Disclaimer: I own nothing
Author's Note: I think I'm going to go down the route of having Becky find out she's pregnant, spend the rest of the school year pregnant and have the baby around the time of the end of school year fire.
Jack might make a brief appearance in the story line about the dead baby and Maxine, and if I do decide to have Becky pregnant, Jack would reappear when she tells him she's pregnant but wouldn't be around much during the pregnancy. I think his proper return will be at the end of school year, and for series 4 (which i'm hoping to write as a seperate story) jack might be working as a headteacher of another school in the area, or maybe as a regular history teacher at Waterloo road. Let me know if there's anything in this that you like the idea of or have any thoughts on.
Chapter Ten
Three days later, Becky hadn't adjusted.
She still couldn't believe that Rachel was here and hadn't really warmed to her. She thought Rachel had too many idea about changing the school and didn't seem to be getting to know the school properly, but she reluctantly had to admit that Rachel seemed to want to succeed here.
Becky was thinking about Jack more and more and it was impossible to get him out of her mind. She started to wonder if she hadn't made a huge mistake in splitting up with him. It had been so right at the time but she wondered if she hadn't gotten it wrong.
She was determined to get over him - she was so fed up of being hung up on him and she thought she might be able to move on if she could meet other people and find someone new.
She'd been doing everything she could to wipe Jack out of her mind and as she came into the staffroom that morning, she sat down beside Tom.
He looked at her in suprise and narrowed his eyes, " Everything alright? " he asked her.
She shook her head, " Tired. "
He frowned. He knew exactly why she was tired - he could recognise the signs of a hangover from a mile off when it came to his little sister.
She rolled her eyes and looked down.
" Becky," he said, shaking his head. He leaned forward in his seat and lowered his voice, deciding this was not a matter for the rest of the staffroom to hear, " I don't think you should be going out and getting drunk when you're working the next day. "
" I didn't go out," she said, biting her lip - a sure sign that she was nervous and she knew he was right.
He narrowed his eyes and she sighed.
" Fine. I might have had a few glasses of wine while I was watching the telly last night," she replied defensively, " but I'm going through a tough time. "
Tom sighed, " You broke up with Jack two weeks ago, Becky, you can't suddenly start reacting badly to it. You ... you need to ... you can't ... I'm sorry Becky, but I just don't think it's a good idea to start drinking to make yourself feel better. It could lead somewhere ... you know ... "
She narrowed her eyes, " You think I've got a drink problem? " she hissed.
He laughed and shook his head, " Becky, I'm not having a go. I do not think you've got a drink problem. I'm just saying, please don't drink a load of wine before you're due to come to work because I'm worried it's not good for you. "
She sighed and he shook his head again, " I don't want to fall out," he said, " I'm just saying, it's not the right way to deal with a break up. Drinking just leads to a hangover. "
" Don't pretend you've never gotten drunk," she scoffed, feeling more relaxed now she realised he wasn't attacking her.
He laughed, " I know, I know, but ... well, you know what I'm trying to say. Don't come to work looking hungover because Rachel will kill you. "
A moment later, they were joined by Davina and Jasmine and they dropped the conversation. Becky knew that her brother had nothing but her best interests in mind.
The same day, Becky went into the staffroom at lunch and sat down with Jasmine and Davina. She looked around the room and her eyes fell on a man standing by the kettle.
He was tall, blonde and rather good looking.
" Hey, who's that? " Becky asked the other two women quietly.
Jasmine smirked a little, " Supply teacher - he's been covering Matt's lessons while he's been on that course. "
" Kind of cute, isn't he? " Becky grinned. She thought the guy was good looking - he wasn't the best looking guy she'd ever seen and she didn't know anything about him but he was a guy and she thought he might be able to take her mind off Jack.
" Well go over there and talk to him," Davina suggested.
" Yeah," Jasmine nodded, " maybe you could go for a drink with him ... or something. "
" No," Becky laughed, " I can't. "
Davia shrugged, " Why not? Just go over there under the pretence of making a cuppa, then you can just start talking. "
Becky considered it for a moment but then she nodded, " Yeah. Sure, I can go talk to him. "
She got up and went over there.
Just as she got there, Tom entered the staffroom and he sat down in the place Becky had just vacated. He looked across the room and he saw Becky standing in the kitchen area.
He recognised the supply teacher and watched curiously as Becky and the supply teacher spoke. He watched Becky laugh and reach out to lay her hand on the supply teacher's upper arm as they spoke.
Tom raised his eyebrows, " Woah, Becky's on the prowl," he said, " is she after that guy? "
Jasmine shrugged, " She's just trying to move on. "
Tom nodded wordlessly and he watched as Becky ran her hand down his arm and the supply teacher looked at her with a dazzling smile. Tom narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and a few moments later, Becky was walking towards them.
