New in Town - a happy birthday story for TRACIAMC - 1/7
New in town
Author: scotianova
Beta:♥Carol38♥
Genre: romance
Warnings:?
Rating - up to mild N17
Disclaimer: This is fiction - for fun not for profit.
Summary: In March 2012 three memorable things happen.
#1: Luke Synder, 30 years old beauty, philanthropist, writer and fundraiser par excellence, dedicated to teaching classical and modern literature and creative writing at Oakdale High School, Illinois, meets two new students in his principal's office.
#2 Dr. Reid Oliver remembers a very unpleasant series of calls from a spoiled brat years ago.
#3 Luke Snyder falls in love.
1
Brian Krasky, the new principal, had asked Luke to be the new arrivals’ mentor and when he entered the office Felice and Luca Tozzi-Oliver already awaited him.
The two teenagers, identical twins, rose from their chairs and one of them radiantly returned Luke’s famous, heart-opening, 100 watt smile:
"Hello, I am Luke Snyder; I'm teaching literature and creative writing and am to be your mentor. Welcome to Oakdale High!"
Obviously the boy was the twins ‘charmer, the alpha boy. He instantly took over: "Hello, since we have the same pre-name, I'd like to introduce ourselves: I am Luca and this is my brother Felice."
Luke's smile even deepened. This boy would break a lot of hearts someday with his looks and his charm. He had intense, friendly blue-green eyes, combined with his thick stylish hair and with his clear features the sixteen year old was already a beauty. His brother Felice however only showed the hint of a smile. His piercing eyes looked bored and incredibly unnerved. He wore his hair a little longer than Luca, his likewise beautiful eyes showed an introverted expression and - as said before - disinterest.
He condescended to shake Luke's outstretched hand, but didn't say one word. Apparently he
didn’t live up his name and it was obvious, he didn’t want to be here.
Luke sighed inwardly, knowing it was going to be a challenge, to get through to him.
“Luca and Felice (Brian misarticulated Felice’s name and the boy lowly moaned. Luke was glad he didn’t speak out loud what was probably on the tip of his tongue) have to become familiar with our school system, therefore I suggest they’ll start in 10th grade, although their father Dr. Oliver told me they had skipped classes in their old school in France.”
“Yes, we’ll probationally visit several classes to sort everything out.” Luca added and smiled winningly at his new teacher.
“We actually went to a private elite school - back HOME…” Felice added blankly.
“All the better!” Luke smiled in return, “so you’ll have fewer problems getting acclimated. Where did you live, before you moved here, btw?” But the boy only raised his left brow and decided to ignore Luke’s mild irony.
“We lived in Toulouse the last six years. Prior to that we lived in Rome, Dallas and Boston. We were born there in 1996. But we have both citizenships, we are Americans and Italians.” Luca stepped in again. “It’s a bit complicated.”
Luke chuckled. “Tell me something about complicated family structures I don’t know.”
This made Luca smile even wider and he raised questioningly his left brow while Felice preferred to stare out of the window.
Before Luke could continue, a casually dressed adult entered the room with a stack of papers in his left hand, also looking not amused in the same way as his son Felice and muttering under his breath something Luke was glad he couldn’t understand entirely:
“…Merde! Idiotie bureaucratique...!”
"Luke", Brian Krasky cleared his throat suppressing his annoyance before he played nice: "May I introduce Dr. Reid Oliver, the father of our new arrivals. He's supposed to become the new head of Memorial’s neurowing."
Luke had resigned from Memorial's board a long time ago, so he wasn't up to date regarding Memorial’s personnel policy. However he remembered Casey mentioning a change of leadership regarding the neuro wing by which Oakdale Memorial had actually become well known during the last years.
“Granddad managed to hire a so called genius to run the wing. The whole hospital is all giddy with excitement. I am wondering what he’s like. He has a reputation for being an ass but totally brilliant. ”
So he instantly offered the doctor his hand, despite Casey’s remark, while the boys’ father distractedly looked up from the papers into his eyes and Luke only hesitated for the split of a second, before he took a run and plunged into stunning blue mysterious pools - head first. WOW what eyes!
"And you are?" The doctor asked slightly irritated after Luke didn't let go off his hand although he failed to introduce himself.
"Oh, sorry, excuse me... I am Luke Snyder...“
Of course the famous doctor didn’t remember his name. How could he, they’d never met in person before, only talked on the phone several times - many years ago. Oh my God! How could this happen? Dr. Reid Oliver had moved to Oakdale and he was supposed to teach his sons. Something like this could only happen to him.
Fortunately Brian took over on behalf of Luke, who seemed to have lost his ability to form coherent sentences.
