Two stories in one day! The Lord is blessing! well as i stated in my other stories' AN, im sorry for the wait. please don't kill me. however you should focus on the story and the fact that scandal returns tonight. Enjoy and hopefully i'll update sooner rather than later. ~Lonnii

"But if the defendant had not gone to the party, the death would not have occurred. The defendant and the victim would not have crossed paths for the fight to even occur. The defendant is at fault." Lila challenged. The class hummed in agreement, a few nodding their head yes as well. Lila did make a good point. I looked around the class to see if anyone objected or had another outlook to add.

"Excuse me, I hate to disrupt the general opinion of the class but that statement can't be true. The defendant was lured into this situation by people he trusted. His own girlfriend being one of them. He was lured by his girlfriend and the deceased's girlfriend. Both women admitted they picked him up under false pretences. They agreed the deceased intentionally had the party so people could be around to watch the fight. The deceased wanted to humiliate the defendant. Have we all forgotten about the deceased criminal record?" A rustle of paper could be heard in the otherwise silent room. "Domestic violence, fighting, assault, assault, assault, family violence, possession, distribution, assault, assault, assault. The list goes on and on and on! The deceased should take a part in the blame." Olivia offered.

"Part of the blame? Are you serious? A man is dead. He is dead at the hands of your client, Olivia. He had the chance to leave and stop the fight but he did not. He chose to fight back and because of that, a man is dead." Lila shot back with a death glare.

Olivia turned in her seat to face Lila. A look of determination etched deep into her golden skin. The last time I seen that look, it was several moments before she had me admit I killed Big Tony during a mock trial session.

"Five, the party flyer that was passed around promised a "fighting good time."

Four, the deceased told his friends and anyone else that would listen that he would, and I quote, "beat his rugged, redneck, country ass" as soon as he arrived. The party and the fight was planned a when the defendant started dating the deceased sister.

Three, the deceased and defendent's parents was aware of the hatred. They tried to sit the deceased down to ease and diffuse the tension but the deceased refused.

Two, don't attempt to come back with all my points being hearsay. I have people who have made statements and are willing to attest to every piece of evidence I have listed.

And one, because I see the evil and twisted wheels in you head turning, DO NOT try to compare this to the Martin Case. It is a gross and detestable comparison and is nothing like this case. MY client, as you stated, chose not to walk away because he wasn't given the chance. The deceased threatened him, had his friends attack him first then introduced a weapon to the fight. My client had no choice but to defend himself.

So there in itself is where I blow your counter to bits. The case your trying to use is COMPLETELY different. The defendant in that case stalked the deceased and caused his death. My client defended himself which led to his death. So please, explain to us just how you can turn that case into this one?" Olivia stared at Lila smiling before turning around making her point even more. Now facing front, she crossed her legs, winking and me giving up a sexy smile too.

The room was cloaked in silence. Lila rolled her eyes, whispering bitch under her breath but not to low where Olivia could not her the taunt. I watched as Olivia held her head high not even giving any satisfaction to Lila's insult. Olivia licked her lips then rolled them together. To the untrained eye, she was letting the hater roll of her back. But to me, her neighbor and a close friend, Lila's words bothered her. I tried to offer a "Are you okay?" eyebrow in her direction. She gave me a slight nod then swiped her top lip with her finger.

Against my wished, my cheeks flushed red and for the first time, I knew this thing between Olivia and I wouldn't end well. I had never questioned how we would turn out but now, today, at this moment, when all I wanted to do was check Lila out of Harvard for calling Olivia a bitch, I knew it wouldn't be as easy as I thought.

"Fitzgerald! How have you been? I haven't seen you lately!"

I cringed a little and sighed heavily then smiled before turning around to face the blood sucking leech also known as Millicent. "How are you?" I asked.

"I am fine. I miss your company. Since the semester begin, I haven't seen much of you. And that says a lot! It's November! Speaking of, you know my Dad throws the annual holiday party. Will you be attending again this year?" Mellie leaned into me, almost thrusting her chest in my face. I tried to hide the utter disgust, disdain and contempt held towards her on the inside.

"I don't know Millicent. I was thinking about going home-"

"Nonsense! My father would be hurt and offended. You wouldn't want that would you?..."

