Before the Sun Sets

@ BadStreetBoys
OliviaSmiled as she watched him get flustered. she wondered if anyone called him out like that before to be kind to himself. Was it a concept he hadn't focused on before? "I don't see how that's a problem." she shrugged still not sure how it was an issue but in his mind it was for some reason. Olivia bit her lip. "Well I'm going to call you out for it. There is no need for you to degrade yourself at all." She might be different from others but she did it because she cared. She smirked as he tapped her knee. As he told her his trick she smiled wider until she had that brilliant grin on her face and she laughed the blush pinking her cheeks with her laugh that floated through the air. She shook her head. "No that's defiantly my secret to hold now. You can't have it back." she giggled. She liked this with them. It was so natural. This was what she had missed the most. She stood stepping out a moment to toss out her peel before coming back. She riffled his hair as she came back and slipped into the seat. "So you going to tell me what you got so far or is this a top secret project?" she asked him.

@ Jinx...
Leo laughed to himself, of course Olivia would call him out. She always had. And he’d done the same for her. Leo let out a groan and rolled his eyes. “You can’t tell anyone or they’re gonna commit me to a pysch ward.” He said as his eyes moved to look over at her. He didn’t feel bad at the moment. It felt nice having someone to talk to and be vulnerable with. Though he was still uneasy with sharing his secrets. He had missed being as close to someone as he was with Olivia back in the day. He watched as she walked off and was surprised when she messed with his hair, growing only for a moment as he ran his hands through it trying to fix it again. “I mean there isn’t much to say. One is for the movie. The other is for a series I want to start, but I’m not really concrete on anything yet.” He said and shrugged.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia smirked not promising nothing. She giggled as he fixed his hair bitting her lip as she watched him. She smiled as he told her nothing about his new project. "Alright alright fine if you like your little voices better than me you don't have to tell me anything." She teased with a grin. Olivia leaned back in her chair watching the road. "You know how long I have wanted to go on a road trip?" She asked him with a dreamy look in her eyes. Sure this wasn't the way she had wanted to do it but still. "How long until our next stop?" She asked in excitement. "Your coming out with me this time right?"

@ Jinx...
Leo laughed and playfully hit her arm as she made fun of him. “Hey the voices are very kind to me.” He teased back. Leo stood wanting to grab some water as she spoke again. “Oh I’m sure, though it is a little surprising. Someone who’s moved around so much I would think you wanted to just chill and relax in one spot.” He commented. “Three hours I think.” He said. “Yea yea, I’ll let you drag me around.” He teased before leaving the cockpit, Leo grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He found a bag of chips which he took back to the front, he leaned back in his seat and began to eat. “Want any?” He offered holding the bag to her.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella chuckled. "Okay fair enough." She smiled up at him. "Blame my gypsy heart." She watched him go and leaned her head against the window. She had gotten use to not having friends. She looked over smiling as he offered her chips. Part of her wondered if he was just trying to make sure she was eating but the other part told her he was just being friendly. Olivia shook her head. "No thanks." She said and bit her lip as she looked him over. "How's Ricky been doing? You said he was going to school? What is he going for?" She asked. Bella wanted to ask different questions like was Leo currently dating or was there anyone special to him but she didn't think they where there yet.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and laughed. “I’ll drink to that.” He said and raised the bag of chips in his hand. When she said no he nodded and put the bag of chips in his lap. “More for me.” He teased and continued to eat. “Oh the kids doing great.” He commented between bites. “Smart as fuck, Liv, I’m telling you. He got a great scholarship and I’m covering the rest. He’s studying biomedical engineering. I don’t even know what the fuck that is. But he does well and likes what he’s doing.” He told her with a smile. Leo was so proud of his younger brother. Ricky was the most important person to him. “He’s got a new girlfriend apparently, I haven’t gotten to meet her yet.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella grinned as he raised his chips in a salute. She shook her head still smiling as he teased her about the chips. She listened as he bragged about Ricky. She grinned wider as he admitted to not knowing what biomedical engineering was. She probably could guess but didn't know if it would be right. They where the artsy type so all of that science and practical stuff didn't make a ton of sense to either of them. "Oh really? He talks about her a lot?" she asked. Bella had met Ricky a few times. He had been the kid brother and she had been the best friend so it wasn't like they had spent a huge amount of time hanging out but she probably knew a lot about him from the way Leo talked about him. She had always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling. "Well that's amazing." she said and grinned. "I'm really glad to hear he is doing so well." she said. She bit her lip knowing they didn't have a not of easy subjects left to talk about and the road trip had just begun.

