Chapter Text
School Uniforms - Felicty, Sara & Laurel
Felicity Smoak was the new girl at Starling Prep. Moving from Vegas to what many would consider a snobby town like Starling City should've been somewhat of a culture shock for her, but it wasn't. Felicity didn't get the cliche new girl welcoming either. Instead of throwing her into the fire, she was assigned a "buddy". Sara Lance, a fellow freshman.
In her 'Welcome to Starling Prep' packet she received, Sara's number was included. That was unorthodox Felicity thought, but could see the benefit in it. She sent Sara a text introducing herself. They texted a bit as Sara told her what to expect on the first day of school.
It was no surprise that this school required uniforms. Felicity rolled her eyes at it every time she passed by it hanging in her room. So preppy and stuffy. She sent Sara a text asking her about the uniform. Deep down she was trying to see if there was any leeway she could get away with. Sara wasn't a big fan of the restrictive clothing either, but she was able to live with it because she managed to incorporate some of her own style with it. She suggested that Felicity do the same. The night before the first day of school, heading Sara's advice, Felicity rummaged through her closet looking for ways to make her uniform say Felicity Smoak.
The morning of her first day, Felicity sat in the office waiting on Sara to show up. She pulled at her skirt trying to make sure it stayed in place. The collar of the starched white shirt felt like it was choking her. She popped the top button and loosened the tie a bit. She exhaled deeply at the newfound air flow. There wasn't much she could do to the uniform as a whole, so she decided to accessorize it. Fishnet tights paired with purple knee high socks and combat boots is what she settled on. That was her.
A blonde breezed into the office and quickly looked her way. "Felicity," she questioned.
Felicity nodded and stood up. "Yep, that's me," she said.
"Hi, it's me Sara." Sara pulled her into a surprising hug. "It's good to finally put a face with the name. Sort of feels like we're friends already," she joked. Sara's laugh trailed off as her eyes traveled up and down Felicity's body. "You took my advice, huh," Sara observed out loud. "Cute. Very cute."
"Thanks. This was the best I could manage," Felicity said. She took a moment to see how Sara styled hers and saw that they had similar fishnets. "Nice tights," she complimented.
"Thank you. Don't let the uniform wear you, you wear the uniform. That's my motto. You catch my drift," she grinned.
"I understand," Felicity laughed.
Before they could leave someone came rushing through the door.
A slender brunette that resembled Sara walked through the door. "Hey Sara, you left this in the car."
Sara took her wallet from the girl before motioning towards Felicity.
"This is my sister Laurel, she's a grade above us," Sara introduced them. "This is the new chick I was telling you about, Felicity.
"Hi," Laurel waved. "Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Felicity waved back.
"I just came to give you that, now I need to go find Joanna." Laurel turned back to Felicity with a small smile. "Welcome to Starling," she said before breezing off.
Sara turned back to Felicity and nodded towards the door. "Ready for your first day."
"As ready as I'll be," Felicity answered as she followed her.
After that first meeting she and Sara hit it off quickly settling into an easy friendship. Felicity never felt like an outcast and eased into a normal school rapport. She soon made her way onto Oliver Queen's radar.
Almost two months into the school year and Oliver found himself infatuated with this new girl Felicity.
Oliver would see her in the halls around school, but still didn't know much about her. Nor had he worked up the nerve to actually talk to her. She was different, pretty and had this aura of intrigue surrounding her. Her hair was very dark almost jet black and there was a purple tint to it. She wasn't like any of the other manufactured girls walking around and that's what made her stand out in his eyes. She was a year younger than him; nor did they have any classes together this semester, so they still had yet to meet.
Oliver sat down to one of the tables in the courtyard with his head down reading. He didn't notice his best friend walking up to him or calling his name.
"Queen, are you deaf?" Tommy nudged Oliver as he sat across the table from him.
"Oh sorry." Oliver looked up quickly and then looked back at the papers in his hands.
"What are you looking at so," Tommy asked.
"The list of tutors for the school year," Oliver answered.
