Rachel stood at the front of the school with Chris, soon joined by Steph.
"Nippy day today" Chris said as he rubbed his hands together before blowing some hot air into them. Steph took her eyes away from Chris and over to something else walk in the school grounds, she raised her eyebrows and nodded her head to what she was witnessing "Nippy indeed"
Rachel and Chris looked to where she was looking and saw something they never expected to see. Faith and Bolton fighting. By the looks of it, Bolton was losing miserably. Chris looked to Rachel "What's going on there?"
Rachel shrugged and shook her head "No clue. I thought everything was fine with them"
Steph mocked a gasp and asked "Is the alpha couple of waterloo road on the rocks?"
Rachel shot her an un-amused look and then looked back to her daughter. She couldn't hear the words clearly but she could hear her shouting at him.
Faith was practically marching in front of him as he tried to get her to stop and listen to her. Bolton halted and then shouted something more to her, it caused Faith to turn around and just stare at him. She said nothing, just stared. Bolton tutted and walked off over to Paul. Faith shook her head and turned back around to walking into the school.
"When she told me that she wanted to walk with Bolton this morning I didn't think she wanted to walk with him to yell at him" Rachel muttered.
"Maybe she didn't" Steph shrugged. Rachel looked from Steph and to Faith as she approached her quicker. Rachel leaned to the side towards Faith "Are you alright, love?"
"Fine" she said bluntly, carry on walking. Rachel tried to take hold of her arm and asked "You and Bolton-"
"Please mum" Faith sighed with an exhausted expression, she opened the school door and said breathlessly "Please not now"
Rachel looked away from her as she let her go and let out a silent sigh of her own. Faith had been in therapy for four weeks now. It seems that it may not be agreeing with them, they have never rowed before.
Chris saw Rachel bite on her lip as she looked over to Bolton and couldn't help but laugh "Rachel leave it. You can't corner a teenage boy over a fight with his girlfriend"
She looked to him as he added "If he was dating Danielle and you saw them have a row you wouldn't get involved"
"Danielle isn't my daughter" Rachel laughed. Chris let out an amused huff and shook his head "Back me up here, Steph"
"I can't. I got involved with every relationship my Maxine had"
Rachel raised her brows to Chris and didn't need to say anything more. She looked to Bolton once more but decided not to go over to him for now. She instead walked in the school and to Eddie, who was in his classroom preparing for his morning lesson. She smiled to him and rubbed his back before leaning against his desk and saying "So I have some gossip for you. Well I say gossip I actually mean something I've just witnessed with Faith"
Eddie turned to her from writing on the ball, she raised her brows and whispered with her eyes slightly wide "Fighting with Bolton"
Eddie brought his pen down from the board and looked at her with pure shock. He had never heard of it before. Faith and Bolton fighting, they were usually as blissful as, well Rachel and Eddie.
"That can't be right"
"No it can't be. But believe me Eddie, Faith looked well and truly...pissed off"
"Did you catch her?"
"Yep. Didn't want to discuss it with me. Well not now anyway, she looked exhausted by it all"
That was no surprise. She would come to her in time which they both knew well. Eddie looked down to his set work and leaned his hands down on the desk, being very close to her, he leaned his arm against her and softly smiled to her "How're you?"
"You've asked me for the past week I've told you I am fine" Rachel said with a grateful grin as she put her hand on his arm. He had been concerned about her ever since he came back and found out she was almost blown up. She was shaken for a little while, had a few vivid flashbacks but she was fine. She had enough support from friends and family around her to make herself fine. Rachel briefly touched his cheek as she said "But I do appreciate you checking up on me"
She leaned forward to show him just how much she did appreciate him. But was interrupted by the bell and the kids coming through the door. Rachel quickly pulled away before any of the year 9's could say anything about it "I'll see you later" she whispered as she stood up properly, he smiled to her and watched her walk out of the room.
