Six days after the almost-kiss, Luke was sitting in Al's with Noah, Maddie, Casey and Alison. His friends were deeply immersed in a conversation but he was playing with his coke straw and daydreaming about the events of last week. He couldn't stop thinking about Reid; how close they got to kissing even after Luke promised himself he wouldn't let anything but a platonic student/teacher relationship develop. His heart hurt and his head was throbbing. He was mystified about how to handle the situation.
'But that movie is so old, Maddie!' Casey whined as Maddie suggested another movie for their weekly film nights.
'Oh look, Luke. Isn't that Dr Oliver?' Alison asked as she pointed to the counter where Reid was leaning over, his hands grasped together, facing the other way. Luke bit his lip and looked up and down Reid's body, unable to help himself.
'Oh My God, Luke! You totally just checked him out!' Casey whispered.
'I did not!' Luke replied in the same hushed tone. 'I need to ask him about my tutoring. Back in a minute.' Luke slipped out of the booth and walked to the counter and stood beside Reid.
'Mr Snyder, I wasn't expecting to see you here.' Reid said without looking at Luke. Luke turned towards Reid.
'Why not?'
'I pictured you more of a caviar/Champagne kind of guy considering your background.'
'Ha! I prefer chilli and fries to Oysters and vol au vents.' Reid turned to smile at Luke.
'You've got a bit of chilli...there.' Reid said pointing to the corner of Luke's mouth.
'Oh!' Luke's tongue started licking around the outside of his lips causing Reid's knees to go weak.
'God.' he murmured looking lustfully at Luke's mouth.
'Thanks.' Luke said and took a small step forward.
Just then Reid's order turned up and he dragged his eyes away from Luke's lips to pick
it up.
'I'll see you in class tomorrow, Mr Snyder.' Reid said without actually meeting Luke's eyes. Luke nodded and walked back to his booth.
Reid left the diner even more frustrated than when he had entered.
-
The next couple of lessons were similar to the first lesson. Both men were frustrated, knowing that they couldn't touch the other man. In Reid's office, a month before Christmas, Luke had brought mince pies which made Reid groan in a way that went straight to Luke's groin.
'These are incredible but aren't we a little premature with mince pies? It's early November, Mr Snyder, in case you didn't own a calendar.' Reid chuckled.
'My grandma made them for me. She's an amazing cook and I thought you might enjoy them; considering how much you love food.' Reid nodded his mouth full. Luke laughed at the sight.
'What?' Reid said once he had swallowed the mouthful.
'Nothing.' Luke said. 'I'd better be going.' Luke sighed and started packing up his stuff.
'Hey,' Reid stood up and used his index finger to turn Luke's face towards his. 'What's up? Why do you look so sad?'
'It's nothing. Don't worry about it.'
'Yeah, sure it is. Tell me.' Reid hand dropped from under Luke's chin.
'My parents. I think they are getting divorced, again.'
'Again?' Reid thought.
'I'm sorry, Luke. That's... horrible.' Luke nodded and he sighed.
'It's hard, you know, to contemplate being in a relationship with anyone when your parents can't even stay together.'
Reid couldn't stand there watching Luke look so downtrodden and sad. He wrapped his arms around the younger man and brushed his lips against Luke's ear,
'It'll be ok. They still love you.' He felt Luke's arms encircle his back and he stayed there for a second.
He felt Luke pull back slightly so they could look into each others eyes, Luke's hands dropping to Reid's hips.
'I know they love me but I wish they didn't make it so difficult. It feels like I have to pick a side to support.' Reid untangled himself and picked up Luke's backpack.
'Just tell them how you feel.' Luke smiled and took his bag.
'Bye, Dr Oliver.' And Luke left.
-
'I'm going away for a couple of days and I'll miss next weeks lesson.' Luke said the following week.
'Sure. I can give you some exercises to make sure you don't give up completely.' Reid smiled.
They were sitting in his office, eating take out pizza from the box with their feet on each others chairs, facing one another.
'Uh-huh.' Luke agreed as he licked his fingers.
'I was thinking that I could get your number so I could ring you if I have any problems. With the work, you know.'
'I don't think that's a good idea.' Reid stood up from his chair and moved to the other end of the room so he could get some work for Luke.
'Why not?' Luke's voice said behind him.
'Because,' Reid said as he rummaged through the filing cabinet,
'Imagine how that would look. Student having the number of significantly older professor. Calling at all hours. It would look suspicious.' Reid turned around and gave Luke some sheets of paper.
'I'm not going to be calling you at midnight, or anything!' Luke said taking the pages.
'I know. But just see it from my perspective.' Reid reasoned.
'Come on! It would not look suspicious!'
'It would, Mr Snyder! Why can't you see that?' Reid shouted back.
'Mr Snyder, seriously? Just call me Luke!'
'We are not discussing that right now!'
'Argh! I'm Luke! Everyone else calls me that, why can't you?'
'God, it's like the Spanish Inquision in here! I will always call you Mr Snyder and I will not give you my number!' Reid shouted. 'I'm sorry I didn't mean for it to come out like...' Reid apologised, rubbing his forehead.
'No. It's fine. I get it. I'll see you in a couple of weeks.' Luke collected his stuff together and left in stony silence.
Reid watched him leave the school from his window.
'Luke.' He whispered, causing the glass to fog up, a perfect metaphor
for his brain when Luke was around.
-
That evening he and Katie were sitting in his apartment drinking wine and whining over their respective jobs.
'The kids are great if they try hard but, you know, they rarely do what you want!'
'I know.' Reid said, thinking back to Luke and how hurt he looked when he shouted at him.
'Hey, I found this in your pigeon hole before I left school late after marking.' She handed him an envelope with his name on.
He opened it and took out the piece of paper that was inside. There were hastily scribbled words, written unmistakeably by Luke.
It's not suspicious. Even if it was I wouldn't care.
Underneath the short note there was a mobile phone number. Luke's number.
'What does it say?' Katie asked as she took a sip of merlot.
'Just the janitor needing to...um...look at the dodgy radiator in my office.'
Reid slipped the piece of paper in his pocket, ducking his head and smiling. Katie noticed the smile but didn't say anything. She'd get it out of him some other time.
A knock at the door disturbed them from their mutual misery. Reid got up and opened the door to see his landlord standing in front of him.
'What seems to be the problem?'
'Look I'm sorry, Dr Oliver, but I'm selling the place.'
'What?' Reid asked astonished, 'When do I need to move out?'
'Within the month. I'm sorry.' He smiled sadly and went down the stairs. Reid returned to Katie who looked surprisingly happy.
'What's perked you up?'
'Your landlord.'
'Why? He just kicked me out. Where am I going to find an affordable apartment within a month?'
'I've got an idea. Why don't you become my new roommate?'