"How did you get that," Tommy asked.
"Carrie," he answered. Carrie Cutter worked in the office and she had a bit of a crush on Oliver. He didn't like her, but he managed to swindle the list out of her by complimenting her new hair color. The vibrant red hair was the first thing you noticed when she was in the room.
Tommy shook his head in disbelief as he peered over at the list before snatching it away from him. "How can you be failing already and school literally just started?" Tommy erupted into laughter.
"I'm not failing jackass." Oliver snatched the paper back and shoved him out of the way.
"Well why are we looking at this?"
"I'm looking at this," Oliver corrected. "Also, we're in tenth grade now, so I have to really get serious this year, especially with baseball. I still have trouble with math mostly and I'm not trying to let my grades slip and not be able to play." He had passed Algebra by the skin of his teeth last year and the subjects would only get harder from here. He would definitely need help. Can't have failing grades and play baseball. Baseball was priority number one for him. Get recruited by a great college and go pro. That was the ultimate plan.
Tommy nodded at Oliver's explanation understanding his reasonings. Tommy wasn't nearly as serious as Oliver was about being a professional baseball player. His father, Malcolm, wanted him to get involved in extracurricular activities, so when Oliver said he was trying out, Tommy decided that he would as well. It got his father off his back and it got him closer to chicks. Even if he wasn't a star player it was totally worth it for the girls and extra attention at least. He definitely saw it from his friend's perspective though.
"Understandable," Tommy agreed.
"I'm looking to see if I know anyone on here and if I can convince Counselor Michaels to let them tutor me," he continued with his eyes combing through the names. Once he saw Felicity's name, he knew she was the one he wanted. She was apparently one of the students from Dr. Harrison Well's global gifted program which is how she came to the school. The school only accepted one student per grade a year. All of this Oliver learned from Carrie while waiting on the papers to print. So that meant Felicity pretty much beat out hundreds of students and was practically a genius; and a genius was exactly what Oliver needed to understand math.
Later on that day at school, Oliver went to Counselor Lyla Michaels and requested Felicity. He got a resounding no from her. Since he wasn't technically failing, he didn't need to be assigned a tutor. She explained that she couldn't just give tutors to anyone that requested them because it wouldn't be fair. There was a system to the selection process. Even if he was currently failing, Curtis Holt would be his chosen tutor. He left her office determined to go one final route.
"Hey Sara." Oliver jogged up behind her as they were leaving campus for the day.
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you friends with Felicity Smoak," he asked.
"You mean that goth chick," Tommy asked from the opposite side of Sara.
"Yeah," Oliver nodded. "I mean, I don't know. Is she goth or whatever you call it?"
"No," Sara rolled her eyes as she straightened her back pack on her shoulder. "She's not goth. I mean yeah, she has really dark hair and likes dark colors, but she isn't a crazed I want to steal your soul and give it to my worshipper goth. Anyway, yeah, we're becoming friends. We have homeroom and third period together. She's really cool too." She turned to Oliver with a raised eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"I need a tutor," he answered. "And I was looking through the tutors list and saw her name." Oliver would not survive with Curtis. He had P.E with the guy and a front row seat to his personality. Getting through one conversation with him was like pulling teeth. Also, if his tutoring was anything like his athletic skills, Oliver would be in major trouble.
"Okay," Sara said slowly. "Then why are you asking me?"
"Because I want you to ask her for me."
"What? No," she scoffed. She pushed him out of the way and walked faster trying to get to Laurel's car.
"Oh come on." Oliver jogged back in front of her cutting her steps off.
"Ask her yourself."
"You haven't introduced her to us," he objected.
"You would probably corrupt her," Sara countered. "Anyway, it's not my job to introduce you. Your legs and mouth work just fine, why haven't you introduced yourself?"
"Because." He shifted on his feet under her stare. "Sara, just do it."
"You've never been hesitant of making your presence known before. What's the problem now?"
Sara turned catching Tommy's knowing eyes. The realization hit her just as Tommy let out a loud obnoxious laugh. The laugh continued until Sara got to Laurel's car.