"Mr. Synder teaches literature and creative writing and he is an author himself. I've asked him to mentor your children in the beginning. He comes from an old family and knows almost everyone and is familiar with local specifics."
"That explains a lot." Dr. Oliver replied, now slightly smirking while Luke couldn't tear his eyes from the gorgeous man standing in front of him. He was in his thirties, a bit smaller than himself, lean, maybe on the brink of being called skinny. Either the doctor was well-toned, had a fast metabolism or he watched his weight carefully. Anyway he was breathtaking.
Luke shrugged involuntarily. He instantly recognized all the signs, the odd feeling in his stomach as if he was hungry or the wait before an exam began - the increasing pulse, that ugly dampness building in the palm of his hands, having problems finding the right words…
“Is something wrong - Mr. …?” The incredibly sexy baritone asked ironically.
“It’s Synder. My name is Luke Synder. And no, nothing is wrong - sorry again - I am only a bit distracted. What did you just say?”
“Distracted - I see - by what?”
Luke stared into the blue depths of Dr. Oliver’s eyes before he averted his eyes and fixed them onto the well-shaped lips, which were slightly opened and just wetted by the tip of a light-pink tongue.
Was the good doctor making fun of him? Or was he imagining things - like the doctor was flirting with him?
“Well then Mr. Synder - “. An almost imperceptible smile played around the doctor’s beautiful lips while he undisguised and frankly checked out the young teacher. He seemed pleased with what he saw. But obviously nowhere rang a bell in the depths of Dr. Oliver’s memory.
“Mr. Synder, I have already told you - repeatedly - that I won’t take your boyfriend’s case. Believe it or not, I can’t operate on him for a lot of reasons, but the most important might be - hopefully even in your narrow point of view - that my family and I are leaving the country in a few days.”
“Oh - but when are you coming back?”
“What?”
Before he answered the doctor released an unnerved sigh. Why was he supposed to deal with renitent idiots at a time he really had more important things to do.
“You said, you were leaving the country - you have to come back sometimes…”
“Not as if it’s any of your business, Mr. Snyder, but I won’t come back any time soon. We’re moving to Europe. MOVING! Not travelling! The containers are already shipped. Got it? But since I have the feeling you won’t give up, I can recommend one of my colleagues to you. He is not as good as I am, but he’s been in the circus for 25 years now, so he knows what’s to do.”
Reid Oliver had been right. His colleague had known what to do and Noah Mayer got his eyesight back - not as fast as he originally hoped, because the brilliant young doctor, who was probably capable of performing a miracle, was leaving. But with Dr. Coleman’s conservative treatment he also got well, only it took half a year longer.
Yes, why would Dr. Oliver remember a man he’d never seen in person - a man who had surely annoyed him.
Luke on the other side remembered him instantly, although he’d only seen him in photos on the internet showing a man with thick curly hair of an undefinable color, somewhat reddish, blond, auburn - unique - a man with exquisite features, a prominent jawline, a well-shaped, strong nose and stunning blue eyes. But the lips were something else, lips Leonardo would have instantly carved in stone. Who was he kidding? He never had forgotten his difficult but challenging auditive encounter with Dr. Reid Oliver.
Although the doctor had refused to examine and possibly operate on Noah, and Luke had been frustrated and angry he intensely fantasized about him for months. And although he’d only suffered from a post-pubertal crush on an unknown doctor, he couldn’t get his voice and his face out of his system.
Anyway, two months after Noah Mayer had finally gotten his sight back he’d left Luke. Hand in hand with Richard Burke he rode out of town into the sunset towards Pittsburg. Luke hadn’t been aware that Pittsburg was a Mecca for upcoming movie directors, but honestly he didn’t care back then. He’d been deliriously relieved that Noah had hit the road and spared him his ongoing complaining, whining and lecturing. What was meant to be an epic gay love story became suddenly history.
Although he wasn’t sad about the breakup, he had to recover from the years he had wasted with waiting for the thing between Noah and himself to become something similar to a functioning relationship. Focusing on completing his education he had enrolled in college again. He finally graduated and had become a passionate teacher and author. He’d had some affairs but nothing that could be called a serious relationship. And by now Luke wasn’t even missing a man at his side. He was totally satisfied with concentrating on his professional life, where he could do what he liked best.
“And I may add that Mr. Snyder is absolutely skilled in handling difficult students.” Brian Krasky interrupted their mutual staring out of the blue.
“I can assure you, Mr. Krasky, my sons are excellent students, since the very first day they set foot in school - so there won’t be any difficulties- at least not any coming from them!”
Well then - apparently Dr. Oliver’s reputation of being an arrogant and mordant contemporary wasn’t made up out of thin air.
