Right. So this is my first Waterloo Road fic. Which is obvious from my painfully bad first chapter. Please do read it though. I'm desperate. The story title is a quote from Jean-Paul Sartre. Okay. By the way, there is shameless Reddie coming in this fic. You have been warned.
"Rachel, I just got off the phone with Matt. He's going to be late today. He took in a new foster child yesterday. An emergency placement. Since Sam's moved back with Rose the social asked him to take in another. Matt says he's a bit of a tough one. He has to check in with the social and get a uniform and that sorted for him but he'll be in later. The lad'll be with him. He's applying for a placement here but it's a bit sketchy, Matt says"
"Good morning to you too, Eddie" Rachel chimed. Eddie quickened his pace to keep up with Rachel's brisk stride, both of them flinching away from the metal detector and security men by the door. It was a painful reminder of exactly what had transpired just a few weeks before, an incident they both considered to have come from their own failures. Donte Charles barged past, pulling Chlo in his wake and Rachel smiled tensely up at Eddie.
Eddie. Her right hand man. Deputy to her sheriff. She'd come to rely on him a lot more than she wanted to. To use him for her own comfort when things got to be too much. She wanted him to be happy with Melissa. And yet... She didn't know really what to call the thing she felt. She wasn't jealous of her young, flighty sister who never seemed to have to try very hard or suffer any misfortune. Things seemed to just work out for Melissa. She was fun. Good for Eddie. She levelled his melancholy, brooding moods perfectly. And yet...
The two words chased each other around her mind quite a lot. And yet what? Nothing romantic would flourish between herself and Eddie. And yet...
"Rachel? Rachel? Did you hear a word I just said?" Eddie asked, bemused. He had a stack of copies tucked under the crook of one elbow and a biro behind one ear and he looked exhausted. He probably was. They'd all been burning the midnight oil to get everything marked and up to date in case the LEA sent anyone around after Denzil had- After Denzil had- After what had happened.
"No running in the corridors, Mr. Mitchell!" Rachel called. The short year seven boy slowed to a stop and mumbled an apology, waiting until they'd passed him to continue sprinting down the corridor. Rachel clucked her tongue quietly and decided she'd leave him for now. She could call him on it later or mention it to Jasmine, who was the boy's class tutor.
"Cheeky of him. I said, Rachel, that Matt's new kid is called Adi something-or-other. His file was sent over this morning. Matt says he's been flagged by the LEA and the police. I can look into it if you want. And your nine o' clock appointment is waiting in your office" Eddie repeated, glancing over his shoulder as the Mitchell boy disappeared into the throng of students jostling towards their lockers.
"Right. My nine o' clock. And his name is.." Rachel trailed off as they began to climb the stairs. Eddie glanced warningly at one of the teenagers walking past and pointed at his head, a clear signal for the boy to remove his cap. Which he did with a quiet grumble of protest.
"Mr. Thomas, Rachel. He called yesterday about enrolling his son, Graham. He's got incredible marks though, so I don't think it'll be a problem really" Eddie reminded dutifully. Rachel paused at the top of the stairs and Eddie did too, both of them prolonging the conversation. There was so much Rachel wanted to confess. So much Eddie wanted to know.
"Thanks, Eddie. I appreciate it" Rachel said, flushing. She ducked away before he had time to reply and darted into the office, closing the door behind her and smiling at her secretary. The window of her office was open and through it she could see a man, who she presumed to be Mr. Thomas.
"I'll see Mr. Thomas now" she announced to nobody in particular and walked into her inner office. Mr. Thomas rose to his feet to greet her and Rachel shook his hand, grinning down at the small child sitting quietly beside him.
"Hello. What's your name?" Rachel asked, beaming down at him. The boy looked to be between seven and nine, well turned out in grey school trousers and a crisp, spotlessly clean white shirt. He glanced over at his father and closed the large book he had been reading, reaching out precociously and shaking Rachel's hand.
"My name's Benjamin. Are you Miss Mason? You don't look like a head mistwess" he said shyly, lisping.
Rachel chuckled and smiled at Mr. Thomas who was watching his son closely, drinking him in.
