A/N - Sorry it's been a while since I last updated. Thank you for all the reviews :) Please read & review!

As the night passed by Tom, Steph and Grantly all left one by one, leaving just Rachel and Chris. Max and Kim were still over the side of the pub drinking together. Chris sat gazing at Rachel while she spoke.

"Chris?" She said clicking her fingers in front of his face. He quickly came to his senses, realizing he'd been staring at Rachel for the past 5 minutes. He blushed a little.

"Sorry I just... thinking" He replied. Out the corner of her eye Rachel watched as Max approached them without Kim.

"Mind if I join?" He asked, he took a seat before anyone replied.

"No Kim?" Asked Chris.

"No, she's headed off home" Replied Max. He looked across the table at Rachel, "So, how'd it go with Miss Carlton?" Rachel knew he was going to ask.

"Alright. Everything's sorted. I found Helen's bag sound and safe, nothing missing from it" Replied Rachel.

"So she did have the bag" Stated Max smugly, "I knew I was right"

"I think I best be off. I have things to do" Said Rachel standing up. Chris stood up too.

"Would you like me to drive you home? Since you've had a few" He asked. Rachel smiled at him.

"Or, you can get a taxi back with me? Leave your car here for the night" Offered Max. Rachel was surprised at Max's offer. Rachel sat back down, Chris was right, she had a few glasses of wine, she felt alright to drive, but just didn't want to risk it. Chris remained standing and walked off in the direction of the toilet leaving Rachel and Max alone. There was an awkward silence between them, Rachel had no idea what to say to him, she'd never actually had a real conversation with him.

"You know, coming for a drink with Chris could start up many false rumours" Said Max. She rolled her eyes, she knew he'd have some snide remark to make.

"Same goes for you and Kim" Replied Rachel.

"Yes, but the rumours wouldn't be false" Replied Max with a smirk on his face. Rachel looked at him.

"You and Kim?" She asked not quite believing what she was hearing.

"Yes, me and Kim. It's early days, but everything seems to be going smoothly with us both" Replied Max, "Why are you so surprised?" Chris returned from the toilet, saving Rachel from making a snide remark towards Max. Chris picked up his coat.

"I've got to dash... bit of an emergency" Said Chris, "Do you want a lift Rachel?

"No, she'll be fine with in a taxi with me" Intervened Max, "She's got a whole glass of wine to finish too" Rachel glanced over at Max, she wanted to know why he was been so nice to him. He was right though, she had a full glass of wine in front of her that she hasn't brought. She knew she'd feel bad if she left the whole glass. She didn't need get a taxi with Max, she could get one on her own.

"Are you sure Rachel?" Asked Chris, Rachel snapped out of her thought. She nodded her head, Chris looked slightly disappointed and Rachel saw the disappointment. She gave Chris a sympathetic smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow. See you tomorrow Max" Chris smiled. He left the pub feeling rather let down. Rachel looked back at Max.

"I'll probably finish this, then go home. I'm sure I could get someone to pick me up" Said Rachel. Although there was no one able to pick her up because of her lack of socialising she didn't in fact have many close friends. This is why she hated drinking, it always made her feel down. Whilst Rachel was in thought Max had gone the bar and brought her another drink. He returned to the table with yet another wine.

"Didn't I make myself clear? This is my last one" Stated Rachel. She didn't want to drink any more as she could feel the effects of the alcohol already.

"Just another Rachel" Said Max, "The reason I wanted you to stay is because I wanted to talk to you... just me and you. Just basic, talking" There was a dark and mischievous way about how he spoke.

"No Max. I'm leaving. Why do you want to talk to me? You don't even like me" Replied Rachel. She picked up the glass of wine and necked it, "There, I've finished my wine, now I'm leaving"

"I just don't like the way you run my... I mean the school"

"It's been running perfectly smoothly. I've made an improvement in that place. I've helped students, you've done nothing but punish and shout at them"

"An improvement?! Is that what you call it?" Replied Max. Here they were, arguing again. Max knew him and Rachel could never be friends, never mind anything more. He watched her as she shouted back to him in a tipsy manner. He smirked, she looked sexier when she was angry.

"I've made massive improvements in that place and I know it. So I don't need anyone telling me otherwise. I've turned kids lives around at Waterloo Road. What have you done at John Foster's? Oh you've kept them at the top of the league table and showing off to parents what a wonderful school it is. Well done Max, well done!" Rachel picked her coat up off the back of the chair and stormed out the pub. Max grabbed his own coat and followed.

"How are you getting home?" He asked.

"I'm walking. I don't want to share a taxi with the likes of you" Replied Rachel. Rachel felt hot tears running down her face, she quickly wiped them away, "You make me so angry!" She shouted back at Max. Rachel put her head in her hands.

"I'm going home Max... goodnight" She said beginning to walk off. Max went after her, he placed a hand on her shoulder, she pulled back. "Don't touch me Max"

"I'll get a taxi with you" Said Max.

"No it's ok. I don't live far from here" Said Rachel walking off into the dark. Max took his phone out of his pocket and began to text.

Rachel was walking down the street. Hot tears still spilling down her face. Her phone started to ring in her pocket. Rachel pulled it out and answered.

"Hello. Rachel Mason speaking" She answered. Even her voice sounded sad.

"Rachel. It's Chris. Max has just texted me saying you're walking home. He wanted me to ring you, see if you're ok" Said Chris.

"I'm fine. We just had an argument... but what's new with us both? I can't believe you left me with him" Said Rachel.

"I'm sorry Rachel" Replied Chris, "Are you ok? You sound... you sound like you're crying"

"No, I'm fine. Just got a bit of a cold" Said Rachel, "I'm going to go Chris. Low battery. I'll text you when I get in"

"Ok. Bye Rachel" Said Chris. Rachel hung up and placed her phone back in her pocket. She wiped her tears away with her sleeve. She couldn't let herself get upset over Max Tyler. As Rachel carried on walked she could hear shouting from a nearby alley. It was the voices of a boy and girl.

"Just leave me alone alright? I don't have the money" The girl shouted, her speech slurred. "Just get off me. I'll give it you tomorrow. I promise. Please just go" Rachel stood at the end of the alley. It was dimly lit, but she could see both the figures. The girl was leaning against the wall and the boy was in front of her. He began to stroke her cheek.

"On one condition" Sneered the boy. The girl pushed him off her and pulled something out of her pocket, she was holding herself up using the wall.

"Excuse me" She shouted up the alley. The boy looked at her and ran. The girl turned to her, it was clear to Rachel she was holding a knife up, she then lowered the knife and slid down the wall and onto the floor. She put her head in her hands and was crying silently.

"Are... are you ok?" Asked Rachel approaching her. Rachel noticed the girl was wearing a Waterloo Road uniform, "Olivia?" The girl looked up, it was Olivia.

"Miss Mason... why are you here?" She asked, she wiped her tears away.

"Haven't you been home?" Rachel questioned.

"No. I don't have a home really and I don't want to talk about it" Replied Olivia. She placed her head against the wall behind her as her eyes rolled back.

"Olivia" Said Rachel shaking her, "Olivia, come on" She lifted Olivia up off the floor, she hardly weighed anything. Olivia opened her eyes slightly. Rachel started to walk in the direction of her house holding Olivia up.