Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo helped onto Olivia as long as she needed, he felt relief rush inside him. He had missed this and her. He didn’t think he could stay mad at Olivia. “I missed you too.” He murmured. Leo watched as Olivia moved and eyes widened at being given not one but two gifts. He could help but smile and blush. No one had cared about him this much before. He opened it with his good hand, his smile and blush growing when he saw the notebook. “Wow.” He murmured, nodding excitedly. “I love it.” He took the other gift, opening it up and turning the bracelet over in his fingers. “This is so cool.” He mumbled and slid it into his good hand. “Thank you, Liv.” He murmured and leaned in to hug her again. “You’re too nice to me.” He said and not his lip.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia beamed as he said he loved them. She helped him put the bracelet on his good wrist. She grinned as he pulled her close and she hugged him carefully now knowing she probably hurt him last time but he hadn't said anything. She shook her head as he said she was too nice. "You mean everything to me." she said. "These are just little things because I was thinking about you." she said blushing her cheeks hot against his neck. She didn't know if this would help but she hoped he understood she hadn't changed. She was still here for him, had been the entire time. "I'm sorry you where alone. I wanted to be with you." she whispered.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled as he looked down at the bracelet, he was never going to take it off. He held onto Olivia as she spoke,, squeezing her a little tighter, knowing she probably meant it. “I feel the same way.” He murmured. Giving her a smile. He couldn’t stay mad. He nodded. “I wish I coulda gotten you something.” He told her. Leo shook his head and took her hand with his good one. “I understand.” He choked out, taking a deep breath. He did understand but he still wasn’t sure if his trust was back at the point it was before it happened.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia shook her head. "You did you printed my photos. It means everything that you believe in me." she said. She sniffled again as he said he understood and she shook her head. "Do you? Cause you know I had no control over that right? You where mad at me, and I had no control over what happened. I did everything I could. I kept calling and emailing but that was all I could do." she said and pulled away sitting on the edge of her bed her eyebrows crinkled. "And you pulled away from me and I don't know if I can..." she looked away a tear falling down her cheek. She let the sentence die. He already knew she would have to leave again and likely she would leave every year she was here for three months then she would be gone for two years before she was old enough to meet up with him anywhere but she didn't know if he could handle it. She had it all mapped out in her head but three months made him cold, she didn't think they could make it through two years. The only reason Olivia was brave enough to say any of this was because she felt like she already lost him.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and smiled, he was glad she liked what little he could do for her. When Leo listened to Olivia he frowned, looking away from her. He didn’t know what to do or what to say. He just nodded. “Maybe I should go.” He said and stood up. Leo grabbed his new notebook and put it carefully in his backpack. He hiked the pack up onto his shoulder and smiled painfully at Olivia. “I’ll miss you Liv.” He murmured and began to walk out of the house. Leo wanted to cry, he didn’t know what to do. He was hurt. He didn’t understand why Olivia was hurt. He didn’t think he was at fault here.

@ BadStreetBoys
A month went by and things didn't seem to be getting any better. Any progress with Leo seemed superficial at best and she could tell he wasn't letting her in. What more could she do? Olivia cried herself to sleep at least once a week but at the end of the month her entire world changed. Isabella and Blake called their daughter into the room and sat down with her. "Livi mommy is sick." Blake said and Olivia's eyebrows crinkled. "I'm not five. What do you mean?" she asked looking at her mom. Isabella's eyes teared up. "I have cancer baby. It's advanced but we're trying to fight it. That means I am not going to have some very good days coming up and you're going to have to be more grown up." Olivia frowned and sat there in silence as the panic welled inside of her. Her insides screamed but she didn't move that frown still on her face. She wanted to run to Leo. She wanted to crawl into his bed and sob into his chest but she couldn't. She had no one. The next day Olivia was late to school and she was silent all day, spaced out.

@ Jinx...
Leo still cared deeply for Olivia. But he felt the two of the drifting. It was both of their faults, at least he felt that way. His arm healed and he had begun to practice martial arts, specifically Ju Jitsu. He didn’t tell anyone and didn’t take any professional classes, but he watched online videos and learned. He wanted to get the strength back in his arm and learn to protect he and Ricky.