"He's adorable. Now, you've got a son to enroll here, haven't you? Did you bring him along or is he at home?" Rachel asked, sitting back in her chair. Benjamin smiled secretively and opened his book, grinning down at the words. Mr. Thomas leaned forward conspiratorially and smiled tightly at Rachel, jerking his thumb towards Benjamin.
"Benjamin is my only son. I'd like to enroll him in year nine, if possible, just to ease him in" Mr. Thomas said enthusiastically, rubbing his hands together. Rachel rocked back in her seat and glanced from the boy to his father. Perhaps this was somebody's idea of a joke. No. Mr. Thomas was deadly serious. Maybe Benjamin was just small for his age. Rachel scratched her forehead uneasily.
"Uh, okay. How old is Benajamin right now?" she asked, pulling out a piece of paper and a blue pen. She glanced from the sheet to Mr. Thomas, who smiled politely at her.
"He's eight. I know it's a bit unusual for him to be going into-"
"Can I stop you there, please, Mr. Thomas? To be admitted to year nine Benjamin would have to be thirteen on September the first. At present, he doesn't have the credits necessary to-"
"Excuse me, Miss Mason. Benjamin was home schooled in an accelerated learning program for gifted children. He could sit his GCSE's tomorrow and pass them all with no effort. He's ready for social development and the stimulation only peers can provide. I have all of his certificates here. He's due to sit your admittance exam this evening but I wanted to just run it by you first" Mr. Thomas interrupted smoothly, producing from nowhere a stack of papers and forms that looked spookily official.
"Mr. Thomas, I'm sorry but I don't understand. If your son is in advanced learning, why are you bringing him here? He could probably be catered for on a one to one basis at one of the fee paying schools or even-"
"He doesn't want a fee paying school. He wanted to come here to integrate into a real school with real pupils. His mother was adamant he was coming here. She's a past pupil, you see" Mr. Thomas interrupted again. Rachel was starting to get annoyed now.
"After he's sitted the admittance exam, could you please come back to me? I've got a very busy day ahead of me and several parents to meet. If you wouldn't mind, it would be-"
"Miss Mason, all he wants is a chance. Please. He's a good boy. He would be no trouble whatsoever. If you could just think about it. Come on, Benjamin. Time to go home" Mr. Thomas said, taking his son's hand gruffly and pulling him to his feet. Benjamin got up amiably and tucked his book under one elbow, smiling shyly up at Rachel.
They left the office a minute later and Rachel sighed loudly, sliding even further back in her chair. She pinched the bridge of her nose and tried futilely to steady her shaking hands. She could feel a migraine coming on. The phone bounced in its cradle then, ringing loudly, drilling through her head. She sighed and wiped her eyes that were moistening from the pressure in her forehead.
She slapped a smile on her face and reached for it. Nobody could be allowed to see her pain.
THE DAY BEFORE:
"Matt, hi! I'm Michael Brown from Child Services. Sorry to barge in on you like this but we needed an Emergency Foster Carer. We tried with two others but, um, it didn't work out. But we think you'll be just fine with Adi because you're young and you have experience with teenagers. So, here's the first lot of paperwork-" Michael offered Matt a pile of papers apologetically, "I'll just need the yellow one for now and you can sign the rest and give them back when I call around tomorrow".
Matt nodded, scattering the mess of wrappers on his table, searching desperately for the pen that had been there last night. No sign of it. His head pounded and his wrists throbbed but he didn't want to swallow any Anadin in front of Michael. He'd already consumed half a ton of mints guiltily, tying to cover up the fact that he was badly hung over.
Michael held out a pen, smiling sympathetically at the frazzled teacher. Matt signed the yellow form dutifully and handed it back, smiling.
"So, uh, where is, um, did you say his name was Adi?" Matt asked, rubbing his forehead. He wiped away a bead of sweat. The face of his watch was the only oasis in a desert of warmth. He felt nauseous and all he wanted to do was curl up back in bed for another twelve hours.
"Yes. Adi Skrzeszewski. He'll be up in one minute. He's just getting his stuff sorted out downstairs. If you want we could go down and you could meet his mother" Michael offered, grinning and gesturing vaguely with his hands.
"Yeah, sure" Matt nodded, closing his door tightly and following the social worker to the elevator. It hummed quietly through the innards of the building when they got into the unoccupied lift that came. Michael folded his arms across his chest and his smile widened.