Inwardly Luke rubbed his hands - he liked professional challenges and dealing with THIS father would be a challenge. He assumed it would be Brian that might possibly become the target of Dr. Oliver’s sarcasm, and he wasn’t too sorry for his new chief, since Brian Krasky became the new principal out of the blue and no one working at Oakdale High school got the position although there had been several candidates who were intellectually and socially far more skilled. Everyone in the room obviously felt the increasing tension between Brian and the twins’ father.
While Luca was watching Luke with bright eyes, Felice became apparently impatient:
« Allons-nous s'enraciner ici? »
Brian raised his eyebrow again, Luke chuckled, Reid Oliver stared at his son silently, yet the boy didn't back down, but stared back, defiantly, sullenly, with the corners of his mouth dropping.
This time Luca didn’t interfere but watched the silent exchange between his father and his brother.
"Don’t look at me as if you were astonished - I wasn't fond at all of the idea to come back to your roots, Papa."
"I know that, Felice. My son feels more European, you know.” Reid Oliver explained turning to Luke again while ignoring the principal.
“That’s wonderful, a cosmopolitan flair is gracing Oakdale.” Luke answered with an almost imperceptible smile. The boy snorted disdainfully. He didn’t need a teacher who thought he was funny. But his father maybe understood that Luke only wanted to ease the bad mood.
“You think so?” The blue eyes smirked again and the beautiful lips pursed only lightly but incredibly sexy. “Anyway - unfortunately I don’t have time for discussing cosmopolitanism right now - because I have a meeting scheduled with Dr. Hughes. And hopefully I'll have some time to fill in this encyclopedia." He snorted pointing to the papers in his hand.
With that he turned to his sons, tousled Luca’s head goodheartedly and then he looked severely into his other son’s eyes, cautiously placing his hand on the shorter boy’s shoulder:
“Later, boys. Bonne chance! Try to be patient, Felice! Will you do me this favor? And don’t forget: Speak ENGLISH!” The boy only nodded shortly but since he was unaware of Luke watching the scene, he showed a reluctant, however beautifully shy smile.
«Je pense je pourrais faire ça - peut-être.»
(I think I can do that - maybe)
“If you must contact me, here’s my cell-number and if I’m not available, please call the hospital. Mr. Krassy, Mr. Snyder -”.
Luke would have bet the doctor mispronounced Brian’s name on purpose. He was that kind of guy, Luke assumed grinning inwardly. AND Luke couldn't help himself but stare at his hot little ass in his tight black jeans walking through the principal’s office-door.
“Well then, let’s go to my room. We can figure out your lessons there.”
Luke took the twins in tow and headed to his room.
It only took a little time to figure out that the boys had contrary interests. Felice preferably signed for science classes and math’s, while Luca beamed reading the offers regarding creative writing, literature, acting and sports. Their father had insisted that they attend French and Italian classes but Luke assumed that would be wasted time for them. Obviously they spoke those languages fluently - maybe better than some of their teachers. During the short walk from Brian’s office to Luke’s room they had had an agitated exchange in Italian, Luca censuring Felice for his inappropriate and immature behavior.
“Listen, I think I should tell you that my birthfather is Maltese and I am very familiar with talking Italian.” Luke smiled at them and they instantly continued their argument in French.
The three of them worked out a doable schedule for the two boys and it turned out, they weren’t willing to do anything without the other one.
Despite their obvious diversity in character they were identical twins in the end.
Luke showed them around and dropped them with Traci, his colleague, teaching physics and computer science, who promised to care for them afterwards. Luke liked Traci a lot. Having teenage children herself, he was sure she could deal with the twins pretty well.
Leaving school early that day, Luke headed home and called his grandmother, determined to grill her about the new doctor in town. Lucinda told him that Bob - because he was about to retire soon - wanted to hire the best doctors he could get. And he had wanted Dr. Reid Oliver since the day Luke Snyder had learned about him, and he, Lucinda Walsh and Henry Coleman had decided to donate a lot of money for a new neuro wing. Yet the wanted doctor had been out of reach for a long time.
“What do you know about Dr. Oliver, Grandmother?”
At first he heard her only chuckling, her deepest, ambiguous chuckle.
“Why would you want to know anything about the good doctor? Your voice displays that special overtone I’m definitely aware of.”
“It’s nothing like, that Grandmother. I met his sons today - in school. And I think it’s an interesting family.”
“If I could only believe you, sweetheart!”
“Well, I have to admit, he is kind of attractive!”
