This was stupid. This was so, so stupid.
He wanted to be angry at Kevin for dragging them into this mess, but now Connor was just plain terrified.
Connor could almost see the headlines. What a tragedy, people would say in passing and then continue on with their day as if nothing had happened.
What would Kevin's parent think? Would they regret everything they've said to Kevin?
What would HIS parents think? Would they still go to London?
Oh gosh, London! He was was so looking forward to London. He couldn't die now? He still had a whole lot of life ahead of him. West End was waiting for him, there were still so many musicals he hasn't gotten the chance to see yet. There were still so many things he wanted to experience, so many things he wanted to do.
So many things he wanted to do with Kevin.
Kevin, who was standing out of his reach as neither of them dared to move a muscle. It made Connor feel very exposed. He needed to hold onto Kevin, even though he should be mad at him right now.
At least they were far apart enough that if the lion pounced on either of them, the other would have a chance to escape. Was it going to be a painful death? Who was he kidding, of course it was going to be painful. Connor couldn't decide which is worse, getting mauled by a lion or watching Kevin get mauled by a lion. Both were bad, very bad.
Was it gone?
Connor couldn't hear growling anymore.
Oh gosh, what if it was silently hunting them?
Connor turned his head around, half expecting to find the large cat on its belly, trying to sneak up on its prey.
They were prey, weren't they?
Connor had never thought of himself as prey before.
But that was exactly what they were right now, pathetically easy prey, at complete mercy of the lion. Or lioness, Connor learnt in his biology lessons that the females were the ones who do most of the hunting for the herd. And the herd has a pecking order which-
"Connor!" Kevin whispered.
Why the fudge was Kevin talking right now? Didn't he know that they had to keep quiet?
Well, to think of it, Connor guessed it doesn't matter either way, does it? It could probably smell them, or see them in the dark, because it has excellent night vision.
And Connor was sure that the loud thudding of his heart in his chest was enough to give their position away.
"I think it's gone," Kevin tried to take a step forward.
"Noooo!" Connor shook his head fervently.
This was where Kevin was going to loudly step on a twig and the lioness will come pouncing on him from out of the shadows.
Gosh, Connor needed to stop watching horror movies. It was screwing with his head.
"I think it's gone," Kevin repeated louder, and he was suddenly in front of Connor.
When did he move so fast?
Connor wanted to say something but it came out as a squeak. Why doesn't his throat work?
Connor flinched when Kevin wrapped his hands tightly around him.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Kevin repeated like a mantra just beside Connor's ear.
Connor sniffed. Wait, why was he crying? When the heck did he start crying?
"Are we dead?"
Kevin chuckled lightly, "No. No, we're not."
Connor hadn't noticed how stiff he had gotten. He concentrated on relaxing his body muscle by muscle. Connor blew out a long breath, "Let's do this again never, alright?" He moved his arms up to embrace Kevin, "My poor heart can't take any more of this."
"I'm sorry."
"Let's go back," Connor was suddenly drained of energy, "If we can find our way back to the hut, that is."
"I'm sorry."
"I know you are," Connor gave Kevin a quick kiss on his head, "Come on."
—
The mood at the breakfast table was frosty. Even Arnold, who would usually chatter loudly while he chews, picked up on the cue to slurp at his oatmeal as quietly as possible. The occasional clanking of the spoons against the metal bowls punctuated the silence.
Connor was about to do something ill-advised, and to quote Poptarts: 'was going to blow up spectecularly in his face'. But he couldn't have his Elders at each other's throats all the time. Kevin and Church would have to learn to be nice to each other, because they're making everyone else uncomfortable and bringing the morale of the group down.
Connor cleared his throat loudly, and seven pairs of eyes focused on him at once.
"There'll be some changes to the chore board for the week," Connor announced. It's too late to turn back now, "As you guys know, Elder Davis be leaving us in a few days, and I'll have to do some reshuffling of chore groups. Besides, the school building is almost finished, so we don't need everyone to be working on that right now."
Connor took a breath and looked over to Poptarts, who muttered, "It's your funeral."
"From today onwards, Elder Davis, Elder Neely, and Elder Michaels, you three will be helping out at Gotswana's clinic and the village. Elder Cunningham and Elder Thomas will be helping out at the school."
Both Elder Church and Kevin probably already knew what was up next, from the glares that Connor could feel boring holes right into his soul.
"Elder Church and Elder Price will be finishing up on painting the interior of the school building," Connor sat back and waited for the backlash.
"I already told you I can't paint for shit!" Elder Church dropped his spoon unceremoniously onto the table.
Kevin's voice was quiet, "Are you fucking kidding me right now?"
Oh, boy.
All the other Elders, except for Poptarts, were gaping at Connor in disbelief.
"Yes I know, Elder Church, just take this as an opportunity to learn how to paint, from Elder Price," Connor congratulated himself for not stammering under the unwavering death stares.
"No, thanks," Elder Church snorted.
