Over the next few hours the group played a progressively more ridiculous game of pictionary. Casey and Maddie were completely drunk so their partners, Jenny and Cameron respectively, were not having much luck with the game. Katie long ago left the room to check on Jacob. Which left Reid and Luke partnered up.

This did start out awkwardly for Luke, he did hope that Reid didn't notice that. Since Luke knew he couldn't really hide anything from anyone, he gave up trying. But he did get a little joy out of Reid clenching his jaw every time Luke sat down next to him.

The longer they played the more annoyed Reid seemed to be getting. This seemed to be distracting Luke as well. He just wanted to talk to Reid. To try and make amends so they could be friends or something like that. That would be better than awkward.

Thankfully the group finally seemed over the game.

"Right, Case, we are off to bed." Jenny tried to drag him off the lounge. He was at that point in time not really listening to her but trying to cheat by peeking at the cards. She finally got his attention by whispering something in his ear. Seeing him race off the lounge and depart the room dragging her with him, she proved how well she knew him.

Maddie was proceeding to stretch out on the lounge putting her legs up on Luke's lap. God, he thought to himself. I just want to be alone with Reid – do I need to drag him out to the forest again?

Cameron laughed at the expression on Luke's face, knowing what he wanted. "Alright Maddie, lets go try out this spa."

"No, I am comfy here."

"Foul, get your feet off poor Luke. If he is anything like me he is grossed out right now."

"Luke loves my feet!" Maddie cried out.

"I hate feet." Luke said.

"Except mine." Reid had leant over and whispered into his ear.

Luke turned sharply to look at Reid. Who was staring intently at him. Out of the corner of his eye Luke saw Cameron drag a protesting Maddie outside. She only stopped complaining when he stopped to grab two bottles of sparkling wine.

Reid went to stand then. Luke felt his hand shoot out of its own accord and grab Reid's forearm. "Wait. Stay."

"Luke, I can't handle another argument like before. I am just too damn tired."

"I don't want to argue."

"That's all we do though."

"Reid, we only argue because we don't bloody talk. Something we didn't do back when we broke up last time. I want us to get to a point where we can be friends, or something else. But even if that never happens, don't you think we owe it to each other to sort through our shit from all those years ago?"

Reid just sat there staring at him. Luke felt the hope slowing disappear. Wow, he really doesn't care.

Reid just laughed. "It's your idea to talk, so start!"

"Well now that this is happening I feel really unprepared."

"It's only been 15 years."

"Well a lot has happened in 15 years."

"Ok. Start at the beginning. The party. The kiss."

Great. He wants to start there.

"Reid, you didn't even give me a chance to explain all those years ago. You really think you can listen this time and –'

"I asked didn't I?"

"AND actually believe what I have to say?"

"Just talk."

"HE kissed ME. I meant it back then when I said I loved you Reid. HE kissed ME."

"Well before me you loved him."

"No Reid, Noah and I weren't in love. We never had a relationship the way you and I did. I think I was infatuated with him, I don't know – I was really confused about being gay. I was never in love with him. Before I met you Noah and I were both pretty immature. He was a mess thanks to his father and what he really needed was a friend. I think I kind of thought his need for companionship was more than what it really was. I was his friend and we got really close – like family."

"That sounds ridiculous."

"Noah and I both had a fair amount of time to sort through all this and –"

"You know. I think I don't want to know about you and Noah right now."

"Well you know what Reid. You picked the topic. You said the party. The kiss. So I am telling you whether you want to hear or not. I never got my chance to speak back then. I loved you. He kissed me. You punched me and then ran away like a coward."

"I was not a coward."

"Yes you were!"

"NO I WASN'T! You broke my heart. You cheated on me and broke my heart." As he yelled at Luke he jumped up from the lounge and was pointing down at him.

Luke rose to meet him. Pointing just as violently as him. "No Reid. You made a mistake, more than one as a matter of fact. You misjudged me and you walked away from something great. From us. You fucked it all up. You should have talked to me not punched me."

