Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo was dressed in simple slacks and a plaid red button up shirt as he hiked his backpack up onto his shoulders and made his way to school. He held hands with his little brother, leading him to the entrance of the Elementary school. He told his younger brother to be careful and wait for him after school before he moved onto the courtyard of the middle school. Summer felt like it had gone by way too fast. He had enjoyed every second of it, more so every second he spent with Olivia. Sure he had great times with his other friends, and not so great times at home with his dad. But he and Olivia connected on another level. They became best friends after that day in the treehouse. There were many late nights sharing secrets, sharing their writings and photographs. There were a few little arguments but what kids didn’t fight occasionally. He saw Olivia and their friends and quickly ran up to them. “Hey guys!” He said and smiled at e be ry one, lingering on Olivia. He felt like he was lucky to have someone to tell his secrets to. There was still one he hasn’t told her yet, but he hoped to soon. It was his biggest secret. The biggest skeleton in his closet. His father.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked sad but she smiled anyways. She leaned forward and hugged Leo. She relaxed against him though her throat tightened. She cleared her throat as she pulled back. She remembered back to all the swimming they had done. She had worn her two piece and Leo's eyes had lingered just a little too long but she had taught him to swim. They had rode their bikes everywhere and spend endless hours talking and growing close. It was too easy for Olivia to be around Leo now. He was as comfortable as if she was by herself. They had spent many days with him writing and her taking pictures to trade later to talk about and look over. It had been the best summer she had in years and though her parents had made the summer tough Leo had made it worth it. She bit her lip gently as she moved standing my Leo. She looked nervous as her eyes swept around the crowded courtyard full of other eight graders. The bell rang and everyone headed inside. Olivia grabbed Leo's hand and they started to walk inside with the crowd.

@ Jinx...
Leo immediately noticed the frown on Olivia’s face, swelling hard. He hoped she was okay, but knew better than to ask in front of everyone. He made a mental note to ask her when they were alone. Leo smiled at her reassuringly before turning his attention to the group. All the kids shares the tales of the summer, their class schedule, and dorky anecdotes. Leo cheerfully sharing his side of things. As the bell rang he took his class schedule out, double checking the classroom number as he walked alongside Olivia. “Where’s your locker?” He murmured. “I’m 324.” He told her. Leo walked inside the school as everyone rushed to their lockers and rushed to class, no one wanted to be late on the first day. He moved to his locker, shoving his backpack into the locker and grabbing his binder which had papers and notes inside it already. He moved quickly before meeting back with Olivia. “Which class is first? I can walk you to it?” He said with a gentle smile.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia grinned as she listened to the group staying quiet unless someone asked her a question. When the bell rang she fell into step with Leo looking at her schedule. "Uhh 328." she said and smiled knowing she would at least get to see him in passing when she needed to go to her locker. She put her things up grabbing just the first day materials she needed. She grinned up at him. "Umm." she pulled her schedule out again looking at it and bit her lip. "English with Mrs. Abbott." She bit her lip glad she had an easy class in the morning. She looked up at him. "You?" she asked as he started to lead them to the class she needed to get to. She was really grateful he was taking her. The layout of a new school was always the hardest.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled at Olivia, even when she wasn't looking. He couldn't get enough of her, and he hoped she felt the same. He grinned when she told him their lockers were close together. He noticed how nervous Olivia was and didn't understand it, she was the most confident person he knew. He took a deep breath and leaned down, whispering to her. "I can tell something is going on, we can talk later." He stood tall again and nodded. "Dang, different classes, but at least we have the same lunch time." He told her, beginning to walk towards Olivia's class. Once they arrived he gave her a nod, reaching up and moving a hair away from her face. "Well, I'll see you later Liv." He murmured before moving off towards his own class. As Leo walked he couldn't help but smile as he thought about Olivia. This was going to be his greatest year yet and it would be because of her. He moved int his classroom and sat, quickly pulling out his journal. Leo tapped his chin with a pencil as he thought. An idea popped into his head as he began to write.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked up as he whispered into her ear. She bit her lip. She wasn't sure she was ready to talk about her last secret. She smiled as he said they would have the same lunch. "That's good." she said and got to the classroom. She smiled up at Leo and hugged him again. "Thank you." she whispered to him then stepped back and moved into her classroom. She loved his nickname for her. It sounded almost like he was telling her to live every time he said it and she needed to hear it. Olivia listened to the teacher as class started thinking of Leo and doodling in her notebook. The first day was always boring, it was all about rules and timelines. So she went through the first class bored and the second as well before she met up with Leo in the third glad to see him sitting in a chair. She slipped in beside him and leaned over poking him with the back of her pencil. She smiled at him as he looked up. "Hey." she said glad that she had him in one class before lunch.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded with a smile. The pair worked together well now, she could read him just like he could read her. He continued to write and doodle a bit through classes. In his third class he quickly took a seat in the back and continued to write. He heard someone sit besides him, ignoring it, but looked up when he heard Olivia's voice. His face turned light pink as his smile grew. "Hey you." He said and smiled, closing his notebook as he looked at her. Leo bit his lip and grabbed a loose piece of paper. He wrote on it 'you still seem upset, I'll tell you my big secret if you tell me yours.' He handed it to her just as their teacher started class. He was nervous, almost hoping that she wouldn't do it. He never told anyone about his father and what went on, it was terrifying to think of. He wasn't sure how she would react. If she told someone he could be taken away. He shook his head trying to forget that thought. Leo opened his notebook and began to write again as he waited for lunch. When the bell rang he quickly gathered his papers together in the binder and stood up. "Come on lets go!" He said excitedly. "They always do pizza on the first day." Leo took Olivia's hand and headed down to the cafeteria with her, standing in the line along the wall.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia was just glad to see him so when the bell rang she relaxed back and took the note Leo handed her frowning at it as she opened it as class began. She didn't know if it was her secrete to tell but she couldn't keep it from Leo any longer. She had spent days away from Leo last month just so he wouldn't find out. She said she had gone camping but that had been true. They had class and she would bump Leo's foot under the desk now and again playfully. When the bell rang for lunch she matched Leo's speed. They darted out of the classroom and down to the cafeteria. "Awesome!" she said and slipped into the line with him. She leaned against him in the line her hands on his shoulders her chin propped up there so her head rested against his cheek. "So what teachers do you have?" she asked him. she didn't want to talk about this at school for sure so she was sticking to easy subjects. They moved through the line and got their food sitting down and Leo's friends joined them slowly.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled and blushed when he felt her foot, tapping back playfully. He write between taking notes for the class. When the bell wrong he quickly hurried along with Olivia. He looked around at all the kids in line around them before his attention moved back to Olivia as she spoke. “Mr. Long, Ms. Kemper, Mr. Desmond, Mrs. Jolly, and Ms. Eksi.” He told her recalling who he had. Looking to her. “You?” They made their way to the front of the line and he grabbed his tray, thanking the woman. He moved to a table with 5 chairs, sitting down and quickly beginning to eat the pizza. He opened his milk carton and began to drink from it. “Are you doing anything after school? We should hang out.” He told Olivia.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia pulled out her scedual and read it off. They had Mr. Desmond, Mrs. Jolly at the same times. Such meant they had three classes together for the day. Once they where seated she took a bite of her food and hummed thinking about what she had to do later. "I have to go home first." She said chewing on her lip her eyes guarded as she said it. She shrugged and looked back up at Leo. She wanted to change the subject but didn't know how to so she just kinda went quiet as she ate.

