(A/N): Another chapter, and I have officially written over 200k for this fic so far, on my word document anyway. It's harder than I thought, writing in Eddie and Reddie for the fifth series that has absolutely zero mention of Eddie at all. There's also a really suspicious lack of conversation about the digger, or anything that happened in series 4. Rachel's past only gets brought up the once as well, by Max. It's odd, like the writers were trying to pretend series 4 never happened. Anyway, that makes trying to fit some of the events in a little tricky, but I am working on it. Have fun reading this chapter, and let me know what you think as it does venture into the new school year.
What the Heart Wants
Chapter 33
They hadn't expected a quiet evening that night, but they also hadn't expected quite the hectic situation that they found themselves in either. Philip had shown up not long after the three of them had made their way down from the music room to collect his things, though thankfully he'd not allowed his mother to come with him, as he wasn't sure just how much worse she'd make an already bad situation. Rachel had been nothing but understanding with him, though he could tell Alia didn't like the decision he'd made with the slightly standoffish way she behaved with him as soon as he appeared on their doorstep. He'd collected his things quickly and absconded back to the house his mum was renting across town, though not before Rachel had assured him that he would always be able to stay with them if he ever wanted or needed to.
Philip had barely left when the front door went yet again and Rachel had left Eddie and Alia in the living room to answer it, mentally steeling herself for whoever was at the door, cursing the disruption to the quiet evening the three of them really needed. To her surprise, it was Kim on her doorstep, laden down with a couple of bags. Rachel let her in quickly, directing her to the living room and sitting back down between her boyfriend and her daughter as Kim perched awkwardly on the other sofa.
"So it's really true, then?" Kim checked after a few awkward moments of silence. "Alia Falan really is your daughter?"
"Surprise." Alia smirked dryly. Rachel poked her in the side in response.
"Stop saying that. I hate that word when it comes from you." Rachel told her, causing Alia to flush as she remembered saying it over being shot. Of course her mother wouldn't like the reminder of her being hurt, however unintentional it was.
"Sorry mum."
"Yes, she's my daughter. Irritating pain in the arse that she is, but she's mine." Rachel laughed as Alia adopted a put out expression.
"I'm an angel." She protested, to which even Eddie laughed at that.
"So was Lucifer." Rachel replied dryly, turning back to Kim with a small smile. "Was that why you came to see me, Kim?"
"What, uh, no. I've got some preliminary things for the fete that we need to go over before morning to get the paperwork in on time and sorted." Kim indicated the bulging bags she'd brought with her.
"I'll put the kettle on. It's going to be a long night." Eddie pressed a kiss to Rachel's temple before disappearing in the direction of the kitchen. Another knock at the door had Alia jumping up to answer it, coming back a few seconds later with Tom, similarly laden down with bags, followed by Chlo and Donte with baby Izzie. Before long, Steph had also shown up with Maxine and Janeece in tow, Matt not too far behind them either. The adults set themselves up at the kitchen table whilst the teenagers, plus the baby, stayed in the living room. Rachel and Eddie ignored the number of times they heard at least one of them clatter up and down the stairs as they focused on the paperwork and technicalities the adults all had to deal with.
Alia did pop her head in about an hour into their paperwork and brainstorming session, an old tee of Rachel's covering her school uniform and her hair in a messy bun atop her head, smiling at the assembled teachers as she put the kettle on, brewing up one lot of tea and coffee for the adults and another lot for the teenagers, plus some hot water for Izzie's bottle. As she handed out the adults' mugs, Rachel caught her arm gently. "Ali, tell me that's paint on your neck."
Alia's hand instantly moved to her neck, feeling the stickiness of a paint swipe near the scar she had from the barbed wire incident. She could understand Rachel's worry, as it was a bright red paint. "Yes, it's paint. Don't worry, we're not murdering each other in your living room."
"You better not be. I'm charging for tickets if that's an event." Rachel teased.
"Come in when you're finished with the boring stuff. You lot might actually be impressed with us." Alia laughed, leaving the room with a tray of mugs for the teenagers.
"Why am I now scared of that living room?" Eddie asked with a snort of amusement.
"It's those troublemakers. They have a way about them." Steph confirmed. "Still, they can't cause too much chaos, can they?"
"They tend to be well behaved when they're in my house, so I think we'll have to trust them not to trash my front room." Rachel laughed lightly at the confusion that covered Kim and Matt's features, whilst the other adults seemed resigned. "Alright, so we have the permission forms complete to use the school grounds on Saturday, plus health and safety booked in tomorrow morning to set up a perimeter. What's next?"
The teachers worked diligently for another two hours to get the logistics of both the overall event and the setup of the day sorted, at least on paper. The only things left to really be sorted was flyers to advertise the event and the individual stalls and events. Rachel and Matt had agreed that the talent show should go ahead directly before the Lia Rose cameo, so most people would watch the talent show as well to make sure they had good spots to see the singer. The football match was set a couple of hours before the talent show, Rachel made sure of it, with Eddie backing her up seamlessly to make the day's events work with Alia being involved in too many of them. Everything else wasn't nearly so time sensitive. Collectively, they sorted out the paperwork and made their way to the living room, hearing muted music and laughter before they'd made it to the door to the room. Curious as to what they'd find, Eddie pushed open the door gently to find the living room a chaos of material and colour. Signs littered most of the floor, cardboard and poster paint used to artistically proclaim the names for each of the stalls they'd agreed on earlier that day. Another pinned across two of the walls proclaimed the words 'Waterloo Road Fete', though a couple of the letters were missing, as they were still being painted on by Janeece and Donte. Izzie was somehow miraculously sleeping on the sofa, surrounded by pillows and a watchful Chlo keeping an eye on her even as she was cutting out triangles from old material to act as bunting, Alia roughly sewing the pieces together as quickly as possible and Maxine threading the finished pieces onto string and sewing them in place to actually make up the bunting. They'd already done three lengths of the decoration and were working on a fourth. All heads turned to the doorway as the door opened, smiling at the dumbfounded teachers in the hall.
"What do you think?" Janeece asked proudly, blowing a stray piece of hair from her face as she stepped away from the last E she was painting a brilliant yellow. All the teenagers had old items of clothing on over their school shirts, some that were Rachel's, some that were Alia's. Alia had even found an old shirt of Jack's for Donte to wear. "Wicked or what?"
