Disclaimer: All recognizable SVU characters belong to Dick Wolf

~ Olivia ~

Meanwhile, The Girl was anything but oblivious. How could not she be? It was impossible not to notice that perfect blond, with her perfect clothing and perfect life… Princess Olivia thought, disdainfully… She knew the girl's name "Alex", everyone did. Though no one besides Olivia seemed to notice the way Alex watched her sometimes. But then again no one ever notices ANYTHING around here. She thought. Then she had to retract her thoughts. Alex seemed to be the exception, and that unnerved Olivia. For it was true that she much more self-conscious than she ever let on.

Though not out of good breeding or a nurturing childhood Olivia Benson could easily match Alexandra's wit. Though one might never know it from meeting her then. Olivia was a quietly intelligent and observant teenager, though she did everything she could to play down her strengths. She incredible instinct and an eye for detail. Without knowing it she could be subtle yet powerful. Commanding yet gentle. But all of there wonderful attributes lay dormant inside Olivia. Without any form of emotional nourishment the Battered and Broken young girl was scarcely aware that she had a heart and soul, let alone that her heart could be tender and her soul strong. Both were so injured that Olivia, in all her 18 years, allowed herself to register her own pain.

"What dose she want from me?" She demanded under her breath to no one in particular, on one of those warm, no, rather chilly September days when Olivia wished she had the confidence to take of her damn sweatshirt. That wasn't going to happen though, so she had settled for bushing back her sleeves, undoing her zipper and letting her sweatshirt hang open instead. Though she also did this when the weather was hot, she specially enjoyed doing so when it was cold. The bite and wash of cool are over her skin helped Olivia feel alive.

"Who, Alex?" scoffed One of the boys that occasionally hung out with Olivia when there was nothing better to do " Why would she want anything to you, she wouldn't lay eyes over here unless you were a hundred dollar bill" He raised an amused eyebrow at Olivia "and you're maybe $20."

Olivia pretended to not hear the cheep insult of a joke (she was accustomed to letting far worse role off her back) instead she took a deep puff of the cigarette that had been hanging idle in her fingers until it had almost entirely burnt down, the bitter taste of it distracted her from her friends playful lash.

"The bell's gonna ring, get lost Hunter…" Olivia said, not taking her eyes off Alex, who was standing a few meters away talking to a couple of her friends. Olivia always kept what she told herself was a weary eye on the preppy blond. She knew hunter was wrong, about one thing, at least. Olivia had caught Alex laying eyes on her quite often, and she didn't like it.

"You're not coming?" Hunter slung his bag over his shoulder, noticing that Olivia was still leering at Alex.

"No." She dropped her butt on the ground watching it fall and then resuming her focus. Hunter smirked

" You got a crush, Liv?"

"Fuck off" Olivia sneered under her breath, again, not breaking her gaze.

"Liv's a dyke!" Hunter Laughed, and now Olivia shot to her feet and gave him a searing glare.

"Go fuck yourself Hunter." Olivia's voice wasn't loud but it was strong. It caught Alex's attention immediately and she turned around to face the scene.

"Fine, take a pill!" Hunter retorted and turned to head for the main doors recognizing that his fun had ended.

Olivia glared after him for a moment then turned back to sit on the side door step she had been resting on, but she was immediately caught by the site of Alex and two companions watching her. While the other girls exchanged scandalous glances Alex was just watching, with an air of calm, concerned, interest. She and Olivia regarded one another for a moment, trying to discern what the other was thinking, when the both came to the realization that this was the first time they made eye contact. In discomfort, for a moment, Olivia's eyes shifted to the giggling girls that stood beside Alex, and Alex caught the motion instantly. She turned to the petty girls, ashamed at them for the moment and raised any eyebrow. Olivia was relieved that the attention was off her as she noticed the girls immediately fall quiet at the disapproving look of the much more striking blond. Just on cue the bell rang and Alex's silly entourage, grateful for the bail out, rushed off into the school along with the rest of the student body.

To Olivia's horror Alex didn't go with the rest. She simply watched the flow of student's disappear through the double doors until there where only some stragglers and loiterer's (Olivia included) left behind. Her friends hadn't waited for her; it would never have occurred to them that responsible Alex might not be in class on time. Then she turned back to the dark brunette: Olivia, originally having no intention of going to her first period class, now wished she had gone in amongst the crowd of students when she had the chance. Now she was stuck, and felt she had no option but to stand her ground. Everyone was a threat to Olivia though she would never let it known. So she stayed, shifting her weight casually and propping a hand on her hip as Alex turned to face her again. Sharp blue eyes met fierce deep chocolate ones, this time without any distraction.

