#beforetheact

Down For You (Returned to Ao3)

As well as/ Before the Act - Make it Quick & Green Room

Down For You (Teaser)

Chapter 19: (Flashback pt. 3) teaser.

[yeah it’s been a hot ass minute, but hey…imma finish what I started - new chapter up soon( the real truth behind Cam and Bo are about to start surfacing and as always...imma fuck y'all up 😎but until then…the teaser)

One Week Before Camille’s Birthday...

 Camille and Haley’s Apt

Bo hadn’t seen Haley since the night he took her home from the bar several weeks ago. The thought stirred uncomfortably in his head when he heard the faint sound of her voice trickle in through Camille’s bedroom door. It was like a splash of cold water, extinguishing the heat rising between him and Camille, who’d managed to pull him into another heavy make-out session after he’d insisted he needed to leave over an hour ago.

“I thought you said Haley wasn’t here?” He asked, pulling his tired, swollen lips from hers.

“She must have just gotten in,” Camille sighed in heavy frustration. “What the hell does it matter anyway?” She pushed him onto his back and leaned over him, studying him through narrowed eyes.

He shrugged. “It doesn’t—just asking.” Camille shook her head in disgust and sat up on the bed. “Jesus Camille, it was just a question,” Bo snapped, although he knew her annoyance had very little to do with his inquiry and far more to do with the fact that they both still had their clothes on.

It didn’t take long after he started dating Camille for her to figure out he was a virgin. And although her initial reaction was a giggle fit, it quickly became her laser-focused mission to change it. That much was evident to him. But although the why behind her determination was still unclear, he knew it was either classic sexual frustration or some kind of need for validation—or both. But his argument that he just wanted to ‘wait until the moment feels right’ was losing its luster as the days and weeks passed, and even he was starting to grow tired of his own hesitance. Camille was a classic example of a hot girl that any guy would want to get with. He wasn’t nervous about it, and his body was giving him the full greenlight, so it certainly wasn’t a physical hang-up. He’d taken more cold showers than he could stand at that point. The problem was all in his mind. The closer he edged towards letting go and giving in, the louder it became, jumbled with thoughts, clambering one over the other. None of which were profound by any means. Just a congested mess of ‘Stop’ – ‘Don’t’– ‘Not now.’

“Look, I’m sorry, all right?” Bo said quietly. He sat up, resting his back against the terribly uncomfortable iron post headboard of her bed as he brushed the sweep of his hair to the side, noting that he desperately needed to get it cut. “I think I’m just distracted with trying to write the show and everything.”

Camille rolled her eyes but leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder as she gazed up at him. “You still have like, an entire month before you have to have it done,” she pouted.

“Yeah, and it’s arguably the most important thing I’ve ever written,” he replied.

The morning after he left Haley in tears, he met with a major network, interested in making him a new headliner. If what he wrote was good enough, his act would be filmed and released nationwide. This was the big break.

Camille grinned. “You know what I think?”

“What’s that?”

“I think it would do your writing some good if you let me help clear that head of yours. And if that doesn’t talk you over the edge, then how about this?” In one quick move, she straddled his lap and leaned in, planting small kisses on the side of his neck. “My birthday’s next week, and you’re the only thing I want.”

He laughed quietly under his breath and pulled her face into his hands. “You know what I think?” Camille tipped her head in question. “I think you’re a spoiled fucking brat.”

She grinned wildly, “Yeah? So what?” Brushing his hair from his eyes, she continued. “Whatever stuck-up moral code you’re holding onto? Let it go. Stop following your own rules because it feels so damn good to break them. So just do it. Break the damn rules.”

“Astounding wisdom, Cam,” he grinned before glancing at his watch. “I gotta go.”

As they emerged from Camille’s bedroom and rounded the corner, Bo was caught off guard when he realized that Camille’s loud pack of friends were all scattered around the living room. Several pairs of eyes, all of them landing directly on him. But what really got his attention was the particular pair that belonged to Haley as she gazed up at him from the couch. Her expression was tight, unsettled. But Bo was relieved that, if anything, they didn’t have the hurt or the tears settled in them like the last time he saw her. And after quietly mumbling goodbye, he left.

Two Days Before Camille’s Birthday…

Nick’s Comedy Stop

Bo moved methodically around the stage, wrapping cables,  gathering mic stands, and packing them into their hard-shell cases. The theater was empty and quiet, and for that, he was grateful. The show at Nick’s Comedy Stop that night was a packed house, and although he felt fairly confident in his performance, he couldn’t shake the urgency to get back to his apartment so he could get some more writing done. He still had a few weeks before the network execs would be returning to see what he had to offer, but the pressure was on, and it was all he could think about.

As he packed the last few things away, he heard the familiar clank of the door closing towards the back of the theater. Squinting past the bright stage lights and out into the darkness, his hands froze on their way to closing the case when Haley appeared at the edge of the stage, offering a quick wave and a timid smile. She was the last person he expected to see, and after a few beats of astounded silence, he managed to speak.