"We wanted to help." Maxine explained as she tacked one end of a piece of bunting to the string it was threaded onto. "We knew you guys were sorting out the boring paperwork side, so we thought we'd help. We even made flyers; Donte's well good at them." She nodded to the coffee table, which was littered with sewing materials and paint pots, but also had a stack of pale pink paper on one end, the entire table pushed against the edge of one sofa to leave the majority of the floor free for them. Tom stepped into the room to grab one of the papers, showing it to the other teachers still assembled in the doorway. It was reminiscent of the one Donte had designed for Bolton's underground fight, though it did explain what the fete was for, what the money being raised was for, and that there was a special appearance by Lia Rose after their award winning school choir, as well as mentions of all the other aspects that had been decided on only that afternoon.
"What do you think?" Chlo smiled at them as she soothed her daughter one handed back into a deeper sleep, the other holding material in place for when she had use of both hands again.
"I think," Rachel began, glancing at all the hard work the teenagers had put in to only a few hours, "we have ourselves a fete."
…
Saturday morning arrived much too quickly for everyone involved in the school fete, but it was especially hectic for Alia and Rachel, and therefore Eddie by extension, with the teenager up at four that morning to pack a small go bag of what she needed as Lia as well as the clothes she'd need for the football match and pull out her school uniform, as those who were either taking part that day or helping organise it were all wearing their uniforms to be distinct from the others there, there not being enough time to have a different way of telling them apart. She also had to pack a separate set of bags so she didn't have to rush too much the following morning on her way up to Scotland, most of her Lia Rose things being stored on her tour bus that morning. Rachel was up not long after, helping Alia pack her cases and two bags into the boot of her car along with some of the signs and bunting being thrown into the backseat of the sports car. The rest of the decorations, as well as some things for both the raffle and the bric a brac, plus a few pre signed Lia Rose autographs, were to go in Eddie's car, the adults both deciding to drive in separately due to the sheer number of things they'd have to try and fit into one car otherwise. Eddie was up about an hour after Rachel, all three stumbling blearily round the house to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything that would be needed.
Alia pushed her feet into the heels she wore for school as Rachel threw her school tie to her, Eddie pouring coffee into travel mugs for all of them. With much hurrying and forgetfulness, plus three trips back inside for things at least one of them had misplaced or forgotten, they were finally on their way to the school, an hour before anyone else was due to show up. The fete would start an hour after that, so everything was running rather tight as far as time was concerned.
Rachel and Alia detoured to meet up with Angie and store Alia's things on her tour bus, though even with the scheduled stop, they still pulled into the gates only a few minutes after Eddie. The weather was pleasant for a change, so minimal cover was needed, mainly just for the stage and the bake sale, both of which had been set up the day before. The health and safety officer had deemed it safe for people to use the toilets in the building, if they used the ones closest to the pe changing rooms, and that it was alright to enter the school by the side door so long as there was a wide berth given to the ruined part of the school. The teachers had roped off everywhere except the changing rooms and the toilets to discourage wanderers as soon as the health and safety officer had left.
The three already on school grounds worked together to bring out chairs and tables from some of the ground floor classrooms, which made Alia burst out laughing when Rachel and Eddie brought out a table that had some graffiti on, proclaiming that 'Mason and Lawson luv each ova', the two senior teachers blushing in embarrassment that their personal lives had made it into the immortalisation that was school graffiti. "If it helps, it also says that in one of the girls' toilets," Alia informed them with another laugh as she situated a chair behind the desk under discussion.
"You're kidding." Eddie shook his head at the pupils of their school and their unhealthy interest in his and Rachel's love life.
"Nope, it actually does, as well as proclaiming you two were going to have a surprise love child together. The year 13 betting pool went a little crazy at one point. Everyone's invested in seeing you two happy together." Alia smirked at them. "It's sweet, in a mental, Waterloo Road way."
They had just finished situating all the tables and chairs when other cars began to appear with the teachers and teenagers behind the organisation of the day streaming over to help set up, the girls for the football team showing up not long after along with all those in the school choir. There appeared to be a collective agreement that the day had to go flawlessly, the teenagers working together in a way that the teachers only wished they'd show during school time. Their lives would be a lot less hassle if the teenagers could get along this well for even an hour during school time.
…
All in all, the fete had been a huge success, Rachel decided as she finished tidying the last of the rubbish left over from the day. Hundreds more people than expected had shown up, probably due to the publicity of a singer making an appearance, but she had to admit, those extra people had tipped the balance in the school's favour as far as raising the money for the school to be repaired went. They'd raised over half the needed money by the time the football match was taking place, the girls narrowly beating the teachers in the match 3 – 2. Candice and Rose had done the majority of the bake sale between them, having been able to have access to the canteen for a couple of days before the weekend and made a few hundred on that alone, along with the meals they'd catered for that lunch time.
Rachel had stood proudly as the school choir showed their best selves for the assembled people at the stage, gaining a couple of encores and the offer of entry into a national choir competition that December, to which Matt had gleefully agreed. She'd found Eddie just as Lia was announced to the crowd, the few sceptics of her showing up having to eat their words as she took to the stage in a silver outfit and heels, matching silver guitar in her hand. She knew Eddie hadn't seen Alia in her full Lia Rose getup thus far, so hadn't been surprised when he'd murmured his shock at seeing her look so different in her heavy makeup, electric blue wig and purple contact lenses. Special attention had been spent to cover the scar on her arm from the bullet, particularly as natural light was vastly different to stadium and stage lighting. Eddie had held her hand throughout Lia's set, the two teachers smiling proudly at the sixteen year old on stage as she worked her way through four songs before leading the assembled students in a rousing chant of 'who are ya' and 'only one Waterloo Road', making sure to leave the audience in high spirits before disappearing back to her bus. Alia had appeared at Rachel's side a little under fifteen minutes later with slightly mussed hair and a skewed school tie, but otherwise looking just as she had before the football match.
Before the end of the fete, Rachel, Eddie, Steph and Kim had gathered together to tally up the money they'd made that day, astonished to find they'd raised nearly a thousand pound over their target to repair the school. Rachel had proudly made the announcement on the stage, grinning widely as the crowd cheered jubilantly, celebrating that they'd done it, they'd achieved their goal. Their school could be repaired. She'd caught sight of Eddie spinning Alia round triumphantly even as Steph engulfed Max in a tight hug and Chlo and Donte wrapped their arms around each other, Tom watching Izzie at that point. They'd all done it, achieved the near impossible. Was there anything they couldn't do when they worked together?
