Waterloo Road school was a madhouse.

Eddie had accepted this a while back. He'd known it before he'd started his job, had had it confirmed within his first morning and consolidated it several times over since then. That said, he'd grown rather fond of it, even while facing an inquisition from a group of staff when he had somehow found himself stood in front them on the tail end of the debacle with Jack Rimmer. Privately, he was just relieved that no one had quit after the previous week and unbelievably anxious over acting as headteacher for a school whose previous heads had all had… interesting… ends to their tenure. "I just want to get to the end of term!" he told Steph in response to her prying enquiry, before looking over to the rest of the group. "Anyone got anything?" he questioned. At the negative response, he made to leave only to spin in a circle as a thought occurred to him. "I almost forgot- Alexandra Jennings is starting today. You should all have received the email about her this morning."

"The girl with epilepsy?" Tom checked. Eddie nodded while Grantly groaned.

"Wonderful. Another student with a get-out-of-class pass."

"Oh come on." Jasmine frowned. "From what the email said, the poor girl really has a time of it."

"And just what am I supposed to do if she has a fit in my class, hm?"

"Did you actually read the email?" exasperation leaked into Eddie's tone. At the shifty look he received, he sighed.

"She suffers mainly from absence seizures so you won't need to do anything unless it lasts for longer than thirty seconds, she has several in a short space of time or she has a different type of seizure, which I'm told is unlikely."

"And what is an absence seizure supposed to be?"

"It's kind of self-explanatory." Jasmine chimed in. "She'll sort of… zone out. Only she won't respond when you call her name."

"So she's a daydreamer."

"No." Eddie cut in. "It's a medical condition Grantley, a potentially fatal one in the right circumstances. If you notice her having one just carry on and she should come out of it herself in a few seconds. Any problems, call for me, Davina, Tom or the nurse if it's a day she's in."

"Why you four?" Jasmine enquired.

"Because we're the ones doing the training for her. Have a good week everyone!"

Well, he thought to himself as he left, if nothing else, this was going to be an experience.

Unbeknownst to him, a floor down his thoughts were being echoed by one Alexandra Jennings- better known as Lex to most- as she stood in the reception where she'd been asked to wait, eyes wide as she watched the students of her new school arrive. There were some who were dressed so that only the tie gave away that they were wearing a uniform, others who seemed determined to get into a fight before they'd walked through the doors and some that she was fairly certain weren't entirely of sound mind as they stumbled down the drive. With a calmness she personally thought was quite admirable, she withdrew her phone from her pocket and flicked to her mother's number.

What have you gotten us into?!

She just knew her mother was laughing. And apparently, waiting for her message if the speed at which the reply came was any indication.

It'll be fine. I'll see you soon. X

That wasn't the point. Lex thought grumpily. She sighed, returning to watching the students out the window until a voice caught her attention. "Alexandra?"

The brunette girl turned, pasting on a polite smile. "Yes?"

"I'm Mr Lawson, deputy headteacher." He reached out and shook her hand. "Welcome to Waterloo Road."

"Thanks."

"Your mother didn't come?"

"She's starting her new job today. Couldn't really ask for time off." A faint smile danced across her face as Eddie chuckled.

"I suppose not." He agreed, leading her through the corridors. "Well, your teachers have all been briefed on your seizures and we've managed to fit all of your subject options into your timetable." He handed said timetable to her as they reached her form room and the pretty Chinese girl waiting outside of it. "This is Emma Chang, she's your form captain. She'll be showing you round today. Emma, this is Alexandra."

"Lex, please. I only get called Alexandra when I'm trouble." She grinned.

"Well- have a good day girls. Lex, I'll check in with you later." Eddie nodded to them and went to register his own form, leaving the two staring at each other awkwardly.

"So what brings you to a dump like this?"

"Mum got a new job." Lex shrugged. "So I get to join a new school half-way through a term."

"Bet your dad was pleased."

