AN: Let me just say, I thank you all so much for your support, I truly do. I'm glad you all liked the first chapter and I hope that I'm able to keep you guys' attention. I know this might upset you all, but I've temporarily decided to take a break from Rescue Me. Only because of where I plan to go with the plot, I have to familiarize myself with a lot of information to ensure that everything comes out the way it's supposed to. And since the end of the semester is drawing nearer, I'm finding myself a lot more busier. I honestly can't say for sure when you guys will get an update, but it won't be past December (that's for certain). I didn't wanna leave you guys cold turkey, so I figured this story could fill in for a bit. Sounds good?

Oceans00711girl: I was wondering if anyone was gonna catch that lol

Again, thank you all so much for your kind support! Hope you all enjoy. btw, it's Scandal Thursday! Can't wait to see how Operation Remington unfolds. Can I just say, I still don't think Maya's dead...maybe she's hiding from Rowan in a cave somewhere? Idk lol


"Hello ladies, this is my longtime friend and coworker Fitzgerald Grant, and I'm Jake Ballard, not from State Farm", he said, eliciting a fit of giggles from Abby. "And who might you two beauties be?"

"I'm Abby Whelan and this is my best friend and roommate Olivia Pope", she answered quickly. The both of them seemed to be speaking directly to each other while Fitz and Olivia sat in silence.

"Ahh, Abby and Olivia. Might I offer you two some drinks?"

"No thanks. We've already ordered", Olivia piped up, her voice lined with a bit of attitude.

"What she meant to say...", Abby said, giving Olivia a mean side-eye, "...is that you guys should order drinks for yourself. We can all enjoy the evening together, right Liv?"

"I guess", she said grumpily, taking another sip of her water. The table suddenly fell quiet, an awkward silence spread between the four of them. A few moments later, the waitress came by to give the ladies their drinks, then taking orders from the men.

Abby and Jake seemed to be in their own little world as they engaged in conversation. He would say some corny joke and Abby would respond by laughing. He'd move a little closer to her, finding some way to make skin to skin contact and her cheeks would turn a shade of rosy pink as she blushed at his advances.

Olivia sat in silence, staring at the both of them in disgust. She wasn't hating on Abby and Jake at all, but he just didn't rub her the right way. For the few minutes he had been in her presence, he turned her off. He seemed cocky and the only thing he was interested in was what laid between Abby's legs. She just knew she'd have to be there to pick up the pieces of Abby's heart once Jake had shattered it. She was so tempted to leave the table, but she was blocked in by Fitzgerald. She was taken aback by his looks and strangely, he made her nervous. So, there she sat, fuming inside of her head.

He couldn't believe how beautiful she was. Her face was fresh and makeup free, unlike her friends', and it had it's own radiance to it. She was the definition of a natural beauty; smooth, mocha-toned skin, high cheekbones, huge dark brown doe eyes, and those pouty lips that were practically begging for his attention. It was nearly impossible for him to not peak at her from the corner of his eye; her shoulders hunched and her face stamped with disapproval. He almost laughed out loud; he knew she could see right through Jake, unfortunately her friend couldn't.

"Why are you two so quiet?", Jake asked, softly nudging Fitz's foot under the table.

"Long day", Olivia sighed.

"Might I ask what made your day so long?", he asked, trying to include her in the conversation.

"Work", she answered bluntly.

"What is it that you do?", Fitz jumped in the conversation, seeing that Olivia was very annoyed and he didn't want to cause any trouble at the table. After all, they did impose on the girls' dinner.

"I'm a dancer", she said softly in his direction.

"What, like a stripper?", Jake blurted out, causing Abby to lightly punch him in shoulder as she laughed.

"No silly, we dance. Olivia owns a dance studio in the Bronx. It's not too far from here, only about a twenty minute walk", Abby responded before starting her own private conversation with Jake again. Olivia was grateful that Abby answered for her because she was absolutely sure it wasn't going to come out so sweet.

