I have to go now. Elder Cunningham will be wondering where I am.
He stood up abruptly as he said this.
I reached out, brushing my hand against his arm in a desperate plea for him to stay.
He recoiled, as if I were made of fire.
Don't do that.
I watched him turn and take a few steps away.
I followed him, grabbing his hand in an attempt to stop his departure.
He froze, turning towards me, his eyes burning with shame and anger.
Let me go, Elder McKinley.
He yanked his hand out of mine, taking a defensive step backward.
"Elder Price, please. I didn't want it to happen like this."
Yeah, well, it did.
"Don't hate me. Please, don't hate me."
What else am I supposed to do? Love you?
The look on my face said more than enough.
That's wrong, Elder McKinley. That's wrong and you know it.
"Kevin, please."
Don't call me Kevin. I don't know why I even told you my name in the first place.
His words hit me like a slap. Tears spring to my eyes.
Oh great, now you're crying. Just fantastic.
"Elder Price, don't go. You can't just leave me here."
Why can't I?
"Because I'm your friend."
If you were my friend, you wouldn't have asked me to do what you just asked me to do.
"If you were my friend, you wouldn't be this angry."
Don't try to make me the bad guy, here.
I want to protest, but I know that he is right.
I'm blaming him for my inability to turn it off.
I'm blaming him for something that is completely my fault.
But he's blaming me for being something that I can't control.
He's blaming me for loving him.
"But, Kevin, I think-I think I love you."
Don't SAY that! You DON'T love me. You CAN'T love me.
"But I do! Don't try to tell me you don't feel the same way."
I don't feel the same way.
His words hit me like a wrecking ball, the tears rush down my cheeks like waterfalls.
I don't love you, Connor.