Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded at every suggestion, chuckling to himself. He liked the variety. He loved the fresh fruit and vegetables that Olivia always had because he never got it anywhere else. He sat at the table and began to eat, taking bits of this and that. Distributing it evenly. He took a sip of water and smiled across at Olivia. “So what should we work on?” He asked, he wasn’t sure what studying they would do, but he didn’t care. He was just happy to be spending time with Olivia. They could do anything and he wouldn’t mind.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia finished her snack as always giving extra to Leo. She cleaned everything up when they where done and smiled as he spoke about studying. "Come on let's go to my room." She said and pulled on his hand. She grabbed her bag and moved up the stairs. She set her bag down on her bed. "I need help with History." she shrugged. "I can't get all the names and dates straight." she pulled out the big book. "What about you?" she asked him though she had him in two classes and he was amazing. He could do anything he wanted to in life. "Hey have you finished that writing you where telling me about? I still haven't gotten to read your stuff." she said and blushed knowing he would ask for her photos.

@ Jinx...
Leo finished his and Olivia’s snacks, helping her clean up. She usually insisted on doing it herself, but Leo felt rude if he didn’t help. He grabbed his bag and quickly followed after her to the bedroom. Grinning and blushing to himself as he thought of the prior night. “I kinda can.” He said and shrugged, pulling out his history notebook. It was red. He always made sure history was red. “I make up like short poems and or just things that rhyme. Like the most common was Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492.” He explained and opened his notebook as he looked for the most recent ones he had written. He slid it over to Olivia. “If you can remember those it should help.” He said and smiled. Leo blushed when she asked about his writing. He had begun working on two things as of late, a poem for Olivia, and a memoir of sorts. He was just writing about his life, it helped him cope. “No, I almost am done one of them though.” He told her. “Don’t worry you’re the first person I’ll show when I’m done.” Leo knew his poem for Olivia would be done soon. But he was very nervous to show her. He laid his feelings out on the line in it and he was worried if she didn’t feel the same they couldn’t be friends anymore once he showed her

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia grinned as he showed her the memory tricks he had. "They are great!" she said and pulled out her notebook scribbling them down. Olivia looked up as he paused and she caught the blush on his cheeks. "Awe come on you promised." she poked him with the eraser on her pencil. She sighed as he promised her she would be the first. "Yeah yeah but you've been promising to let me read some of your work all summer." she said. It was surprising to her how soon Thanksgiving break would be coming up. Her parents always took her away on the holidays to their little vacation house on the beach on some little island in Hawaii. She pushed her hair away as she looked back at the books. "Why don't you let me read some of your older stuff while you work on the new ones?" she asked him. "I want to see the one you are most proud of." she said and blushed. "I've been working on some new photo's too and I'm getting them developed this weekend." She told him and pulled out some homework from her bag.

@ Jinx...
Leo grinned when Olivia liked his idea. He didn’t think they were that great but if Olivia liked them then he was happy. He watched her as she wrote them down and took his notebook back when she finished. He blushed and rolled his eyes. Leo knew he should show her his writing, but he just worried that it wasn’t good enough. He swallowed and nodded. “Okay okay.” He told her and pulled out another notebook. This one was smaller and black with gold accents. He opened it up and flipped through it. “Okay here’s one I like, it’s a poem about fall and leaves changing.” He said and folded the notebook over, handing it to Olivia. “It’s pretty good I guess.” He said and shrugged. It was one of his shorter ones and that was why he picked it. He wasn’t sure if he wanted anyone to read his stories yet. “I can’t wait to see your new photos.” He told her with a smile.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia beamed as he handed her his older poem. She leaned back setting his notebook in her lap and placed her pencil between her teeth as she read. She could feel his eyes on her and the nerves in the room. Olivia could feel the passion and the insight in his poem as she read. It almost made her sad that the leaves fell but also in awe of their beauty as they did. She sat up with the note book in her lap when she finished. "Leo..." She looked at him with dazzled eyes. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "Its magnificent." She beamed. "I want a poem for me." She said and reluctantly handed the notebook back. "And don't think your not going to show me one of your stories next." She said then pulled her book into her lap with a dreamy sigh.