Lex raised an eyebrow at the unsubtle prying. "He didn't have much of an opinion."

"Oh."

They fell into another awkward silence and Lex inwardly sighed, deciding that if she was going to have to stomach this, she might as well do it with some company. "So… any survival tips?" she ventured, offering an olive branch. "I think I might need them around here."

Emma smirked. "Definitely."

W.R.

Her first day finished, Lex wandered through the now empty halls of her new school, amused at the speed in which the staff and students alike had disappeared. She smiled politely at the few cleaners she passed until eventually, and with only one wrong turn, she found herself in the doorway of the headteacher's office.

"I heard you've had an interesting first day." She fought to keep her mouth from twitching.

"Ha ha." Rachel rolled her eyes. "How on earth did something happening in the year twelve filter down to year ten?"

"The new headteacher being thrown up on by a drunk sixth-former? Safe to say even year seven knew within an hour." Lex grinned at the small groan she received at that.

"Well, at least it'll give them something to talk about," Rachel sighed. "How was your first day?"

Lex shrugged. "New schools are never fun. This one is certainly more eventful than the last one though."

"And that sums up Waterloo Road in a nutshell, I think." Rachel began gathering up her things and switching everything off. "I was thinking pasta for dinner?"

"With garlic bread?" Lex looked hopeful.

"Of course, can't forget the garlic bread."

"Aw- best mum ever!"

"Only when I feed you, apparently."

"That's not true!" she protested with a grin. "You're pretty great when you're getting rid of spiders too."

She dodged the good-natured swat that came her way, laughing lightly as her mother hooked an arm around her shoulders. "In all seriousness, do you think you're going to be alright here?"

"Well, it's not like there are any other options are there?" Lex pointed out in amusement. "We've already decided that attending another school simply isn't practical."

"No." Rachel agreed. "But if you really hated it we could work something out."

"I don't. Hate it, I mean." They got to the car park and Lex broke away, looking at her mother over the roof while she dug in her bag for the keys. "It's a change and if I want to get decent grades I'm going to have to do a lot of self-study, but I don't hate it. This works, for now at least."

Rachel looked relieved. "I'm glad. Now I really need to shower and change, so let's go home."

"You mean hotel." Lex muttered under her breath, but couldn't help but laugh when she caught sight of her mother's wrinkled nose.

That was the issue of taking a new job with a mere weekend of notice- there was no time for moving house. Her mother had got the call late Friday night asking if she would take the headship; several debates and arguments, a quick phone call to a lawyer and some hasty internet research later, she'd confirmed late Saturday afternoon and the pair had spent the Sunday packing up as much of their house as they possibly could.

They had nowhere to put everything, however, so most of the boxes and furniture had been left behind until they had somewhere to move to. The essentials had been packed into suitcases and came to a temporary hotel with them, which Lex had to admit she wasn't a fan of. Which was why, while her mother was in the bathroom she dashed to the shop across the road, grabbing a selection of local newspapers and began to search for houses.

She quickly realised a flaw in her plan when she had no clue how close to Waterloo Road any of them were, and so enacted another run to the shop to buy a map as well. By the time she returned, her mother was sat on the bed looking through the newspapers, hair still wrapped in a towel.

"Oh good." She looked up when Lex re-entered, spotting the map in her hand. "I was just thinking I didn't know where any of these are."

"That's why you have me." She said cheerfully, and the pair got to work.

W.R.

The next morning, Rachel was bleary eyed and tired, but now armed with a list of possible houses and the relevant agents to call once they'd all opened. "Lex! Breakfast!" she shouted through the door to the bathroom, plucking the toast from its' perch on the side to butter it and realising too late that she'd already done so, and now had a handful of butter.

"I'm already here, you don't need to yell."

Rachel turned, wiping her hand and felt her eyes widen when she spotted Lex already dressed with her bag on her shoulder. "You're running early."

"Well I've got to leave if I want to get to school on time."

