Katie, Reid and Jacob spent the rest of the day on a bush walk. Katie had told everyone there was a river just a few kilometres away. The rest of the group, including Luke, spent the day recovering from their soccer game that went on too long, by lying around the deck drinking beer. Although they were all having fun just mucking around, Luke felt himself more and more distracted.

At first when he snapped at Reid he felt good, vindicated really. But as the time went on he realised no matter how much Reid hurt him all those years ago, he didn't want to repay the favour. Reid was right, they did need to talk. Luke just wanted to avoid the inevitable conversation that would end with Reid saying he had moved on. Luke knew it had happened he just didn't need to hear it.

Luke got up and walked away, needing some space to think. He walked around the other side of the cabin and found Cameron setting up fishing rods.

"Hey Luke, Casey and I are going fishing in the morning. Want to come?"

"Ah, ok, I haven't fished for years. Not since the pond near my family's house."

"Alright – nice and early though – no sleeping in. We can see if Reid wants to come too - It can be a boy's thing. Maddie has already told me she doesn't eat anything with eyes. Crazy!"

"Ah, sure, great." Great. Just great.

Cameron noticed Luke's expression. "You know Luke, I am sure you can tell I like you. We seem to have hit it off but I am not blind. I can see there is or was something going on with you and Reid."

Luke sighed. What a mess. Way to fuck so much up in a few hours.

"It's not a criticism Luke. Just an acknowledgement."

"Cameron, to be honest, if I had met you before Reid came back to town different story. But he and I have so much unfinished business, it feels wrong to not sort that out first."

Cameron stood and put the fishing rods down. He walked over and rubbed his fingers along Luke's cheek. "Pity, but thanks for being honest."

Just then Cameron looked over Reid's shoulder "Hey guys, how was the walk? Did you check out the river? I am organising a fishing run in the morning for the boys – you in Reid?"

"Sure."

Luke felt himself blush again. I swear, he thought to himself – I am going to get an ulcer. This is too much.

Reid then turned and walked back in the direction he came and Cameron wandered over to where the rest of the group was. Katie walked close to Luke and raised her eyebrows.

"Don't start Katie. I haven't done anything wrong. Well, no more than him anyway."

"You tell yourself that Luke, but let me ask you one thing. Why Cameron and why now?"

"The entire town has been nagging me to live my life. I have suffered being set up by all of you for years! And now when I make an attempt to sort my life out you get mad."

She raised her eyebrows and walked passed him. Then turned back and said "I love you Luke, you know that. But I love him too. For god's sake just talk."

Luke groaned as he acknowledged Katie was right. Bitch. He should have left her in the dark when it came to Reid. Would have been a much better idea.

He followed down the path that he saw Reid take. He assumed it would take him to the river where he and Katie had just been. After he had been walking for a while the path split into two directions. Realising the likelihood that Luke would choose the wrong path, his luck was so awesome, he chose one and headed off to the right towards god knows where and probably not Reid.

He had been walking for nearly an hour and not found Reid. He was about to turn around when he entered a clearing that had a hill at the opposite end. There was a huge tree atop the hill. Luke circled the tree then found an area to sit, leaning on the tree.

He sat there thinking about his life. About how messed up it became years ago and he still couldn't seem to see himself being happy. He wondered why Reid had come back. Just when Luke thought he might move on and try to find some sort of peace with his life someone decided to shit on him. When it came to Reid he didn't know what to do. What do you do when you love someone and they don't love you back. How do you be near them? Maybe the only way was to fake it and try to be his friend. He didn't want that but he didn't want to not be near him. Now that Reid was back in Oakdale, Luke realised he needed him to breathe.

The afternoon sun was a lot less warm than earlier and he felt himself dozing off, wishing that Reid was at least feeling something that he was.

Down the other path was Reid. He had stomped down the left path wishing he had never been so stupid to come back to Oakhell. Never been so stupid to come on this camping trip. Now he had to watch Cameron and Luke start a relationship. He always knew Luke would move on, it was his way to have everyone fall in love with him. But he didn't have to be a witness to it.

He made it to the river he and Katie were at before. He stripped off to his boxers and walked in. The water was so clear he could see the bottom. He felt the cool water sharply on his hot sweaty body. After floating around for a while he felt a whole lot more calm but definitely not ready to go back to the cabin. He trudged out of the water wishing he had someone other than Katie to talk to – cause all she talked about was Luke. He walked up the path towards the cabin, then decided to take the other path – maybe it led to cliff he could jump off.

As he walked up the hill of the clearing, he saw a body leaning on the tree. He knew immediately it was Luke. And he was asleep. As he got closer he looked at him closely. Even asleep in the outback or wherever they were he was gorgeous. It was those lips. Or maybe his little quaff. Whatever it was, it really turned Reid on.

He leant forward and pushed Luke sideways until his back slipped from the tree, he then toppled onto the grass.

