It was the end of another day at Waterloo Road. Holly was going to find her mum. She went up to the office. No sign of her. She guessed she could try the staffroom but her mum doesn't really go in there. Rachel wasn't in the staffroom. She was going to give up and walk home herself. She passed the canteen and heard her mum's laugh. She knew it was her mums laugh. Eddie always used to say that he could always tell her mums laugh even out of a huge crowd! Holly wandered into the canteen. Her mum was leaning on one of the worktops laughing with a man. Holly didn't recognise him.

"Hi mum, I've been looking all over for you. Who's this?"

"Sorry Holly, this is Adam an old friend of mine from Uni."

"Hi Adam. Nice to meet you" Holly said smiling.

"Hi." Adam said.

"Right well I'm going to meet Matthew. He will have finished footy training now so I'll see you later." She said about to walk out.

"Oi missus. I want you to text me when you meet Matthew and tell me if you are staying at his or coming home yeah?"

"Yeah, bye" she said rolling her eyes and walking off.

Adam looked into Rachel's eyes. She smiled.

"I didn't know you had a daughter." He asked.

"Yeah it's a very long story"

Adam nodded. He took the hint. She didn't want to tell him.

"So you fancy coming round to mine? Holly's out and I can tell you that very long story."

Adam and Rachel left the school together after locking up. They got into there separate cars and Adam followed Rachel back to her house. Rachel was having an argument with herself. Should she tell Adam everything or not. About the prostitution, Stuart, Eddie. She knew she could trust Adam. So she decided she could and should tell him everything. She had told him everything when they were at university studying. She thought it would be best to tell him before he heard about it from someone else. That would be super awkward. So she would tell him and see what he says. Then he can deal with it in his own way.

Rachel pulled up on her drive with Adam right behind her. She opened the front door and let herself and Adam in. They walked through to the kitchen.

"Drink?" Rachel asked.

"Please."

Rachel poured two glasses of red wine and made her way into the living room closely followed by Adam. They sat down on the sofa. It was awkward. Adam didn't know ho close he should sit to Rachel. They sat at opposite ends of the sofa.

"So that very long story then." Adam began.

"Yeah,"

Rachel began to tell Adam everything. About the prostitution, Stuart Hordley, Holly, Eddie. Everything. He listened and didn't interrupt her. By the end a tear had strolled gently down her face. He wiped it quickly with his hand. Adam moved over to her and put his arm round her. She smiled at him.

"How come you never told me?"

"I was, I was scared. Scared of what you would say." She stuttered.

"Oh Rach, None of that makes a difference to me and you should know that."

Those words sent shivers down her spine. They were the words that Eddie had said to her outside the pub on the first day of term.

Adam opened his arms and she fell into them. He held her tight and began to stroke her hair. She cried into him.

"Shh, shh. It's alright. I'm here."

She stopped crying and pulled back but still remained in his arms.

"Thanks Adam."

"What for?"

"For listening and being here."

"Don't worry about it. I care about you and I will always be here for you."

She smiled.

"You want me to cook some tea?" Adam offered.

"As lovely as that sounds I have a ton of paperwork to do." She said gesturing to the large pile of folders.

"Yeah, you're right. Sorry"

"You don't need to be sorry. I would have taken you up on that offer if I didn't have all that lot. I mean ask Holly. I'm a dreadful cook!"

They both laughed.

"Well I'd better be off then." Adam said.

"Yeah I'll see you tomorrow." Rachel said smiling.

She saw Adam out and then her phone went in her hand. It was Holly.

Stayin at Matthews

Cya tomoz

Holly xx

Great. Rachel thought. Well done, another night alone.

She sighed and closed the door. She got another glass of wine and got started on the paperwork.

Please Review x