When Steph walked into Rachel's office the next morning, she couldn't have stopped her smirk from forming if she'd tried. "Now there's a smile." She looked at Rachel appraisingly. "What on earth did Eddie do to you last night?"

"Steph!" Rachel felt her face heat up. "A little professionalism, please?"

"Now where's the fun in that?"

She rolled her eyes, and hoped that whatever Steph saw hadn't been too obvious to everyone else she'd come into contact with that morning. "Did you want something?"

Steph's grin faded. "Stuart."

"I don't know how you did it," Rachel admitted. "But thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. You haven't heard what I had to come up with."

"Uh oh."

She took a seat in front of the desk, a faintly apologetic look on her face. "The only thing I could think of was to persuade him it was better to humiliate you in person, and maybe in front of the students as well. He's going to use today's meeting to discuss changes to the building project and is planning something much bigger to out you."

"Wonderful."

Steph looked a bit sheepish. "Sorry."

Rachel waved her off. "It gives us time, at least, which is more than we had last night. Thank you."

Steph leant back. "What are we going to do?"

A thought occurred to Rachel. "You said the meeting today is still happening?"

She shrugged. "He could hardly call a meeting and then cancel it without good reason. Why?"

"Maybe we can use it to discredit him a little. Not much, mind you."

Steph looked baffled. "How?"

"This is my school, I'm supposed to be included in decisions about building work. If we can figure out a way to draw attention to the fact he deliberately didn't tell me anything..."

"You have a good relationship with the LEA. Do you know someone there who could help?"

Rachel nibbled her lip, thinking. "Maybe. If I could find an excuse to call anyway..."

"Sounds like a plan. Half a plan, anyway," she amended.

Rachel smiled, an odd look Steph couldn't decipher coming over her face. "You know, I really do appreciate what you're doing," Rachel said quietly.

Steph shrugged. The sentiment was welcome, but mushy emotional stuff with her boss wasn't her thing, and she suspected it wasn't Rachel's either. "Remember that when considering pay rises," she joked, and just as she'd wanted, Rachel laughed.

"I'll see you later, Steph."

The other woman rose to her feet, but couldn't resist turning at the door. "You know, you should tell Eddie to repeat what he did last night every night," she said cheekily. "It seems to be working for you!"

"Steph!"

It didn't take long for Rachel to make the small travel down to Eddie's classroom and discuss what she'd spoken to Steph about. "What do you think?"

Eddie watched the vulnerability flash behind her eyes and his heart ached to save her from the hurt she was feeling. He wished to take away all of her worries, hated that she was even having to go through this in the first place. But if he had taught her anything, he hoped that she truly knew she wasn't alone and she'd never have to fight without him by her side again. "I think Steph's right, which isn't something I ever thought I'd say. And don't tell her I said so either." He joked, glad that they had someone else on their side also. He know it made it easier for Rachel to know someone else knew of her story and was also on her side. "Maybe ring Colin from the LEA? Ask him if he can come to the school for a meeting. When he says no, you'll be able to ask why."

Rachel looked to Eddie in shock, blinking a few times at the sheer brilliance that had just come out his mouth. "Eddie, I could kiss you." Then, Rachel realised what it was she'd said and rolled her eyes. She could kiss him, so why wasn't she doing just that? They didn't have long, so she moved from where she'd perched herself on the end of his desk and pressed her lips to him, taking his face in her hands and she grinned against his mouth.

Eddie soaked up every moment of her happiness and delighted in the fact he had been the cause of it. When air became essential, he pulled away and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Let me know if you need help with anything." He heard a noise from the corridor and caught sight of the clock, meaning the doors would be opening shortly. "Now if you don't mind Miss Mason, could you please stop distracting me in my work place?" He teased, earning himself a smack on the shoulder as they both stood up.

"The cheek!" Rachel felt lighter than she had in a while, a plan in place and sharing jokes with the man who was supporting her through it all. They really needed to properly when this was done, maybe a nice break over summer. With that thought, she said a final goodbye to Eddie with a smile and set off back towards her office; asking Bridget not to disturb her unless it was urgent as she got hold of Colin's number. "Mr Giles, it's Rachel Mason from Waterloo Road. I was wondering if you were free anytime today for a meeting at the school? I've got a few things I thought best to be discussed in person." Truthfully, Rachel had nothing and knew she would be stuttering for an answer if pressed for more information. Luckily, she didn't need to think any further, as as predicted, Colin was greatly confused. "Aren't you coming to Mr Hordley's meeting?"

Rachel took a moment to act surprised, hoping her voice didn't sound too strange and being grateful it was over the phone as her face always gave her away. "Meeting? What meeting?"

"Now that is strange.. Stuart wants a meeting about the academy, it doesn't start for 2 hours. I'm sure it's a mistake, but you should be there shouldn't you?"

"Is it for Waterloo Road? You're sure?" She asked, innocence laced in her voice to the point where she was thoroughly impressed with her own performance.

"I'm sure. Why don't you come? I'll meet you there?"

Rachel agreed, careful to maintain a slightly perplexed tone in her voice until she hung up. She must have been a better actress than she thought. A quick trip past Eddie's classroom to give him a covert thumbs up, unseen by his year eights before she poked her head into Steph's empty room. The blonde raised an eyebrow at her. "People really are going to talk."

She rolled her eyes. "What exactly were you supposed to be doing for Stuart during the meeting?"

"Distracting you, if needed," she shrugged. "Why?"

"You may want to think of an excuse as to why you didn't."

Realisation washed over Steph. "Easy enough. Troublesome student, issue in the cooler- he won't question it. You're going then?"

She nodded. "Sitting across from him is risky, but the look on his face when I walk in may make it worth it."

"What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall…"

Rachel grinned at her, withdrawing and the paperwork in her office kept her busy until it was time to leave. Sure enough, Colin was waiting for her, smiling at her approach. "Rachel."

"Afternoon," she greeted, shaking his hand with a smile just as warm. "You look well."

"My wife's got us on a new diet. Don't tell her I said so, but I feel great."

They both laughed. "And how are the boys?"

"My eldest just broke his arm playing rugby. It was the end of the world until he realised it means he doesn't have to write in his exams." He winked at her, prompting another laugh. "Shall we?"

"Of course."

They walked in together, Rachel shoving down the nerves she felt. "Most odd that you wouldn't have been invited to this," Colin commented.

She hummed an agreement. "I knew nothing about it. And it wasn't an oversight on my part, I checked. I haven't received any communication from Mr Hordley in some time now- as far as I knew, everything is proceeding as planned."

"Most odd," he repeated thoughtfully. She hid a smile, knowing he was thinking exactly what she wanted him to. He guided her into the room with a hand on her back, a move that from anyone else she would have shrugged off but from him she allowed, knowing he meant nothing of it. The table was already filling up, a handful of people stood around chatting, including a certain construction owner. Colin headed straight towards him, and his guidance meant Rachel was going to. "Mr Hordley!"

He looked up, and Rachel watched in pleasure as his gaze locked onto her, unadulterated surprise flashing across his face. It was quickly followed by anger and frustration, before he smoothed the expression and plastered on a politer, welcoming one. She'd been right, Rachel thought as they walked closer. His expression had been worth it.