Note: this chapter contains some strong language.

———

"Well come on, tell me!" George cries, grabbing Elton by his shoulders in happiness. "Tell me everything!"

Elton chuckles at him. "Alright, okay! Um, so, like I said, I recently got divorced. That was from a woman. You see, I was married to her for maybe three years. We rented an apartment together and got married. But the whole time I felt wrong. Like, it didn't feel right for me to be in the marriage. But, I couldn't figure out why." He rubs the back of his neck, almost seeming ashamed of his past self. "One day, I was Googling photos of supposedly 'attractive' females — but even they didn't make me feel any type of way. There was a photo on there of a woman holding hands with their partner. I found him more attractive than her. And so I ... started Googling attractive men. I felt different. It all felt different. It felt right. For the first time I felt like I was attracted to somebody. I was a little scared at first, because how the fuck do you tell your wife you're actually attracted to men?"

"My god ... " George murmurs in reaction as he speaks.

"Anyway, it took me a few weeks to actually bring up my feelings. I knew it would break her heart. She really cared for me. We'd spoken about having a family, and saving up to buy a place of our own rather than renting. We had it all planned." He lowers himself back onto the bed, laying down on it. George follows suit. "I sat her down one afternoon, and told her everything. Well, she was upset, of course. But she was glad I'd told her before we'd fully set up a life together. We could get out of our rental contract pretty easy. We hadn't had kids yet. And we'd only had a small wedding, so we hadn't wasted money on that really. We decided to get a divorce amicably. It was ... well, it was easy with her. It was her family that made it difficult."

"Oh ... did they get mad at you?" George watches him explain in awe. Although Elton is looking up at the ceiling, just seeing his side profile sends shivers coursing through George's body. This man is so endearing to him; even better that he shares the same sexuality as himself. He feels truly comfortable with this man.

"Yeah they did. My ex wife tried to tell them it was okay. That we'd remain friends. Well, they didn't want that. They were furious. Said I'd 'led her on for years'. I felt guilty — I still do! But at the same time I didn't know back then. I tried denying it to myself all that time but when I started to think about it deeper, it was too hard to deny myself the basic feeling of love — even if it was against what others wanted for me."

"Well, at least you know I accept you." George gives him a soft, comforting smile.

Meanwhile, Madonna and Lisa go to sit with Andrew — who has been alone for a few hours now.

"Hey Andrew ... where's George?" Madonna asks him.

Andrew shrugs. "Not got a single clue. He said he was going to talk to Elton. That was right after the second game. I haven't seen him since."

Lisa frowns, feeling sorry for him. "Well, maybe they're just hanging out. Bonding and shit," she suggests. "They seem rather close friends, don't they?"

Freddie suddenly arrives. "Hey girls," he greets playfully, fully aware that Andrew is also present. "How are we?"

"Just discussing the disappearance of George and Elton," Lisa explains. "Not seen them for hours. They seem pretty buddy-buddy."

"Well it probably doesn't help that George was checking him out every chance he could get—" Andrew stops himself, but it's already too late to change what he has said. "J-Just—"

"I knew it!" Madonna cheers, fist-pumping the air in satisfaction. "I told you he was gay, didn't I?"

"You placed a bet on George's sexuality?" Andrew frowns in disapproval. "That's a little insensitive, don't you think?"

"Andrew, I hate to be that guy, but as a gay man myself you can tell from sixty kilometres away that George is a handsome closeted pretty boy," Freddie chuckles. "My gay-dar was beeping majorly from the moment I first saw him."

"Are you serious?" Andrew snaps. "George has been ashamed his whole life over who he loves, all because of his shitty parents, and you guys wanna poke fun at it?" He starts to stand up, to leave the group. "Man, I thought you guys were better than this."

"Hey, hold up," Madonna stops him. "None of us ever said we thought gay men were bad. I think it's cute."

"Yeah. Let the boy love who he loves," Lisa shrugs. "If he's crushing on Elton, let him crush on Elton."

Andrew furrows his brows, sitting back down again. "You're not fucking around? Because that shit is so sensitive to him. I was the only person in the world who knew before now."

"Relax! Your secret is safe with us," Freddie reassures him. "To be honest, if he wasn't so into Elton I'd probably try and have him for myself."

Andrew smiles at the support the group is showing. "Well, sorry for being so hasty. I just get so defensive of him. He's my best friend. I'm the only one who's ever really accepted him for who he is."

"Chill man; none of us care." Madonna smiles — perhaps the first genuine smile she's given in the time they've been at the party. "We won't even say anything to Whitney or Michael when they show up."

"Speak of the devils." Lisa points over Madonna's shoulder, so the group turns to see Whitney emerge from the door leading to the partygoers' rooms, along with Michael. She cups her mouth with her hands to shout. "Hey! How are you doing Michael?"

The pair arrive at the group, sitting down alongside them. "I'm doing better, thanks." Michael gives his ex a warm smile at her concern. "Did I miss much? Hey — where's Elton and George?"

"They went to hang out together," Freddie responds. "Haven't seen them in some time. But they should be fine."

