Chapter 11
*HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!*

A month had passed since Lily and Grace started Waterloo Road and to everyone's delight they had settled in well. Lily had now been seeing Mrs Lawson for the past 3 weeks, each time the pair would sit on the sofa and munch on some Mc Vities digestives, and talk about their hobbies and any issue's they may have. During this time, Lily grew closer to Mrs Lawson, it was as If there was a magnetic bond between them, a bond like one Lily had never experienced before. Grace on the other hand, didn't approve of Lily's new friendship; she suspected something, although seeing Lily happy after talking to their headmistress decided not to press the matter.

The school had a certain buzz to it, Mrs Lawson had announced a school Musical was to taking place soon and everyone who auditioned would be involved. Lily, loved school play's, just the other day Lily was explaining her first school production, the nativity. Rachel would every so often laugh as Lily would tell her how she once played the rear end of the donkey and that occasionally she would repeat the word...'nay'.
Rachel would then tell Lily about the time she played a angel, but got so nervous before going on stage she ... had a little accident and had to perform with a wet patch on her dress. Lily would have been in hysteric's ... if only should could have seen that moment.

Looking at the notice board in the corridor, she saw Mr Clarkson and his, kind of Stepdaughter Mika walking towards her.
"You auditioning then, Lily?" Asked Mr Clarkson, looked at the audition sheet. "Nah, I don't think so, sir. I cant sing ... or dance ... or even act, what about you Mika?"
"No, I don't think I will, I can't sing." Mika replied, although Mr Clarkson had something to say about that, "Then, who was singing in the shower this morning, because I know for a fact it wasn't Chlo, she's tone death..and well me, explains itself really," Lily couldn't help but laugh at what Mr Clarkson had just said.
"Go, on Mika, If I audition...you have to, too?" Lily pulled some puppy dog eye's which in fairness worked as Mika wrote her name on the audition list under Lily's name and the pair soon went their separate ways as Lily set off to find Gracie, to tell her the exciting news.

Rachel was sat in her office, sighing at the pile of paper work in front of her, leaving her desk she made her way towards the window, the sun shining brightly on the school, the ray's bouncing of teacher's car, children sunbathing on the fields, If only break time was like this when I was at school. Rachel thought to herself.
Grabbing a pair of sunglasses off her desk she made her way outside. Leaving the building she noticed her husband playing football with some lads, she couldn't help but smile at his attempts, making her way towards him...Bolton noticed Mrs Lawson, walking towards then but was about to speak but was silenced when Rachel placed her finger on her lips. Creeping up on her husband, Rachel gave Eddie a quick peck on the cheek, Eddie, being the clueless one looked in the opposite direction to where Rachel was stood, giving Rachel the perfect opportunity to take his penalty for him. Bolton and Paul stood mesmerised as they watched their headmistress score a goal. "How, What..." Eddie began mumbling utter non sense, Rachel simply wrapped her arms wrong his waist and whispered into his ear, "Looks like I beat you at everything, my love." Rachel unwrapped her arms from around Eddie's waist and made her way towards some girls sunbathing. Eddie simply stood, mouth opened staring at his wife, walking across the playground. "She has got a point sir." Snarled Paul, to his maths teacher. "Shut it you, unless you want a month in detention," The three of them burst out laughing, that detention would totally be worth it they thought.

Making her way towards the field, Rachel would occasionally be smiled at or be stopped by pupils wanting a quick chat, this didn't bother Rachel, Although there was one girl Rachel would drop anything for and that was her daughter. Lily waved at Mrs Lawson gesturing for her to sit with them. Grace rolled her eyes, this didn't go unnoticed by Rachel, she was now becoming worried about what her relationship with Lily is doing to the people around them, the last thing she wants is for Lily to get picked on. Rachel smiled a sat next to Grace,
"Hey girl's..Enjoying the sun are we?" Rachel thought what a stupid question. Grace answered first,
"Yeah Miss, best enjoy while it's here, we don't normally get sun in Rochdale do we?" Rachel laughed, that was true. "Miss, never guess what..." Lily said excitedly "I seriously doubt I will guess Lily." The three of them erupted into giggles. "...am auditioning for the school production, with Mika." Lily finished her sentence a smile stretched across her face. "That's great Lily, good luck,... You not taking part Grace?". Rachel asked looking at Grace. "Nah, am more of watcher than a doer, Lily's the talented one...even if she is to Stubborn to admit it." Rachel smiled at that comment, her daughter was stubborn, and another thing she gets from me she thought, that and her love for phish food, Ben and Jerry's ice-cream.

Just at the minute the bell ran to signal the end of break, Rachel said her goodbye's and followed the crowd back into the building.
Making her way towards her office, Rachel wasn't prepared for the devastation waiting for her there.