One day at school he noticed Olivia was different than usual. They didn’t talk or hang out as much. But she was still herself. But today she wasn’t. Leo saw a vacant look in her eyes that he didn’t like. He made his way over, gently touching her arm. “What’s going on, Liv?” He asked and boy his lip. Leo didn’t know if she would tell him, but the least he could do is try. “I’m still here for you, no matter what.”

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia jumped feeling the touch of his hand. She looked up at Leo and frowned at his words her eyes glossing over. She stood her eyes growing hard. "Here for me?" She whispered harshly. "You where never there for me you only said you where but when things got to hard you shut me out. So no I don't want to tell you! I should have to tell anyone my mom is sick. She shouldn't be sick!" She yelled and the tears streamed down her face then she looked around and ran out of the lunchroom outside sobbing as she went. She needed to find a quiet spot so she could calm down.

@ Jinx...
Leo jumped at Olivia’s reaction. He was shocked. He had never not been there for her, not that he knew. He frowned. She left him! Why was she saying he left her? He didn’t understand it. She left him. He shook his head and sighed. When he heard that her mom was sick, Leo’s face dropped. He understood that well. He had lost his mom to cancer when he was younger. “Liv, I’m so sorry. I understand.” He murmured. Olivia ran off before he could say anything else. He shook his head. Leo knew she probably needed some space end he would respect that.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia didn't go to the rest of her classes. Her parents picked her up and she was out the next couple days as well. Olivia avoided Leo outright now. She didn't eat lunch in the cafeteria anymore and when they had classes together she always showed up late. Months went by and summer came. Olivia was coming out of the house with her mom her dad upstairs getting things ready when she saw Leo walking by. "Leo." Isabella spoke grinning. "How are you hun?" She asked. She looked sick and weak her hair gone and dark circles under her eyes. She told another step and crumpled taking her and Olivia down. "Mom!" Olivia whimpered . "I'm okay sweety just let me get my breath." She said and unshed tears flooded her eyes but she blinked them back.

@ Jinx...
Leo was hurt. He was sad, even depressed, that this friendship had degraded. He tried occasionally to find Olivia and reconnect but was shut out. He had even tried to give her the poem he had written for her when he had feelings for her. But she wouldn’t hear it out or see him. So he held onto it. He’d give it to her one day, he knew that in his heart. He was walking home one day when he heard his name. Leo turned and saw Isabella. He smiled and waved. “Hello ma’am.” He murmured and looked at his feet. “I’m doing okay, maam.” When he saw her fall Leo rushed over and tried to help, his arm under hers and trying to help Isabella up. “Are you okay?” He asked, his eyes looking up to Olivia as he had panic in his eyes.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia snapped at Leo as he came to help. "Back off Leo I don't need you to save me." She glared. "Olivia." Isabella mummered. "Let him help." She said and a tear spilled over Olivia's cheek as she nodded. "I'm fine huh just tired. Its the meds." She said with a grin to Leo letting him help her over and into the car
Once she was in Olivia stepped back and looked down at the ground. "Thanks." She said after a long moment her voice tight. "The chemo had made her weak and she throws up all the time. But the cancer is getting worse so daddy is having us go to Arazonia for the summer for intensive care." She said feeling like she owed him some explanation. "I'll be back the last two weeks before school." She said.

@ Jinx...
Leo flinched when Olivia snapped at him, firstly because his reaction to yelling was automatic fear, second because it was his best friend. He carefully helped Isabella into the car. He gave her a smiled and turned back when he saw Olivia. Leo listened and took a deep breath, nodding. “I’m sorry, Liv.” He murmured. “I understand, I lost my mom to cancer when I’ve as little.” He paused and swallowed again. “If you need anything you know how to reach me.” He said and kicked a pebble near his foot. “Good luck.” He murmured and looked back up at her. He wasn’t sure if there was anything left for them to say to each other.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia nodded and stepped forward hugging him. She would never stop caring for him or feeling whole in his arms but they just didn't work. Olivia pulled back after a bit and touched the bracelet on his wrist with a soft smile. She wanted to keep talking to him. To ask how he's been, how his writing was going but that would just make things worse. They couldn't be friends. She bit her lip. "Bye Leo." She said and moved into the car her mother looking back at her then leaning back in her seat closing her eyes with a pained expression. They left soon after.

