Chapter Text
Being one of the richest teenagers in starling, scratch that, the country, always came with its advantages. Oliver was the most popular kid in school. He had the best parties, the best friends, the best car, and the hottest girlfriend. He was attractive with his honey blond short hair, his charming smile, bronzed skin and - thanks to his personal trainer - his sinewy and brawny build. People that worshiped the ground he walked on constantly surrounded him. Of course it also helped that he could drop ten grand without batting an eye or arrange for a private jet to take him to his families private island for a weekend get away. To be honest, people were constantly amazed that he wasn’t quiet as bratty as his best friend Tommy, who mirrored Oliver’s looks, wealth and charm. Tommy was the playboy that everyone expected out of Oliver.
So on the outside looking in, Oliver Queen had the perfect life. But on the inside, he felt empty for as long as he could remember. Sure, he was never left for wanting anything, at least not in a material sense, but he knew there had to be more. But who was he to complain? His life was far better than most people in the world, so from a young age he wore a mask. A mask that covered his internal struggle. A mask he perfected and no one ever saw past his façade.
Until her.
Felicity Smoak was, on the surface, an average girl. She had box #112 golden blonde hair called “sunshine”, took the bus to school (her mom didn’t own a car and they took the bus everywhere or got rides from friends), sat in the back of the class, and wore glasses. What set Felicity apart form everyone else, was that she was absolutely brilliant. As a 15 year old "sophomore" she was taking all senior classes and was well on her way to graduating 2 year early. Most of her friends we like her too. Bright. But where she was a certifiable genius across the board, her friends had their specialties. Barry excelled in chemistry, but wanted to become a doctor like his father. Caitlin loved biology and also wanted to be a doctor as well, but more in regards to research than practice. Cisco’s talent was in physics and mathematics and dreamed of becoming an electrical and mechanical engineer. These 3 brilliant individuals were some of the most caring and loyal friends Felicity could ever imagine having. They didn’t treat her like she was 16, but that wasn’t too surprising because, being as smart as she was as well as an only child, she was always surrounded my adults and thus very mature for her age. She was an old soul, despite her penchant for computers and technology.
So yes, Felicity was truly anything BUT average, but this was still high school. Being smart was not cool. So Felicity kept to herself, sat in the back of the classes, worked independently on projects, and often didn’t raise her hand to talk. She had no interest in the feigned friendships that would undoubtedly arise when someone just wanted to use her in order to get a good grade.
It was the first week of December when a massive storm hit starling. The snow was covering the city in an alarmingly fast rate. Everyone expected school and work to be canceled the next day. When felicity woke up that morning, to hear the phone ringing. When she looked outside and saw the snow Felicity’s spirit dropped. She realized that it was probably the school calling to cancel classes for the day. And even though most high school students would be elated at this news, Felicity loved school and was already in mourning that it was cancelled.
As Felicity exited her room, which opened to the kitchen she was able to make out a surprisingly hopeful greeting from her mother “Morning sweetheart”.
“Morning Mom” Felicity creased her eyebrows together at her mothers tone. “That was the school wasn’t it? School is canceled isn’t it?” The doleful tone in felicity’s voice was unmistakable.
Knowing her daughters love for school she was happy to reveal that it wasn’t. But that didn’t mean that Donna couldn’t have some fun either “Yes, that was the school” the older women said
Felicity dropped her head to the table and began pounding it against the granite top. On top of school getting canceled, judging by her mother’s sweatpants rather than her typical attire she wore to work that often involved a tight, short and sparkly dress, it was clear that her mother’s work shift had also been canceled. Great Felicity thought. It wasn’t that Felicity didn’t like spending time with her mother; it was just that Felicity and her mother had very different interests. They could never connect on a deeper level like she once had with her father. And though she always wanted to spend more time with Donna, Felicity preferred that this time occurred in shorter session rather than a full day. Similarly, Felicity often tried to have a means to escape whenever her mother regressed back to “Vegas mode” and wanted Felicity to marry rich and fawn after the Oliver Queen’s, Tommy Merlin's and Carter Hall’s of the city. So being trapped in the house with Donna for the whole day, with no foreseeable means of escape, was less than ideal.
Then Felicity heard her mother giggle, “The school was calling to tell us that the bus will be running late today and you will be tardy to school, which is still on” Donna continued with a smile.
Felicity didn’t try to hide her sudden mood change. So with a smile Felicity jumped out of her chair and returned to her room to get ready for school.
When Felicity finally arrived at school she was 15 minutes late to her first class, AP Physics. As one of the few kids who didn’t own their own car, or have a personal chauffer, most of the class had already arrived. So she and a girl named Sara Lance, whose father was a blue collared cop, walked in late to class together. Felicity was surprised that Sara’s older sister Laurel wasn’t on the bus. But as soon as Felicity finished that thought she realized that Laurel had probably stayed at her boyfriend, Oliver Queen’s house the night before and Oliver’s chaffer dropped the couple off at school.
It never really bothered Felicity that she was constantly surrounded by the idle rich and famous, but that didn’t mean she wanted her ordinary up bringing on display. So as she and Sara walked into class late, she felt as if she had a sign on her neck that said, “working class” on it. To make matters worse, Mr. Bean told them that he had just assigned a partner project and that by the process of elimination, she was partners with Sara. Felicity, who had previously been so excited for school, was now crestfallen.
She looked over at Caitlin with a dejected look to see her friend mouth “I’m sorry”. Felicity tightened her lips into a smile to silently tell Caitlin that it was okay.
