Chapter 3
"The last time you were here, you at least bought lunch for everyone. Or are you still waiting for a thank you? I thought Laurel bashed her eyelash enough to thank for every single sandwich ever made in the history of the world”
Oliver leaning on the door of his car, looks up from his phone to face Thea. He had been waiting for some time and needed to stretch his legs, which were starting to tingle. Thea was one of the last people to leave but he would wait more if he needed to, what Felicity said stayed with him, he needs to talk to his little sister, he will not let anything unsaid between them, he will never give up on her.
"I think that is the most you have talked to me since I moved back" He regrets the second the words are out of his mouth, of how harsh that came out.
Thea rolls her eyes.
"Mom and Dad had this charity thing, Will is with Felicity I thought you and I could hang out" He tries more gently.
She leans on the car by his side, arms crossed in front of her "You know Roy texted, he is not feeling well, I need to check on him"
Oliver sighs "Again? Maybe he should see a doctor or do you want to try that again? See if the lie is more convincing a second time"
Thea looks down, ashamed but stays silent, it's killing him she is so close off from him.
"You have been avoiding me and I-I think. No, I know, it started before me moving to Starling, In fact even before your accident, you were visiting way less, you used to call Will when I was at work and after the accident you didn't came to San Francisco once, it’s been more than a year….not even on Will's birthday. Now we live at the same house and I still don't see you...You make the time to see mom, dad, Will, even Felicity. I have to say I am impressed, it must take quite a lot of planning, evade me" He waits to see if she tries to deny or offer any explanation "Speedy?"
"I hate that nickname"
That at least shows him, she is listening, he was starting to doubt "Did I do something? I am so sorry, I was too caught up on my own stuff and I didn't see you were pulling away. I was a bad brother"
Thea sniffs, chuckling sadly "You have nothing to be sorry for. It was not your fault" She looks at him, her tears making her green eyes shine, she looks so small, all he wants is to take that pain away.
"Talk to me. Can you tell me what it is then?" He wants a task, a direction to how to fix whatever this is, he will make it better for her.
She nods wiping her cheek with the back of her hand "It's me, I was...I am ashamed and afraid of you kicking me out of your life, Will’s life"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because of the accident, of what I was hiding before the accident" She takes a deep breath he lets the silence settles in, giving her time to find a way to tell him what is clearly eating her from the inside "I was high that night...I was high a long time before that, but that day I almost die because of it"
Oliver finds it hard to breathe, it takes a couple of times to get his voice working "What?"
"I know you off all people would notice. I didn't want you to think less of me, to be disappointed. So I made sure you couldn't see it….couldn’t see me"
He takes a second to digest that information "But mom and dad said it was a small accident. I saw the news, they made it out to be like you had a flat tire" He rubs his head and chuckles as a realization comes to him "Mom, paid news and lied to me, to protect her precious image. Bought you out of trouble, like she is used to and dad just went along with it, just like they did with me"
Thea shakes her head disappointed "Why do you always think the worst of mom?"
"Experience"
Thea looks pensive to the building in front of them "Look at the amazing work Laurel does here" She nods her head towards the CNRI building. Oliver frowns at the drastic change of topic "But to this day, she is still asked about you conceiving a child with her friend, when you were together. Did you know that every time our family name comes up in the media, for whatever reason, they show that video of you punching paparazzi, your mugshot….They are not perfect Ollie, but they sat by my bed while I detox, they held my hand when the judge read my sentence. Working here started as community service. And yes, mom paid off the newspapers but not to pretend that it didn't happen or to protect our family's image. She did to buy me privacy, to not have my mistake thrown back in my face for the rest of my life. So I could heal without being exposed. They got me help and did the best they could...Don't be mad at them, I asked them not to tell you"
"I-I understand" He can't judge her, he spent a big part of his life thinking he was a walking disappointment, he also acted out as a result. Thea's behavior is a painful mirror.
