"Get up Jackson, if you're staying here you are going on a run."

"What time is it?"

"6"

"You're seriously waking me up at 6:00 am on a Saturday to run? What is wrong with you?

"Come on, you're lucky I let you sleep in, I've been up since five."

The two ran about three miles, slower than Fitz and Edwards normal pace. Jackson may be able to sprint but he certainly couldn't keep up on the long distance pace. They hashed out their plan some more, since the next day was Fitz birthday. Olivia already had an idea to go to the boardwalk and beach house. Jackson figured they could go as a larger group then it wouldn't be too awkward but Liv would still be around Fitz and he could also get to know some of the other football players better. One of Jackson's oldest friends Luca would be home from his summer trip to Italy. Jackson told Fitz how Abby had the biggest crush on Luca which Jackson was never sure why. He was a nerdy hipster who played soccer but kicked for the football team. He was Jackson's a senior and during the summer he attend a soccer camp in Italy and visited his relatives.

Once the guys got back home Jackson invited Fitz in for breakfast, he was hesitant and didn't think it was a great idea, but Jackson forced him to come inside. His dad was sitting there reading the paper and drinking a cup of coffee, this Saturday was his off day.

"Hello, young men. How was the run? Was Jackson able to keep up?" Mr. Pope laughed at the thought of his son waking up early to go for a run.

"Fitz, are you hungry, I have a lot of food and you're more than welcome to eat with us," Maya asked hoping he would accept so that it would allow him to spend more time with Olivia, who was just making her way down the stairs. She was wearing short sleeping shorts, a George Washington crew sweatshirt , and was shocked to see Fitz standing there in a cut off sleeve shirt that showed off so much he might as well have been shirtless. She wanted to stare, but simply rolled her eyes at him and open the door to the fridge pretending to look for a drinks so she didn't have to deal with this right now.

"No thank you mam, I'm sure my mom has made breakfast and I'd like to eat with her and Edward on the days I can.I really appreciate the invite though," Fitz started to turn and leave before Jackson cut him off.

"Fitz don't forget about tonight. Mom, dad I was hoping we could head down to the beach house and boardwalk as kind of a pre-birthday celebration for Fitz, tomorrow is your nineteenth birthday right?"

"Yes," he turned around giving him a suspicious look.

"That's fine with us, just be careful."

"Liv, you're still free tonight right? I mean it was your idea to go there when you talked to me about it yesterday?"

Why did her brother have to be such a big mouth, that WAS her idea, before she made out with Fitz, now she wasn't sure she could trust herself alone with him. "Yea that's fine whatever," she said in a snotty tone, never turning around.

"Alright, i'll see you later Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Pope. Goodbye Livy, " Fitz headed back to his house, excited he would get to hang out with Olivia for the second night in a row.

Her conflicting feelings continued and the minute the door shut she was bracing herself for the verbal reprimand she was about to receive.

"Olivia Carolyn Pope, you were not taught to be rude like that. Get out of the fridge and look at me."

She slowly shut the door and turned to look at her father, knowing the verbal reprimand was coming and well deserved. " you didn't even say hello to anyone or acknowledge Fitz existed. I don't care how you feel about your current predicament, that is no reason to be rude towards him, he's been nothing but nice to you. NO ONE appreciated your snooty attitude and I do not want to hear it again" her father told her in a raised voice.

She knew he was right, but wasn't ready to let them know that just yet. She had so much on her mind and was just not in the mood to be lectured at this moment. She poured herself a cup of coffee and walked out the french doors and onto the back patio. Her parents looked from her to one another, Jackson got out of there quickly to go shower before he got caught up in the middle of what was about to happen.

"Sit, I'll handle it" Maya told Eli, as she followed her daughter out the door and took a seat next to her. They sat in silence until Olivia was ready to talk.

"I know I shouldn't have been rude like that and dad is exactly right, Fitz has been nothing but nice to me, but I'm just so conflicted. I've always been the one to follow the rules, follow my plan and be morally superior, now I don't know what I am," Olivia told her in a voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother could tell she was trying not to cry or show weakness, but sometimes she was just too stone cold, much like her father.

"Olivia, you're seventeen, you are allowed to kiss other boys, have boys as friends, have feelings for multiple boys, this is the only way you learn. Not everything can fit into your plan, you need to live and enjoy your life before it passes you by. I love these little quirks of yours, but you need to relax or you'll be miserable all your life."

Again they sat in silence, until Maya got up and patted her daughter on the hand "For now just enjoy being his friend and don't worry about the future. Whatever happens will happen, there's nothing you can do to fight fate," Olivia smiled at her mom and knew she was right. "I'm going to get the breakfast out of the oven, you can come in when you're ready and make sure you apologize to your father."

"Ok." After Olivia finished her tea she returned inside and apologized. She enjoyed the rest of the time talking to her parents about her upcoming cross country season.

6:00 pm Saturday night

Fitz ran pomade through his hair to try and keep it from being too unruly, then put on his black and grey baseball henley and a pair of camo shorts.

He snagged a bottle of scotch from Edwards stash figuring if Olivia's attitude was anything like this morning he would need it. After kissing his mom he head out the door and there she was looking better than ever with her toned long legs and short shorts. She laughed at something Marissa had just said then turned and smiled at Fitzs. He noticed her her hair was straight and pulled back into a ponytail, exposing her collarbone peeking out of the top of her sweatshirt. He noticed her makeup was more natural than the night before but she still look gorgeous. That smile made him release his breathe.

