Chapter 2

Hey! Sorry for the delay in updating, I was on holiday and I didn't realise I wouldn't have wifi (Real sad times). There's not much Reddie in here (I tried – but couldn't fit much in this chapter) but this is kinda like a build up to the Team-Building thing to introduce a new character I've created - Abra Beauchamp. Won't give too much away and I'll stop rambling now Hope you enjoy and thank you sooooo much for your reviews they mean a lot xx

'What do you mean?' asked a peevish looking Eddie.

'I mean what I just said!' Rachel replied. 'We're carpooling. It's not my idea! The LEA have said there's no cash to splash on everyone making their own way. And some other guff about being environmentally friendly…'

Thankfully, the others had been drawn into a debate about who was working with who once they got there, giving Eddie a chance to mutter under his breath to Rachel: 'They can stuff that. You know, I'd pay not to have to be stuck in a car with Steph for four hours…'

Rachel grinned at him and Eddie smiled back before they both turned to stop what had now turned into a full-on, insult-hurling argument between the others. It was Friday morning and Eddie, Rachel, Tom, Matt, Steph and Grantly were standing outside the school in the car park where they'd arranged to meet. Clearly Eddie was the last one to realise this was due to the carpooling idea Rachel had just informed him about.

'Well, whose car are we taking?' Tom asked lazily. 'We won't all fit into mine.'

Matt opened him mouth to answer, when suddenly a smooth American-accented voice called out 'Wait for meeee!'

Tom stared, dumbfounded, at Matt before realising the sound came from behind him. He turned around with the others to locate the source of the voice. The owner turned out to be a reasonably attractive, vaguely South-Asian looking man in his 40's, sporting immaculately manicured stubble, a well-styled quiff and a dangerously tight pair of trousers. He had a duffle bag on his shoulder and was sprinting down the path towards them as fast as his trousers would allow.

'Alright?' He greeted between snatched breaths, coming to a halt beside them. He didn't seem to notice that everyone but Rachel was staring at him like he was a giraffe who had just wondered into a church.

'Michael!' Rachel exclaimed, watching the man she was addressing bend over in an attempt to regain his breath. 'What the hell are you doing here?'

'Going to this team building conference thing!' Michael answered with as much indignation as he could muster. 'My sister has taken my car down to Devon for the week and everyone else at the hospital has already left. So I thought instead of getting a taxi I'd see if I can hitch a lift with you guys!'

Rachel accepted this without any hesitation and turned back to her colleagues. 'This is Michael Baudhuin. He's an old friend and a heart surgeon at Birch Hill Hospital.'

His job alone meant Michael received impressed looks as he shook everyone's hand. Now that it had been confirmed he hadn't just decided to hitch a lift with some strangers to a residential, everyone seemed a lot friendlier and small talk soon broke out, starting with Michael's correction of his name.

'Actually,' he grinned after Steph had mispronounced his surname wrong for the third time. 'Just use Beauchamp. Most people do. It's my mum's surname and I tend to use it rather than my dad's. It's less embarrassing.'

'Right, Michael Beauchamp.' Steph confirmed, looking relieved.

'Oh, and call me Abra, everyone but my mum and Rachel does.' Michael informed them, looking amused at their bewildered looks.

'Wait, so your name's Michael Baudhuin, but you prefer to be called Abra Beauchamp?' Tom asked, perplexed.

'Yep!' Abra née Michael grinned.

Eddie raised an eyebrow at Rachel who just rolled her eyes and said 'Don't ask.'

'So, whose car are we going in?' Abra asked.

'I don't mind driving.' Matt offered.

'I don't mind if you do either!' Tom grinned. 'But we'll need to take two cars.'

'We can take mine.' Eddie shrugged. 'It's better than leaving it here for Mika and Brett to rip out my brakes or something because my carbon emission is too high…No offence Tom.' He added.

'None taken,' Tom replied, just as fed up with Mika's eco-warrior efforts. At the same time, however, Rachel had exclaimed, 'We can't take your tin can!'

'Excuse me?' Eddie protested defensively. 'There's nothing wrong with her!'

'Oh please! We'd get there quicker if we walked!'