"I wanted to talk to you so many times" She rubs her runny nose, tears still falling “I just couldn’t bare to let you down”
"You should have '' He gently puts one of his arms over her shoulders, hugging her close "I would never be disappointed at you for making a mistake, for having a problem. I would never cut you out of mine or Will's life please tell me you understand that '' He feels her nod on his shoulder "Never again do you hear me? Don't ever not come to me when you need right? That is not negotiable in this relationship! I love you Speedy"
Thea pulls back smiling through the tears "I love you too"
"So tell me, how are you now?"
She sighs content, peaceful, as if a weight lifted from her heart. "I am ok...I stopped with the drugs, I see a therapist...still feeling a little lost, but I enjoy working here and I am sitting in a couple of classes at Starling University. I have Roy, my favorite person in the world just move to Starling, you know Will"
Oliver chuckles "That is good”
"Are we good?" She asks in a small voice.
"Yes we are" Feeling like they both need a safe place "You know, I bet Will and Felicity are planning on having only ice cream for dinner. So maybe we could pick up some food and have dinner with them. Invite Roy, I think it is time I finally meet him"
She nods, smiling then rubs her eyes "Look at me, I am a mess!"
"That's what I said when mom and dad brought you home from the hospital" He lifts a hand pointing at her face "You also had tears and snoring all over your face back then too"
"You jerk '' She pushes him and walks towards the passenger doors.
"So, tell me more about Roy, how did you two meet?" He says, pulling his seat belt while she clicks on the name Roy on her screen and brings the phone to her ear.
"Oh he stole my purse" She says like it is the most normal thing in the world.
"WHAT?!"
"You should have seen this redhead Ollie. I am telling you Verdant was the best investment I ever made, Roy managed to actually make it profitable and I have a place that is packed with gorgeous women just waiting for me to show up and give them a good time" Tommy wiggles his eyebrows.
Oliver laughs, handling the bowl with chips, helping prepare for game night.
"You know I love the little dude and I already reserved the Merlyn Corporation's box for the rest of the baseball season but we got to get you out there man. He has enough grandparents around to give you more than one night off. Come on you and me tomorrow Verdant, it will be just like old times"
"Fine, I am in" He laughs, pulling out his phone and texting Sam's parents to check if everything is ok. Thinking about the fact he had plenty of flings in San Francisco but he can't even remember the last time he went clubbing, this could even be fun. His friendship with Tommy survived the years apart but there was an emotional distance that came with the geographic distance, plus the wall he put up for everything Starling related. Tommy doesn't hold a grudge, he knows all too well what it is to have a difficult relationship with a parent. His best friend is just happy to have him back as much as Oliver is to spend time with him again.
"The boys are back in town, little Oliver needs some fun" As soon as Tommy finishes the sentence a grimace forms on his face "Don't tell anyone I said that, especially Felicity. I would never hear the end of it. You call a girl smoky hot once and she will mess with you every chance she gets"
Oliver takes a sip of his beer "So she is coming tonight right? Hmm you and Felicity are close?"
"Oh curious about my relationship with Miss Smoak?" Tommy says with a suggestive tone, pulling a chair, the table ready for the cards game. Smirking, enjoying the emotions going through Oliver's face "We are friends Ollie. I mean I looked, thought about it, may have said one thing or two. You saw her who wouldn't? But nothing happened. How did you know she was coming tonight? I said I was having a few friends over''
"I had lunch with her yesterday, she mentioned" The corner of Tommy’s mouth curves up "Stop! The board approved to implement Archer, I wanted to check Smoak Tech servers. After, I took her to big belly"
Tommy opens his mouth probably for an inappropriate joke when the doorbell rings "Must be her, she is always on time and the concierge knows her"
Oliver puts his beer on the counter "Let me" he wants to avoid Tommy's annoying smirk.
"In a hurry to check her servers again?" Tommy says to his retrieving back.
Oliver groans, rubbing the now sweaty palms on his pants before opening the door.
"Oliver! God, I think this is the first time I see you out of the office since you return" John Diggle opens his arm and gives him a hug.