“Mystery girl…”

“Help me up?” She said softly, holding her arms out.

“Uh—Yeah, of course.”

Just like the night they first met, he moved to the edge and pulled her onto the stage. But this time, it took a little longer to drop her hands from his, and as much as he wished he could stop staring, he couldn’t, even after she laughed shyly and looked out towards the stage lights.

“I just wanted to say congrats,” she explained after a few quiet moments. She turned her eyes back to his. “I heard about the network.”

“Oh—right. Uh, thanks. I mean, it’s not official yet but—”

“It will be—I have no doubt about that.”

Bo nodded, and although he was thankful for the compliment, it was genuine confidence in her delivery that he appreciated most.

She turned her eyes back once more to the lights, and a few quiet seconds passed.

“Haley…I’m sorry again—about the other night.”

“Don’t be,” she replied quickly. “I mean—I probably wouldn’t have been able to remember it anyway.” The sound of her nervous laugh struck a smile on Bo’s lips, even though he felt a tug of hurt because he wasn’t necessarily apologizing as much as confessing—that he was actually genuinely regretful that he didn’t let her kiss him. “Anyways,” she shrugged. “I should probably get going. Let you get out of here.”

“It was really good to see you,” Bo returned. “I’m glad you came by.”

She gave him a soft smile and a quick nod. “Kay, well—goodnight.” Turning on her heels, she moved to the edge of the stage.

Suddenly the only thing Bo could think about was Camille’s words. ‘Stop following your own rules. It feels so damn good to break them. So do it. Break the damn rules.’ He didn’t remember taking the steps to get there but suddenly, there he was—right behind Haley as he reached out and took her hand. Her soft blonde curls danced around her shoulders as she turned, her bright eyes lit with question.

                                    BEFORE THE ACT 

                        Posting TONIGHT! 9pm EST

      Some of you already know that after this fic was done, I worked for months afterwards, building and expanding the story for possible publication. Now, I have a whole collection of Bonus/Expanded/Alternate Chapters and Scenes, and I’m sharing the first set of chapters tonight!

For those of you familiar with BTA, here’s the info for tonight’s post.

In the original fic: Bo and Sid (freshman year) share their first kiss in the pool house after a night of drinking and talking about life/dreams and what may come. The next morning this ends, with the decision to remain friends. ORIGINALLY -The next chapter takes us to the summer before their senior year where Bo has a girlfriend and Sid is devastated.

Tonight, I’ll be posting a largely expanded multi-chapter length version of what happens after the decision to stay friends. This version takes place at the end of their JUNIOR YEAR, Sidney is still pining over Bo, since the kiss, over two years earlier BUT this time, Sidney is the first to date somebody.

Tonight’s post will take you into the complicated, heart tugging, emotional war zone that Bo and Sidney are suddenly facing when their comfortable friendship gets stirred up again after that innocent kiss years earlier. 

For those of you needing a refresher on the FIRST KISS chapter, heres the link:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32940187/chapters/81752950

Before the Act : Summer Heat TWO (extended alternate)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32940187/chapters/95148829

                   Something seemed to catch Teagan’s attention over my shoulder and her smile fell off in an instant. I turned to notice our group had grown by one, in the form of Leah Hartford. The classic, gorgeous, super-popular cheerleader.

                 Lea was quite an enigma. Because regardless of her beauty, popularity, and cheerleading status, she was known mostly for how profusely kind and friendly she was to literally everyone.

                 Teagan nudged my back and we wedged ourselves back into the circle leaving Brandon behind still tapping away on his phone. As Daniel entered the third act of his long-winded plan to be first in line for the video game release, Leah nodded enthusiastically, but what seemed like every half second, her eyes turned to Bo, who still seemed 1000 miles away in his head as he stared out into the parking lot. When Daniel finally took a breath, Leah tapped Bo on the arm.

                 “Hey movie boy…are you still on earth?”

                 “What?” Bo broke out of his trance, glancing around at all of us in question, until he noticed Leah standing next to him. She giggled, tossing her long dark hair over her shoulder and raised her pretty eyes up to his.

                 “I’m going to see Delta Farce tonight and I heard you say you wanted to see it the other day. Do you want to go with me?”

                 I began to feel nauseous.

                 Bo seemed utterly confused. “Umm…,” he glanced over to me. “Did you want to see that Sid?”

                 Leah looked at me, suddenly more confused than Bo, and somehow, despite the fact that my worst nightmare was playing out in front of me, a tight laugh escaped from my lips over Bo’s baffling oblivion.

   Pt 2: Welcome To The Burnham’s (POSTED)

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13923776/1/Before-the-Act

I’ll write other things, but as for, “Before The Act,” Consider this, my final bow. At first, I just wrote the last chapter because it was requested, but I think it was the ending it really needed. I’ll be out of the game, for a little while, as I continue to adapt this into an original. So, be on the lookout. Maybe you’ll see it on the shelf some day :)

Still taking a few readers for the adaptation, so message me if you’re interested.

Love you guys...

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32940187/chapters/81752383