Thank you for the reviews.
Please enjoy :) x
Chapter 36: Unstoppable Anger
Eddie didn't think that he had ever been so angry. By the end of his first lesson, he could still feel his heart pounding in his chest. The way Eddie felt was on par with how he was after Stuart and his little comments. Except this was worse, because he hadn't had the opportunity to whack Max one. Not yet anyway.
It boiled his blood to think that Rachel needed him, and he couldn't be there, all because of that man. He was glad when the bell sounded for break. Finally he could locate Rachel and hopefully put his own mind at rest as well as hers. Aside from going crazy with Max, she had been all Eddie had been able to think about. Was she okay? What had Max said to her? Did Max know that his role as a father was no secret to him and Rachel?
As soon as the last pupil fled from the classroom, Eddie sought out to find Rachel. She was likely to be in her office, so he headed there as a first resort.
He didn't knock as he reached the door, Rachel had become familiar with him popping in and out of the office by now.
The sight Eddie was met with, just wound him up even further. Max was sitting at Rachel's desk, in her chair, whilst she was perched on the circular table in the corner of the room.
Was this man for real?
Rachel's eyes met his, and Eddie sort of knew exactly what he was going to say. It was time to give Max Tyler a taste of his own medicine. Play him at his own game.
"Mr Tyler. If you don't mind, I'd like a word with Rachel," Eddie paused as Max finally locked eyes with him, "in private."
Eddie had been anticipating some sort of response, an argument back from Max. So to his surprise, the man just stood, and brushed down his suit. The smirk was visible on his face. Max turned to face Rachel and it shattered Eddie to see the way she automatically tensed up.
"I'm sure you'll remember what I said."
Before Rachel could even respond, Max was out of the office, closing the door behind him.
Rachel reacted immediately, placing her head in her hands and sighing. As much as it broke Eddie's heart to see her like that, he was glad that she wasn't holding anything back. She obviously felt able to show every one of her true emotions in that moment. Eddie was just glad that his reassurance that morning had paid off.
He shifted his own position, coming to sit directly next to Rachel. Eddie brought a hand up to the back of her head, with his other laying gently on her arm. Rachel melted into his embrace and Eddie welcomed it, wrapping his arms around her lovingly. He wanted to show her that he would never let her go.
As much as Eddie could have basked in the blissful feeling of holding Rachel in his arms, there was one question in particular which was circulating in his mind.
"What was he on about?"
Rachel looked up at him, slightly confused.
"The 'I'm sure you'll remember what I said' comment.''
She smiled at his impersonation of Max, but it didn't even reach her eyes. She looked defeated and lost for hope. Eddie longed to reignite that faith, but maybe go and sort Max out first. Eddie wasn't sure how long he could refrain from connecting his fist with Max's face. But he knew that he would have to. As Rachel had said, the last thing she needed was for Eddie to go all macho.
"I think this is only going to make you more angry."
"That obvious?"
"Eddie, I can practically feel your blood boiling."
"He's just… really gotten under my skin. There's something about the bloke."
"I haven't exactly taken a shining to him either."
Eddie made some sort of noise in agreement, before realising that Rachel was chewing her lip nervously rather than answering his question. It obviously was going to make him even more furious. Eddie just had to keep in mind what was at stake if he flipped his lid just yet.
"So, what did he say?"
"Our professionalism was called into question."
Eddie felt his brows furrow, and knew that the gesture was a question in itself.
"He knows about us, Eddie. Our relationship."
"The git. Let me guess, Melissa?"
"Apparently not. Something along the lines of 'rumours spreading like wildfire.' Although I think my sister is the more plausible explanation."
"You were right. I'm livid."
Rachel lifted her head and raised her eyebrows. Had it not been for her in his arms, Eddie didn't think he would have been able to resist finding Max and telling him where to stuff it.
"Unprofessional? He wants to take a long hard look at himself. My pupils? Not exactly professional of him."
"I've already had numerous staff, new and old, believe it or not… asking me if he is replacing my role as head teacher."
