Calendar Girl (6/12)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, except for a couple of original characters, any resemblance to another character is coincidental.
Author Note: It's a little shorter, and probably not what you were hoping for... but I have my reasons. Unfortunately, after today, I'll be taking a one-two week break from this story. I don't think I've ever updated a story this much (especially considering the word count), but now I need to let it breathe. I also need to start writing "March" because I haven't started it yet.
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Banner courtesy of: geek_or_unique
January
All of the things that I thought were so easy
Just got harder and harder each day
January 1
Evie rubbed her eyes open and smiled at the sight in front of her. Finally, she thought.
On the bed across the room, Oliver had his arm wrapped tightly around Chloe's petite frame, pulling her close to his side, while her hand had been placed atop of his. Evie only invited Oliver to stay because she knew how tired she was and she wanted both of them to have someone to ring in the New Year with, but seeing their calm expressions led Evie to believe her simple gesture was worthwhile.
Not even bothering to change, Evie stood up quietly and tiptoed to the door, and as she closed it behind her, she looked at them once more, grinning wider than she thought was possible. Evie had seen the spark the moment Chloe heard Oliver's voice that fateful September day, that's why she pushed for Chloe to give him a chance. She had met Oliver Queen before, but he had never looked at another woman the way he looked at Chloe, and even though Evie knew that, she knew that Chloe wouldn't believe her. That's why Evie always figured that it would take Lois hitting Chloe with something hard for her to have an epiphany, but maybe it didn't have to come to that, maybe they could figure it out on their own. It would make certain moments between them less awkward while making things easier for the people around them.
In fact, being a third wheel wasn't even an issue for Evie because of how much she treasured their friendship. For her, Chloe and Oliver gave her a sense of family that she hadn't felt since coming to California. Time after time, she had gotten used to pushing people away, afraid of anyone getting too close... Scott had been her exception. Evie wasn't blind, she knew that there was something there, and she knew how much of a hypocrite she had become by subtly pushing Chloe and Oliver together, but her situation was different. Scott may not be an oft-photographed billionaire, but she had her reasons to not pursue a relationship, reasons that she could never tell anyone... not yet anyway.
Then again, Chloe also likely had her reasons for not wanting more from Oliver, most were likely Clark-related. He had done a number on Chloe's confidence, that much was certain, and Evie knew how hesitant she was to let Oliver into her life, but Evie had a front row seat for all of the banter, looks and touches, and she knew both of them cared for each other. However, because Evie didn't know the context of how they ended up in that position, she couldn't shake the feeling that she shouldn't be celebrating yet.
Pouring the hot liquid in the cup, she watched the steam fly in the air when she realized that all her stuff was in the dorm room, so the only option she had was to hang out in the common room. But when the door to the stairwell opened, Evie turned her head to find Oliver heading for the door. Upon seeing her, he stopped in his tracks and gave her a half-smile.
"Good morning," Evie managed, noticing the confused expression on his face, which worried her, but she didn't want to push it. Holding out her untouched cup, she asked, "Coffee?"
Oliver just shook his head he looked around the common room. "Have you seen Chloe?"
Evie swallowed loudly; so much for finally, she thought, taking a large sip from her coffee. It was clear to Evie now that even though Oliver was a decent guy and he clearly cared for Chloe, she wasn't ready.
Taking the hint, Oliver added, "Just... tell her that I wished her a happy new year." Evie nodded as Oliver headed to the door with a defeated look on his face.
She wanted to help him, but she didn't have the answers he was looking for... for that he'd have to ask the woman who had opened the door to the stairwell not long after the main door shut. Watching her sigh, Evie walked up to her, but when Chloe spotted her, she began to go back up the stairs.
Still following her, Evie yelled up the stairwell. "What's going on, Chloe?"
Chloe ignored her as she reached the top of the steps and eventually slammed the door behind her in hopes that her roommate wouldn't follow her into the dorm room. Happy New Year indeed. Instead of pining after Clark, she was setting herself for a disastrous follow-up with Star City's equivalent. Sure… nothing happened, they just fell asleep, but she was worried that this set up the framework for another train wreck.
Evie knocked on the door. "Chloe... can I come in? I have reading to do, and I'll drop this if you want me to."
She stared at the closed door, reminded of the fact that Evie wouldn't press the issue the same way everyone else in her life would. Evie had a key to the room... she could have just barged in and given her a piece of her mind, but instead, she asked Chloe's permission. Sitting down on her bed, Chloe hung in her head. "Yeah, come on in... sorry."
