Chapter Text
Today was the day when he was going to be a free man again. Honestly, Oliver lost any hope that it would ever happen.
Five years ago he was sent into a prison for a crime he didn't commit. He hired a lawyer who tried to get him out for several years but never succeeded.
That was until two weeks ago his lawyer came and said there was a new witness who claimed to see him on the other side of the town at the time the murder happened.
He never understood why no one listened to him when he kept saying the same thing.
It didn't matter to him anymore. All he cared about, was being cleared of charges.
They gave him back his things, a watch and wallet and then he was escorted to the entrance of the prison. He stopped for a moment closing his eyes and inhaling deeply. He hoped this moment was his last one on this side of the fence. He heard the familiar sound of the gate opening and then he saw a light.
He took a step outside and breath in the fresh air. He couldn't help but let his lips turn into a soft smile. After such a long time, this was how freedom felt.
He wasn't aware that he closed his eyes. When he opened them, he saw his friend standing a foot away from him.
The tall man was leaning back against his car with his arms crossed. It was such a nice feeling to see a familiar face. Oliver slowly walked towards him.
"John."
The man smiled widely and opened his arms, "Oliver, it's so good to see you, man."
The ex-prisoner didn't hesitate as he wrapped his arms around his friend, "it's a really good feeling, to be finally free."
His friend clapped him on the back, "I knew this day was going to come."
They pulled away, "well, you had more faith than me, John."
They got into the car. Oliver looked at the backseat and saw a duffel bag he believed it belonged to him.
"Thanks for getting my things."
His friend started the car and slowly moved away from the impressive building. Oliver looked over his shoulder staring at the lace that held him captured for five years for the last time.
"Are you sure it's a good decision?" There was a concern in John's voice.
Oliver looked through the window. Some would say five years wasn't a long time behind the prison's bars. But when you are locked there and all you see every day are angry and resigned faces of people whole want to kill you, you start to appreciate an outside world more.
"Yeah, I am sure," he answered without hesitation.
This was his second chance to live the life as he wanted, and he wasn't going to ruin it.
"Alright then. You can rest if you want, it will be quite a long ride."
Oliver looked at his companion. He was very thankful for having John Diggle in his life. Without him, he probably wouldn't survive his sentence.
When he said thank you he didn't mean just this ride. He thanked for being there for him when everyone else turned their back on him.
The tri went on so quickly probably because Oliver has slept through most of it. He didn't know he was that tired until he closed his eyes.
For the first time since he has been arrested, he felt no fear of losing his life if he let himself pull down the guard.
He felt the car stop. He slowly opened his eyes and realized that they reached their destination.
"You have been out throughout the whole trip," there was disbelief in John's voice.
"Yeah well, I haven't slept much for the past five years. I guess my brain is finally catching up."
His friend nodded in understatement.
"I still don't get why you chose this town."
Oliver turned his head to look out of the window. Surprisingly he liked what he saw. It was a nice, small town with a little bit of cheesiness to it but he didn't mind it. Some old buildings looked like from those Christmas romantic comedy. There were a bookshop and a cafe, the one he was going to visit for sure. In all this madness he felt this was a place for him.
He realised his friend asked him a question. He simp;y shrugged, "I like it here." He took the bag from the back seat and opened the door.
He didn't want to hold John away from his family any longer.
"Thank you for everything John. I truly mean it."
John looked worried for a moment, "this is not a goodbye Oliver, we will see each other again.
A faint smile appeared on Oliver's face as he nodded, "I know."
They exchange a few more words before his friend drove away promising that they will stay in touch.
Oliver took the bag from the ground and hanged it over his shoulder. He took a small piece of paper out of his pocket. There he had an address written on it.
He decided to step into the cafe and ask where he should go.
When he opened the door a small bell above it rang announcing his arrival.
Taken straight from a rom-com for sure, he thought.
He settled on a hight bar stool in the corner. There was a menu on the table. He picked it up and quickly ran over it.
He was looking at a card in front of him, so he didn't notice someone approaching him. Something that he would never allow to happen when he was in prison.
"Hi, welcome in Rocky Mountain Cafe, how can I help you?"
The voice sounded so warm and soft.
Oliver looked up from the menu, and honestly, that was not what he was expecting to see.
There was this woman with blonde and pink hair. The coloured one seemed to be fake. She had a nose ring and a baseball cap backward on her head.
He was so stunned by her presence that he kept staring at her like she was a mythical creature out of this world.
He was so focused on gazing at her that he didn't realise her lips were moving. She was talking to him, and he was sitting and staring at her.
He finally shook his head, "excuse me, what were you saying?"
Her head was slightly cocked, and her hands were on her hips, "I said that staring at me will cost you 5$."
Oliver blinked a few times. There was something about this girl that he found very intriguing.
