Connor caught up with Elder Davis, "Elder Davis, wait up!"

"Elder McKinley, it's alright, you don't have to explain," Elder Davis forced a smile, "I was just surprised is all."

"Elder Davis, please. Can we talk about this?" Connor had a hold on his shoulder.

"There's nothing much to talk about," Elder Davis' breathing hitched.

"Hey hey, what's wrong? Look at me, Ryan," Connor turned him around, "What's wrong?"

"Connor!" Kevin's voiced carried through the forest.

Elder Davis wiped a stray tear off his cheek, "I'm sorry, Elder McKinley. Please, I need to be alone. Tell Neels that I'm going back to the hut."

"Connor!" Kevin's voice drew nearer.

Elder Davis threw a quick look over Connor's shoulder, and slipped out of Connor's grasp, "I'm fine, Elder McKinley. I just- I need to go back."

Connor swivelled around to see Kevin jogging towards him.

"Hey, you shouldn't be running," Connor chided.

Kevin ignored him, "What's going on?"

Connor looked back in the direction of where Elder Davis walked off, "I'm not sure. He was pretty upset."

"What? Why?" Kevin looked as confused, "Was it because of us?"

"Maybe Elder Neely will know what's going on with him," Connor put his hand on the small of Kevin's back, "C'mon, let's go back to the lake."

—

When Connor and Kevin got back to the lake, the Elders were already digging in on the food, while dripping lake water all over the picnic mat.

"Elder McKinley, there you are. We were wondering where you guys were!" Elder Michaels waved.

"We weren't sure if we should go looking for you. I mean, I don't want to have to see you guys do god-knows-what in the bushes," Elder Church laughed.

"Fuck off, Church."

Connor sat down beside Elder Neely, "Elder Neely, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Hey guys, where's Elder Davis?" Arnold asked.

"He went back to the hut, he wasn't feeling well," Connor lied.

Elder Neely frowned in concern for his companion, "He didn't mention anything before. I should go back to check on him."

"I'll walk with you," Connor offered. He glanced over at Kevin, who was uncharacteristically quiet, "Hey, are you okay?"

Kevin looked up at him through his lashes, "Yeah."

"What's wrong?" Connor prodded.

Kevin stared at the ground as he muttered, "Remember when I said that I don't care what everyone else think?"

Connor nodded.

"Well, that's not exactly true," Kevin sighed.

"It's going to be okay," Connor promised. He gave Kevin's shoulder a quick squeeze, before running to catch up with Elder Davis.

—

"Actually," Connor wrung his hands, "Elder Davis didn't return to the hut because he was feeling sick."

"What?" Elder Neely stopped, "Then why did you lie? What happened?"

Connor decided that he should cut to the chase, "He saw Elder Price and I- Ummm, Kiss," Elder Neely's eyes widened at that, "And then he got really upset."

"Oh," Elder Neely took some time to process what Connor just said.

"I'm sorry, I've been meaning to tell you both but it just slipped my mind. I thought maybe you would know what's going on with Ryan," Connor scrubbed at his face.

"I don't know if he'd want you to know," Elder Neely sighed, "I think I'd better go check on him at the hut alone. You should go back to the lake."

"Eli, please. What's going on?"

"It's not my place to say," Elder Neely looked incredibly conflicted.

"Is he going to be okay?"

Connor must have looked as distressed as he felt, because Elder Neely's resolve broke, "Look, don't tell him I told you this, and please don't tell anyone this, but it's not what you think," he took a deep breath, "Ryan likes you. A lot."

"Wait," Connor started, "You mean-"

"Yeah," Elder Neely nodded sadly, "I'm gonna go," he pointed his thumb towards the mission hut ahead of them, "Maybe you shouldn't come in with me. Don't worry too much, I'm sure he'll be fine."

"He didn't look fine."

"Just go back to the lake, Elder McKinley. I'll take care of it," Elder Neely assured, "And congratulations on the two of you, I guess?"

Connor was left standing in the middle of the dirt path, still very much stunned by the revelation. It was the complete opposite of what he thought it would be. Elder Davis was in love with him? Connor hated that he was the cause of Elder Davis' misery. But what was he supposed to do? He didn't feel the same way, Elder Davis was like a little brother to him.

—

"So?" Kevin asked the second Connor sat down on the mat.

Like at the party, Kevin had saved Connor a full plate of food. The other Elders were back in the lake, having taken their lunch, except for Poptarts, who was napping on the mat.

It should have been a perfect Saturday afternoon, but Connor's gut twisted at the thought of Elder Davis crying in his room, all because of him. He knew that it wasn't his fault, but he still felt guilty nonetheless.

"It'll be fine, he just needs some time," Connor exhaled.

"What does that mean?"

Connor didn't want to betray Elder Neely's trust, but it seemed wrong to leave Kevin wondering.

"Elder Davis was not upset because of us," Connor frowned, "Well, no. It WAS because of us, but it wasn't because that we're together, wait no, it kinda was but-"

"Connor!"

"Okay okay. Apparently he has a crush on me," Connor winced.

"He's gay?" Kevin asked.

"I don't know," Connor shrugged, "Like you said, it doesn't really matter, does it?"

Kevin looked uneasy, "So do you- you know, like him too?

Connor looked at him in the eyes, "I'm with you, Kevin. I love you." It was the first time Connor had said that out loud to anyone who weren't his parents. But it felt right.

Kevin was dumbfounded at his proclamation, "I-"

"No, Kevin," Connor placed his hand on Kevin's knee, "You don't have to say it if you're not ready."

Kevin nodded, avoiding Connor's gaze.

"Elder McKinley! Come join us!" Arnold yelled.

Connor gave a thumbs up to the Elders in the water.

"C'mere you," Connor put his arms around Kevin's waist, and whispered into his ear, "I love you, Kevin Price."

Kevin smiled, and pushed him away, "Sap. Go swim for the both of us."

Connor took off his shirt, and slandered on a thick layer of sunscreen. Kevin helped with his back, "I don't get how you're not even a little bit tanned after spending 4 months in Africa."

"That's because I don't tan, I just get burnt. And after the sunburn heals, I go back to the same shade of pale," Connor said.

"Alright, you're all done."

"Thanks."

"Connor?" Kevin called as Connor was about to leave for the lake.

"Yeah?"

"I- I think," Kevin stared straight at Connor, "I think I love you too."