Chapter Text
Laurel watched Dinah working behind the bar as she nursed her drink, for once it was untouched, her whole attention on the way Dinahs hair bounced gently or the way her smile seemed to literally brighten up the whole room safe to say Laurel was mesmerized by this wonderful woman.
"God you've got it bad", Mia grumbled next to her startling her.
"When did you get here?", Laurel snapped at her annoyed.
"Oh I'm sorry did I interrupt your pining?", Mia teased.
"I wasnt pining" Laurel scowled.
"Yea sure", Mia said sarcastically.
"What do you want Mia?", Laurel let out an exasperated sigh.
"Well I was gonna join you for a drink but watching you pine over Dinah is painful at the best of times but this? This is just tragic". Mia chuckled downing Laurels drink for her.
"I know", Laurel mumbled sadly "god what's happened to me? This is exactly why I dont like feelings they make you weak!", she stood up.
"Where are you going?", Mia asked not really interested.
"Upstairs..where I live," Laurel said sarcastically.
"Oh good you can pine from afar", Mia teased as Laurel shook her head walking away.
"Hey Laurel?", Laurel frowned turning around.
"What?", she snapped.
"For the sake of all our humanity can you please just ask Dinah out?just put us all out of our misery and your own I cant take any more of this love sick puppy nonsense..just do it. Worst she can say is no".
Laurel kept her face impassive as she turned around heading straight for the elevator Mia was so wrong 'no' was not the worst that Dinah could say, not by far. What if Dinah didnt even swing that way? Laurel would feel so awkward and have to move out. Or what if Dinah was genuinely disgusted at the idea considering their history, these thoughts caused Laurels heart to physically hurt. She could feel her breathing becoming erratic.
"Dinah Drake you are going to be the death of me", she mumbled as the doors to the elevator closed.
-
Dinah walked into her apartment looking for Laurel she thought she would be down on the bar til closing like usual. She didnt have to look for long as Laurel was sat on the steps looking out the window with a forlorn expression on her face. Dinah walked over apprehensively not wanting to startle her
Laurel looked at her her face lighting up when she saw Dinah walking towards her "hey D" she beamed.
"Hey you", Dinah grinned. That smile Laurel felt was just for her. "Thought youd be downstairs ", Dinah added as she made her way over sitting down next to her.
"Yea I uh...I came up here to think", Laurel admitted. She had decided after her little chat with Mia that the annoying blonde was right..she was going to ask Dinah out..tonight.
"Everything ok?", Dinah asked sensing there was something Laurel was trying to say.
"Yea um..I need to talk to you about something ", Laurel said trying to keep her voice steady.
"Good because I kind of need to talk to you too", Dinah said softly.
"You want to go first?", Laurel offered.
"No it's ok you go", Dinah smiled putting her hand over Laurels, Laurel smiled at the contact shuffling a little closer.
"Ok I'm not good at this so just bear with me ok?", Laurel grinned.
"Ok", Dinah chuckled.
"Um ok so I've been here for what a few weeks?", Laurel asked and Dinah nodded. "And I love being here but I need more".
"More room?", Dinah asked confused.
"No umm.i mean let me start again we've come a long way right? And I feel closer to you than anyone else but I think I'm ready for more and I'm ready to open my heart..do you understand what I'm trying to say?", Laurel couldnt gauge Dinahs facial expression as it was hard to read.
"You're saying you're ready for a relationship with someone and you value our friendship?", Dinah said feeling really confused.
"Yes and no", Laurel groaned god she sucked at this, "what I'm trying to see D is I want to be in a relationship with...".
The elevator dinged cutting her off as a man walked in "Dinah?". He called out.
"Derek, over here", Dinah called out smiling, "Laurel this is what I wanted to talk to you about come on let me introduce you". Laurel sat there dumb struck as Dinah pulled her to her feet walking over to their new arrival.
"Derek this is Laurel my roommate I told you about, Laurel this is Derek..my boyfriend".
Laurel felt her whole world crashing down around her, a lump formed in her throat.
"Boyfriend? You never mentioned...".
"I've been away on business ", Derek smiled holding out his hand "nice to meet you". Laurel gave her hand letting him shake it. "Sorry I'm early I caught an early flight", he grinned taking Dinah in his arms.
"That's fine I'm glad you did", Dinah smiled that smile Laurel thought was only hers and pulled him in for a kiss.
Laurel felt her heart physically breaking she couldnt breathe..
"I have to go", she said her voice just above a whisper as she fought back the tears.
"Where are you going? Laurel?Laurel!" Dinah called after her.
But Laurel was already in the elevator pressing the button waiting until she was a block away before sitting behind some bins down an alley before she finally broke, her sobs echoing down the alley. Dinah was into someone else she could never love Laurel she had been a fool to even think she had a chance...
She couldnt go back there..she could never go back there. She sobbed for what felt like hours before wiping her face and finding a bar...she needed to dull this ache in her chest.
She found a seedy looking bar taking a stool she ordered a scotch.
"Leave the bottle", she grunted.
"Rough night?", bartender asked her.
"If by rough night the woman I'm secretly in love with just told me shes into somebody else and now not only have I lost my home and best friend but I'm probably going to die alone!" Laurel spat.
"Might need to get you the stronger stuff", he said removing the bottle coming back with a stronger whiskey.
Laurel grunted a thank you.
"So what are you gonna do?", he asked wiping the surface.
"I plan on getting drunk as humanly possible ", Laurel said staring at her reflection in the mirror, downing her scotch.