Connor finished setting up the breakfast table before anyone else even woke up. He figured that he could make better use of his time rather than waste it by tossing and turning in bed. Satisfied that his job for the morning was done, Connor threw himself back down onto his bed. Maybe he could rest his eyes for a few minutes.

When he opened his eyes again, the room was very much brighter and warmer than before. How long did he fall asleep for? Connor's eyes widened when he read his watch, "Eleven-thirty?!"

He leaped out of bed at once and swung the bedroom door open. As he had predicted, there was no one else left in the hut at this time of day.

Connor still had to talk to Kevin, he planned to do it at breakfast, armed with Kevin's favourite caffeine-filled beverage. What should he do? Should he go and look for Kevin now? Or should he wait for Kevin to come back at the end of the day? What the heck, it was bad to let things fester, right?

Connor smoothed out the wrinkles on his shirt from sleeping in it and set off on his mission. It was Thursday, which meant that Kevin was working at the clinic today.

Gotswana's clinic was just across the village square, easily identified by all the people sitting on the benches right outside the hut, waiting to be seen. Connor greeted the villagers with a smile, and stepped inside the clinic. It wasn't hard to find Kevin in the cluttered hut, he was currently unpacking some boxes of medicine in a corner. Connor frowned at the sight, should he be doing that?

"Hey," Connor approached him.

Kevin stopped working and turned around, his expression unreadable, "Hey."

"I need to talk to you."

Kevin sighed, "I'm busy."

"Right right," Connor tapped his fingers on a stack of unopened boxes, "Are you sure you should be working with all these heavy boxes?"

"I'm fine, Connor. They're not that heavy," Kevin cut open another box with his pocketknife, "So? You said you wanted to talk?"

"Oh," Connor perked up at the green light he was given, "Do you want to-," Connor mimed going outside.

"I can talk and work at the same time," Kevin said curtly, and then looked apologetic, "I'm not mad, Connor. It's just- there's a lot to do today. Gotswana needs all these meds inventoried and packed before he visits the neighbouring villages tomorrow."

Connor nodded, "Hey, I can help!" he picked up Kevin's knife, "What do I need to do?"

—

They unpacked and counted boxes after boxes of medicine. Connor was so focused on the job that he had forgotten the main reason he was there in the first place.

"50 capsules per bottle, times 20 bottles," Connor mumbled as he recorded it into a notebook, and sorted them into bags, "5 bottles go here, 5 bottles in there, 10 bottles go there. Done!"

"I think that's the last of it,"Kevin announced tiredly.

Connor volunteered to clean up the place as Kevin sat down to rest.

"Sooo," Connor started as he stacked the flattened cardboard boxes together, "I wanted to apologise for last night."

"You don't have to-"

"I want to," Connor glanced at Kevin, "I don't know why I reacted the way I did, I just panicked. I'm sorry."

Connor got worried when there wasn't any response from Kevin, "Please say something?"

Kevin stood up, "I think we're done here. Shall we go?"

Connor nodded stiffly at the abrupt change of topic. What did that mean?

Kevin poked his head into Gotswana's examination room to bid him goodbye. It was really just a corner of the hut which was sectioned off with curtains, "We're done with the packing. I'll see you tomorrow."

Connor didn't hear what Gotswana's reply was, but Kevin followed with, "Yeah, okay. I'll let them know."

"C'mon," Kevin led them out of the clinic.

—

As they strolled back to the mission hut side-by-side, Connor was in panic mode. Was Kevin still mad at him? But he said that he wasn't. Did that mean he has been forgiven? Should he apologise again? Maybe he didn't do it correctly the first time. Connor guessed that he could have been more specific, or more sincere, in his apology-

"Do you like me?" Kevin asked, out of the blue.

Wait, what? Connor came to a complete stop. Was that a trick question? What was the correct answer? What response was Kevin looking for?

"I-," Connor's mouth lost its connection to his brain. Think, Connor, think.

Could he actually tell Kevin the truth? What if Kevin was looking for a 'no'?

"Umm...What do you mean? Like as a person, or?" Connor decided to lead with ignorance. That was the safest choice, right?

Apparently it was not, because Kevin was starting to look irritated, "You know damn well what I mean. Do. You. Like. Me?"

This could be his chance. But what if he chose wrong?

"I- I guess a little? Kinda?" Connor stuttered. A watered down 'yes' seemed like the next safest option.

Kevin nodded, a glint of amusement in his eyes, "Well that's too bad then, because I really like you."

Connor gulped. Was this really happening?

"But you're not…you know," Connor waved his hand, "gay."

Kevin frowned, "Does it matter?"

Connor shrugged.

He didn't want to get his hopes up, only for Kevin to realise that he was just confused, and that he was straight all along. It would crush him.

Kevin took Connor's hand, "Why do I have to be something, to like you? I like you, for who you are. I like you because you're Connor McKinley. Isn't that enough?"

Connor thought that it was plenty enough. Before he knew it, big fat tears were rolling down his cheeks. Oh dang, why was he crying?

"Oh come here," Kevin pulled Connor into an embrace, just like the night before.

It was as if Connor was suddenly relieved of all the weight and stress he had been carrying on his shoulders ever since they had been excommunicated.

"I," Connor sobbed, "I like you too."

"Good," Kevin chuckled.

Connor could feel Kevin's laughter reverberate throughout his body. That only made Connor cry harder.

"Uhh guys?" Arnold's voice made Connor jump.

Why did it have to be Arnold again?

