Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded with relief when Olivia promised him. It gave him the reassurance to come clean, for the first time in his life. He knew it would take the weight off his shoulders. He nodded again and took both her hands in his. Leo closed his eyes and swallowed hard, squeezing her hands just as he began to speak. "My dad." He murmured. "My dad is an abusive drunk." He said and swallowed again, knowing he was about to spill his life story. He didn't want to open his eyes because then it would all be real. "He drinks and he gets mad. He yells and throws things. He hits ma and hurts me. He will do the same thing to Ricky if I don't protect him. He's been this way ever since we lost mom. I don't get the bruises and stuff from falling off the swings or my bike, I get them from my dad. But I, we, still love him. We try to avoid dad when he is drinking and angry. But sometimes we can't avoid it because Ricky is starving or needs a drink So I'll have to sneak downstairs and make him dinner or something." He explained and swallowed again. Leo opened his eyes and looked at Olivia. His eyes were wide and nervous. He was hoping she wouldn't be mad or upset and tell someone. Leo was strong enough to handle this, he just hoped Olivia thought so.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia listened looking at him hard until he told her about his father. Her eyes widened and she looked back at his hands in hers. She listened as he kept talking and it broke her heart as she listened to how he took care of his brother and took the brunt of it. She looked up at him studying his face. She remembered a few bruises over the summer she had asked about and he had said something. she hadn't thought about it then. He stopped talking looking scared to death. She leaned forward pulling him into her arms. She snuggled into his neck holding onto him like her hug could fix it. She didn't know what to say but it made her own problem seem so small. She knew what the fighting and the breaking sounded like but hadn't been the recipient of abuse, not like that. She sat back after along while looking up at him and caressed his cheek. "You'll tell me if ever it's too much right?" she asked him. She didn't want him to think he had to not tell her anymore. She was here for him and she needed to make sure he would be okay.

@ Jinx...
Leo broke almost as soon as he stopped talking and just started sobbing. Years of secrets and abuse were finally off his chest and he just couldn't control it. He cried as Olivia held it, crying into her shoulder. His sobs racked his body. He allowed himself to cry and just held her back. When he finished crying he wiped his eyes and sat back up, looking across at Olivia. He nodded and swallowed. "It feels good to tell people your biggest secret, huh?" He said and laughed slightly. "We have each other though, so I know we can get through it and fight it." Leo told Olivia, leaning forward and hugging her again.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia had listened to him crying and felt the shaking as he let the years of having to be strong fade away. She was glad that he had let her in and that he would continue to tell her everything. She knew as long as he was talking about it that he was going to be okay. She smiled and nodded. "I don't think I could tell anyone but you Leo." she said because she had never told anyone before and she didn't know if she could ever be so brave again. "We do have each other." she agreed and felt him hug her again. She held onto him and closed her eyes letting everything sink in. She knew she would need to head back soon and Leo probably did too. She sighed and sat back looking up at him. "You're important to me Leo." she said hoping he understood the depth in her words. "Come on I should head back." she said though she didn't want to.

@ Jinx...
Leo knee they were bonded now, as if they were bonded by blood. They knew each other’s biggest secrets and it was almost reassuring to him because it helped him know for sure they were meant to be friends. Leo leaned into the hug and enjoyed the moments of closeness. He didn’t want the moment to end. When Olivia pulled away he let out a breath, nodding sadly. “You’re very important to me.” He told her and nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.” He said and climbed down before helping Olivia climb down from the treehouse. He began to walk back towards her house. “I wish I could do something to help you.” He told her honestly. Leo grabbed her hand as they continued to walk. His mind wandered. Thinking of his situation and hers. Leo knee they were only in 8th grade but he hoped they would stay together as friends for a while. Maybe They could be boyfriend and girlfriend in high school. He didn’t want to think too much into it, not wanting to get his hopes up. But he knew he could love her.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia climbed down with Leo and hugged his arm as they walked back to the streets letting him go once they where back among the houses. She held her hands behind her back. She looked up at him as he spoke. She grinned. "Me? I'm sure my problems are small potatos compared to yours." She said and looked down at his hand in her with a grinn. She was glad he didn't want to let go either. She shook her head. "I'll let you know if I think of anything." She said.

Weeks went by and they got into an easy routine of meeting for school, hanging out during school, hanging out after school and Leo walking her home. Things seemed to go smoothly. But as Leo walked her home one night they stood outside of her house and they could hear it. The crash and then the shouting was unmissable. "Things had been going so great." She mummered standing next to Leo frowning as she looked at the ground. She knew she had to go in but didn't want to.

