Before the Sun Sets

@ Jinx...
Leo’s arms fell to his sides when he felt Olivia pull away. He was glad she was feeling a little better, but it still broke his heart how hurt she was. His eyes moved and watched her carefully. He nodded. “I mean, kinda yea.” He said and shrugged. Leo knew basics to fixing things up but he was no expert. He’d seen his father fix things before but had never really been taught. “I can help.” He told Olivia and reached out to touch her arm gently. Leo wanted Olivia to know he was there no matter what. He would always be there. Leo grabbed her hand as he moved to stand up on the porch besides her.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia nodded as he said he could help. She needed his help. She lead him into the garage. She pulled out a hammer and some nails. There where boards somewhere for a dog house they where going to build but never did. "Umm can you look for a board that might be big enough?" she asked him pointing to the boards. They worked together to fix the window then Olivia walked inside seeing the mess. It looked like a tornado ran through there. She frowned and carefully moved to the kitchen getting out a broom and dustpan. They worked to clean up the house and once it was done Olivia made snacks and gave them to Leo drinking a juice as she sat silently next to him. "Is this what it's going to be like from now on?" she asked him.

@ Jinx...
Leo followed Olivia and began to look at the boards. He grabbed the ones he thought would be large enough before turning to look at her. “Got them.” He murmured and followed her inside. Leo worked on the window while Olivia worked on other things. When he finished he moved to the kitchen to help clean things up. As they finished he thanked Olivia and ate some snacks. He had certainly missed this part of their friendship. He sat quietly for a while until he heard Olivia speak again. “What do you mean?” He asked. Leo wasn’t sure if Olivia meant their friendship or her life. And frankly, he didn’t know the answer to either.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia shrugged. "Will I be cleaning up after my father like this from now on?" she asked knowing Leo still covered for his. She wondered if he cleaned up his father's messes, if his father still howled for his mother. She wanted to know if she had just lost both parents. "Will I ever have my father back? He's suppose to take care of me." she said and looked at Leo. "How often do they come back? Have you ever met anyone or have they all been like your dad?" she asked wondering just how bad it would get for her. She was scared that her father would turn al his pain out of her. She shook her head and looked down. "You know I look like her... every time I look in the mirror or of pictures of myself I see her." she said her voice tight.

@ Jinx...
Leo bit his lip as he listened to her. He had no idea. His dad was like that, but maybe her dad was different. “My dad drank a lot before mom died.” He said quietly. Leo moved over and hugged her tight. “I don’t know anyone else. So. Maybe your dad will be different.” He said quietly. “But I’m here for you no matter what.” He didn’t know what to say and he hated that he didn’t have answers for Olivia. The situation was one he never wished on anyone. But they had a similarity and maybe they could bond again over it. “You do, you’re beautiful like her.” He told her with a small smile. “Just use that to remember her, remember the good times. Make her proud of you, Liv.” He said. That’s what Leo did. When he thought of his mother. He thought about making her proud

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia nodded. She was glad that there was some difference between their fathers. Maybe then she wouldn't have to live in the terror Leo has had to all these years. She felt the tears prickling in her eyes. "Would my mother be proud of me?" she asked. She remember every bad or cruel thing she said to her mother. "I wasn't very nice to her before she got sick Leo. I was so angry with her." Olivia leaned her head on his shoulder wishing he could stay here all night but she knew he had to go home soon. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. She was so grateful Leo was here. He held her together, he listened to her and though he didn't know the answers he still tried to put her mind at ease. "So you remember when we went with the group down to the tunnels just down the road? We walked into them as a group and slowly separated as their where different paths to take. I took your hand in the dark and you promised not to let go when I said I was scared. You have always been there when I needed you most. Maybe not all the time but in my darkest moments you are there." she said and looked up at him. "I haven't thanked you for that." she said then rested her head back on his shoulder.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and listened carefully. He rubbed her arm carefully as he held Olivia. “I know. We all say things we don’t mean.” He told her. “She knew you loved her. I always saw how happy she was and how much she loved you.” He told her and smiled. He swallowed and sighed. He knew that this wasn’t easy. All he knew was that he wanted to help Olivia, do what he could. Leo raised an eyebrow when she began to talk. He nodded as he listened. At her last comment he shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me for being a good friend.” He reassured. Again giving Olivia a reassuring hug.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia stayed with Leo until he had to go and she reassured him it was okay. She could see it as he looked out the window at the light. "It's okay go home. Maybe... maybe I'll see you tomorrow." she said and waved as he left. She spent the night cleaning up and then went to bed. As she lay there she couldn't sleep. Her father sobbed in the room next to her. It seemed when he wasn't passed out he was sobbing over the loss of her. Olivia looked out the window and remembered a time where she would escape to a safer place. Olivia opened the window pulling on a sweater and shoes. She walked down the dark street trying to talk herself out of it but couldn't. She climbed the tree silent in the night and sat on a window sill tapping at the window.

