CHAPTER 4: I know You

"So…. Mom, I talked to Oliver."

"Yeah?" Donna looks up from her coffee and at her daughter, "And?"

"He thought it was a great idea for you to meet his parents over dinner one night."

Felicity explains briefly without looking at her directly in the eyes. If she did she would blow her plan instantly, and then both her and Queen are fucked. Just yesterday the two of them agreed to play house with their families so they can go on the French trip. It took several arguments, her tackling him to the ground and their little sibling's innocence but they finally agreed. They would act like they are dating in front of their parents and have dinner all together then go on the trip to Paris. Once they come back they'll tell their parents they broke up on the trip. The plan is perfect, they don't have to act like a couple at school in front of friends and it will be over after one dinner. The only thing Felicity's worried about is having their parents believe their little charade. They aren't exactly each other's favorite person. Looking at her computer Donna nods and says perkily.

"That's great! Just let me know what night so I can take off."

"No problem." Felicity smiles at how smooth the conversation went before grabbing her bag, "Well, see you tonight. Roy! I'm leaving!"

"I'm coming! Licity!" Roy runs out of his room with a pop tart in his mouth and his little bag in his hands, "Don't leave without me."

"Never." She chuckles before opening the front door for him, "Now, come on. Thea's probably already at school waiting for you."

"Oh, yeah!" He lights up while trying to finish his pop tart, "Bye, Mom."

"Bye, Kids. Have a good day."

"Honey!" Moira looks up from the breakfast she's handing Thea at the sight of her oldest, "Wait just one second."

"Mom… What?" Ollie sighs and stops before he can open the front door, "I'm already late to football practice."

"I just wanted to know if you talked to your girlfriend yet."

"Girlfriend…"

"That Licity girl." Robert looks up from his newspaper and coffee, "Smoak, right?"

"Oh, right. Felicity." He thinks out loud before explaining to his folks, "She loves the idea of a family dinner. Just tell me when it's a good night for them to come over."

"Why not tomorrow night?"

Moira speaks up while sitting at the kitchen table with her husband and youngest. Thea drenches her waffles with syrup as Robert watches quietly behind his newspaper. Moira waits for an answer as she picks up her coffee mug. Watching his family Oliver smirks as he thinks how easy it will be to fool them into thinking Felicity is his girlfriend. Thea already thinks so, his mom won't know the difference and his dad won't care to question it. The plan they agree to is way easy than he and Tommy made it. It's only one dinner then they get the trip they been wanting all year. Not thinking about what Felicity will think Oliver nods and says to his mother.

"Tomorrow's great. I'll tell Felicity when I get to school."

"Fantastic! Now you better get going." Moira checks the time before saying sweetly, "I don't want you to be late. I got an email about you being late again."

"Sorry about that." He kisses his mother's cheek before saying as he leaves, "Bye dad, see ya, Speedy."

"Have a good day, son."

"Bye, Ollie."

"Smoak!" The P.E. Coach announces on the side of the track, "Pick up the pace!"

"Huh?" Felicity speaks up in complete boredom, "I didn't hear you."

"You need to start jogging!"

"What was that?"

Felicity pretends to not hear her P.E. Coach yelling at her to run, she's been walking the track for the last ten minutes. Everyone in her class is supposed to run a mile, it's a test grade but no grade will make her run four laps around the football field. She's only on her second lap when everyone else in her class is on their third. Some freshman runs past her but she keeps her head held high knowing they can't say shit to her. It's called seniority, and at this moment it's Felicity's superpower. The only reason her class is even running a mile is because their Coach thought today was perfect running temperature. Apparently, all the Coaches thought so too since every athletic class is outside. The football and soccer team is on the field, track and basketball are on the track with the P.E. class and the Cheer team is on the bleachers.

"She said to start jogging." Laurel announces on her microphone while standing on the bleacher, "Did you hear that?"

"Yup!" Smoak smiles sarcastically while sending her a thumbs up just as she itches her nose with her middle finger, "Crystal clear."

