and his sister, when they were coaxing him to go back to school, rang in his ears once again. "It's never too late," they had encouraged him, and he figured that they were right.
It was never too late for him to find the love of his life. Never too late for an honest-to-goodness romance, to be with someone special and be happy – someone he may not even deserve. Someone precious like Felicity Smoak.
Oliver decided that he was going to give it one more try. If she still refused, he wouldn't mind simply being friends.
That Monday afternoon, he brought her a cup of coffee – Connor's Brew's signature blend – and two blueberry muffins, telling her that since he had failed miserably to convince her to go out with him for coffee twice, he figured he could just bring the coffee to her. Felicity smirked. She bit her lower lip and shook her head, admiring his persistence. To Oliver's astonishment, she said to him, "Okay, Oliver. I get it. I'll go out with you for coffee. But just this once. If you promise you'll never ask me out again." She raised her eyebrows at him expectantly, thinking that she had outsmarted her unrelenting admirer. She thought that he would either back off and leave her alone, or, grab the opportunity, after which she wouldn't have to go on another date with him again. One date wouldn't kill her, she thought.
But Oliver Queen proved her wrong.
"You've got yourself a deal," he responded confidently. "Shall we?" He winked at her and stretched his right arm outwards, leading the way down the hallway. She handed him the brown bag of muffins, and then she turned and walked out the front entrance of the ICT building, vigorously shaking her head in disbelief.
Oliver followed closely behind her. She felt slightly self-conscious, looking over her shoulder more than once as they exited the north exit of campus. As soon as they were outside campus grounds, Oliver picked up the pace, walking beside her and leading her to the curb to cross the street. Once the pedestrian light turned green, she felt his warm hand land on the small of her back, and she gasped in surprise, nearly losing her grip on the cup of coffee she was still holding. She thought it was a sweet gesture for him to guide her this way. Chivalry wasn't dead after all. He kept his hand on her back until it moved to her elbow when he opened the door to Connor's Brew.
An hour and two cups of coffee later, Felicity was ready to raise the white flag. Truth be told, she had enjoyed every minute in his company. Their friendly conversation began with some of the stuff they both liked about their class last Fall. Jokes about the geeky girl who had always fallen asleep during her lectures were exchanged. Oliver also shared with her that the number of customers coming into the shop and the number of calls for food deliveries in the university and the nearby blocks had increased since he put up the website for Connor's Brew, and that he had to hire a couple of new employees as a result. He introduced her to Thea, who was more than pleased to meet the woman who had her brother wrapped around her fingers. Thea told her that business has been doing well, thanks to her brother's newly acquired technical skills that made bookkeeping and advertising more efficient for them.
When Thea left them to resume her work behind the cash register, Felicity started asking him about how QC was. She fondly recalled some good friends there that had stayed long after she resigned, and was relieved to learn that one of the IT supervisors that had treated her like dirt was the same guy that Oliver had overheard from his parents as having been fired just before Christmas. When Oliver asked her if she missed working in IT and specializing in cyber-security, she admitted that there were times she did, but she also said that she had no plans of entertaining a career shift anytime soon, especially since she was working on finishing her doctorate. She said she was happy doing what she was doing at the moment. When Oliver reaffirmed her about the vocation she had chosen and complimented her for being one of the best teachers he'd ever had in his life, Felicity blushed and avoided his steady gaze.
It was a good thing Oliver didn't ask her if she was having a good time, because it wouldn't have been fair for her to lie to him a second time. He'd been awfully thoughtful, kind, and patient to her, and she found those qualities very endearing. She didn't have the heart to deny it, if and when he asked.
When Oliver asked if she wanted a third cup of coffee, she said she already had enough caffeine in her system to keep her awake until midnight. Oliver extended an open invitation instead, telling her that she was welcome to come to the shop for free coffee and pastries anytime, but she vehemently shook her head and waved her hands in the air, telling him that she didn't want to take advantage of their new friendship just to satisfy her need for sugar rush. He negotiated that they meet in the middle: she could come in anytime, but instead of getting coffee and pastries for free, he'd just give her a 50% discount. She obliged with a smile.
Oliver pushed on. He asked which among the muffins, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and treats she would care to take home. She looked at him, a cute pout forming on her face. "You don't play fair, Oliver Queen," she said. "How did you know that I have a sweet tooth?"
"I didn't, actually. I just took a chance. You seem like a red velvet kind of girl," Oliver remarked. He couldn't help the twinkle in his eyes.
"What makes you say that?" she asked.
"Well…" he began to answer, a bit unsure of how to proceed. His confidence was mixed with a slight trepidation as he attempted a clever explanation. He thought she might misinterpret his light-hearted sincerity for mere wit and charm, but he chose to proceed. "I have a way with cakes, you see. Red velvet is one of my favorite ones to bake, like the ones you see at the counter over there. It only looks reddish because of the coloring added to the mixture, but it's actually chocolate cake. Traditionally it's prepared as a layer cake topped with cream cheese or cooked roux icing." He paused for a beat and looked Felicity straight in the eye. "Please don't take this the wrong way, but I happen to think you're a lot like red velvet, Felicity. You're a brilliant, beautiful woman with a bubbly personality that wins the hearts of everyone around you. But I think there's more to you than meets the eye. I think the real you is somewhere beneath the cream cheese top, just waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. There are layers of who you really are that I would very much like to get to know better. If you'd let me."
Felicity swallowed hard. No one has ever said anything as sweet as that to her before. She knew it wasn't just a line. She saw the earnestness in his eyes. She felt his steady resolve to pursue her and heard the delightful ardor in his voice. How could she not give him a chance? She had sworn to herself that she'd never let herself fall for another man after her first and only serious relationship went down the drain, leaving her damaged beyond repair. But there was just something about this man sitting in front of her, asking with every ounce of decency in him that she simply let him into her life.
Maybe things between them will eventually become serious, beautiful even. Maybe not. Maybe they'll just stay friends. But she'll never know unless she takes a step of faith. She had always known that she's been living in a bubble of self-protection, afraid to break free. But it's been pretty lonely in that bubble for so long. If she wasn't ready to get out, then maybe she could let him in.
A warm, winsome smile gleamed on Felicity's face as she leaned forward and placed both her forearms on the table. "Well, Mr. Queen, I think you've just earned yourself a second date," she said.
Oliver's eyes widened in surprise, and then his face broke out with a smile that reached his ears. Oh yeah, he was back in the saddle and was in for the ride of his life.
A/N: As always, reviews and comments are welcome. Do drop a line or two. Thanks for reading!
In between this chapter and the next, Oliver and Felicity's friendship grows and deepens into something more. The next update finds them at the brink of committing to take their relationship to the next level... as middle-aged adults with past emotional baggage. Find out how that plays out.