Of course she babbled.

What else had she expected, sitting across from her high school celebrity crush? And interviewing HIM of all things.

To be perfectly honest, if he hadn't been Oliver Queen, but some random guy with the same qualifications, she probably wouldn't have asked him to come in for a trial lesson. But he was, and she was her, so she couldn't say no to that. And maybe he'd surprise her and would care more than he said he would. He told her he'd try and she believed he would.

One of her biggest vices were clothes.

When she had suddenly had more money than she had ever dreamed she would, she had started to shop. Online mostly. She had ordered every dress, coat and pair of shoes she liked without having to worry about the consequences too much and it felt great, fantastic. Clothes became her armour.

For once she wished she had less, because it took her over an hour that morning trying to figure out which workout clothes to wear. It had to be professional, but also show off some of her already existing abs. She was no slouch after all, she wanted him to know that she could pick a good trainer from a bad one.

She suspected her high school crush wasn't so much a high school crush anymore, but a full blown grown up hearteyes crush now. Which would make it even more difficult to be objective when it came to his job skills.

.

.

She was fiddling with the sound system in the small in-house gym which had only been completed a few weeks earlier, as she heard a light knock on the door.

She turned around and saw Oliver through the glass door, waving lightly at her. She motioned for him to come in. He entered the room and walked a few steps in her direction. For the first time she got a better view of his impressive arms and thighs, which she could only guess about last time, since ehe had worn a suit. Now he was wearing knee long shorts and a wife beater shirt, with a zipper jacket over it.

"Welcome back Oliver Queen." she said and stretched out her hand for him to take.

"It's good to be back Felicity Smoak."

"Since you seem to have changed already, you can just leave your bag over there if you want." she waved her hand in the general direction of a bench to one side of the door.

"That's actually my training equipment in here." he said.

"I thought you had all the equipment you needed on you." she answered. It took her a few seconds to realise what she had said. "I didn't mean your equipment, like your equipment, I meant you muscles, you know your body." her eyes grew liked saucers, realising she had just made it worse.

Oliver just smiled. Why was he smiling at her like that? Now he really thought she was crazy. But his smile slipped and he seemed to be looking for something to say.

"What's your fitness level like?" he asked, as if she hadn't just made a giant fool out of herself.

She shook her head to get her mind back on track. "Just a tip, since we are training each other... some people might feel uncomfortable talking about how not fit they are. Not me, but some people."

"But I need to get the information, to individualise and fine tune the workouts." he argued.

"And you can find out, but maybe try it a different way. Ask if they have done sports before, if they enjoy ball sports or spending time outside. All that information can help you figure out a work plan without making them feel like total beginners..."

"But..." he interrupted, but she carried on.

"... even if they are total beginners. Your clients won't be just any people. You might get an opinionated senior politician, who used to play baseball in junior high. He might THINK he is in alright shape, but he really isn't, so asking a guy like that won't help you. But asking him about his life will get you an honest answer."

"Alright, I'll try again. What do you do in your off time?"

"I kick box, go running and do pilates."

"And have you done these things in the last decade?" he asked, still trying to find a way to do what she suggested.

"Oliver, I am not a senior politician if you haven't noticed." she said while raising one eyebrow in response to his question.

"I was giving you an example, now you need to adapt it to a 20-something woman. Watch." She swiftly turned around, walked over to one of the punching bags in the corner and showed off a short routine with a few punches and a over head kick.

She turned around and noticed a flustered Oliver, who seemed to blush, which in turn made her blush. Had she offended him?

"I can see that now." he whispered and still seemed transfixed in just staring at her. "I guess we will start with some warming up exercises then. You up for that?"

"Of course, tell me what to do." she smiled.

They got some mats out and he started guiding her into some stretching positions.

Felicity was a relatively self confident person, but she was sure she misinterpreted Oliver Queen watching her stretch with interest. He was just looking of she did the exercises right. He did blush, but maybe it was a sense of shame on her behalf, because of all her babbling.

.

.

Oliver had trouble concentrating on the task at hand. He couldn't focus with the miles of legs and toned arms and that ass, lord help him. He was sure if he had to start touching her, he would have to leave the room on a pretence very quickly.

