"It was probably a mosquito."

"Well, it was kinda buzzing, wasn't it, Neel?"

"I don't know, it was too big to be a mosquito."

The Elders of District Nine were scarfing down breakfast at the dining table, while discussing the nature of a mystery bug which terrorized Elder Davis and Elder Neely last night.

"I've told you guys a million times, to keep your windows closed or spray bug repellent on the sills," Elder Church said.

"It was too hot to sleep with the windows closed!"

"And we did use mosquito repellent."

"Okay then, maybe it wasn't a mosquito."

"Buzzing you say? Could be a wasp or a bee," Poptarts supplied.

"Or a hornet," Elder Michaels guessed.

"Bees and wasps usually aren't very active at night though," Kevin disagreed.

"So it was a hornet," Elder Church concluded, "At least it's dead now, right? Did you dispose of the body? Because a dead hornet will most certainly attract the ants."

Elder Davis and Elder Neely looked at each other sheepishly.

"Umm, we couldn't catch it," Elder Davis explained.

"So we opened our door and let it out," Elder Davis scratched the back of his neck, "it may still be around here somewhere."

"You what?!" All the other Elders exclaimed collectively.

—

After finishing their breakfast and futilely searching the hut for the missing hornet, the Elders started their daily ritual of slathering their faces and bodies with sunscreen before working out in the sun. The new school building which they have been working on all month was almost finished. Now, they just had to put the roof on it and paint the walls.

"What do you think you're doing?" Connor raised an eyebrow at Kevin, who was also in the process of putting on sunscreen.

"Ummm, preventing skin cancer?" Kevin looked confused.

"I mean, where do you think you're going?"

"To the school?" Kevin took a while to realise what Connor was really asking, "I'm feeling much better today. Church said that he can't deal with the kids anymore, so he asked if I could take it from here. I'm gonna have to try and undo all the trauma Church has inflicted on the kids, and make sure that they actually learn something."

"Okay, if you're doing Elder Church's work, what the heck is he doing today?" Connor gestured at the chore board, which clearly stated Elder Church's name beside 'English Classes in School'.

Connor hated it when his plans get disrupted. Kevin was supposed to stay in the hut all day, with Connor, while they worked together on finding sponsors and donors.

"I don't know?" Kevin shrugged, "Look, I'm late, gotta run. See you later."

"No running!" Connor shouted after him.

"It's a figure of speech, Nag!"

—

Connor found Elder Church lounging on his own bed, flipping through a book on Ugandan history.

"Elder Church," Connor greeted sternly.

He continued flipping through his book nonchalantly, "Elder McKinley."

"Mind explaining why you're chilling out in your room while everyone else is out working and contributing to the community?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Elder Church rebutted.

"I am working," Connor threw his hands up in frustration, "I never stopped working! Even when I'm asleep, I'm still working! Actually no, I don't even sleep much these days!"

"Whoa, whoa! Relax, McKinley, " Elder Church placated, "I'm just messing around. I do know how hard you're working for all of us. We all do. And we appreciate it, really. What's gotten into you?"

Connor could feel himself blushing in embarrassment. What has gotten into him? It was the third time he had lost control of his temper this week, and this week wasn't even through yet.

Connor hung his head, "Sorry, James. I guess I'm just stressed out from worrying about everyone and everything."

"Clearly," Elder Church said, "Just take it easy, alright? We don't need another emergency trip to the hospital."

Connor nodded, "I'll try. But! This doesn't mean that you get the day off."

"Why not? Price had three days off."

"Are you kidding me right now?!" Connor was back to being livid again, "Sure, I'll get Gotswana to cut you open and remove a part of your intestines, and then you can have your day off."

"Will you calm down, I was joking, man! Fine, I'm going," Elder Church slid off his bed, "You're no fun these days."

Connor sighed as he watched the retreating back of Elder Church. He needed a break, for the sake of his sanity.

