Thank you for the reviews.

And I obviously had to start this with the most iconic line ever. I don't make the rules here.


Series 3 Episode 15

"What did knob the builder want?"

Eddie could see the smile threatening to break out on Rachel's face but it didn't and she looked away, trying to avoid answering his question. He knew that there was something going on between her and Stuart. He wished that he could say that it was just to do with the building work but with the fact that Stuart took Rachel out for dinner last week, he wasn't so certain. Part of him hoped it was just one-sided. That she wasn't interested in him.

"Well, it was more than just delivering something." He said as he walked further into the room.

"As you ask… a date, and I said no. Happy?"

Extremely. Eddie thought. "What was he delivering?"

"What is this? 20 questions?"

"Just wondering that's all. No need to get so defensive."

"They are plans."

"To do with what? The building?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you quickly slip it into your drawer when I came in?"

"Look we have a governors meeting to attend."

"It isn't until half five. The bell has only just gone for the day."

"Eddie."

He thought about changing the subject to what he actually wanted her for but she had been in a weird mood for practically the whole term. Something was unsettling her and the more he thought about it, the more he thought it had something to do with Stuart.

Although what he had in his hand would be a good distraction.

"I've got something. Some evidence from the school council." He said as he handed over the papers he had in his hands.

As Rachel started to look through them, he made his way around her desk slightly, hoping to get the file out of the drawer before she realised what he was doing. He rested his finger on the corner of the drawer for a couple of moments before he pulled it open and grabbed the file. She wasn't quick enough to stop him but she was quick to go on the defensive again.

"Eddie, give me the file." She said as she stood up.

"Why can't I have a look at these plans?"

"Eddie, just give it back."

"What are you hiding?"

"Eddie. Please."

He didn't expect the scared look on her face. For someone that always seemed in control of any situation, she wasn't really portraying that. It was the only reason that he gave it back to her. He was certain that whatever it contained, it had something to do with her mood.

"Then tell me. Because you can't just shrug it off as nothing now."

"Eddie…"

"Don't lie to me. Because you are not fine and nothing seems like it is okay and I have this massive feeling that Stuart is in the middle of it all. I… I just can't work out what it might be."

"He knows." She eventually said after a few moments of silence.

He blinked at her a couple of times. "He knows what?"

"I… I did something really stupid in my late teens."

"What?"

"Eddie."

"Tell me and we can work it out together."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"It's not like I don't want to. I've… I've almost told you so many times."

"Then just tell me."

"I don't want to ruin what we have."

"Why would it ruin what we have?" He paused. "What do we have?"

He watched her as she licked her lips before taking a shaky breath. This wasn't the same woman who had come storming in on her first day and changed the whole curriculum.

"Okay then. How can I help?" He said.

"I don't think you can."

"I've got to be able to do something Rachel. You can't tell me and… I can tell it is scaring you."

She closed her eyes. "I was a prostitute."

He waited for her to open her eyes before he said anything. He could tell that she felt a small amount of relief from telling him but the fear of his reaction was her next worry.

"Sorry, what?"

"I'm not repeating it, Eddie."

"Late teens?"

"17 when I started."

"Isn't that illegal?"

"The whole thing was illegal."

"Yeah. Sorry."

"Trying to wrap your head around it?"

He found himself nodding slowly and he was surprised when she handed him back the file. He stared at it for a few moments before he took and slid it out of the envelope. It was all there. Newspaper cuttings, even with one with her face on it.

"So why has he given this to you?"

"He said he would. He wants to start over because he feels bad about what he did."

"He blackmailed you."

She sighed as she fell back into her chair. "I… don't know what to do Eddie."

He placed the file back in the envelope before he placed it back on her desk. He grabbed one of the chairs from around the table and placed it in front of her before he sat down.

"Police?"

"It will be my word against his."

"I suppose reporting it to the LEA isn't an option either."

"God no. Not after the meeting about the whole bloody build. Stuart wanted me to win the bid for him and… It felt awful when I threatened to walk and… gave up the bloody contingency fund for the next five years and. Eddie, it is just a mess and there is no way that… I've done this. First Jack with the money and now this."

"Do you think he will keep using it against you?"

"I hope he has drawn a line in the sand."

He found himself shaking his head. "Just…"

"It's why I couldn't tell you. I… Only one other person has found out and they hated me for it. Your… It has changed what you think about me. We work well together Eddie. Yeah, there are some days where you drive me mad. Like this." She said as she held up the school council report he had given her. "But you have the biggest heart and… Somehow you just know me. I know it might not feel like it at the moment, but you do. You somehow know me better than anyone else that I have ever met before and… sometimes that scares me. It makes me want to let you in but at the same time, my life is just one massive mess. You don't need to be dragged into that mess."

"What if I want to now?" He smiled at her. "Shall we go and get this governors meeting out of the way and then we can talk later about it. Maybe… it will give me time to think it all over."

"Is there much to think over?"

"Believe me, I am doing quite a bit of thinking right now."

"You feel like you don't know me."

"It is why I need to think about it. I… I don't want to give you the wrong… Reaction."

"See. Heart of gold."

She was right when she said that his opinion of her had changed but Eddie knew that it couldn't have been easy to tell him. And if he was being truthful, he was struggling to work out whether his anger was to do with her past or what Stuart was doing to her. He knew he would work it out eventually. Just, did it change his feelings about her?