@ Jinx...
Leo was worried about leaving Olivia but nodded when she had reassured him for probably the hundredth time. He gave her another hug before walking back home. When he arrived home, his father was already passed out in the kitchen. Leo ran upstairs and into his room. He pulled out the notebook she had given him and opened it. Leo began to write. Later that night he was trying to sleep, but he just couldn’t. His mind couldn’t pull away from thinking about what was going to happen. He turned over when he heard tapping on the window. Leo knew that was only one person. He hurried over end opened the window, offering his hand and helping her in. Leo quickly shut the window and tuned back to see Olivia. He smiled slightly.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia blushed smiling as he let her in and smiled at her. "Did I wake you?" she whispered and crawled into his bed. She looked back at him standing against the light from outside. She knew tonight was different than the first time she had done this. there was something changed between them. There was a lot different about them both. She couldn't help but feel like she needed just one night with him like the past didn't exist ant it was just that invisible draw pulling them together. If she could give into that for one night maybe the broken parts of her heart could be saved. She pulled her hair away from her face tucking it behind her ear. She really wished she had read that poem he was trying to give her but the past couldn't be changed.

@ Jinx...
Leo shook his head. “No I was up thinking.” He paused and took a breath. “About a new story to write.” He said and rubbed the back of his neck. “Come lay down.” He said and moved to his bed. Leo lifted the blankets up and held an arm open for Olivia. He didn’t know what was going on or what would happen. But he wanted to be there for his friend. He didn’t feel awkward. But he didn’t feel the same as he had the last time they spent a night together.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia grinned. "I loved your stories." she said. She watched him move into bed and followed after him. She snuggled into him the darkness. Olivia looked up at him after awhile. She reached up and caressed his cheek. She remembered a time when he had an ever present blush on his cheeks around her. Sometimes she would catch him as he saw her and the blush formed. That was gone now. Was it because he grew up or was it because of the divide between them. She pressed closer to him. "Leo..." she whispered his name. She loved him. She had from the moment she had set eyes on him. It was like an invisible force pulling them together. She pressed her hands to his chest and then her forehead. She stayed quiet a long time hoping that sleep would invade them before her words burst forth from inside of her.

@ Jinx...
Leo nodded and smiled. He was glad someone read them and liked them. Although he didn’t really show anyone else his stories because he worried about how they would be perceived. When Olivia got into bed with him, he wrapped one arm around her and nuzzled his face into hers. “Yea Liv?” He asked nervously. Eyes glancing over to her. He wasn’t sure what she would say. But it scared him. If it was good, if it was bad. It didn’t matter. He was worried about their future.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked up at him. She felt her heart racing. Her eyes searched his then suddenly her lips pressed to his. She kissed him fiercely her body shaking. She clung to him as their breaths mingled and her mouth pleaded his. Just this one moment. It felt like forever and yet also no time at all when she pulled back her eyes still closed. "I love you." she whispered. Her heart ached because she knew this was only a moment for them. It couldn't change what happened or the path that they where on now. She wondered if he would kick her out now or if he was really so kind that he would let her stay because of her grief.