She was smiling, and she frowned a little at Tom sitting in the seat she'd just vacated. He shifted in his seat a bit, moving over, and she sat on the arm of the chair, leaning against him.
" So," he said, " what was all that about? "
She rolled her eyes, " Don't go all protective big brother on me," she said, " he's got my phone number - he's gonna call me," she said.
Tom nodded, " You like him then? "
She shrugged " I don't know him that well," she told him, " but it'd be nice to try and find someone new. "
Tom shook his head, " You don't have to force yourself," he said.
She smiled, " Tom, I want to move on," she told him, " can't wallow after Jack forever. "
He sighed and rubbed her arm, in a sort of comforting way. She smiled at his efforts.
The next day, Becky had more or less forgotten about the supply teacher from the day before and she wasn't too bothered - he still had her number and he could call if he wanted but she found herself completely not caring about him.
He was just one man and she was determined to move on from Jack. She was sure it wouldn't take her long to find somebody else.
She was sure that she needed to find someone new, and if she did, she'd be able to stop thinking about Jack so much.
Becky went into the staffroom at break time and she smiled as she stopped near Tom, who was reading the newspaper. " Want a cuppa? " she asked him, pointing at the kettle.
He nodded, " Cheers darlin'. "
As Becky went over to the kitchen area she flicked the kettle on. She made herself and Tom a drink and as she turned around, almost walked into a man she didn't recognise.
He stepped back, " Sorry," he said, shaking his head.
She smiled, " That's alright. "
" I don't believe we've met," he said, sticking out his hand.
She laughed and put both of the drinks down on the worktop and offered out her hand in return. They exchanged names and instead of shaking her hand he raised it to his lips and kissed it.
He wasn't even that good looking but she really felt like she needed a new man to make her forget all about Jack, even though deep down she knew that was stupid.
They spoke for a minute or so and she found out that he was covering in the languages department. When there was a pause, Becky looked at the cups of tea sitting on the worktop and smiled, " I guess I'll see you around," she said.
He nodded, " Will you be in the pub after work? " he asked, " only, I hear a lot of staff go there after work, and since it's a friday ... "
She nodded, " Yeah, yeah I will. "
He grinned, " Maybe I'll see you there. "
She smiled, " Guess you will. "
As she went to sit down, and as she handed Tom his cup of tea, he frowned at her.
" Second guy in two days," he commented.
She narrowed her eyes, " What's that supposed to mean? "
He shrugged, " I'm just saying - you seem to be very popular all of a sudden. "
She sighed, " I'm just trying to move on Tommy, I don't see what's so wrong with that. "
Tom looked at his little sister and he thought about it, " Are you meeting up with that guy from yesterday? Or ... well ... that guy over there, who seemed pretty taken with you? "
He was rather uncomfortable having a discussion about his sisters love life but he wanted to know what she was getting herself into. She shrugged, " Guy from yesterday can call if he wants, but I'm not too bothered if he doesn't. And i just told that guy I'd be in the pub so I might see him there, might not. You coming to the pub tonight? "
Tom sighed, " I don't know darlin'," he said, shrugging.
" Come on," she said, " I've had a rubbish week, help me make it better. "
He sighed, " Alright, alright. " He felt that if he kept an eye on her, she'd be alright. He had a feeling that she'd be going down the wrong path very soon, and he thought he'd have to keep an eye on her to keep her in line.
She grinned.
After work, they walked to the pub together, and they sat down at a table in the corner, where they were soon joined by Jasmine, Matt and Davina.
Maxine had gone to Janeece's, and Becky just felt so glad to have a break from the school and be able to try and forget about everything. She still missed Jack so much and she thought she'd be able to get over him if she just found someone - anyone - else.
A couple of hours later, Becky was rather drunk.
Tom went to the toilet and as he did, Becky looked around.
Her eyes settled on a rather good looking guy by the bar, and when Tom returned from the toilets, he looked around to see Becky stood by the bar. She was talking to some guy and her hand was resting on his arm. Tom's eyes narrowed when he realised this man had got his hands on his little sister's bum.
Tom stormed over there and he tapped on Becky's shoulder.
Becky turned around and she grinned when she saw him, until he clamped his arm around her upper arm and tugged her away from the man. He practically dragged her out of the pub, his hand clamped tightly around her arm, and once they were outside, he let go of her, looking at her in digust.
" What is your problem? " Becky asked, rubbing at her arm.
Tom shook his head, " You! For god's sake Becky, you're a disgrace. "
" You what? " she demanded, slurring as she pointed a finger at him.
