"Why do you never have homework?" Olivia asked one evening a few weeks later as she sat on her bed and studied while Fitz played a game on the computer.
He turned in her office chair.
"I do."
"What's up, Captain Mystery?"
He laughed.
"Seriously," Olivia pressed.
"It's easy for me. It doesn't take long. I'm usually finished in an hour or less."
She put her pencil behind her ear.
"With all of it? Reading, assignments, studying?"
He nodded.
"What aren't you saying?" she said, pulling herself closer to the edge of the bed and closer to him.
He sighed heavily. "Liv, it's not a big deal."
"So out with it!" She made a cute gesture with her hand.
He knew he'd have to tell her. He loved her. It was bound to come out at some point.
"School has always been relatively easy for me. I'm a fast reader, the work comes naturally, that kind of thing."
"School's relatively easy for me, too, but you don't see me playing old school video games on the computer every night." She crossed her arms impatiently.
"I love you," he said, smiling. "You're adorable when you're annoyed with me."
She took the pencil out from behind her ear and threw it at him.
"Fitz! Come on."
He rolled himself to her and pulled her onto his lap.
"Fine. There's not much more to say, no label to share really. I've just always been smart. So school is easy."
"What do you mean, you've always been smart? Like genius smart?"
He played with her hair.
"I wouldn't go that far. Smart enough to have been able to graduate high school early if I wanted. Smart enough to go to school pretty much wherever I wanted. Smart enough to make homework easy."
"What's your IQ?"
"Liv."
"What is it? Or your SAT score."
"It doesn't matter."
"I love you. Why won't you share this with me?" she was being serious now.
"Because it makes me uncomfortable! It doesn't change anything. You know me. Isn't that enough?"
"It makes me uncomfortable that you feel like my feelings about you would change if you tell me you got a 2200 on the SATS and have an IQ of 120."
He sighed. "2240, 132."
"What?!" she jumped off of his lap.
"You're doing it! See?" he said incredulously.
"Doing what?"
"Judging me."
"Of course I am. Because this just confirms what I already knew, which is that I made an excellent choice in a boyfriend."
He shook his head. But he was pleased that she wasn't asking him questions to test his intelligence. That had been the typical response when people found out.
"Holy shit, Fitz. That's incredible. And yet you're in the humanities classes. If you were my dad's kid, he would have flipped that you weren't a scientist."
"No, my dad just wants me to run the ranch. He's never been impressed by what the psychologists or teachers said. It didn't affect him."
Olivia returned to his lap.
"I'm sorry. It's his loss that he doesn't fully understand all of your gifts."
She put her hands on either side of his face.
"I'd love you if you were a dunce. But I also kind of love that you are freakishly smart."
"You would absolutely not love me if I were a dunce. I wouldn't have gotten you off of that lounge chair last spring."
She thought for a minute.
"That's true, you're right. But you know what I mean."
"I do."
"So, when can I ask you to do my homework for me? Six months?"
He stood up and threw her on the bed.
"And so it begins," he said, as she laughed. He spent the next hour making her forget homework, and the world outside of her bedroom, existed.
The next morning, she rolled over and watched him sleeping. She was so content in his arms, so warm, even though the chilly October air was coming in through the slightly open window of her bedroom.
She knew he was grappling with what to do about his dad's ultimatum. She hated his dad for doing this to him, and she hadn't even met him. She could tell that Fitz, being the good man she knew him to be, was really struggling with what to do. He had worked hard, despite what she now knew was his extreme smartness, and he had dreams for himself. But he also loved his family. She could relate, though not in nearly as serious of a way.
She had called her mother right after visiting with her dad and gotten all of the details. It was her dad's lack of control that was bothering him, and so his visit had been a way for him to exert the only power he felt he had left. But her mom had sounded happy, if not a little bit dazed.
So Olivia was in a groove. She was nailing her classes. She loved every minute with Fitz. She was socializing a little more with her roommates. They were even hosting a get-together, not a party, but a get-together the upcoming weekend. It felt like everything was in place, and that left her plenty of time to worry about Fitz's situation.
He stirred next to her.
"Morning," she whispered.
"Hi," he said, kissing her softly on the lips.
"Do you want to go first?" she asked. They both had 10:00 classes and they had a getting-ready routine.
"Sure," he said with his eyes still closed.
She put her hand on his side under the covers.
"Cold! Liv! I thought you loved me!" he said, opening his eyes and smiling.