After closing the door, Evie lay down on her bed and picked up a textbook as if nothing was going on. But Chloe needed reassurance and out of everyone, she trusted Evie would be honest with her while keeping quiet about what happened.
She blurted, "What am I supposed to do?"
"I thought we were dropping this."
"Right." Chloe averted her eyes to the ceiling, trying to keep herself calm.
Shifting up to look at Chloe, Evie added, "Look... I don't know what happened, so the only thing I can tell you is that he deserves the truth Chloe - whatever that is."
Chloe's head hit the pillow and she turned it to the side of the bed he was sleeping on. What was the truth of what happened? It started as an innocent offer by Evie, and while neither woman wanted him to deal with the traffic, Chloe didn't want him to sleep on the floor either. They were just friends, so she figured them sharing a bed wasn't a big deal. Then as morning broke and she opened her eyes to find their fingers interlocked, she panicked, slipping out of his arm and the room.
Pacing the hallway, she wondered why she was running, why it was so weird to think he was interested in her. It's not like there was anything wrong with her, but she was an awkward country girl, while his life was front page news. However, out of anyone, he chose to spend time with her, forgiving her crazy cousin, and accepting Chloe for who she was. He surprised her, in every good way that she could imagine, and she'd be lying if the thought hadn't crossed her mind.
She shook her hands, trying to get the butterflies out of her system, when she had a flashback of her running out of the room with the frame of her and Clark. Next thing she knew, she had walked over to the trash bin, and then a feeling of déjà vu washed over her. Chloe had told her dad that Oliver wasn't replacing Clark, but as the days went by, it was becoming clear that they were walking that same slippery slope, and Chloe couldn't risk getting hurt like that again... her heart likely couldn't handle it.
She almost got caught as she attempted to reach the stairwell, as she saw Oliver opening the door, checking both ways to see where she went. But before he had a chance to see her, she popped back around the corner and leaned against the wall, listening to her own laboured breathing. She knew that she couldn't face him yet, but she couldn't resist following him and overhearing his conversation with Evie. Seeing Evie's face as Chloe opened the door was hard, she could see the disappointment in the other woman's eyes, but being honest with him wasn't that simple because not even Chloe knew what she felt now.
January 11
There were days where Chloe wished that she could curb her addiction to caffeine. This was one of them. She had been avoiding Oliver since New Year's, but now she knew that she had to face him as she overheard him order an almond mocha while she waited three people back in the line.
Evie looked at her as Oliver turned around and shrugged slightly. She had warned Chloe about taking the high road, but she thought that it was the best solution. However, seeing the melancholy look in his eyes, and knowing she was the likely cause behind it, hurt.
Oliver handed her mocha to Chloe. "Here. Have this one on me."
"Thanks... How have you been?"
"Not bad... you?"
"Okay." Noticing the obvious tension, Oliver headed towards the door, but he stopped when he heard Chloe sigh. "Wait... about..."
He flatly interrupted. "It happened, we can't change that, but I'm your friend, Chloe." Turning his head to face her, Oliver added, "That is... if you still want me in your life."
It had been a short conversation, but talking to him now made her realize how much she had missed his friendship, and if Oliver was willing to put it behind him, so could she. Letting a smile crack through, she said softly, "Yeah."
"So we're good?" He breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Chloe nod her head. Offering her hand, Oliver asked, "Can I walk you to class?"
"Sure, why not?" Chloe replied, accepting his hand and leaving the line-up.
As the two blondes left the cafe, Evie shook her head as a smile came across her face. Maybe this wasn't a lost cause after all, she thought.
January 22
Upon seeing the festivities outside their door, Evie asked, "Am I the only one who thinks a winter carnival in California is stupid?"
Following her towards the end of the block, Chloe quickly replied, "The problem is that we come from places that actually have snow. I mean, can you imagine these people actually experiencing winter conditions?"
"No, but you can help one particular student." Evie pointed over to Oliver sitting waiting to get hit at a dunk tank.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "God save the Queen... the guy never learns, does he?" A sly grin came across her face as she headed towards the line-up.
Evie watched her cross the street before yelling, "What are you doing?"
After her feet met the grass on the other side, Chloe turned around and walked backwards toward the carnival. "What did you call it? Ah yes... I'm helping him."