" Just look at yourself," he said, " you're in there acting like some cheap little slut, all over anyone you can find. Are you that desperate to find someone new that you'll give anyone the time of day? "
She narrowed her eyes, fast sobering up in the heat of the argument, although the drink was fuelling it, " Is that what you think of me? You think I'm a ... a slut? "
" No! " he said quickly, fast regretting his choice of words, " I think you need to think about what you're doing. "
She shook her head, " No. No, I see what you think now. I thought you understood that I was just trying to move on. "
" There's a bloody difference between trying to move on, and putting yourself out there for any pasing bloke," he said, unable to help his voice from rising, " I mean, you're almost 30 years old Rebecca, you're a school teacher with a teenage daughter! Have some respect for yourself! "
" I don't need to be spoken to like this," she said, " what gives you the right to talk to me like this? Just ... if you don't have anything nice to say then ... well ... "
" Well," he nodded.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, before turning on her heel and walking away from him. She went home, thinking about how annoyed she was at Tom now, and wishing more than ever that she'd got Jack back to look after her.
The next day at the school she braved through a management meeting, pretending like she didn't have a splitting headache, and she insisted to Maxine that she was fine, not wanting the girl to worry.
She avoided the staffroom at break, not wanting to see Tom, and she couldn't face it at lunch either. She was starting to feel like everything was against her and she felt like she was close to breaking down.
Near the end of lunch there was a knock at her classroom door and the door opened without her giving an answer.
She looked up from the book she'd been reading and she smiled when she saw Matt, though she was quite suprised.
" Hey," he said with a sympathetic smile.
She sighed, " Hi, Matt. "
" Just thought I'd come and see how you're doing," he said, " I gather you've had an argument with Tom and I know you've been really down lately. You're avoiding everyone else because you've fallen out with Tom? "
She shrugged, standing up, " I just ... I don't know what's going on with me lately, and then Tom said some pretty nasty things, and I ... well, I don't know. "
He felt sorry for her and he smiled a little, " Wanna go out and get pissed tonight? "
She laughed and Matt grinned, " I'm serious," he said, " seems like you could do with some cheering up, and I feel duty bound to provide it. "
She smiled, " That's very nice of you. "
" I'm not taking no for an answer," he said, " if there's one thing I'm good at, it's cheering people up. "
She nodded, " Guess I can't take no for an answer, can I? "
He grinned, " I'm going to take you out and we can forget all about everything else - you just need cheering up, yeah? "
She shrugged, " I don't know if ... well ... guess it could be fun. "
Matt arranged to meet her at the local pub, where they could then progress onto other places - Matt promised her a friday night out, and he promised her he'd make it loads of fun.
After work, Becky went home and a couple of hours later, she was ready to go out.
" Oh, Maxy I feel bad for leaving you on your own, while I go out," she said, shaking her head as she came into the living room, " is it terrible of me to leave you on your own? "
Maxine laughed,looking up from her magazine, " Becky, I'm 17, I'm sure I'll be fine. "
Becky sighed, " Even so ... I feel mean. Maybe you wanna invite Janeece around and I'll chuck you some money for a takeaway? "
" It's ok," Maxine said, " I'm just gonna chill out and watch a few dvds or something. You look great, by the way. You on the pull? "
" Maxine! " Becky said, shaking her head as she pulled out her house keys from her handbag, " I most certainly am not! I'm having a night out with a friend. " She resisted the urge to add that she and the other staff had a strong suspicion that he was gay, because Matt hadn't actually told anyone he was, and she didn't want to out him to everyone.
Maxine shrugged, " Well, you look good. I'll catch you later. "
Becky smiled and she crossed the room, enveloping Maxine into a big hug.
She said goodbye to Maxine and when she left, found Matt waiting at the bottom of the drive for her. She smiled and he leant in to kiss her cheek by way of greeting as she got to him, and he held out his hand.
" Ready to have fun? " he asked, as she took his hand.
" Yeah," she nodded as he pulled her towards the taxi he'd come by in.
They spent hours in town and Matt forced her to forget about everything else by dancing away and having fun. Becky was thoroughly glad he'd invited her out, and at the end of the night, they were sharing a taxi home.
Both were very drunk by now, and when they got to Becky's house, well after midnight, Matt told the taxi driver he'd get out here - he didn't live far away and decided he'd walk the rest of the distance.
" Well," Becky said, stumbling a little as she looked at the front door and tried to get there, " thank you for a very good night out. "
" You ... you ... you're welcome," Matt nodded, equally drunk.
When she got to the front door, Becky turned around to face him to find that he was stood quite close to her. She smiled as she looked up at him and something came over her.