@ Jinx...
Leo grinned at Olivia when they had a couple classes together. He and the others at the table also compared their class schedules. Everyone eating away at the pizza and small sides the school offered. His head turned as he heard her speak again. “Oh yea sure, I can come meet you?” He offered with a smile. He frowned when he noticed the look on her face and dropped the subject. Leo was sad that the end of summer seemed like Olivia was pulling away from him. He didn’t know why. Had he said something wrong? Done something wrong? He was confused. He didn’t want to show that it bothered him so he moved on. Talking about a recent NFL game with his friends, but his eyes always checked on Olivia

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked down as he mentioned meeting her. "Umm I'm not sure it's a good day to meet up at my place." she said. She was glad when someone changed the subject. She finished her pizza but then smooshed the other food around her plate not eating much. When lunch was over she smiled at Leo as they walked to their lockers together before heading to their classes together. The end of the day came sooner rather than later. Olivia walked home with Leo pushing her bike. "Maybe tomorrow we can ride together." she said knowing they could lock their bikes together. She had given him a key to her chain after all. She looked up at him as they got to their street. "I just need to drop off my bag then we can head to the tree house." she said.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded as he listened to Olivia. He went through the rest of the day in a sort of funk. He knew something was very off about Olivia and he couldn’t tell what or why. He didn’t want to pry, but he didn’t like the feeling in his stomach as he thought about it. He zoned out in classes Ashe thought, not even writing during them. He walked alongside Olivia as they headed to their houses, stopping before his own. “I’ll see you later I guess?” He said and smiled. He waved and watched as Olivia moved towards her house. Leo quickly went to his own, dropping his school stuff off. He found a granola bar in the kitchen and grabbed that before deciding to head right over to Olivia’s. He didn’t want to surprise her but he thought this was they only way to get an answer out of her. He ate the granola bar as he walked towards olivias house. Once he arrived he carefully walked up the steps and knocked on her door three times like he always did.

