A/N: So I'm using the name Connor because that's the fan-accepted one and I like it. If you came up with it and you want credit or something, please let me know! I can't help feeling like I'm sort of plagiarizing here...
Chapter 2: The Silent Way
Elder Thomas crunched down thoughtfully on a carrot. He sat down on his bed, pulled his knees up to his chest, and stared at the blank wall opposite him.
This was sort of like that meditation thing Elder McKinley was always going on about, right?
Elder Thomas sighed. The truth was, he didn't know what Elder McKinley was going on about half the time. And it made him feel like the worst mission partner ever. Though he knew Elder McKinley didn't mean to make him feel that way, he couldn't help it. They had nothing in common.
Maybe he should try this meditation thing after all. Then at least they'd have something to talk about... other than 'I miss my cable TV' all the time. And really, there were only so many times one could miss their cable TV...
Not that there was much to talk about in the way of meditation, either.
Elder Thomas shook his head. Elder McKinley was great. He was the District Leader, after all. And none of the other Elders ever had trouble connecting with him. Maybe it was something wrong with Elder Thomas, then.
Hugging his knees tighter to his chest in self-pity, Elder Thomas swallowed the last of his carrot, closed his eyes, and winced. He would be a better mission partner tomorrow... He would be a better mission partner tomorrow...
What was that thing Elder Cunningham was always saying? Tomorrow is a latter day? Well, tomorrow was the first day of his paradise partnership with Elder McKinley.
He had some leftover Poptarts in the cabinet. Maybe Elder McKinley wanted one. Elder Thomas would even offer him the s'more ones. Those were his favorite...
Elder Thomas stretched out into a sitting position, and with great effort, thrust himself off the bed and onto the floor. He had told Elder McKinley he would clean their room today. See? He was trying!
Elder McKinley was a neat person by nature, so there wasn't all that much to do. Elder Thomas swept up the dust from the grainy floor, somewhat listlessly. Methodically, he wiped down the windows and rearranged the clothing in the sparse drawers, listening to the hum of those too-close-for-comfort mosquitoes.
Elder Thomas's blond hair was matted to his forehead and his cheeks were flushed pink. Maybe Elder McKinley would realize how hard he'd been working...
Hey. Cool it. You cleaned a room—a room that's half yours. You're not winning any prizes for sainthood today, he told himself.
Windows sparkling, Elder Thomas moved to the beds. He pulled up the covers on Elder McKinley's thin mattress, and fluffed up his pillow.
Hang on. There was something there, under the pillow. An envelope, a little too white to blend in with the off-color sheets.
Elder Thomas picked up the stiff square and slid it open with trembling fingers.
That's not nice, he scolded himself. Really. I mean, what happened to privacy?
Elder Thomas was a little too far past caring. What if the envelope unlocked the key to, oh, say, being Elder McKinley's best friend?
You're pathetic.
I know.
The piece of paper inside the envelope had been folded over several times, each of its creases exact.
The handwriting on the inside matched the precision and neatness of the folding. His eyes darting quickly to the still-closed door, then back to the letter, Elder Thomas turned his back on the window and began to read.
Dear Connor,
Wow, I missed you yesterday! But it's worth it, I think, because if my predictions are accurate (and they usually are—you know me!) that missionary field trip may have just doubled the size of our church. How awesome is that?
And I'm super super sorry I had to leave early again this morning, but if you'll meet me outside tonight, I'm sure we (me and my cookies!) can make it up to you.
All my love,
Kevin
xoxoxo
Elder Thomas glowered at the letter. How long had Elder McKinley been sneaking off at night without telling him? How long had Elder Price been stealing his district partner from him? Why hadn't Elder McKinley ever told him he was—was what?
Gay?
In love?
In love with that no-good, partner-stealing, loved-by-everyone Kevin Price?
Everyone except for Elder Thomas, that is!
Weren't mission partners supposed to tell each other these things? Elder Cunningham probably knew. Elder Price probably told him everything. He probably had no qualms about trusting Elder Cunningham with his and Elder McKinley's secret. The three of them probably hung out in Elder Price's room all the time, talking about... about...
Stupid Kevin Price. Now Elder Thomas couldn't even think straight.
Straight! Ha, that was kinda funny. Because his district partner wasn't!