…
Eddie smiled as Rachel stretched out next to him, savouring their lazy morning in bed as his fingers tightened instinctively over her bare hip. After the fete, Alia had been whisked away by a forthright blonde woman that Rachel had introduced briefly as Angie, Lia Rose's manager. He'd spent the week before their week away trying to help Rachel organise the builders and contractors to rebuild the school, hating that he had a good relationship with some of them thanks to having overseen the repairs to the school the year before whilst the woman he loved was in a coma in hospital, her daughter vigilantly keeping watch over her. But those good relationships meant that they got the building work and repairs sorted out that week, all those contracted promising that the work would be finished the week before the school was due to reopen in September by the very latest. With everything sorted, they'd gone away together with clear consciences, their romantic week away together only cementing their relationship further, with Rachel asking him to move in with her and Alia the night before they'd flown back. He'd asked if she was sure, knowing well her propensity for running from her feelings, but she'd shushed him with a kiss, assuring him she'd already discussed it with Alia, both of them agreeing he practically lived there anyway, so why not make it official. The room between Alia's and Jack's was to be converted into a room for Michael when he stayed with them, Rachel already ordering some furniture more suited to a little boy than the generic furniture she had in there currently.
He pressed a kiss to Rachel's shoulder, burying his face in her hair that had grown out somewhat from the neat bob she'd sported most of the school year. If someone had told him two years ago that he'd have a good relationship with his ex, regular access to his son, living with the woman he loved and a teenager he was growing ever more protective over, he'd have sent them to get their head checked in less than a second. He never would've believed them, not in a million years. The road to get to where he currently lay had not been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but he couldn't fault anything that had happened, for it had all led to his current happiness. He could've probably done without all the secrets Rachel seemed to hold so tightly to her, but he loved her even with her propensity for withholding information from him and throwing herself in harm's way without a thought to her own safety. He probably could have done without dating her sister too, but he knew it was a mistake he would never, ever repeat, even if he were to ever, god forbid, break up with Rachel in the future. "Morning," He greeted in a deep, sleepy murmur as Rachel stretched out against him once again, her eyes fluttering open with a smile as she took in his still sleepy face close to hers.
"Mmm, morning." She pressed a lazy kiss to his lips, her hand running lightly up his arm to his shoulder. "You still coming with me tonight to see Ali's last show?"
"Wouldn't miss it." Eddie confirmed, chasing her lips to deepen the kiss, rolling to rest over her and brushing her hair gently from her face to see all the features he loved so much. "I love you, Rach."
"I love you too, Eddie." Rachel smiled up at him, her hands meeting at the back of his neck. "We really should be getting up, you know." She laughed as Eddie groaned at her words, letting his head fall onto her chest. "Eddie! We can't stay in bed forever!"
"We can try." He murmured suggestively against her skin. "We can definitely try."
…
Much later, they sat at the kitchen table, Eddie trying to get his following year teaching plans set, as they'd been given the class lists the day before. Rachel was trying to get through her emails, which had piled up with the time they'd been planning the fete and away on holiday. She frowned at one, clicking on it immediately. "Eddie, do you know a Jennifer Headley?"
Eddie frowned; the name vaguely familiar to him. "I recognise the name, I think. Hang on, didn't she take over from Ria Cheetham a few months ago? Our overall LEA representative, not the one you go to in an attempt to quit." He dodged the pen she jokingly threw in his direction. "Why? What's up?"
"John Fosters shut down." The secondary school was across town, one of the ones that prided itself on being top of the local league tables and nothing else. Tom had had his girls' team over for a football match a few months earlier, Waterloo Road completely annihilating John Fosters, though Tom had confessed in the pub that night that he'd had to pull a few of them away from fighting some of the mouthier John Fosters girls who thought themselves above Waterloo Road and weren't beyond saying so to their faces. "They're splitting the school across the other four in the borough, including Waterloo Road."
"I'm checking Ali doesn't start taking knives to school then." Eddie shook his head, only partially joking about the teenager. School rivalries were no joking matter, even if he was making light of it himself. He'd spent two hours trying to calm her after the football match, when she'd been ready to put the windows through at John Fosters and vandalise the place for their snooty attitudes and condescending ways. She'd particularly complained about a couple of teachers that had behaved in that manner, though she didn't know their names.
"You might have to." Rachel sighed. "About fifteen kids, give or take a few, from each year group will be coming our way, from year seven all the way through sixth form. That's not even including the handful of teachers we're getting, because they were promised job security. Jennifer wants us to appoint one of the John Fosters staff to senior management, and there's going to be an executive head over all four schools, the previous head of John Fosters."
"Why don't we have someone as head of the merger, and combine it with them being in charge of extended services? We never replaced that role and we do still need someone in that role. It could be a way of saving money too, which should go over well with the governors and the LEA. Who is head of the governors now? Tell me it's not another Ralph Mellor."
"No, Nigel stepped back up to the role last week. Sent me a text to confirm it. At least we won't have him to win round." Rachel shook her head distractedly, trying to draft a reply to Jennifer. "That's a good idea though, Eddie, I'll put that to her now. Otherwise I'll end up with two deputies and trust me, I think I only need the one."
"Too right you only need the one." He pouted dramatically, inwardly proud as his antics prompted a laugh from the woman opposite him. "Why don't you set up the meetings for results day? It gives the John Fosters staff a little taste of our lot and we have to be in school that day anyway." The builders had promised to be finished two days before results day and so far, were surprisingly on schedule.
"If we find someone that day, we can set up another, quieter meeting where we introduce them to Kim." Rachel decided as she shot off the email to Jennifer and offered Eddie a smile, thankful that she didn't have to go through it alone, finding out a hundred pupils and six teachers from a rather snobby, independent school were being foisted off on her with barely any notice and having to sort it all out alone, though she would probably have had help from Kim and Steph. It wouldn't have been the same though, nowhere near. She glanced back at her laptop as Jennifer replied to her email, confirming that the role Eddie had thought up was a good idea and giving the green light to appoint someone on results day, plus a few lines querying how she was holding up and how the building work was coming along. She typed out a quick reply before looking back at Eddie, who had abandoned his lesson plans to see how everything was playing out. "Jennifer agreed with your suggestion, all green lights ahead to appoint someone next week on results day. She's going to send emails out to the potential candidates and then send me the email addresses to organise meeting time and place."
"Later, or preferably, tomorrow." Eddie decided, reaching over to close the lid of her laptop gently. "We've got a wayward teenager to collect in a few hours. Plus a free concert to watch."
…
"Mum! Eddie!" Alia practically flew into their arms backstage, uncaring who saw her as the adults staggered a little under her flying assault. She was wearing a deep purple costume with black heels, wig, contacts and makeup still firmly in place. "You made it!" She hugged them both tightly, ignoring how sweaty she was after the concert, and how hoarse her voice was after three weeks of near constant concerts and performances. The two adults hugged her back tightly, undeniably grateful she was back with them. "How was your holiday?" She finally let go of them, ushering them into her dressing room and closing the door behind them after checking to make sure they were alone in there, locking the door for good measure once she'd checked every conceivable hiding spot.
