Chapter Text
It was only nine in the morning, yet Harvey had already been up for over three hours.
Barely awake, he had left Siena’s bed — or maybe it was Selena’s, or Savanna’s… he couldn’t quite remember. Her name started with an S, that much he was sure of — and she definitely wasn’t studying law. After that, he’d made a quick stop by his dorm, which he shared with Mike, swapped out yesterday’s clothes for sweatpants and a hoodie, and headed out for a run across campus. Houghton Library, Boylston Hall, Harvard Yard, Thayer Hall — he took advantage of the still-deserted park to get in a workout, keep his athletic body in shape, and clear his head before the busy day ahead.
After finishing his loop, he returned to his room, took a shower, slipped on a pair of loose jeans and a plain white T-shirt, grabbed some fruit, and walked out — Mike still sound asleep in his bed. About ten minutes later, when he reached the right classroom, he walked in, nodded to the few people already there whom he vaguely recognized, and took a seat in the third row, lounging casually as he winked at a petite brunette, seeing her blushing and whispering softly as she walked past him.
« Hi »
« Hey you »
She giggled quietly, staring at the ground as she kept walking to sit a little farther away. Just a few steps down, however, an entirely different vibe followed the redhead crossing the threshold into the law building. Donna had been up since five-thirty, and after taking the time to make herself a matcha tea — L-theanine promotes a calm, focused state, while its caffeine content provides steady alertness throughout the day — she rolled out her mat in her room and started her Pilates and yoga session. Then it was straight into the shower and onto her morning routine.
With nearly an hour left before she had to leave her dorm, being the perfect student, she grabbed her latest course materials to review her notes before heading off to her next class. As she walked down the hall, she smiled at a few students before stepping into the lecture hall and taking a seat in the front row. Immediately, she opened her laptop, waiting for the professor to arrive for the first class of the day — Constitutional Law — one of her favorites. Lost in thought, she suddenly heard a male voice murmuring beside her.
« Hey, mind if I sit next to you? »
« Sure, yeah — Louis, right? »
« You know who I am? God, that makes me so happy. You're literally a goddess of law, and listening to you speak is as melodious as a composition by Igor Stravinsky »
« That's very sweet, Louis. But I really need to focus, alright? »
« Of course, yeah, I get it »
Just as the bald young man was about to come up with yet another excuse to keep talking, Professor Reynolds entered the room, cutting through the chatter with his commanding voice and undeniable presence. Everyone quickly found their seats, and the professor began his lecture — until he posed the question that would once again spark the rivalry between Donna and Harvey, a game they had been playing for nearly a year and a half.
« Suppose a public university prohibits a student from distributing political leaflets on campus without prior approval. Would that be a violation of the First Amendment? »
Professor Reynolds stood at the front of the lecture hall, leaning against his desk with arms crossed over his chest, his sharp gaze scanning the silent room — likely out of fear of embarrassing themselves in front of everyone. After a few seconds of silence, glances were exchanged until a confident female voice rose without even raising a hand, and Donna launched herself into an explanation.
« Yes, it’s clearly a violation. In Papish v. Board of Curators (1973), the Supreme Court ruled that public institutions cannot restrict protected speech simply because it is considered offensive or disruptive. A university, as a public actor, cannot impose prior restraint on political expression without infringing on an individual’s fundamental rights. The only valid exception would be if the speech caused substantial disruption — which, in this case, hasn’t been demonstrated »
As Donna finished her explanation, she heard murmurs of admiration from the students behind her and could almost feel the corners of her mouth twitch upward in pride — until Harvey’s voice rang out.
« Nice demonstration, Paulsen… except you forgot one crucial detail: the reasonable use of the forum. In Perry Education Association v. Perry Local Educators’ Association from 1983, the Court distinguishes between public, limited, and non-public forums. A university campus isn’t a pure public forum. The university has the right to impose time, place, and manner restrictions as long as they’re neutral and reasonable. So requiring prior approval could be legal — if applied in a non-discriminatory way »
Ugh. She could have strangled him — with his arrogance and smug confidence, the guy just had to chime in. But Donna refused to let it get to her as she turned to face him, finally seeing him for the first time that day. He was leaning casually against the row of seats behind him, a signature smirk on his lips, exuding that irritating, effortless charm as Donna rolled her eyes.