“I do know that. But I’ll stop kidding and share what I know about him besides his good looks.” Luke heard his grandmother rummaging her desk, maybe she was looking for the respective file. He could always trust Lucinda Walsh’ protective curiosity when it came to new members of Oakdale’s high society. “So … Reid Oliver, he was born in Boston - 1972 on the 19th of June, hmm according to the Chinese zodiacs he must be a rat- interesting! So he needs his own small kingdom. (Lucinda chuckled calmly again; she liked the doctor that was obvious.) He lived there with his parents until they died. He was 12 years old then. There was only one relative left, an uncle, Angus Oliver. He took the boy in and later moved with him to New York. There were several complaints made to public authorities accusing the uncle of neglecting the boy. Finally a social service provided him regular nutrition and controlled the good uncle closely. Later, after finishing high school, Reid Oliver returned to Boston, more precisely Harvard and started premed school. He earned top grades in school and won several scholarships that guaranteed his living. In Harvard he obviously met a girl, Carla Tozzi, an exchange student from Italy. They shared a flat with another girl, Felicia Meriwether, and obviously they shared not only the place to live. (Lucinda let hear her throaty chuckle again) because at the tender age of 24 Reid Oliver and Carla Tozzi became parents of twins, Luca and Felice. After graduating they left the continent for Rome. The twins were - let me see - they were 18 months then. But the young father returned one and a half years later, now as a widower. Carla Tozzi died of a chronic heart disease, resulting from a not cured infection compromising the heart muscle. Two attempts to get her a new heart failed, her body rejected them. Before the transplantation she and Reid Oliver married. Since the young mother’s parents are very rich, influent and extremely conservative I would say, it was the best thing to marry when it was obvious the young mother wouldn’t survive. And they were right, right after the funeral the lovely grandparents applied for custody of their grandsons. But the marriage was legal; the boys were Americans in the eyes of the law, so they didn’t stand a chance. Nevertheless Reid Oliver decided to leave the country with his sons to reach safer ground.
Well, the young man moved back to Boston, where he finished his residency in no time. Carla’s fund - given to her by her grandparents - made it possible for the young father to hire a nanny for his baby-sons. They left Boston and lived in Dallas, but they left again for Europe, first Rome, where Reid tried to make peace with his parents in law. It worked for only a few weeks, and then the elder aristocrats tried to interfere again, so Reid Oliver moved with his sons to France and got a job in Toulouse. They settled there, he even bought a house, but the young hot shot got into trouble with his chief of staff, accusing her of being incompetent and that was Bob’s chance to get him, because he was obviously looking for a new job. Dr. Oliver is described as very competent, almost reckless when it comes to helping his patients, sarcastic but with a dry sense of humor soothing his cynical behavior. His sons are little geniuses, but one of them dealt with drug problems, sometime ago. Maybe the good doctor wanted to keep him away from the influence of his peers there and therefore decided to cut all ties. So, that’s it, dearest grandchild, I didn’t find any skeletons in his past. He seems to have a unique personality, and according to my sources he’s actually very handsome - and despite his marriage to the lovely Carla Tozzi, he is definitely gay. And since the third in their former living arrangement - Felicia Meriwether is living with a woman you can picture the whole scheme back then yourself.” With that Lucinda finished her report.
What a biography, Luke thought afterwards.
What a busy and restless life the good looking doctor seemed to lead and make his sons experience, too. Reid Oliver and his sons lived like nomads in Luke’s opinion. And from his short encounter with the two boys earlier the day he could tell that the introverted one didn’t like that kind of wandering around the world. Maybe not around the world, but yeah, look at them - they were born in Boston - obviously into some kind of post-post-hippie-living community, were transferred to Rome, which made sense, since their birth mother was from there, left again for the USA, to leave for Europe some years later. Of course he saw the reason to run away from overbearing parents-in-law. Despite the unconventional circumstances, Reid Oliver had become a father and he had to take responsibility for his sons’ sake. And who was Luke to judge the way the gorgeous doctor did this.
He himself needed the reliability of a stable surrounding. Born into crazy family circumstances himself he clung to the small town of Oakdale because it provided him a familiar routine. He knew a lot of people, he was appreciated for what he did, and most important of all, he had found a comfortable place inside himself. His life was good.
And although the butterflies in his stomach reared their disturbing wings Luke knew, Dr. Oliver’s life was none of his business - unless there was the need to talk about his sons.
Only Luke couldn’t help himself, there had been an instant spark that had started to fire between Dr. Oliver and himself this morning. And it hadn’t been one-sided. The doctor’s smirk, his raised brows, his low sexy baritone, no, he wasn’t imagining all this.
Only how could it be?
How could it be, that he had fantasized about the doctor many years ago - only from talking with him on the phone, yes, that he had somehow fallen for him back then. And now, that he had seen him in person - he freaked out again. Give that to him. He was almost 31 and acted like a teenager.
Part 2 is here: http://scotianova.livejournal.com/35240.html