"You need to rest your voice." Rachel reprimanded lightly, though the smile she wore ruined the effect. "We had a good holiday, Li, very relaxing. Eddie moved in, by the way, and the stuff for Michael's room gets delivered some time next weekend."
"Cool." Alia shot Eddie a reassuring smile, knowing he'd be worried whether or not she'd actually agreed to him moving into their house. She sat in front of the dressing table mirror, Rachel automatically moving behind her to start taking the hair pins from the wig as she wiped her face clear of the heavy stage makeup. "How's the building coming along?"
"Nearly finished, should be done before results day at this rate." Eddie confirmed, sat near an open bag of Alia's things. As it was the final night, the final performance, and her mum had shown up as promised, Angie had sent the bus home a little after Alia had first left the stage post performance, giving the illusion she'd left on the bus. They would drop off her bags for her the following morning. But it meant she could wipe her persona off and leave with her mum and Eddie, finally able to sleep in her own bed for the first time in three weeks. She loved being Lia, loved everything about it, but she just wanted to be able to relax, to sleep in her own bed and just be a sixteen year old girl for a change. "Not that you've anything to worry about where results are concerned. Though next time, try not to nap during your exam." He'd been walking the room when Alia had been taking one of her maths papers, concerned when he'd found her napping instead of filling out the paper. When he'd subtly nudged her awake, she'd rolled her eyes at him, informing him she'd already finished forty minutes into the exam and was going back to sleep. He wanted her to do really well, he really did, but he also knew that it would annoy him a little if she'd done really well despite having slept through part of her exam.
"You're just upset I'm taking Maths for A level." She teased, wincing at the soreness of her throat and voice. She had chosen her options for A level before the break for summer, just reliant on her grades on results day. She'd picked Maths, English Literature, Art and French for her choices, with Tom promising she was still on the football team whether she took PE or not.
Rachel caught sight of the wince and sighed, handing over a bottle of water after removing the last pin from her blue wig. "Drink. And no more speaking until we get home. You're on voice rest until Monday at least. Results day isn't until Thursday, so as long as you're good you should be back to normal by then."
…
Rachel pulled up to the school on results day quite early, Eddie in the passenger seat and Alia in the backseat, neither teacher finding it in their hearts to tell her to wait at home on her own for an extra hour whilst the hall was set up for the day ahead. Climbing out at the same time as Eddie, she reached to push her seat forward allowing her daughter to get out as well. Alia was dressed more casually in a pair of light blue skinny jeans, a white vest top and slip on shoes, her leather jacket on with the sleeves bunched up to her elbows. She'd behaved herself quite well in terms of vocal rest and her voice was nearly back to full strength, so no one would know the difference unless she really tried to yell or scream. Rachel and Eddie were dressed professionally for the meetings they were carrying out, otherwise they would have dressed casually as well, like the other teachers that would be there that day. Rachel had sent out an email to all teachers about the John Fosters merger, not knowing why she didn't expect Steph on her doorstep within the hour demanding answers she didn't have. Naturally, the teachers weren't happy about it, and truthfully, neither was she, but none of them really had a choice but to try and make the merger work. She was hoping it wouldn't be as bad as she feared but wasn't holding out any unrealistic expectations on that front after informing her daughter of the merger. Despite not being able to speak, Alia had made it abundantly clear how much she hated the idea and thought it would fail spectacularly. Rachel knew it would be bad, but she hadn't let herself dwell on how bad before she'd told Alia about it. Now, she was just hoping the first day would get by without anyone dying on school grounds.
The trio entered the newly repaired school, eyeing the newly done foyer area and assembly hall with impressed features. Despite the building remaining much the same in terms of colour schemes and layout, the contractors had taken the graffiti that had littered the walls and made a sort of mural from some of the destroyed pieces on the wall beside the security office, a sort of homage to the building it had been before the digger. It was nice of them, probably concerned with the number of times the school building was nearly destroyed, but still nice. Some of the governors had petitioned for the metal detectors and security guards to be removed, but the teachers and LEA had successfully argued for them to stay, knowing that with a school like theirs, the added security was needed with or without guns being brought into the building. The extra money they'd raised with the fete had replaced the metal detectors at the doorways.
Entering the hall, Alia's face lit up with a smile as she rushed over to greet Maxine, who had been dragged in with Steph, the two girls smiling and laughing as they caught up on what Alia had missed with her three weeks away. Rachel followed her daughter over towards Steph as Eddie veered off to talk to Tom about the christening that weekend. Rachel approached Steph with a smile as the sound of the two girls chatting together hit her ears properly. "Hey Steph. Everything set up for today?"
"Nearly, just waiting on the last couple of boxes of results." Steph rolled her eyes. "Results day. More like feeding time at the zoo." She glanced at Rachel's heavy woollen skirt and shirt combination, her usual work boots completing the look. Steph herself was dressed down in a pair of jeans, t-shirt and trainers, Maxine dressed similarly only with a mini skirt instead of jeans. "Who're you trying to impress with the outfit, eh?"
"No one. Eddie and I are running the interviews today once most of the kids have collected their results." Rachel sighed, moving to lean against the desk next to Steph. "This merger is going to be a mess of epic proportions, I can feel it."
"What, on level with the school blowing up, or a little shit shooting our girls, or a mad man on a digger?" Steph queried with a laugh. "Let's face it, after all that's happened, a merger should be child's play."
"Should being the operative word." Rachel sighed again, though she pasted on a tired smile as Eddie approached, a brown envelope in his hand.
"Tom gave me this, seeing as we sorted the results by form. Ali." He called out, gaining the attention of both teenagers. Maxine had gotten her results for her AS levels the week before, having done well enough to be back at the school for the following year. "Want your results or what?" He waved the envelope at her as she bounded over, nearly snatching it from him in her haste to see what she'd gotten. She dragged the papers out with dread all over her features, not helped by the expectant way three of the teachers were stood around her. She slowly read through the pages, a small smile creeping onto her features.
"Well, how did you do, love?" Rachel asked impatiently. For all she'd been at school results days before, never had it been for her own child and she wanted to know what she'd gotten.
Alia turned to them fully, practically beaming. "I got a B in Business Studies and RS, and an A in both English exams, Maths, Science, Art and French!"