Elder Thomas threw the letter down against Elder McKinley's bed, entirely unsatisfied in the way the paper failed to make a noise. Elder Thomas settled for banging around a few picture frames, instead.
Elder Thomas wondered how many other people knew about Elder Price and Elder McKinley's love affair.
He wondered if anyone else knew.
He wondered if he might be among the first to know.
Maybe Elder McKinley had always wanted a friend he could talk about boys to. Well, Elder Thomas could be that person.
He could be supportive. He could be patient. He could be whatever Elder McKinley wanted him to be.
Elder McKinley opened the door to the dingy little room, interrupting Elder Thomas's reverie.
"Hi!" He smiled brightly at Elder Thomas. Elder McKinley's hair was a mess. Elder Thomas felt a twinge of guilt. He shouldn't have read that letter. But now maybe he had a chance to convince Elder McKinley he could be a good mission partner...
"Thanks for doing the room, Elder Thomas!"
"Yeah, sure. Any time."
Elder McKinley bounded over to his bed.
Well, he has a lot of energy today, Elder Thomas thought, somewhat sourly. The truth was, Elder McKinley had a lot of energy every day.
Then the Elder's heart sank. He had forgotten to put the note back into the envelope. The note that was just inches from Elder McKinley's fingers.
Don't notice the... don't notice the...
Elder McKinley snatched up the letter, and its disloyal envelope, and glanced over the writing, a pained expression settling over his face.
"Did you, um... Elder Thomas?" Elder McKinley turned around slowly. He looked so terrified, Elder Thomas was afraid his face might crack.
"Oh, gosh." Elder Thomas rose from his bed and practically ran over to give Elder McKinley a hug. He wrapped his bony arms around the thin waist and squeezed. They stood that way for a while. Elder McKinley began to gasp. Embarrassed, Elder Thomas let him go.
"Uh, Elder McKinley? I'm really, really, really, really, really sorry for reading your letter. Like, so sorry. Like, I'll leave you alone right now if you want me to. Like, you'll never have to clean this room again, if you want me to do it. Like, like... like, Elder McKinley, you're the best mission partner ever."
Elder Thomas stared at his shoes. Elder McKinley coughed. Elder Thomas worked up the nerve to look up.
"Elder Thomas, you know something? You never cease to surprise me."
"I... surprise you?" Elder Thomas was sort of flattered. He didn't realize Elder McKinley had been paying him any attention.
"Absolutely. You're amazing, Elder Thomas. Thank you for... for... for not mentioning, you know, it."
"It?"
"That I'm... yeah. Gay."
Elder Thomas laughed in relief. "Oh. That. There are worse fates than being gay, I'm sure. Like falling in love with Elder Price, for instance."
He stuck out his tongue at Elder McKinley who blushed, then grinned.
"Kevin's wonderful!" he declared sheepishly.
Elder Thomas raised his eyebrows. "Maybe I'd like him better if you brought me back one of those cookies."
Elder McKinley laughed. "Maybe I will."
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Elder McKinley called. He was smiling giddily at Elder Thomas. Elder Thomas's heart swelled.
Kevin Price poked his head through the door.
"Connor! I didn't think I'd see you before... oh, hey Elder Thomas."
Elder McKinley motioned the intruder in.
"I got your letter!" he added brightly.
Elder Price gave him a "don't talk about that in front of the children" look—the one Elder Thomas's dad had down to an art.
Elder McKinley laughed lightly.
"Oh, don't worry about Elder Thomas, he already knows! I... told him."
"Oh." Elder Price looked surprised, before relaxing into relief.
"Well, uh, cool. Thanks, Elder Thomas."
"Oh, uh-huh. Sure. I— I need to go. Bye. See you later."
Third wheel was not a good look for Elder Thomas. He slid out the door, mind spinning.
"You must really trust him," Elder Price remarked. "What made you decide to, uh, come out?"
Elder McKinley shook his head. "I didn't feel I had a choice."
"Next time, ask me first, k?"
Elder McKinley nodded. "Yeah, I wasn't thinking. Sorry."
Elder Price grabbed his boyfriend, twirling him around in excitement.
"Don't apologize. I love PDA!"
Elder McKinley swatted him. "Bit full of ourselves, are we?"
Elder Price leaned down to kiss him.
"Well, we are a beautiful couple."
Elder McKinley thought he might have heard violins.