The two girls glared at one another for a good minute before turning completely away. Laurel has never really liked Felicity, everyone knew that it was no big deal. They just left each other alone and didn't try mingling but this past week Laurel hasn't been avoiding her. She's been doing little stunts like this and it all began when the day Oliver and her starting doing more than bicker. At least she hasn't done anything to Felicity to make her get pissed, right now she's only irritated and for Felicity, that's a give difference. As Felicity continues to walk on the track Oliver sees her coming around toward him and his players. This makes him stop showing them warm-up exercises and jog to her. This doesn't go unnoticed to Laurel or Cooper but they don't do anything but watch. Reaching her Ollie starts walking her pace beside her and whispers to make sure no one around them hears them.

"So I talked to my mom today about having a dinner with yours."

"I did too." Felicity informs him while looking around to see if anyone is listening, "She's cool with any night."

"Good, because I told my family we'll have dinner together tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night?!"

"Yeah. Is that a problem?" Oliver stops walking once he notices that Felicity did, "I didn't think you had anything going on tomorrow. All you do is work and school."

"Okay, rude. I do things besides school and work. I have a life." She sets her hands on her hips while sending him a look, "That's beside the point, the point is that's too soon. They will know we aren't actually dating."

"What's the difference between tomorrow and next week?"

"The difference is how much time we have to plan for the dinner."

"What do we need to plan for?"

"Queen…" She groans while rubbing her face tiredly, "They're going to ask us couple questions and we need to be on the same page to answer them or we'll look like idiots."

"Smoak!" Her Coach shouts from the field, "You need to be at least walking!"

"FINE!"

"Licity. We've known each other for at least three years now." Oliver walks along with her and shrugs carelessly, "We don't need to plan like we know each other. We already do."

"Oh, really?" She scoffs before walking faster and asking quickly, "Okay, so do you know where I work? What car do I drive? What about my middle name do you know that?"

"I… Uhh-" Oliver has his mouth open as he tries to think out loud, "Your middle name starts with an N."

"It's Megan, you dick." Felicity rolls her eyes before she actually starts to jog, "You know me, my ass. I'm not another one of your bed bimbos, I'm supposed to be your long-term girlfriend which involves knowing more than my bra size and favorite position."

"Come on, Smoak." He starts to jog next to her to keep up with her, "I know things about you."

"I'm sure you do, Queen."

The blond Junior says sarcastically just as she goes into a full sprint to leave Oliver behind her. He stops walking completely once she's around the corner of the track, that was probably the first time he's seen her run. She wasn't as bad as she makes herself be too. Watching her run he sighs in frustration before looking around him. That's when he realizes half of the field is watching him. He must have been talking to Felicity way longer than usual because they all look at him in confusion. Once Felicity is on the other side of the tracks she stops running, she only ran to get away from him. This makes him stomp back to his team and Cooper looks at the two of them curiously. One week they're bickering for at most a minute then the next they are actually having conversations? This wasn't normal or safe for anyone in their school.

Tapping her pen awkwardly loud Felicity didn't bother noticing the looks students were casting her way. She was too focused on the last argument with Oliver to care that she was making too much noise in her Science class. No one said anything but all they had to do is look her way to send her a message but she could care less. She's so wrapped up in what Queen said, how could he say he knows her? All he does is make fun of her and look at her like a piece of meat. She couldn't believe he thought it was a good idea to just have dinner with their family without planning. Was he just that stupid or just simply too lazy? Lazy. She assumes he was too lazy to put any thought into their fake relationship. Shouldn't be a surprise though since he's the same way with the actual girls he talks to. Before she can think any more about it her teacher, Damien Darhk, stops his lecture and askes.

"Felicity, honey. Stop the tapping I can't focus."

"Sorry."

Mumbling an apology she sets her pen down and folds her arms as she looks around the class. Everyone stares at her for a second before turning back around, Laurel and Sarah look at a second longer with a judgy gaze. Cooper check her out before acting like he never looked her way and Oliver looks at her trying to get their eyes to meet but Felicity looks away before he can. When he realizes she's trying not to look at him he turns back around and folds his arms. Is she that mad that he thinks they don't need to prepare for the dinner? He always just assumed they know each other, he knows he does. He just needs her to know now. The class goes on for another half hour of Mr. Darhk talking about space. Half the class is daydreaming or literally sleeping, A.K.A kids like Oliver. A quarter of the students are actually taking notes which is only Felicity and some other student. The rest of the class is having a conversation during the lecture, that would be Laurel and her girls. It seems like forever but the bell finally rings and everyone hurries out for passing period. Felicity gets up and packs up when half of the class is already out the door.