Rachel lifted her daughter into a tight hug, spinning her round joyfully. "That's wonderful sweetheart, I'm so proud of you!" She finally let her daughter go, who stumbled into Eddie's similar embrace, both adults making her dizzy with spinning her around.
"I knew you could do it Ali. That's so great." Eddie set her down as well, reaching out to catch her as she swayed on the spot, dizzy. "Let's go to a restaurant tonight, my treat. We have to celebrate." Alia nodded as Rachel beamed at him with a nod of her own, Steph and Maxine watching them with amusement and pride.
"I'm guessing that means I'm stuck with you for the next two years." Steph commented, reaching out to hug Alia tightly. "There're worse kids I suppose. Well done."
"There could be worse teachers, but I don't know any of those." Alia teased right back. "Thanks, Steph."
The hall began to slowly fill up with nervous pupils and equally worried parents, the fifteen to sixteen year olds dreading to find out how they'd done on their GCSEs and if they could actually continue on at A level. Eddie had veered off to his own table to hand out the envelopes to his own form as soon as people began arriving, leaving Rachel with Alia and Maxine, who had left Steph to her own group as well. After a few minutes of watching students either celebrate or commiserate, Rachel led both girls out to the foyer where it was much less crowded and they were out of the way of anyone trying to get their results. "I can't wait for this day to be done with." Rachel grouched lightly, leaning on one of the search tables. Maxine glanced at Alia quizzically.
"She's got to interview for a new member of senior management with Eddie today." Alia told the seventeen year old with an eye roll. "They've been stressing about finding the 'perfect fit' for days now."
"I don't see the issue. I mean, Lawson and Campbell still fight like cats and dogs and it works." Maxine commented with a grin. "Whoever you pick could fight nonstop with both of them and you'd somehow still make it work. What's it for, anyway?"
"Extended services and looking after the merger." Rachel told her. The students weren't supposed to know about the merger until it happened, to minimise the fallout supposedly, but Rachel had told Alia and she was sure Steph had told Maxine. "Which means finding someone that can work with both schools as well as the creche and adult learners."
"Rachel, just focus on the adult learners and the snobby school kids," Max advised after a couple moments of thought. "The creche is pretty self-sufficient at this point and we're not going to work well with any of those self-righteous snobs, not after the last football match against them. Find someone that gets the John Fosters lot instead."
"That's a good point, mum. We're going to hate them no matter who you pick, but getting someone the snooty brats respect might actually work more in your favour. Plus, one glare from you has our lot running for the cooler anyway." Both girls laughed at the imagery, Rachel joining in after a moment. They were interrupted by a cough, all three turning to find a dark haired man barely thirty years old stood just beyond the metal detectors, which hadn't been turned on that day, wearing a smart suit and a messenger bag, looking quite nervous.
"Hi, I'm Christopher Mead. I'm a little early, I know." He shifted uncomfortably under their stares. Rachel collected herself in an instant, rising from the table to reach out and shake his hand professionally, ignoring the nudges the two teenagers shared at her expense.
"Rachel Mason, headmistress of Waterloo Road. Yes, you are a little early, but that's much better than being late. Alia," She turned to her daughter, who pasted on an innocent expression she didn't buy for even a moment. "Go get Mr Lawson please."
"What if he's still handing out results?" Alia asked.
"Get another teacher to cover for him." Rachel instructed. Alia nodded, racing back into the hall with Maxine on her heels. A few moments later, Eddie exited the hall, spotting them instantly and making a beeline for them. "Eddie, this is Christopher Mead. Chris, this is Eddie Lawson, my deputy."
"Nice to meet you." Eddie shook his hand warmly. "I got the girls to cover until Tom finished, as he only had a couple of names left." He added at Rachel's questioning look, clearly wondering how he'd managed to leave the hall so quickly. She fought the urge to sigh at Eddie leaving two teenagers in charge of handing out results, but she supposed sometimes things just couldn't be helped.
"Very well, let's take this to my office, shall we?"
…
A new school year and Rachel was unaccountably nervous. Thanks to the merger and interviewing for the new heads of department all round, the start of the school term had been pushed back a week, happening to coincide with Alia's dad's birthday. A truly unfortunate coincidence, but it leant an extra sense of dread as Rachel got up that morning, forcing herself to pull herself together, to be strong for her daughter's sake, for the school's sake. Eddie got up not long after she did, sliding in to make breakfast beside her as seamlessly as though they'd been doing it for years. A muffled thud followed by a groan had both of them biting back laughs, knowing Alia had been unceremoniously awoken for the day. Thirty minutes later, a tired teenager appeared in the kitchen, smoothing out her hair and tugging on the hem of her skirt slightly, only really acknowledging them as Eddie slid a cup of coffee into her eyeline. Together, they got ready for the first day back, though it was only when they'd reached the school that Alia realised she'd forgotten her blazer, as she'd automatically put her leather jacket on instead, and Eddie realised he'd forgotten his overall year 10 lesson plans. Rachel assured them both it didn't matter as they piled out of her car, the very early start to the morning meaning they didn't bother about who saw them.
Alia let out a snort of amusement as she saw another car pull into the school gates. "God, he's keen, isn't he?" She nodded to the car as it parked up only a couple of spaces from Rachel's, Chris stepping out looking every inch a teacher for a much posher school than the one he'd arrived at. "He's definitely going to have those shoes ruined before today's out."
"Alia, stop it." Rachel murmured, though her lips twitched at her daughter's accurate assessment. "He's making an effort. You should try it once in a while."
"Why? What's wrong with my uniform miss?" Alia teased, not seeing Chris step into earshot.
"What's right with it?" Eddie countered with a laugh. "Go on, get, before you end up with detention on your first day back."
"Oh, the horror." Alia placed a hand to her head dramatically. "Whatever will my mum say?" She batted her eyelashes a moment before losing the battle with her amusement and bursting into giggles. Rachel shook her head at her daughter, though she was amused at her antics as well.
"Assembly hall before form. Do you know who you've got for that?" Rachel checked. Alia shrugged, reaching in to pull out a timetable, as one had been mailed to everyone the week before due to such drastic changes in such little time. She hadn't questioned why hers still said Alia Falan at the top, guessing that with such a hectic summer, Rachel had forgotten to change her name with the LEA and governors, though she knew her name had definitely been changed for the exam boards, which would make her coursework and exams fun to try and explain to her teachers.
"Uh… this says Mr Mead, I think." Alia shrugged. "Must be a newbie."
"Actually, that's me." Chris introduced himself. "I'm Mr Mead. You are?"
