"Abby why haven't we gone out before?"

"Because I don't go out with big dumb jocks!"

"How does my early acceptance into Harvard equate to me being dumb?"

"Semantics' Fitz! You're a one-off, but it still doesn't belay that you belong to the almighty popular sect and you're not my type! Does that bruise your overly handsome face?"

Fitz had known Abby his entire life. She lived three doors down and she had gone to school with him from the beginning. She always had a sharp tongue and wit for that matter and a boldness that always surprised him and delighted him at the same time. He had thought her this way because of her fiery red hair. In a sense she had been his gimminy cricket.

His mom said that Abby tempered him because he grew up in a household full of men. Fitz was the oldest of five very boisterous boys. Other than his mother his mother Abby had been a mainstay in his life. Although she loved to voice her opinion it also got her into a lot of trouble that Fitz thought it his duty to either get her out of or protector from the inevitable backlash she suffered on a daily basis at school.

Abby on the other hand was an only child her parents doted on. She got her bravery from their never-failing support of her. Opinionated as she was it propelled her in her studies and debate skills. She was world-class in the district, but her one opponent she could not bring to heel was one Olivia Pope.

Abbey was not petty in her admiration of Olivia, it was pure respect. Any one that could outwit and out fox Abby had her admiration.

"So fish stick, are you coming to my last regional debate?" Fish stick being the name Abby had given Fitz in the first grade.

"Wow, with a glowing invitation like that how can I refuse! Will I get to see the mythical Olivia Pope wipe the floor with you?"

"Humm, you just might see the only person I know that can out talk me! Three years in a row she's had her way with me and she going down this year!"

"Abby you say that every year and you come back with second every time. Listen fish stick you are my secret weapon this year!"

"I'm still listening to you?"

"For once in my life your overly good looks are going to pay off for me. I'm going to strategically place you in the front row in her direct line of sight. Hence you stun her into an almost catatonic state while I swoop in for the kill!"

"That's your plan Abby? Well although I think I'm offended, I'm only going along so I can once again clean up the mess ms. Pope will leave once she's trounced you. Also, to get a look at this Olivia Pope!"

Three weeks later Abby and Fitz arrived at the concert hall downtown to take part in the school district regional debate finals. Abby per her usual mo made it to the last round as well as Olivia. Since most of the rounds had been conducted in small rehearsal rooms, Fitz and Abby hadn't seen Olivia yet, but Abby knew she was going to be there. So no surprise when she was notified that was actually the case. So Abby made sure which podium she would occupy before placing Fitz in the right seat.

Abby was no fool about how devastating handsome Fitz was. Most mean girls left her alone because they knew how closes she and Fitz were. Abby regarded Fitz as nothing more than a brother, but she never failed to use it to her advantage. No girl could resist him and she was banking on Olivia to fall into her little trap. Regardless of how much of twinge she got from using Fitz, he was a really good guy who indulged her whims. She would go as far to say that she loved him for it. As much as he protected her, so was Sheena war princess when it came to any wench who tried to break his heart.

Fitz sat in the audience debating to take her to their favorite ice cream shop or just take her home and let her winge all night about her hair brain scheme. Fitz was in his own world when the participants came on stage, he heard Abby Wheland from Northeast high and Olivia Pope from parkland heights. Fitz had given the thumbs up and turned his gaze to Olivia and he thought his heart stopped. Once more she was staring directly into his eyes. He appeared to have acquired tunnel vision and all sound had been sucked out of the concert hall! He felt as though he had been pinned to his seat by her beautiful gaze. She had shoulder length hair that accentuated her perfectly heart shape face. Her skin was a perfect shade of Carmel he had ever seen. Those lips! He could see his entire future in those lips.

Abby watched the interplay between Fitz and Olivia and she smiled in a kind of mission accomplished sort of way. This was her year!

Olivia knew she was going to trounce Abby again this year, but she was totally unprepared for what was sitting in her line of sight! Those eyes were so blue she could see herself swimming in them. He had the prettiest curly black hair that should be allowed on a man, and that face was so handsome it was almost to painful to stare into. She had no idea she had held her breath until the moderator called her name for the second time asking her to confirm the rules. She had no time for this! She needed this last win to seal her legacy in the district as top dog for four years running. Her father Rowan had taught her to push any distraction from her mind and to focus on the task at hand.

It was a hair brained scheme to begin with but the entire scheme backfired on Abby in a colossal way. She didn't win one point or counter point. She was soundly trounced. There should have been a mercy rule, but Abby weathered it like a true champion.

Fitz thought he should comfort Abby, but he was consumed with meeting Olivia. He made his way on to the stage with all the other well wishers. He fought hand and tooth to get to Olivia when he got to her Abby was by her side laughing! Not what he had expected by any means. Abby looked up and told Fitz to come over.

"Olivia, this was my secret weapon I unleashed on you. This is Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III! Or commonly known as fish stick!"

Fitz blushed a new shade of red. The girls giggled uncontrollable at Fitz.

Olivia got a closer look at Fitz and she thought him a hell of a lot more handsome. "So what do you have to say for yourself being used and objectified by Abby?"

Fitz was taken aback by her question and shifted from one foot to the other.

Before he could answer, Olivia's burst out in a fit of laughter. "Fitz, take it easy it was meant as a cleaver joke to Impress you."

Again he was rocked back on his heels by her candor.

"Come on Liv give the kid a break, he's never been able to tell me no."

All of a sudden he flashed the goofiest grin for both that sent them into another fit of giggles.

"Come on Grant cat got your tongue? Abby tells me your as smart as you are good-looking. Harvard early entrance is nothing to sneeze at! I have the same early entrance as well. Play your cards right you could be in the same dorm as Abby and I."

"What? How? Wait a minute! Your telling me you and your nemesis are going to be roommates?"

"However Liv is my nemesis we struck a friendship after freshman year and we've kept in close contact and we find that we are kindred spirits who can keep each other honest and grounded. Much like how I do that for you."

"Wow, what a revelation! Well ladies may I take you out for an after debate ice cream since we will be glued to each other's hips for the next four years?"

Both gave him an enthusiastic nod and headed out the concert hall to Lucy's malt shop. As Fitz walked behind the two girls he admired Olivia's other assets from behind. His mind began to wonder in very carnal ways that he shouldn't. He knew one thing, his mission from now until they entered college was to make Olivia his and his alone. First plan of attack was to pump Abby for info.