"Just helping the process along a bit," she said innocently.
"I'll shower, but I actually need to stop at the law library before class."
"Why?"
"I want to look up a couple of things regarding the sale of the ranch. The internet, I don't trust it."
She traced his lips with her finger. "I love you."
"I love you," he said, simultaneously pulling her on top of him and then rolling her to underneath him.
"Five minutes," she said, in as a serious a tone as she could muster.
"Yes, ma'am" he said, and he slowly entered her waiting body to help them both have a good start to the day.
Fitz learned his dad had every right to sell the ranch because everything was in his name. He had hoped to find that some deed was in the name of his grandfather or someone else to try and prevent the sale, at least.
On his way out of a British history course, Fitz stopped to say hello to a former classmate and then found a cement bench to collect his thoughts. When he heard his name being called, he found it was Emily, Olivia's roommate.
"Hi there," she said, sitting next to him on the bench.
"Hi yourself," he said, giving her a nudge. "Coming from the history building?"
"Yes, actually. I'm contemplating a minor."
"Do you have time? Will journalism let you do that?"
"That's what I'm trying to figure out," she said, organizing her belongings in her backpack.
"Why?" Fitz asked.
"Why what?"
"What the minor?"
"Oh. Well, I'm trying to set myself apart, I guess. I want to be a broadcaster, and being well-rounded is an asset. Don't you think?"
"It couldn't hurt, assuming your other classes don't suffer."
"Thanks, Dad," she said sarcastically, nudging him. Her nudge didn't feel as friendly as his had. Hers felt forced. Planned.
"Well," he said, not really knowing what else to say. He never could talk to women. Except Liv. "I better run. I'll see you around, I'm sure."
"Definitely," she said, brushing her hair out of her face.
He wondered why she was looking at him like that. But he had another class, so he made his way across the lawn and forgot about it.
Olivia stood outside of her professor's office with her paper in her hand. It had an 'A-' at the top, and she was generally satisfied. But she had stopped by to ask about one of his comments. She was always looking for ways to improve.
"Olivia, hey!" she heard Emily calling her.
"Em, hi," she said, putting the paper in her folder. "Class is in a few. Where were you?
"Just around. Ran into Fitz, actually."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. He gave me some great advice about my history minor, seems like he'd be willing to help me out in any way he can."
Olivia kept her poker face, but wondered what that meant.
"Great. You're going to be so busy, I hope it's manageable for you."
"I think it will be," Emily said. "We should get to class."
They walked together. Olivia was happy that Emily wasn't still upset about the B she had received on her paper. They only had two classes together that semester, and soon their paths would diverge even more, but she knew Emily was competitive and didn't want it to come in the way of their friendship.
The party at Olivia's house was in full swing. It had definitely become a full-blown party as the week had progressed. More people invited, more alcohol purchased from an anonymous source (Fitz, but not, in the event that it was broken up and the police asked). There was a group playing board games at the small kitchen table, and a group playing cards. Some people were standing on the small front porch. Olivia and Fitz had just been eliminated from the game and were making their way outdoors for a walk when Emily stopped them. She had consumed a large amount of alcohol. They all had, though Emily seemed particularly inebriated.
"Where are you guys headed?" she asked, swaying a little bit.
"Just for a walk," Olivia said as she put on her jacket.
"You and your walks," Emily slurred. "What's so great about them? Isn't it the same every time?"
Olivia giggled. "Fresh air. Quiet. You know."
"I guess," she said, giving Fitz an odd look.
"What?" he looked at her.
"When are we going to have dinner to talk about history things?" she asked.
"Dinner?" Fitz seemed genuinely confused.
"Yeah. You, me, history. I'm sure there's a lot you can teach me. You don't mind, right, Olivia?"
"No, of course not. If you think Fitz might help you in the department, sure."
"See, Fitz? Don't look like such a scared puppy."
"I'm not," he said. "I just didn't know we had decided on having dinner."
Emily stumbled and batted her eyelashes. Olivia noticed.
"I mean, if you're scared of being alone, we can just meet here. You know where to find me. That's okay, right, Liv?" Emily placed emphasis on Fitz's nickname for her. That's when it all clicked. Before Fitz was forced to answer, she grabbed his hand.
"Talk to you later, Em," she said, playing cool.
When they were a short distance away, she stopped and Fitz looked at her.
"What the hell just happened?" he asked, bewildered. It was a combination of the alcohol and Emily's questions.