I sighed. She really knows how to press buttons and twist knives. "No, we would not want-"

"So its settled. I'll see you at my father's estate this weekend." She squeezed my hand and smiled before she walked away. I shuddered at the coldness in the air thin out. That woman...she was not a good person. I didn't have any actual proof to that statement other than her father being a friend of Big Jerry. And anyone who was willing friends with Big Jerry and seeked out his counsel, they were not good people.

I turned away from her retreating frame looking at my watch. It was midterm times which meant I had to actually be in my office during office hours. I was completely booked with students worrying about their grades. My class was pretty straight forward and laid back. Only those who slacked all the way up until this point had a problem.

Olivia was not one of those people...one of those students. She finished her assignments and submitted them days if not a week in advance. She was always up for helping other students who were struggling. In general she was a good girl...woman...my friend...my confidant...my cheerleader...my private dancer...I gulp...my love.

I close the door to my office with a soft click. I could never tell her. I would never attempt. She would bolt to quickly. She wasn't ready the first night I met her. She wasn't ready the first day of class. She wasn't ready the day I found her dancing in her apartment. And she wasn't ready now.

I'm an older guy. I know what I want and when I want it. Even though she's younger than me, ten years to be exact, I want her. I'm ready to take the plunge into a relationship. I'm ready for the bad cooking and the lover's quarrels. I'm ready for the random items left at each other's apartment. Waking up next to each other. I'm ready for her. I sigh as a knock on the door pulling me out of my thoughts. It's time for my first student appointment of the afternoon. Let the begging begin...

"Have you told him yet?" Abby questioned while look about a pair of sparkly pumps.

"Told him what, Abby?" Olivia sighed. She already knew where Abby was headed.

"That you are dancing this weekend? A boyfriend usually wants to know that."

"He is not my boyfriend!" Olivia retorted.

"Yes he is." Abby said eyeing a pair of red pumps. She slipped them on trying her stability in them. If she was expected to dance for long hours, she was going to look good and feel good too. She offered them up to Olivia. She frowned shaking her head. "I don't even know why I try. You never where shoes when you dance."

"It goes along with my earthy feel."

"Earthy feel? You discovered a way to be a stripper and not strip. That's not earthy, it's genius. You should teach it to me. I've been dying to learn some new moves from you."

"Sure, we can get a private room at the gym tonight if you're free.' Olivia offered.

"Oh, you won't be with your boo?" Abby teased.

"He is not my personal boo-" Olivia tried to explain.

"I'm sorry, let me clarify. You're not hanging out with your non personal boo tonight?"

Olivia eyed Abby in anger before chuckling. "No, I'm not hanging out with him."

"Okay. We can do it then. But you should really tell him, Liv. Whether you wanna admit it or not, you guys have something going on. He would want to know. Talk to him." Abby looked at the time, "Damn, I'm going to be late for class. Text me the time and place for tonight."

"Okay..." Olivia absentmindedly answered thinking about what Abby was hinting at. Did Professor Grant like her? She knew he liked her but did he like her like her? She shook her head clear of the thought that was starting swarm in. No, not today.

"Cyrus, you have to help me." Fitz whined.

"What wrong?"

"Millicent. It's Millicent. She used guilt on me to agree to attend her father's holiday party. I was planning on spending it with my gir-grandma, grandmother, meemaw I mean." I'm stuttering and I'm sure Cyrus has caught on.

"You okay Fitzgerald?"

"I'm fine...why um why wouldn't I been?" Fitz questioned.

"You seem... distracted."

"No, not in the less bit. So are you going to help me or not?"

"I'm sorry, Fitzgerald. Her father already announced my presence to some of the other attendees. They called to asked which "lovely lady" I was bringing on my arm." Cyrus replied with disgust.

"Cyrus, you really should let the cat out of the bag already. It's time. The DOMA things was struck down, gay marriages are at an all time high. Hell, in two states they even legalized weed! This country is changing man!"

"Yea it is. It's just too damn bad the people changing it isn't the old guard that will be at the party."

Fitz's mind went back to Olivia. Him walking into an event with her on his arm. Things would not end well. "So are we going stag or shall we attend in each other's company? Fitz questioned.

"Oh, I have a date."

"Oh Cy. You gonna take James after all?"

"Oh, no. Olivia will be my date. Good luck keeping Millicent off you back this weekend." Cyrus chuckled walking away.