Connor stared dazedly at the flames licking around the bottom of the pot, while he was waiting for the water to boil. The hut was blissfully quiet. All of the Elders were spending their morning sleeping in, since they didn't need to prepare for Sunday services anymore.

Connor was grateful to have the morning to himself. He was waiting for the aspirin to kick in, to quell his insomnia-induced migraine. It was taking its own sweet dang time.

"Elder McKinley."

Connor spun around at the sudden voice, knocking over a metal cup onto the floor. The resulting ruckus was excruciatingly loud. Connor squeezed his eyes shut and groaned.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

This was so not a good time, "Elder Davis," Connor bent down to pick up the cup, "Morning."

The Elder was staring at his own bare feet, "Elder McKinley, I know that Neels told you about- you know."

Connor rubbed at his temples, "Ryan-"

"Look, Elder McKinley," Connor was beginning to hate the sound of his last name, "I don't want things to become weird between us, so can we just forget about it?"

Connor sighed, "I'm sorry you had to find out like that."

Elder Davis shuffled on his feet, "So we're good?"

"Of course we are," Connor gave him a small smile, "Are you going to be okay?"

Elder Davis shrugged, "I guess deep down, I already knew that you don't feel the same way about me, but I still held on to the hope that maybe someday- You know what, never mind. It's stupid."

"No, no. Ryan, it's not stupid at all," Connor still remembered the time when he thought that Kevin and him were never going to happen. It was a truly awful feeling. He felt bad that Elder Davis had to go through that.

"Anyway," Elder Davis waved, "Elder Price is lucky to have you. You're kind, and selfless, and-"

Connor cut him off, "Ryan, I'm sure you'll find someone else, someone better." Unlike Kevin, he was never good at taking compliments. They make him very uncomfortable.

"Yeah, well," Elder Davis muttered softly, "They won't be you though."

Connor didn't know what to say to that, except to change the topic, "Do you want some tea?"

He turned off the stove and poured hot water into his cup, submerging the small teabag. Chamomile tea never fails to make him feel better whenever he has a migraine.

"Sure, if you don't mind," Elder Davis pulled out a chair and sat down at the dining table.

Connor made another cup of tea and joined Elder Davis at the table.

"I heard about what happened with Elder Price yesterday," Elder Davis fiddled with the string of the teabag.

The mention of Kevin was making his headache flare up, "Yeah."

"Is he- is he alright?"

"I don't know."

"Oh."

Connor leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, "I don't know."

—

"Can you stop working?" Kevin tried to snatch Connor's laptop away, "It's Sunday."

"No," Connor continued typing away, "Stop it, Kev. This is important."

Kevin had surprised Connor when he woke up in a somewhat normal mood, at least it was considered normal for Kevin Price before he had his morning coffee. It wasn't exactly like he was pretending that nothing happened, but he wasn't dwelling on his despair anymore either.

Connor didn't know what to make of it. He was certain that everything was not all well, but it wasn't like Connor had found a way to fix it yet, so he just let Kevin be.

They were holed up in Connor's room, sitting on his bed. Kevin was busy being a distraction while Connor was trying to get work done.

"Fine. I guess I just have to entertain myself then."

"You do know how that sounds, right?" Connor clicked 'Send' on yet another email.

"What am I supposed to do? I'm dating a workaholic. This is supposed to be a date, Connor McKinley!" Kevin slapped Connor hard, on his thigh.

"Ow!" Connor howled. He rubbed at his stinging flesh, "Look, it's turning red. I hope you're happy now."

Kevin pouted, "I should have gone to play soccer with the others."

Connor didn't bother to tell Kevin how he shouldn't be doing that. He knew Kevin was just saying that to annoy him.

To be fair, Connor never did say that they were having a date. They didn't join in on the game as Kevin still can't play sports and nobody wanted him to be the referee, and Connor's head was still pounding something fierce. Connor just said in passing that he was glad they were finally getting some quiet alone time by themselves, and Kevin took it upon himself to call it a date.

He was scrolling through his inbox, when his eyes landed on an email from Sister Greene, his former tutor at the training center. She had always been his favourite tutor- formal but friendly, devout yet rational. After completing her mission in Kenya, she had set up a charitable organisation which helped to get medicine like ART to some of the poorest villages in Kenya. Connor had reached out to her, in hopes of getting advice, or maybe even contacts, if he was really lucky.

"Kevin," Connor gasped as he read through the email, "Oh em gosh."

"What, did you finally realise we're on a date right now?"

Connor frowned, "What? No, Kevin. Read this," he turned the laptop towards Kevin.

"Wow, your screen brightness is way down, how do you even read anything," Kevin squinted at the computer and then back at Connor, "You still having that headache?"

"Read the email, Kevin!"

"I'm trying! Just let me get this thing-," Kevin brightened up the screen of the laptop, "Dear Elder McKinley, I am really glad to hear from you. I must admit that I have been very worried after receiving news of your ex-communication from the Church. I am humbled that you think of me as a humanitarian, but I am just doing what I can to help those in need. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that I am unable to help with your district's funding problem, the Church has taken an unwavering stance on that. However, may I present an alternative solution- I have told an uncle of mine of your present circumstance, and he is willing to help. He has amassed quite a fortune from his real estate endeavours, and has always been generous in contributing financially to worthy causes. He would like to speak with you- to find out more about you, your friends, and what you have achieved in the Ugandan village-"

Kevin stopped reading, "Wait, Connor. Is this- Is this for real?"

"I think so," Connor laughed somewhat hysterically, "I think so! This could be it! This may just work! We don't have to pack up and leave, Kevin!"

All his hard work has finally paid off! Connor couldn't believe it. He grabbed onto the sides of Kevin's face and kissed him, "Aren't you glad that I'm working on our date now?"

"We need to go tell the others the good news!"

"No, Kevin wait!" Connor grabbed onto Kevin's arm, "I think maybe we should just keep this to ourselves for now, in case this falls through. I don't want them to get disappointed."

"Okay?" Kevin looked uncertain as he sat back down, "But now that your work is done, we're going on a date for real!" He brought his hand down on Connor's leg again.

"Ow!" Connor cried out in pain, "Not yet, you child! Just let me reply to the email first."