"What's going on?" Laurel asked joining the conversation.
"Ollie's afraid to talk to a girl," Sara teased in a sing song voice.
"Oh really?" Laurel walked around the car and leaned against it with her arms crossed. "Who's the unlucky chick," she asked with a quirked eyebrow. "Please don't tell me it's crazed Carrie."
"Felicity," Tommy answered. He walked over and hooked his arm around Laurel's shoulders.
"Oh." Laurel eyed Oliver who was turning all shades of red before laughing. "I can't believe Romeo is scared." She didn't know much about Felicity after their introduction other than she and Sara had quickly hit it off. Laurel would see her around and speak, but really hadn't had the chance to get to know her yet. She was friendly enough and they were cordial with one another.
"I'm not scared," Oliver objected.
Finally ridding herself of Tommy's arms, Laurel pushed him away with a playful roll of her eyes. "Come on Sara," she called. "Let's go. Remember we have to cook dinner tonight." She walked back to the driver's side and got in.
Sara opened the passenger door and threw her bag on the floor. Oliver caught the door holding it so she couldn't close it. "Please Sara, I'll owe you one," he pleaded.
"Fine," she huffed. "Stop begging like a sick puppy. I'll ask her." She shooed him away and grabbed the door shutting it. Laurel sped off soon after.
Tommy nudged Oliver and nodded across the way to where Felicity was walking out of the building. Her long dark haired framed her face. She tucked one side behind her ear as she walked and talked.
"She's right there," Tommy continued as Oliver was in his trance. "You could just ask her now."
"No," Oliver quickly objected. "I'll let Sara handle it."
"Pussy," Tommy whispered with a laugh.
"Shut up," Oliver shoved him. Just then Felicity looked across the lot and Oliver could feel the moment their eyes locked. Oliver knew he was staring but couldn't will himself to stop. Felicity finally looked away saving the both of them from awkwardness. She turned her attention back to the person she was walking side by side and began talking with a smile on her face.
"Wow," Tommy laughed. His best friend didn't even know the girl yet and was already hooked.
<---->
"No?" Oliver pulled Sara off to the side of the hallway away from all of the passing traffic. She had just told him that Felicity turned him down. "What do you mean she said no?"
"Just what I said Ollie," Sara shrugged.
"Did you even ask her?"
"What? Yes, I asked. She said she didn't think she would be able to fit it into her schedule right now."
"You know what," he shut his locker. "I'll ask her myself."
"Oh now you want to ask her yourself. I hope she says no again," Sara walked away.
Oliver waited outside of Felicity's history class. He managed to get her full class schedule out of Carrie. The lengths he was going to just to get to this girl. Peeking inside the classroom he could see Felicity. Her head was down in her notebook as she chewed on the clicker of a red pen. She was completely oblivious to him watching her and he himself settled into a trance as he did. As soon as the bell rang out, he slipped inside among the traffic filing out of the room. He spotted her in the back still sitting at her desk and quickly made his way over. "Hi, Felicity Smoak? I'm Oliver Queen."
Felicity looked up to see Oliver standing before her hunched over with his hands griping the edge of her desk. The bell had only rung a few seconds ago and she wondered just how did he manage to get inside so quickly.
She tucked the pen that had been hanging from her lips behind her ear. "I know who you are," she simply said before standing. She grabbed her bag off the floor and began gathering her books on her desk. Oliver stood in front of her desk not moving and just staring. "Can I help you," she asked slowly.
"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you. Let me get those for you."
"I'm only heading to my locker. You don't..."
Before she could fully object, Oliver picked her books up and cradled them in his arms. "I got it," he said. "Just lead the way and I'll follow."
"Alright," she eyed him warily.
They walked silently amongst the noisy traffic to her locker until he finally asked the questioned that had been nagging him. "Why did you say no to Sara," he asked.