"Do you always stare so intensely at people who offer you coffee?" She slightly cocked her head. "And by an offer I mean to sell you coffee not buy because you are in coffee shop you know."
Her ramble was incredibly cute it made Oliver smile at her genuinely.
"I am sorry, there is just something about you..." he looked at her as she tapped the red pen against her lower lip.
"I don't believe we have ever met," she slightly narrowed her eyebrows. It was clear that she was thinking hard about it.
"No, no, we haven't," the young man shook his head. "I am sorry for my strange behaviour."
Suddenly a smile appeared on her face. It was such a cute view. Her smile made you want to smile as well.
"Don't worry you are not the first weirdo on my path," she bit her lower lip, "you are not even that weird," she added quietly.
Oliver let out a soft laugh. It was the first time since a few years that someone has made him laugh. It felt oddly good.
He finally composed himself and looked her in the eyes, "I am Oliver." He held his hand out.
She looked at his stretched arm and hesitated for a moment, "everyone calls me Megan."
In her eyes, Oliver saw that there was some story hidden behind the mystery of her name.
"But?" Maybe he wanted to know that story.
"But what?" She asked slightly surprised.
"You said everyone calls you that, I have a feeling that it's not your real name."
The expression on her face suddenly changed. She didn't seem angry more like unsure.
She ignored his words, "are you a cop or something?"
Oliver chuckled to himself, "more something part." He didn't want to scare her away or make her think badly about him. "Don't worry everyone has some skeletons in their wardrobe."
Her face relaxed and a smile came back on her lips, "even you?"
He held her gaze, "especially me." He didn't know why, but his voice lowered when he said that.
The mystery woman bit her lip, "you must be new in the town, or you are just passing by."
He was thankful for the change of the topic.
"I came today, actually, "he looked at his watch, "not even half an hour ago."
"Wow well welcome in Rocky Mountain House," she stretched her arms widely. "I am honoured to be the first person you met," she grinned at him.
He couldn't help the smile that ghosted over his lips, "I am happy that you are the first person I met," he told her honestly.
"Megan!" the loud scream filled the cafe. "I am not paying you for flirting with customers but for serving them!"
The mystery woman cringed. She turned around and looked at someone who supposedly was her boss, "Ben because flirting you have more customers."
Oliver had to bit the inside of his cheek. It was impressive that she knew how to stand up for herself. He didn't want to cause her any troubles though.
"It's fine. I should go anyway," he stood up.
Even if she was wearing boots on a heel, he was much taller than her.
She turned back to him but wasn't looking at him, "don't mind Ben he is just jealous because I refuse to go out with him-" finally she looked up at him. "Oh, you are much bigger when you are standing. You are gargantuan."
Oliver just arched his eyebrow as a smirk appeared on his face.
"Yeah now I realised how sexual it sounded, but that's me. I am lacking the brain to mouth filter."
"Actually, that's what I like that about you. You are very real."
He made her blush, and he promised himself he would do anything to see that once again.
"Where are you going to stay?" She slapped her forehead the moment words left her mouth. "What is wrong with me," it said to herself.
This tiny woman in front of him was fascinating.
"I didn't mean it as a pickup line or anything."
"It's okay don't worry. A friend used to have a house here, and he said I could stay there. I am not sure where there is, but I have the address," he took out the paper and showed it to her.
"I know where it is. It's quite far from here. Have you got a car?"
"No," he shook his head.
She reached into her pocket, "here take mine then."
He looked astonished. Has she just given him the keys to her car? Just like that.
She caught on his surprise pretty quickly, "you will have to come and pick me up at 8 though. Won't be that a problem?"
"You just gave me keys to your car," he was still looking at the object in his hands. There was a chain of a computer attached to it.
"I did," she said like it wasn't a big deal.
He looked at her, "you are not afraid I am going to steal it?"
She arched her eyebrow, "are you going to steal it?"
"No," he quickly answered.
"Then everything is fine," she smiled at him. "I will draw you a map how to get there."
She took a piece of paper that was in her apron and started drawing with the red pen.
"Megan!"
This time even he jumped at the high pitched yell.
"Ugh, I have to go," she didn't seem too happy about that. "Here is the map," she gave him the paper.
He looked at it and admired how precisely she described and draw the road to the house.
"Don't forget to pick me up at 8 okay?"
Oliver just nodded still a little bit astounded by the whole situation. She gave him a last smile and turned around.
Before she could walk away he lightly tapped her on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" she said turning around.
"You are remarkable mystery woman."
She grinned widely at him.
"Thank you for remarking it," she winked at him and then was gone.
He had a feeling that she was going to be a stable part of his life.
He didn't mind.
Actually, he couldn't wait to see her again tonight.
Maybe second chances really existed.