AN: You guys must be mad at me because I haven't updated, but my internet has been off for a long time and writer's block, of course. It happens to the best of us. I'm just writing more stories to get my creative juices going for my other stories. This is a high school fic—semi-AU and romance…it it my favorite, so I decided to give it a shot.

DISCLAIMER

Story time…

"So, for the past few weeks I've been listening to my classes and their requests to do a project. At first, I was unsure, but since you guys have been so persistent about it…I guess." The teacher said as the students cheered. "But! This is not going to be an easy project: fun if you let it, but not easy. You will have partners and this project will be for a semester grade."

The teacher passed out an outline, and then explained it. After she was done she began to assign partners.

"Elliot, Olivia is your partner." Elliot looked at her as if she was crazy. Since he was the last one called and the rest of class was free time Eliot decided to talk to her.

"Mrs. Sanders, can I talk to you?" Elliot asked politely as he leaned on her desk.

"Sure, about what?"

"My partner. Mrs. Sanders, I know why you choose the partners the way you did, but I can't work with Olivia." Mrs. Sanders graded some papers while she listened to him.

"Why not?"

"Well, she is either ditching school or getting suspended. She doesn't do her work and she is a troublemaker. All she does is cause chaos with whom ever she is with. No one likes her—no one." There was some truth to that statement. Not a lot of people liked Olivia Benson and that was because she wasn't a person who was easy to get along with. She had more enemies than friends--that is if she did have friends, where as Elliot was a straight student who everyone got along with. He has never got into a fight or has been suspended.

"I understand your concerns and that is why I partnered you with Olivia." Mrs. Sanders stopped grading the papers and looked as Elliot. "What are you doing after school?"

"What?" Elliot scratched the back of his head, and then got on his crutches. "Ah…nothing. I've got to catch up on some homework, but that is all."

"Can you stay after for a minute?" She wore a serious expression on her face as she asked the question.

"Sure."

"Mrs. Sanders, you wanted to talk to me?" Elliot asked as he hopped in.

"Yes, thank you for coming." She put some papers into her suitcase, and then went over to Elliot.

"No problem."

"I bet you are wondering why I wanted to talk to you." Elliot looked at her for a moment, and then shook his head in agreement. "Well, this is about your partner Olivia."

"What about her? Are you going to change my partner?" There was hope in Elliot's eyes.

"No. Elliot, the reason why I choose for you to be Olivia's partner is because you are a model student and maybe…just maybe you'll rub off on her. Olivia Benson is a smart young lady. I've looked at all her past grades and even her recent grades and they are outstanding, but I don't see why she acts the way she does. At first, I thought it was her trying to fit in…but it feels as if there is more to the story." Mrs. Sanders explained as she sat on the edge of a desk.

"Like what?"

"I can't really specify because I don't know myself and you are a student. I'm not suppose to share that with you."

"Well, you kind of did already."

"Alright, but the only reason I am telling you is because I trust you. Please do not abuse my trust. Do not tell or repeat this to anyone." Mrs. Sanders got up and began to pace.

"I promise."

"At first, like every teacher I assumed the Olivia was a troublemaker. I thought that she just wanted to be the center of attention and didn't care for school—just like you assumed. But, who could blame anyone, you know, she didn't do her work and was always getting into fights. Then I thought about. Olivia may not do her work all the time, but she does turn in enough assignments to pass with at least a C…I guess. Anyone could do that, but it was the way she did it…the papers she turned in. And the fact that she turns in papers in general. So, that is what made me look at past test grades. The answers that she was giving me weren't like any other student. It was different, unique, and at the same time it got the point across. When I saw the tests I understood why she was in the classes that she was in. There was no way she could have cheated and got a grade like she did." She turned her head to look at Elliot. "I mean her test was completely different from everyone else's since she took hers late."

"So, what made you conclude that something was wrong?" Elliot leaned forward and analyzed the information that he was just fed.

"I—I don't know, something just seems off. Every time I see her she always has this…strange look in her eyes, troubled maybe. It is the way she does things: it is either you care or don't care, not an in-between. Did you ever notice that she is usually depressed before she gets into a fight, and then afterwards she is very happy?"

"No."

"Well, that is all I have and know. It may or may not sound like something to you, but I know something is wrong. If I could I would try to help her, but she won't talk to me and let me in. I can't get her to listen to me."

"Why do you feel that she will listen to me?"

"I don't, but I trust you more than any other student here. If she is going to listen to anyone it is going to be you or someone her age, but I'm going with you. Will you help me?"

"Wait, is this why you let the class do the project?" Elliot put two and two together.

"Yeah, I'm just really worried about her." The older woman honestly replied.

"Sure, I'll help you." Elliot wasn't sure about his decision, but he trusted Mrs. Sanders' instincts.

"Thank you so much, Elliot."