@ Jinx...
Leo felt his heart in his throat as she read it, the tension inside him building so much he almost felt like he was gonna blow up. When she stopped reading and looked up a wave of relieve filled his body. He grinned excitedly, cheeks flushing when he felt her lips on his cheek. Though he wished their lips had met instead. “Thank you.” He murmured sheepishly. His blush got darker when she said she wanted on. “That’s one of the things I’m working on.” He said quietly, his blush spreading from his cheeks to his ears. Leo took the notebook and closed it, carefully putting it back in his backpack. “I know I know.” He said and laughed. “Those take longer and they’re.” He paused as he tried to think of the word. “Just different I guess. But I promise to show you, this weekend when you show me your photos.” He told her with a grin. Leo leaned in and gave Olivia a kiss on the cheek, though purposely placing the kiss as close to her lips as he could without them actually touching. When he pulled away he covered his face with his hands as he blushed.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia smiled as he said he was working on a poem for her. "Really?" she watched him completely distracted from her homework. She felt like it just got better as he promised to show her one of his stories when he got to see her photos. "Deal." she said and the smile on her face turned soft as he kissed her cheek. She blushed against his lips and turned slightly looking at him as he pulled back seeing the blush all over him. She bit her lip as he covered his face. She grinned. He was so cute. "Hey." she said and pulled his hands down looking into his face. "Thank you." she said and hugged him tight for a long moment before pulling back. "You want some water? I'm gonna get some from down stairs." she said feeling like she didn't know what to say so she had to go and think about it for a bit. Olivia slipped out of her room feeling the cool of the hallway. Was it possible for the two of them to drastically change the temperature in her room? Olivia got her water and came back shortly after still not sure what to say about the way he had kissed her cheek and not brave enough to ask him to do that again, or even more to kiss her lips like she was daydreaming.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled slightly when Olivia reassured him, squeezing her as they hugged as tight as he could. When she said she needed water he nodded, swallowing a lump in his throat. He was almost glad she was leaving for moment so he could collect his thoughts. He had known about feelings for people, some of their friends had a boyfriend or girlfriend. But it was all new to them as the kids just began to enter puberty. He was thinking, lost in fro thought on the subject when he heard Olivia come back in. Leo thanked her for the water before he began to drink from it, still lost in thought. He really liked Olivia, but he was scared of losing her, which caused his hesitations.

@ BadStreetBoys


Olivia hugged Leo outside on her front porch. "I'm going to miss you!" She said. It was holiday break and her parents where taking her away for their annual island trip. She pulled back and pulled out a box with a bow on top. "It's nothing big but I made it for you since you liked my pictures so much. She said. She had showed him every picture done that first weekend where they had swapped a story for her pictures. She hoped he liked these ones. They where of her and then together and some random ones she knew he liked or would. Her father called. "Livi time to go." Olivia bit her lip and hugged Leo once more.

@ Jinx...
Leo hugged Olivia tightly, sighing sadly. He didn’t want her to go. It was thanksgiving break and he was going to be stuck home with his father and without his small solstice in the world, Olivia. “Miss you more.” He countered. When she handed him a box he laughed. “You’re crazy, you didn’t have to do this.” He told her, thanking her quietly. “Okay you gotta go. Make sure to come see me right when you get back.” He said and hugged her quickly. Leo waved as he watched Olivia and her family enter the car and begin to drive off. Leo took a deep breath before he began to walk back to his house. He had been lucky to even be able to say goodbye to Olivia. His father was already drunk and in a mood, and Leo knew he was getting the brunt of it tonight.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia sent Leo a post card over break and called him on the last day before break. "Hey Leo." she said excited to talk to him. She had been emailing him with the school email to coordinate a time and day to talk so he wouldn't get in trouble. "How was Thanksgiving?" she asked having a feeling she knew. The holidays had to be hard for him and she had bad news to give to him but didn't want to start off with that. "Did you open your gift?" she asked him hoping he liked it. He had begged her parents to change their minds but it was all set. She had requested one more thing from them but she didn't think it would work but she wanted to try anyways. They gave her the green light but it all depended on Leo's side. She had so much to talk to Leo about and knew they didn't have a tone of time over the phone.

@ Jinx...
Leo and Ricky had spent their break and holiday like they did every year, every day. Avoiding their father, fending for themselves, and just existing. There had been a few nights tougher than others but Leo got through it. He knew he would only get stronger from this, he hoped anyway. He had begun to plan his escape from his father and this town. As soon as he was an adult, and as soon as Ricky was safe he wanted to move away. But he had to make sure Olivia would still be by his side when he needed her. “Hey!” He said excitedly, relief spilling into him. He had missed her. “You know how things are.” He said wanting to change topics desolately. “Yes. I loved it. I’ve gotta give you the poem I wrote for you.” He murmured. “What’s going on with you? How was your vacation?” He asked, knowing he would see her soon. Leo glanced over at the clock and checked the time. It was 4:30 and his father said he would be home at 5:00. Leo knew his time was coming close.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia bit her lip nodding even though he couldn't see her as he told her about his holiday. She hated that. He changed subjects and she followed his lead. "Yes! I was hoping to get it before I left but your a perfectionist. I'm so excited to read it." she said. Olivia bit her lip frowning as he asked what was going on with her and how her vacation was. "Well I am super tanned now and I have this coral scar it's pretty badass." she chuckled then went quiet. And true to form Leo called her out of it. "Leo I'm not coming back until after New Years. My parents are set on it." she frowned. "But I talked to them and... I know it's a long shot but my parents said if you can convince your dad to let you that they will bring you out to Hawaii over winter break. Pay for everything and set it all up. I know you don't want to leave Ricky and you might not want to tell your father but I would really love to see you for Christmas." she said and bit her pulled at the ends of her hair. "So just think about it, if it's safe." she said wishing on all the stars and four leaf clovers but her heart ached because she didn't believe it could happen with his situation.