She stopped at her locker quickly doing her combination and popping the door open. The noise had quieted around them and the number of people slowly dwindled down. " "Oh, let me guess. You're not used to people saying no to you." Felicity took her textbooks back from Oliver and slipped them inside her locker.
"That's...come on. That's totally not it," Oliver quickly objected.
She leaned against the now closed locker folding her arms across her chest. Turning back to him, a teasing smiled tugged at the corner of her lips as she studied him with her eyes. "Tell me what it is then. Inquiring minds really want to know."
Oliver looked back in Felicity's eyes and instantly knew this girl in front of him was like no other girl he'd met before and he was foolishly up for the challenge.
"Well I'm a baseball player," he started.
Felicity nodded. That much she already knew. Star player Oliver Queen was shouted through the school halls and his uniform clearly proved that.
"I have to keep a certain grade average to keep playing," he continued. "I do alright on my own, but math is not my friend at all. I tried to manage on my own, but it's only getting harder and I want to avoid failing, so I really need your help."
Felicity listened to his pleading pitch not adding a word.
"Please," he started whining. "They assigned me Curtis, but I can't even hold a conversation with him. Learning from him will be so much worse."
"And you think you would fare better with me because I'm a girl?"
"Yes. Wait no," he quickly corrected himself. "That was definitely a trick question," he mumbled to himself.
"Yes and you failed miserably."
"I didn't mean that you would be easier because you're a girl. What I meant was that..." Shit he was totally fumbling this. "You're the smartest person in this school." He finally made a coherent sentence. "So, I figured if I have the best helping me, I would quickly start excelling."
"I know what you're saying. I'm just enjoying seeing you squirm," she smirked.
Oliver let out a sighing laugh of relief and could feel his heart ramming against his chest. He never got like this and was usually good under pressure. Something was different about this girl though.
"So, is your answer still no? I'm chancing being late to practice for you. You know what happens if I'm late? Coach Diggle will make me run suicides for fifteen minutes straight."
"Suicides," she questioned warily. "I have no idea what that is."
"They're technically called wind sprints, but the slang term is suicide because they're excruciating as hell and well you catch my drift. I'm literally putting my body on the line for you."
A smile crept up at the corner of her mouth and Oliver could see her resolve slowly softening. He was getting somewhere now. The pleading and charm was working.
She placed her hand on her hip before looking him up and down. "Alright. And what would I get out of this arrangement," she asked.
Oliver thought for a moment as Felicity held her gaze on him. He almost got distracted looking in her eyes. One quick glance at her would have you believing her eyes were dark. But this close in her space, you could clearly see the bright blue orbits accentuated by the mascara. "Uh," he began to get flustered. He shut his mouth and cleared his throat gathering himself. "I can get my parents to pay you on the side, the school wouldn't even have to know. Raisa, our cook is the best, I'll have her make you whatever you want. We have a great pool and I have a little sister."
Felicity laughed a deep laugh. She didn't expect Oliver to offer her all those perks and the last statement threw her for a loop. "A little sister? What does that even mean?"
"Thea, that's her name. She's six and a lot of fun to be around."
Felicity studied him a little while longer. Finally done watching him squirm, even though it was quite enjoyable, she put him out of his misery. She pulled a notebook from her locker and grabbed the red pen from earlier. Tearing a small piece of paper out it, she scribbled her phone number down. She folded it up and held it out to him. "Here you go. Call or text me later and we can work out the details."
Oliver happily took the folded piece of paper from her silently reading the number. Felicity put her things back up and closed her locker with a smile. Tucking her hair behind her ear, Oliver could see the interesting piercing she had there. It was something he'd never seen before. Everything about her was so differnt, yet intriguing. "Shouldn't you be getting to practice," she whispered before walking off.
"Yes. See you later," he yelled behind her retreating figure. "Thank you again!" He tucked the paper securely inside his uniform. He got to practice late of course and after Coach Diggle yelled at him about being the captain and leading by example, suicide sprints ensued. He didn't even mind the drills this time because as he ran, he could feel the note against his chest and with each lap the smile stretched wider and wider across his face.