"Need any help?" Cooper grabs one of Felicity's books off the ground and hands it to her, "It always takes you a minute to pack your things."

"Thanks…" She lets out with a small smile before taking the book from his hand, "I think I got it, though."

"Okay, I'm here if you need anything." He leans on the desk and tilts his head with eyes she could fall into, "So don't be scared to ask."

"I'm not…" She looks down to her bag and blushes as she finishes her statement, "... Scared."

"I just want you to know you can come to me if you need something." He shrugs before sending her a knowing look while adding slickly, "You don't have to resort to asking Oliver for things."

"What do you mean?"

"I've noticed you two talking more this week." Cooper answers innocently without giving away his hidden motive, "I just assumed it's because one of the two of you need something from the other. Y'all haven't exactly been best friends for the last three years."

"Oh… It's not like that." She laughs nervously while trying to lie, "We're just bickering like always. Don't worry."

"So nothing is going on between you two?"

"Nope."

"That's good to here-"

"Y'all do realize the bell rang three minutes ago?"

Coming up to them Oliver smiles friendly but they could see his left eye wanting to twitch. Felicity was on side of the desk and Cooper was on the other side of it, now Oliver is in front of it. He looks between them with an innocent smile but Felicity knows better. She could tell he was secretly angry but why she would never know. Sending Queen a look Felicity folds her arms and clenches her lips. He then raises his eyebrows and tilts his head. Looking at the two of them Cooper realizes they're having a silent conversation without him. Leaning back he then says awkwardly making the two look back to him.

"Well, I should get to class. See ya, Felicity. Later, Ollie."

The two watch him walk out of class before looking back to one another. There is no one left in the class now besides them, their teacher isn't even there. He's out in the hall greeting students passing by. It's unbearably silent in the classroom, all they can hear is the voices and steps from kids in the hall. Oliver tries to read Felicity's expression but all he sees is her looking at him in annoyance. He looks at her with puppy eyes until she rolls her eyes and storms out without saying a word. Growling he grabs his bag and follows her out the door. She already halfway down the hall making him have to jog to reach her. He then is right behind her while snapping at her.

"Are you seriously still mad at me?"

"Oh, no." She barks sarcastically while pushing people out of her way, "Why would be mad that you don't want to know anything about me because you're just too lazy."

"Hey…" He grabs her wrist to stop her from walking away from him and turns her around to face him, "It's not because I'm lazy."

"Then why?" She whispers angrily while people go around them to get to class, "Oh, right. It's because you think you know me."

"I do!" He sighs while saying without realizing someone might be listening, "I know you babble too much when you get nervous and bite your lip when doing an assignment. You love wearing a different color of lipstick and dangly earrings every day. You bite the same red pen every time you use it. I know you're still head over heels for Cooper even though he's a complete tool… And I know you want to go to Paris as bad as I do."

"I…" Felicity stutters from hearing all his true statements, "I didn't realize you noticed-"

"Maybe you would," Oliver snaps irritatedly while tilting his head, "If you gave me a chance to talk."

With that said he lets go of the wrist he has been holding and steps back. She didn't notice until now at how close he was to her from them being in a crowded hall. He had only been a few inches away from her while he held onto her wrist softly. Her wrist now felt cold without his hand but she didn't dare bring that up to him. They stare at one another as if it's the first time today, after what Oliver said Felicity didn't have the courage to say anything back. She was so quick to be mad at him, it didn't even occur to her that he might know a thing or two about her. That's when Ollie turns around and storms away from her, he's clearly frustrated now. The hall is completely empty now, the passing period must be over. The realization doesn't get her to move, she continues to stand in the middle of the hall staring at Oliver walking away from her. What has she done?

"And he just walked away?"

"Yeah. He didn't even acknowledge me for the rest of the day."

"Well, maybe you should've given him more credit."