Faith strummed her fingers on the desk as she tried her best to listen to Davina talk about the history of women's rights. She was really just trying to ignore Bolton who was sat next to her. He was slouched in his chair but still, she could feel his eyes on her. He was waiting to build up the nerve to say something "You-"
"I am not discussing this now" Faith shook her head and looked to him, then saying in a more sharp voice "Not now"
He tutted and turned his head from her. Which only made her more mad, she hated it when he tutted. Faith took a deep and said in a more stern mutter "You're really testing my patience"
Bolton put his hands to his chest "I'm testing your patience. Come off it-"
"You really want to have this discussion now? Here?"
"Excuse me guys" Davina said as she turned back from the board, not being able to push out their bickering. She raised her brows to them "Faith. Bolton. Can this conversation please wait until you get outside?"
Faith sat back in her seat and looked out the window as Bolton said "Sorry miss"
Davina glanced to Faith who said nothing and just took in a deep breath as she continued to just look out of the window. She didn't comment on it though, she just returned back to teaching the rest of the class. It was only ten minutes till the end but they went painfully slow. When they were over, Faith shot up. Put her bag on her shoulder and walked out of the class with Bolton still putting his bag on his shoulder at the table. Davina saw him sigh in the corner of his eye and then leave. He went in the same direction as her but something told her that it wasn't going to be a cheery conversation.
Davina made her way to the staff room and as soon as she did she said "Does anyone know what's going on with Faith and Bolton?"
Kim raised her brows "Are they still fighting?"
Davina nodded as she walked over to the table at the back and put her paperwork down. She turned to them and shrugged "I have no idea what has gone on but she seems upset and he seems drained"
Nikki rubbed her forehead as she leaned forward in her chair and shook her head "It should cool down. Should. Although they have never argued before, like ever. Not for as long as this anyway"
It wasn't rare that Faith was the talk of the staff room, in fact without her. They'd be rather bored.
"I don't know what else there is to be said" Faith snapped "You are being pretty bloody stupid-"
"Me! You joking me?" Bolton argued back as they began to argue in the hall outside of the theatre. People began to slow down their walking so they could listen to them.
"Does it look like I'm joking?" Faith said as her voice began to rise, she stuck her hand out and pointed it against his chest firmly "You know what I've been through"
"Yeah-"
"Yeah and so if I have to go to therapy to get through my shit then I expect you. As my damn boyfriend to support me instead of adding to my aggro"
Bolton pinched his eyebrows together and snapped to her "Sorry if I'm such a burden to you! Screw this"
He began to walk away, Faith called to him as he walked away from her, with her back to him "So that's your answer to this? Walk away again. It'll never get resolved"
"Whatever"
Faith raised her eyebrows and slowly turned to him. She stood still and shrugged "Fine. We're done"
Bolton stopped in his treks as everyone around him gasped. He turned to her. Not knowing if he had heard right. He stared at her and saw the serious look on her face, she was so pissed she hardly even heard what she was saying. Faith shrugged to him once more and then turned around and walked away. Bolton stared at her as she did so. He wanted to run after her but something was telling him that he just couldn't. That he just had to let her go for now. They both needed to cool off. But hearing her say those words made his blood run cold. His face totally drained. People were staring at him, just waiting for him to react or do something. His clenched his jaw and turned back to walking away.
Faith just carried on walking, she didn't stop to think about what she had just said. She was just so mad that she didn't even let herself think about what she had just said. He had been doing her head in so much lately, because she had been slightly distant. She knew she had been. But with the therapist suggesting to her that she focused on herself for a bit. And it wasn't that Bolton didn't like that, he wanted her to get better. He just didn't expect to get cut off completely, then when he complained, she obviously took it badly from being so argumentative.
It was their first real fight, they saw a side to each other that they hadn't seen before and said things that they shouldn't of. Faith got to her locked and viciously stuffed her bag in there before taking a deep breath, she turned her head to the inside of the door and saw the picture she had stuck up of her and Bolton. Part of her felt like yanking it off and chucking it. But she didn't, she kept it up. Till the dust settled and they knew what was actually going on. All she really knew right now was that she had just broke up with the boy she had been with for over a year, with the boy who she was actually seeing a future with no matter how naive that may sound. If Donte and Chlo can have it then, why can't she? Faith closed the door to Michaela staring at her, she jumped and said in a shocked breath "God"
"What just happened? Did you just finish it with Bolton?"
