Before the Sun Sets

  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella ignored him because if she went into it she would fight with him. She knew when someone was or wasn't drinking and she knew when someone was or wasn't a drunk but he didn't think she did. He might have suffered longer but she had learned all that he had in her own suffering.
    Bella looked up as Leo came into the cabin. She grinned as he sat down and confided in her. She hummed. "Well I usually try a new medium. Sometimes I'll go old school and develop my own photos. Or I'll try shooting through like a glass or over something. She blushed. "Sorry this probably isn't that helpful for you." she hummed again. "Have you ever tried using a type writer? Or tried using prop words?" She bit her lip. "I would say try writing somewhere new but we'll be doing that soon. Or I don't know you could find someone to be your sounding board someone that wont just agree with everything you say." she smiled and turned towards him snapping a couple pictures. "I hope you got over your camera shyness." she teased.
    September 29th, 2020 at 06:54am
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo nodded as he listened to Olivia. He understood what she was trying to say. But wasn’t sure how much could work for him. He was a methodical writer, but hey maybe that was his issue. “I want to start a fiction series.” He said and opened up his notebook his pencil touching the paper as he tapped. “I want to create a universe you know? That people are gonna love. Like the Harry Potter books or the Hunger Games. Or even those dorky Warrior Cat books.” He said and laughed. “Young adult is definitely my target. But I don’t want it to be cliche and cringey like Divergent.” He explained. “That’s about as far as I’ve gotten. I’m sick of writing about the god damn pain in the world. I want something more exciting and happier. But pain is what pulls people in.” He said as he grew frustrated. When Leo noticed she started to take picture of him he held his hand out to cover his face. “Hey now I go by a fake name for a reason. I’m not ready to be me in the public eye.”
    September 29th, 2020 at 07:21am
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella giggled. "Okay I'll cool it while you're writing." she relented. She was honestly surprised he had picked her to shoot ideas with. She wondered if a part of him still trusted her. "Umm." she shook her head. "I think you need to get these other universes out of your head first. You can't create something new comparing yourself to others. Yes pain is appealing but there is always pain. So it's relatable. But what people really want is to feel good, to be the hero when the entire world is against them. You need to start with something smaller. You're trying to do too much at once. Focus your attention. What is the strongest idea you have? Or is there a feeling or a saying? If your shooting for young adults you have to remember those feelings. The innocence and yet that feeling of being an adult. Of the entire world on your shoulders but no one is letting you do anything about it. Yes it's not about the pain but there has to be a problem as a motivator. You will build the best world in the world you wish you could live in." she smiled softly and wrote something down in her notebook. "Tony said he wants this movie to be raw until the end where the world lifts off the audience's shoulders. We will need some dynamic scenery. A lot of contrast and the ability to shroud and on the other hand the ability to illuminate. He's probably going to want more towny places but there will need to be some wide open spaces." she was just thinking aloud and blushed as she realized it. "What is the strongest emotion of your book?" she asked him. "And if you say pain I'm going to punch you. A writer should be able to convoy feelings without using such basic words." she half teased.
    September 29th, 2020 at 09:03am
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo sat back and looked across at Olivia was she spoke, nodding occasionally. He was jotting notes down as she spoke, but kept quiet. When she moved on to talking about the movie he couldn’t help but grin and nod in agreement. He rolled his eyes and laughed at her. “Perseverance. Is that an emotion?” He said and laughed. Leo propped his feet up on the dashboard and looked out at the road as they drove. “It’s just another coming of age movie. Tony thinks it’ll be big because it draws to such raw emotions and has a feel good ending. But honestly it’ll probably be another movie with stereotypes and cliches and that’s why people will love or hate it.” He said and shrugged his shoulders. Leo close his notebook and slid his pen into it, tossing it up on the dashboard as he crossed his arms and looked over at Olivia. “I really think you should read the book.” He said and grinned at her. He wanted Olivia to read it not only for their work, but he wanted to see what she would do or how she would react when she found out she was in it.
    September 29th, 2020 at 06:29pm
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    She had been surprised the first time he wrote down what she said, or maybe it was just an idea that sparked from her talking but either way she was touched. Olivia hummed. "You're the writer!" She laughed and thought about it. "No I don't think it is, stubbornness might be." she shrugged. "Good enough." She listened to him talk about the movie and but her lip. "Don't doubt it so much Leo. I know it's going to be good. Tony believes in it, you have an entire team that does and it's based off your award winning book." She smiled as he tossed his notebook on the dash like she had thought about doing earlier. She rolled his eyes as he brought of reading his book again. She looked at him. "I am starting to think you just want me to read your book not for work but just because it's your book." she said. "Tell me this. Have I said anything wrong with my descriptions of what scenery we will need?" she asked knowing she hadn't. It was her job to capture emotions through what people see. "If it's not currently relevant to my job then I don't think I need to yet. Don't worry Leo I'll read it and tell you how I feel about it." She smiled easily. "For now I just need to not cloud what lays between the lines." She smiled. She missed this. "You know we use to sit and talk for hours like this talking ideas or going through my pictures." she chuckled. "Back when I was still too embarrassed to take pictures around you." she grinned.
