Falling (Asleep) For You {Book Of Mormon/Churchtarts}

Chapter 7

Poptarts woke feeling like his tongue had been coated in sand. The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated his bedside clock, which read just past one in the morning. He rolled over under the covers, intending to go back to sleep, but for some reason he felt really hungry, and went to get a snack instead.

He opened the door softly so as not to wake Elder McKinley, and nearly rammed it into the head of one sleeping Elder Church. The events of the previous night came rushing back all at once.

Poptarts ducked back in the room, checking the clock again. There had to be some sort of mistake, it couldn't possibly have been the next day. He couldn't possibly have slept for that long.

And again, having attacks in front of Elder Church, what was that all about? Elder Church. With a start, every line from their conversation came flooding back. 

As if summoned by the thought of his name, Church stood in the doorway. "Chr- Poptarts? You awake?" 

Elder Church looked like he had been through spooky mormon hell and back. His hair was even more disheveled than he remembered it being the night before. Poptarts noted at least three of his shirt buttons buttoned wrong, and his face was pale in the moonlight, like he hadn't slept in a week. 

"Um, yeah..." Poptarts said, cursing himself for such a stupid response. "If you don't mind me asking, um, why are you here?" Poptarts eyes widened.

"Not that I don't want you here, it's just that it's the middle of the night, and this isn't your room, but I mean if you want to come in that's fine, I just-" Church cut him off with that soft laugh Poptarts had come to know so well.

"It's fine, Chris, really. I just...wanted to check on you, that's all. You had Elder McKinley and I scared pretty bad there for a minute." Both boys blushed, Church out of confessing his vulnerability, and Poptarts out of making the elders worry.

"Um...thanks, that's really nice of you, um..." Poptarts stuttered. "I just realized I never asked your name, and you know mine, so I just kinda figured I should know..." He trailed off, seeing he was rambling again. 

Elder Church smiled. "It's James." He dropped his voice low and mock-seriously repeated: "James Church." 

This threw Poptarts into a fit of his loud, raucous laughter, which made Church laugh. The boys cut off their laughter sharply at the soft sounds of sheets wrinkling as Elder McKinley turned over in his sleep.

"I should probably go," Church said, dropping his voice to a whisper. Poptarts nodded.

"I'm gonna get a snack and go back to sleep."

"Oh, that reminds me!" Church said softly. He retrieved a box of poptarts from the hallway, tossing it to Poptarts. "Your favorite flavor, right?"

Poptarts was slightly shaken that Church had thought to bring food for him, let alone remembering his favorite flavor. "Um, yeah, thank you." 

"Okay, I'll just get going then," Church said, albeit awkwardly. "See you in the morning?" He said, though it sounded more like a question, as if he was asking Poptarts if he would see him, or if he wouldn't be able to wake up again.

"See you in the morning," Poptarts confirmed. 

Both boys retreated to their separate rooms, but thoughts of the other kept them awake half the night.

---

In the morning, Church was surprised to see a significantly more alert Poptarts at the table. He grinned and slid into a chair opposite him. 

"Well look who's all bright eyes and bushy tailed?" Poptarts rolled his eyes, but smiled back.

"You're calling me bushy tailed? Look at your hair!" Poptarts teased. Church's hands flew to his hair.

"Oh goodness, what's wrong with it now?" Church asked. Poptarts reached over to fix his hair. A zap like electricity moved between the two boys, causing Poptarts to jump. 

"That's better." Church winked back at Poptarts.

"Oh thank you so much," Church said, faux grateful. "Wouldn't want Elder Price, king of hair awesomeness to catch me slacking on my hair."

McKinley joined them at the table. "You guys all always tease Elder Price," He said, in a tone that implied a lecture was incoming. 

"It's kinda hard not to," Poptarts cracked, sending Elder Michaels and Elder Davis into fits of laughter. McKinley shook his head, amused.

"What about me?" Price said from the doorway. His hair looked flawless, per usual, noted Poptarts. He made eye contact with Church, who was clearly thinking the same thing. The boys burst out laughing. 

"N-nothing," McKinley stuttered, his face blushing a violent red. Elder Price shrugged, shooting McKinley a smile, and disappeared into the kitchen to get some breakfast. 

"See what I mean?" Poptarts said, still laughing.

"We're sorry for making fun of your boyfriend, Elder," Church added on, elbowing McKinley in the ribs. McKinley blushed even more, but laughed with the others. 

Church jumped up to clear the table barely half a second after the last elder had finished eating. 

"Here, I'll help you with that," Poptarts offered, taking McKinley and Neeley's dishes and following Church to the kitchen. 

"Thanks!" Church said, shooting Poptarts one of those dazzling smiles that left him just a little bit breathless. "Okay, do you want to wash or dry?" 

"Dry?" Poptarts said. Church tossed him a checked blue and white towel, that Poptarts couldn't help notice was the same exact shade as Church's eyes. 

They worked side by side in silence for a moment. It reminded Poptarts of that one afternoon, where they were together in the kitchen making pasta. So much had happened since then, but for all of it, Poptarts had gotten Elder Church, and that made it all worth it to him, somehow. 

"Chris?" Church said after a while. Poptarts looked up from the plate he was drying.

"Yeah, James?" Poptarts said, relishing the way his name sounded spoken aloud. 

"You've been drying that plate for almost six years, you okay?" Church said. 

Poptarts laughed. "Yeah, just deep in thought I guess. Kinda tired, too." 

"Okay, speaking of that..." Church said, fidgeting with his hands anxiously. He looked nervous, and there was only reason for him to look nervous. Poptarts felt his heart stop in his chest. He knew.

"While you were asleep, McKinley sorta...accidentally told me about...you know..." Church said, not willing to admit what he knew aloud. His bright blue eyes begged for forgiveness. 

"Oh..." Poptarts said, for lack of a better response. He wasn't sure how to react.

"I'm really sorry, I promise I didn't ask him to tell me, it just slipped out, please don't be mad at me." Church said. He held his breath, waiting for a response. 

"It's...fine. It's fine," Poptarts said, hoping to placate the other missionary.

"You sure?" Church asked, searching Poptarts face for any hint of how he really felt.

Poptarts forced a smile. "Yeah, it's fine, really. I know it was an accident." Church looked enormously relieved.

"Good. I really didn't want to mess up our...friendship."

A/N:

Wow, two chapters in one day? Who kidnapped Lina?

Also, a time skip? Who is this person and what have you done with Lina? (seriously, I never know how to eloquently write timeskips, so I rarely do)

References:

Hamilton  (couldn't resist)

Cut down on the angst, I figured that this supposedly light hearted book was getting a bit too serious, so have some cuteness...ish

(Friday, May 25, 2018 12:08pm PST)