@ Jinx...
Leo was looking at Olivia closely. He was nervous. As soon as her lips touched his he was shocked. Leo quickly shut his eyes and began to kiss her back, a hand making its way up to her face and caressing her cheek. Leo continued to kiss her until Olivia pulled away. When she spoke he nodded, Leo swallowed hard, his hand gently running through her hair. He smiled. “I love you too.” He choked out. Leo swallowed again and closed his eyes, trying to calm down. He didn’t know what that meant for them, but he was happy for a moment. If only just for a moment. Leo opened his eyes and looked back at Olivia.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia cuddled into him more and let herself relax until she fell asleep. When she woke some time in the early morning hours she snuck out of bed and as carefully as possible slipped out of Leo's room leaving him while he slept. She had had one kiss with Leo and it had been perfect. She wouldn't give up his soft touch and his sweet lips or those beautiful words for nothing. When morning came she sat in her bay window a book in her lap. That was how she spent the next week until the screaming got to loud and the shattering glass where leaving dents in the walls. Things only got worse at home. It was the first night Olivia picked her father up completely drunk off the floor and put him to bed that she knew it was never going to get better. It was the last week before summer was over and she sat at the sing where she had first met Leo her mind replaying everything and she wondered if she would ever get back to the way things where.

@ Jinx...
When Leo woke up he was sad and confused that Olivia had left before he woke, she hadn’t even said goodbye. As summer went on he didn’t see her often. She was always busy at home now, and it worried him. He didn’t want her life to end up like his. The times he did see Olivia she was just sad, but no bruises or anything, which reassured him.
Leo had taken Ricky to the park. Ricky was playing with a group of his friends as Leo kicked some rocks around. He sighed. He couldn’t believe he was about to enter high school. Through the summer Leo had hit another growth spurt. He was taller, filling in his body, more muscle as he had still worked on martial arts and home works out, he had cut his hair so it was shorter, his voice deepened. Leo hoped he could start growing a beard soon. He looked around and spotted someone on the swing. He knew exactly who it was, Leo could spot that red hair anywhere. Leo told Ricky he was moving and headed over to the swings. “Hey Liv.” He said and grinned at her.

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia looked up and smiled a small grin. "Hey Leo." she said quietly. She blushed slightly remembering the last time they where together. "We're going to start high school soon." she grinned and looked back at him. "I can't believe it." she said then frowned looking sad. Her mother wouldn't be here to see her start high school or go to her first high school dance or see her first boyfriend. Olivia pulled her hair to the side and sighed her eyes heavier as she looked back at Leo still trying to smile for him though it seemed it would never reach her eyes. "How's your summer been? Are you okay?" she asked him knowing he had been taking care of her so much that she hadn't been able to repay him at all.

@ Jinx...
Leo smiled and nodded. He chuckled. “Yea we are. We’re getting older, Liv.” He said and shoved his hands into his Jean pockets as he looked across at her. Leo saw her face and the pain behind her smile, the pain behind her eye. He frowned slightly. “I’m not gonna tell you it gets better, because that would be a lie.” He told her and paused. “But I will tell you that as you get older and whatever, it gets easier to deal with. The bad days of remembering will be there, but fewer and far between.” He explained and shrugged his shoulders. “It’s been fine, same as usual.” He smiled at Olivia. “I’m always okay.” He said and laughed. Leo moved and sat on the swing besides her. “How about you?”

@ BadStreetBoys
Olivia grinned bitterly. "I wish I had my innocence back." she chuckled softly because that was a heavy statement. She shook her head. He spoke and she nodded. He was saying she would get stronger. She didn't know about that. She felt like she was breaking, every part that made her was breaking. She looked over at him glade he let her change the subject. She nodded knowing his life wasn't an easy one. She looked at him with sad eyes as he laughed. She knew that it wasn't true. He often wasn't okay but he had no control over that. He moved beside her and she took his hand. She shrugged because so many people had asked her that and she still didn't know the answer. To everyone else she told them what they wanted to hear but with Leo all she could do was shrug to keep from crying and telling him all the horrible things that had happened since her mother passed, how bad her father was getting. "I don't think about that anymore." she said her words a partial truth. The truth was that she thought of nothing else but the pain but she didn't talk about it or face it all breaking through every moment of everyday. How could she move on in that state? How could she live?