Shipwrecked On Emo Island

◌ Forty One ◌

"Awesome job, Andy!" Dallon said. "You won hide and seek.

"Aw I could have lasted longer if it weren't for Pete and Patrick." Andy complained.

The hide and seek and seek group were in the kitchen, discussing their last round.

"You still won." Dallon said. "Now it's your turn to seek."

"Why is Ray like... totally non responsive right now?" Andy asked, glancing at Ray who was still shaking.

"He uh... It's kind of a sensitive subject but he saw Gerard's..." Dallon paused, not wanting to say the word and harm Ray any further. "thing. It was an inch away from his face..."

"Why would Gerard do that to him?" Andy asked, confused and now nervous to be in a room alone with Gerard.

"Ray was hiding underneath the bathroom sink in the cabinet. Gerard went over there to wash his hands without his pants on and... and Ray saw through the crack of the cabinet." Joe explained.

"Wow that's rough." Andy said, shaking his head in pity.

"I know. How come Pete and Patrick looked so mortified when you left their room?" Dallon asked.

"I'm sure they'd rather me not say. Plus we should get on with the next round of hide and seek, right?" Andy said, covering for his friends.

"Good idea!" Dallon and Joe exclaimed as they ran out of the room with Andy.

Ray remained there quietly.

"Uh, Ray?" Pete said. "Shouldn't you go with them?"

Ray awkwardly nodded and left the room, wobbling from foot to foot. As he went down the hallway he was heard whispering some things to himself. The poor guy was scared from the incident with Gerard.

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In Ryan's bedroom

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Here they were, Brendon and Ryan. Both of them knew they needed to have this talk eventually. After Brendon's event with Dallon, the two knew they had to talk.

"I just cant take it anymore, Brendon! We're so distant! This is supposed to be our honeymoon for Pete's sake! Our trip together! And I know the cruise didn't work out but we're safe and we're together so why can't we enjoy each other at least? We're in a nice house on a beautiful island with friends." Ryan said. Then he softly added, "This is because of Dallon isn't it?"

Brendon said nothing.

"It is, isn't it?"Ryan said quietly.

Brendon was silent.

"Brendon, I know something happened." Ryan said. "You're my husband. We're supposed to be honest with each other. No secrets."

Brendon was once again, quiet.

Ryan took Brendon's hands in his and looked into Brendon's watery eyes. He begged him kindly, almost sympathetically, "Bren, please. Did something happen between you and Dallon?"

It was quiet for a bit.

"Yes." Brendon whispered, choked up.

Ryan could have turned away. He could have stood up and stormed off. He could have hit him. He could have cried. He could have screamed in his face and walked out of the house. He could have ended their relationship then and there forever, leaving Brendon alone with all his regret.

But he didn't. He didn't leave, he didn't hit him. He didn't scream and he didn't cry. Instead, he leaned forward and hugged Brendon. He hugged him tight as Brendon's glassy eyes opened up and poured trails of salt water down Ryan's back.