"Olivia, where are you going?" Elliot asked when he saw Olivia walk into his room dressed up. She had on tight low-riding pants, a white tank top with a black leather jacket, and three inch heels on. Elliot could tell that she put on make-up, but it wasn't obvious, just the eyeliner since it was dark. The make-up that Olivia had put on made her face look dirty, but in a cute way. She almost looked like a rocker chick.

"To a party." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Olivia, we have to do a project."

"We have weeks to do it. Stop being a goody to shoes and come with me." She picked up her purse, and took her keys out. "Are you coming or not?"

Elliot thought about what he was talking about with Mrs. Sanders and agreed to. He wasn't really a party person, but this way one of the ways that he could get to know the supposedly troubled girl. "Yeah."

Since it was a Friday Elliot could go out and come back any time he pleased. He didn't have to ask his parents just as long as they knew that he was leaving and where he was going.

"I thought that you were doing a project." Mr. Stabler said as he looked at the two.

"We are, Mr. Stabler, but I thought that since this project is a semester long and we are going to work non-stop on it that we might as well have fun before we cannot do it at all. The party is just to release some stress." Olivia said sweetly and convincingly. Mr. Stabler crossed his arms and looked at Elliot.

"Alright, see you when you get home." Mr. Stabler said to Elliot and was about to leave the room when he called Elliot back as a second thought. "Elliot, stay for a minute."

Olivia warmed up the car as she waited for Elliot to come out. He exited his house about five minutes later. "So, what was that about?"

"My father just wanted to cover some rules about what I can and cannot do at parties." Elliot explained as he sat a six-pack of beer on the back seat. "Like no drinking or doing drugs."

"What parent exactly expects a child to follow that rule? Besides, how would he know?" Olivia started the car, and then pulled off.

"Oh, he doesn't go to sleep, until his kids get back home. We don't have a curfew on weekends, but he wants to make sure that we get back. Then he does his test to see if we followed the rules." Olivia whistled as she smiled.

"Damn, you've got it bad."

"Doesn't your mom have rules?" Elliot found his window and was going to take advantage of it.

"Nope! I can do whatever I please whenever I please." She sped up and shifted the stick. As she kept one hand on the wheel she searched for something. "Elliot, can you open that glove department and see if there is a pack of cigarettes in it?"

Elliot pulled the pack of cigarettes out once he found them, and then handed it to her.

"Thank you." The pack of smokes was opened in no time and one was in her mouth. She rolled the window all the way down, and lit her cigarette.

"You're welcome. Whose party are we going to?"

"Someone you don't know." She said mysteriously.

AT THE PARTY

Olivia grabbed Elliot's hand as they moved through the crowd. It was difficult because Elliot was on crutches and people didn't want to move, but they did reluctantly. Even though they could barely move they manage to make it out the other side and exit through the patio door. Once they were out Olivia escorted Elliot to a table by the pool, and then went over to a cooler and got two beers.

"Olivia, what are you doing with those?" Elliot stared at Olivia as she tried to urge him to take the beer, but he repeatedly declined.

"I was trying to get us something to drink, but you obviously aren't thirsty." Olivia opened her beer, and then took a huge gulp.

"I am, but I don't drink underage." Elliot crossed his arms and looked her square in the eyes. "I don't disobey my parents rules."

"Oh, so you've never gotten in trouble for doing anything bad?"

"Never, I know not to disobey my parents."

"Well, from what I know about you…you're a devout Catholic. But, isn't that…going against what God has told you; what your parents have told you? I bet you are wondering what I'm talking about…sex. I'm talking about sex." Olivia paced back and forth in front of him. "Also, I bet your parents, especially your father is one of those people who tells you not to lie to them or don't lie in general. But, here you are lying to me. So, you are basically a liar and you are not only disobeying your earthly, but heavenly father as well. Isn't it a sin to disobey your parents?"

"That is a whole other thing." Elliot defended as he uncrossed his arms.

"No, it isn't. Just because you say it is doesn't make it true." Olivia ran a hand through her hair, and then cocked an eyebrow at him.

"I'm only human; we're not perfect, we make mistakes also."

"Exactly. I'm not trying to get on you or your religion, but you make it seem you are this perfect person who makes no mistakes. Making mistakes is apart of learning about life and experiences. If you never live you can never truly appreciate life. I'm not saying that you have to drink or do anything bad, but you play everything safe. Be spontaneous. Do something that you have never done before."

"Don't you think that you are the last person to be saying this to me? All you do is drink, have sex, party, and fight." Elliot regretted saying it as soon as it came out of his mouth. A fire soared in Olivia's eyes as she got up and tried to contain her anger, but it was too strong. A burst of energy surged through Olivia, and then she pushed the chair that Elliot was currently occupying into the pool and walked away.

"I don't have time for this shit." Olivia mumbled to herself.

Tell me what you think…