"I heard you got on really well with Sam Kelly. And they're one of the toughest families to place, you know?" Michael said politely. Matt nodded and smiled tightly back. He'd really enjoyed Sam's company during the short time she'd lived with him. Her noise had helped fill in the silence Colin had left behind him.
Perhaps Adi would be able to fill it like that. Matt was keen to take in another child but he couldn't believe they'd picked the worst possible Monday morning for him to be taking one in.
The doors of the lift slid open and Matt winced. The yelling in the lobby was enough to make his head pound like a tin drum. There was definitely something wrong. Michael winced before stepping out of the lift and crossing calmly to the disturbance in which Matt could identify the doorman, three police officers, a woman and a hooded teenage boy. He presumed the boy was Adi. But why was Adi yelling violently? Flinching slightly Matt stepped out as Michael laid down some kind of order.
"What is going on here!? Miss Dietrich, I'm going to have to ask you to leave if you keep this up. What seems to be the problem, officer?" Michael asked, addressing the situation as Matt drew up beside him. Michael reached out and pushed the hooded teenager gently on the chest, away from the policeman. The teenager growled and pushed out at the policeman before slouching back two steps after a warning glare from Michael.
"Mister Brown, I don't see why you are the taking Adi from me. I am able to look after him perfectly well. Tell them, Adi" the woman said desperately, reaching out and gripping the front of Michael's coat. Michael brushed her off, his eyes trained on the policemen. Matt glanced from the policemen to the woman and back. They were both young, about as old as him. She looked too young to have a teenage son.
"This little bugger had a knife on him. I took it off him and he started yelling at me, trying to snatch it back and punch me. Then he tried to do a bunk out the door and we had to restrain him. Tom just let him up a second ago after he took a pop at him with one of his feet" a policeman, who looked to be the senior officer, said.
Michael nodded silently. The woman, Miss Dietrich started to cry.
"Please. He'll be good, Mister Brown. He'll go to school and do his exams. I promise" Miss Dietrich sobbed loudly, gripping again at Michael's coat. Again he swatted her hands away from him. Adi jammed both hands in his pockets and kicked the policeman slyly. Michael pushed his back firmly again and received a good measure kick for his troubles. Matt stood back from the drama and crossed his arms over his chest. He did not feel good.
"Right. Right. Officer, if you wouldn't mind, could you just walk Adi back to the car to get the rest of his things and then help him bring them upstairs? And would one of you mind driving Miss Dietrich to the train station? Matt, why don't we head back up to your flat? I just have a few things I have to go over with you" Michael said, smiling tensely. Mat nodded silently and one of the fresh faced police men reached out, gripping the shoulder of Adi's hood and steering him towards the door.
Adi yelled something in Polish, rearing backwards. Matt swallowed painfully while Miss Dietrich reached out for her son, kissing him hard on the forehead and mumbling to him in low Polish while they were both led away. Adi didn't look too concerned about his mother, just angry. At everyone.
Matt followed Michael wordlessly into the elevator and unlocked the apartment door silently. Michael sat down with him at the kitchen table and Matt heard himself offer tea flatly. His head pounded painfully again. He was never going to drink, ever. He made that vow every single morning after a night clubbing.
"Right. Well, as you can see, Adi can be very lively and spirited. He can be difficult sometimes but I'm sure you'll manage, being a teacher and that. Just to give you a bit of background, he's fourteen years old and came to England when he had just turned thirteen. He came over with his mother but soon after he got here he made contact his father, a man called Adam Skrzeszewski. He's one of the heads of a Polish gang in London and Adi moved in with him before he'd been here a month. Ever since Adi has been in a lot of trouble. He's missed most of the school year for a start.
We think Adi started working for his father but neither of them would co-operate with questioning. Adi received two police cautions and then he was charged when he was stopped in a stolen car and found in possession of heroine, cocaine and a six inch switch blade. He sees a social worker every week but doesn't say much. He doesn't have much English so you might want to get him help at school. Also, Adi's entitled to a full time special needs assistant. He's got very bad ADHD, ODD, dyscalculia and mild dyslexia. He has an exemption from spelling because of these" Michael reeled off, shuffling through his notes.
"What? I'm sorry. Could you say that again, please?" Matt asked, swallowing dryly. Michael smiled tolerantly.
