It's clear you didn't study for this, Fitz scribbled across the top of the test. He took a bite of his sandwich before continuing his red pen. I suggest dropping this course, if you cannot draw something as menial as a Punnett Square. At the end of his message he wrote the student's failing grade.

A knock interrupted his grading session.

"Come in."

The door swung open, and a woman stepped across the threshold. She was dressed in business attire, a white blouse complimenting her dark slacks. Her hair was in a tight bun, and she had the slightest trace of makeup on. She couldn't have been more than thirty-five.

He waited for her to speak. When she remained silent, he put a hand to his head, pulling off his reading glasses. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Are you Fitzgerald Grant?" He gestured to his nameplate. She looked at the block lettering of his name before meeting his eyes. She took a step forward and held out her hand.

"I'm Olivia Pope."He didn't take her proffered hand, and she dropped it to her side.

He didn't want to rush the brunette, but his planning block was coming to an end and he desperately needed to finish grading the tests before his next class. "What can I do for you?"

"You should have received an e-mail earlier this morning from the principal. The English department is renovating their entire first floor; all of the teachers with offices there are being relocated for the month." She walked to the edge of the desk, placing her fingertips against the cool metal top. "I'm going to be your office-mate." She gave him an uncertain smile.

"No," he muttered.

"No, what?"

"I'm sorry, but that's just not happening."

Her hands shot to her hips. "You're not really in a position to argue, Mr. Grant. The department has issued the notice, and the principal has already approved and made the necessary arrangements."

"Look here, Ms. Pope, I'm not one to be trifled with. I am the best biology professor at this damn academy and I will not be sharing my office with anyone." He picked his pen up and grabbed the next test. When he finished failing another student, he looked up. "You're still here."

"Listen, Grant. I don't like this any more than you do. I've heard all the rumors about what an ass you are, and you're not doing anything to make me think differently. Let's just hope your credentials can get you out of this one."

The door slammed shut, and Fitz released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

/

The autumn air bit at Fitz, and he hastened to zip up his jacket. His office was on the far side of campus, and each morning he had to make the chilly trek from the parking lot.

It was a beautiful time at Westside Academy; the leaves that were still clinging onto the trees were a deep shade of red, contrasting with the gray stone of the academic buildings. By the time he reached his office, his cheeks and ears were a slight shade of red. He was feeling better than he had in weeks, but as soon as he reached the door of his office his mood made an abrupt turn for the worse. While he hadn't completely forgotten about Ms. Pope, he hadn't thought she would be ballsy enough to actually move her stuff into his office.

But there it was, all laid out, perfectly organized. She had split the room in two, her desk running parallel to his. She hadn't touched any of his things, but he felt violated all the same.

It wasn't long after he had finished making his tea that he heard her coming down the hallway, her heels clacking against the tiled floor. She held a steaming cup of coffee in her hand, and a book in the other.

"Good morning," she greeted, setting both items down on her desk. Fitz glared as she settled down and began to prepare for her first class. She scrawled a few notes into the book before noticing that Fitz hadn't looked away.

"What?"

"I can't believe you actually moved your stuff in," he told her. She gave him an off-handed shrug and took a sip of her coffee. "Don't get too comfortable," he warned. "I'm going to talk to the principal today and see if we can't fix this disaster."

She slammed her book against the table. "Look, Grant, I don't like this any more than you do, but at least I've accepted that we're stuck together until the first of November. Believe me, I am counting the days until I can go back to my own damn office. At least I'm trying to make this work. Would it kill you to be a little nicer?"

"You invaded my office without my permission, and you expect me to be a little nicer?" He was standing, now, his hands clenched against the edge of his desk. "Don't take offense to this, Pope, but I'm not entirely sure why they paired you up with me. For God's sake, I have a M.S. in biology and you have, what, a B.A. in education? I worked my ass off to get to where I am now, and I earned the right to have this office all to myself."

She leapt to her feet, her chair flying behind her and crashing into the wall. "Whatever you're trying to say, just say it."

"What I teach is more important. Science requires a rigid lesson plan, and I make sure that my students are the best in the school. What do you do? Sit around and have 'discussions' on a book I bet half your students didn't even read. Not that you could tell the difference. English classes just teach students how to successfully bullshit their way to an A."

Their faces were inches apart.

"Did you fail English 101, Grant? Huh? Is that what this is really about? You don't know the first thing about literature, so don't pretend you do." The eight o'clock bell rang, pulling the two from their argument. Classes began in thirty minutes, and students were beginning to come into the building. Fitz gathered his papers and left the room.

*waves* Hi! I'm not a new scandal viewer by any means, but I'm new to the whole writing gig. If you'd like me continue just send me a quick review. I know this one is pretty short. :) ~S