Textbook Meeting

"Formal-Posal"

Oliver P.O.V.

Pacing back and forth, I continue to take deep breaths in an attempt to keep calm. "I can do this." I pick up my phone before dropping my arm again before I can hit the call button. "I can't do this." I sigh and drop to sit on the edge of my bed with my head resting in my other hand.

"You all right there Ollie?" Lifting my eyes, a smile tugs at my lips as I find my little sister leaning in my doorway. "Yeah, I'm all right Speedy." I wave off her concern with a laugh and she raises her eyebrows at me, daring me to tell her the truth. "No, you're not. What is it.?" She cocks her head to the side as she speaks.

"Really, it's nothing. Just girl trouble." I raise the phone in my hand, "I can't seem to work up the courage to call Laurel and ask her to the winter formal that's coming up."

"Really?" I feel my cheeks heat up as she laughs at me. "Ollie no." she comes forward and plucks the phone from my hand. "Oliver Queen, you are not asking Laurel Lance to the winter formal over the telephone."

"What? Why not?" I reach for the phone and she holds it away from me. "Because Ollie, that is not romantic at all. You ask a girl to a formal or a dance with flowers, with candy, with balloons or a teddy bear and a banner. You do not just call her over the phone. Besides, Laurel might still be mad at you, so you have to make it a grand gesture so that she'll hopefully say yes. Now, if you want this back," she shakes the phone at me, "You have to promise me you're going to ask her right."

"When did you get so smart Speedy?" I shake my head at her, "Fine. Just please, help me." I barely refrain from begging. It's almost sad that I have to almost beg my little sister for dating advice, but then again, she's always been smart when it comes to these things.

"Of course I'll help you Ollie, but you have to help me with something too." She smiles at me, almost mischievously. "What do you need help with?" I raise an eyebrow at her in confusion.

"Well..." she pauses, "Um.. There's this guy..." she bits her lip nervously, "There's this guy I like, and I don't think- Um- I don't think he knows who I am."

"I doubt there's a single person at our school who doesn't know who you are Thea."

"I want him to ask me to the formal." She finally blurts and her eyes widen in shock and she covers her mouth. I feel my own eyes widen and before I can refuse she starts talking fast again, "Oh please Ollie, please. I know I'm your little sister and you don't like the idea of me dating and all, but please Ollie. I'm growing up. And I really do like him, so please. Help me out here." She begs.

"Oh, all right." I sigh, hating that she was right.

"Let's get to work then." She squeals before she tosses me my phone and hurries over to the computer. "Hmmm, Laurel loves flowers. So..." she pauses as she pulls up a site, "You should definitely go big on a bouquet." Her fingers fly across the keyboard as she continues to plan. "Let's go the whole nine yards, after all the winter formal is only second to Prom."

"What-"I start to ask exactly what she's making me purchase but she cuts me off by holding her finger up to silence me.

"Do you at least want a chance to ask her, and good odds of her accepting?" she raises an eyebrow as she looks over her shoulder.

"Yes- "

"Well then let me work. This won't take long." My mouth snaps shut and I keep quiet while she continues to type and search.

"OK." She turns the computer towards me and turns herself so that we can both look. "So, like I said, we're going to set you up for the whole nine yards. During the day, tomorrow, we're going to have things delivered during her classes. The teddy bear, the expensive chocolates, jewelry, even balloons. But not the flowers."

"But, why not the flowers?" I but in.

"As I was saying," she looks at me sternly, "At the end of the day she will return to her locker to find a banner across the hallway for her and you will offer her the flowers and ask her to the formal. Make sure to dress nice too or it will likely all be a bust." She folds her hands in her lap and looks rather pleased with herself.

"Wow, you are seriously good at this." I shake my head, almost disbelieving as I look at the screen.

"Everything I've picked is very much," she pauses looking for the right word, "Laurel." She finishes, "for lack of a better description." She reaches out and pats my shoulder, "she's going to love it Ollie."

"Now, don't forget you have to help a sister out too." She pushes herself up from the chair to her feet.

"Okay, so what's the punk's name?" I crack my knuckles, joking of course.

"Ollie!" she gives me a look.

"Relax Thea, I'm kidding." I laugh.

"His name is Roy, uh, Roy Harper. He's in your, uh- "she stumbles over her words and I cut her off, "Roy Harper? He's in my strength and conditioning gym class." I nod thoughtfully, at least she picked a good kid to like. He's a little unpredictable, can have a temper even, but a good kid none the less.

"Boy, you sure know how to pick them."

"Do you think you can drop hints, or find out what he knows about me." She looks hopeful and I can't help but accept.

"Don't worry, I'll see what I can do Speedy."

"Thanks Ollie, now don't forget to dress nice tomorrow and be at her locker right after school ends." She looks at me pointedly before she softens, "Night Ollie."

"Night Speedy." Laying down I relax, it's a good thing I have a smart little sister who can help me. Now I just need to figure out how to deal with this Roy Harper guy she likes. She would probably hate me if I scared him away, so that's off the table. Sighing, I resolve to think about it more tomorrow. Probably after I've asked Laurel out.

ˬF