Except this time, Connor didn't pull away from Kevin. He held on tight, and buried his teary face into Kevin's neck. This was embarrassing.

"Run along, Arnold. Nothing to see here."

"Suuuuure Kev. I'll see you guys back at the hut," Arnold said, "Wait, is he crying?"

"Go away, Arnold!"

Connor waited until Arnold's footsteps faded to nothing, "Where do we go from here?"

"Can't you just enjoy the moment?" Kevin sighed with mock exasperation, "Stop worrying so much."

—

The both of them decided to take a detour to the lake, instead of going back to the mission hut. Connor clutched Kevin's hand tightly in his own as they walked. Kevin felt solid and warm, it felt real. If this turned out to be a dream, Connor was going to be so pissed at himself when he wakes up.

They were perched at Connor's favourite spot, their shoes beside them, and feet dipped into the cool waters of the lake.

"Oh look, fish!" Kevin pointed into the lake.

Connor didn't manage to catch a glimpse of the fish, he was too busy staring at his fingers, which were still intertwined with Kevin's.

"How long?" Connor asked.

"What, the fish?" Kevin turned to Connor, "I don't know, three feet?"

"No," Connor chuckled, "Not the fish, silly. How long have you known that, you know- you like me?"

"Yesterday?"

"What?!" Connor exclaimed.

"I guess it was longer than that," Kevin bit his lip, "But talking to Arnold last night made me realise what I was feeling for you, maybe it was more than friendship."

"He does give good advice sometimes, huh?" Connor smiled. Who would have thought that he'd have Arnold to thank for this?

Kevin continued, "Even though the past few days have been the absolute worst, I knew that I was going to be fine, that everything was going to be fine, because you were there."

Connor felt like he was going to start crying again, "Oh Kevin."

"What about you?" Kevin asked.

"Would it be pathetic of me to say that I've liked you ever since I first saw you?"

"Really?" Kevin frowned, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Are you kidding? How could I? We were Mormons, remember?" Connor laughed, "You were still the perfect, devout Mormon boy. Do you still remember what you said when you found out that I was gay?"

"Yeah, that," Kevin winced, "To be fair you were still in denial then. You were turning it off."

"Touché," Connor mused, "And now, here we are."

Connor looked over at Kevin, who was scanning the lake for more fishes, the gentle breeze caressing his hair. It was a mesmerising sight. Connor leaned over slightly and gave a chaste peck onto Kevin's cheek.

Kevin looked startled for a moment, before bursting out in loud laughter, "What are we, kindergarteners?"

Connor chuckled nervously and rubbed at his neck. He has never done this before in real life, all he had were his dreams of Steve and Kevin.

"Well, I-," Connor's heart skipped a beat when Kevin pushed his lips against his. They were soft, so soft.

Connor was suddenly very aware that he was kissing Kevin Price, and it was way better than he could ever have imagined. It was so surreal, it almost felt like he was having an out-of-body experience.

Kevin pulled away slightly, "We should go back, it's your turn to be cooking dinner today."

Connor didn't want to move, he wanted to stay here in this moment forever. But he did have a group of hungry Elders to take care of back in the mission hut.

"Fine, let's go," Connor groaned.

—

"Hand me that, will you?" Connor pointed to the fork. Kevin wiped his flour-covered hand on a cloth, and passed the utensil without looking up.

Connor watched as Kevin studied the mixture of flour and water in his bowl with intense concentration, "Are you trying to mix it with your mind?"

"What?" Kevin looked up, and there was a swathe of white flour on his forehead.

"Kevin, you've got-," Connor smiled fondly.

Connor picked up the cloth and gently wiped at Kevin's face with it.

"Connor! The cloth is filthy!" Kevin complained.

"You'll live," Connor rolled his eyes.

Arnold bounded into the kitchen and peeked into Connor's bowl, "Yam mash? Again?!" Arnold exclaimed.

"We're poor now, Arnold," Kevin sighed, "Just imagine that it's potato."

Arnold plopped himself down at the dining table, "Soooo…are you guys like, kissing now?"

"What?" Connor squeaked. He haven't given much thought about what the other Elders might react to their…their relationship? Were they in a relationship now? Was Kevin his boyfriend?

"Yes Arnold, yes we are," Kevin said as he mixed the flour and water with his hands.

"About dang time!" Arnold let out a loud whoop, "Connor and Kevin, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."

"Stop it, Arnold," Kevin flicked some flour into Arnold's face.

Connor on the other hand, was amused by how enthusiastic Arnold was about them. He could only hope that the other Elders will be as accepting.

"Aww, Kev is shy," Arnold sniggered, "Take this!" He grabbed a handful of flour from the bag and threw it in Kevin's direction.

"Arnold!" Kevin growled, "What the fuck?"

"Hey, hey, stop it you two! Flour is too expensive to be wasted like that," Connor stepped between the pair before it escalated into a full-blown food fight.

The shrill ring of the phone startled all three of them. Connor took a glance at Arnold and Kevin's filthy hands, "I'll go get that."

He picked up the plastic receiver, "Hello? Elder McKinley speaking."

"Can I speak with Kevin, please?"

Connor recognised that voice, "Mr Price, hi. Umm, yeah sure, I'll go get him."

What did Kevin's father want? Should Connor actually get Kevin to come to the phone, or should he just hang up?

Connor sighed as he placed the receiver down onto the table, and went back to the kitchen, "Kevin?"

"Who was that?" Kevin asked.

"It's your dad."