"So thanks to him, you're left with a load of questions to answer. Great, that's just what you need piled on top of everything else."
"I just… I don't know what he's going to do next Eddie."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, he's not giving anything away. About who he really is…. Melissa's boyfriend, Mollie's dad. We are obviously aware of that, but Max doesn't know. So he's got to have a plan of some sort."
"And you're worried that Melissa will be involved."
"Exactly."
"We are just gonna have to go with everything we've said. The only way we are going to stop Max, without causing a riot, is to catch him out. He's bound to slip up sooner or later. Just look at him today, already behaving like a maniac."
"Yes. And we will sort it, won't we?"
"Absolutely."
"Together?"
"Always. You know that, and I know that."
Eddie thought that Rachel might've been about to lean in for a kiss, but there was a knock on the door and she put a little bit of space between them. Eddie knew that it was due to what Max had said, about being unprofessional. Just in case it was him behind the door. Although Eddie doubted that he would've knocked.
It was Kim who entered, looking rather urgent and panicked.
"Max sent me to get you. I don't think the tension is limited to this office. A fight involving the majority of pupils is in full swing outside."
Rachel and Eddie shared a glance and were following Kim out of the office and down the corridor within seconds. With one last look at Rachel, Eddie had an awful inkling that this was only going to be the start of disasters this term. And Kim was right, the conflict wasn't just going to be between the students.
….
"From what I've seen today, this school is an absolute shambles."
Rachel could feel the scowl forming on her face as she looked up at Max. It was how he was stood up and she was sat down that she hated the most. That was soon changed, and only when Rachel was pretty much level with him did she respond to his statement.
"What is it that you're saying Max?"
"I'm saying, that you aren't capable of running this school alone. I'll be focusing my efforts on Waterloo Road for the foreseeable future."
"You can't… base your judgement on one day. Today was a worst case scenario, there was bound to be some conflict with mixing two completely contrasting school cultures."
"Oh Rachel, don't flatter yourself. The problems in this school lie with the leader, and that's you. So I stand by my decision, from now on I will be based at Waterloo Road permanently."
"You really have got it in for me haven't you?"
"Or maybe I just know an incapable leader when I see one."
She scoffed, hating how Max was making her feel and wishing that Eddie didn't have a lesson currently. She knew that if he was in the room she wouldn't be feeling half as humiliated by what Max was saying. Because Eddie never failed to make her feel at ease, his presence alone did that.
"Extended services. How is that going without someone proper in charge of it?"
Rachel almost flinched at his mention of Melissa's old role. It was clear that Max was dropping hints about his and Melissa's relationship here, there and everywhere. She just wondered when and how he was actually going to reveal it. Not that he needed to reveal it. That was one of the main things Rachel was holding onto at the moment. The fact that Max wasn't aware of all they knew.
"I think it's going rather well. Tom Clarkson has taken on a lot of the duties along with his new head of English role."
"I want to reinstate someone who is actually in charge of it. I already know a person who will be more than suitable, so no need for interviews."
"And has the LEA been made aware of this?"
"Naturally. They applaud my decision. It is vital that we make sure the John Fosters community feels included."
The funny thing was, Rachel wholeheartedly agreed with what he was saying about everyone from John Fosters. It was something that she had been wanting to put in place herself. But now Rachel just knew that he would automatically take all the credit for it. Not only that, it was obvious who this 'more than suitable' person would be. Melissa. Who else?
As Max told her that he wanted the head of extended services to come in with immediate effect, it just confirmed that the person had to be Melissa. It had been one of Rachel's fears, that her sister would make an appearance. But it just seemed to be disaster after disaster at the moment. When would this all come to a standstill? And more importantly, how?
….
"And Philip? What about him?" Eddie asked as they took a seat in the living room.
"I'm going to have to go up and talk to him," Rachel sighed as she rubbed her temple, "I just think he's going to be even more reluctant to go to school now. He was already looking on edge at lunch today, the poor lad."
"I can't believe Max has the nerve to just give Melissa back her job. No interviews…" he shook his head, "and the LEA agreed to that?"