"Well, that's good. It's nice that they get on so well," Whitney adds. "Anyway ... any other ideas on what the next game is?"

"Nope; nothing." Andrew rests his chin on his hands in thought. "It's so hard to think of ideas. It could be anything."

"Well, all we can do is keep hoping it'll be an easier game next time," Freddie says.

"Easier? Have you forgotten where we are?" Madonna remarks sarcastically. "None of this shit is easy, is it?"

"All the games are simple enough. It's the idea of doing them when your life is dependant on it that's scary," Whitney reasons, drawing her knees to her chest and embracing them. "But we've all managed to make it through the first two games. That's what matters right now. Along with surviving the next game."

"Whitney's right," Michael agrees, nodding to support what he's saying. "We have to just take it a game at a time. A day at a time. I mean, I nearly died out there today. But I've recovered from that now, and so I can focus on getting today done and starting over again tomorrow."

"We're so glad you didn't die out there today, Michael," Lisa states sincerely, rubbing his arm in a friendly — or perhaps flirtatious — way. "You're kind of the backbone of the team. You're the reason we have this amazing group."

"I wouldn't say that," he snickers, swatting the air with his hand dismissively. "All of us are the backbone of this team. We wouldn't be a team without the support of everybody here."

The group exchange verbal agreement with one another over Michael's words. They all choose to remain optimistic, even with knowing that the next few days will be some of the worst days of their lives.

Back in room 025, George and Elton are still discussing their common ground.

"So, when did you know?" Elton interrogates.

"Ah, man. It's been years, I think. I had a lot of girlfriends in school back in England — I was fancied by all the girls in my class. I don't know why." He chuckles as he remembers the old times fondly. "I think that was my way of trying to blend in with everyone else. How could people suspect I was gay if I dated so many girls, right?" He shakes his head, as if mocking his younger self. "I never felt any connection with any of the girls I dated; hence why my relationships never lasted very long. But when I hit secondary school, I had this guy in my Geography class — his name was Joe — and I found myself thinking about him even when I wasn't at school. I think that's when I started suspecting it. But when I did, I kind of just put my head into my hands and went, "Oh shit, my parents won't like this", so it was quite a scary time for me."

"Wow ... that's rough," Elton comments, feeling sad for him. "When did you tell Andrew?"

"He told me!" George exclaims, scratching the back of his neck to give his hand something to do. "He guessed before I even knew myself. I told him one day, "Andrew, I need to be honest", and the cheeky bugger says "Yeah you're gay, I know". How the fuck could he even tell that?" He bursts into laughter, which in turn causes Elton to laugh with him. "Man, some people really just have a sixth sense with that, don't they?"

"I guess they do," Elton agrees in amusement.

A silence begins between the pair. In this time, George takes a moment to think over his next move. He's undoubtedly attracted to Elton, but is Elton into him in return? Could he risk everything they've built up with their friendship and make a move? Should he leave it be and be happy with what they've discussed already? He evaluates that life is too short — quite literally — and decides to confess.

"Elton ... I think I need to tell you something." George sits up on the bed, an abrupt feeling of fear taking over his chest.

Elton follows suit, sitting up so that they can face one another. "Of course. Anything." He gives George an inviting smile, before forcing himself to make eye contact with the handsome Greek god-like man before him.

"Elton ... we're only going to get, at most, five more days in this place after today. In a week, we'll never see each other again. Our lives are way too short to feel as if we're not good enough for anybody." He grabs Elton's hands in his own, which takes Elton by surprise. "I feel so comfortable when I'm around you. And it's crazy, because we've known each other only a day or two. I've told you more than I ever told my own parents. I feel like ... well, Andrew is my best friend in the whole world. He's my partner in crime and we adore each other more than we'd ever be able to explain. But you ... you're like my safety person. After the last game I didn't feel settled until I knew you were safe. And when I heard your number and heard you'd passed the game ... I've never felt so relieved in all my life." With each word he says, their heads move slowly closer to one another's.

"George, I ... I would be lying if I said I didn't feel the same when I saw you after the game." Elton looks down at George's lips, which are parted slightly for breath. "Seeing your face light up when you saw I was still alive ... I'll never forget that feeling."

"You said earlier that you didn't want to deny yourself the basic feeling of love ... and that's far from what I want to do, myself." By now, George's face is only centimetres from Elton's. His voice is barely a mutter. "So please ... don't deny me my ability to be unapologetically myself, for what could be the last few days of my life ... "

Elton's voice lowers in volume to match his. "I wouldn't dare dream of it ... "

Finally, the small gap between them is sealed, as their lips meet in a sweet kiss. Their eyes close, as they both get lost in the moment. George's hands move up to touch Elton's face; while Elton's run through George's soft blonde locks; before arriving at the back of his head, where they stay. After a few moments, they part slightly; their noses and foreheads still connected.

George lets out a gasp, which comes out more as a laugh; paired with a sweet, cheesy smile to suggest how happy he is.

~~

Ahhhh!! Geolton shared a kiss (finally!). I ship it that's for sure!