"Adi's entitled to an SNA because he has ADHD, ODD, dyscalculia and dyslexia. He has an exemption from spelling. Adi's father lives in London but I've been told to warn you that he may come up here. Just call the police and refuse him access and he'll get the picture. Adi's not really a bad lad, you see. He's just a bit...mischievous. But I think you'll be fine. Here's his passport-" Michael fumbled the document into Matt's hands, "-Don't give it to him. Don't even tell him you have it. I think that's about it. He'll be up in a minute and I'll be around tomorrow to see how things are going. I recommend taking him down to your school to see about getting a placement".
Matt nodded mutely as Michael got to his feet. He'd bitten off more than he could chew. Again. Adi sounded so difficult. Matt wasn't really sure he could take on something so big so quickly. It would end in tears. Matt grimaced and Michael clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry mate. You're up for it" he said, smiling. He took his papers and left. Matt rushed over to the counter and pulled out the packet of Anadin, dry swallowing two of them. He heard the thump of the policeman's boots long before he returned with a slightly more subdued Adi, who had at the very least stopped spewing what had sounded in the lobby like Polish swear words.
"I'll just leave now. Give us a call if anthing goes wrong. Serge told me to give you his card", the policeman said, offering a small business card with a grin, "He speaks fluent Polish".
"Cheers, mate" Matt said, taking the card and tucking it into his wallet. He glanced over at Adi but he'd turned his back on Matt, running his hand over one of the delicate, expensive glass ornaments. Matt winced, waiting for the loud crash. He wasn't disappointed. Adi spat out a foul sounding word and Matt sighed, reaching for the brush and dust pan he kept in one of the cupboards under the counter. The policeman smiled and turned, closing the door on his way out.
Adi flinched at the loud noise and stood insecurely with his bags, which consisted of a kit bag and a a black bin bag, leaning forlornly against his legs. Matt scooped up the shattered glass easily, depositing it to the bin. Adi flinched at the clink and Matt wondered what to do next.
He spread his palms and offered a hand to Adi for him to shake. Adi flinched again and Matt could feel himself begin to perspire. What was he doing wrong? It was unnerving him that he could only see Adi's eyes between his hood and the scarf he had wrapped around the lower half of his face to fight the chill.
"Hi Adi. I'm Matt. Uh, do you want me to show you your bedroom so you can maybe unpack?" he asked. Adi glanced around edgily, his fingers twitching uneasily. Matt took the silence for a yes and gestured for Adi to follow him into the room Sam had been living in. Adi dumped the bin bag on the floor, nudged the kit bag into the corner and pulled down his hood for the first time, yanking his scarf off and dropping it on the bed.
Matt got his first glance at him.
Adi had blinding white blond hair that clung untidily to the top of his head, curling round the nape of his neck. It was thick and messy and stuck up at the back. Matt wondered when was the last time it was cut. Or even properly washed. In fact, Adi didn't look very clean at all. His face had traces of grime on it. He had wide, high cheekbones and an open forehead with ice blue eyes and he seemed to radiate an angry vibe. He was tall, tall enough to look much older than fourteen and tanned, his skin tone at odds with his white blond hair.
He wore a grey hoodie that looked old and dirty with a tribal print on the front. Ragged jeans with a hole in the knee that definitely hadn't been there when they'd been bought. Beaten up trainers that were in a total state. Dirt on his face and in his hair making it look gluey and stuck together. His neck was filthy. His nails were black with grime under them. Whoever had been looking after him, Matt decided, was useless.
His skin looked like it had been toasted by the desert sun but it's texture was lifeless and un-cared for. There was chalky white residue on his forehead, the kind Matt guessed was from a building site. Adi scratched absently at the side of his head. Matt wondered if his hair was annoying him.
He swiftly looked away, a kind of habitual reluctance to the rudeness of staring. Adi didn't seem to mind. He stared right back at Matt. It was unsettling the way his ice cold blue eyes seemed to be assessing every aspect of Matt, as if he was some kind of big cat on the National Geographic channel getting ready to pounce.
"Adi, have you got any English?" Matt asked, leaning back against the wall. Adi's eyes narrowed again and he sat back on top of the bed.