@ BadStreetBoys
Behind the door was the muffled sound of screaming and a glass shattered followed by silence then Olivia opened the door. Her eyes widened seeing Leo. She looked back inside and stepped out closing the door. She pressed her back to it her eyes sad and slightly panicked. She looked embarrassed and on the verge of her eyes filling but she blinked a lot to keep them clean. Olivia looked down and bit her lip. "Can we go to the tree house now?" she whispered and looked up her stomach clenching as her heart pounded loudly in her ears. She didn't think they would notice her gone for a while yet and then they would think she was with Leo, and she would be after all because he was her person. She pulled away from the door and started to walk down the street in silence looking at the sidewalk. They walked silently to the treehouse and she climbed up the rope first. She had cleaned up the treehouse and added the beanbags and a radio over the summer. People had started to add things to it to like string lights and blankets. She was glad to see the kids of the neighborhood all sharing the space. Olivia moved to the window looking out at the forest. She wrapped her arms around herself her throat tight. "I'm sure you heard them." she said knowing that she had left them still fighting when she had left. "My parents fight a lot. They scream and throw things. Sometimes things get... out of hand." she said looking down her eyes swimming with tears. It was a start. She couldn't seem to get it all out yet and needed a moment to figure out how to breath past the clutch of the shame and pain at her throat.

@ Jinx...
Leo heard the screaming and glass, flinching hard. He was used to those sounds and avoiding them. Many a times his father had been drunk and angry, tossing his beer bottles at Leo and Ricky who had to run and lock themselves in their room to avoid his fury. His eyes almost glazed over for a moment when he heard the sounds before that was shaken from him when the door opened. He saw Olivia and swallowed hard, nodding. "Lets go." He murmured, beginning to walk away quickly. He didn't want to show Olivia how shaken up he was. But he knew he would have to admit to his own secret soon. Leo climbed up the tree house with Olivia, smiling slightly at how it had become a getaway for the kids. Both he and Olivia had been big proponents of that. He was looking around when Olivia's voice broke his concentration. He frowned slightly and nodded. "Yes." He mumbled, looking down. He was quiet, just wanting to listen. Leo knew she needed to talk and he wasn't going to speak until she had gotten it all out, he knew that was whats best. He took her hand and squeezed it gently, reassuring her. Nodding to show he was there and he was listening.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked at his hand in hers the tears spilling over and rolling down her cheeks. "My dad gets so... controlling and so he yells. And... I think-I think my mom likes it." She blinked trying to blink back the tears. This was the first time she had cried in front of Leo. "So they fight and then it's okay for awhile but then my dad will say something a particular way or my mom will give a look... and I know it's going to happen again. They sometimes fight for a few days." She had learned the hard way to stay out of it. "They don't notice me until it's over." She said and then looked at Leo and buried her face in his chest holding onto him. She was shaking in his arms. "I didn't want you to see that. I was ashamed." She said into him.

@ Jinx...
Leo wrapped his arms around Olivia, holding her tight. He knew Ricky likes to be held when he cried, so Leo thought maybe Olivia would too. He nodded gently as he listened. He didn’t understand her specific situation but he felt connected to her and understanding based on his own situation. He shook his head at her last comment. “No no, don’t be ashamed. It’s okay.” He murmured and squeezed her a little tighter. “I understand, and it’s going to be okay. I’ll make sure of it.” He paused and took a breath. “I’m here for you and I’ll do whatever I can to help you, Liv. You’re my best friend.” He said and smiled at her, gently using his thumb to wipe her tears away. “We all have secrets, some bigger than others.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia melted into his arms feeling relieved as he held her. She didn't know how much she needed his strength before he had given it to her. She looked up at him as he told her not to be ashamed. She heard his promise not sure how he could promise such a thing but it made her feel better anyways. She sniffled and leaned her head into Leo's hand as he wiped her tears away. She smiled softly. "You're my best friend too." she said and carefully let him go blushing as she realized how close she was to him. She leaned back in the window looking at him. "Are you going to tell me yours then?" she asked him not wanting to panic him but wanting to support him the same way he had just supported her. She bit her lip. "If you're not ready that's okay too." she gave him an out. She wanted him to feel comfortable more than she wanted to know.

@ Jinx...
Leo could tell how safe and relieved Olivia felt with him, he understood because he felt the same way with her. He instinctively held her tighter, more protectively. He just wanted Olivia to feel safe and feel better. Leo knew there was nothing he could do about her home life. But he would do his damn best to make her out of home life as good as he could. He smiled when Olivia told him he was her best friend, he was almost relieved that the feeling was mutual. When Olivia asked about his secret he tensed up slightly, swallowing hard. "I promised you I would and I'm not a lia." He told her, nervously readjusting himself as he sat. "Before I tell you, please please please promise me you won't tell anyone." He said and took her hand. Leo looked Olivia in the yes and swallowed. "Promise me, no one ever finds out, okay?" He said again. He knew this secret could tear him and his family apart. He didn't want to risk it. Leo held his pinky out for her. "Pinky promise."

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia bit her lip as he tensed up. She wanted to take the pain away from him. He said he wasn't a liar and she shook her head because she knew he wasn't. She watched him go and sit down and she moved next to him sitting down as well. Olivia frowned and looked down at his hand over hers. She squeezed lightly and looked up at him. "Of course Leo, you would never tell anyone my secrete. I wont tell yours." she said and frowned as he made her pinky promise. She was worried now but she reached out and took his pinky with hers. "I promise I don't tell anyone." she promised him and then laced her fingers with his. "Tell me Leo." she said and looked up at him with concern.