You guys are absolutely amazing. Thank you, my anonymous guest, for being so supportive. Thank you all for reading and, hopefully, for enjoying. I was hoping to have Chapter 11 finished to publish both at the same time, but I can see that with the amount of work I have at the moment that's not going to happen (I like to think it all through and read and re-read), so here goes Chapter 10 for now.

Chapter 10 – Never gonna happen

They took a walk to the cinema, unaware that they were being observed from a distance. Tom knew Luna through other friends and he had spotted them leaving the building. He wasn't impressed with this pair. Why on earth would Luna be hanging around with this smart-ass eccentric outcast? It wasn't just that he was off-the charts clever and a bore. He was also weird and she probably felt sorry for him. Maybe she needed a way to ditch him and start having some fun. I would give you some fun.

After the movie, Reid was fascinated with Will Graham's character and his job description. Fearing his own mind as well, but perhaps for different reasons, he deeply empathised with Graham's inner struggle.

Luna absently checked her text messages as Reid rambled about the movie on the way back to campus and a frown creased her forehead. It was true that she wasn't making much of an effort with anybody else. She hardly ever saw Mrs Robinson or Ella any more, and she rarely socialised with her classmates. So, when Tom's message reminded her of that, she made a mental note to contact him the next day and arrange to meet him and the other guys before Vegas.

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"You fantastic enormous moron. You did what?" Ethan bent forwards, sat on the sofa across Reid's armchair.

"Funny you should say that. She also called me a moron."

"She kissed you and you asked her to stop?"

"Yes, and thank you for being... for being you! I can't believe you had the audacity to throw this ather. I don't want her to get any wrong ideas."

"Reid, my friend, what the fuck are you talking about? What wrong ideas? For someone that is usually pretty good at reading people, you are one hundred percent blind when it comes to this girl. She wants you, man! Clear as the light of day. And you're pushing her away. But then maybe that's your intention, sometimes I wonder with you. Where did you say she was tonight?"

"Somebody texted her the other day and she's hanging out with some guys from her classes."

"Well, congratulations. You are doing an excellent job of detaching yourself from her. I'm sure all the alpha males in her class will be willing to give her wrong ideas. Has that even crossed your mind?"

"I guess not" Reid sulked.

"Reid, wake up. I've seen you with her. You're like a different person, more confident more... you. Not that pathetic shadow of yourself that sometimes roams the corridors when there are too many people around. You even walk straighter, for fuck's sake. She's a strong, intelligent character and she's good for you. If what you have right now is all you want, great, but be prepared to see a whole lot less of her if she meets someone. I'm sure she won't abandon you, don't give me your hurt puppy face, but she'll need to distribute her time. Now, if you want more than that..." Ethan shrugged. "Man, you gotta shape up. You better make a move, and fast. And by the way, I'm out with some people tonight, want to come?"

"No, no... I need to book the trip to Vegas and catch up on some reading and prepare some lessons..."

"Ok, ok, dude." Ethan interrupted. "I know they're all excuses but I'm too annoyed at you to insist."

"Well, you asked her if there was anything between us and she said 'nothing like that, we're just friends.' But then all that happened. What does it mean?"

"I suspect she said that more because of you than because of her. Think about it, have you seen her with anybody since you two met?"

"I've seen her with people."

"So you've seen her with another dude?"

"No... No, I suppose I haven't."

"There you go, big man. She's, what? 19? At college? And not dating? It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, Reid."

"It doesn't make any sense..." Reid trailed off, watching his friend leave for the night.

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"Lunaaaaaa..." Ella sprouted in her best singing voice. She was obviously tipsy. "Tom said you were coming, but I didn't believe him. You're never out! You're like a recluse these days!" She enveloped Luna in a welcoming hug, smothering her a bit.

"Yeah, I'm flying off to Vegas tomorrow and wanted to see you all before going."

"Vegas baby! How come, how long for, why?"

"Hahahaha, easy there, girl. I'm only going for a few days, just to visit a friend." For some reason Luna didn't feel like giving more details. She suspected that saying she was going with Reid would generate all sorts of questions, and she wasn't in the mood to be subjected to Ella's third degree.

"Make sure you win big! Let's get you a drink – did they ID you before coming in?"

"Well... let's say I'm a resourceful person." Luna gave Ella a conspiratorial wink and they burst in laughter, then joined the rest of the group.

