Thank you for the reviews.
You know what the problem with the second half of series 3 is... most of Rachel and Eddie's problems could have been solved if they just talked more and were more honest with each other... Do you agree?
Series 3 Episode 17
Eddie knew what Rachel was doing and he was trying to not show her that it was affecting him so much. But he was doing an awful job at it and he knew that she knew it was annoying him. It was something that annoyed him even more.
"So stay."
The offer was attractive and he had worked his way through the things that she had done in her past. The only thing that he couldn't get over now was what Stuart had done. He didn't want to say that it was because he felt something for Rachel but he did and it was something more than just their good working relationship. She had become his friend and there was a part of him that wanted a little more than that.
"Okay." He said before taking a moment. "But Hordley's got to go."
He knew that she wouldn't like that. He had to give it to Stuart. He had properly scared the second scariest woman that he knew. He thought nothing could phase Rachel. He was obviously wrong.
"It's the only way we can work together, Rachel. You've got to call his bluff."
"It's not a bluff."
"How certain are you about that?"
"You're right. He would stoop very low to get what he wants. I don't want to push him. It's the only reason he won the bloody bid." She paused. "I… I don't want him anywhere near the school. I don't want him contacting me. I don't want him to be building the new building. But I can't change the past."
"No, you can't."
"I… I can't go back to the LEA after everything I said in that meeting."
"Why?"
"I threatened to walk. I… I did everything to back Hordley's bid and then I go and tell them that there is something wrong with the Hordley bid. My… It is my reputation that is on the line here. And I know that it seems like I am looking out for my own career but have you really thought about it. The LEA have been trying to find a reason to close this place down for the last couple of years. I was brought in because I have turned around a school like this before. What if it gets out that I was a prostitute and they decide that it is a good enough reason to close down the school? The parents and the governors won't be happy. This isn't as black and white as you make it out to be."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"What part?"
"That you threaten to walk."
"Because you didn't know and then you didn't want to know. You weren't really in the mood for talking last week." She sighed. "And I hope nothing bad happens to this place because Waterloo Road's contingency fund for the next five years is gone."
"Rachel… He wouldn't give all this up for you. We have to do something or he will constantly hang this over you."
"We?"
"Yes."
"So you are staying?"
He sighed, knowing that he had made his mind up once he had worked out what she was doing and how angry it was making it. Or maybe it was just because he was realising that there were bigger things than him not accepting what she had done. It was easy for him to try and explain how she could have done things differently in her youth but he didn't know the full story. He didn't know the exact reasons as to why she thought that the offer of a thousand pounds a week was a good offer. He didn't think that he would find out. It was clear that it wasn't something that Rachel wanted to discuss.
"I… I don't want to leave Waterloo Road."
"I don't want you to either."
"Just… I can't stand what Stuart is doing. I can't stand that he does seem to have… this hold over you."
"I don't enjoy it. Reminds me too much of… Stuart does creep me out."
"We need something on him. Something to use against him."
"And make us as bad as him?"
"Rachel, you can't think like that. He would ruin you without a second thought because things weren't going his way. We just need something on him so that we can just say that if he decides that he wants to use your past against you, then we have something equally damaging on him."
"I… I don't know Eddie."
"Let me look into it. Let me do this for you. It isn't like I have been overly… supportive since I found out, have I?"
"It will still all come back to me." She paused. "Eddie, I know you are trying to help but… I am dealing with it."
"By ignoring it and hoping it will go away?"
"Eddie…"
"That's what it looks like you are doing from my perspective."
"And it is my mess."
"Which I am involved in now. Just let me help."
He could tell that she wanted to argue with him again. To say that he didn't need to help or get involved. The problem Eddie had was that he did want to get involved. He had worked out that he cared for Rachel a lot and helping her out was him starting to make up for the fact that he had acted like an idiot. He didn't want to leave Waterloo Road because it meant leaving her behind, although some people would probably argue that would be a good thing. He wouldn't then be involved in her mess or have to deal with what he had done in her youth.
"Okay then. Just as long as you stay."
"I'll stay."
"Good."
"Feels like you want to say more."
"Just… I enjoy working with you, Eddie. We have our disagreements but I wouldn't like someone who just agreed with me all the time. Plus… Somehow… You know me. I know you said last week that you didn't. You don't know the person that I was. But on a deeper level, you know me so well. And I don't know how you do it. It's… Sometimes it is like you know exactly what I am thinking."
"You do it to me as well. It's… It's why I told you about Micheal and Stephen."
"I just thought that was because you thought that I wouldn't leave it alone."
"Well you didn't, did you?"
"No, I didn't. But you now have Micheal in your life."
"When Alison allows me."
"Better than nothing."
"You sorted my problem. So let me sort yours."
"Yours wasn't as messy as mine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She took a sip of her drink. "But… I suppose, as you know, as long as you let me know what you are going to do, that having you onboard wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Sure?"
"Well I don't think you are about to let the idea go so, before you do something stupid, I'll let you help. But I want to be clued in. Just so if it does all backfire, I at least know what has been going on."
"Rach, I won't do anything without your say so."
He didn't think that she was totally convinced but he did understand. This was her biggest secret and job on the line. She might not have trusted him with it when Stuart first arrived but she was trusting him with it now. He knew he couldn't let her down.
