A/n: Just a little update for you. Apologies for the very long delay.

Please enjoy.

I Must Tell You.

Part two.


E L. A Married man. Three years experience. Deputy. Senior leadership. A glowing reference. Favoured by the board, and I, naturally.

Just apologise. Apologise and all will be forgotten. Apologise for forgiveness. Apologise like your life depends on it.

Melissa. His wife-to-be. The only woman that he would vow to spend his life with, to show loyalty, love and devotion, and he would. Eddie had always been that man.

Soon-to-be headmaster. Not by choice. If it were up to him, Rachel would still be his boss. Even with three years senior leadership experience, glowing references and a strict, but gentle nature he could never step up to her standards. Rachel was one of a kind. He could never deny his admiration for her, and that's why he found himself in this very situation. He couldn't just leave it, he couldn't just leave her go.

"I'm sorry." Those two words stung her like never before. What on earth could he be sorry for? Lifting open her eyes, she gasped at his closeness. Ashamed, his voice broke as he muttered, "I've neglected you. i've neglected our friendship. I've let you down."

Shame laced his words, and he bowed his head in hope she would understand his wrongful doings. There was a painful silence that dawned, and it was so unlike them.

Shock. Anger. Confusion. Why was he apologising? What would normally be safety to her suddenly felt very .. unsafe. It was the realisation that this could open wounds that Rachel was not mentally ready for. It was neither the place nor the time, and honestly, she was afraid. The fear of Eddie exposing her, really getting to the depths of her feelings. Cutting through the walls that she'd spent so long building, so defensively. She'd give herself to him in a heartbeat, but there were scars, and he wasn't hers. Rachel perched her lips together, and held on tight to the tears that were so close to falling, almost exposing her of these damages. She was not going to do that, not now, not in front of Eddie, her sister's fiancé.

"Eddie, I am not your problem." Her words cut through him sharper than a knife, and he struggled to hide his anger, frustration and most of all, his hurt. Rachel would always be his problem, for all long as he had on this earth. He didn't have to say anything because she knew she had hurt him. The way his body pulled back, and the sadness that crippled him. Finding distraction by twiddling her thumbs, she drew her attention away from him.

"I am responsible for my own well-being, and I no longer trust my own judgement. I need to do what is right." Rachel confided and Eddie respected her honesty, and even though he disagreed, he thought better than to go head to head on such a thing.

Any surrounding noise had vanished. They were completely alone. Just the two of them. They sat quietly for a few minutes, and he wondered whether to give her that rightful space. Torn because he was desperate to show her just how much she meant to the school, to the kids, to him. But, he respected her. Eddie kept his silence, and pulled himself back to his feet. Taking one last sigh, he made his way to the office door. But it wasn't right what he was doing. Who was he kidding? This was wrong. Was he really supposed to just leave? Is that what life was treating to him to? To leave the only woman who he truly loved behind. Was he wrong to love her? Maybe, but he did. Was he stupid to marry her sister? Absolutely. Landing one hand on the door handle, he looked to the floor before making a 180 degree turn. Locking eyes with her one last time, he spoke his final words. "This .." Holding out his hand to the surroundings of her office and continuing, "This is what's right, Rachel. You, being here, in this office. Being you, Rachel. Being Rachel Mason, headteacher. That is what's right."

And then he left.