"Good to see you to Dig '' Over Diggle's shoulder he sees Felicity smiling at the pair, he steps aside allowing Diggle to get in Tommy's apartment.
"Hi Oliver" He opens his arms and closes his eyes when her arms tighten around him. He feels cold the second she steps back.
"Dig" Tommy raises an eyebrow at Oliver's hand on Felicity's back but chooses not to comment "Tell me, you enjoy being head of QC security more than being Ollie's bodyguard?"
"I think babysitter is the word you should use" Diggle says, making the group laugh while handling Tommy a case of bear.
"Pizzas are on the way" Felicity says without taking her eyes out her phone.
"Did you come together?" Oliver asks Diggle.
"Yeah, I gave her a ride. We had a meeting at Smoak Tech, I think we need to make some adjustments to the security protocols at QC"
"No! No! No! No shop talk, we are here to gamble" Tommy says rubbing his hand, he points a finger at Felicity, who is taking her seat "No counting cards"
"Can you count cards?" Oliver asks, sitting by her side.
"I don't count cards" She shrugs.
Oliver laughs, wondering how she can count cards but be this bad at lying.
"Oh really? So why did I have to go to a Vegas police station to bail out you, Donna, Lyla and Sara?"
"That had nothing to do with cards. You know what? If you want the reason ask your wife it was her bachelorette party"
"I am still hurt that you guys didn't invite me, Dig here didn't let me throw him a bachelor party. How could you Dig? You only marry once" Tommy says while shuffling the cards.
"It was his the second marriage, though it was with the same woman so maybe" Felicity is interrupted by the door bell "That must be Sara, I will go"
Oliver watches her walking towards the door, Diggle and Tommy' voice becomes a white noise, he can only focus on the gray dress with orange blocks on the sides, hugging her curves in all the right places. Watching her with his friends, now her friends too, the way she perfectly fits in, there is even a twitch of jealousy of them knowing her for more time than him.
"Why do you guys always start without me?" Sara walks into the room.
"Because you are always late" Tommy rolls his eyes.
"Oh today is my fault. I hope you guys don't mind I tagged alone" Laurel says coming out from behind Sara, going straight for the chair Felicity was sitting before.
Oliver's heart drops, Felicity doesn't even look in his direction before pushing a chair sitting between Tommy and Diggle.
Soon his mood is lifted, the night is spent between junk food, beer, laughter and Tommy being a sore loser.
"Ollie do you mind giving me a ride? I came with Sara and my place is in your way" Laurel asks while goodbyes are said on the door of Tommy's building.
"Of course, Felicity? Can I give you a ride too, since you know we live at the same place?" Oliver jokes, taking a step closer to her.
Felicity bites her lips "Actually, I think I will just call a car" she shakes the phone on her hand.
"Please let me drive you" Oliver whispers.
The silence in the car after Laurel got out is defining, every once in a while he looks to his side, making sure Felicity is there.
"Felicity, is everything ok?" He is worried, never saw her so quiet.
She jumps on her sit, clearly her thoughts were far away "Yeah it is"
"Did I...are you mad at me or something?"
She looks out the window, taking a deep breath "No, I am just thinking....about ........tomorrow you know...I have this thing and I am nervous"
"What thing?"
"Ted Kord invited me to a party at Kord industries. It's a test, Ted wants to hire Smoak Tech but his father has the last word. He is old school, I know he asked around about me, he wants to meet me in a situation he controls and may have heard I am not that comfortable in it. Lyla was supposed to be my plus one but she was called away for work… I just know I am going to say something inappropriate and make a fool of myself. Their contracts with the government is what could bring Smoak Tech to the next level”
"I can be your be you plus one"
She looks at him surprised.
"You know a friendly face, moral support" He tries to sound casual.
"You would do that for me? Don't you have other plans?" She asks, playing with the ring on her finger.
"None. It would be my pleasure" Tommy will have to forgive him, Verdant could wait.