Chapter 2

The term continued without too many mishaps. Some of the other teachers took offense to Reid's... abrasive manner. Something he would never apologise for. He had made one ally though. Katie Snyder, another of Luke's plethora of relatives. Katie was bright, bubbly and blonde. She was his only true friend at this school. He missed his job like mad and having someone there who also missed something similarly made the gaping hole shrink slightly.

'Reid! Look at this! Just read this!' Katie shouted as she bounced around the staffroom. She held out some sheets of paper and, sighing, Reid took them from her hands.

'What is this? Hank's new attempt at writing a play? Remember what happened with the Pinter disaster?' They both shivered and Katie shook her head violently.
'It's one of my student's take on the placebo effect. It's fantastically well-written and about a subject you love. A win-win situation!' Katie gasped as she sat down next to him. He began to read it.

As he read the paper, Katie leaned over his shoulder murmuring how well the sentences were structured and how the piece flowed effortlessly. Reid was impressed. Those were words that he rarely said out loud so he kept quiet. He continued to read until he had finished the paper.

'So, what did you think?' Katie asked.
'It was good. Whoever wrote it has obviously done their homework. I would have enjoyed more information on endorphins and how naloxone was the key to understanding via the acute phase response but overall, it was good. Thorough.' Reid nodded, passing the paper back to a smiling Katie.
'Who wrote it?' Reid asked over the rim of his coffee mug. The coffee at school was awful so he bought his from a local coffee shop on the way to work. Java or some other one-syllable word.
'Luke Snyder.' Reid spat out his coffee.

This was getting ridiculous. Over the past couple of weeks since he had met Luke Snyder he noticed him everywhere; on the sports notice board for basketball club, his name whispered through the hallways, his mother and various other relatives congregating in the staffroom to discuss, loudly, their incestuous problems. He saw Luke Snyder everywhere and it was starting to drive him mad. Reid was worried.
What if Luke was only mentioned as much as any other student, it was just that Reid noticed him more? With his beautifully soft hair and pure complexion, Reid had caught himself thinking about Luke more than once. Reid was very worried.

'Reid!' Katie shouted as she rushed to find napkins to dab at the coffee stains that were now settling into her white trousers.

'Serves you right for wearing white jeans. What are we, a budding WAG?' Reid sniggered at the speed Katie moved to find a cloth.

'Shut. Up. Why did you just spew your caramel drink all down me when I mentioned Luke?' Katie asked as she moved back to the chair next to Reid.
'No reason.' Reid said as he brought a journal up in front of his face. Katie raised her eyebrows in disbelief.

-

'I want to give you all a project. Biology related, obviously. Think of something you are interested in, whether it's animals, plants or human behaviour. You can work in pairs or individually. It should be research in the form of a booklet or ten minute presentation. You have a week.' Reid was standing in front of his desk in his classroom observing the sighs and disgruntled looks from the teenagers from all
but one.

-

Luke loved discovering, researching and looking into new subjects. Anyway he could write about something he felt passionate about. So far Dr Oliver had successfully made Biology his passion. Perhaps not for the most wholesome reason.

Over the past couple of years he had been struggling to find a subject that really kept him interested. Especially with the hectic lifestyle his disorganised family lead, it was hard to concentrate on anything but the utter horror of it all. But after his mom had woken up from her coma and he knew she had accepted him, life seemed to get better.
He started writing and playing basketball again. He was out and his family accepted him. That was all he cared about right now.

Throughout the summer, while working at WOAK, he felt happy. Perhaps slightly annoyed at having to view the odd romance that Noah and Maddie had set up but he was happy for his friends. He was jealous, obviously. He wanted true love like his parents but would settle for the awkward first-relationship his friends suffered. He just wanted someone to talk to about all of the shit that he'd had to live through these past years.

'Mr Snyder? Am I boring you?' Dr Oliver's voice ricocheted through Luke's daydreaming. Luke jumped and realised that he had been staring out of the window for the past ten minutes.
'Sorry, Dr Oliver. I was just…erm…thinking about my project.'
Luke said trying to look honestly at Dr Oliver. Reid wasn't buying that look for one second but his voice was sore already from berating the other less-competent students so he simply nodded and returned to the lesson.

-

'Mr Snyder!' Reid called out at the end of the lesson. He gestured for Luke to join him by his desk as the other students poured out of the classroom. Luke stumbled forwards and stood in front of Reid.

'Yes, Dr Oliver?' Luke asked whilst juggling with the books in his arms.
'I read your paper on the Placebo Effect. It was good.' Reid said looking at Luke.
'Thank you. I've been interested in that topic for a while now. I spent most of last summer in hospital so I was able to ask nurses and doctors about it.' Luke said.
'Why were you in hospital?' Reid said, concern lacing his words.
'Long story. One you will probably find out soon enough.' Luke sighed.
He hated that his story had become part of Oakdale history. It was embarrassing.
'Ok. Look, you seem to be my brightest student right now,' Luke blushed, 'And so, I thought you might want to be tutored for Advanced Biology on top of the foundation course you are doing right now.' Reid said. He had lied; Luke was more than bright, he shined.
'Wow, I was not expecting you to ask me that. Can I think about it?' Luke asked. It would be a lot to take on, an extra course. On top of all of his other subjects. He would have to think it through. But if Dr Oliver was planning on tutoring him, how could he say no?

He couldn't deny his attraction to his teacher anymore. He ached for Dr Oliver through all of his other lessons, his heart pounding at the very thought of being as near the professor as he was right now.

'Of course, let me give you the literature about the course first. Reid turned around to find his bag which he had placed on his desk chair. He rummaged through it, bending over slightly making Luke's mouth to drop open. Luke tilted his head to the right in appreciation of the new view, imagining what he could do with...

'Ah, here it is!' Reid held the booklet and turned around to see a pleasingly pink-tinged Luke. He handed him the booklet which caused their fingertips to brush against one another. They both gasped from the electric shock.

'Sorry. Static electricity, you know.' Reid muttered shaking his fingers. He looked up to see Luke's Adam's apple bob as he swallowed. He looked a mix between petrified and extremely aroused. Reid stepped forwards and placed the back of his hand over Luke's forehead, seemingly checking Luke's temperature. The younger man sighed and opened his lust-filled eyes. Reid sucked in a breath and was about to turn his hand around to rake his fingers through Luke's hair when he snapped to his senses.

Luke was in heaven. The two men were stood only inches apart and Dr Oliver's hand was on his face. He was about to reach up and crush the older man's lips into his when Reid pulled away and stepped back.

'You...er...don't feel like you've got a temperature. Are you OK?' Reid croaked. His entire body was tingling and he was dying to press Luke up against the wall and thrust against him but he knew he mustn't.

'Yeah. I'd better go.' Luke picked up his books and the booklet and opened the door, 'Bye.' He left the classroom and Reid let out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. He pressed his palms against the desk and he head hung forwards, seemingly in defeat.

'Shit.'