"I thought that too. Apparently they approve of his decision."
Eddie rolled his eyes and sighed, "I know you want me to keep my cool, Rach. But that's becoming more and more difficult. When he's having such an effect on you and Philip."
"I'm just glad I've got you by my side," she placed a hand on his arm, "but please try and refrain from showing your anger. I do know how hard it is, god knows, I had to stop myself from screaming at him in my office earlier."
Rachel could tell that he couldn't stop himself from smiling, "now that I'd like to see."
She was about to reply when she heard the phone ring. Rachel sighed as she stood up, hoping that it wouldn't be anything too dramatic considering the day they'd had. Anything seemed possible at the moment.
It was strange to hear a pause as she picked up the phone and said hello. Rachel almost jumped out of her skin when she realised who was on the other end.
"Hi Rach, enjoy your day?"
The question from Melissa couldn't have been more sarcastic. And she never called her Rach, that was something that Eddie and Philip had always done, never her. It was just her indirectly saying that she wanted some sort of revenge on Rachel. Melissa clearly saw the last few weeks as Rachel replacing her. But really, she had no one to blame but herself. Especially in terms of Philip. Melissa was the one who abandoned him.
Along with Melissa's tone of voice, Rachel realised that she must be about to reveal everything. Everything that they already knew. So Rachel kind of decided to burst her bubble and get in there first.
"I don't know what you are playing at Melissa, but it has to stop now."
Eddie must have heard Rachel say Melissa, because she could hear his footsteps approaching and was glad that his presence behind her relaxed her instantly. Another thing Rachel heard was a scoff from her sister, and took the opportunity to continue.
"I know exactly who Max Tyler is. I know that he is Mollie's father, that you've entered a relationship with him, despite what he put Philip through all of those years ago. And I know what you did all those years ago too."
Rachel subconsciously hoped that Philip had his headphones in upstairs whilst doing his homework. The last thing they needed was him hearing this conversation. Not when she hadn't found the opportunity to talk to him about the events of the day yet.
"Did Phil not tell you what I said? He's changed Rach."
Rachel laughed sarcastically. All of her focus was pinpointed on Max, Melissa couldn't even acknowledge what this might be doing to Philip, "oh Melissa, you can't pull the wool over my eyes. I've seen Max for who he really is today."
"You don't know him like I do."
"I take it you are the 'more than suitable' person to reinstate as head of extended services?"
"What, are you not happy that I'm coming back? Worried I'm going to spoil the wonderful thing you and Eddie have going on?"
Rachel angled her body towards Eddie slightly, just so that she could look at him. His expression always calmed her and she needed to see it to allow herself to think that everything would be okay. She guessed that Eddie sensed this, because he placed a hand on her arm and Rachel smiled at him before returning her attention back to Melissa.
"A lot has changed since you've been gone Melissa. I just think you need to realise that."
"Tell me something I don't know."
"Please will you just think of Philip for a moment? You've got a hell of a lot of making up to do. He's really struggling. And it's not helping with Max being on the scene."
Melissa sighed and Rachel allowed herself to believe for just a few seconds that she might be getting through to her. But of course it would never be that easy with her sister.
"I've got to go. I have to prepare for tomorrow. So I'll see you then."
Rachel sighed, muttering some form of goodbye before putting down the phone.
Eddie didn't have to say anything. He placed his arms around her waist and Rachel turned in his arms. She wanted nothing more than to fall into his embrace, so did just that. One hand began to smooth up and down her spine whilst the other anchored her to him.
Rachel buried her face in Eddie's shirt, allowing the first few tears to fall. She couldn't lose Eddie. Despite how sure he made her feel that it wouldn't happen, the doubt was in the back of her mind because of Melissa. Rachel just hoped that she would be able to talk her sister round. Maybe if it was Max influencing her and not the other way round, it would be a possibility. But Rachel wasn't sure which it was at the moment.
The only thing she was certain of was that she loved the man in her arms with all her heart. And the only thing keeping Rachel sane at the moment was the fact that he loved her just as much.