—

Connor supposed that he could allow himself an hour-long break after working all afternoon. He took a stroll around to the small lake some fifteen minutes away from the mission hut. The lake was surrounded by the greenest trees Connor had ever seen before coming to Uganda. It was his second favourite spot to unwind, after the treehouse. But the sun was still too hot for climbing onto the treehouse, and Connor's nightmare still plagued him.

Sunlight filtered through the thick foliage of the trees, bathing the undergrowth and the lake with ethereal glow but at the same time providing respite from the burning rays.

Connor found his usual spot by the lake in no time. Sitting down carefully on the edge of an outcrop, Connor took off his shoes. He dipped his feet into the cool waters and watched the ripples dance around his ankles.

Everything seemed right with the world at the moment. Connor took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. He tried to remember the last time he visited the lake- it was before they were ex-communicated. Since then, it had been a whirlwind of taking care of everyone, and making sure that everything was running as smoothly as possible.

He wasn't sure if any of the other Elders had stumbled upon the lake, but he didn't feel like sharing this particular gem with them yet.

Poptarts would love it here, it was serene and quiet enough. Maybe he could bring his companion along in the future. Kevin would enjoy the lake too. He had mentioned how much he loved swimming in a lake by his house during summer. Connor's good mood deflated a little when he realised that Kevin probably won't be swimming in that lake ever again.

"Penny for your thoughts?" A voice jolted Connor from his musing.

He twisted around from where he was sitting, "Hey?"

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure," Connor scooted to make space, " How did you find me?"

Kevin took a seat beside Connor, "Saw you while I was walking back to the hut, so I followed you here."

"How were the kids?" Connor asked, "Wait, you aren't supposed to be finished with all the classes until five o'clock. It's only three-thirty."

"Yeah, about that," Kevin looked down at his feet, "I got sent home early."

"Why would Kizza do that?"

"Maybe I wasn't as ready to be standing and teaching for a whole day as I thought I was," Kevin smiled sheepishly.

Connor knitted his brows, "Why aren't you back resting at the hut now? Let's go," Connor started to rise.

"No no, wait! I want to stay for a bit more," Kevin pulled at Connor's arm, "It's nice out here."

Connor hesitated for a second before sitting back down. At least if Connor was here with Kevin, he wouldn't be doing anything stupid like overexerting himself again.

"It is nice," Connor echoed, "I like to come here to think sometimes."

Kevin was looking out onto the lake wistfully, "It's so different from The Great Salt Lake. There's so much life."

They watched as a flock of birds skimmed the waters and then took off into the sky. It was never truly quiet in the forests. Connor thought that the calls of the birds, chirps of the insects, and the occasional howl of the monkeys made the place even more serene.

Connor found himself grinning at how perfect this moment was, "I bet you'd like to go for a swim right now, don't you?"

Kevin laughed, "Yeah. Yeah, the waters are calling to me."

"Maybe we could come back for a swim together when you're all healed up, with the other Elders," Connor suggested.

Kevin gave Connor a blinding smile, "Promise?"

For a second, Connor was overcome with the urge to hug Kevin and never let him go.

"As if you'll let me forget that," Connor picked at the grass beside him.

If there was ever an opportunity to tell Kevin how Connor felt, it would be now. Connor's heart was begging him to say the words, but his brain was vehemently telling him not to. He could risk ruining this wonderful friendship they had.

"Kevin," Connor started, and when he realised that Kevin was looking at him, he choked.

Kevin continued staring, "What?"

His lips looked just like in Connor's dream.

"Nothing," Connor waved, "let's head back, shall we?"

Connor sprung up from the ground without waiting for Kevin's response.

How could he even think about doing that? That was incredibly stupid of him! He was so close to messing everything up. So close!

"Connor McKinley!"

Connor halted his quick strides when he realised that he had left Kevin by the lake. He pivoted around at once, "Sorry! Sorry!"

"You dick!" Kevin called out in jest.

"I'm sorry," Connor helped Kevin up, "my bad."

"Dick," Kevin repeated with a frown, "you forgot me."

Connor only wished he could.