Tom was immediately all over her and Luna was feeling overwhelmed and suffocated. He was a little more handsy than she would have liked him to be, and was hugely relieved when she saw Ethan casually entering the bar with a bunch of other guys.

Ethan spotted her and was confused for a moment, thinking Reid might have been right, seeing how that jock was handling her. Then he saw her smiling at him and mouthing 'get me out of here' with a begging face.

"What's up, beautiful? Should you really be here?" Ethan approached her and eyed her up and down with a raised eyebrow and a crooked grin. He placed his hand affectionately on the small of her back and kissed her cheek, then looked at Tom. "Hi there, pal."

A flicker of anger crossed Tom's eyes momentarily, before shaking Ethan's extended hand and asking: "And you are, pal?"

"I'm Luna's erm... friend?" Ethan winked at Luna sideways, making her blush. Ok, this will confuse the guy.

"Tom, this is Ethan. Be nice!"

"Yeah, sure. I'll catch up with you later." Tom turned around and left them.

"He loved me, didn't he?"

"Never mind him. You know who's gonna love you? Come, I'll introduce you to Ella – she's a freaking rock star. About your age. She works with me at the library, the first person I met when I arrived" Luna proceeded to explain while grabbing her friend's arm to drag her away from her current nearby conversation. Ella had been looking like she also needed saving from her situation. "Ella, this hunk here is Spencer's flatmate."

"Hunk?" Ethan gave a throaty laugh.

"A very accurate description – wouldn't have said it better myself. Say, Ethan, you look familiar. Are you the one that plays at Blue Jazz sometimes? Rumour has it you're a musical whiz?"

"Yeah, that'd be me. Have you heard us play?"

Luna left them to get acquainted and approached the bar, but only a few minutes later Ethan appeared behind her.

"Hey Luna, you don't like your friend very much, do you? Releasing her to a wolf like me?"

"A wolf? Don't make me laugh, she's gonna crush you, Ethan."

"Ah, I've conned you with my charming personality, right? You think I'm a good guy? And what the hell are you doing – they shouldn't be serving you alcohol." Luna mouthed fake ID and grinned. "Let's not get in trouble tonight, I'll get it for you but if anybody asks, that idiot that was pawing you before got you the alcohol. Deal?"

"Deal! And you've not conned me, I've got you all figured out."

"Well, I'll be damned. Look who's here." Ethan gestured towards the entrance and Luna followed his gaze, surprised to see Reid walking in.

"Isn't he 20?" She asked.

"Aren't you 19? Didn't you think the boy genius could also manage to weasel his way in? He's tutoring the bouncer's daughter and he doesn't drink anyway. But this reminds me – you'll be in Vegas for his birthday, won't you? The boring bastard doesn't want to celebrate, so make sure he has fun and bring him back by next Saturday. There's a house party I'm taking him to if I have to drag him there in chains. He's turning 21 and I'm getting him hammered."

"Such a bad influence..." Luna trailed off and Reid caught the end of their conversation.

"Who's a bad influence?"

"This one here. What an unexpected surprise, I'm glad you came. I'm with that group over there and Ethan just saved me from an uncomfortable conversation. Do you want to come, I'll introduce you?"

"No thanks. I just thought I'd swing by to say hello. Ethan texted."

"Oops! I'm a bad influence alright."

Ella had been dying to officially meet Reid and once their group started to disperse she sat him in one of the booths and grilled him with questions. He was obviously distracted, watching Ethan and Luna dance, way too close for his comfort. They had switched to some form of Latin music and the notes seemed to be invading the couple's senses. Ethan's hand was on her waist, his mouth very close to her hear, his beard obviously tickling her neck as he whispered something that made her laugh. That whole-hearted laugh that could light up the darkest night.

"I know the kid is slow for some things, but you should see the daggers he's mentally throwing at me right now. Poor man, he's going to boil inside out." Ethan and Luna both looked in Reid's direction in a very obvious manner, making him uncomfortable, as if he had been caught spying on them.

Ella snapped her fingers in front of his face and his knuckles, which had been white from holding his glass with such pressure, went pink again. Any sombre of jealousy was replaced by some sort of sadness, as he admitted to himself that he had no claim on her and this was normal, albeit a tad annoying. Women had always loved Ethan. It must be tough, being him.

