TW: Mention of abuse/harm/abusive relationships, physically and mentally
***
Kevin hummed to himself quietly as he reread The Book of Arnold for the however many'th time, on his bed, revising the part on homosexuals, adding a new verse every time with his pen, considering there was only one copy so far in the US, the other still with Arnold who had decided to stay in Uganda even after the two-year limit, choosing Naba'a company and choosing to preach the book there while Kevin went back home with the others. So, Kevin currently had a pen and the rough draft copy, and his imagination and beliefs,

And so, Arnold said...let there be gays, and let there be s-

A loud scream came from down stairs and Kevin was up in an instant as he stumbled downstairs, panting as he stopped to look down the hall at the bottom of the stairs to see Connor at the door, clutching a letter.

"Connor, for the lord's holy sake, what's gotten into you?" Kevin huffed as he walked over to his roommate.

On the way back to the US, Connor and Kevin had sat by each other on the plane, ...for no apparent reason..., and Kevin had learned that Connor was going to be without a place to stay at, as his parents had kicked him out shortly after realizing he was a homosexual, which prompted him to live in the church for the remainder of the time as long as he prayed the gay away twice a day, but once they were kicked out of the church after the whole recent Uganda episode...Connor didn't have anywhere- and Kevin simply couldn't let that stand, so he had offered the bottom half of his apartment to Connor for free rent until he got back on his feet.
Well, getting back on his feet for Connor was difficult with Kevin throwing away all the job offers...as to not burden his friend in finding a new place- he wasn't possessive though, no, just...very concerned and very polite, yes, that was it.

Kevin feared the worse has happened and that Connor had gotten some form of acceptance letter to something- and he wasn't completely wrong, "So...? Are you going to tell me or just stand there?" Kevin stood directly behind Connor.

Connor slowly turned around, still clutching the letter in his grip, looking absolutely horrified.

Kevin began to get moderately concerned, "What is it?"

"I-it's a..., um," Connor swallowed nervously, "Reunion invite that was sent by m-my parents for um, for my elementary class reunion...thing...yeah..." He seemed not totally present.

"Didn't even know those existed- Okay, cool, well, your home town is only a few hours away, good ol' Utah- but, of course, you don't have to go?"

"Y-yes I do!" Connor squeaked, "My parents sent this! It...means they might care- and I can't disrespect that, Kevin!"

"Okay, Okay, I understand- why not just go then? What's so scary about grown elementary classes?" Kevin cocked an eyebrow.

"Read the guest list," Connor handed the letter to Kevin.

Kevin scanned over it, reaching the guest list, different generic names popping up until a particular one caught his eye:

Steve Blade

This made Kevin grimace and noticeably glare at the paper.

"Precisely." Connor groaned.

"What's our plan then?" Kevin struggled with not crumpling up the paper but instead briskly handed it back to Connor.

"Our plan?" Connor's eyes sparked in amusement.

Kevin nodded, "I sure as hell am not letting you go alone to that thing with him there."

"Kevin!"

"Sorry, sure as heck."

"Thank you- but, you really don't have to do that-"

"I know, that's what makes me so nice!"

"Oh my god, you're perfect," Connor snickered which made Kevin beam.

"Alright, come on, McKinley, let's get ready."

***

"I don't know if I can do this, Kev- what if he's there?" Connor whispered to Kevin from where he was in the passenger's seat of the vehicle they had parked in Connor's old elementary school parking-lot.

"You can do this, I know you can." Kevin gave a flashy smile.

Connor bit his lip in anticipation.

"Plus, I'll be there the whole time- and I can distract him by doing something incredible while you run, okay?"

Connor laughed slightly before sighing and nodding slowly, "Okay, let's...do this."

"Let's do this." Kevin murmured to himself as he hopped out of the car, Connor doing the same and rounding it over to Kevin before heading for the front doors.

At the doors to the gym, a teacher stopped them, "Names?"

"Connor McKinley- and Kevin Price, my..." He paused and Kevin looked hopeful, causing Connor to look away, "My plus one."

Kevin flinched but kept a neutral face and demeanor.

"Okay...alright, yeah, head on in." The teacher nodded and the boys did just that.

The whole room was dark with disco lights, for whatever reason, and people on their twenties and thirties were dancing in the middle while the rest had conversations at the edges of the room.