"Why? Looking to get in there" Faith dryly joked as she looked down to the floor. Michaela tilted her head and shook it "You're my mates. And pretty great together so" she shrugged "What the hell happened?"
Faith shrugged as she closed her eyes "It was just building up. Bickering over the course of a week just turned into this massive row. To be honest…wasn't really thinking straight"
Michaela shrugged "Soo go talk to him if you weren't thinking straight. Sort it out"
"I'm still angry at him" Faith shook her head "I need for us to both just to cool off…but right now I guess I'm single" she sighed, raising her eyebrows to Michaela for a moment as she shut her locker door. She looked down to her watch and said "I'm also going to be late for Fry's class"
"If you want me to say anythin' to him" Michaela shrugged. Faith looked to her as she walked to the bottom of the stairs, she shook her head as she softly demanded "No. Don't say anything"
Michaela nodded and watched Faith pushed her hand off the banister and walked down the hall towards the food tech level. Of course, she was going to say something. It was hard to keep her mouth shut.
Rachel hadn't seen Faith all day. She didn't come to see her, not even in her break. She was too busy breaking up with Bolton which Rachel had no clue about yet. Even though it was the talk of the school between the students. Rachel found Janeece walking down the hallway "Janeece I don't suppose you've seen Faith today have you"
"Think she's in Miss Fry's lesson but I've not seen her since what happened at lunch and all"
Rachel's eyebrows pinched together, she shook her head as she grew confused and then asked "What are you talking about? What happened at lunch?"
Janeece's her jaw slightly dropped "I thought she would have told you Miss…she's dumped Bolton"
Rachel's eyebrows flung up and it was then her jaw that dropped "What?" she gasped "But why? When?"
Janeece shrugged "Just now, dunno why though. She seemed fuming with him though when she did"
Rachel looked away from Janeece, looking rather mind blown by all of this. She scratched her forehead and cleared her throat "Right. Right…Miss Fry's class you said?" Janeece nodded. She was going to go there anyway, she needed to talk to her about the pill problem she had. Something that Eddie had told her this morning, and the fact that she tried to kiss him when he was trying to help her.
"Okay thank you, Janeece" Rachel muttered with a tight smile "Don't be late for class now"
She walked down the hall and headed to the food tech.
Faith was quiet. She said nothing throughout the entire lesson. She was thinking about Bolton too much, going over the thing that she said to him and regretting it all. Especially the finishing him part. That she wanted to punch herself in the head for. She wasn't listening to anything that Ruby had to say. But Ruby didn't exactly care, she was just happy that she was quiet for once. They were given out worksheets to do. Faith stared down at him, she didn't write anything out. She didn't even get her pen out. She just sat there in silence. Staring into space, till she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
She took it out and saw that he had finally text her.
I'm sorry bout b4. Can we plz sort it out now? I'm in the home room. B x
Faith looked up and saw Ruby looking down at her stuff that was on the desk. Slowly, she stood up and said "Gotta go to the bathroom, Miss"
Ruby looked up and then saw her phone still in her hand. She too had heard about the messy break up of her and Bolton. Ruby wasn't stupid. Not in the slightest. She knew that Faith was going to find him to work this out "No. You're not"
"I'm not allowed to go to the toilet-"
"We both know you aren't going to the toilet. Your relationship problems will have to wait"
Faith scoffed and shrugged "I have no idea what you're talking about. I'll only be a minute" she headed to the door. Ruby stood up and raised her voice "Sit down"
"No" Faith argued back. Then the utmost unexpected happened. Ruby grabbed hold of Faith and dragged her to the small storage cabinet that was beside the white board. Causing Faith's fellow students to stand up and shout that she can't do that, including Danielle and Chlo. Ruby pushed Faith in the closet and locked it.
Faith didn't do well in small spaces. She was claustrophobic due to being locked up under the stairs in her previous foster home for hours if she did something that they didn't like. Faith stood there and stared at Ruby for a moment as her back was turned. As soon as she was in there she felt like she couldn't breathe. She paced up and down the closet before booting the door which made Ruby jump out of her skin "Stop that!"
