Things Move On

Part Two

The school was buzzing. Smiling faces streamed along the corridors. The sounds of laughter, giggling and cheers of excitement reverberated off the walls. The first assembly of the new school year was over and students were making their way to their classes.

Rachel sighed with relief. She had given them a rallying, well prepared, speech about how successful she knew the year would be. Her apparent confidence had been infectious. Staff and pupils alike had whooped and clapped animatedly as she told them about the new initiatives she had in mind; the upgraded computer facilities, stronger links with the community and more rewards for those students who met their full potential, and stayed out of the Cooler. Even Bolton's suggestion that Miss Mason extend lunchtime by an hour and a half had been met with good humour.

She also introduced the new Deputy Head. This revelation had brought shock to many of the students' faces. Most of them had known about Ms Ryan's pregnancy; who could have failed to hear about her attempt to woo back Mr Lawson? They had all noted how Mr Lawson had remained on the other side of the yard when they had returned from their victorious choir competition. They had also seen how he had not joined their Head Teacher when they had gathered together in a defiant act of unity in front of the demolished school. However, none of them had believed he would actually leave.

Rachel had stood in the centre of the stage. It was the one part of her speech that she had been dreading the most; breaking the news; the news that Eddie Lawson was no longer working at Waterloo Road.

"And now, I'd like you all to meet a very important person." Rachel's voice remained level and controlled, as did her smiling face. "Many of you may have noticed that a familiar face is missing..." Momentarily, her voice and facial expression faltered. Taking a sharp intake of breath, she regained her composure, gave a meek, forced grin and continued, "Mr Lawson has decided to move on...he has a new job, as a Deputy Head, at Windsor School in Manchester." Without pausing for breath, ignoring the disappointed sighs that ricocheted around the hall, Rachel pushed on, as if on automatic pilot, "May I formally introduce to you, Mr Ian Watkins, Waterloo Road's new Deputy Head."

All the students clapped politely, still rather stunned by the Head's announcement, as an enthusiastic man, who was in his mid forties, bounded towards the microphone. Eagerly thanking Rachel for the introduction, he took over centre stage and began giving the students an engaging insight into his teaching career so far.

Rachel retreated to a vacant chair towards the back of the stage. Steph Haydock glanced over, willing Rachel to make eye contact. All too aware of Steph's curious gaze, Rachel feigned a smile and stared out in to a sea of young, expectant faces.

Following the traumatic events of the final day, Rachel had seen Eddie only once, when he had collected his things from her house. The house they had started to call home. She had remained pensively in the kitchen whilst he busied himself gathering clothing, books, cds, dvds and all his other possessions that had steadily accumulated there during their four contented months together. Their final conversation had been strained; neither of them able to find the words to say goodbye...

"Rach," Eddie said gently, "Rach, I'm done." He edged apprehensively in to the kitchen. Rachel was perched on a kitchen stool, her head bowed as if meditating. A cold, full coffee cup lay on the table top by her side. She did not raise her head to look at him. She did not respond.

Eddie stopped moving towards her. His heart sank. Rachel was the one who had decided their relationship would not work, but Eddie could not bring himself to believe that she would allow him to walk away without saying goodbye. Not after all they had been through together. Not after all they had felt, still felt, for each other. His eyes stinging as he desperately tried to suppress his tears, he repeated his words. This time there was a greater sense of anguish in his voice.

"Rachel...I've got my things...I'll go now." Rachel still did not react. He shuffled uncomfortably and pushed his hands in to the pocket of his jeans. "Just do me one favour ...If you ever decide you can do it...I mean be with me, despite everything... you know I'll be there...I love you." Dejectedly, he turned to leave.

Suddenly, Rachel sprang to life. She moved swiftly towards him and grabbed his hand. He came to a halt and turned round to face her. Her words and lips were quivering.

"I'm sorry Eddie...I do love you, believe me I do." She looked up, deep into his eyes. "You...you just look after yourself..." Leaning in to him, pulling gently on the collar of his crumpled shirt, she kissed him tenderly on the lips. Their eyes were closed, both trying to block out the reality of events. After a few long seconds, she recoiled from their embrace and hurriedly left the room, as if unable to trust her own actions should she remain any longer. Eddie remained inert in the empty kitchen until he could no longer hear Rachel's footsteps on the stairs. Then, he painfully gathered up the remaining bags he had haphazardly cast his possessions in to and left, quietly closing the front door behind him...

The sound of applause and whoops of delight brought Rachel out of her somnambulist like state. Conscious that it was her turn, once again, to take centre stage, she thanked Ian for his commitment to Waterloo Road. Coughing slightly, she announced to a hushed mass of students,

"Well...it's a new term. It's time for a fresh start. This is a fantastic opportunity for us, for all of us, to move on." With increased fervour, she continued, "We'll put the events that took place at the end of last term behind us, and make this a school a place we can all, once again, be proud of."

As the students resumed their cheering and clapping, she nodded to indicate they could begin to leave the hall. Rachel inhaled deeply. She only hoped that one day, soon, she would begin to believe her own rhetoric.

***