"Great." She intoned dryly. "I'm Alia. Alia Falan, if this timetable's to be believed." She waved the paper in the direction of the three adults. "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be part of your nightmares soon enough." She smirked at Chris' obvious confusion and Rachel and Eddie's clear resignation. "Oh, you're in for one hell of a shock. I wish you luck." She laughed, stuffing her timetable back into her bag and running up the steps to the school, automatically opening her bag for the security guards on duty.
"She's… something." Chris managed round his shock, eyes following the laughing sixteen year old and frowning when he saw the bag and person check that swiftly occurred with a practiced ease he didn't like. "Wait, what's with the searches?"
"Policy, I'm afraid, teachers as well as students." Rachel told him briskly, ignoring his assessment of her daughter and making a mental note to phone the needed people to get her daughter's name changed for the school as soon as possible. She'd forgotten, what with everything that had gone on in such a short space of time. "We're aiming to keep these kids as safe as possible. That includes searches when anyone enters the building." She turned, leading the two men up into the school. Chris noted with some surprise that even the two most senior teachers had their bags open and waiting for the search, waiting patiently to have the person search as well before waiting for him to fumble with the zip to his bag and have his own search, Chris' search taking longer than both Rachel and Eddie's put together.
"Isn't it a bit overkill though?" Chis continued to question as soon as the search was finished.
"No, not really." Eddie fought the urge to roll his eyes, knowing he'd picked up that habit from Alia and her many, many eye rolls in both his and Rachel's directions. "We've been lucky thus far but we're not taking any chances." He sighed at the continued look of incomprehension. "A boy brought a gun on campus this time last year, the whole school being evacuated over it. A couple of months later, three girls were threatened by the same boy with a different gun, two of them got shot." He knew his face was harsh, but he could see the tremor in Rachel's fingers at the reminder of her daughter being hurt and needed Chris to understand they only had necessary precautions in place.
"Are… are they alright?" Chris asked, swallowing down the lump in his throat and wondering if he'd bitten off more than he could chew with this school.
"Yes, they are. Kim will keep an eye on them, as she has done since taking over pastoral care. Tom and Steph will also look out for them." Rachel informed him, grateful her voice wasn't shaking. "The point is, our pupils have been through an awful lot and we're not reducing security measures for no good reason. The security is here by order of the LEA and here it stays."
…
Chris wasn't sure what he was expecting with his year 12 form group. He definitely wasn't expecting the obvious split in the students, not just because of their uniforms either. John Fosters walked in quietly, reserved, sitting silently waiting to be addressed just as he was used to. Waterloo Road barged in, laughing and chatting, sitting wherever they wanted, some even on the desks, completely ignoring that there was even a teacher in there. He did take note of the girl he'd met earlier that morning slip in behind a particularly raucous boy who had on a white zip up jacket instead of a blazer, her leather jacket still on and he noticed for the first time that she had rather tall heels on with her knee high socks, for school. Sighing, he tried his best to get them to settle down, but it wasn't until the girl he'd already met and the girl beside her noticed his attempts that he got anywhere, with the two girls standing and whistling in unison, cutting through the Waterloo Road chatter instantly.
"Oy, I want to at least be present for form, so shut it." The girl he didn't know said forcefully, and to Chris' surprise, the class did indeed quiet down, some of them even slipping off the desks into actual seats. He did the register quickly, gaining some actual responses from the half of the room he was convinced would ignore him. However, he quickly lost the scarlet clad half of the room as soon as the register was completed, with the loud boy he'd found to be called Bolton turning to the high heeled girl with a laugh.
"Hey, Ali, how was your summer?"
"Same as everyone else's I'd assume." Alia replied with a shrug, thoroughly amused though not showing it on her face. "You saw me at a party two days ago, Bolton, with Jack."
"Well, yeah but.."
"But what?" Alia smirked, giving away that she was messing with him. Bolton scoffed, shaking his head at the dark haired girl.
"Man, you've got to stop picking on me. You were messing with me, weren't you?"
"Yes, I was, but you're really easy to pick on." Alia laughed, Michaela joining in at Bolton's put out expression.
"Ali, can we continue the game this year?" Michaela questioned.
"I dunno." Alia shrugged, pulling out her timetable and sliding it over to Michaela. "Your guess is as good as mine at this point. I'll ask later." She knew Michaela was smart enough to instantly pick out the name at the top of the paper.
Chris eyed them all suspiciously until the bell rang to signal the end of form, the Waterloo Road pupils spilling out of the room before he even had the chance to dismiss them. He dismissed the John Fosters pupils quickly before rubbing a hand over his face hurriedly. This was going to be much harder than he'd anticipated.
…
The last thing Rachel thought she would be doing would be breaking up a school wide fight between Waterloo Road and John Fosters that lunch time on the surprisingly muddy field on the playground, much less that she'd have to drag her own daughter off Michaela and Lindsay, though it did look as though Alia was trying to stop Michaela more than anything else as she bodily pulled her daughter off Michaela, handing her over to Eddie without the sixteen year old's feet even touching the floor as she dragged Lindsay up in a similar manner, noting as Tom got hold of Michaela to stop her fighting for the second time that day. Thankfully, the new executive head had made a flying visit, well on his way to another of the schools under his purview when everything had kicked off. She murmured to Eddie to sort the fight out with Kim as she got Lindsay to find her sister, hating what was about to happen to those two girls.
Eddie yelled at all the assembled students to get to the cooler, still holding Alia away from the fight, much as Tom was still doing with Michaela. Both of them weren't taking any chances, keeping hold of their charges to drag them to the cooler behind the majority of the muddy pupils that had clearly participated in the fight. It seemed as though the year 13s had stayed well clear of the fighting and some of the year 11s and 12s looked as though they'd been reluctantly included in the brawl between schools. Eddie tightened his hold on Alia as Tom pushed Michaela into the cooler. "Tom, I need a word with her." Tom nodded, heading into the room as Eddie finally let Alia go, sighing as he took in the incredibly muddy teenager. "Ali, what the hell happened?"
"You know the fight during Hopeless' class?" Alia checked, ignoring the look she received for referring to a teacher by her nickname. It was true, that teacher was hopeless. No one was sure how she'd managed to become a teacher, and she'd definitely chosen the wrong school in Waterloo Road. The year 13 betting pool had already well and truly started up again, the date of the new teacher leaving being the favourite one, when Rachel and Eddie would move in together coming in a close second. Alia had smirked but not bothered to tell them they were a little late in placing that bet. "Well, Lindsay and a bunch of I think the year 10 John Fosters decided to kick off. I was trying to drag Michaela off Lindsay; she looked for killing her. Then next thing I know, Rach is lifting me away from them and passing me to you. That's all I know, I swear." She held her hands up in a display of innocence, unintentionally showing the mud that had caked to her palms.