"Then" Faith kicked it "Let me" she kicked again "Out!"
She took hold of the handle and tugged on it hard repeatedly before booting the door again and walked to the back, taking deep breaths. She heard Chlo shout "Miss she can't breathe! Faith's claustrophobic!"
Ruby crossed her arms and still refused to open the door. She knew that was in trouble. Big trouble. Not only was Faith a student she was also her boss's daughter. Faith kept taking in deep breaths through her nose and exhaled out of her mouth. She couldn't take it. Suddenly she heard the door open and her mother's face "Miss Fry-Faith is meant to be here, yes?"
Faith ran to the door and smacked her hands against the class and yelled "Mum!"
Rachel's head snapped to the closet and saw her daughter breathing heavily and looking to her and then shouting "Get me out, Mum!"
"Faith" Rachel quietly gasped, she ran over and snatched the key out of Ruby's hand and quickly unlocked the door. Faith practically fell out of the closet and put her hands on the counter, bowing her head she took slow breaths in attempts to regain her composure. Rachel put her hand on her back with deep concern on her face. Danielle and Chlo slowly walked forward as Danielle asked "Miss, is she going to be alright?"
Rachel carried on rubbing her back and said "She'll be fine girls, take her to the home room to get a glass of water"
Chlo and Danielle looked at her unsure if they could just leave class, but Rachel nodded "It's okay. Miss Fry is going to be coming with me anyway so a sub will be here by the time you get back" she looked back down to Faith who slowly stood up straight and whispered "Go on, love, I'll come and find you"
Faith looked to Rachel, then to Ruby. After a moment she walked out of the room with Chlo and Danielle by her side. Rachel looked to Ruby and snarled "My office. Now"
Ruby gulped heavily as Rachel walked out of the classroom and she then followed.
"You locked a student in a closet?! What kind of teacher does that, Ruby? We are supposed to protect these children"
Ruby looked to Rachel sheepishly and mumbled "I'm sorry I wasn't thinking-"
"No you weren't. Faith is severely claustrophobic she could have a full-blown panic attack!"
"I didn't know she was"
Rachel stared at Ruby, still with a shocked and rather disgusted look on her face "Whether a child is claustrophobic or not it's is wrong on so many levels to lock them in a closet, Ruby!" Rachel sighed and took a moment to calm herself down, she leaned against her desk and rubbed her lips together, she shook her head and said "I know about the pills as well...was it you who trashed the cake as well?"
Adam took the liberty in making Rachel and Eddie a wedding cake. Which Faith scoffed at. He was playing the nice guy, and he knew that Eddie wouldn't like that Rachel accepted it. He was trying to get them to have friction. But when he actually made the cake, both Eddie and Rachel liked it very much.
"Rachel-"
"I think we've got a problem, haven't we? I obviously can't afford to keep you in the classroom at the moment" Rachel said, now in a more calm manner.
"Are you suspending me?"
Rachel's answer was a simple nod. Which Ruby did't like "That is dismissle through the back door"
"What would have happened if I hadn't of come in? What would have happened? How long would have kept a pupil locked up? She could have collapsed within a few short minutes"
Ruby scoffed and walked towards the door "Y'know? I'm gonna contest this"
"Fine but I need you off the premises. I'm suspending you"
"And I'm phoning my union"
Rachel sighed as the door slammed and sat back in her chair for moment. Not for long though, she had to make her way back to the classroom or the home room to make sure Faith was alright. About both this and Bolton.
Rachel didn't even bring up Ruby's attempt in kissing Eddie because she felt like it wasn't worth it. And that is what drove Ruby a little crazy, knowing that she knew.
So when Rachel was in her sights again, Ruby went on a tangent and followed Rachel everywhere. Shouting all sorts.
Faith, was at the top of the stairs, just about to walk down them to head back to food tech when she heard Rachel say "I'm warning you Ruby go home!" At first, Faith smiled. Hearing her mother be protective over her was always nice.
