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It's been about a week since my run-in with Oliver, and I received an invitation last night to a dinner party from Moira and Walter. Stephanie agreed to watch Hannah so my father and I could go together.
Knocking on the door, Thea is the one to let us in.
Thea: "Liz, Malcolm, please come in. Mom and Walter are through there."
She points to the living room.
Malcolm: "Thank you, Thea."
He walks past her as I come in and hang back with her.
Elizabeth: "How is it so far?"
Thea: "Oh, you know how these things go. Dinner party with some big muckety-mucks."
Elizabeth: "Right. Can't say I'm looking forward to this."
Thea: "Yeah, but at least we are in it together."
Elizabeth: "Of course, so that we can make the usual faces at each other."
We giggle before joining our parents and their friends. Once we finally go into the dining room, Thea leaves, and I am stuck between my father and a man whom I only know through my father and constantly forget his name. Oliver joins us, sitting across from my father while conversing about the vigilante.
Commissioner: "The thing that people forget is that Robin Hood was a criminal."
?: "And stealing from the rich to give to the poor is the job of the Democrats."
The man's comment makes all of us chuckle. God, I don't want to be here. Thea is lucky she managed to escape.
Elizabeth: "I don't mind the idea of a Robin Hood figure being around. As long as he sticks to those who deserve it."
I notice a look from Oliver and my father, although I have no idea why they are looking at me.
Malcolm: "All joking aside, commissioner, crime is down for the first time in five years."
Commissioner: "That's because of the changes my department has implemented.
Walter: "Or perhaps it's because the vigilante's activities have had a chilling effect on the city's criminals."
Malcolm: "What are your thoughts, Oliver."
Oliver: "I think the vigilante needs a better codename than 'The Hood' or 'The Hood Guy.'"
Everyone at the table laughs. I can't help but agree with his thought.
Elizabeth: "Those are pretty terrible names."
Malcolm: "I agree. How about Green Arrow?"
Oliver: "Lame."
Elizabeth: "Maybe leave off the Green part, Dad. The Arrow sounds more appropriate."
I take a sip of my wine as Oliver gives me a look, and then Walter's phone starts ringing. He sighs as he sees who is calling him.
Walter: "Forgive me. It's the office. Excuse me."
He leaves as he answers his phone. Not long after, a police officer comes in and whispers something to the commissioner.
Commissioner: "I'm sorry. Something's come up."
He gets up.
Oliver: "Is everything okay?"
Commissioner: "The vigilante has struck again. He just put an arrow in Adam Hunt."
As he leaves, Oliver's phone starts vibrating.
Oliver: "I really do need to take this call. It's my contractor. Excuse me."
Moira: "Of course."
He leaves, and I look around at everyone's reactions before joking.
Elizabeth: "So, who's next?"
Everyone chuckles. It's easy for everyone at this table to understand the importance of having a call to take thanks to all of our jobs, luckily for the three who left.
After dinner, I return home to find Hannah asleep in her room and Stephanie on the couch watching tv. I pour two glasses of wine before joining her.
Stephanie: "So, how was dinner?"
Elizabeth: "Oh, you know, dinner with rich people. Some have to leave cause business calls. Including Oliver."
Stephanie: "Of course."
She makes a face like 'go figure.'
Elizabeth: "Yeah."
We talk for a while, laughing and drinking wine together.
The next day, I was in my office with a lot of paperwork to catch up on when Stephanie came in with a mischievous smile.
Elizabeth: "What are you up to, Steph?"
Stephanie: "You are asking the wrong question. You have a surprise visitor."
She opens the door more as I give her a curious look before Oliver appears in the doorway.
Oliver: "Thank you, Stephanie."
Stephanie: "No problem at all. Have fun, you two."
I give her a look as she smirks and shuts the door. With a sigh, I put my papers down and looked up at Oliver.
Elizabeth: "What are you doing here, Oliver?"
Oliver: "Well, I know we need to talk, and I was pretty sure you would miss lunch. So I came to have lunch with you."
Elizabeth: "That's thoughtful of you, but I'm too busy for lunch."
He pulls a bag from behind him.
Oliver: "And that's why I brought lunch to you. Big Belly Burger."
Elizabeth: "How could I possibly refuse?"
He gives me a cheeky smile as he sits on the couch and gestures for me to join him. I walk over as he passes me my food.
Oliver: "There is another reason I stopped by today."
Elizabeth: "And what would that be?"
Oliver: "I wanted to invite you to the Queen Christmas Party tomorrow night personally. It's my way of giving back to my family and friends. Will you please join me there?"
Elizabeth: "Of course, I'll join you. It's been quite a while since one of those happened."
Oliver: "Yes, Thea told me. That's why I am throwing it."
Elizabeth: "It will be Hannah's first."
Oliver: "I'm glad I can attend her first Christmas party."