@ Jinx...
Leo listened intently. He was excited about her vacation and hearing the tales, seeing the pictures. He couldn’t wait for her to get back. However. As Leo listened. His face dropped, emotions dropped. His heart broke. That was the only way he could think of describing the thing he felt right now. He swallowed hard, nodding even though she couldn’t see it. He took a deep breath. “I’ll let you know, Liv.” He murmured. Leo wanted to cry. “I gotta go, Liv. My dads gonna be home.” He said and tapped his fingers gently against the phone in his hand. “You know when you can call again?” He asked. “I’ll talk to you later, bye.”’he murmured before hanging up the phone. Leo glanced at the clock 4:50. He had time to make some quick sandwiches for her and Ricky. Leo made him and his brother some basic PB&J sandwiches, hurrying up to his room just as he heard the door open. He gave Ricky his portion and reminded him to lock the door before Leo moved to his own room and locked himself in. He laid back into his bed, grabbing a pillow to cover his face as he let out a sob.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia heard the silence on the over end. "Leo." she said softly with pain and concern as she also wanted to comfort. She wished things where different. She wished she could spend Christmas with him over at her house than this. She heard the surrender in his voice even before he started. She felt her throat tighten as she listened to his voice strain. "Okay." she said as he spoke about leaving. "I'll call tomorrow if you're able. I'll call every day you want." she promised him. One of the things her parents had gotten her because of how upset she was had been a cell phone. It didn't make it better but it made it easier to talk to Leo. "I'll email you more pictures." she said hoping that it would help him with the separation. "Bye." she said hung up sitting there and felt the tears on her bare legs. Her mother came over and hugged her. "He's going to be fine without you." she said and Olivia pulled away from her. "You know nothing! I hate you!" she yelled and ran out of their beach house towards the waves needing to be alone as she cried uncontrollably. Her mind was flooded with worry and guilt.

@ Jinx...
Leo knew, or at least hope he knew, the Olivia wouldn’t choose something like this. That she wouldn’t abandon him like this. As he sat and cried and stewed over the information he felt a betrayal build up in his stomach. Leo shook his head and quickly moved to the small desk in the corner of his room. He grabbed his notebook and began to write. He just wrote and wrote and wrote until he couldn’t anymore. His eyes were heavy and his pencil dull. Leo quickly closed the notebook and hid it away again. He nodded to himself and moved back to his bed, crying again into his pillow. Leo just wanted an escape.

@ BadStreetBoys


Olivia came back in the new year all tanned and lean. She had filled out more looking more stunning and grown up. She was all bundled up freezing after having acclimated to Hawaii's climate. Olivia had noticed how Leo had been distant over the phone those sometimes she still tried to call when it was safe to do so. Olivia looked at the neighborhood through new eyes as they drove down the street. She got out of the car and sighed. She bit her lip and looked at her mom who waved her off. "We got it sweetie. I know you missed your friends." she said and Olivia nodded and ran off heading towards the treehouse. She didn't know of anyone would be there but she needed to see. She needed to see Leo but was afraid to go to his house and get him in trouble. She had emailed him to tell him when she would be home and asked him to meet up with her. Olivia climbed the slippery ladder up and crawled into the treehouse shivering her nose pink. She looked around seeing that things had been taken out. she guessed for the winter or maybe it was because things where changing. Everyone was growing up.

@ Jinx...
Leo had gotten through the two months, he’d lived. Without Olivia he had spent more time working on his writing. He also decided he wanted to start some simple workouts, just so he could defend Ricky from his father. It wasn’t much, just things he had seen on YouTube videos to build some strength. He wrote, went to school, and worked to survive. That was his daily life. When school wasn’t in session he and Ricky just did their best to get through the day. He felt betrayed by Olivia, he felt as though she didn’t care for him like she said she did. Like she was just another one of those superficial friends. When she told him when she’d be back and where to meet he told her he would. He wasn’t going to just cut her off, but Leo was hurt and she needed to earn his trust back. He put on his boots that were old and faded, his thin jacket, and made his way to the treehouse. He climbed up and saw that Olivia was already there. He swallowed hard trying to keep from breaking out into a smile. “Hey.” He said, looking around at how empty it had become.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia heard the creaking boards and turned. "Leo!" she beamed but as his cold expression hit her it wavered. She looked down then forced a smile back onto her lips though it didn't reach her eyes. She wanted to hug him but she didn't think that was the best idea right now. He obviously was upset. About what she wasn't sure. This was a side of Leo she had never seen before. Olivia tucked her hair behind her ear under her hat. She looked down and scuffed her shoe in the snow next to the window. "Hey." she said back and bit her lip. It wasn't until right then that she had been worried he would even show up and now she understood why. It wasn't her imagination and it wasn't his father making him distant to her while she had been gone. She felt a pit in her stomach and wanted to run away from this. She couldn't loose Leo. She hadn't done anything wrong right? "So school starts tomorrow. You excited to be heading back?" she asked and looked up at him with vulnerable hopeful eyes.