you are the only exception

by alyssa98

Summary:

Naim Reid has spent years perfecting the art of being invisible.

Growing up in Bandee, a small and deeply religious town where everyone knows everyone, Naim learned quickly that hiding parts of himself was easier than risking being judged. Especially when the person he secretly liked was Ryan Whelan-- the boy who seemed completely out of reach and always stood on the other side of Hunter’s cruel jokes. So when Naim arrives at Bible camp for the summer and discovers he has been assigned to share a cabin with Ryan, he expects the worst. Except Ryan remembers him. And Ryan might not be anything like the person Naim thought he was.

Over the course of one summer, ten campers, one shared cabin, and countless late-night conversations force two boys who spent years missing each other to finally see what was right in front of them. But with a religious camp, a small town waiting for them at the end of summer, and a relationship they have to keep hidden, Naim and Ryan have to decide if something beautiful can survive outside the safety of their summer bubble.

Notes:

This is my first ever non-canon AU for Naim and Ryan. If you have read my previous fic titled "the things we carry" you will know how much I love these two characters that Adrian, Stacy and Joe have all created and Naim and Ryan have a special place in my heart that will not go away for a long time.

Some context for this story. I was raised Catholic. I went to a Catholic elementary and high school in Canada and I grew up going to Mass once a week. Now I am not a practicing Catholic anymore but I also am very much bisexual. I am an adult and even though I am in a relationship with the opposite sex I have still never come out to my parents. That is a really big reason behind why I care so much about Leviticus and its characters.

I also happened to have a cottage and the lake we were on was shared with a Bible Camp. That made me really want to throw these boys into a normal summer camp setting. There is no entity here, Hunter is very much alive but he is still canonically a jerk, especially to Naim, for similar reasons as the movie version. Naim and Ryan are closested and therefore have not come out to their parents, and until they move away from home have no intention to.

The characters in the fic are aged up to be 19 years old, that means these counsellor jobs are considered paid work. Naim and Ryan are seeing each other for the first time really since they both graduated high school.

This introduction is not going to be a first chapter, I am going to introduce all the characters so that we can get to the exciting part of the story. This is also going to be my first chaptered fic that has smut in it. I am qualified enough as I have been reading it for a long time but that doesn't mean it's going to be the best writing, I will try my best however. Please note that the sex is not used in this story for no reason, it is to show two boys who are exploring who they are together in a setting away from home but one that could still cause issues if they were to be caught.

With that in mind, please make sure to read through my character notes before moving onto the prologue (which should be out in a few days)

Thank you so much for tuning in <3
If you want any updates between this and my first fic please give me a follow on X (@specterally) and don't be afraid to say hi and chat if you want.

Introductions

Main Characters to the story will be introduced below. Other people, such as side characters and kids at the camp will be provided as the story goes on. Please make sure you take a moment to read these before continuing.

Naim Reid (aged 19)

Naim Reid has spent most of his life trying to stay unnoticed. A closeted gay and non-binary 19 year old from the deeply religious town of Bandee, Naim has always kept parts of himself hidden — including his longtime crush on Ryan Whelan. 

• Naim's best friends are Jessica and Marnie (who are both very much together since there is no entity that would off Marnie)
• Naim has always avoided Ryan because he always hung around Hunter in school and Hunter used to bully Naim because he was so quiet
• He is very quiet unless he is really comfortable with you, that is when his personality truly manifests itself.
• Naim wears baggy clothing, even in the summer, similar to how movie Naim is always wearing clothes that are too big for him
• At camp, Naim is a counsellor. This is his first year where he gets paid to be there.

Ryan Whelan (aged 19)

Ryan Whelan has always been the person everyone expects him to be — the loyal friend, the easygoing guy, the person who seems to fit in anywhere. But behind that confidence is someone who has spent years hiding parts of himself, including his bisexuality and the complicated history he shares with Hunter.

• Ryan's best friend is Izzie. He used to be a lot closer with Hunter. They started hooking up when they were 17 but when they finished high school, Ryan decided to end things. It was never anything real anyway, Hunter was just the only person who understood how Ryan felt.
• Ryan tries really hard to pretend nothing is wrong with him and Hunter because Izzie has no idea.
• He tries to make himself look a lot cooler than he actually is, especially in front of Naim, but there is a lot of insecurity there.
• At camp, Ryan is a counsellor. Similar to Naim and the rest of the characters this is the first year where he gets paid to be there.

Izzie (aged 19)

Izzie has known Ryan for as long as she can remember and she is very close to her her twin brother Hunter. Izzie has always been the person who keeps their little trio together. As the preacher’s daughter, Izzie has grown up surrounded by the expectations of Bandee, but she genuinely cares deeply for the people in her life. Unaware of the secrets Ryan and Hunter have been carrying, Izzie begins the summer noticing that something between her two closest friends has changed. While she may not understand everything happening around her, her loyalty and compassion make her an important part of Ryan’s life.

Hunter (aged 19)

Hunter is the preacher’s son and someone who has spent his entire life trying to live up to the expectations placed on him. Closeted and struggling with his own sexuality, Hunter often directs his fear and anger outward, becoming cruel toward people who remind him of the parts of himself he refuses to accept. Despite his harsh exterior, Hunter is deeply connected to the few people he allows close to him, especially his twin sister Izzie and his longtime friend Ryan. Forced to spend the summer at camp by his father, Hunter is surrounded by the very things he tries to avoid: honesty, vulnerability, and the possibility that he may not be able to hide forever.

Marnie (aged 19)

Marnie is one of Naim’s closest friends and one of the few people who knows the parts of him that he keeps hidden from the rest of Bandee. Kind, protective, and quietly resilient, Marnie understands what it feels like to navigate love and identity in a place where being honest about yourself can come with consequences. Marnie has been secretly dating Jessica since the previous summer, but like Naim and Ryan, they have learned to keep their relationship private because of the environment they were raised in. As someone who has already experienced the fear and joy of a hidden relationship, Marnie becomes a source of support and guidance for Naim as he begins to understand his feelings for Ryan.

Jessica (aged 19)

Jessica is Marnie’s girlfriend and one of Naim’s closest friends. More guarded and practical than Marnie, Jessica has learned to be careful about who she trusts in Bandee and is protective of the people she loves, especially when it comes to keeping their relationship safe. Jessica and Marnie have been secretly together since the previous summer, navigating their relationship while hiding it from the people around them. Although she is friendly enough with Izzie because of Marnie’s friendship with her, Jessica remains more cautious about the world they come from and often serves as the voice of reason when emotions start getting complicated.

 

Content Warnings / Trigger Warnings

This story explores themes of religious trauma, identity, and growing up queer in a conservative small-town environment. Please take care while reading if any of the following topics may be difficult for you:

• Religious trauma and religious guilt

• Internalized homophobia

• Closeted LGBTQ+ characters

• Fear of being outed

• Discussions of sexuality and identity within a religious setting

• Homophobic beliefs and comments

• Queer characters struggling with self-acceptance

• Small-town social pressure and judgment

• Bullying and emotional cruelty

• Family/religious expectations

• Characters questioning beliefs they were raised with

• Difficult conversations about faith, sexuality, and belonging

• Past experiences of shame and hiding parts of oneself

This story also contains:

• M/M romantic relationship

• First love

• Sexual exploration between consenting adult characters (19+)

• First sexual experiences

• Awkwardness and vulnerability surrounding intimacy

Please note: While the story explores these heavier themes, it is ultimately a story about connection, healing, acceptance, and finding people who allow you to be yourself.

Thank you for reading through everything.