But then she heard Ruby shout to her "You swan around here with your fiance! He's not so perfect-"
"I will not discuss this here!"
But the more Ruby shouted back to her about Eddie knowing about her taking pills for weeks and then she mentioned how she tried to kiss Eddie.
Faith slowly walked down the stairs "What's going on, mum?"
Rachel sighed and said with exhaustion "Faith. Just go to my office"
"Yeah go to her office! Go to the cooler! It's the only places you really know about this place because god forbid you stay in a classroom!" Ruby snarled.
"Don't speak to her. If you don't leave now I'll call the police" Rachel snapped back, standing in front of Faith who stood on the bottom step.
Eddie then came through the doors from behind "Oh here he is!" Ruby called "Eddie. Tell her about the kiss and how you promised not to say anything because you knew she'd react like this"
Rachel turned to Eddie as he stood beside her with a confused look on his. She knew that he knew about the pills, but she didn't believe Ruby in him saying that she wouldn't understand. She could tell by how he remained silent.
"Tell her"
Rachel walked over to Ruby as she said "He's not saying anything because he feels sorry for you. Everyone feels sorry for you. You're a mess Ruby!"
Ruby suddenly swung her hand and heavily slapped Rachel across the face. Much to Faith's horror and sudden raging anger. Faith launched herself from the step to get at Ruby. But Eddie got hold of her before she had the chance. Faith continued to fight, trying to get out of Eddie's hold. Rachel took her hand from her cheek "Get out" she sighed to Ruby before turning around to Faith and helping Eddie to get Faith up the stairs as she continued to yell and had this uncontrollable rage. One that was hard to shut down.
They got her into the office. Eddie let go of her as Rachel took his place and cupped Faith's cheeks. Her eyes were darting uncontrollably. Her breathing was erratic. "I'll kill her"
Rachel rubbed her cheeks with her thumbs, trying to get Faith's eyes on hers. Because that's what is going to make her see that she was alright. Eventually she did. Still taking deep breaths as she heard Rachel whisper "It's okay"
Faith's rage slowly slipped and allowed her to see and hear more clearly. Faith gulped heavily and took her fingertips to Rachel's red cheek. It was hot. Ruby must've hit her pretty hard for it to be so warm. But Rachel still shook her head and insisted that it was okay, that she was okay. Faith fell into Rachel's arms. Rachel cradled her head and took a deep breath. Looking to Eddie for a moment who was looking at them with a glum and almost guilty look on his face. But she didn't comment, she just closed her eyes again and rubbed her back.
After a while, Faith calmed herself down again. Rachel handed her a cup of water and said "So what happened...with Bolton?"
Eddie looked up from sitting at the table and said "What about Bolton?"
Faith looked to him and spoke in a cracked dry voice "We broke up before this whole thing with Ruby"
Eddie looked to Rachel, who looked to him before sitting down beside Faith and rubbing her back. Eddie leaned forward "Why, love? What happened?"
Faith ran her fingers through her hair and shrugged "We argued. A few times with the past weeks but today was just what made me blow my top and just end things" she sat back on the couch "I haven't processed it" her eyes began to fill up.
"Maybe you should talk to him, baby" Rachel suggest as she rubbed her daughter's leg. Faith stared at her. She was going to at first. But now, she didn't want to. She didn't feel even remotely up to it. Her nose scrunched up as she shook her head "Nah. I want to leave it for now...we need distance. I need distance"
They weren't going to argue against her or push her towards doing something. If she wanted distance, then that'd be better for her in the long run rather then have her emotions bubble up once again like before with Ruby. Because evidently she still has trouble controlling her temper, and she was trying to work on that.
But she had never seen someone attack her mother like that. She'd rather them attack her instead.
Faith then had another growing concern. Knowing about the attempted kiss and pills, she was scared that they were getting on some kind of rough patch "Are you two okay? You guys are okay right?"
Rachel looked to Eddie, and after a moment. She gave him a small smile which he returned. Today was nothing for them.
Rachel rubbed her lips together before looking back to Faith and nodding with a lingering smile "Yes, love, we're going to be just fine"