    September 29th, 2020 at 07:22pm
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo laughed and rolled his eyes. “But it isn’t stubbornness. It’s getting through things despite circumstances. Not getting through them to spite circumstances.” He explained. “I think you just think I’m stubborn so that means my character must also be stubborn.” He countered with a small grin. Leo couldn’t help but blush when she spoke of the movie and his book, he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. “You know I’m an award winning author, two books on the New York Times best seller list. Ones being made into a movie. And I’ve got money and will continue to make enough money to be comfortable. But I still feel like a fraud. I still feel as though it’s all an act and that I’m not actually as good as I am.” He said and laughed dryly. “I mean it’s a little bit of both. I want you to read it because I just want you to read it. But I also want it to help you hone in on exactly what we need.” He paused and shrugged. “No, I guess not.” When she spoke of old times Leo crossed his arms a little tighter over him, but nodded in agreement. “Yea, we used to tell each other everything.” He said and smiled slightly, though his eyes focused on the ground in front of them
    September 29th, 2020 at 07:33pm
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella chuckled as he pointed out her thoughts. "Well they do say that authors reveal parts of themselves through their books." she grinned. She watched him blush and then listened to his confession. she wished that she could make him see how great his life was and that he didn't need the drinking. She leaned over and touched his arm. "Yeah I know." she said and then sat back hugging her knees to herself. "And I know why too. It's not easy to let go of what they said about us. But you proved him wrong Leo, you proved everyone wrong. Except me." she giggled. "I knew you would." She looked over grinning as he admitted he wanted her to read it. "You don't need my approval Leo." she said. She watched as he turned guarded and soft at the same time and she wished she could capture it without him knowing. She wondered if that was the secret. If she told him everything again would he be able to trust her again? She bit her lip. Did she even want his trust if she couldn't trust him? She remembered her promise to Tony. "When I got the job offer eI went out and bought your least popular book." she looked out at the road. "I figured if I read it and liked it then everything greater than it I would like too and I could work with you." she said and smiled over at him.
    September 29th, 2020 at 07:48pm
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo laughed dryly, glancing over. “But I didn’t Liv.” He said and shook his head. “I didn’t do shit. The people from back then. They don’t know me. They don’t know that this.” He paused and pointed to the pen name on his book. “They don’t know who this is. They don’t know it’s the kid that they tortured in high school, the kid who was already tortured at home.” He said and sighed frustrated. “The only person from then who knows this is you. And Ricky but he doesn’t count.” He said and laughed. When she said he didn’t need his approval he raised an eyebrow. He didn’t need it, but for some reason he craved it. Leo couldn’t help but laugh again. “Oh god, you read The Riots?” He said and face palmed. “That book is not good. But it somehow it got published.” He said and shook his head. “I’m sorry you had to read that.” He told her and looked over, his face frustrated again. “I also didn’t add my name to things because if the flopped and failed I didn’t need people being like ‘I told you so.’” He told her. Leo rubbed his face again. “I’m just so god damn sick of feeling like a fifteen year old. Feeling like everyone is right and I’m some fraud.” He said and stood up. “Thanks Liv.” He mumbled and headed off to where his bed was. He shut the door behind him, he knelt down and pulled out the bottle of vodka he had hidden in this room.
    September 29th, 2020 at 08:04pm
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella frowned as Leo started to spiral. When he laughed at the book she had read and she saw his embarrassment she chuckled. "It wasn't t hat bad Leo. I'm here working with you aren't I?" she asked him. When he told her why he used a pen name she frowned. She understood that. The fear of failure was something she had to face as a photographer all the time. Especially when it's a particular photo she was proud of. She had thousands of failures and so many photos that where famous. "Leo." she said softly. He spoke again and she reached out to touch his arm but he stood. She bit her lip. "Leo don't go." she said. She had a feeling. All that pain and she knew what he was going to do. She waited a moment trying to think of what to do. She set her camera down and moved to Leo's room. She knocked softly. "Leo..." she spoke softly. "No one ever taught you that failure can be a good thing. No one ever taught you how to be proud of what you have done. But you have succeeded Leo and you don't need anyone to tell you that you did it but if you need me to say it I will. You proved them wrong wether they know it or not it doesn't matter because this is your life and you can enjoy it now but you have to want to enjoy it..." She bit her lip and rested her head on the door. "Leo please come out. Don't shut me out."