"You dance? That's...interesting", Fitz said.

"How is that...interesting?", she asked him, the annoyance returning again.

"Not in a bad way. I apologize. I mean, you dance, you own a studio right here. Is it well-known?".

"Not exactly, but we have a good enough turn out. Why? What do you do?"

"Jake and I work for Hypetown Magazine. Not sure if you've ever heard of it, but it's basically a promotional magazine. We're based in Miami and we moved out here for the grand opening of the New York branch".

"Hypetown?!", Olivia nearly shouted out, not only disrupting Abby and Jake, but also the people seated at the tables nearby. "Umm, I mean, Hypetown?", she said, smiling apologetically when she noticed that everyone was looking in her direction. "As in THE Hypetown magazine? The one that features and promotes local underground talent?"

"Yes, THAT Hypetown", Fitz answered her, a bit surprised that she had some knowledge of the magazine afterall.

"Oh my God Liv, isn't that the magazine that we get delivered to the studio? The one that you basically snatch out of anyone's hands unless you've read it first? The one you've just been dying to get the girls in?"

"Well, yeah", she blushed, embarrassed that Abby made her seem like some crazy obsessed fan. "What do you guys do there?"

"Well, Fitzy and I have been working for the magazine ever since its launch. We've held a great relationship with the CEO over the years and when he decided to branch out to New York and Cali, he sent us here to be the co-head of the communications department".

"Ooohhh, communications, that sounds fancy!", Abby said, leaning in closer to Jake. "So, what do you do?"

"I'm the PR guy. Basically, I get paid to make the company look good, which isn't much of a hard job to do with this face of mine", he smiled, causing both Olivia and Fitz to roll their eyes simultaneously. "And Fitzy here...", he continued, "...handles all the marketing".

"Marketing, as in...?", Olivia asked.

"Just the overall promotion for the magazine. I also handle the social media sector".

"Like Twitter?"

"Yeah. You know, posting links to articles, uploading behind-the-scene pics from photoshoots on Instagram, posting video clips on YouTube... the whole nine".

"Wow, that seems so... interesting", she said sarcastically, a hint of a smile on her face as she poked fun at what he had said to her earlier.

"So, can you guys get us in your magazine?"

"Abby...", she quietly scolded her, feeling embarrassed at her friend's inappropriateness.

"What? I mean, it's clearly fate that we met Jake and Fitz here tonight when you're practically obsessed with their magazine. I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem setting up an interview, right?"

"I don't see why not", Jake said, finally finding a potential bait to help reel Abby in. "We are starting to scout out potential talent for our first New York issue. I guess that maybe it was fate that let me see you walking through that door tonight", he spoke directly to Abby. "How about you and I go outside and let these two discuss the details, no?"

"Sure", she said, smiling at him bashfully, moving to get out of the booth, with Jake tailing along behind her. "You two have fun, we'll be outside", she winked at Olivia as they made their way out the door.

"I'm sorry about that. She can be a little pushy. You guys don't have to put me in the magazine, it's no big problem", Olivia said shyly to Fitz once they were both alone.

"No, it's totally fine. It would be nice to feature you, our first local talent in a new area."

"Really?", her eyes lit up as she smiled at him.

"Sure. I mean, not only would I be helping you and your studio get recognition, you would be helping me look good for my boss for finding our cover story for the new issue on our first night in town".

"Cover? You'd put us on the cover?!"

"We can work something out", he smiled at her, her happiness infectious.

"Oh my God! Thanks so much Fitzgerald! I don't know how I'd ever repay you!"

"You're welcome. And please, call me Fitz. You can repay me by being my company while I order something to eat. Have you eaten? I'm starving and I haven't done any grocery shopping since we landed today. Plus, I doubt those two are gonna be coming back tonight. How about we order some food. My treat?"

"That would be nice, Fitz". He got up to move to the other side of the booth so he was able to sit in front of her, and they smiled at each other while looking over their menus.