Chapter one: No formalities

It was the gloomy Monday morning and Olivia never favoured Mondays. The school was buzzing after the morning announcements were through. Olivia was so caught up in her own world of not wanting to be at school that she missed her friends mention that there was a new student in their grade.

"Liv? Liv, did you hear what I just said? Hello?" Abby said standing inches from Liv's face.

"W-what, sorry Abs. What's going on? Why are you standing in my face?" Liv said confused with a giggle.

"What's going on with you? Are you ok?" Abby asked grabbing Olivia's shoulders to urge her to speak.

"Abby, its Monday, you know she hates Monday mornings more than anything." Quinn said laughing and pulled Olivia out of Abby's grasp.

"Yeah what she said. Now what were you saying? You've got my full attention now, I swear."

Rolling her eyes in irritation, Abby finally spoke realising that Olivia was all ears. She suddenly had a devilish grin as she spotted her 'news' at a distance behind Olivia and Quinn.

"Ok, so all the girls are already freaking out and I can't blame them Liv. We have a new student joining our grade and he is… Oh God, ok ok I'm fine." Abby said trying to gather her bearings after seeing her friends giggling and shaking their heads at her.

"Abs, where is this mystery student who doesn't have a name but has the power to make us see all your pearly whites that I love by the way. I'm sure David would kill to see all of them too. Abs? Abby! Seriously, what could be so amazi –"Olivia failed to finish her sentence as she turned around to see a work of art on legs.

Her mouth fell open and she couldn't move for what seemed like an eternity until some idiot junior boys bumped her back into reality.

"Ugh, seriously guys? Stop running, you could really hurt someone." Olivia said slightly annoyed but was careful not to sound too bossy or overbearing. She wanted the juniors to have respect her not fear her. Also, she knew that if she didn't say something, then Abby would have lashed out at them sending them roaming around with their heads down all day. She didn't want them to hate high school any more than she knew they were eventually going to as the weeks passed. Olivia cared about others and always thought of others before herself. She had a big heart and she knew it would make her vulnerable later in life but for now, she didn't mind it.

After speaking to the juniors she looked back at the place where the mysterious student was standing and found that he'd moved. She convinced herself that she had made him up and she stood between her friends and linked their arms taking a deep breath. The trio walked to where they had left their school bags during the morning announcements and erupted in laughter after Olivia admitted that she hadn't finished her History, English and Science homework and those were the first 3 periods of the day. She went on the explain that after her afternoon swimming session that lasted an hour longer than usual she was busy with some research and then wandering on Twitter and fell asleep in the middle of "fangirling" over her favourite TV show and only woke up at about 8 pm just in time for dinner. After dinner, she was so full so she was out the minute her head hit her pillow.

The three girls were laughing so much they almost didn't notice Harrison and Huck standing in front of them looking confused as ever.

"Share the joke ladies. Oh and Liv are those teeth I'm seeing on you on a Monday morning?" Harrison said cheerfully.

"Liv di… Liv didn't finish her homework for today's first 3 periods!" Quinn said while trying to catch her breath. Abby sat down on the bench behind her to gather her bearings.

The boys looked at each other in complete shock trying their best not to laugh. Olivia was a very good student, who did her homework assignments and got good grades. She was often the one to encourage her friends to get their work done when they had group work to do or when they gathered for their weekly study group. Yesterday was just her day to be let loose and let her brain relax and she didn't even feel bad about it but she made a mental note not to make this a regular occurrence.

As the five of them made their way to their first class, Olivia looked up from freeing her curls that were stuck between her backpack and her back. Her eyes found the gazing eyes of someone she thought she'd made up. Their eyes locked and didn't deviate until Olivia's friends called for her attention. The student was standing on the other side of the quad with Jake Ballard, Andrew Nichols, and Samuel Reston, David Rosen and Edison Davis and some other guys she wasn't bothered to notice. They seemed to be explaining things to the new addition to the group but he wasn't paying attention to them, he was looking at her and he was grinning as if impressed with what was set before him.

Olivia looked away and followed her friends into the now open classroom and the five resumed their usual seats. The 3 girls sat at the back with Olivia and Quinn occupying the outer desks and Abby in the middle. The boys sat in front of the girls with Harrison in front of Abby and Huck in front of Quinn. The entire classroom was buzzing and everyone was indulging in their various conversations while their teacher, Mr Cyrus Beane, was gathering his things for their lesson.

By the time Cyrus began calming the class down, Olivia noticed that someone now occupied the seat in front of her which only seldom happened but this body wasn't a familiar one. All she could see was a large frame with strong shoulders that could hold all the worries of the world, the back of a head filled with dark curls that had their own natural shine. He was tall too, she could only see Cyrus when he moved to the other side of the whiteboard.

Olivia Pope was a very observant person and paid great attention to detail and after having been in the school for almost 10 years, she was sure she had never seen the back of this body before and she had to admit that she was impressed. Her breath hitched when it had finally sunk in that the frame was that of the mystery student. Olivia hoped that no one saw her become uncomfortable in her seat. This sort of discomfort only came about when she listened to certain songs like "2012 – Chris Brown" or "Take you down – Chris Brown". She tried to sit as still as she possibly could but her friends were on to her already.

Cyrus had been talking for only five minutes but Olivia felt like she'd been sitting analysing the back of a head for an hour. Cyrus continued and Olivia heard nothing, the only thing she heard was a name, one she had never heard before.

"…Fitzgerald Grant" Olivia heard Cyrus say.

There was an applause and then Cyrus carried on with the lesson. Olivia now knew the name of the handsome frame before her and she couldn't sit still. When Cyrus turned to write on the board and resumed teaching everyone began reaching for their books in their bags. The handsome figure took the opportunity to say something to the girl who sat behind him. He turned his head to the right knowing that no one else would hear but her. Not making eye contact but with a grin on his face he said, "Hey, sit still won't you, Mr Beane is bound to move one of us move seats and that would really kill your analysis" he paused still grinning and then said "You can call me Fitz by the way."

Her body quivered at the sound of his voice and then quivered further at the sound of him saying his nickname. Olivia was overcome by something she had no control over and she liked it, not quite knowing what it is.

"It's Cyrus. He hates formalities." Olivia said smiling and leaning forward to his right ear, close enough to speak quietly so only he could hear.

She couldn't focus for the remainder of the lesson and she wondered which other classes she would have with him and if she would get to stare at something other than the back of his head for 45 minutes.

Fitzgerald Grant… Fitz, not a bad start-up to the week she thought to herself with the biggest smile on her face.