    September 29th, 2020 at 09:01pm
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo leaned back against the wall as he cracked the top off the bottle and began to drink. He was numb to the things he felt now. Or at least he wanted to be. He was sick of feeling inadequate and worthless. Sick of reliving the pain. And so he drank until he couldn’t feel those things anymore. “Leave me alone, Olivia. “ he said and hiccuped from the tears. Leo got up and laid in the bed, taking another few gulps from the bottle. He sighed and put the cap back on before shoving it under his pillow. He moved to the door and opened it. “I do enjoy my life.” He said dryly and moved out side, sitting at the table. “My life is great. I’ve got money, I’ve got a nice house. I’m helping put Ricky through college. I could get any woman I wanted. I look fucking good.” He said and motioned to his chest. “I’m just sick of the fucking pain.” He said and let out a choked sob
    September 29th, 2020 at 09:31pm
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Olivia stepped back as he said to leave him alone. She shook her head and hugged her arms. She was too late. He already did what he had been after. She walked to the cab better her notebook and was heading to her room when Leo came out. She frowned as he spoke and crossed her arms. She stepped back as he talked about women and narrowed her eyes. He was a pig drunk. She hated how even a taste turned him into someone she didn't like. "You said you would try. This is you trying? This is a glass with dinner? You're a drunk Leo." she said and shook her head. "You want to go from telling me all your fears to saying how you're the best and can have anything? Well while your drinking I don't want anything to do with you." she said and turned walking into her room. She closed the door hard and sat on the end of her bed her heart aching. She hated how he went from the kid she almost knew to some ass she never wanted to know.
    September 29th, 2020 at 10:00pm
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo watched Olivia carefully, his eyes untrusting. He frowned and shook his head as she called him out. “Oh shut up, Olivia.” He called out. “Why the fuck do you care if I drink or not?” He countered. “I’m a grown ass adult. I can make my own decisions.” He called out again. Leo rolled his eyes. “You haven’t wanted anything to do with me since freshman fucking year!” He yelled across the RV. Luke made his way back into his room. Taking out the bottle and drinking from it again. He laid back on his bed and rubbed his eyes. He was sick of pretending things were okay when they weren’t. She had hurt him and made his life hell. Why the hell should he be okay and deal with it now. Leo stripped to his boxers, then stood to look at himself in the mirror. There were minor scars everywhere from the years of abuse. His worst scar, however, wasn’t from his father. It was from his own self. He looked down to his thigh, a large, dark, jagged scar running from his hip down to his knee. He couldn’t help but laugh at it, laugh at himself for somehow fucking up and missing the artery that would have killed him. He was useless, he couldn’t even kill himself correctly.
    September 29th, 2020 at 10:13pm
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Olivia didn't come out of her room until it was time to eat. She moved to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. She bent over rummaging around for something to make. She pulled out some cookie dough and grinned before pulling out the stuff for a salad with it. She knew she had to eat something better than cookie dough for dinner. She pulled out a bottle of water and took a drink from it. Yet again she thought back to what Leo was yelling. He blamed everyone else but himself. She was so pissed off she didn't even want to talk to him while he was drinking. If he wanted to talk to her about his issues with her he would need to do it sober because she wasn't going to do it with him drinking. I fact she wouldn't do anything with him drinking. Olivia started to make her salad debating if she wanted to cook her cookie dough or eat it raw. She was leaning towards raw. She hummed while she chopped up lettuce.
    September 30th, 2020 at 02:47am
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo put on sweatpants but left his shirt off as he made his way out of his own bedroom, he walked into the bathroom and decided to shower. He took a cool shower trying to sober himself up enough to talk calmly. He showered for about forty minutes before coming out. He wrapped one towel around his waist, drying his hair off with another. He draped the second towel across his shoulders. Leo camped out end was walking across the RV, he looked over at Olivia and didn’t know if he should say anything or not. “Salad?” He said. “I could never.” He laughed slight and moved over, standing across from her, in front of the door to his bedroom.
    September 30th, 2020 at 07:06am
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Olivia looked over hearing Leo. She raised a brow. She didn't get how he went from wanting to fight when he was drinking to small talk and friendly when sober. "I don't have much of an appetite." she tried not to snarl. He had no idea what those that drank around her did to her. She sighed looking down. "I thought I should eat more than cookie dough." she said and plopped a spoonful of it in her mouth. "Go put on some pants Leo." she said and turned back to her salad pouring on a dressing she had made. Olivia moved to the table sliding into the bench seat. She set the cookie dough in a bowl in front of her as she ate her salad. She was enticing herself to eat something it wasn't easy. She didn't know if he got the hint yet but she was upset with him.