"This is not a negotiation," Connor stood up and brought his empty bowl to the sink, effectively ending the conversation. Or so he hoped.
Kevin let out a long suffering sigh, "Fine."
Connor almost did a victory dance. That wasn't so hard, was it?
"But you're coming with us," Kevin shoved his dirty bowl into Connor's hands and sauntered out of the kitchen.
"Elder Church?" Connor asked.
The disgruntled Elder shrugged, "You're the leader, you call the shots."
"Great! Let's all get to work, shall we?"
Arnold snickered, "Good luck to you, Elder McKinley."
—
The good thing was, they weren't fighting with each other.
But they weren't talking to each other at all either.
Connor was impressed at how they were getting their work done without so much as a word between them.
Kevin was drawing the outline of their village, and Elder Church was helping to fill the little huts in with colour. For a guy who claimed to not know how to paint, he sure was doing a pretty decent job of it.
"So you do know how to paint," Connor commented.
Elder Church rolled his eyes, "How hard can it be? It's just colouring."
"Well, maybe Kevin can teach you how to do some shading with the paint huh? It'll look less…I don't know, flat?"
Kevin paused in his painting, "Well, KEVIN is going to do it himself. After he's finished with the outlining."
"You hear that?" Elder Church looked at Connor, "KEVIN is going to do it himself."
Connor pinched the bridge of his nose, "This is ridiculous guys. Can we just talk this out? Maybe then you two can stop acting like a couple of five year olds."
Elder Church smirked, "Well well McKinley, are you giving me the chance to trash Price right in his face?"
Connor reckoned that this was as good a time as any to put what he had learnt in his conflict resolution class during his district leader training to good use. If he didn't do something now, the both of them were going to end in a physical fight someday, and someone was going to get hurt.
"Alright, drop your brushes, the both of you," Connor ordered, "Drop it, Kevin, I'm serious. We're gonna have a chat."
Connor gestured for them to sit in the center of the empty classroom.
"An intervention, really?" Elder Church groaned, but obeyed Connor's instructions.
"Kevin."
"Fine, fine," Kevin reluctantly stopped painting and joined the two of them on the floor.
Connor smiled widely, "Let us start by talking about our first impressions of each other shall we? James, what did you think of Kevin when you first met him?"
Elder Church shrugged, "I don't know? I mean, with all the talk, I thought he was going to be the one to turn things around."
Connor was surprised that Elder Church was taking this seriously, "Okay! Okay, that's a great start! Now Kevin, what did you think of James when you first met him?"
"I don't remember."
Connor sighed, "C'mon Kevin, it's only been what? Two months? And I know for a fact that you have a really good memory."
"He's okay, I guess? Wasn't really focused on making friends when I first arrived," Kevin stared at his shoe, "And with everything that was happening, I was kinda overwhelmed."
Connor squeezed his knee in encouragement, "Okay, how do you feel about each other now? I'm talking about feelings, are you angry at each other?"
"I don't like this question."
"Humour me, Kev."
Elder Church frowned in concentration, "Umm, I guess I'm not anything?" He threw his hands up in the air in frustration, "I'm shit at feelings, and I've told you that too, McKinley!"
Connor nodded, "Kevin?"
"I'm not angry. Not now, anyway," he continued to talk to his shoe.
"But the both of you get angry at each other sometimes. Why?"
Kevin huffed, "You know why."
"You think that James hate you," Connor decided to lay this to rest once and for all, "Do you hate Kevin, James?"
Connor really hoped that he was right about this. This could go really right, or really wrong. Please say no?
Elder Church was clearly taken aback, "You think that I hate you?"
Kevin finally lifted his gaze, "Do you?"
"I mean, hate is such a strong word don't you think?" Elder Church laughed awkwardly, "I never said I hated you, Price."
"You don't need to."
"What?"
"You don't need to say it, I can tell that you do."
Elder Church frowned, "Well, like I said, I don't hate you. Just because I don't treat you like the second coming of Christ doesn't mean that I hate you, alright? Surely you can't expect everyone to be kissing your ass all the damn time, do you?" He smacked himself in the forehead with his hand, "I forgot who I am talking to. Of course, you do."
"No, I don't," Kevin mumbled as he went back to staring at his shoe.
"Case in point," Elder Church spread his arms out, "Look Price, I grew up with a deadbeat dad, and this is just how I am. It's my defence mechanism or whatever, so my counsellor said. Just...I don't hate you alright? Not any more than I hate McKinley here."
"Oh."
Connor clasped his hands together, "See? All we needed was to hash it out!"
Elder Church started to back away from the two of them, "I think that's enough hashing to last us for a year. If you don't mind, McKinley, I'm just gonna get back to work."
Connor put his hands on Kevin's knee, "What did I tell you?"
"You're a jerk," Kevin said with no real heat behind his words.
Connor smiled, "Yes, but I'm your jerk."
Elder Church groaned, "Oh god, I'm still here you guys."