If law school weren’t so important — so defining for her — she might have been just another airheaded girl on campus falling for Harvard’s golden boy. But fortunately (or unfortunately), she had more pressing concerns. so after taking a steady breath, she gave him a quick once-over before locking eyes with him and responding, her voice calm but firm.
« And what if they deny approval for all political leaflets, but not for corporate ads in the same space? Still think the rule is neutral… Specter? »
Facing Donna’s reply, Harvey was probably about to shoot back with another counterpoint — and at that rate, the class might never move forward — but Professor Reynolds cut in with a soft chuckle, lifting his hands as if in surrender, a smile tugging at his lips as he replied.
« Ladies and gentlemen, take notes. That is living law »
Quickly, after one last provocative glance exchanged between them, Donna turned back to the professor while Harvey continued to watch her. The young man had noticed the redhead from the very first day in the lecture hall — and god, she was divine — but it was as if she were avoiding him. He’d never managed to get a word in with her, and while he hoped for more than just sharing a classroom (mostly her bed too) he quickly realized how different they were. They only ever crossed paths in class — never at parties or anywhere else — while she never lingered around him. That, probably, was what irked him the most: that she didn’t show the slightest interest in him as she was, after all, the only one who didn’t. At the beginning of their second year in law school, when he challenged her during a mock trial and finally got her attention, everything changed. Since that moment, every chance he got, he tried to one-up the redhead.
It had become a kind of routine, and their rivalry was now well known around campus — so much so that even the professors found it amusing. If Donna was intuitive, strategic, sharp, and observant before making a move, Harvey was the opposite — direct, confident, self-assured, and almost arrogant. The professors sometimes referred to them as the « legal twins » or « Harvard’s most dysfunctional couple » depending on their mood, as the tension between them was so palpable it often bordered on the absurd.
As the class continued and neared its end, Donna shut her laptop, stood up, and left the room without another glance — certainly not toward her rival, who couldn’t help but follow her with his eyes, torn between letting her go and chasing after her to reignite the spark. She was as perfect as she was infuriating, and Harvey didn’t know whether he wanted to put her on a pedestal or tear her down — just to prove which one of them was truly on top.
Without thinking twice, he jumped over the row of benches, grabbed his things quickly, and left the lecture hall in pursuit of the redhead — his day had started so well, it would be a shame to let it slip away now. After a few seconds, he spotted her red hair turning the corner, and Harvey broke into a run, calling out with a huge smile.
« Hey Paulsen, slow down! »
As she didn’t seem to hear him — or pretended not to — keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead, Harvey quickened his pace, running until he positioned himself in front of her, halting her stride as their bodies collided. With their faces now only inches apart, he bit his lip, looked at her with arrogant confidence, and whispered in a low, teasing voice.
« Nice analysis, Paulsen. If it weren’t such a shaky argument, I’d almost be impressed »
Normally, Donna would have just kept walking without a second glance, but it was tricky — Harvey was blocking her path completely. After a deep breath, she lifted her eyes to meet his, and with a smile, whispered back with unwavering confidence, watching the young man swallow hard.
« Of course, Specter. If you were capable of recognizing a good argument when you heard one, you’d probably be impressed. But I get it — it must be tough measuring up to someone who knows the case law better than you »
Harvey wasn’t expecting her perfect blend of sass and teasing, and he froze for a few seconds — just long enough for Donna to slip away and head toward her next class. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure whether to retort or let her go. But as she completely disappeared around the corner and he realized his next class was in less than five minutes, he decided to let it go — he may have lost the battle, but certainly not the war. While he had Constitutional Law and Donna had Federal Jurisdiction Law, each was absorbed in their own tasks, listening attentively to their professors.
« I leave you with this thought: in constitutional law, there are no absolute truths — only interpretations. What you believe to be true today might be called into question tomorrow. So, never forget to challenge what you know — and perhaps even what you think you know »
As Professor Lima wrapped up his lecture, Harvey had already packed his bag and was ready to leave, thinking about grabbing a bagel on campus and checking if Mike was up yet. Harvey had never really considered becoming a lawyer. Sure, he wanted a career that would bring him success, wealth, and power someday, but it wasn’t until after watching Twelve Angry Men with his father that he truly took an interest.