@ Jinx...
Leo watched Olivia as he spoke, watching her reactions. He let out a small laugh. “Yea he does. Hasn’t brought her home to meet me yet. But he says she’s a psychology major and she’s a great girlfriend.” He said and shrugged, eating another handful of chips. “Kid has a serious girlfriend before I do, what a joke.” He said and laughed again. Leo grabbed his water bottle and sipped from it, looking out at the road ahead of them. He wouldn’t say it but he did worry about Ricky while Leo would be gone for so long. But he had to push that thought away. This movie would solidify their life and make it so he and Ricky could do anything they want. His eyes moved back to Olivia and he couldn’t help but smile.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella laughed. "Well he hasn't been busy building a new persona." she teased. "Seriously why Richard?" she chuckled. She really hoped he would publish under his own name. She knew he could succeed. He already had after all. Olivia looked over at him after a bit and blushed. "What?" she asked pulling her hair to the side. "I mean what are you thinking?" she bit her lip knowing that didn't quite cover it either. "Why are you smiling at me like that?" she asked and was satisfied that those questions would explain. She bit her lip and ran her fingers through her hair looking at the blonde ends. He missed her red hair? She kept hearing him say it in her head. She wondered if she could let it fade out. Would it be to notable? She didn't want him to think she was doing it for him but wasn't she? Didn't she always do things for others except her photography. Her photography from start to finish and its importance in her life was all hers. She didn't let anyone have a say. Maybe when she was younger she did between the mean girls in yearbook and Leo's adoration for it but after that what she did was her own choice. "Hey..." she looked down. "Did you keep those photos I gave you when we where young?" she wondered. They probably where valuable by now.

@ Jinx...
Leo sighed, covering his face with his hand. “Oh stop.” He mumbled and shook his head again. “Listen, I was 18, and I had no idea what white guy name to pick to start publishing under. I was just chilling one day and saw a lawyer billboard and the name and decided to go with it.” He said and laughed. “Maybe I’ll change the name and see what happens for my next book.” He said and chuckled. Leo realized she had caught him staring and his cheeks flushed pink. Leo rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. “I dunno. Just trying to get used to you again, and all the blonde.” He commented. “You’re just, not a blonde to me, y’know?” He said and looked away, still blushing. Leo finished the bag of chips and he balled it up, leaning over he tossed it to the trash behind them. “From back then?” He commented and laughed. “Oh I’m sure I do. Somewhere back at my house.” He said and shrugged. “I’m kind of a hoarder.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella chuckled. "Okay fair enough. Yeah that is defiantly a white guy lawyer name." She smirked. She was glad to hear that he was considering changing the name. "I think you should do it under your own name for your new series. I think you will be surprised the response and not to mention those that will be inspired from your bravery." she grinned. "I can just see some little boy reading your writing and deciding that he too wants to show the world his writing." she smiled at him. She watched him blush and remembered a boy who blushed that hard around her. Bella chuckled as he mentioned the blonde. "Like not a blonde in your mind or the way I act?" she asked him. She wondered if she saw herself as a blonde either. Maybe that was why she picked it so she wouldn't have to face herself or who it reminded her of. She nodded and grinned as he laughed. "Oh really now? You where angry with me and kept my photos anyways? You know some of those might sell really well now." she said smiling at him. "I have a little bit of a following in some circles." she said and