"Great Fitz is here, let's go, Marissa you're up front with me and Olivia and Fitz can sit in the back," Jackson winked at Fitz.

"Hi" she said first.

"Hi," they both climbed into our sides in the back of the jeep grand cherokee.

"Have you ever been down to the boardwalk before?" She asked catching him off guard, her demeanor had totally changed towards Fitz since this morning when she was behaving like an ice queen.

"Not since I was a little kid."

"You'll like it, a lot has changed and there are some fun things to see and do. Our beach house is about two miles away from the main boardwalk, it's a more family friendly and quiet area. We usually park, unload then catch a bus in," she continued giving Fitz a soft smile.

"Luca and two of the other guys you met from the team are meeting us down there," Jackson explained.

Fitz wasn't sure what had changed or who had talked to her, but her demeanor towards him had done a 360 turn and she was the sweet girl from the previous day. They talked most of the way to the beach house, then he took her bag and carried both of theirs inside, while she showed him which room was hers. He took a room upstairs away from her, which they both thought might help them resist the temptation.

Fitz joined Olivia on the deck and she introduced him to everyone. Once Jackson and Marissa came outside we all headed to the bus stop. Fitz told the guys about his previous experience and they were impressed by him. Even though everyone wanted to talk to him, he was only worried about one person and unfortunately he couldn't seem to get her alone. He watched her from a distance as she talked to Marisa, occasionally making eye contact with him and smiling.

"Your brother filled me in on the events of last night, how are you doing?" Marisa asked.

"Trying to act as normal as possible, but when I am near him it's so hard not forget about everyone else and just be with him."

"You've got it bad Olivia, but I really do like Fitz, and so does everyone else. He just has, something, he's genuine and a nice guy. Actually if I didn't know any better I think you're brother has a man crush on him as well," the girls both laughed at that comment, just as Jackson was bringing Fitz a beer. This made them laugh even harder. Jackson gave them a look and shook his head.

After a few drinks they head towards the boardwalk where they ate greasy food, rode the rides and played games. Fitz had not had this type of fun in such a long time, but was hesitant at first to hang around Olivia, until she made him eat a corn dog, a delicacy he had never indulged in before. After that they shared a milkshake and a funnel cake. If someone didn't know any better they would've thought they were actually a couple. She hung on his arm through the haunted house, screaming whenever someone would pop out. She enjoyed feeling his muscles in her hands as he enjoyed her small fingers wrapped around his biceps.

"It's alright Livy, I've got you."

They had one stop left, the strongman game where the guys wanted to show off for the girls.

"I'll show you all how it is done," Jackson tried to show off but couldn't hit the bell. The other football players went as Fitz hung back by Olivia.

"Aren't you going to try?" she asked.

"Nah, it's no big deal…. Unless you want me to win you a prize?" he smiled then took the hammer. With one swing he easily hit the bell.

"Go ahead and pick something out Livy," she smiled as she choose a puppy and he blushed. Marisa and Jackson witnessed this encounter and looked at each other smiling.

"I don't think we have to worry about Brody anymore, do you?"

"She's smitten with him, it's obvious to anyone. Even if she doesn't do it, Brody won't be able to deal with this very long."

"I have faith she'll do the right thing."

As it grew closer to midnight they decided to walk back to the beach house. Everyone laughed and smiled as they walked, excited for what the year would bring, but Olivia and Fitz walked quietly behind everyone else, talking.

"I heard you're a league champion, so can I expect to see you with a gold medal this year?"

"I am working really hard, but there's a lot that goes into a race, positioning and stupid stuff can screw you up."

"That seems like a pretty modest answer, I've seen you run, someone is going to have to be pretty good to beat you."

She blushed, no one besides her family really acknowledged her athletic talent, but he was interested, invested in her, something she'd never experienced before.

"And what about you Mr. Golden boy? Can you lead us to states."

"Yes."

"You on the other hand are not very modest," she smiled playfully punching him in the shoulder as he faked that it hurt.

"It isn't that, but your brother is great, and if we have a few other pieces we should be unstoppable."

He watched her walk in the moonlight. Her hair was pulled up but an errant strand kept falling in her face. She was so tiny compared to him, and he knew she was cold because he hands were tucked inside her sweatshirt sleeves. He took off his zip up hoodie he was wearing and wrapped it around her.

"You didn't have to do that, you'll be cold."

"I'm fine, you on the other hand were shivering."

"Thanks."

Her sweet, shy smile, made him melt. There was nothing about this girl that he didn't love. He never thought it would hit him this fast or this hard, but he finally understood what people meant when they talked about love at first sight. Olivia was it and every time he saw her again, it just grew even more.

He was broken from his thoughts when Jackson yelled his name and threw him a football. He looked at Liv.

"Go, its your birthday, but find me later."

He kissed the top of her head and threw the ball back, jogging down the beach to join the guys who had beer and shots ready. She watched him jog, and smiled admiring everything about him. She realized in that moment what she felt for Brody wasn't love, she had found love somewhere else, and it hit her hard, fast and in the most unexpected way. Choosing Fitz wasn't going to be the problem. But protecting him from the repercussions of that choice would be a much bigger dilemma than either of them could anticipate.