"What?" Rachel glanced at her watch in confusion, wondering if she'd misread it earlier.

"I'll see you later!"

"Hold up! You're not walking to school!"

Lex crossed her arms. "I'm not coming with you! I don't want the whole school to know I'm the headmistress's daughter!"

"Oh charming."

"Mum! If people know I'll either spend all my time alone because people are too afraid to be friends with me or people will only want to be friends with me because they think they'll get special treatment. I just… want a chance to be me before I have to be your daughter." She looked at her pleadingly and Rachel sighed.

"I understand, I really do. But you're not walking all that way by yourself."

"I'm fourteen not four! I'm perfectly capable of using my legs!"

"I'm aware of that." Her mother replied calmly. "I'm more concerned with you having a seizure on the way."

Lex fell silent.

"I'll make you a deal. I'll drive you most of the way, and I'll drop you off a few roads away so you don't have to be seen with me. In return, you send me a text when you get into school so I know that you're safe."

"We're not supposed to have our phones in school."

"Don't get smart with me." Rachel frowned at her. "You do this or you will come the whole way with me no matter who sees you."

Lex sighed. "Fine. But no one else has to do this!"

"I guarantee you there are kids all over the country who do."

Lex sagged into a seat. There were kids, she knew, who had seizures so debilitating they weren't able to function. A text seemed like a reasonable compromise when she remembered that. "Sorry." She murmured.

Rachel looked at her sympathetically. "Sweetheart this isn't a punishment. It's to protect you."

"I know. I just… I wish I could be normal."

She found herself leaning into her mother, who had come to put an arm around her. "I know you do. But this is our normal. And we will deal with it, just like we've always done."

Lex smiled up at her, content to remain where they were for a long moment until she found her eyes drifting over to the clock on the wall. "Speaking of normal- we're going to be late if you don't hurry up."

Her mother followed her gaze, swearing under her breath and dashing off into the bathroom when she saw the time.

Over the next few days, the pair fell into a comfortable routine. True to her word, Rachel would drop her daughter off around the corner and Lex would text her once she'd made it through the gates. After school had finished she would head to the library, either being pulled from her homework by her mother ready to leave or the cleaner, who would usher her out with a shake of the head and leave her to go and tear Rachel from her own work. It worked well for them, right up until the afternoon Lex stumbled into Rachel's office just ten minutes after the final bell rang.

"You look awful." Rachel frowned, rising from her chair and crossing over to her.

"Thanks- just what every daughter wants to hear." Lex mumbled, sinking onto the sofa and closing her eyes.

"What's wrong, love?"

"I'm fine."

She tried to pull away as Rachel brushed a hand over her head but her mother was persistent, slipping her fingers passed her hair to feel her forehead. "You don't have a temperature." She noted and looked at Lex knowingly. "How many seizures did you have?"

"Not sure. A few."

Rachel ground her teeth. "Why didn't you say anything to someone?"

"I'm fine. Just tired."

Sure enough, she was already falling asleep and Rachel sighed, covering her with her own jacket and returning to her desk where she could work and keep an eye on Lex at the same time. She soon realised that that wasn't going to be particularly successful however- every tiny movement her daughter made had her looking up anxiously, watching carefully for any sign of a seizure.

"Rach I need to speak with-"

"Ssh!" Rachel held a finger to her lips as Eddie burst into her office. He looked at her, baffled. She froze for a few heartbeats, waiting to see if Lex woke up but the girl merely shifted positions, pushing her face further into the cushions. Eddie was looking from one to the other in confusion; Rachel rose silently, shooing him out of the office and closing the door behind them both.

"What is it Eddie?"

"I… why is Lex Jennings asleep in your office?" he questioned, looking at the door as if that would provide answers.

"Because she had several seizures. Did you want something?"

"Oh, right." Unconvinced, he began to talk her through the paperwork in his hand. Before long, both were seconded at the desk pouring over it, until the door opening behind them had them both looking around.