@ Jinx...
Leo has enjoyed the closeness between them. It seemed to grow and ferment even more after the pair had told their big secrets. Leo knew he was beginning to have feelings for Olivia. He was young so he wasn’t sure what the feelings were or how to deal with them. But he knew something was there. Leo didn’t want to tell Olivia that, worried for their friendship. He decided to keep it to himself unless she made a first move. His dad hadn’t been any worse or better lately. Leo has hit a small growth spurt and was a little bigger than he had this summer. He was now one of the taller boys in school. He felt as though he would start to fill into his body soon.

Leo was enjoying he and olivia’s wall, looking at her house as he heard the sounds and sighed shaking his head. “Liv.” He murmured and looked down at her. “I’m sorry.” He said and sighed again. “Are you sure? We could just go to the treehouse or something.” He offered. Leo knee she hated dealing with this as much as he hated dealing with his father.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia stepped closer to Leo and pressed her head to his chest. She sighed softly as she wrapped her arms around him feeling his arms holding her a moment later. She could always count on him to be there for her in whatever way he needed. "No it's late. It will only be worse if I don't go in sometime." she said and swallowed. She looked up at Leo with vulnerable eyes. "Thank you Leo." she said and leaned up pressing her cheek to him as she hugged him again squeezing him harder. After a moment she stepped back and gave him one last look before heading inside.

Olivia spent most the night listening to their fighting. She couldn't sleep. She thought anything would be better than this. She crawled out of bed and pulled on her tennies. She pulled on a sweater grabbing a few things shoving them in per pockets before she went tot he window and opened it. She skimmed down the roof and to the tree climbing out. Olivia moved down the street at a light jog. She stopped in front of Leo's house and bit her lip. She had never been inside but she had watched him come from his room to meet her so she knew which was his room. Her heart hammered a million miles an hour. She climbed the tree balancing as she moved over to Leo's window and sat on the ledge. She tapped on the window and waited for Leo watching his form stir in the dark.

@ Jinx...
Leo knew how much Olivia hated it when her parents fought. He was upset for her and didn’t like just leaving her in this mess.

Leo jumped from his bed when he heard something on his window, eyes wide. He turned to the window, squinting he saw Olivia. His eyes widened again. Leo moves to the window quickly, throwing the window open. He offered a hand and helped Olivia in. “Shhh.” He murmured and shut the window as quietly as he could. “Ricky is sleeping in his room, dad is passed out drunk.” He said and moved to the bed, moving to the side of it so that Olivia could air besides him. “Are you okay?” He asked nervously. Olivia had never been to his house Before and it was weird having her in here. It was weird having a girl in his room, his bed, at all.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia smiled as Leo opened the door. She nodded as she shushed him. She slipped in quietly and smiled as he told her where everyone was. She crawled into his bed and laid down with him. She nodded as he asked if she was okay. She felt okay now. "They are still going at it... I couldn't sleep. Can I just stay here a little while? I'll go before morning." she said just wanting a few hours sleep. Olivia looked up at him and then moved closer curling into him her head resting on his chest. She closed her eyes her hand on his chest. She felt safe and comfortable with him. She grinned that he hadn't asked how she got up here. He knew she had great balance and climbing skills. She had shown him many times at the treehouse and the surrounding trees. Olivia knew this wasn't fair to him but she needed him and she knew if he needed her she would do the same for him. She's hide him in her closet for days if he needed her to. Not that her parents would really notice.

@ Jinx...
Leo knew that for Olivia to come it had to be serious. He wasn’t upset in the least, just worried. “Of course, you know you’re welcome anytime. I know you’d take care of me if you had to.” Leo wrapped his arms around Olivia and held her close as she cuddled to his chest. “Just relax, sleep, I’ll be here.” He said and kissed the top of her head. Leo smiled to himself knowing how right this felt. He was worried though. Worried about how. Bad it must be for her to be here. Worried about his father finding out. He knew he probably wouldn’t sleep now that his mind was up and racing. But he wanted to remain calm and still as he let Olivia sleep.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia smiled softly and slowly fell asleep without another thought about it. It was easy to sleep with Leo like this. He was her person. Being with him was like being with her other half. She had felt it, the feelings and seen the looks. The way he held her hand and told her everything it was obvious to her that they where meant to be but he wanted to be friends which was fine. She could do friends but every once in a while she wanted more. When Olivia woke it was nearly morning. She yawned and stretched making a cute murmuring noise. She opened her sleepy eyes and looked at Leo. He was awake. She smiled and leaned up kissing his cheek. "Thank you." she whispered and sat up stretching out. She rubbed her eyes and then stood. "I'll see you for school." she said and looked at him again for just a moment before moving over to the window sliding it open softly and then slipped out. She left the same way she had come and got back to er own room grateful for the silence.

@ Jinx...
Leo had gotten a little sleep, in and out of sleep as his mind raced. He was awake when he heard Olivia stir, smiling at her. He stretched out and helped Olivia out the window. He waved as she made her way down. “See you at school, be safe.” He murmured and shut the window. Leo decided to get ready since he was already up. He got dressed and quietly headed downstairs beginning to make some breakfast for he and Ricky.

