Chapter 28

Luke stared absentmindedly at his notebook as the professor talked about their end of the program projects that were due the next day. He hadn't been able to focus much since Valentine's Day. He couldn't believe that it had almost been two weeks since he had talked to Reid. They were engaged for fuck sake. They should have been able to talk about it and work through it but Reid couldn't get passed it. Not that day and not since then. He had been calling him every day and texting but had received no response. A tear almost escaped his eye when he thought about the expression on Reid's face that day. He had looked so hurt, so betrayed, so broken. Luke hated that he had made Reid feel that way.

"What the fuck Luke?" Reid said before he had made it all the way over to Luke. Luke just stared back at him obviously trying to figure out an explanation. "What the fuck was Noah doing here?" Luke was staring at the ground. He couldn't bring himself to look at Reid. He couldn't bring himself to look into his eyes. He didn't want to see the pain that he knew was there. "Look at me Luke." Luke looked up slowly, timidly. "Fuck Luke would you say something please." Reid had raised his voice a little.

"I….ummmm…."

"Words Luke. You're a fucking writer!"

"Noah and I were…"

"You were what? What were you and Noah doing?" Luke started to shift his gaze back to his feet when Reid reached up and forced his face back to look at him. "How long has this been going on?"

"It's not what you think. I swear." Reid dropped his hand now looking away. "Please Reid you have to listen to me."

"You know what Luke I don't even care anymore." Reid stepped back not wanting to be so close to Luke. "I was stupid to think that you had finally gotten over Noah. That you were ready to move on with me."

"No, Reid! I am over him, I promise you I am. I love you and want to be with you forever." Luke reached out for Reid but Reid jerked away.

"Don't even bother Luke. Just don't." He started to walk away when he felt Luke's hand grip his arm.

"Reid, wait! Please, you have to listen to me. Please." Reid was still turned away from him so Luke walked around so that he was facing him. He reached up cupping Reid's face forcing him to look him in the eye. "We were just having coffee. I swear. That is all it was. I am over him. I have been for a long time. I want YOU. Need YOU. Love YOU. Please you have to trust me." Luke pleaded with his eyes hoping that Reid could see everything else that he couldn't say there.

"I…I can't Luke. I need some time." Reid removed Luke's hands from his face and walked away from Luke without looking back.

Luke had wanted to leave LA that day. Had wanted to get on a plane and follow Reid back home and force him to listen. But he didn't. He couldn't. Not after everything Reid had done to get him into this program. So he stayed. He did his best to keep up with the rest of his classes. He struggled to find inspiration for his writing projects. All he could think about was Reid.

While Luke had been calling and texting Reid, Noah had been calling and texting Luke. After a few days of Luke ignoring him he decided to go to the campus and make Luke talk to him. When he saw Luke sitting in their usual spot near the coffee cart he sighed with relief. When he reached the table Luke looked up at him but it wasn't the same Luke. He looked tired. Depressed. Something much deeper that he couldn't even describe. Before he could ask what was wrong Luke went off on him. He yelled at him for trying to force himself back into his life. He yelled at him for making him feel like he couldn't tell Reid about their talking. He yelled at him for what happened that day with Reid. And when he was done yelling he got up and walked away from him and hadn't talked to him since then.

The next day Luke turned in his final project, said his goodbyes to the friends that he had made while he was there, packed his bags, and boarded the jet back to Oakdale. As they took off all Luke could think about was what he would find when he got home. He wondered if Reid would be there. If he would talk to him. If he still wanted to be with him. All of the wondering and hoping and dreading lured Luke into a restless sleep in which he dreamt about Reid. Reid's face. his lips quivering slightly. His deep blue eyes like the ocean ready to come crashing down on him. So much pain. So much disappointment. So much distrust. The images of that day swirled around and around as he tossed and turned in his seat. He slept deeper than he thought because he didn't wake up until the pilot was shaking him after they had landed.

"Mr. Snyder….Mr. Snyder wake up. You're home." Luke looked up at him expressionless the word home echoing in his mind. He didn't want to think about what was or wasn't waiting for him at home.

When he got off the plane he walked over to the car that was waiting for him. The driver got out and put his bags into the trunk as he dropped into the back seat. He was so tired. So lost. He wanted so badly to take a detour. To stop at Yo's and get a drink. He wanted it so bad that he could almost taste the alcohol in his mouth. Feel it burning as it slipped down his throat. He almost told the driver to stop but instead just sat there in the same daze he had been in for weeks. The car pulled to a stop and he looked out the window. He was home.

The driver was already out and carrying his bags up to the porch by the time Luke pulled himself out of the car. Luke thanked him tipping him generously before opening the door and stepping inside. He left the bags by the door not having the strength to take them upstairs to his room. He looked around. It was so empty. So quiet. He walked through the dining room and into the kitchen. There was no one there. He walked down the hall looking in the guest bedroom and bathroom there was no one there. When he reached the door to Reid's office his hand shook a little as he reached for the knob. Peaking around the door he could see that there was no one there. He went back down the hall and up the stairs going to their bedroom. There was no one there. It looked like no one had been there for a while.

His heart wrenched a little as he walked towards their closet and peered in. Half of Reid's clothes were missing. Empty hangers staring back at him. He walked over to the bed and sat down. His face fell into his hands. He could no longer hold back the tears.