Chad reacted immediately. He was on his feet, practically leaping over pews and rushing the stage. He was by Ryan's side in a moment, kneeling next to the unconscious body. He felt a sickening lurch of deja vu.

"Ryan? Can you hear me?" He asked in a low voice before making an executive decision to scoop Ryan up in his arms.

"What should I do?" He asked the nearest person, who happened to be the funeral director.

"We have a private grieving room where he can rest unless the family wants to take him to the hospital."

"He's fine, just a bit of stage fright," Lance said, keeping his tone short and waving Chad off without so much as a second glance

"I'll stay with him," Chad offered, since he knew in that moment that Ryan's family was incapable of being there for Ryan.

"Yes, thank you, young man," Lance said, clearly wanting to get this show on the road.

The room was small, with a loveseat, two folding chairs, and a table with a table lamp. There was also an overhead light, but Chad left that off, not wanting to hurt Ryan's eyes when Ryan woke up.

Chad laid Ryan down on the love seat and pulled a chair next to him. He probably should've gone to the hospital, since he'd clearly hit his head on the way down, but Chad decided that as long as Ryan woke up in the next few minutes, he wouldn't worry about it.

Without really thinking about it, he began to stroke Ryan's hair. It was soft and pretty and Chad forgot for a moment they were in a gloomy grieving room at a funeral home.

"Mom?" Ryan mumbled, beginning to wake up.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Chad said, "How are you feeling?"

"Disappointed, actually. I didn't intend to pass out but it sucks to see that my parents didn't even come to check on me."

"Do you want to go back out to the funeral?"

"Honestly? No."

"I was so scared when you fell," Chad admitted.

"Sorry to scare you…"

"It's okay, it's not your fault you passed out."

"I haven't been eating," Ryan blurted, "And I know I'm supposed to, and that everyone's gonna be watching me at the funeral dinner but- I just can't, Chad."

"You've always been able to eat a little when you're with me," Chad pointed out.

"Well, there's no pressure with you. With you, I feel safe, almost happy…"

"Then we'll go through a drive-thru on the way to the urgent care."

"What?"

"Dude, I play sports, I know a concussion when I see one."

"I feel fine," Ryan said, standing up as if he was reconsidering rejoining the mourners.

Chad stood up quickly and was there to catch Ryan when he stumbled again. They were so close. Chad felt like he couldn't breathe.

Chad helped Ryan back down onto the loveseat, sitting right next to him this time, and putting a hand on his leg.

"Ryan? I need to tell you something." He wasn't sure what compelled him but now that he'd started he couldn't stop, couldn't back down.

"I don't have a concussion," Ryan muttered, blinking to focus his vision in the dim lighting.

"Yeah, maybe, but it's not about that…"

"Oh, yeah?"

"It's about you. About us."

"What about us?" Ryan asked, seeming a bit more focused now, his eyes drawn to Chad's lips.

"I really, really like you," Chad said simply, noticing the glance and going for it, cradling Ryan's face and gently kissing him.

Ryan wasted no time kissing back, clinging to Chad like he was a lifeline and ignoring every voice in his head that said now was not the time and place for a makeout session.

Chad was surprised, at first, at Ryan's intensity but then he gave into it. For a guy who hadn't had much luck eating in the past few days, Ryan seemed insatiable now, and Chad was happy to be devoured.

But the moment ended too quickly, as the door swung open and the light clicked on.