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and grinned. When Olivia mentioned writing under his own name he folded his arms across his chest and shrugged, looking out the window aNd biting his lip. He felt so awkward addressing the issue. Leo was very much an adult, a grown man. But he still had plenty of childish qualities because he didn’t know how to properly deal with his emotions and conflict. “Maybe.” He said awkwardly and gave her a smile.” Leo laughed delta. “Sometimes I like the rich white lawyer persona. I’m on top of the world, I can do anything.” He told her and unfolded his arms. “I’ll consider it.” Leo rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged again. “Both I guess?” He said. “I just loved your red hair. It’s why I talked to you at the park. It was the initial reason I was so intrigued by you. I thought it was so unique and gorgeous. Plus like, you’re nothing like stereotypical blondes.” He commented. Leo laughed and rolled his eyes. “I’m a hoarder and they were good photos. You never know where you can get inspiration from.” He said and shrugged again. “I wouldn’t sell them.” He said and hook his head. “Oh I know you do. I do too. But I don’t think you’d sell my poetry and stories I gave you when I was younger. If you had them.”

@ BadStreetBoys
"You could do anything without it too." Olivia said softly. She believed in him, always had. She nodded as he said he would consider it. She let it go for now and chuckled as he explained his dislike for her blonde hair. Or rather his adoration for her red hair. She blushed as she remembered the boy that had befriended her in the park. She laughed. "What I'm not a ditz or a sluzie? That's a terrible stereotype." she said and shook her head. "Don't you know yet I like defying the odds?" she smirked. He told he he wouldn't sell them and she grinned. "You've found inspiration in my photography?" she asked. Even the thought made her feel honored. She blushed looking away. She might have grown up but her desire to catch his attention and be special to him still hadn't left her. That was what infuriated her so much was how much he still mattered after everything. She pulled her hair to the side. "No I would sell them." she told him teasing. She had never gotten to read that poem he promised her but she had a couple little poems or stories he had given her as gifts. If he saw them now he wouldn't believe it. She had read and reread them until the papers where wearing thin.

It wasn't long before the RV stopped again. Olivia brightened up nearly bouncing from the door with her bag. She took Leo's hand pulling him out. "Come on!" she said beaming. "Wow look at these colors." she said and pulled out her camera. She looked around and adjusted her settings before she started to snap pictures.

@ Jinx...
Leo watched Olivia as they spoke. His eyes carefully watching her moves and her reactions and her emotions. He noticed the smallest change and the littlest details. He was noticing things he remembered her doing when they were kids. He noticed her tells. He couldn’t help but smile as he thought back to the days in the treehouse together. “I know, stereotypes are bad.” He said and rubbed the back of his neck. “Trust me people like to think in all kinds.” He said and laughed dryly. “I just like your red hair, okay?” He said and smiled across as Olivia. “It was just part of you, Liv.” When she asked about her photos he shrugged. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t.” He teased with a wink and stretched out in the seat. When she said he would sell them he frowned slightly, glancing across. He couldn’t tell if she was joking or not so he just let it slide. He would rather like to think that she was joking and ignore it then let himself get mad about it.

Leo stood up and stretched again when the RV stopped. He laughed as Olivia hurried the two of them off the RV. He loved how excited she was, or maybe he just loves her smile. He followed behind and was looking out at the scenery. “Very pretty.” He murmured and watched Olivia as she began to take photos. Leo couldn’t help the huge smile on his face. He took out his phone and carefully took some pictures of Olivia as she took picture of the area. She had always Allen sneaky pictures of him. It was time for him to get some payback. When he got a few good ones he put his phone away, shoved his hands into his pocket and began walking alongside her. “Wanna get dinner before we leave?” He asked . “Since our last dinner date didn’t go so well.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella shook her head. "Of course I would never Leo." she said when he looked upset about her teasing about his poems and stories. She hadn't meant to joke about it but it just came out. She regretted it now of course. When they got outside she went into her own little world. She snuck one of Leo. She didn't think she would ever stop taking pictures of him. She took a few more then smiled. "Well that's a wrap." She was just finishing up stuffing her things back in her bag when he mentioned dinner. She blushed as he mentioned the last dinner date. That had gone terrible. She chuckled at his under explanation of it. "Well I'm not sure it could have gotten any worse." she said and bit her lip. She knew he was going to drink though. She just knew it and it twisted her up making her frown. "I don't know Leo." she looked up at him nervously. "I know if I ask you not to drink you'll get upset but I don't want to watch you drink. I wont be able to eat." she said and looked down at the ground with a shrug. "So..." she bit her lip.