"Ummph" He groggily rubbed his eyes and looked up at Reid.

Reid thought pushing him around a bit might make him feel better – not when he now had to witness sleepy Luke. He just groaned - where is that cliff?

"The sun is about to set Luke, a bear will eat you." He turned and started to walk down the hill.

"Wait Reid"

"No Luke, I am going back to the cabin. You just shouldn't stay here when it's getting dark."

"Reid please, talk to me."

He spun around then "Oh, now you want to talk!"

He marched up the hill towards Luke and he saw the younger man falter. Luke then with all the grace of an elephant stumbled as he tripped over his own feet and rolled down the hill a little.

With that Reid burst out in laughter. He could barely stand he was laughing so hard. He dropped to his knees and rolled onto his back.

"It's not that funny, I hurt my knee. See look! There's blood!"

Reid looked over at Luke's legs. He reached out suddenly and rubbed his finger over Luke's knee. As he did so both men gasped. Luke slowly ran his hand up the arm rubbing his leg. Being touched by Luke felt like it did all those years ago. He felt like he couldn't breathe.

He was about to pull away knowing this was not a good idea when he felt Luke tug on his arm and breathe out his name. Reid looked into those eyes that haunted him for years and saw the same longing he knew was reflected in his. He rolled sideways and nudged his face towards Luke, which Luke matched and he finally kissed the lips he had dreamed about for so long. He felt the desire pool in his crotch. He traced Luke's lips slowly with his tongue until Luke moaned his own open in response.

God it felt good to touch him again. No one since him had ever had this same effect on Reid. He completely lost his mind when he was with Luke. Reid then half straddled Luke and wedged his own leg between both of Luke's. He could feel Luke's erection and rubbed him with his leg as his hand slipped under his t-shirt to touch his skin. The skin he was fantasizing about since he saw it this morning.

Reid got a lot of pleasure out of the tremor he felt run through Luke as he touched his skin above his pants and at the same time rubbed his erection that was straining for release.

All of a sudden Reid felt this wave of panic overtake him. This was not meant to happen. He didn't want Luke like this. Not after they had so much shit to sort out. He rolled off Luke and jumped to his feet. "I can't do this." Needing to put some distance between himself and Luke, he walked towards the tree. He could barely see straight.

Luke hadn't moved from the ground. He could see him panting trying to compose himself, flushed bright red and lips parted and wet. Reid acknowledged he still wanted him so badly. Luke slowly rose and turned towards Reid, with his head held down. As he lifted his head Reid saw anger in his eyes.

"Well don't just stand there, why don't you repeat most encounters with me and walk away. You are so good at it."

Reid felt like he had been slapped. Twice in one day from Luke. Where had his Luke gone? This Luke was more like him and he didn't like it one bit.

"Fuck you Luke, I-"

"No you didn't actually Reid."

"That's the point Luke, I don't want to fuck you"

"Well I think we have established that Reid."

"No just listen Luke."

"No Reid, you listen. Fifteen years ago you walked away from me. Away from us. For nothing. You never spoke to me, never said goodbye. Nothing. Over the years, nothing. All my writing I sent ou - I never showed anyone else. You knew how important my writing was to me - but you just ignored them. Do you actually feel anything?"

"Wait, what writing?"

"Don't bullshit me. Doesn't matter now anyway. It was years ago. What I want to know is why are you back? Why? You don't like anyone here. You don't like this town. I know I was the only one apart from Katie that you spoke to regularly and you sure as hell don't like me anymore. You just want a fuck – for what, old times sake? - but only on your terms."

"Well you weren't exactly complaining. Or maybe you were warming up for Cameron."

"And if I was? You sound jealous Reid. We both know that's not possible. You would have to feel something for me to actually feel jealous if someone wanted me."

"No one can live up to the ex-boyfriend can they?"

"What? " he spluttered. "You know what Reid, you are a bastard." Luke started to walk away. "So I still feel something for you. You have no right to mock me for it. At least I feel. You are like a wooden plank."

He felt something for me? What the fuck? He shouted down the hill "I was talking about Noah you know. This whole town talks about how you are pining for Noah." Luke had stopped walking when he mentioned Noah. He slowly turned and walked up the hill. He kept walking until he was only a breath away from Reid.

"What's worse Reid. That you are so wrong about me and Noah, as everyone else is, or that you mock me for it?"

"Well forgive me for not wanting to be his seconds."

Luke looked like he was going to cry. Those ridiculous brown eyes were all pooled up with tears. He slowly blinked them away then leant forward and whispered in Reid's ear.

"It was always you Reid, you just didn't trust me enough." He then turned and walked down the hill away from Reid.

Reid felt like he couldn't get any air. What just happened? They had the most stupid conversation about their past and all Reid could remember about it was Luke's last statement. It was always you.