Rachel

Shock, Grief, Fear and regret. Those were just some of the emotions running through her head as she heard the police officer on the other end of the phone say those dreaded words. Those words she hoped would never be uttered. Shooting, Earl Kelly arrested. Maxine Barlow dead. She left Eddie and the Inspector and drove to Steph's house where the scene was even worse than she imagined. Police crews. Janeece being comforted and news reporters swarming the place. As she entered the front door. A black bag passed she felt physically sick as she knew in that bag was once a student who was popular among staff and students alike. One of her own students... who she failed to protect and as for Earl well she just wished she known what he was capable of. Leaning against the hard wooden door she mad eye contact with Steph. She could sense the hatered and grief from her as she started to shout about how "he never should of been at this school" deep down Rachel knew Steph didn't mean all this stuff she was saying. She knew that out off all the teachers at that school Steph was one of the few who would give the time of day to a lost cause like Earl... like Maxine. Out of the corner of her eye Rachel saw a reporter taking photos and writing down everything that Steph was saying. She was disgusted. A terrible murder has just happened and they weren't showing any dignity. She took it upon herself to lead Steph out of the house and to her car where they sat for hours...

It was 11pm Steph and Rachel had been sitting in this dark cold room being interviewed by social services for hours it's hard to concentrate when all you feel is sheer grief however Rachel knew she had to be strong she had 600 kids and teachers to be strong for Steph Janeece and... she forgot about them the Kelly's she couldn't imagine what Rose was going through she had worked so hard in turning her life around yet she had basically lost two of her children in the space of 8 weeks. The social worker and the police were grilling herself and Steph on how this could happen. Annoyance ran through Rachel's thoughts how come they didn't care two years ago how come they care now. She wished she could turn back the clock. The social worker was saying they were free to go but there would be more questions later she led Steph out again she was still in a daze which she expected. Eddie and Matt were waiting by the entrance. Matt went over and wrapped Steph into his arms. Rachel smiled at the two of them she always found they were the closest friendship among her staff and helped each other. She felt sorry for Matt not only was he a junior teacher and lost a student so early in his career. He has also just lost his foster kid as well. She knew Sambuca and Matt has a close bond as well. She sighed. A lot of people's lives and bonds had been torn apart today. Eddie who she hadn't realised had put his arms around Rachel whispered into her ear "come on let's go" she let him lead her out to the car and back to his house...

In her 30 years of teaching she never had to do what she was about to now. It is every headteachers worst nightmare and fear to lose a child and especially for Rachel it was a day that should from the bottom of her heart had never happened yet it did. She was in her office finishing the final touches to her speech when Eddie came in "the counsellor has arrived" Rachel breathed heavily. Okay show her in. The counsellor who's name was Charlotte came in. "Hi you must be Rachel Mason". Rachel responded "yes I am". Charlotte asked "is there any particular way you want to do this" Rachel sighed she wanted to announce all lessons were cancelled for the day and the counsellor would be there to speak to everyone. Eddie came in "right we are ready for you Rachel". Rachel walked down the halls to the assembly hall where she noticed a change in the pupils they were all silent even the teachers were not interested in keeping them in line. She walked onto the stage where she was flanked by Tom, Steph and Eddie on her Right and Charlotte on her left. She started her speech. "Today is a period of reflection.. yesterday a tragedy happened we lost a member of our family, our community. Because this school is a community a family even. We all bring something individual with a purpose. I know how much Maxine meant to all of you students and staff alike this is why I am saying lessons are cancelled for today and everyone going to the funeral will have early lunch. Charlotte will be available all week to speak about any thoughts and feelings you may have. She felt her voice breaking as she turned to stand next to Eddie. As Charlotte started talking she noticed some people getting unsettled saying something like "she so doesn't know anything" Rachel just felt so sick and said to Eddie she needed air she walked off the stage into her office where she just let all the grief and regret out...