Steph rolled her eyes. 'You can walk, but I'm more than happy to be chauffeured.'

And with that, Matt, Grantly, Tom and Steph headed towards Matt's car, leaving Eddie and Rachel to happily insult each other's cars. Abra considered his options, and, with a shrug, grabbed his bag and jogged after the others.

They had just reached Matt's car when Abra caught them up, and Tom came to an abrupt stop.

'This is your car?' He asked, glancing around as if he could conjure up another one if he stared hard enough.

'Yeah.' Matt answered, before demanding defensively: 'What's wrong with it?'

Tom crinkled his nose.

'What's righ…' He caught the look on Matt's face and didn't finish his sentence. Instead he turned around to find a regretful looking Abra standing behind him. He caught his eye and Abra gave him a subtle nod. 'Uh, look, It'll be cramped with us all in here…' He glanced around the carpark and saw Rachel striding towards her car, a sulky Eddie following. 'I'll…um…catch a lift with the others.' Tom had already picked up his bag and was jogging towards the other end of the car park before Matt could even say a word in protest.

He just shrugged and turned to Abra. 'I guess you're going with that lot too?'

Abra grinned apologetically. 'Sorry, mate.' And he turned and followed Tom.

'Ouch,' Steph sighed. 'We've been dumped for a fancier motor.'

'And fancier people.' Grantly finished. 'What the hell is that?' He added as Steph pulled a pink travel pillow out of her large suitcase.

'I like to be comfy on long drives. I know I don't need it, but I do enjoy my beauty sleep.' Steph said defensively.

'Grandma.' Grantly mumbled under his breath.

'You won't be so cocky when you've got a crick in your neck because you dozed off!' Steph retorted.

Matt just made a face and shook his head in disbelief.

Abra and Tom headed in a companionable silence towards the other end of the car park, and once it was obvious to Abra that they were definitely travelling in Rachel's car, he then proceeded to do what he did best: annoy the hell out of Rachel.

Abra had dumped his bag on Tom so he could overtake her on the way to her car, snatching the car keys from her hand as he sprinted past her. He hadn't stopped until he'd reached the driver's seat and jumped in. Rachel's reaction wouldn't have been out of place at a meeting where it had just been declared Christmas was cancelled for the year.

'For God's sake Michael!' Rachel sighed. 'Get out! Now!'

'No way! I'm driving. Get in the back.' He did his best to look nonchalant as he ignored Rachel's expression. 'What's the point in me being insured on your car if I can't drive it?!'

In answer to Eddie's questioning yet highly amused look, Rachel quickly told the story which explained why Abra was now sitting in the driver's seat of her car. Three years ago, Rachel and Abra had decided to insure each other on their respective cars. It was around the time Abra had decided to go back-packing around India, and because he drove a white Audi, Rachel could drive a stylish car when he was abroad and wasn't using it without paying out for one and alternatively Abra could drive her car when he came back once a month to visit his mum. It had seemed like a good plan at the time, but that whim had haunted Rachel ever since because Abra had taken every opportunity since to steal her car. Including now.

No matter how much Rachel protested, it seemed evident that Abra wasn't budging. Tom had already called Shotgun so Rachel had no choice but to get in the back with Eddie.

'Oh, come on Rachel,' Eddie sighed, not seeing a problem with the situation. 'It's still your car wherever you're sitting. And we all know you're a backseat kinda girl.'

Tom actually spat out the water he was drinking before he collapsed back in his chair in an attempt to stifle his laughter and Rachel stared at him in disbelief.

'I mean that you're the type to be chauffeured!' Eddie panicked, glancing around for some escape. 'Like, sit in the back and have a driver! Not…I didn't mean…you know…that kinda backseat…'

Rachel grumbled threateningly but got in.

Abra looked like he was staring at his idol as he winked at Eddie in amusement. He turned to Rachel, and, imitating her unimpressed frown said patronisingly:

'Now, put your belt on.'

So Abra is like Rachel's best friend, and is a kinda smooth operator flirt! I thought he would be a bit of fun because I like to have a character of my own in my stories and he'll help with some jealously fun at first as well as acting as a catalyst for Reddie :D Hope you like it! Hope to have another update within the next few days xxxx