Eddie sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know we can't protect you from the fallout, right?"
"I know, and I'd never ask you to. Either of you." Alia smiled wryly. "I'm fully aware I've got to face what I've done, same as everyone else. Honestly though, it's going quite well."
"How do you mean?" Eddie moved forward to open the door to the cooler and let her in with the rest of them, knowing the main bulk of their chat was finished with.
"I expected the big brawl at break, not lunch. We must be slipping." She smirked even as her words incited the Waterloo Road mob to cheer and jeer in agreement with her. Eddie shook his head, pushing her over to stand near Michaela.
"I swear, just when I think you lot are going to try and behave." He moved to stand with Tom, who offered him a small smile.
"Hey, I'm just happy Chlo and Donte weren't involved."
"I think I saw them with Izzie in the canteen." Eddie told him, both teachers hushing as Kim walked in and over to them, the three teachers quickly deciding on a just punishment for the offenders. Eddie announced lunchtime detentions for the rest of the week for all of them as well as them being forced to assist on the sculpture project Kim was sorting out, all three hoping that the forced teamwork would reduce the hostility a little. He heard a few of the John Fosters students wonder how they'd gotten off without a letter to their parents and fought the urge to sigh. Those middle class kids really had no idea of the kind of place they'd walked into. This school played by a whole different set of rules to what they were used to. Hardly any of the kids that attended Waterloo Road would actually give any letters to their parents, most knowing how to forge their parents' signatures to a passable extent by their second week at the school and most of them putting their own mobile numbers down on the contact forms instead of their parent or guardian's number. It was only sheer luck that Alia had never needed anything signing before, though he had a sneaking suspicion that she did know how to forge Rachel's signature, a dangerous thing considering what she could get away with through that skill.
Dismissing the troublemakers, the three teachers followed them down to the playground to make sure they actually went to join in with the sculpture building, spotting Philip seeming to get along rather well with one of the John Fosters girls. He'd heard the usual rumour of Philip being Rachel's nephew making the rounds that morning, but surprisingly enough hadn't heard mention of Alia being Rachel's daughter. He pulled Alia to one side as the majority reluctantly began to help get the sculpture ready, muttering to her that he needed her to behave herself for the rest of the day and getting an eye roll in response. It was definitely a long day already, only set to get even longer.
…
They weren't hiding their relationship, far from it actually, knowing that the graffiti that littered the school told its own story, let alone the many stories the kids had of them since before the summer holidays. It wasn't like they could deny anything. Everyone that had been on the coach for the school choir competition had seen them entwined in front of the ruined school, for crying out loud. Rachel had informed both the governors and the LEA of her relationship when Eddie agreed to move in with her and Alia, gaining both approval and congratulations, not that she required the former. Nigel in particular was very happy for them, telling them that he'd known there was something between them from the start and he knew they'd work well together no matter their personal circumstances. So at the end of the day, Rachel didn't think too much into it when she slipped into the staff room, largely unnoticed due to an argument between Ruby, the food tech teacher, and Steph, over a mug of all things. Well, until she'd caught sight of the mug in question and realised it was one that Maxine had gifted her and so would hold sentimental value for the blonde woman. Still, most eyes were fixated on the battle of wills between the two women, Rachel smirking at the argument as she slid into the seat beside Eddie, firmly entwining their hands together as she nodded in the direction of the kitchen area. "What's all that about?" She murmured.
Eddie glanced at her with a warm smile, glad she still felt comfortable even with the new faces in the staffroom. "Ruby reckons our kitchenette is a health hazard. Steph's trying to save the mug Max gave her a couple years back. Grantly's stoking the fire, as always." He shrugged. "Did you see Ali?"
"Yeah, she's walking home with Maxine. First day back, isn't it, which means…"
"Pub." Eddie finished for her with a nod. "Yep, definitely. Definitely needed after a day like today."
"Oh I don't know," Tom joked as he joined in the couple's conversation, the heated debate over a coffee mug finishing with Steph victorious in the background. "It's not up there with last year, nowhere near in fact."
"Yeah, no one's been shot yet." Grantly muttered unhelpfully.
"Well, we didn't have to evacuate the school, and we didn't have the headmistress run back in to confront an eleven year old with a gun anyway." Steph added, fixing Rachel with a firm look she fought a blush of embarrassment over.
"Yeah, not two days after you checked yourself out from hospital against medical advice." Eddie finished pointedly.
"Okay, I take your points. Today was positively tame in comparison to last year, but I could still do with a drink." Rachel shook her head with amusement at her staff as they all cheered at the prospect of the pub. She'd brought her things into the staffroom with her when she'd gone to find Eddie, so she wouldn't have to go collect her things from her office, sending some of her paperwork home with Alia and Maxine. The veteran staff only then noticed the John Fosters group staring at them in unfiltered shock. "What?"
"I'm sorry, but how was today tame in any way?" Ruby questioned shrilly.
"Yeah, I mean, you lot are celebrating that no one got shot." Jo's eyes were wide, the new head of French clearly not having done her research on the place. From the looks of things, none of the new teachers had. Helen in particular looked as though she was about ready to run for the door.
"I'll celebrate every day those girls are still here with us." Steph informed them seriously, her jaw set. "I hope to god none of you ever experience what we did that day."
"Also, what's this about a hospital?" Chris asked.
"The school blew up last summer." Grantly told them with a smirk. "Went whoosh and everything. Our resident lady of the night here got herself trapped in the thick of it." He nodded at Rachel, who rolled her eyes at Grantly's name for her, the phrase no longer bothering her as it might once have done.
"And here was me thinking you'd miss me, Grantly." Rachel replied saccharinely.
"Like a hole in the head." He grumbled back.
"Oh, I'm sure that can be arranged." Steph shot back at him just as sweetly.
"Anyway, I got out of hospital a few days before the start of the last school year." Rachel concluded for the still clearly confused and shocked teachers. "I'm totally fine, the check-ups few and far between." She put on her coat despite the shocked murmurs of the new staff and the knowing looks from the others, picking up her bag at the same time as Eddie gathered up his things, just happening to be at the back of the group heading for the door as he took hold of her hand gently and they strolled together through the school, breathing simultaneous sighs of relief that their school day was officially over, for the pub didn't count.
