Hollyoaks: Back to Work
John Paul returned home after getting his job back at Hollyoaks High and was sorting out his paperwork in the living room when Theresa and Porsche sauntered in. "Hey, John Paul," Porsche said with a grin, and kissed her cousin on the cheek. "Hey, Porsche, Theresa," John Paul replied, a little absent mindedly. Theresa saw this.
"Hey, Porsche," she said, "Why don't you go and put the kettle on and I'll help John Paul with his stuff upstairs?" she asked. Porshe shrugged. "Whatever," she said, and went to the kitchen. Theresa gave John Paul a meaning full look and he sighed, before reluctantly putting his paperwork in one folder and following her up the stairs to her room.
"How was school?" Theresa asked pointedly with a raised eyebrow as she sat on her bed. John Paul shrugged. "OK. I got my job back," he told her. Theresa gasped. "Really! Wow, well done, John Paul," she said, and gave him a congratulatory hug. John Paul hugged her back, hoping she wouldn't mention the student he kissed the night before.
After the hug, Theresa pulled back and saw the look on his face. "Why aren't you happy?" she asked. "I thought you'd be over the moon. I know you said you went to see Finn with Sinead yesterday, so I thought you'd be more pleased than this," she said, as she sat down on her bed again.
John Paul put his hands uncomfortably in his pockets as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. "I am happy," he protested. Theresa gave him a look. "Come on, John Paul," she coaxed. "There's something else, isn't there? Should I be worried?" she asked.
John Paul sighed and sat down on the edge of Phoebe's bed, as Theresa's baby, Myra Pocahontas, slept in the cot next to him. "OK, OK," he said. "It's about that boy I kissed last night. You were right, T. He was old enough to be a student," he said. Theresa folded her arms across her chest. "And?" she prompted, before John Paul gave a big sigh and rubbed his face. "He's a student. At Hollyoaks High," he told her.
Theresa's jaw dropped to the floor as she took the news in. "You what?" she asked, shocked. John Paul nodded guiltily as he stared at the floor, unable to meet Theresa's eyes. "John Paul McQueen," she said, angrily. "How can you be so stupid? You know you're risking your job and Ste, and all for what, this student?" she asked. John Paul nodded miserably. "I know. You were right. I'm sorry, Theresa. I messed up. I don't know how to fix it," he said, sadly. "It's not me you should be apologising to," Theresa said firmly. John Paul looked at his cousin. "I'm sorry I put you in the middle of all this," he said. "But it was just a kiss... nothing serious-," he said, trying to play it down.
"Oh come on, John Paul. Listen to yourself," Theresa scolded him. "Now Ste won't ever talk to me again if I found out I knew about your secret, will he?" she asked. John Paul hung his head. "I know, I know and I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you. I'll invite Ste round for dinner here this week, and I'll tell him afterwards," John Paul suggested.
"You better," Theresa said, "Because I'm not covering up your mistakes," she said. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Theresa opened it. It was Porsche. "Come on you two," she said breezily. "Tea's on the table," she began. Then she saw the sad looks on both their faces, and raised an eyebrow. "Hey," she said, "did I miss something? What's with the long faces?" she asked. Theresa and John Paul shared a look.
"It's nothing. We were just talking about Ste," Theresa said, as John Paul looked at her in panic. "Oh? What about him?" Porsche asked. "Well, John Paul said he's going to invite Ste over for dinner here sometime this week as a celebration for getting his job back," Theresa said, with a meaningful look at John Paul.
John Paul sighed in relief, and mouthed 'thank you' to Theresa for not telling Porsche their secret. Theresa just raised an eyebrow at him again before turning back to Porsche. "Well, you could look more happy about it," she said, before grinning and going down the stairs. Theresa gave a last look at Myra Pocahontas, and followed Porsche down the stairs, with an anxious looking John Paul in tow. He had no idea how he could explain the kiss to Ste.