As Felicity plopped down into the only open lab table, Sara followed her lead.
Sara then extended her hand to Felicity, smiling and said, “Hi. I’m Sara”
Without missing a beat Felicity responds, “Oh I know who you are. Your Sara, Sara Lance, you’re a Lance. Your father is a cop, your sister, Laurel, Gorgeous Laurel, is the most popular girl in school. You of course, are also very popular…NOT because your sister is Laurel… that’s not what I mean… You’re popular because you’re pretty and athletic, and I’m sure because you’re nice and people respect you. I mean, you would have been named captain of both the lacrosse and field hockey team as a junior if that wasn’t the case…”
Of course this was happening. Even at 15 Felicity still can’t control her babbles.
“Oh God. I sound like a total stalker. I’m not. I mean, I’m not a stalker, I just…well when you’re as popular as you are, people talk. I don’t. Of course. Because I don’t know you. But I can’t help what I hear. I mean I guess I could. I could walk around with earplugs in, but then I couldn’t hear the teachers or learn anything and I like learning and Oh my god. I am still talking. I’m going to stop now in 3, 2, 1”. Felicity doesn’t need to see a reflection to know that her face is as red as a stop sign. God Felicity. For the love of all that is Google, this is why you don’t talk to people other than your mother, Barry, Caitlin and Cisco. You can’t control yourself she castigated herself.
Felicity doesn’t dare to look at Sara but is surprised to hear Sara giggle and say “Your cute. I like you”. When Felicity turns her head she see two dimpled cheeks framing Sara’s perfectly straight and white smile. Felicity wonders what it would be like to so pretty, then she realizes she never introduced herself. After talking a deep breath to try and rid herself of her blush she says “Oh. I’m felicity by the way”.
As they turn their attention back to the teacher who is going over the project Felicity’s mind begins to circle back to her social faux pas. God. It took me less than 10 seconds for me to embarrass myself. Why oh why do I have constant foot in mouth syndrome? Well, at least now it will be official. Felicity smoak, the panda flat, ponytail and non ironic hipster glasses-but real nerdy and necessary to see glasses- wearing sophomore is a complete and total freak. Sure, Sara seems nice, but if I were her I would complain to all my friends about the freak I was partnered with too. Ugh. But she will probably tell her sister because, well Laurel is her sister. Then I will have two grades of popular girls who will know she is a freak. Laurel will tell the senior class and Sara will tell the Junior class. Maybe if I offer to do the project all myself and use my brains to bribe Sara to not tell anyone about the freak that is Felicity Smoak, I can escape high school unscathed...
Wait. Back up. Sara is junior, what is she even doing in this class?
Felicity hears a chuckle next to her and pales as she becomes aware of that fact that once again, what she thought was a conversation to herself, had been actually said out loud. Felicity froze not knowing exactly how much of her internal monolog found its way out of her mouth. When she sees Sara’s smile grow, Felicity becomes conscious that once gain, her thoughts had become words. Her hand slaps her mouth shut as to not let it happen again. As she tilts her head to face sara, Felicity lifts both eyebrows silently pleading with sara to have mercy on her.
After a couple of seconds of staring, no, analyzing Felicity’s face with an intrigued look, Sara turns her attention back to Mr. Bean. As soon as Felicity thinks Sara has let her off the hook or that Sara heard her mumbling but couldn’t actually understand what Felicity had said, Sara leans to her left closing the gap between her and Felicity. “You can’t bribe me to keep quiet with your brain because I have my own thank you very much. I, like you, also skipped ahead. But don’t worry, I wont tell if you won’t” Sara responds while still giving her full attention to Mr. Bean. As she returns to her previous sitting position Felicity sees the left side of Sara’s mouth tick up into a smirk and what thinks was a wink.
Felicity and Sara did not talk for the rest of class. When class ended both Felicity and Sara started to pack up their bags. Sara lifted her head up and said “I have workouts every day after school, is it possible to meet this weekend? I know the project isn’t due for 2 weeks before we leave for holiday, but I want to get a start on it” Felicity nodded enthusiastically in response, adding “Yeah. This weekend is great".
“Awesome, here is my number”. Sara hands the piece of paper to Felicity and walks to her next class.
Wow. Today did not go as Felicity expected.
When lunch came, Felicity went to the table she had lunch at every day. As she sat down with her food she was in the process of asking Barry how his morning went when she was interrupted,
“Felicity I am sooo sorry. I didn’t think you were coming. Besides you normally work on your own anyway. Which was always perfect because we had an odd number of students. But now that Cisco moved out of class to take mechanical engineering classes at Starling University we have an even number again and had to pair up. Mr. Bean made us choose from who was in the class because he thought it would be easiest to explain the project to the people who weren’t there at another time so expectations were clear. So then when he had to choose and you weren’t there…I just…well then I was asked and I just said yes. ”
“Caitlin stop. First off, that was a Felicity Smoak level babble so I can see that you are really sorry. Secondly, you don’t need to apologize. Its fine. So who is your partner anyway?”
“Well Ronnie normally partners with sara so when she wasn’t there and since I normally partnered with Cisco, we were both partner-less and he asked me.”
“YOUR PARTNER IS RONNIE? Oh Caitlin that is so awesome! Stop apologizing so we can start planning the epic love story that is going to blossom out of this project!”
Despite Felicity’s initial disappointment that she wasn’t partnered with Caitlin, she was over the moon happy for her friend. Felicity’s absence gave Caitlin the opportunity to pair up with the boy Caitlin has been crushing on since the 1st grade.