What was wrong with him? This was his potential boss. He had to show off his best side, but all that came out of his mouth were things his mouth just said without asking his brain first. How could he have asked her if she had worked out in the last decade, she obviously had! Those calfs didn't form themselves, he knew that from experience.

"Oliver? I think I'm all warmed up, what do you got for me?" Felicity asked.

"Of course, let's do some pacour and for the end of the lesson I have prepared a little challenge."

"I like challenges, do I get a price? Since it's a challenge and all."

"I do actually have a little something prepared. It's a surprise."

"See, that is great motivation, motivation is the key in personal training. If you don't motivate your client, he or she will stop coming."

.

.

They continued training for another 30 minutes, before he explained to her the Sally Up Challenge.

Felicity was not sure she'd be able to do this, but her stability has always been good, so maybe she'd surprise herself (and him). In addition she was highly motivated! Not only because of the promised surprise afterwards, but because she really wanted to impress Oliver. She was slipping deeper and deeper into the abyss (of having a crush on your might-be-employee).

Her eyes lingered, yet again, on his arms. They looked like something out of a magazine. Who has arms like that? Not too big, not too small, not too hairy or little hairy...

"I've had women compliment a lot of things, but never my amount of arm hair."

"Of course I told you that out loud, what did I think would happen?" she said and rolled her eyes.

"Alright, off we go, put your feet in that sling here and once I start the song, it's a go."

"I hope you won't destroy Moby for me, because I love him and I might never forgive you."

He winked at her and started the music as soon as she had taken her position.

She got through it, bit by bit, fighting against the strain in her arms and her tired muscles. With every 'sally up' she had to lift her behind and with every 'sally down', go back to the planking position.

It hurt so bad, but she soldiered on.

"You are doing well Felicity, just one more minute."

"I don't think I can do it! I will fall every second." she huffed and looked down.

"Will it motivate you if I tell you that I have never completed the challenge?" he asked.

She looked up at him and smiled. "It certainly does, I will beat your butt."

With renewed willpower, Felicity went into her next 'sally up'. She had this, no problem. He would probably beat her in every other challenge on the planet, but this was something she could win.

"You're in the final 20! You can do it! Maybe swearing a little will help!"

"I don't swear!" she says under her breath, trying to still bring oxygen into her lungs.

.

bring sally up

and bring sally down

lift and squat

gotta tear the ground

bring sally up

and bring sally down

lift and squat

gotta tear the ground

old miss lucy's dead and gone

left me here to weep and moan

.

"And four, three, two... one! You did it!" he yelled, honestly happy for her.

Felicity slumped down in a heap on the floor. She couldn't move one single muscle in her body.

"I think this is what death feels like."

"As long as you don't start seeing the light to heaven, we are in the clear." he grinned.

"Well, no heaven for me. I would start to worry if I was resurrected and returned to Israel. FYI, I'm jewish." she said and smiled up to him from her place on the mat.

"I gathered." he said and stretched out a hand to her to help her up. When he was sure she could stand he handed her a bottle of water. She gratefully took it from him and drank three big gulps. Then her eyes wandered to the clock on the wall.

"Our hour was over 20 minutes ago." she stated.

"Time flies when your having fun."

"Easy for you to say, you weren't planking." she scoffed.

"That was amazing by the way. That challenge is hard!"

"You weren't too bad yourself, great motivation. I even believed you when you said you couldn't do it."

"I really can't, my record lies at 2:14. But thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Now walk it off and maybe we can have a chat? I'd love to know how I did. Do I have the job?"

"Maybe. One last thing I need to know though..."

"And that is?"

"Can you get me one of the new QC smartphones? The ones coming out next month?" she asked and smiled at him sweetly.

"Are you trying to bribe me Miss Smoak?" he asked with mirth in his eyes.

"Is it working? You must know I'm a huge IT geek."

"I know, my sister talks a lot about you."

"Thea Queen talks about me? That is great news! Oh wait, sometimes I forget that that has actually become a thing."

"What?"

"People knowing or recognising me."