"My English is just fine" Adi replied, his voice thick with a strong Eastern European accent. Matt smiled, relieved. So Adi had enough English that he could most likely understand what was being said to him. That was a good sign. At least, that was Matt reasoned it was.
"Right. Well, how about you have a nice long shower and change into some clean clothes and then we'll get something to eat and I can take you down to my school to get you a place. That sound alright?" Matt asked warmly, clapping his hands together.
Adi stared blankly back at him.
"Shower. Change clothes. Eat. Then we'll go to the school" Matt repeated slowly, his neck heating with embarrassment.
Adi rifled through one of his bags and produced a filthy looking towel. He went to leave the room in search of the bathroom but Matt reached out gingerly and pulled the towel from him. Adi's eyes narrowed and Matt backed up slowly. Of course, he'd forgotten he was already leaning against the wall. Now he looked like an idiot. Instead of staying there he rolled off the wall and led Adi silently into the bathroom.
"There are clean towels in there" Matt said, gesturing towards the hot press. Adi glared at Matt and grabbed back his own towel, biting out another harsh sounding remark in Polish. Matt rolled his eyes and left, barely avoiding the door as it slammed loudly closed.
He sighed. He was in way over his head.
"Rachel, I think we have a problem"
Rachel sighed loudly, abandoning her coffee and wheeled around in her chair to face Tom Clarkson, who happened to be leaning in the door of her office with a worried look on his face. Rachel scratched her forehead and smiled as best she could at Tom, gesturing for him to take a seat.
"I can't really stop. I think we have three problems, actually. Earl Kelly-" Tom began. Rachel groaned.
She couldn't seem to get any peace with Earl in the school. Just once she'd like to have a normal Monday morning without any catastrophes. Now Earl had kicked off. The day wasn't really looking up at all and she'd only just managed to get her first lot of paperwork done.
"Earl Kelly's in the cooler. Something to do with shop lifting. Rose has gone to talk with him and I think Eddie's down there keeping him in. As far as I know, he was skiving off for the day and got light-fingered in a corner shop down the village. The owner locked him in the back and called Eddie to pick him up" Tom said, crossing the room and collapsing into the chair Rachel had indicated for him to sit in.
"I have another one in my office. Her name's Grace Waters. Lovely girl. But she doesn't go to this school. Says she wants to enroll but won't give me details for her parents. I can't get a single phone number out of her. I don't think she's got any to give me. She looks sort of, well, neglected. I'd love it if you could please speak with her. I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall" Tom said, his voice making it clear that it was a request and not a complaint.
"Will do. And the third thing?" Rachel asked. Tom leaned forward conspiratorially and glanced warily at Rachel.
"You know Tommy Mitchell? Short little year seven? He's in my English class. Good kid. At least, until recently. He's gone totally off the rails. I nearly bonneted him this morning when he went sprinting out the gates. I had to walk him back in, take an earful of abuse from what I'd previously thought to be a good lad. He called me fat-" Tom sounded genuinely hurt at the ridiculous insult "-and when he went back to class he lasted two minutes before Steph packed him off to the cooler. He gave Jasmin an obscene hand gesture through the window and he's been plaguing Eddie ever since".
"Are you telling me you left Tommy Mitchell, who I know to be a good, clever, quiet boy, with Earl Kelly for company in the cooler?" Rachel asked, swallowing. She'd told Tommy Mitchell to stop running only that morning. He was a good kid, never caused any trouble. The day Tommy Mitchell started to raise hell was the day the world turned upside down. She turned subconsciously, waiting for Eddie to say something before she realized he wasn't there. It was just her, alone. Oh God.
"Right. Thanks. I'll deal with Earl and Tommy first, seeing as they're in the same room. Then I'll go to your office to talk with this Grace girl. And could you please cover Matt's year eight music class? He's going to be late today" Rachel asked, getting to her feet. Tom nodded and left the office without another word and Rachel smiled at his back. She knew he was furious with her decision to provide for the Kelly family. Things seemed to just get on top of her.
She pushed away the beginnings of a pang in her heart. She didn't have time now. Not now. She had business to attend to.
She plastered on a fake smile for the people she would undoubtedly pass in the hallway and allowed herself to briefly ponder inwardly what her life had become. Never let that smile slip, lest they see exactly who you truly are.
So that's it. Please review and tell me what you think.