"Hey, little genius, are you ok?" Ella realised what he had been watching and smiled. "Oh, I see. No worries, kid, I'm going to steal Ethan away as soon as the song is over and you two can have all the night to yourselves. Everyone else has left already, anyway."

At that point Luna was coming back to them and she crossed paths with Ella, who had stood up to leave. Ella fondly grabbed the back of her friend's neck, gave her a kiss on the cheek, winked at her and carried on walking, pulling a surprised Ethan away.

"Well, who am I to say no? Be good, kids, don't do anything I wouldn't!" He waved, following Ella to the street.

"Hey Spence, shall we go or do you want to stay a little longer?"

"What are you going to do?" Spencer looked around to figure out if she wanted to stay, if she had seen anybody she knew. She was still standing up, bending over the table to support herself as she spoke to him. There were a couple of guys openly staring at her ass and he stood up so she would have to straighten up.

She placed her hand on his shoulder to steady herself. "Well, I'm hardly going to stay on my own and I may be a bit slurry at the moment, so you could be a gentleman and walk me home." She had been drinking. Fucking Ethan, buying her alcohol. Even in her slightly drunken state, she knew what he was thinking. "Did you know 18 is the legal age to drink in Europe?"

"This is not Europe. Come on, let's go." Suddenly he felt annoyed and out of his depth, walking out of the bar with a slightly drank teenager in tow.

Once they were outside and away from the deafening music, Luna spoke again. "Reid, I'm not that drank, just a little tipsy. It's just fun to watch you worry about me."

Why was she using his surname? "Yeah, well, I don't like worrying about you." And why was he being so harsh?

"Ouch, that hurts."

"No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was... that I rather know you're ok, than worry."

"Ok. I think you might need a place to crash tonight because I wouldn't trust any surfaces in your apartment right now, if those two have gone back there."

Reid checked his phone and saw a message from Ethan saying "at Ella's". He could actually go home, but pretended he didn't know.

Once at her apartment, the effect of the last couple of drinks mixed with the sudden blast of warmth hit Luna and she went into automated robot mode. She kicked off her shoes, stripped down to her undies, put an old tatty T-shirt and a pair of shorts, removed her make-up, brushed her teeth and went up to bed. Efficient.

Reid had silently watched her every move and sat downstairs for a while after she was gone, hating himself for being so useless. He had experienced enough rejection in his life and this intimacy with Luna, despite there being nothing between them, was something he needed. He wasn't willing to jeopardize it with his clumsiness. He climbed the steps and sat on the floor by the mattress, which laid over a thick blanket because she didn't own a bed frame. His knees were bent, hugged to his chest. He looked at her, sleeping peacefully. Her still tanned skin, and the cascade of dark hair falling down her neck onto the bed.

"Spence?" She turned around. "What are you doing perching at the end of the bed?"

Suddenly he felt a little creepy, looking at her in the darkness.

"Luna... Ethan and Ella are not at my apartment."

She fixed her sleepy gaze on him. "I know."

High IQ or not high IQ, all he could think about was how her deep sleepy breaths made her chest fuller under her T-shirt every time she inhaled. Telltale signs made it obvious that she had blasted the aircon too high and was now cold. He concentrated on her supple parted lips and imagined what her wet tongue would taste like. This was new to him. Never had he entertained any sexual thoughts like this before. Not even as a teenager – he had been too busy studying and taking care of his mother.

He felt himself losing control and stood up, claiming he had to go.

She turned back around and didn't call him, or asked him to stay. He walked downstairs, put his pumps back on, grabbed his messenger bag and walked to the door. As he held the nob he cursed himself for being so stupid, and took his pumps off again, struggled to get his bag off and climbed the stairs back up. Then he laid beside her, still like a mummy, staring at the ceiling.

"Thanks," she murmured, kissing his face and spreading a hand on his chest, the familiar weight of her legs tangling around his and going to sleep.

He could have reached down and opened her warm lips with his. Pushed her on her back against the bed and laid on top of her. Kissed her neck and trailed down over her breasts to her navel. Grabbed her waist to bring her closer to him. Or he could have dragged her on top of him, pulled her T-shirt up and off her head and then passed his fingers over every inch of her toned skin.

But she was drunk. And he was scored. So he didn't.

I'll be back soon, I promise!