"Eddie? Are you coming to the assembly?"
"Of course, yeah. I just need to make a phone call." He'd barely moved from his desk since his class left, well aware of Stuart's impending threats and the fact that he was sitting on many brown envelopes that were meant for the staff. He called out his reply to Tom as the students made their ways down to the hall for the spelling bee, trying again to get hold of the illusive Mr Hordley. He wanted to get an idea of what was being planned, but found that his phone was off and he was only getting his voicemail. He threw his phone back into his desk in frustration, and set off to go and take his place by Rachel's side.
Only as he walked towards the hall, well aware he was already late and the spelling bee had already started, he encountered the one person he'd been trying to get a hold of. "Stuart." It looked like he'd been caught in the act, hand ready to open the door to where Rachel and the staff were waiting. Just in the nick of time apparently, even a second later and Eddie could have been walking into a very different situation.
"Ah, there he is. Amanda's little lap dog-"
"You need to leave." Eddie interrupted, pressing a hand to Stuart's shoulder and moving him far back from the door. He was using himself as a human shield, well aware that he would do anything he needed to in order to make sure Rachel had no idea Stuart was here. "You know, jealously isn't a good look on you." He added, head cocked to the side as he watched Stuart's face change. Bingo. He knew he'd been right with his suspicions all along. He'd expected Rachel to fall down at his feet, and his ego had taken a hit when he realised she was already taken.
Stuart knew he was rumbled but wasn't going to stand by and let Amanda's pet tell him what to do. He went to move past him and growled when he was shoved right back into the corridor. "I don't need to do anything. Actually, I think I need to tell the entire school all about your girlfriend's little secret."
"Not going to happen." Eddie shook his head, stood by the door like a security guard. Speaking of, he caught sight of the receptionist seeing as the main office was within his sights. She looked alarmed at witnessing the exchange, and held up the phone. She was asking if the police needed to be called, and Eddie nodded his head slowly. He wasn't sure if it was the right move, Rachel may very well not thank him for this later. But right now, Stuart was trespassing and it was the one way he could think of getting him far away from her and from the school. "If you leave now, I'll tell the police it was a misunderstanding. We had an argument, but you left on your own back. Stuart if you stay here, the police will know it all. The blackmailing, the threats, the child labour."
It wasn't a difficult choice for him to make, and Eddie was more than happy that Stuart had left as soon as the police had been mentioned. He explained to Lily in reception that he wasn't to be allowed in the school again, and to tell the police all about the misunderstanding when they turned up. With that dealt with, he finally slipped into the hall and took his place beside Rachel. The spelling bee was almost over, and she looked at him in question immediately. "Where have you been?"
"Nowhere." It was a pathetic attempt, and he knew he should have thought of his excuse before he sat down. But he was simply too happy, he'd managed to save Rachel from Stuart once and for all.
"Eddie, don't lie to me."
He let out a quiet sigh, moving his body so he could whisper into her ear. The last thing they needed was Steph overhearing, not when they'd come this far. "It was Stuart, he was here. But he's not anymore, I'll tell you later Rach. Don't worry, I sorted it sweetheart."
Her eyes widened, worrying her lip between her teeth as she searched his face for answers. She couldn't believe it, she had no idea what had been happening just outside the door. "Really?"
"I promise."
"Thank you." She had so much more to say, but Waterloo Road had just won the spelling bee and her speech was required. Her attention was dragged back to the students and the screams around her as she walked towards the stage, shooting Eddie one final smile before she started to speak.
Rachel wasn't sure why, but ever since Eddie had mentioned Stuart had been here, she'd had this trickle of unease down her spine that simply wouldn't go away. She plastered on a smile as she spoke to the kids, hid her true feelings as only someone as well-practiced as she was could do and felt no end of relief as she dismissed them and watched them pour from the hall, excited and chatting about football and the summer and who was shagging who. But that trickle remained.
She had ever intention of going to find Eddie, demanding to know exactly what had happened earlier, what had Stuart wanted and how had Eddie gotten rid of him. But she was waylaid by Karla, who was wringing her hands together. "Miss, you need to come."
"Come where?"
But the girl simply tugged her away, leading her outside and Rachel hurried to keep up, concern flicking through her. "Karla, what's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong."
Well that explained everything, she thought with a tiny bit of frustration. They rounded the corner to the back of the building, and suddenly Rachel understood a whole lot more.
"Thank you, Karla." Stuart Hordley didn't even look at the girl, and simply smiled at Rachel, who suddenly felt as if she couldn't breathe.