You Are the Reason

Midnight Rose

Oliver walked into the mansion, slightly rolling his arm. Just because he had something to help with the poison does not mean it didn't hurt like hell.

"So how was your evening sir?" John Diggle asked, leaning against the wall.

"You mean after I said I had to go to the bathroom at dinner and never came back?" Oliver asked.

He was really damning whoever shot at him right now, because it was obvious that Diggle was not going to leave him alone any time soon.

"I guess from now on I will be watching you pee." Diggle confirmed Oliver's point.

"Thea!" Moira called as she walked down the stairs.

"What?" Thea grabbed her purse as she slung it over her shoulder.

"You have been avoiding me ever since the ceremony. Is everything okay honey?" Moira asked.

"No, but thanks for asking." Thea began walking towards the door. "I'm going to be late."

"Well when you come home maybe we can talk about it?" Moira asked hopefully.

"I was actually thinking of hanging out with Lola after school." Thea stated.

The two women stared at each other, before Moira broke it.

"Fine, maybe tomorrow."

"We'll see." Thea said, walking to the front door she opened it, she looked back at Oliver. "You look like crap."

When Thea was gone Oliver stepped over to his mother, and John left the room.

"She's testing you." Oliver told her.

"And where do you think she learned that from?" Moira asked, staring at the door.

"Mom. When I was her age, you and dad let me get away with murder. Looking back I could have used less space and more parenting."

"Oliver..." Moira started. "Do you think she knows?" Oliver looked at her. "About what I said to Mr. Merlyn?"

Oliver nodded, thinking about how to answer.

"I told you that sooner or later it was all going to crash and burn, well it came sooner rather than later."

With that he left his mother standing in the hallway, he walked outside to see Diggle in the backseat already and the driver in the front seat.

"If we are taking the driver, how is Thea getting to school?" Oliver asked.

"Trust me, I already took care of it." Dig told him.

"Alright, well Tommy is going to meet us at the building, so I guess that gives us over an hour to tour the city."

"And I will be with you every step of the way." Dig told him, both exchanging an amused smile.

—

"So Ollie's bodyguard called you." Thea said as she sat in the passenger's seat.

"Yah I guess he likes disobeying your mother almost as much as you." Tommy told her as he turned onto another street.

"I think we may have a real ally." Thea joked. "It's weird to see you here right now."

"What are you talking about?" Tommy asked, confused.

"I did not know that you woke up before ten o'clock." Thea teased.

"Ha ha." Tommy grumbled. "Very funny."

Thea laughed and it was impossible for Tommy not to smile.

"So you excited?" Tommy asked, changing the subject.