Kevin instantly headed for the sidelines and Connor followed, them standing next to each other then, awkwardly.

There was another pause of silence as Kevin fiddled with the cuffs of the tux her wore until finally speaking up, "Connor, do you suppose you'd like to dance with m-"

"Connor? McKinley?" An exasperated voice came from across the room and Kevin was cut short as Connor instantly cowered down.

Steve Blade has been an absolute doosh to Connor- and Kevin would love to call him a few choice names- but kept the flames at bay in his mind— for now— Steve had toyed with Connor and high-key bullied him, first in 5th grade and again in Highschool, playing with his emotions and making him overall broken for quite some time, prompting Connor to automatically turn everything off for such a long time until recently- and Kevin wasn't going to let things go back to the closed off Connor he first knew.

"Do you remember me? It's Steve Blade!" Steve laughed as he stood in front of Connor.

"Yes...I...remember you, Steve..." Connor sighed briskly.

"Sweet! How's life been? How're the folks? I heard you got kicked out? That's too bad, but you know," Steve leaned forward so his lips were a few feet from Connor's ear, "My room's cool for two people,"

Connor noticeably stiffened up, way past uncomfortable by now- almost as uncomfortably rigid as Kevin.

"Th-thank you, Steve- but, Kev-"

"Kevin Price! A pleasure to meet you," Kevin interjected and Steve looked at him as if he hadn't been standing there the entire time.

"Ah, nice to meet you then," Steve looked Kevin up and down.

"Obviously." Kevin blinked simply with his blank-smile he had mastered from going door to door for years and shouting Hello! until the word became void of all emotions.

Steve looked taken aback before looking between the two, and then clearing his throat to look at Connor, "Hey, you know, me and the guys we're going to get some drinks after this, but, I can skip that if you're free." Steve reached a hand towards Connor's shoulder.

Connor was cowering now with a red face as he began to stutter.

Before Steve could set the hand down, Kevin snaked an arm around Connor's waist and pulled him close so their hips bumped, "Actually, my boyfriend and I were planning on getting home early- wouldn't want to miss work in the morning!"

Steve's eyes widened and he took a step back, but he looked just as confused as Connor, but not as much of a blushing mess.

"Yeah, sO- it was wonderful finally meeting the asswhipe you call yourself but if I stay longer I think I'm going to vomit on you and though it would be wonderful if your smell would then match your personality but I can't stand being in a five-foot radius with you any long so good day!" Kevin kept his white-toothed smile on the whole time before briskly exiting with Connor.

There was silence all the way to the car before they broke off finally to enter each of their own sides. When both the driver and passenger doors were closed and both blushing boys were sitting in their seats in tangible tension, Connor finally giggled.

Kevin felt relief wash over him before smiling, "How can you laugh at a time like this? You literally almost got swept away by your ex-"

"I wouldn't say swept, that implies that I would have liked it, such as getting swept off my feet," Connor pointed out, "I'm laughing because of what you said!"

Kevin grinned proudly, "Well, lying is a terrible sin now, isn't it, McKinley?" He turned to the boy beside him.

"Of course, Price, of course- but perhaps that sin would seem less if we shine some light on a worse one?" Connor said in a teasing tone.

"Oh, of course, McKinley, lecture away," Kevin smiled widely.

"Boyfriend, huh? That was quick thinking." Connor snickered.

"Well, I was just being honest with my wishes." Kevin stated firmly as his face heated up- not comparing well to Connor's scarlet cheeks at the moment though.

"Wh-what? E-excuse me?" Connor cleared his throat.

"It shouldn't be a secret that I'm attracted to you, Connor." Kevin shrugged before turning to start the car.

Connor quickly moved to put a hand on Kevin's to stop him from starting the engine, "Wh-what the heck, Kevin? You can't s-say something like that and then p-pretend like it didn't happen!"

"It's normal for me, has been since I met you, at least." Kevin shrugged, acting as if his heart wasn't beating faster than his gay thoughts were moving.

"That long?" Connor gasped.

Kevin responded by starting the car, "Record for longest McPrice crush, yes."

For the next few moments there was, once again, silence, before,

"...No...I beat you by two minutes then." Connor murmured.