@ Jinx...
Leo was relieved when she said it was a joke. He didn’t know why it bothered him so much. They hadn’t been friends in like a decade, it wouldn’t mean anything now. So if she didn’t get rid of them it shouldn’t have mattered to him. He just tried to shake it from his head. Leo was continuing to admire the area as he waited for her response. Leo took a deep breath and nodded. He knew she hated it. He could drink when they got back. Right now he was having a good time with Olivia and wanted to make the most of it. “I won’t drink, I’ll get water and a soda.” He said and gave her a gentle but nervous smile. “You aren’t asking me or anything. I’m doing it on my own.” He told her and reached out to take Olivia’s hand. “Come on, Liv, let me make it up to you and show you I can be a good dinner date.” He said and laughed. “Plus I may or may not have already made reservations at a place and don’t wanna lose those.”

Bella smiled softly and then nodded. "That sounds good." she said and looked at their hands her cheeks tinting. She laughed as he said he might have already made reservations. "Of course you did." she said and squeezed his hand. "Come on let me put my bag up and freshen up then we can go." she said. They walked back to the RV and she went into her room setting her things down and looked in the mirror trying to determine what to do about how she looked. It surprised her how much she wanted to dress up for him. She went to her closet pulling out something simple but more than the traveling cloths she had been wearing. She came out fluffing her hair smelling fresh. "Alright let's go." she said and smiled as she moved over to Leo. She was curious where he was taking her. She was guessing it wasn't to fancy but he had made reservations none the less.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled a she noticed the blush, he was glad he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. He nodded as he followed alongside Olivia back to the RV. When they arrived he went off to his own room. He didn’t feel like getting too fancy, he didn’t need to. He pulled on black slacks and a white button up. Leo looked through his room and found his gold watch which he decided to use to accent his outfit. He put some hair gel in and slicked his hair back. Once he stopped out he grinned across the RV at Olivia. “You look good, Liv.” He said and took her hand as he led her outside the RV. “Let’s go beautiful.” Leo led her down the pathway and out to the sidewalk. It wasn’t too far into town so he just wanted to enjoy the walk while they could. He pointed out the restaurant down the street. “Miccuci’s” he said and smiled. “Italian, because who doesn’t like pasta and pizza?” He said and laughed. He opened the door for Olivia and walked in besides her. He gave a smile to the host. “Valdez reservation for two.” He said and glanced down at his watch.

@ BadStreetBoys
Bella blushed as Leo complimented her. "You clean up well yourself." she said and looked at their hands as she took his. They walked through the cooling fall air and it was refreshing. She smiled as he pointed out the restaurant. "It's cute." she said. She walked with him into the restaurant and grinned. She loved hearing his laugh. He wasn't wrong. There was nothing wrong with some good Italian food. She stood close to him as he made sure their reservation was ready. She followed the host to the outside patio next to the fire and smiled. It was beautiful. The mood was easy but also charmingly romantic but not so much it made you want to throw up a little. She sat down and looked into the fire. She loved how fire was always different and it danced against the darkness. She looked back at Leo. "This is a nice place." she said softly. She felt more timid now. She looked at the menu as it was handed to her and bit her lip looking for her usual at any Italian place.

@ Jinx...
Leo followed the host and Olivia outside. He was glad he had gotten this table. It was perfect. It was outside so it had great views, it had the fireplace to keep them warm when the weather got cooler, it was out back so the sounds of the city didn’t bother them. He hoped Olivia would like it. He hadn’t made this reservation with her in mind, but the more he thought about it the more it seemed to fit them. Leo was trying to convince himself not to worry about impressing Olivia. They were just friends. His eyes scammed the area before they landed on Olivia and a smile spread from his lips to his ears. “Isn’t it?” He commented with a smile. Leo began to look over the menu. When the waitress came over he flashed a smile. “Water and a coke.” He said and looked back down at the menu. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to eat yet. When the waitress left to get their drinks, Leo turned his attention back to Olivia. “You know back in 8th grade I used to think about taking you out to Olive Garden on a date one day. I thought that was the epitome of fancy dates and it would be so impressive.” He told her and laughed.