Thanks for the comments again guys!

Part 3

"I don't know what's wrong with that women. She's been snapping at me all week for no apparent reason! It's not my fault she can't control her anger, is it? I'm just an innocent bystander..."

Steph was having a rant... about Rachel. Her boss. She was sliding down a very slippery slope. She just had to pray to God what no one else but Grantly overheard her little rave.

"I'd say call the union," said Grantly dryly, glancing up from his racing paper to throw a glance of sympathy towards Steph. "Abuse from your employer should not be taken lightly Stephanie. It should be made against the law."

"Well, it's not," replied Steph halfhearted with a sigh. "I just wish she'd find someone her own size to pick on and stop taking everything out on me!"

As soon as Steph finished her sentence, the bell for morning registration echoed through the staff room.

"I'd best be off," said Steph excusing herself.

She just hoped that for once, she wouldn't get in Rachel's way that day...


"Ria... No, seriously... There is nothing wrong with our management team... We don't need to 'bond' at all... Yes, of course but that isn't the point... Well, fine... Anything for the school... When?... What?... That soon?... Fine, I'll tell him... Thanks... Yeah... Bye..."

Slamming the phone down on the receiver, Rachel let out an exasperated sigh. She thought that with her running the school, she wouldn't get bossed about at all. She was wrong. The LEA were on her back because apparently they were 'concerned' for the seemingly 'strained' relationship between head and deputy at Waterloo Road. Who were they to tell her how to behave? If she didn't get on with Eddie, she didn't get on with Eddie. A weekend full of conferences in the capital of England was hardly going to change that. How they even knew about the problems they were having was completely beyond her in the first place. Steph Haydock was their source of information, no doubt. The gossip of the school.

Pulling back her chair in annoyance, Rachel got up and began to pace the room. She never could control her anger these days. Poor Steph had become like a punch bag to the troubled headmistress when really, that job should've been Eddie's.

Eddie. Oh yes. She'd almost forgot about him. It had been a week since their little... slip-up... back at his place and all week they had been avoiding each other with the greatest of success. It was now Friday and not so much as a word had been uttered between the pair that wasn't sugar-coated with formality or was instantly related to work. It was stressing Rachel out.

"Bridget. Please can you send Mr Lawson to my office during his next free?" called Rachel through to her secretary who stuck her head through the glass panel in the wall to greet her employer.

"Yes of course Miss Mason," replied Bridget with a smile as she put the office phone to her ear, dialling out Eddie's number as she did so.


"So Miss Mason, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

She could sock him one sometimes. She really could sock him one.

"Sit down please," ordered Rachel dryly.

Throwing her arms behind her head on her office chair, Rachel resisted the urge to put her feet up on the table, especially if they were keeping things professional. She watch like a hawk as Eddie clicked the door shut behind him and entered the room, his face like thunder at the prospect of having to spend his free lesson with none other than the delightful Rachel Mason. He didn't even understand why he was here.

"Are you not going to sit?" asked Rachel, rolling her eyes. Her impatient streak was beginning to show.

"I'm alright standing, thank you. This won't take long will it?" enquired Eddie hopefully.

I hope it flaming won't.

They both simultaneously thought the same thing.

"No Mr Lawson, it won't with any luck."

"Right so what's this about?" asked Eddie. Even his impatient streak was beginning to show.

"The LEA have decided that you and I should take part in a residential course in London next month."

"Oh, ok."

Eddie was confused and slightly peeved off at the idea of having to spend a whole weekend in the company of Rachel and just Rachel, especially when they were being so cold to one another.

"I told them that we didn't need it. Apparently, it's to help improve out our presumably tattered relationship. What do they know? Our relationship's fine!" ranted Rachel.

Course, it is.

"Hm, I agree," replied Eddie unconvincingly.

"I know right," Rachel snapped, before sighing to release what was left of her anger. Somehow Eddie had calmed her though she'd never admit it to him. "But we still have to go."

"It shouldn't be a problem, should it?"

"No, it shouldn't. I mean if you drive and I book the hotel, what could go wrong?" asked Rachel rhetorically.

Little did she know a lot could go wrong.