She was so desperate to try and forget Jack, and she reached out to touch his cheek with one hand. Before she knew what was happening, she was pulling Matt's face down to meet hers, and there was no resistance from him.
He was probably even more drunk than she was and he kissed her. Matt moved forwards a little, pinning her to the door and he wrapped his arms around her waist as he kissed her quite deeply. She sighed into the kiss and kissed back but as she did so, she started to realise how wrong this was.
The last person to kiss her outside this house - and inside it - was Jack. She was snogging Matt - who she thought was gay - outside a house given to her by Jack.
She shook her head and laid her hands on Matt's chest, pushing him off a little.
She sighed heavily and she closed her eyes.
" Matt," she said, shaking her head, " this is ... this isn't right. God, I'm such a mess. "
" No," Matt said, reaching out to touch her cheek.
She shook her head as she opened her eyes and looked at him, pushing his hand away softly, " It's not right. I'm all over the place - I'm ... I'm just ... I've been trying to move on from Jack and maybe ... maybe this isn't the way to do it ... I ... we ... "
Matt nodded.
Both of them were starting to sober up and Matt could hardly believe what they'd just done.
" I guess I'll see you monday," he said awkwardly.
Becky felt like an idiot as she went into the house, and she stumbled up to bed, mentally cursing at herself. On Monday, Becky got out of the car at school, and Maxine frowned at her.
" What's up? " she asked.
Becky shook her head, " It's just ... well, I've got to make up with Tom today, I think, and it might be a little awkward, and well ... don't you worry about it. Have a good day, sweetie. "
Maxine smiled, " It'll be alright, you know. " She knew full well that her foster mother wasn't over jack, even if she wasn't sure whether she should say so.
Becky shrugged, " I don't know. Never mind about me though - how about we go out for a meal after school? Or maybe to the cinema, and then a bit to eat. Just you and me, eh? "
" I'd like that," Maxine said.
Becky and Maxine went their seperate ways, and Becky went up to the staffroom first thing.
Over the weekend she'd been thinking, and she'd decided that the way she was trying to get over Jack was just too much. She'd realised that she didn't need anyone new - she'd just have to get on with her life and make the best out of the situation.
The last thing she wanted was for Maxine to think she was going off the rails, and to go telling Jack. She didn't want Jack to think she couldn't cope without him.
She wanted her brother back and she walked up to the staffroom.
As she went into the staffroom, she saw him from across the room - he was stood in the kitchen area with his back to the door.
She walked across the room quietly and she smiled a little as she got closer. She slid her arms around his waist and hugged him from behind, and he jumped, startled. She loosened her arms so he could turn around and he grinned at her.
" Hey darlin'," he said as she buried her face against him and hugged him tightly.
He smiled a little at the way his little sister was so needy and always wanted her big brother. He slowly wrapped his arms around her too and smiled.
" Are we talking again, then? " he asked.
She nodded, clinging to him.
They hugged for a long few moments, and when they broke apart, Tom said, " Everything alright between us, then? "
She sighed, " This is the last time," she said, " I don't want to fall out again. "
" Me neither," he said, " and I'm sorry for what I said. Are you ... are you ok now? "
She pulled a face, " If you mean, have I stopped throwing myself at everyone, then yeah? But if you mean, am I over Jack, then no, and I don't think I will be. I certainly can't force it, anyway. Listen, you were ... you were right. I was being stupid, and I'm ... I won't ... well, you were right. "
He smiled, " Does it hurt, to say that? "
She shrugged and he laughed.
Both of them were just glad to be getting on again.
Becky was free first thing, and she sat in her office. It was a week to the day since Jack had left, and two weeks since they'd split up. She was still feeling down but she threw herself into her work that morning, hoping it'd make it all better for her.
She looked up when she heard the office door, and she saw Matt walking in.
She felt herself blushing and she looked down before looking back up.
" Hi," she said.
" Thought we should talk," he said, crossing his arms over his chest as he came into the office.
" There's no need," Becky said, " I think we both know that I made a fool out of myself by kissing you and ... well, it shouldn't have happened. "
" That's just it," Matt said, " I wanted to make sure things aren't awkward between us - we both know it was only because we were drunk. "
She nodded, " Course it was. "
He nodded, " You're on the rebound, and I'm ... well ... I'd had a big argument with my partner. It ... it shouldn't have happened. " After a pause, he added, " I'm gay, Becky. " He shook his head, " it feels good to tell someone, you know? "
She smiled a little, " I think we all sort of suspected anyway. "
He laughed, " Listen," he said, " I know how hard you've had it recently and I was thinking, maybe we could be friends. I don't see why we couldn't be great mates - you're a laugh, we're about the same age, lets put a silly drunken kiss behind us and be friends. "
She grinned, " Thanks, Matt. "