Even though it was raining the sun shone down on the mourners as they made their way into the church. Rachel had gone up with Eddie Steph and Matt. They watched as the hearse drove the coffin into the car park she saw Paul Bolton Donte Eddie Tom and Matt make their way to to hearse. She remembered the discussion they had with the funeral arranger they didn't want Maxine to be carried in by people who didn't know her she had been surrounded by strangers her whole life they wanted her to be carried to her resting place by people who knew and loved her. She and Steph made their way to the front of the church where Grantly was seated they slipped in next to Grantly who exchanged a few words with Steph. The organ music started, Rachel looked over at Bolton carrying the coffin she was so proud of the way that kid had turned his life around he was going places and just a generally nice boy. It's a shame Earl couldn't be changed she looked around at the other pupils she wouldn't want to be head of any other school, this school made her so proud and she was just so happy to be part of it. During the eulogy which Steph was undertaking she felt a surge of fear and pain. She realised that in a way Maxine was who she was when she was younger lost and scared but she was saved by the school, the same school which she was a head of. Eddie placed a arm around her and squeezed her tight, bringing her closer to him. Suddenly out of nowhere a ferocious roar of clapping erupted. Everyone was on their feet Rachel joined in the clapping a moment of joint unity in a school that had been so divided...

Driving into school she looked to her right at the flowers and cards left for Maxine they had gradually stopped growing. As she parked her car the car door flung open Eddie was looking at her and she knew why she had messaged him last night telling him she was going to resign. He looked angry Rachel didn't want to explain her self so she said what she had been wanting to say for so long "I accept full responsibility for maxines death" as those words left her mouth she realised that Eddie could never understand that in fact she brought Earl into the school and had the power to remove him when the warning signs were presented but they were too late and now she had a mass of traumatised kids and teachers thus she decided the only option she had was to leave Waterloo Road for good.

She couldn't believe what she was hearing Paul and Bolton knew about the gun and didn't do anything about it she was shocked and disgusted not only is a innocent boy sitting in a jail cell Paul had written that note the same note that she thought was a hoax. She was struggling to contain her anger because deep down she knew they were scared and they had tried to warn Maxine about Earl however she didn't listen and that wasn't on them it wasn't on anybody.

Bolton was seriously disappointing her right now she thought he was a good kid now she was worried he was he was going the same way as Earl and she didn't want that... she wanted Bolton to be different. Paul was being taken into to interview room and she knew it was a race against the clock to get Bolton to change his mind. He wanted her to stay but how could she, she knew that Maxine dying was not her fault but how can she stay and face everyone the school needed to change.

The sound of clapping brought a smile to Rachel's face. This is what she loved about Waterloo Road the sense of family and how everyone had come together and supported each other through this tough period. As she looked out of the window and saw Donte, Tom Davina Janeece. Steph Paul and Bolton releasing balloons for Maxine. The school needed to change for sure they could never go back to the way it was before however it was up to Rachel to make sure that changed happened not for her sake but for Maxine's and her legacy so no child would ever have to go through what she did.

Clutching onto Adam's shoulders she smiled to herself. She had finally reached a point where she felt happy and content with her life. The school she loved and adored was on its way to being a respectable establishment. Glancing up she looked around at the kids and her staff. Steph and Oliver and Bolton and Sambuca were next to her. She couldn't believe first of that Bolton had really shown her that she was right to believe in him and did her proud. He learnt from his mistakes and matured over the last 3 years. Sambuca well she hadn't exactly had the easiest ride at Waterloo Road so far but she didn't let that get in the way of her finding a place at Waterloo Road. Steph well.. when Rachel first started she thought Steph was the laziest most incompetent teacher at Waterloo Road aside from Grantly however she proved Rachel wrong over time. She did help convince Rachel to stay and for that Rachel would always be grateful. As she took one look around the school hall she felt a pang if sadness of all these memories coming back the school fire, Eddie leaving Max Tyler and probably the saddest of all Maxine's death. She desperately hoped with all these changes she put in place no headteacher would ever have to go through what she did and Maxine's death be a lesson to everyone. Looking into Adams gleeful eyes she knew there was one thing Adam could never change and one memory of a student who changed everything that he could never erase. Whatever school she ended up working at she knew that it would never be the same as Waterloo Road and every child she would help or possibly save she would do that for Maxine and Earl the two children who the system and society failed to Rachel she never wanted the legacy and the changes she brought about because of Maxine to fade.