Then he met Jessica, things moved quickly, and now, at twenty-five, with every mock trial he won or class exercise he dominated — feeling the admiring glances from classmates and the panic in his opponents’ eyes — he realized he was made to be a lawyer. The prestige, the image of professional success, the charisma, the power — becoming a lawyer made Harvey feel like he had finally regained control over his life, something he felt he’d lost when his father was absent and his mother forced him to lie. With confidence, he walked across campus, while in auditorium 003, Donna listened as her professor delivered the final words of the day’s lecture.
« Alright, I think we’ve covered the essentials for today. Don’t forget to review your case studies and be prepared for our next session. Federal jurisdiction can be subtler than it seems, but I’m confident you’ll all grasp it well. Thank you for your active participation — it was a pleasure to see you engage so thoughtfully. Enjoy the rest of your day, and I’ll see you next week. Take care! »
Immediately, the redhead packed up her things and left the auditorium, pulling out the vegetable stir-fry she had prepared the night before as taking advantage of the beautiful weather, she settled under a tree, reviewing her notes as she ate. She had never imagined becoming a lawyer. Originally, she dreamed of being a theater actress, but when her father lost the family fortune during her teenage years — going from a life of ease to one of struggle — she quickly realized how much more weight money carried than she had ever imagined.
At fifteen, when she began to seriously consider her future, the question came quickly — should she pursue her dream of becoming an actress, struggling to make a name for herself and earn a living, or find a career she could grow to love that would provide the financial stability her father had never been able to offer? In the end, she chose stability and after taking an orientation test with the school counselor, one profession stood out above all others: lawyer.
« Think about it, Donna — it’s theater, but in a courtroom »
The counselor’s words had stayed with her, and although she hadn’t fully understood the comparison at the time, after her first mock trial — where she presented her arguments with poise and confidence, clearly impressing her classmates — Donna finally understood exactly what her counselor had meant. She had worked so hard to earn a scholarship and make it to Harvard, and now that she was there, she was determined to shine — after all, she was a star. Before she knew it, her break was over, and the redhead returned to the auditorium for her next class — Advanced Criminal Law with Professor Jauncey. As soon as she entered, her gaze briefly met Harvey’s, who was still staring at her with that same arrogant, provocative look.
« Alright everyone, settle in — we’re going to get started »
Without lingering on the young man, Donna took her seat in the front row again, focusing on the professor and his words, her fingers relentlessly tapping away at her laptop keyboard — each click seeming to annoy Harvey a little more. He couldn’t stand seeing her so perfect but as the class continued, hours slipped by until the professor finally murmured.
« Alright everyone, I’m going to wrap up a few minutes early today because I have an announcement to make »
Instantly, the room buzzed with anticipation as everyone realized what the professor was about to say. Rumors had been circulating for weeks, and while many secretly hoped to hear their own names, two students in particular sat up straighter, their attention fixed on the professor as he cleared his throat to speak.
« It’s my great honor to announce the students who will represent Harvard Law School at the prestigious National Moot Court Competition. This competition, one of the oldest and most respected in the country, offers an exceptional opportunity to hone your advocacy skills and defend complex legal arguments. The students selected have demonstrated outstanding preparation, rigor, and conviction — exemplifying the excellence we expect from our top talent. So, without further ado, here are the participants… »
One second, two seconds, three, four — time seemed to drag on — and as everyone hung on his every word, the professor clapped his hands, breaking the suspense, then smiled and announced in a strong, assured voice.
« Harvey Specter & Donna Paulsen »
Silence. The auditorium plunged into complete stillness. Most of the class was simply disappointed not to hear their own names, but the true shock lay elsewhere. Everyone knew Donna and Harvey couldn’t stand each other — their rivalry was legendary, a constant battle to outdo one another — yet no one had ever imagined these two would be paired together as a team.
As the professor’s words echoed through the stunned silence, Donna and Harvey felt the weight of the announcement more than anyone else. The redhead sat frozen for a moment, her heart pounding as she struggled to process the news. This was supposed to be a pinnacle of her academic journey — a prestigious chance to showcase her legal skills — but instead, it felt like a nightmare, teaming up with Harvey was the last thing she wanted, the last thing she had ever considered. Harvey was equally stunned. The words swirled in his mind like a fog, the shock settling in as reality hit. He had fought hard to secure his place among the elite, but this — this felt like a trap, a cruel joke because Donna was the last person he wanted as a partner.
Their rivalry was well-known, fierce, and personal. Now, forced to join forces in front of everyone, a slow, sinking realization dawned on them both: their dream had just turned into a nightmare.