Chapter Two

Beep, beep, beep

Olivia turned over to shut off her alarm. It was too early but that's what her job entailed, and she loved it. She loved being a preschool teacher. She loved being around three-year and four-year old. They were so innocent and could brighten up her day with their silly comments and questions.

Olivia stretched and got up from bed knowing she couldn't delay getting up to start her day. She grabbed her towel and headed to the shower. Knowing today was the first day for many of her students, she knew she had to go in with positive energy.

She took a quick shower and got dressed. She put her hair in long braids adding her extensions in to give her the long length she loved. It was a good way to keep her hair out of the way from students because they can get messy.

She could hear Abby in the other room getting herself ready. They moved in together about eight months ago when Olivia broke off her engagement with Edison. It was probably the most heartbreaking thing she went through but the minute she found out he was cheating on her; she knew she couldn't stay. Their relationship was never perfect by any means but she did love him. He was an attorney who worked too hard which in turn hurt their relationship before he even cheated.

She struggled the first couple of months on where she went wrong but in reality she knew that Edison wasn't the right fit for her. She questioned herself a lot and her self-confidence diminished but now eight months later she wasn't going to focus on her love life. She was going to focus on teaching little kids who always became her pride and joy.

"Hi Josie B. Are you ready to go outside?" Josie was her shih tzu-yorkie mix she recently got right after moving in with Abby. Josie's tail shook in excitement and she knew that it was time to go outside.

She walked out the door and spotted Abby making coffee for the two of them.

"Good morning Abbs! Thanks for making the coffee this morning." Olivia first opened the door to the backyard to let Josie out for the morning and then went over to the cabinets to grab her coffee mug.

"Good morning Liv. Ready to get back to the rugrats?" Abby poured herself a cup of coffee. Abby was an interior designer at a big company, and she loved it. She had a fiery personality that matched her fiery red hair. Abby and Olivia met in college and had been friends ever since. Abby was the person she could always count on. She wouldn't trade Abby for anyone in the world.

"I'm so ready. The classroom looks amazing by the way. Thanks for your help getting it together."

"No problem! You know I love to help in any way that I can."

"I have so much planned for this year! I am so excited. I feel really refreshed after the summer." Olivia took a sip of her coffee and proceeded to sit down on their dining room table to look over her calendar. She always liked to look over her week to make sure she knew what was happening. It was a way to ensure she was prepared for her students.

"The summer was the release of toxic relationships for both of us. Cheers to that!" Abby lifted up her mug. Abby recently broke up with her boyfriend of two years, David. While they were passionate together, they were clearly heading in different directions in their lives. Abby wanted to settle down while David didn't. David was too set in his ways to change. It was clear that after two years it just wasn't going to work.

"Cheers to that!" Olivia lifted her mug in solidarity. They both knew that no matter what happened in their lives, they would always have each other.

"Okay, now I have got to go before it gets too late." Abby quickly packed up her things and gave Olivia a hug. "Good luck with today. Dinner and drinks tonight?"

Olivia returned her hug. "Thanks, and yes please! I'll probably need to unwind after today."

"Alright, I'll see you after work!" Abby walked out the door in a flash.

Olivia looked at the time and she knew it was time for her to leave as well. She cleaned up after herself and grabbed her bag. She took a deep breath and walked out the door.

Olivia pulled into her parking spot at Bright Horizon Pre-School and got out of the car. She pulled out two bags from her car of last-minute supplies that she bought last night.

"Hey Liv!"

Olivia turned around and spotted Quinn walking in her direction, carrying her own set of bags.

"Hey Quinn." Olivia gave her a quick hug the best she could considering her hands were full.

"Can you believe it's another school year already?!"

"No, I can't! Summer went by so quickly, but it feels good to be back. I feel so refreshed and ready to meet my new students."

They walked into the building and headed straight to their classrooms. Their classrooms are side by side and have been that way for the past year. Quinn was new to teaching but she had a fun energy that worked well for preschoolers. Olivia became a sort of mentor for Quinn last year and also became friends.

"Good luck today Quinn! Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks Liv!"

Olivia placed her bags on her desk and started to organize the last-minute things. She placed buckets of supplies in the middle of each table. She wanted to make sure all her students had what they needed.

Her classroom had cubbies for each child with their name on it and she placed a tiny gift in each of them. In the little gift bag, there were pencils, erasers, and a fruit snack. Olivia also placed a blanket for each child that was specifically used for nap time. She loved doing this each school year so the kids could feel more welcomed in a new environment. Olivia started this tradition her first year of teaching and it made things easier on everyone. The first day was always nerve wrecking for the kids and the parents so she wanted to make sure the room was inviting.

She sighed and looked at the clock; she had about a good five minutes, maybe less until kids and their parents started filing in. She straightened herself out and walked to the door. The teachers in her hallway were by their doors as well, ready to greet her kids.

Fifteen minutes later, her classroom was filled with parents and students looking around and getting familiar with her and the classroom. She greeted each parent and student that walked through the door.

Everyone was a bundle of nerves and she was able to calms parents down by distracting their children and allowing them to leave. It's a trick she had figured out during her second year of teaching. She knew that parents would be more comfortable leaving their child if they were distracted. It worked like a charm every single time.

Currently she was speaking to parents of a student she had last year. She loved these moments where she could speak to parents who already knew her. They were more comfortable in coming and leaving quickly knowing their child was in great hands.

She was in the middle of the conversation when she saw in the corner of her eye, a parent walking in with his child.

"Excuse me for a minute, someone else just got here and I need to introduce myself." She shook their hands and turned to the parent; that's when she lost her breath.

In front of her was a probably the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her eyes on. Her stomach was in knots and she was feeling a feeling that she couldn't really describe. Get yourself together, Olivia thought.

She was standing right in front of him and stuck her hand out to greet him, "Hi, I'm Olivia Pope and you are?"

She tried to sound as calm as possible. She was a professional and she wasn't about to embarrass herself.

"Fitzgerald Grant but you can call me Fitz and this right here is Mirabelle, but she goes by Mira." He had the most soothing and deep voice she had ever heard.

Mira was hiding behind her father's leg which she found adorable. She knew how to get Mira to open up though. She bent down to Mira's level. "Hi Mira, I'm Olivia. Are you ready to play?"

Mira looked up at her dad and looked back at Olivia. "You play?"

"Of course, I do!" Olivia answered enthusiastically and held out her hand to Mira. "Let's go."

Mira took her hand and Olivia lead them to a table that was nearby. She had coloring sheets out for the kids to color on. She knew that this would keep Mira preoccupied giving her father a chance to leave without Mira making a scene.

Olivia doesn't know what comes over her, but she winks over to him letting him know that Mira was in good hands. In the corner of her eye, she noticed him slowly making his way to the door. When he left, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Even though it had only been a short interaction, he made an impact on her, one she couldn't really describe. It wasn't love at first sight or was it?

AN: Wow! I am so blown away from the response in chapter one! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorited, and followed my little story. I hope I don't disappoint as we continue on Olivia and Fitz's journey. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these tough times.

XOXO.