"Him. Oliver Queen."

Felicity says with a death tone to Diggle while sending him a bored expression. Diggle sits at the counter in Big Belly Burgers, A.K.A Felicity's job. He's leaning on the counter sipping his drink while Felicity stands on the other side talking about her problems. It's late and almost time for her to clock out, they got out off school a few hours ago. There is barely anyone in the burger joint since it's so late. The only reason Diggle's here is because Felicity wants to talk about what happens and he's the only one who knows. Oliver hasn't talked or even looked her way since their argument in the hallway. She understands why he would be mad but he should've known that's the way she was going to act about the whole situation. Leaning on the counter in front of Diggle she says dead serious.

"All Oliver cares about is getting laid, football and the trip to Paris. So to think he actually knows shit about me is crazy."

"But it turns out he does know shit about you."

"Apparently…" Felicity sighs as she gets the plate of food the cook just finished cooking and gives it to Diggle, "Who would have thought."

"It doesn't surprise me, though." Diggle points out while throwing a couple of fries in his mouth, "You're the only girl I know who makes him work hard to get your attention."

"Maybe…" Felicity groans tiredly before rubbing her face and asking through her fingers, "What should I do, John? I have to meet his family tomorrow night."

"Just apologize to him tonight for being short with him earlier." He shrugs while eating, more like swallowing, his burger, "He'll forgive you."

"How do you know?"

"If he wants that trip to Paris bad enough, he will."

"I know Oliver though." Felicity groans as she starts cleaning tables off, "He'll probably want to rub it in."

"You'll never know if you don't try." Diggle points out while finishing up his food, "And try to be more discreet about it because Barry has been asking if anything is going on."

Putting the chairs on the table Felicity feels a stab of guilt for not telling Barry. He's been in the dark this past week. So has Lyla and Ray but they weren't as close to her as Diggle and Barry are. She just didn't want to tell Barry knowing he would spill the beans to someone then all this secrecy would be for nothing. She must not be doing a good job of keeping it a secret since Barry is asking questions. Once the trip is over or even during the trip she'll tell him what has been going on because then it wouldn't matter. She only told Diggle because she felt like she was going to explode if she didn't tell anyone what's happening to her. As she wipes down the table the last customers were at she sighs and says in a low voice.

"I'm trying, it's just hard when Oliver is being a total tool half the time…. What does he ask?"

"If y'all were seeing each other." Diggle answers while cleaning up his mess, "Or if y'all hooked up."

"Excuse me?!" Felicity stops working in shock before babbling, "He knows I'm not like that! I've never been like that! If Oliver took my V-Card then you might as well kill me."

"I don't blame him for thinking that. With Oliver's record and you getting your heart broken." Diggle sends her a knowing look while wiping his mouth with a napkin, "It's not the craziest thing."

"I didn't get my heart broken." Felicity defense before throwing her cleaning towel at him, "If anything I got my heart fixed."

"We'll talk about that another time." Diggle chuckles before tossing the rage back and suggesting, "Now, it's about time you call Oliver."

"Can you believe her?"

"Actually… I can."

"Whose side are you on?"

"Think about it, Ollie."

Tommy sends his best friend a knowing look before leaning forward to play his turn in eight ball pool. The two were at Oliver's house in his game room playing a round of pool, they been playing since they finished football practice. So far Tommy has won three out of five games, this is their sixth game. Half the time they have been playing eight ball they been talking about what happened today with Queen and Smoak. Sadly, for Oliver, Tommy has been agreeing with Felicity's point of view the whole time. He knows his best friend pretty well to know he doesn't pay attention to most girls he talks to. So finding out he knows little things about Felicity is very surprising to him. Once Tommy hits a ball and misses it into a whole he stands back up to grab his drink while saying.

"Come on, you aren't exactly the kind of guy who would know little things about a girl. A girl you haven't even hanged out or dated before, I might add."

"But I've known her for three years now."

"And you've known Laurel for four but do you even know her favorite color?"

"It's... Okay, I see your point."

"Exactly… So just talk to her." Tommy suggests as Oliver takes his turn at pool, "Y'all are eating dinner with the family tomorrow, the two of you need to at least be on speaking terms."