"and you sure as hell shouldn't have walked away from us. I didn't do what you thought. But even if I did, we were kids then. That was a life time ago."

Reid still just looked at him. But he sighed and sat down.

"Fine" Reid said. "Can we say that you put yourself in a stupid situation and I over reacted?"

"Over reacted?"

"Badly?"

Luke could see a smile forming on Reid's lips. He felt himself laugh.

"Ok. But can we agree it was a long time ago anyway and we are different people now?"

"Sure."

Well this is a start Luke thought to himself. Only a start. Reid still didn't look all that happy. "This topic is not closed Luke. For another day."

"So I have some questions." Luke said.

"Nope."

Ok, so maybe not a start at all. Maybe I should jump ship here and go to bed.

"Me first" said Reid.

"Oh, alright."

"What were you talking about when you said I didn't read your writing? I haven't seen any of your writing."

"Bullshit Reid. I gave lots to your mum. She said whenever you came home she would give you some."

"But I never came home. Until now."

"I haven't finished. I asked her once about them and she said she gave them to Katie to give to you because you got mad whenever she mentioned me so she stopped."

"Katie."

"Yes Katie. I never asked what she did with them."

"I never let Katie talk to me about you."

God that hurt. "Never?"

"Don't you even think about looking at me with those eyes."

"What eyes."

"Those 'you-have-hurt-me-so-much-puppy-dog-I-am-about-to-cry' eyes."

Luke could feel himself blush at that.

"And now you are blushing. Brilliant."

"Stop it Reid. You always made me-"

Reid stepped closer to him. Right up in his face. "Made you what?"

Luke could feel the blush intensify.

"C'mon Luke, made you what?"

"Blush. You always made me blush."

Reid just stood there smirking.

"Alright alright. Your questions."

"Why did you go to Washington State campus?"

"Pass."

"Answer me Luke."

"Next question."

"Luke. Tell me why you came to my campus."

Luke jut sighed. He had hoped Reid had missed the details of Casey's earlier conversation. Realising he had be honest with Reid he decided to just get it over with.

"What did Casey mean the summer of no-Luke."?

"After you left I missed you. Reid, I loved you so much and then the next minute you were gone. All I could think about was how much I wanted to you back. How unfair life had been to me. How much I missed you.

I holed myself up in my grandmother's cabin writing. I spent months writing down how I was feeling into stories. This helped me lots but then I just thought bugger it. I will go and tell you to your face everything that I wanted you to hear. So I dragged Casey on a road trip to your campus. I decided I wasn't going to leave until you were back in my life. It was what I wanted. I was miserable without you. I needed you to be happy.

Once we got there I realised I had no idea how to find you. Where would you be? Casey ended up trying to pick up some girl. Which was perfect really. It left me alone to start my big search. So I started at the library. I wandered around there for ages. I started to realise how pointless it was.

So I left the library and that's when I heard it. Something so rare. But something I knew very well. Your laughter. And that's when I saw you. You were with a group of people, all standing around. I remember thinking you were so fucking hot. Especially when you smiled.

And that's when I realised what a selfish bastard I was. I was there, thinking how much I needed to have you back. But you were happy without me. Really happy. I was so stupid. Selfish and stupid. So I left."

Luke stood there, feeling like an idiot. Whilst Reid just stared, saying nothing. He felt himself getting more and more uncomfortable.

While Luke fiddled with the hem of his shirt, Reid stepped closer. Luke could feel himself let out a breath as Reid grabbed his hands.

"Stop fiddling. Last question. What do you want now Luke. And not just right this minute. Cause right this minute I want you. But I want more than that. But I need to know what you want."

Luke could feel his heart hammering in his chest. He was hot. He couldn't get enough air. Just breathe you idiot.

"I want us to have a second chance. A fresh start."

And there it was. A smile on Reid's beautiful face. Seconds before Reid pulled them closer. Closer until their lips touched.