"What am I doing? This is not how things should be at all. You deserve so much more." Olivia Pope sat thinking to herself. She was completely enthralled in her thoughts. She was 21 years old, and a junior attending Indiana University, home of the Hoosiers. Olivia couldn't help but feel as if she was somehow, no longer living life to its fullest potential. On the surface, everything would appear to be well. Beneath, was a completely different story…
Preface
Olivia had been with Jacob "Jake" Ballard for a little over two years now. The pair met during freshman orientation. He was a handsome goofball from, Greenwood, IN. The two immediately hit it off. It was a comfortable relationship. She didn't know where exactly they would eventually end up, but he was kind and respected her. She fully trusted Jake. Olivia was grateful for a guy who understood her values and promises to herself. He'd never pressured her into anything she wasn't comfortable with. Olivia definitely felt safe with Jake. She'd never been so comfortable around the opposite sex before. Growing up without a father and very little male interactions within her family, she didn't always feel comfortable around many men.
However, there was another male in Olivia's life, one of her best friends, Harrison Quinton Wright. They'd been friends ever since ninth grade, Algebra. The two hit it off, due to him being the butt of majority of Olivia's jokes. He wasn't the most macho jock, type of guy. He took extra detail to his appearance and often time said things that made Olivia laugh with his somewhat whacky personality. Harrison was truly a character with a way of words. As dorky as he was with her, he definitely knew how to turn on the charm with the ladies. He and Olivia hung tough, platonically, throughout all of high school. Har was like the brother she never had. Even deciding to leave their hometown of Chicago, and attending the same university in Indiana.
Olivia also had another best friend, Amanda Tanner. Ultimate party girl! The two met freshman year, in Biology 101 when the professor paired them together. Olivia didn't think of herself as boring, by far. But add Amanda to the equation, and Olivia seemed like Mother Teresa, a saint, completely living up to her last name. Both girls were outgoing, just not in the same ways. Olivia was lively, attracted lots of different people. She was highly intelligent but never let that kill her social life either. She always made sure she was involved with many different groups, volunteer work, and was even captain of the swim team, back at her high school. Amanda was active as well. She mostly stuck with dance related activities though. Dance was one of the only extracurricular activities to ever hold her attention, next to student government. She was beyond lively, mostly referred to as a loud mouth around campus. A mouth that often times got her in altercations with other girls. Not to mention, Amanda had a bit of a reputation with the guys. Many would question Olivia, as to how the two could be so close.
To be honest, Olivia couldn't quite put into words what it was about Amanda that clicked with her. She also didn't feel the need to explain their friendship. She liked Amanda, choosing not to judge her for the things she did. They always had fun together, she was always there for her, and Olivia even believed she was good for Amanda. Her personal life was hers to live however she chose, and Olivia wouldn't interfere unless she was asked or it was a crisis.
Harrison was one of the many people who didn't understand why Olivia dealt with Amanda, who was now her roommate. He didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. He hated that she was always around. But bit his tongue because Olivia genuinely seemed to take a liking to the girl. Plus, she made for a good buffer when he didn't feel like playing a third wheel to Olivia and Jake. Or Olake, as many of their friends liked to tease.
Olivia was enjoying her collegiate experience, thus far. She had a boyfriend who adored her, two best friends who maybe didn't always get along but were always there for her, and incredible grades, consistently remaining on the Dean's List, at the top of her class. She had everything she could ever wish for at this point in time in life. Everything seemed to be on the up and up. Perfect was not a word used often, but she guessed her present life was pretty damn close. She was truly a good person and that probably had a lot to do with positive karma and affirmations she was receiving. Is Olivia Pope's life too "perfect?"
Stay tuned.