"What would I even say-"

Oliver says as he finishes his turn, however, he stops in the middle of his sentence when his phone goes off on the counter with their drinks. Walking over to it he glances at why it's vibrating, apparently, someone's calling him. Not just anyone though, Felicity herself. For a moment he just stares at it wondering if he should even bother to get it. He didn't want to answer it to only be yelled at by her. Plus he's been ignoring her all day so why quit now? Before he can decline the call Tommy comes over to it and reads the caller ID. When realizing who it is he sends Ollie a look before snapping.

"Well, are you going to answer it?"

"Nah…"

"Oh, yes you are." Tommy growls before snatching the phone and answering it, "Oliver's phone."

"Dude." Oliver tries to take it away from him but Tommy just hits him with a pool stick, "Come on!"

"Tommy?" Felicity answers on the other end, "Is Oliver there?"

"Uh…" He looks to Ollie who shakes his head before he answers, "Yeah, hold on."

"No. NO." Tommy tosses the cell phone to Oliver, catching it he glares at his best friend before speaking up, "Felicity. What's up."

"Oliver, hey..." She answers in the nervous voice he so use to, "I wanted to talk about what happened earlier."

"What about it?"

After he says that he hears her arguing with someone in the background. He can't understand a thing besides the curse words slipping out of Felicity's mouth. He can't tell who she's talking to either, only that it must be a guy from how low his voice is. As he waits for her to answer him he sees Thea coming running in only to be stopped by Tommy. He whispers to her to be quiets before pointing to Oliver. She understands quickly why she needs to be quiet. So standing beside Tommy they both wait to see how the conversation between Felicity and Oliver turn out. Rolling his eyes at the two Oliver waits for a second longer until Felicity finally says to him.

"Listen, Oliver… I might have been… slight… wrong for acting the way I did earlier."

"Really?" Oliver says in surprise making his eyebrows raise. He wasn't prepared for her to say that. She's never the one to say she was wrong. He stands there silently trying to understand her words when realizing his little sister and best friend are still watching him. Quickly he leaves and goes into the bathroom and locks the door so they couldn't hear. Pacing in the bathroom now he really thinks about what he's going to say next so he doesn't screw it up.

"Queen, you still there?"

"Yeah." He answers realizing he waited too long to respond back, "It's not all your fault. You were… somewhat… right about planning for the dinner."

"So what now?" Felicity whispers over the phone as if she was hiding like he is, "What should we do?"

"I- I don't know." Oliver answers honestly while slipping down the wall to sit on the ground, "Why don't you tell me about your family?"

"Well, my mother, Donna, is a waitress at Verdant. My father left us when Roy was born, I haven't seen him since. We now receive checks for kid support from him monthly now." Felicity explains in an emotionless tone, "And you know Roy."

"That I do." Olle smiles at that before saying in hush tones, "My mother, Moira, and father, Robert, work and co-own Queen Consolidated."

"I know." Smoak giggles before pointing out, "I think all of Starling city knows."

"Okay, well did you know I have an internship there?" He asks softly with a playful tone, "I have an office and everything."

"Oh, really?" She laughs before saying challenging, "Well, I work at Big Belly Burger. I have a uniform and everything."

"What? The Bell Burger place?" Oliver says in shock before thinking without speaking, "You're too smart to be working at some greasy food joint."

"Wow, did Oliver Queen just give me a compliment?"

"Nah, just reminding you that you're a pencilneck."

"And apparently your girlfriend."

Once Felicity states that the conversation dies down into peaceful silence. They don't hang up, the phones are still next to their ears. Oliver continues to sit on the bathroom floor thinking about Felicity, his parents and the dinner tomorrow. The pool game, his sister and best friend are long forgotten even though they're probably trying to listen to the phone call. Closing his eyes Oliver does something he hasn't done in a long time, say exactly what's on his mind.

"I know we're going to convince them at the dinner."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've convinced myself that we are." He answers honestly while adding one last thing, "If I can make myself believe we are then our parents will too."

"We really want that trip to Paris." Felicity whispers like she's not saying to him or herself but just to be able to hear it out loud, "Don't we?"

"I know we do."