As she found her place in the line-up, she looked up at Oliver, who had noticed her presence immediately and shook his head slightly. Everyone in front of her had missed the target, but she had practiced throwing a football with Clark to help him make the team, so she knew that Oliver was going down.
She looked up at Oliver, and found herself staring at the well-crafted upper body of her friend. Sure, she had seen pictures of him in magazines with his shirt off, but it was different in person.
Oliver quickly noticed her gawking and asked, "See something you like?"
Chloe buried her head momentarily, feeling the warming of her cheeks, but she shrugged it off and answered, "Oh no... I was just thinking of how awesome it will be dunking you."
A man came up to the booth and said to Oliver, "Alright... you survived pretty boy. My turn."
"One more," Oliver said, his eyes never leaving Chloe.
She smiled. "Fitting end to your reign at the top of the dunk tank... isn't it?"
"You think you've got a shot?"
Chloe bit her tongue and then looked up at him. "I'd give up coffee for a month if I miss."
"You're that confident? Okay... show me what yo-"
His words were cut off as Chloe hit the small target with the ball, causing Oliver to fall into the water. She waited a moment for him to resurface before she approached the tank, ball in hand.
As his eyes found hers, she hit square in the chest with the ball. "Told you." Noticing Evie not far from the tank, Chloe began to walk over to her when she noticed her friend with an interesting expression on her face. "What?"
Evie snickered as they continued walking. "Nothing... absolutely nothing."
Chloe was almost getting tired of hearing that excuse, but considering the events of the month, there was no way she was going to goad Evie when she likely knew the answer to her own question.
As she looked around, her eyes stopped when she saw Scott across the fair with a girl that Chloe had never seen before. Chloe turned to look at her roommate, who had clearly seen them as the smile had been wiped off her face.
"Before you ask… I'm fine."
"I thought you two were… since Halloween went so well."
Evie shook her head. "We're friends Chloe; I don't want to wreck that."
"But..."
She snapped, "You of all people should know what that's like." Evie put her hand to her mouth and shook her head again. "I'm sorry, that slipped out. I didn't mean it."
"I know," Chloe whispered before noticing the single tear that was running down Evie's cheek.
Evie quickly covered it up and began running through the quad. "I'm sorry."
It was no use for Chloe to try and run after her, athletics weren't exactly her strong suit. Looking back towards Scott, she noticed that he was looking in the direction Evie was running, and Chloe could feel her chest tighten as he started walking away. The girl that he was with before wasn't there anymore, in fact, she had moved on to another guy a couple booths down. Chloe almost wanted to run up to him and tell him everything, but she didn't want to risk her friendship with Evie, even if it did bring her happiness.
"What's on your mind?"
Chloe spun around to find Oliver standing behind her with a green snow cone in his hand. Unsure of how to answer his question, she said the first thing she thought of. "What is with you and the colour green?"
Caught off-guard by her comment, Oliver raised an eyebrow. "You have a problem with it?"
"No... honestly, I'm just... trying to figure out what the flavour would be."
"Try some."
"Okay," Chloe grabbed the snow cone from him and leaned down slightly to taste it when she felt Oliver push her hand, resulting in the snow cone to spread all over her face. Dropping the paper wrapper and spitting out the residual ice crystals, Chloe shook her head. "Oh, that's it Queen."
Chloe bent down and started to form a snowball, not even caring that it wasn't snow at all, but rather a white powder that hardly covered the grass on the quad.
Oliver began to back away, not because he was scared, more because he was worried about what she was doing. "You can't be serious."
Not even stopping to address the obvious, Chloe continued to work the 'snow' together. At the time she had bent down, Chloe figured it was the stuff they put on ski hills, but it wasn't, and to make matters more complicated, it didn't stick together well. "Crazier things have been done."
"Like what?"
Wiping some of the green colouring off her face, Chloe smiled. "Like a winter carnival in California? Like you dating girls who clearly wanted you for your credit card?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me that you're jealous."
Stopping momentarily to glare up at him, she scoffed. "Hardly, my face is only artificially green remember."
"Right," he remarked.
Without a care about how crazy it looked, she stood up and threw at pile of the fake snow in his face while he was blinking. "Later, Oliver," Chloe stated as she began walking across the quad to find her lost roommate.
Filtering the last of the powder out of her hands, Chloe thought about everything that had happened over the past month. Even though it had started with confusion, she felt better now. The tension was gone between them and they could move forward... as friends, even if Evie and Lois saw them differently.
February