"Mum your phone is ringing." Lex handed it to her, one hand rubbing at her eye. "Hi Mr Lawson."

"Thanks love." Rachel stood, moving away to answer it as Eddie gaped.

"Mum? She's your mother?"

Lex looked at him curiously, and then swallowed thickly as she realised what had happened, nodding hesitantly. "Yeah…"

"Well..." he leant back into his seat, frowning slightly. "You both kept that quiet."

Lex bit her lip, leaning tiredly against the wall. "I didn't want the other kids to know." She admitted softly. "And that meant no one else knowing either."

Eddie tilted his head. "Why didn't you want the other kids to know?"

"If…" She trailed off, expression blanking as her eyes glazed over slightly.

"Lex?"

The girl stared at nothing, her hand wavering by her side.

"Lex?" Eddie straightened, watching her carefully in between glances towards where Rachel stood. But just as he was about to call out to her, Lex inhaled sharply, blinking and focusing on him.

"If you- if you were the headteacher's daughter, would you want them to know?" she continued, shaking her head slightly as she smiled somewhat ruefully. Eddie looked at her in concern.

"Are you alright?"

Lex nodded. "Fine." She smiled weakly and Eddie shifted, unsettled at his first glimpse of what a seizure looked like in her.

"So how are you settling in?" he questioned, still watching her cautiously.

"Good. It's different from my old school but I like it."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it." He smiled.

"Alright." Rachel snapped her phone closed as she came back in. "You ready to go sweetheart?"

Lex nodded, disappearing into the office to gather her things while Rachel smiled at Eddie. "We're all done, right? Anything else can wait till morning?"

"Absolutely. I… I think Lex just had another seizure." He told her uncertainly. She sighed, glancing towards her.

"I'll keep an eye on her. Thanks Eddie."

He nodded, but caught her arm before she could go into the office. "Rach? Why didn't you tell me Lex was your daughter?"

She blinked. "It… it never came up, I suppose." She saw the look of doubt on his face and touched his arm gently. "I wasn't trying to hide it, honestly. My name's on all the paperwork and the records. I genuinely didn't think to mention it."

His eyes searched hers for a moment before he nodded and stepped away from her slightly. "Okay." He accepted, impressed that she had followed his thought process to quickly. Rachel smiled but found her gaze drawn to her daughter, frowning and sighing as another thought occurred to her.

"What's wrong?"

"We were supposed to go and view a house tonight. But I can't take her like this and I can't leave her either. I'll have to cancel."

"You still haven't moved in anywhere?" Eddie asked in surprise.

"Mum has very high standards." Lex joked as she joined them, handing Rachel her bag.

"I do not! We thought we had one but it fell through so we had to start again. The one we were supposed to be going to tonight looked pretty perfect."

"Oh no, don't cancel the viewing because of me!" Lex clocked on to what her mother was talking about.

"I am not dragging you around to look at a house in this condition." Rachel said firmly. "I'll see if the agent can reschedule."

"She said she's been doing viewings all day! There won't be a chance! Mum, I'll be fine, really. Don't cancel."

"I don't have a choice! I can't-"

"What about if I stay with Lex?" Eddie interrupted, hoping to stop the developing argument in its tracks. Both turned to stare at him.

"What?" Rachel questioned.

"I can stay with Lex and you can go to your viewing." He explained. "Provided Lex doesn't mind of course."

"I don't." she piped up but Rachel was already shaking her head.

"I can't impose on you like that…"

"You're not imposing if it's an offer. Really Rach- go to your viewing. I'll take Lex back to your hotel and stay until you're finished."

She hesitated, glancing at her daughter. "You sure that's okay with you, love?"

Lex nodded furiously. "Yes! Especially if it gets us out of that hotel."

"Okay." She agreed. "Thank you, Eddie."

He grinned cheerfully at her. "No problem. Come on Lex, let's go."