#normalisjustafairytale

That show is one of the most visually stunning things I have ever seen.

Also it can be like A Lot at times I found but for sure worth it.

Beautiful new icon made by @katetrish! She did a great job and was a genuine pleasure to work with.

“I still don’t understand why I had to come to the game.  Everyone knows that Oliver Queen and John Diggle are the star players,” Felicity said, squinting at the bright sunshine and then rummaging in her large pink tote bag for her prescription sunglasses.  “No offense to Barry and Tommy, of course.”

“Trust us, you’ll want to see a game,” Caitlin Snow said.  

In unison, Lyla Michaels and the Lance sisters, Laurel and Sara, nodded their heads.  

“Okay …” Felicity said, settling the sunglasses on her nose and following the other girls out to the field.  

She had transferred to Star City Senior High three months ago, a skinny sophomore who was more comfortable with computers than with other people.  To Felicity’s utter surprise, she had quickly found a great group of friends, starting with Caitlin and Sara, who were in a few of her classes.  And through them, she had gotten to know Lyla and Laurel, who were both seniors.

Having friends was great … most of the time.  But getting dragged to a baseball game, with end-of-semester exams looming, wasn’t one of those times.  Yet all the girls had been so insistent on her coming, Felicity had been worried what would happen if she didn’t go along.

But if she did go, she risked embarrassing herself, yet again, in front of Oliver Queen.  Because whenever she was around him, she seemed to end up tongue-tied and fire-engine red.  Or, even worse, babbling like an idiot.  Which was not fair–she had a genius-level IQ!

For some reason, Sara seemed to think Felicity had a chance with Oliver and kept pushing her and Oliver together.  Since Sara’s sister was dating Oliver’s best friend, that meant there was plenty of chances for Sara to push Felicity towards Oliver.

“It’s gonna be a lot of fun,” Sara said, linking arms with Felicity.  In her red tank top and black jeans, her hair in a high ponytail and her sunglasses on, Sara was effortless cool.  Meanwhile, Felicity felt like a little girl in her full skirt and t-shirt.

“If you say so,” Felicity said, her eyes widening as they approached the field.  “Wow.”

The baseball complex was much more elaborate than Felicity had expected for a high school field.  More than that, though, after growing up in Las Vegas, she was still a little bit breathless when she saw so much green grass.  

The five girls chatted as they found seats in the bleachers and waited for the start of the game.  Other than Sara, Felicity was the only one who wasn’t dating a baseball player.  Which at least meant she wasn’t the … eleventh wheel?

“And now, taking the field, the two-time reigning state champions, the Star City Stallions!”

The crowd went wild as the home team took the field.  Felicity could see the speedy Barry take up his position at shortstop, and Tommy heading out to right field.  John Diggle, Lyla’s boyfriend, was warming up on the mound.  And even though she told herself she wasn’t looking for Oliver, she scanned the field for him.  

“Where’s Oliver?”  The words slipped out before she could hold them back, making her blush a little.

“Behind home plate,” Laurel said, chewing on a piece of gum.  

“Behind … ?  Ohhhhhh.”  

All the girls sitting beside Felicity exchanged looks and grins that were verging on smirks.  Felicity could see that from the corner of her eye.  But all her attention was focused on home plate.  

Because Oliver Queen, in full catcher’s gear, was crouching behind home plate, his already-snug-fitting baseball pants stretched across his very, very, very nice ass.  

“Oh my God.  I’d pray to that if I wasn’t Jewish,” Felicity breathed out before her cheeks lighted on fire.  

“What about being Jewish would preclude you from praying to Oliver’s ass?” Lyla asked with a grin.  

“First Commandment.  You shall have no other God before me,” Caitlin said.  

Sara snorted.  “Why are we talking about commandments with all the lusting we’re doing?”

Dimly, Felicity heard the other girls debating the question, but she was not paying attention.  Which was probably violating some code of friendship, but … now she understood why they wanted her to come to this game.  Now she knew that whatever she was feeling for Oliver Queen wasn’t just some school girl crush.  No, watching him crouch and kneel in the dirt … she felt like a woman for the very first time.  

A sharp pain in her side brought her back to Earth.  “Ouch!” she said, rubbing her side as she turned to look at Sara.  “What was that for?”

“Go tell Oliver good luck.”  

She blinked.  “Excuse me?”

Sara gestured to their now-empty bench.  “It’s tradition.  Each ball player needs the girl they like to tell them good luck before the game.  That’s where Lyla, Laurel and Caitlin are.” 

Felicity looked around and saw a clump of players and girls along the first-base line.  Then she looked back at Sara and bit her lower lip.  

As much as she would like to go wish Oliver good luck on the game … it wouldn’t count.  Not when she wasn’t the girl he liked.  

“Trust me, Felicity,” Sara said softly.  “He wants you to be the one to cheer him on.”

For a long moment, Felicity looked at the girl who had become her best friend.  Sara was outgoing, wild, always up for a good time.  But she was also incredibly loyal and read people better than anyone Felicity had ever met.  

If Sara said that Oliver liked Felicity … she couldn’t help believing her.  

Swallowing, Felicity glanced down at the field and saw Oliver, still behind home plate, glancing towards the first-base line.  And there was something about his body language that made him look … wistful.  Sad.  A little lonely.

“Okay,” she said, standing up quickly.  She wavered a little and took a deep breath, before climbing over the bleacher risers towards the walkway that would take her along the first-base line.  

She edged down the line, not getting too close to the other couples.  She took another deep breath, then looked over towards Oliver.  He wasn’t looking in her direction anymore, which meant she would have to get his attention somehow.  

Licking her lips, Felicity called out, “Number Twelve!”

Oliver’s head whipped around, and even behind his mask and from this distance, she could tell his eyes widened in surprise.  Then, he gracefully rose from his crouch and jogged over towards the line, pushing his mask up to reveal those gorgeous blue eyes, a slightly-stubbled jaw, and a wide, beaming smile.  

“Hey,” he said, not sounding even a little out of breath as he approached her.  

“Hi,” she replied shyly, gazing at him.  “I’ve never been to a game before, so I … I didn’t know about this tradition.”  

He leaned against the railing that separated the bleachers from the field.  “It’s a good tradition.  Especially if you have a girl.”  

“I … I’m surprised you don’t,” she said, feeling a rush of pleasure at the words coming out flirty instead of shy and vulnerable.  

“Well, you need the right girl.  Else she’ll wish you good luck and you’ll go 0 for 4 with an error,” Oliver said, looking right at her with a small smile.  

Felicity found herself smiling back.  “Maybe I shouldn’t wish you any kind of luck.  Just to be safe.”  

His smile widened and his hand reached out to gently hold her elbow.  “I don’t play safe.”  

Oliver leaned up and just like she knew what she was doing, Felicity leaned down.  And when their lips met, Felicity found herself thinking that Oliver’s way was the best way.  

And from now on, she sure wasn’t going to play it safe.  

I LIKE REALLY WANT TO NOW

First off THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING SUCH A LOVELY ASK and I am SO happy you are enjoying my story. This is literally the sweetest thing. I LOVE YOUUUU ❤️❤️❤️

Also WOW what wonderful praise!!! I am so glad you think I’m doing a good job balancing the social media thing-- obviously it’s a big part of the story, but I don’t want it to be, like, the ONLY part of the story. That’s kinda the message I’m trying to send, especially with Jon’s views on social media. And tbh I just REALLY enjoy making fake insta posts (wait till you see next chapter’s GOD I love it already) so I am glad you think I’m incorporating them in a way that seems natural!!