Chapter 20

Half way through and the lesson was going brilliantly, the kids were taking to their new 'roles' well and Clara couldn't help but laugh at some of them, it was a really great lesson. Time was passing quickly and history was being taught, what more could she ask for? Whilst they were working in pairs (class appropriate of course) through the worksheets, Clara leant against her desk.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" There was shouting in the distance, it was getting closer. Nobody was kidding when they said Waterloo Road was full of drama.

"WHERE IS SHE?!" It was a woman's voice, not one she recognised and it didn't sound much like a pupil. Clara decided she should go and check it out.

"Keep working, I'll be back in a moment." Putting down the pen she'd been holding, Clara walked out in to the corridor. "Everything alright?" Only after she'd spoken did Clara notice who was there. Melody was walking behind a woman who Clara could only assume was her mother, although they didn't look that alike. She looked almost scared, but her mum looked pretty angry. Clara's eyes met Melody's just as she pointed towards Clara.

"That's her? RIGHT YOU! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE?!" Right okay, so it was her they were referring to. Clara looked to her classroom, but going in there would put the children in danger and she refused to do so. Very quickly she managed to pull the classroom door closed and back her way towards the staffroom.

"I'm sorry Mrs..."

"Miss. Halli. I'm Melody's aunt. She told me what you've done, telling tales. Just because you're new and can't control the class that's no excuse!"

"With all due respect Miss Halli, there were 27 witnesses to your niece doing what she did, and I wasn't one of them. I really don't think you can accuse me of anything. And as for controlling the class, thry look pretty controlled to me." Clara gestured to her room which Melody's aunt was still stood outside just about, thankfully, as far as she could tell, they were still working. Not the same that could be said for the class next door who were currently all making their way to the window to watch the show. She glanced over at tephe teacher's desk in the room which was helpfully empty, Donna must be in the store cupboard she could only assume, or photocopying. Unfortunately her efforts to distract the woman had not been entirely effective, but she kept walking back towards the staffroom. Once they were both past her classroom she spotted one of her students creeping out and heading in the direction of Rachel's office, thank goodness.

"You're still stopping her from coming back to school aren't you?" The look of anger on her face has not disappeared, Clara sighed.

"No, I'm not. This decision has nothing to do with me right now!" Clara looked behind her to where Melody was stood. "Mels, I don't know why you did what you did, but I want you back as much as you want to be back, that's still not my decision but I can try and sort this. I can't promise anything..."

"Stop talking to her! You have no right!" Clara spotted Danny running down the corridor behind Miss Halli, but she gently shook her head to get him to stop. She wasn't going to worry about why he was there just now, Rachel soon joined him as well.

"Miss Halli please, Melody is my pupil and I care for her just the same as all the other pupils here. What she did wasn't good, but maybe if we can get to the bottom of why we can resolve this. Your denial that she's done anything wrong isn't helping her or any of us quite frankly. Why don't we move in to the pastoral care room and have a talk about this?" Clara noticed her breathing becoming shallower as she waited for a response. It seemed like an age before she replied.

"Auntie Tasha please?" Melody spoke up. Clara felt sorry for the poor girl, if this is what she was growing up with no wonder she had behavioural problems. The woman nodded.

"Okay, we will talk. I'm not making any promises."

"Neither am I," Clara replied, "Miss Mason, the headteacher will take you through, I just need to find someone to cover my class and I'll be with you." Only once Rachel had stepped forward to guide them towards the pastoral care room did Clara relax. Danny came over.

"That was pretty amazing, well done. Are you alright?" Clara nodded, finally breathing. "I spotted Ryan running by the way, that's why I ended up here." She nodded again, leaning against him for a moment.

"I have to go and find cover and sort this out. There's a high chance I'm going to be late leaving now. Sorry. "

"Don't you worry; I'll get some marking or something done. Come find me when you're done. I'm proud of you."

"For what? I really don't think there was anything to be proud of there Danny... thanks though, I guess. You'd better get back. See you later. "Clara headed in to the staffroom to see who she could beg to cover for her class.

The meeting with Melody and her aunt was long and hard. They were going round in circles, Rachel trying to talk Miss Halli round and Miss Halli simply dismissing everything that was said. Clara sat next to Rachel, looking at Melody mostly and trying to work out what she was thinking. After around half an hour, Melody passed her something underneath the table, Clara looked over at her confused before opening the paper and reading.

Didn't mean to hurt you. Meant to be funny. Try and get people to like me. Scared to apologise.

Clara sighed and nodded gently at her, this is what she'd thought from the start. Just a girl trying to fit in who simply didn't know how to.

"Miss Mason? Can I have a word outside please? Sorry." She smiled, somewhat begrudgingly over at Melody's aunt and went outside the room with Rachel. Once the door was closed she showed Rachel the note. "Melody gave me that just now, I'm inclined to believe her. She'd just a kid Rachel, who deserves a second chance. And some help, that woman isn't fit to be looking after her." Clara stopped before she got truly angry. Rachel read the note a couple of times before looking back up.

"I agree. Poor kid… okay. We'll have her back on Monday and work with her. There's not a lot we can do about her aunt right now, except try and set up a more formal meeting. If you have any more concerns at any time you come straight to me okay? Right now I think we all need to go home. I'll finish up in here; you go and find Danny alright?" Clara nodded.

"Tell Mels I'll see her Monday. Thanks Rachel." To be honest it was a relief to get out of there, she wasn't sure how she would get through 5 more minutes in there without hitting the woman. As Rachel went back in she headed back to her room to find Danny sat in there.

"See, I knew you'd come back here first. Thought I'd save you the trip. How'd it go?" Clara leant against the doorframe, smiling at him.

"Melody will be back on Monday, I didn't hit anyone and it's now the weekend which I intend to spend with the most wonderful man I know, so it could be worse."

"Oh yeah? Should I be jealous? Which corner of the universe is it this time? Will I get you back in one or two pieces?" Clara rolled her eyes and walked over to him, throwing her scarf round him and pulling him up (thankfully he played along, she wasn't feeling that strong), wrapping her arms around him when she could.

"Will you stop? This weekend I am absolutely and completely yours. Why are you so against it all of a sudden anyway?" Clara looked him in the eyes, there was anger there.

"Because all those things you spoke about last night were wonderful, but you missed out all the danger didn't you? I'm not saying you lied you just… didn't tell me everything. But I thought about it, all that man does is take you in to dangerous places. That's not right. I don't want to have to worry about that all the time." She sighed, moving away from him to gather her stuff together.

"You're just going to have to trust me, and him. But if you really can't trust him then trust me, just like you did when you were little. I'll always come back to you because I couldn't bear not to, but this weekend I'm not going anywhere, alright? Let's get home and see what rubbish TV is on tonight shall we? Danny?" He turned around with a smile on his face.

"Right then, Miss Oswald, home it is."