Rachel sat in the kitchen, trying to work. She couldn't focus and it was all her own fault. She shouldn't have had half a bottle of wine to drink, she knew that. She was small and she hadn't eaten anything again tonight and it had all got to her too quickly. The problem was that it had become a habit since Eddie had left and, while the wine didn't make her happy, it dulled the pain she felt when she was sober. She couldn't stop the raw pain in her forever and she only drunk like this at the weekend, but it helped her a bit. It wasn't like she had many other distractions; her friends were always dropping by but as soon as they left, she was back to her unrivalled thoughts and no matter how hard she tried to turn down a new path, every route led to the same place: Eddie.
She hadn't had it easy since he'd gone. Things at school had been bad, especially today. She had hoped that with Max finally gone, without the threats and the intimidation, things might get better. But then there had been this whole situation with Bianca and the caravan, and Rachel had gone and risked her life again. When the caravan went up in flames, seconds after them leaving, she couldn't help but wonder if it was worth her escaping. Bianca had her mother and her brother but Rachel had no one. She always had no one now. Eddie had been her someone and he was gone. Sure Chris seemed to care about her, but it wasn't the same and she knew it. Rachel didn't have anyone to fight her corner like Eddie once had, she didn't have anyone to hold her when she cried herself to sleep (something which had become frequent recently) and she didn't have Eddie. She was alone and here, in her empty kitchen, she felt it more than ever. The phone rang, startling her out of her daze and she went to answer it, trying to stop herself slurring her words but only half managing it. "Hello?"
"Rach," came the familiar tone, "it's me. Mel, she... She's left. The baby wasn't mine." Rachel didn't know how to respond. Her eyes filled with tears. She felt overjoyed to get Eddie back but furious with her sister. "Rach? Look, I'm on my way over, if you still want me?"
"Of course I want you, I never stopped wanting you. God Eddie, get off your phone and get driving!"
"I am driving," he told her, happiness seeping slowly into his tone.
"Well get off your phone because I don't want to lose you on your way here!" Rachel said, hanging up on him and running around tidying the house up. She knew it wasn't actually messy but she had to keep busy until Eddie arrived and besides, she didn't want him thinking she couldn't cope. Before long, there was a knock at the door, and there stood Eddie. Neither of them said a word as Rachel launched herself into his arms, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Eddie captured her mouth with his own and she ran her fingers through his hair, wrapping her legs around his waist as he held her by hers. She moaned slightly into his mouth, feeling him smile into her lips at the sound. Suddenly a throat was cleared beside Eddie's car and they pulled apart, Eddie gently dropping her to the floor. "God I missed you," Eddie murmured as Rachel wrapped an arm round him and turned to Phil.
"Phil! She left you with Eddie?" Rachel asked worriedly.
"You know mum: ever responsible, Rach," Phil muttered. "I wouldn't have gone if she asked me to." And with that, Rachel pulled him in for a hug as well, tears still streaming down her face as she clutched him to her before releasing him and grabbing Eddie by the hand, leading him inside, Phil following behind good-naturedly, noting how the pair of teachers never lost contact with each other's forms, hands skimming waists, hips brushing, shoulders bumping.