    September 30th, 2020 at 07:47am
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo raised an eyebrow at Olivia’s tone, he knew that fighting back would just make things worse. “Cookie dough sounds bomb though. I meant take some too.” He said with a grin. “Oh you’re saying you don’t like me like this anymore.” He said and chuckled. “Don’t think I forget you fawning over my scrawny ass in 8th grade.” He teased. “But fine fine I’ll put some clothes on.” He said she turned around to go into his room. Leo shut the door behind him and put on boxers and gray sweatpants. Leo found one of his gym shirts, the arm holes so large it basically revealed most of his chest, he pulled it on before stepping back out. He moved out and opened their freezer, he found a frozen turkey meal and put it in the microwave. While it cooked he moved to sit in front of Olivia. He tapped his fingers on the table as he watched her eat her salad. “I have the palate of a child still, I hate eating salads.” He said and shrugged.
    October 1st, 2020 at 04:53am
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella raised a brow as he talked about her liking him in eighth grade. She wouldn't admit it to him that his body still made her want him but she would never give into it while he was being an ass He couldn't even not drink for one night. She looked up as he walked back into the room and swallowed her salad. She was glad it was nearly gone. She watched him piddle around the room. He sat in front of her and she returned her eyes away from him. He spoke and her eyes fluttered up to him. She jumped and took another bite. She honestly didn't like them much either but she had to eat something and it seemed normal to others. She finished her salad and pushed the bowl away grinning as she grabbed the cookie dough and pulled her legs to her chest. She looked out at the road as she nibbled. "Our first stop is in a couple hours." She reminded him. "Are you staying on the bus?" She asked.
    October 1st, 2020 at 06:08am
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo was buzzed, he hadn’t drunken enough to get fully drunk. He wanted to prove Olivia wrong. He didn’t want her to think he was a drunk. He wanted to prove her wrong, prove everyone wrong. When the microwave beeped he stood up and went to it, grabbing his meal. He moved back and sat, digging into it. He watched as she began to eat the cookie dough, grinning. “Probably. I’m not sure, most likely just to get out and stretch my legs.” He said and continued to eat. “I’m sure you are.” He said and smiled. “So Liv.” He said and leaned forward on the table. “What do you think of this whole thing? The fact that we were something. Then nothing and separated. And now we’ve met again.” He said and raised an eyebrow.
    October 1st, 2020 at 06:57am
  • Jinx...

    Jinx... (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    31
    Location:
    United States
    @ BadStreetBoys
    Bella frowned. She leaned in. "It's Bella, Leo. I go by Bella so stop with the Liv and the Olivia." she said and sat back. She shook her head. "We where never something Leo, you pulled away before that could happen." she stood. "If you really want to have this conversation have it with me sober." she said and walked away from him cookie dough in hand. She walked to her room and shut the door. She would come out later when the RV stopped. She hated this damn thing already. It was taking the magic out of a road trip. She was half tempted to find some little van for sale along the way and buy it. She could drive the route the RV was but she wouldn't have to deal with Leo. she knew she said she would help but what was she suppose to do? He wasn't going to listen to her. He wouldn't even say her name. He was already drinking and she couldn't stand to be around him like it. She was angry all the time with him and she didn't want to be. She looked at the cookie dough even to upset to eat it. She crawled into bed and hugged a pillow looking out the window. Truth was she didn't know how she felt about them getting another chance to know one another other than Leo was ruining it again. They couldn't heal from anything if he kept hurting her.
    October 1st, 2020 at 06:35pm
  • BadStreetBoys

    BadStreetBoys (100)

    :
    Member
    Gender:
    Age:
    25
    Location:
    United States
    @ Jinx...
    Leo raised an eyebrow at Olivia. No, she was Olivia she always had been, she always would be to him. “It’s Liv.” He countered dryly. “Oh this is all my fault?” He said and laughed. “You left me Olivia!” He yelled and stood, looking over at her. “You left then you decided to join that group of assholes who bullied me. They, you, made my life more of a hell than my own father was.” He said and frowned. Leo ran his hands down his face as he tried to calm himself down. Leo just laughed as she went into her room. “Leave, just like you used too Liv!” He yelled, disappearing into his own room. Leo laid on the bed, pulling the bottle from beneath his pillow he began to drink from it. As he did he got a call from Ricky. He answered and began to talk to his brother. Ricky was confronting Leo because he had found the numerous bottles in the recycling, and other half drunk bottles in Leo’s room. Leo began to panic. Everything he had done in his life was for Ricky, he didn’t want to upset or disappoint his younger brother.
    October 1st, 2020 at 06:56pm