"It's pretty obvious. She likes you."
"Ha!" he said, pulling Olivia in for a deep kiss. "She doesn't stand a chance."
"I would hope not. But she's obviously trying to get to you. I didn't think she was that kind of person."
"Everyone is if it gets them ahead, Liv. That I know for sure."
"But we're friends. It's weird, right?"
"Oh, it's definitely weird. But who cares? She's drunk, and she's not you. So you'll smoke her in journalism classes, and she'll be shut down by me. It's all good."
His hands were everywhere, and it felt good. But Olivia's mind was preoccupied.
"Liv, come on," Fitz said, pulling back enough to look into her beautiful eyes.
"I just don't understand."
"Because you're naïve."
Olivia was immediately offended and started to protest.
"I am too, I am too! You see the best in people. And you haven't had a lot of people or friends to let you down. But Emily clearly has it out for you. You're too smart. And too beautiful. And the only woman in the world I want to be with, whether it's to talk about school or to take drunken walks at midnight."
"She has it out for me?"
He stood back a little bit and nodded.
"Why though? I just don't get it. Sure, we're both journalism majors, and I usually do slightly better than her in classes, but," Olivia began.
"There you go! She's jealous. And she had you as her homebody roommate, but now you've gone out and snagged yourself a smashing boyfriend. You, Olivia Pope, have it all. Now let's make out."
Olivia couldn't help but laugh.
"You really are a genius. You're drunk and you came up with that. It would have taken me days to get there."
"Thank you. Shall we?" he said, stepping closer to her and leaning her carefully against a tree.
She nodded and put her arms around her neck.
"I love you so much," he said between kisses.
When Olivia awoke the next morning in Fitz's arms, she replayed the previous night's events in her mind. Had it all happened the way she remembered? Had Emily, one of her best friends at Northwestern, really thrown herself at Fitz? Was she trying to make Olivia jealous, or trying to mess up her schoolwork? Fitz's points had made sense. But that Emily would do any of those things was upsetting. Maybe she was naïve. No, she knew she was, about this, at least.
"Hey," Fitz said, pulling her close. "Go back to sleep. You aren't going to solve the Emily problem before 8am."
"How do you know that's what I'm thinking about? Maybe I'm thinking about something else, something like foreign policy or global warming."
She could feel him smile into her shoulder.
"No way. You're in solving mode. It's who you are."
She sighed.
"Come on, Liv," he said, rolling on top her. "Relax. Let's sleep a little longer, and then we'll come up with a plan to annihalte her."
"Fitzgerald Grant, this is not a video game."
"Fine. A plan to take her down!"
Olivia laughed.
"Bring her to her knees! Show her who's boss! The wrath of God!"
Olivia covered her mouth so as not to wake her roommates, even her traitorous ones, with her laughter.
"I love you," she said when she could catch her breath. "I'm glad you're on my side."
"Always," he said.
They snuggled and slept for another 90 minutes before devising a way to fix the Emily situation.
That evening Olivia took a study break and made herself some popcorn in the house's small kitchen. Jo was in the family room watching a movie, and Emily came out of her room when she smelled the popcorn.
"Mind if I take a small bowl?" she asked.
"Not at all," Olivia said, pouring some out of the bag into the bowl Emily was holding. "How're you feeling?"
"Oh, fine. Still a little woozy. I drank way too much. I don't even know what happened after a certain point."
Olivia nodded quietly. This was the moment. She had practiced sounded nonchalant and this was it.
"Oh I know. I remember leaving to take a walk and not much else. Fitz and I were trying to piece it together but it's pretty foggy."
Olivia saw Emily stop mixing the salt on her popcorn.
"Right, right. I kind of remember you guys leaving to take a walk. You really don't remember anything else?"
Olivia shook her head. "I mean, I remember kissing Fitz. Outside, and in my room. But that's about it." She almost broke, but she kept a straight face.
"What a night, huh?" Emily said, walking slowly out of the kitchen. She stopped in the doorway. "When you guys were reviewing the night, did Fitz mention anything about helping me with my minor?"
Olivia pretended to rack her brain.
"Actually, yeah. He said you had mentioned maybe wanting to talk about classes or something."
"And?"
"And what?" Olivia asked.
"Will he?"
"I don't know. I'm not his keeper. You'll have to talk to him about it."
"Well I did last night, and you both said it was okay."
"I thought you didn't remember last night?"