Olivia was gone after school got out that same day. She stayed gone for a month and returned home early. Olivia sat on the porch in the sun her camera in her lap and red eyes though she wasn't crying now. It was all over. The screaming and crashing in the house didn't even make her flinch anymore. Her mother was dead.

@ Jinx...
Leo turned and watched. He waved goodbye before walking home. He worried about Olivia. He knew how hard this type of thing was on a family. Especially without a best friend. He was sad that they were separating.

Leo had gotten through the rest of the school year. School had come to an end for the year and he wasn’t too excited about summer. Last year he had Olivia to spend the summer with. This year he had nothing. He was old enough to work so Leo wanted to start working and earning money for when he could leave. They were entering high school, so he had 4 more years before he had to leave for good. He was walking down the sidewalk one day when he saw Olivia sitting outside. He hadn’t seen her for a while, it broke his heart to see her. He touched the bracelet on his wrist before walking up to the stairs of her porch. He looked up and swallowed hard. “Hey.” He murmured. “What’s going on?”

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked up looking through him before her eyes focused more. "Leo."s eh said and blinked hard her eyes threatened tears she could no longer shed. She flinched as something broke through the window then there was silence and sobbing. Olivia frowned and looked back down. "She's gone." she whispered. She still couldn't say it. They had buried her back in her hometown which meant Olivia wouldn't be able to see her. She felt Leo and she was able to speak more. "After we left she really went down hill and then... it was so fast but it took forever." she shivered and started to hyperventilate as she remembered her mother taking her last breath. Olivia remembered her mother's last words and shook her head. "Leo." she pleaded. She couldn't hold herself together and just for a moment she needed him.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded as he listened. Tears brimmed in his eyes. He also clinched when something went through the window, covering his face before relaxing for a second. He felt his heart break for the girl he once called his best friend. He quickly moved up the steps, sitting besides Olivia. Leo wrapped his arms around Olivia. He pulled her close to his chest and just held her. “You gotta let it out, Liv.” He murmured. He knew holding things in didn’t make any better, and Olivia looked like she’d been holding this in a little too much. Leo held Olivia and let her cry as much as she needed. He knew that was all he could do. He didn’t really know if he should say anything else. What are you supposed to say when someone’s mom dies? He had experienced it but he didn’t even know.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia curled into his arms feeling him holding her. She crawled into his lap and sobbed into his shirt as she clung to him like she couldn't let go. She felt like she was crying for hours. She finally stopped crying and felt like she was just catatonic. She stayed in Leo's lap for a while. "Please don't leave me." she pleaded. Even the house was quiet now. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. She wanted to sleep here with him so much. He was her guardian and her sanctuary. She was cam now but her right sense had still not come back to her. She was a fragile doll in his hands. A part of her knew he took care of her because deep down he loved her through everything they had been through that should matter but they where kids and it wasn't enough.

@ Jinx...
Leo held Olivia tight. When she was in his lap he readjusted slightly to make it more comfortable for her, but held tight so that she wouldn’t fall or anything. He didn’t know how long Olivia had cried, he didn’t care. He didn’t have anywhere to be and he didn’t want to leave anyone, especially Olivia, in a time like this. “I’m right here.” He reassured her. Leo closed his eyes and breathed slowly, hoping his calmness could help calm Olivia down. He nuzzled his face into her neck gently when she was calm. “It’ll be okay, eventually.” He murmured. Those words were said to him when his mother died. He didn’t know if they were true. Things had never been okay for him. But he was 13, what did he know about helping someone cope with grief? He squeezed her tight and closed his eyes, just making sure Olivia was okay.

@ BadStreetBoys
It was a long while later that Olivia sniffled and sighed crawling out of his lap and picked up her camera from the porch and dusted it off setting it to the side. She looked over at Leo. She had no idea what to say. She looked at the house and bit her lip. "Do you know hoe to board of a window?" she asked him knowing her father was a mess and she was guessing he was passed out somewhere. She needed to get the house cleaned up from all the glass and board up the window until they could call for a replacement. She bit her lip and pulled her hair back. "I mean you don't have to help me anymore Leo, you already did more than..." she shook her head thinking she hadn't deserved his comfort but she knew he would argue that point so she didn't say it.