The entire group headed over to the pub, Steph commandeering a section for them as Rachel and Eddie headed to the bar to get the first round in. The usual crew talked mostly amongst themselves, though did make sure to include the teachers that wanted to join in, though mostly they seemed to think themselves above the usual pub the Waterloo Road staff went to. Steph's beady eyes noticed how somehow all the new members of staff seemed oblivious to the pair at the bar, Eddie's arm wrapped low round Rachel's waist and her hand on his shoulder, laughing over something no one else had heard. She was glad the pair were still going strong, even with the stresses they seemed to deal with on a daily basis. No one had missed Melissa's obvious baby bump on the last day of term, but she'd disappeared with Philip before anyone could question her and no one had quite felt like questioning Rachel or Eddie that day. Finding them looking a few moments away from ripping each other's clothes off in front of the ruined school was enough of a shock factor to push all thoughts of Rachel's pregnant sister far from the minds of everyone there. But she was happy the pair were still together, still happy. She noticed Tom follow the direction her eyes were looking in, the man offering her a small, genuine smile.
"God help the rest of us finding happiness if we have to measure up to that." He murmured.
"You really want the drama that surrounds them two?" Steph questioned with a light laugh. "You, Mr Waterloo Road speed dater?"
Tom laughed at her assessment of him just as Eddie placed some of the drinks on the table, Rachel placing the rest down, the pair of them sitting down between Grantly and Steph and setting their things down at their feet. "Steph, I'll have you know there are many people in the staffroom I've never dated." Tom took a sip of his pint with a nod of thanks to the pair that had bought the round. "I've never dated you, or Kim, or Rachel come to think of it. I'm positively a monk." He smirked as the Waterloo Road staff burst out laughing at him, particularly the three women he'd named, knowing his staffroom romances were probably going to make it into the school's legend forever.
"Sorry Tom, you're not my type." Rachel told him with mock sadness, Eddie's arm resting comfortably on the back of her chair. "You snore too loudly for my liking."
"How do you know he snores?" Steph's eyes lit up with potential new gossip.
"Who said I did?" Rachel shot back, hiding a smile at the knowing look Tom shot her as both knew she'd heard him snoring the morning after they'd both gotten incredibly drunk. "I was messing with him." She took a sip of her wine to cover her smile as Steph shot her an expression that told her she'd be explaining herself further at some point.
"Don't worry Rachel, you're perfectly safe with me." Tom made a show of pretending to flex his muscles, laughing as his show made the woman in question giggle, leaning further into Eddie's side with the action. "Nah, Steph, I'm pretty sure I'll never date Rachel or you, or Kim. Can we discuss something that isn't my lack of love life?"
"Not discussing Tom Clarkson's latest staffroom love, now that'll be a change." Kim teased lightly, ignoring Tom as he stuck his tongue out childishly at her.
"Were you being serious when you said today was tame?" Jo asked them as she took sip of her own drink. "Half the school is in lunchtime detentions for fighting and this is only day one."
"I still can't believe half my form was involved." Chris took a swig of his pint. "Is it always like that?"
The Waterloo Road teachers exchanged knowing looks. The new teachers were in for one hell of a steep learning curve. "That was definitely a tame day." Tom told them with a wry smile. "There's usually at least three fights a day. Not to mention the number of kids we put in the cooler daily."
"We only had four in there today, if you don't include the muddy mob." Eddie informed them proudly. "That's an accomplishment for today. Sure, the merger will have teething pains, what merger doesn't? But only one fight is an achievement."
"The last merger I was in charge of had five fights the first day alone." Rachel sipped her drink. "The police were called to two of them. They showed up at least twice a week. I had the community police team on speed dial the entire time I was head there."
"You have them on speed dial here, don't you?" Matt laughed. He'd had a job offer from a private school but had turned it down to stay at Waterloo Road for at least another school year. He had a national choir championship to lead the school to in December after all.
"Yes, but I don't have to call them nearly so much. The last time I called the police was over the digger." Rachel shrugged. "What did you all think of the rebuild?"
"Good." One of the science teachers commented. "The mural was a nice touch."
"That was the contracted builders' idea. Probably concerned with the number of times they've had to repair part of the school." Eddie grinned despite himself. "Why it had to be more graffiti though is beyond me."
"My question is why the majority of it is concerning us teachers." Steph rolled her eyes. "Are the kids so starved for gossip that they're focusing on us now?"
"There's a year 13 betting pool." Rachel laughed at the shocked features of the John Fosters teachers and the resigned expressions on the other teachers' faces. "Not sure what the top bets are this year, but I know what the ones last year were. Matched the staff betting pool quite closely, apparently."
"Well, I know I won the top bet last year." Steph eyed the couple curiously. "Which kid won?"
"Hannah Dunston, year 13 this year." Eddie laughed. "It was a decent amount too, considering that it's a teenager betting pool."
"We've let ourselves into bedlam." Ruby bemoaned dramatically. "The children gamble and fight and the teachers are just as bad."
"I've some of the main fighters in my form." Chris complained. "No wonder Alia Falan warned me she'd be in my nightmares."
"She's a good kid really," Tom defended her lightly. "Trust me, you want that girl on your good side though. I'd hate to see what happens to anyone on her bad side."
"It's not a fun place to be." Eddie confessed as Rachel and Steph both laughed at him, knowing he'd been in Alia's bad books over the whole Mel situation and hurting her mum. "She also has Bolton and Paul terrified of her bad side."
"That girl is into witchcraft or something I swear." Grantly grumbled.
"Oh, speaking of Alia, I got some of the christening photos developed." Tom recalled abruptly, reaching into his bag and pulling out a photo wallet, removing the pictures to hand round proudly. Rachel couldn't help but smile at a picture of Alia and Marley, who Donte had chosen to be Izzie's godfather, holding Izzie in front of the font proudly. Eddie showed her another that had Rachel holding the baby beside Tom, Steph on Rachel's free side and Eddie on Tom's free side. Many more pictures followed, all of them making the rounds as the veteran staff all cooed at the pictures of the happy occasion. "I think Chlo said she was putting a few of these up in the sixth form common room."
"Is it true she gave birth in the school toilets?" Jo queried curiously. Tom nodded.
"Yeah, she did. Ended up Rachel, Kim, Donte and Alia in there with her as well as the midwife. That baby made quite an entrance into the world." Tom laughed lightly. "God, the things our kids go through would make quite the story, wouldn't it? I wouldn't believe half of it myself if I hadn't seen it happen."
The conversation drifted after that, with Rachel and Eddie keeping mainly to themselves as they smiled to see the majority of the staff getting on quite well together, praying it would spill over into school time. It was bad enough the kids fighting without the adults fighting as well.
TBC…