"Well, I mean, I remember that part. I just was wondering if it was still, you know," Emily trailed off.
"If it's appropriate for you to throw yourself at Fitz, in front of me, because you think he'll help you get ahead somehow?"
"I wasn't throwing myself at him, Olivia," Emily said. She said it in the way she had spoken to her last year when she was trying to give her social skills lessons in the dorm.
"Oh trust me, you were."
"So you remember, too?"
"Of course I do, Em. I remember you asking him to a dinner he never agreed to. And asking if I minded. And batting your eyelashes. And I tried to figure out why you would do those things. And given that I'm smarter than you, and my boyfriend is smarter than both of us, it didn't take long for me to figure it out."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Of course you don't. You were too drunk to remember, right? So let me just fill you in. Fitz will help you if you truly want to minor in history. I'm sure he can tell you about teachers, coursework, that kind of thing. But he and I are both pretty well aware that you have an ulterior motive, so you can stop with this act," she said, gesturing toward Emily and making a disgusted face, "and stop trying to outdo me, because it's not going to happen."
Emily stood there stunned. Olivia could see Jo's eyes wide on the couch as she watched the exchange.
"Wow, Olivia. You get a boyfriend and you think you're hot shit. Who was there for you last year when you were nobody?"
"Well, you were. But it's clear that didn't mean that much to you if you were so willing to use my boyfriend against me in the hopes of what, getting a better grade in class? Or making me jealous?"
"Shut up! You're such a know-it-all." And with that, Emily was in her room, slamming the door behind her. Jo walked to the kitchen.
"Um, that was epic," she said.
"I feel bad," Olivia said.
"It didn't sound like it. And she deserved it. She's been jealous of you all along. Someone needed to call her on it."
"Honestly, Jo, I was hoping I was wrong."
Jo gave her a short hug.
"Olivia, you just gave Emily a verbal smack down. Even if you had been wrong, it still would have been epic. And you were right. She needed to be stopped. I told her to leave Fitz out of it, but she seemed determined."
"It's okay, not your problem. But she was a good friend to me. I don't understand."
"She's a good friend, but she's competitive. And she has a lot of pressure from her parents to do well in this major or they'll make her switch. I think it just got to her. I'm not excusing her behavior at all, but you know what I mean," Jo said.
"I do. I know what that pressure can feel like. I just wish, I don't know, I wish it hadn't gone down like that."
"I know, because you're a good person. And so is she. You just have to let this simmer down and see how it plays out."
Olivia nodded and took her popcorn upstairs. She called Fitz immediately and whispered him an update. He congratulated her and seconded Jo's sentiment that it had to be done. Olivia knew it was true, and if she was being honest with herself, it had felt pretty good to watch Emily squirm. But she didn't have a lot of friends, and the number of people she trusted was now smaller than it had been thirty minutes ago. She finished her reading and fell asleep, without Fitz, for the first time in days. It was difficult at first, but she eventually created a wall of pillows to fill the space next to her and dreamt of swimming and sunshine. When she woke up, she wondered why she wasn't more upset about her confrontation with Emily. It was surprising that it had been so easy for her to do it because she had little to no experience with it. But, it appeared, she was better at it than she had expected.
Fitz slept horribly without Olivia. When she was around, he was able to calm his mind. He focused on her, and it helped the things that stressed him out melt away. But without her, he laid in bed thinking about his home, his family and what to do. It was against his nature to allow his father to blackmail him into a life he didn't want. But it also felt wrong to let down people he loved and cared about deeply, namely his mother and sister.
He tossed and turned all night. He even went so far as to get out of bed and pace to see if that helped clear his thoughts. One glance at the calendar on the wall reminded him he was nearing his dad's deadline.
He had thought about, and discussed with Olivia and his roommates, if there were any way he could do both. Run the ranch and be a professor. But he didn't want to live in Oklahoma, so that would be a compromise. He had already asked his father for more time, and that wasn't happening. So even with all the pacing, tossing and turning, he always ended up in the same place he had started.
When he woke up, he knew what he had to do. He called his sister first to give her a warning of the wrath she would certainly be party to at Thanksgiving. Then he called his mother, who characteristically didn't answer. His final call was to his father, and Fitz told him that he would not be coming home to live on and oversee the ranch, despite his father's blackmail attempts. With one final click of the phone, after being told he was not welcome at Thanksgiving dinner, Fitz had made his choice.