Alex's gaze was steady and strong, perhaps even lofty, but Olivia's was even stronger. Inside Alex could feel her stomach churn. She was face to face with The Girl and for some reason the urge to turn on her heals and head for the safety of the double doors nearly overwhelmed Alex. She had waited for yet dreaded this opportunity for weeks. Why? She didn't quite know… But there was something about the look in the for forbidding brown eyes that was overwhelming, The look reminded her of that of a cornered cat: in physical repose but with a look that warned of fierce defensiveness if one more move was made. Alex for the moment, couldn't move, Her eyes locked with Olivia's, lost for word for what was perhaps the first time in her life… Little did she know that in the years to come she would often find herself unsure of what to say to Olivia when her eyes held that unmistakable darkness.

Feeling threatened but not Intimidated by the statuesque girl she was faced with, Olivia simply stared at her for a moment longer, contemplating all that she had taken in on earlier occasions: Alex, as now, was always perfectly put together, her long blond hair always pulled back from her face, fell down her back like a sheet of silk, even on a blustery day like today it fluttered obediently behind her shoulders. She wore a pink and cream tweed skirt suit- a SUIT, to school! The thought almost made Olivia want to laugh, but in spite of herself she had to admit that Alex could pull off the look without looking pretentious or overdressed, somehow the pretty fitted blazer and short mermaid skirt suited 14 year old Alex. Olivia noticed the slight hesitation in the Princess' and eyes and took it to her advantage.

"What?" Olivia's eyes where still nailed onto Alex as she crossed her arms over her chest and tossed her head slightly to filing the long bangs out of her face. "I've seen you, watching me. What do you want?" her words where clear and accusing, so very different from the mutters Alex had occasionally heard, and they did nothing to help her wavering confidence.

"Nothing" Alex kept her voice firm and calm, but she could no longer hold Olivia piercing eyes, so she let hers wander a little. One again she took in the girl's open gray sweatshirt, the black tank top underneath… and the faded bruise that peaked out from under it, just above the girl's right hip. This time Alex didn't look away, that would have been too obvious; she could still feel those dark eyes trained on her. "Aren't you cold?" she said as casually as possible, making an excuse for the observation she knew Olivia must have caught.

"No" Olivia knew she had betrayed herself but she was too self proud to do up her zipper. The breeze was picking up and it fluttered her sweatshirt, exposing more of her waist and the old bruise. Olivia felt sick with self-reproach, but that only fired her defenses, she meant to make a confident move forward but instead stepped back. Both girls immediately noticed the falter and as a flash of insecurity came over Olivia's eyes, Alex forgot hers.

"How did you get that" Alex took a smooth step forward and motioned towards Olivia's hip. Now their eyes were locked again.

"What do you care?" Olivia's tone was still abrasive but for every motion Alex made forward, she made one further back. Noticing this Alex stopped advancing, but Olivia still retreated and turned a bit breaking eye contact.

"I don't know, but I do. Who gave it to you?" Alex said urgently, realizing that at any moment Olivia would leave. Apparently it was the wrong thing to say because as the words came out Olivia shot a searing glare up at her.

" You don't know me." Olivia's voice was as sharp as her look and it pierced Alex, who had only meant well

"Wait!" Alex blurted out, taking a couple of steps after Olivia as turned on her heal as she swiftly did up her zipper "What's your name?"… But it was too late.

"…Everybody wants something." Was Olivia's only response as she quickly walked away.

Alex didn't follow; she didn't have the nerve to (for once). But she had promised herself the night before that today she would find out The Girl's name, though she hadn't planned on doing it in person.

"Alexandra Cabot!" She suddenly called out as it started to drizzle "Everyone calls me Alex, but you probably knew that already…"

Olivia slowed but didn't stop or turn around, so Alex started towards her.

" I know you think I'm just some preppy Bitch, and maybe I am… " Still no response as Alex closed the gap "…I'm not sure why I've been watching you, all I know is that you are not…" Olivia had stopped now, her eyes typically cased down, and Alex was at her side. "…And the only thing I want is your name."

Olivia hesitated then looked up at Alex suspiciously… Then her look softened for a moment and for the first time Alex saw just how beautiful those sad eyes where.

"Olivia." Her eyes dropped again "Olivia Benson" she said walking off across the parking lot.

Alex watched her walk her walk away as the rain came down harder, and for once she was oblivious the damage that might be done to her outfit if it got too wet.

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