Summary: Luke and Noah never dated and Noah is still in a relationship with Maddie. They, along with Casey and Alison all go to university where Lily is head and most of the teachers are distant Snyder relatives. Until Dr Oliver, a new Biology professor, arrives. Still bitter about losing a malpractice suit he has been reduced to teaching Biology. Luke immediately falls for his professor but knows nothing can ever come out of it, or can it?

Luke was late; half an hour late. His hands shook as he placed his newly bought school books into his bag. It was his first day of college and already he was late. He'd forgotten to set his alarm the previous night and now his heart was pounding against his ribcage as he ran down the stairs of the farm. Forgetting breakfast, he sprinted down the lane leading from the farm to the main road. Just his luck, already he was off to a bad start.

He would have gone to Oakdale University, it was and had been the most obvious choice his entire life but when he was offered a scholarship to Illinois University he couldn't say no. As it turned out, the majority of his friends decided to go with him. Bar Kevin and his homophobic crew. Luke shook his head to try and wake himself up. He stopped running at the sight of his mother looking frustrated and tapping the steering wheel.

He hesitantly opened the door and slid in the passenger seat.

'Sorry, mom. I forgot to set the alarm and ...' Luke begun.
'Luke, you know I have to be at the university early. Particularly on the first day.'

Lily Snyder was head of Illinois University. She had been in charge ever since the last head eloped to France forgetting to tie up loose ends with the university. Lucinda, as head of the board, noticed her unemployed daughter looking bored and losing motivation and managed to persuade her to take over.

'I know, mom, I'm sorry.' Luke ducked his head and hid the grin the he knew would grace his face. His mother always forgave him when he put on that voice.
'Oh, honey, of course I forgive you! Just don't do it again. Are you excited?' Lily asked.
'Yeah. I'm a little nervous but that's to be expected. I can't wait to get started actually. And to see my friends.'

'LUKE!' Four voices chorused at him as he got out of his mom's car. Noah, Maddie, Alison and Casey practically mowed him over as he walked towards the cafeteria area. He waved goodbye to his mom and turned to his friends.

'Hey guys! It feels like it's been ages since I last saw you!'
'That's because it has, man. Where've you been?' Casey asked.
'No! I had to stay and help out my dad with the horses and stuff. We had to go through some stuff and it was nice, you know, just being with him.'
'Aww. That's sweet, Luke.' Alison simpered. Luke nodded.
'We got your timetable for you. Erm, looks like you did OK with English, dude.' Casey said.
'Who'd I get?'
'Katie Snyder. Lucky you getting your aunt.'
Luke sighed. He knew he would be dealing with his entire family virtually controlling the entire school, he just wasn't expecting to have to be taught by one of them.
'What have you got first?' Luke checked his timetable.
'Erm. Biology with Dr Oliver.' The group hissed. 'What? What's wrong
with Dr Oliver?'
'Don't you remember Reg telling us about that awful science professor he had at school?' Noah asked.
'No shit! Really?'
Looks like this day was getting better and better.

The classroom was huge with high ceilings and glass walls giving the class something to look at when the lesson became tedious. The floor was tilted at a slight angle so each student had a decent view of the professor. Luke took a seat in the middle of the class a few rows in.

So far so good. All he had to do now is wait for hell to begin.

Reid Oliver sighed and rubbed his palms across his face. He was sitting in his office trying to find his class notes for his first lesson to no avail. He slumped back into his chair remembering how he got into this position.

Only a six months ago was he one of the top neurosurgeons in the country and now, thanks to a malpractice suit that went wrong, he was teaching incompetent brats about photosynthesis and cells. He might as well be teaching kindergarten kids judging by the observable maturity of the teenagers at this godforsaken university. At least he had
moved from the last school he was at. That was truly awful.

He was bitter and raw from the fight for his job. Finally he found the sheets of paper he was looking for. Hopefully, all of his students remembered their brains because he really wasn't feeling in the mood to pander around and let them pass without some hard grafting along the way.

He exited his office knowing when he returned he wouldn't feel any less disappointed in himself. That wouldn't change until he got back in the operating room. Until then he could live with being the school baddie. It wasn't exactly a new personality for him to undertake.

Reid Oliver strode in and Luke dropped the pen he had been chewing on. Dr Oliver was gorgeous. Rugged and chiselled, his well-built body showing slightly because of the tight shirt. Luke swallowed. Dr Oliver surveyed the class dropping his glance on Luke. Reid raised an eyebrow at Luke's goldfish expression.

He disconnected his heated gaze and turned to face the board, a view that Luke wasn't disappointed in. He blushed and tried to calm himself down.

Reid wrote his name on the interactive whiteboard and instructions for the class: Read and make notes on pages 1-15. Answer all questions on these pages. In silence.

He placed the pen down on his desk.
'I'm assuming, perhaps naively, that you all know how to read and can understand instructions?' He questioned the class. A few nodded shakily, the rest looked stricken.
'Oh don't go all maudlin. Just get on with it before my patience wears any thinner.'

He sat down and begun reading through his notes on his next class when a knocking on the desk drew his eyes up to meet the eyes of the person he had been looking into before.

'Dr Oliver,' Luke whispered, 'I've already made those notes.'
'And the questions?' Luke nodded. 'My, my. Someone has been busy.' He murmured.
He placed his index finger to his lips and mimed to be quiet.
'Class, stay silent. I need to talk to Mr...?'
'Snyder.' Luke responded.
'Mr Snyder, for a minute. Keep working. I'll be testing you when I get back.'

He led Luke out of the classroom and leant against the wall outside. Luke closed the door and turned around to see his teacher leaning against the wall. He stuffed his shaking hands in his front pockets and rocked on his feet.

Dr Oliver was bemused. Was this kid being a suck up or just an enthusiast? Always the former it seemed.

'So, Mr Snyder, you've had a dull summer then?' He asked as Luke leant back on the wall parallel to his, keeping his distance.

'You could say that.' Luke smiled. Reid nodded and suppressed the feeling to smile along with his student. A feeling he would never succumb to.
'Well, I'll try and find you something interesting to do.'
They both noticed the innuendo and caught each others eyes. Suddenly a figure walked up to them both.
'Get back to class, Mr Snyder. I'll bring you some work in a minute.'
Reid instructed Luke. Luke nodded and tried to slow his speeding heart rate down. It was in overdrive today.

As he exited he realised it was his mother who was walking down the hallway.

'Hey, mom!' He said in passing as he went back to class.
'Hello, honey. Dr Reid Oliver I just wanted to see how you were getting on settling in.' she followed him into his office as he started to look for an exercise for Luke.

'I've settled in well Ms Snyder. Snyder. Mr Snyder's mother?' Reid asked. He was perplexed.
'Yes, Luke is my son. He hasn't done anything wrong has he? Why was he outside the classroom?'
'Quite the contrary. He had simply done the exercise I assigned so I was about to look for something for him to do.'
'Ah. Well, I'll leave you to continue your... Sifting.' Lily smiled at the doctor and left the office.

Reid picked up an exercise for Luke and left his office. Something told him this was going to be a long year.