Leo walked up into the courtyard and saw Olivia. He moved over after saying goodbye to Ricky and went up to her. “Hey there.” He murmured and smiled big, his hand moving into hers. He knew people thought they were a thing, especially their other friends. He heard their whispers and some had even confronted him. But he denied it. He didn’t think that’s what Olivia wanted.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia smiled seeing Leo the tension in her shoulders easing as he took her hand. She grinned. "Hey you." She said and squeezed his hand softly. She didn't know if they where going to talk about last night. She blushed now thinking about it. She had been in his bed, in his room late at night. Of course he had been the perfect gentleman about it but still it had been a big step in their relationship. She spent the day thinking about it and wondering if he was thinking about it too. That by the end of the day she felt like her mind was going to explode. She wanted to know how he felt about her and what he thought about the night before but was too chicken to ask him. She didn't want to ruin their friendship. He meant to much to her.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled and looked between the friends, talking, laughing, doing whatever. He moved through the motions all day as he usually did. Teasing Olivia in the classes they had and at lunch. At the end of the day he met her outside the school, planning to walk Olivia home as he usually did. He saw her waiting and hurried over, grinning giddily. “Ready?” He asked and offered her his hand. Leo looked over her face and he could tell something was bothering her. “Liv, what’s up?” He asked and smiled softly. “Is it about last night?” He asked and began to walk. “I can read you, y’know. I can always tell when something is up with you.” He told her as the walked hand in hand.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia slipped her hand into his as he offered it ready to head home. She nodded and then started to walk. He noticed right away that something was off and her cheeks heated. It was impossible for her to hide anything from him. She both loved it and it scared her. She looked up at him and nodded. "You're ability to read me is scary accurate." she bumped his shoulder. "I know you can and I feel like you never hide anything from me." she chuckled. "Yeah I was thinking about last night... I know I put you on the spot and that it's dangerous for you but... Thank you." she said. Olivia wondered what he thought of it and hoped he would talk about it with her. She knew she was important to him but she didn't know how he felt. They walked slowly from the school back towards home. "Hey do you want to come over and study?" she asked. "They where better this morning so things should be fine."

@ Jinx...
Leo grinned slightly at Olivia, nodding in agreement. “Hey I’m basically an Olivia whisperer.” He teased and bumped her shoulder back. Leo shook his head as she talked. “It’s okay, I didn’t mind. I know you would do the same for me.” He told her with a genuine smile. “Danger makes things more exciting.” He said and chuckled. “I kinda liked it, a lot.” He murmured and a blush crept across his face as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously with his free hand. Leo looked around enjoying the changing leaves as they walked. When he heard Olivia’s voice again he looked over and nodded. “Yea sure, Ricky has a club meeting after school so he won’t be home for a bit.” He told her and walked into Olivia’s house with her. He was on edge slightly, worried that his presence may cause another fight and not wanting to be a part of it. But he wanted to be there for Olivia.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia laughed and nodded. "Yes you are." she said. He soothed her worries and made her feel better that he knew how much she would do for him too. "Of course I would. I will always take care of you." she grinned. She giggled and shook her head as he joked about danger. She blushed looking up at him seeing the blush on his face. "Me too." she whispered back and saw him look at the trees and she looked up too. He agreed to come over and she squeezed his hand softly. They walked in and Olivia called out to the quiet house. "Mom! I brought Leo home to study!" she shouted and looked over at Leo. "Do you want to have a snack?" she asked him. Her parents had gotten use to him eating over and always bought extra snacks with him in mind. They thought Leo was good for Olivia they said she had been more relaxed with him around and adjusted easier and they had been right.

@ Jinx...
Leo blushed as Olivia called out to her mother. He was always nervous around her parents, for no fault of their own. He was always nervous about doing the wrong thing or making a mistake. He was worried if he did something wrong they wouldn’t let him see Olivia anymore. He let go of her hand once inside, again worry about what her parents may think. “Yea sure.” He said with a smile. Leo took his shoes off, leaving them by the door as he followed Olivia into the kitchen. Leo greeted her mother and father politely when he saw both of them. Leo looked to Olivia. “What’s the snack today?” He asked teasingly. Leo moved to the fridge and grabbed a water bottle for both he and Olivia, knowing they would need a drink to go with the snack.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia grinned as she moved to the pantry. Olivia's parent's greeted Leo happily. "Umm apples and caramel? Or we have yogurt and berries." She bit her lip looking at him as she turned with the caramel packets. "Or you can have veggies and ranch." she said. She had started to realize that Leo liked veggies and fruit just as much as he did the junk food. She moved over tot he fridge pulling out the food. She sat with him taking the water. "Thanks." she said. Her parents where happily chatting in the next room. They liked company and wouldn't fight in font of company. It was part of the reason Olivia had so many friends at her last school.