𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 :: 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

Five.

OCTOBER 1, 1966

FELICITY ARRIVED AT MAC'S, her bag clutched against her as she walked in. She was surprised to see Aubrey standing behind the counter but also hurt by the sight of her pale and skinny body.

Aubrey looked over at the door to see Felicity, she was taken back from the large bruise that painted her cheekbone. She struggles to run over to Felicity like the old days where she'd wrap Felicity in an immediate hug after seeing Felicity cry.

"Oh Felicity, did he get you this time?" Aubrey asks with a limb.

Felicity shook her head while nearing towards the worried woman.

"No, no, I accidentally got into a fight last night. Well, not really my fight." Felicity muttered.

Felicity joins Aubrey behind the counter, grabbing a chair for Aubrey who had wasted part of her energy on trying to sprint towards Felicity.

The two shared the long conversation where Felicity explained what had actually happened last night that led up to Felicity getting the bruise. Aubrey was hurt to see the least, to hear that Felicity had to go through something like this.

That night made Felicity rethink about the men in her life, how her trust in them disappeared and the discomfort she would earn when around random men. Felicity became paranoid.

Dean comes in after a drive to get him and Aubrey dinner. His anger became visible after seeing Felicity's face, he wanted the answers as to who and why they did this to Felicity.

"Dean, don't you freak now, it was just a minor inconvenience." Aubrey explained for Felicity, not letting out too many details.

"I'm going to make it my business to find out who did this to you." Dean said.

"It's fine, Dean, I don't really want to be reminded of it please." Felicity assured him.

Aubrey leaves Felicity's side to attend to Dean.

"Honey, we have my doctor's appointment soon, remember?" Aubrey reminded him, also a way to avoid Dean asking questions about Felicity.

Dean nodded but still had concerns about Felicity's face, "Now are you sure you are-"

"Yes!" Felicity and Aubrey say in unison.

"Okay, but remember to-"

"Call if there is ever a problem." Felicity repeats his saying.

"Attagirl, have fun Whitlock." Dean said before leaving with Aubrey.

Felicity waves them off, watching them get into their car— as in Dean opening the door for Aubrey.

Felicity seats herself on the chair that she had brought over for Aubrey prior to Dean and Aubrey leaving. It was awfully quiet and empty in the bookstore, she looks around the store to find Dean's record player that was covered in nothing but dust. Lied underneath was a bunch of records, from Elvis Presley to Paul Anka. Felicity's fingers landed on Ritchie Valens' album.

The circular device repeated in circles while a melody of 'That's my Little Suzie' plays. Felicity moves her hips as it keeps on going, she turns to the counter with her voice humming.

All at once, the door swings open but in an aggressive manner. Felicity was about to confront the customer coming in but was at a loss for words when she saw Dallas walking with her blue flannel in his hand.

"You left this at Buck's, figured I'd give it back to you." Dallas plainly said.

Felicity takes it from it, his eyes watched her naked nails graze his palm. It was an awkward silence between the two as Dallas wasn't leaving.

Felicity huffed before being the first to speak, "Why did you do it?"

"Do what?" Dallas asked back with his eyebrows knitted.

"Beat up Simon, I didn't expect you to do something like that." She mumbled.

"Quit your mumbling, I didn't do you a favor, I just needed a fight and Simon made himself an easy target." Dallas lied.

Truth was, he saw the whole thing that went down with Simon and Felicity through the window of the bar, he couldn't get himself out of the crowd in time to help her until everyone made room to walk out. Regardless, he was still going to help her.

"Sylvia say anything?"

He scoffed, "Broad didn't care, I lost her before I even went out."

"You guys are still together?" More questions came out from her.

"Jesus you're so curious, no we aren't together. Why do you care so much?" Dallas had his arms crossed.

She gulped, "I don't, just thought she'd go badgering you for helping."

"Again, I wasn't helping you at all." Another lie.

"Alright." Felicity said. "See you around, Dallas."

"What, you want me to leave?"

"No, it's just that there's really not much for you here." Felicity shrugged.

Dallas looked around to find something that would occupy him, something in him did not want him to leave her alone.

She found it strange that he was not leaving. If he was alone with her, he'd walk out on her immediately to be alone somewhere else or hide away from her. Felicity didn't hate his presence anymore though, she sort of felt safe near him.

Dallas didn't like Felicity, he couldn't. She was the girl that he had to make despise him and not the girl he wanted to make like him. However, a switch just flipped in him which made him crave for some of her attention.

He hadn't heard her call out his name over a dozen times when he lost in his thoughts, it was until her fingers tapped on his shoulder which even made him shiver a little.

"Dallas, I called you bunch of times and you didn't respond, you okay?" Felicity's cold tone was gone and it was nothing but her soft vocals.

He started staring, getting her all freaked out.

"Have you been drinking?"

"No, what, no. I-" Dallas twisted and turned. "I gotta go, bye Felicity."

His hands stumbled and fumbled on the doorknob, he found it difficult to just pull the knob and push the door.

Felicity couldn't help but laugh at his mistake, only to go back to her paradise of boredom.

𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