A long two years had passed for the Clarkson family, with the pandemic seeming like a distant memory and everyone a little older and hopefully a little wiser they were ready to tackle a new term at Waterloo Road. Florence was now 8 and in year 4 at Rochdale Primary, Charlotte now 13 and fighting the hormones and ups and downs of year 8 and Josh now 16 and starting in year 11. The Lawson girls had grown up too, also in year 11 and ready to tackle their final year of GCSE's.

"are we ready team" Tom said chirpily as he made breakfast for his three children one sunny Monday morning "ergh dad you're so embarrassing' sighed Charlotte who was checking her hair in the mirror for the 10th time that morning and checking out her tiktok notifications. "good morning to you too my darling" Tom replied rolling his eyes. "Dad, dad, dad come quick" shouted Florence from the other room, Tom went rushing into the living room where his youngest daughter was standing on the arm of the sofa pointing at a rather large spider about to make its way across the floor. "alright calm down Flo, it won't hurt you" Tom reassured the little girl before scooping up the spider in a glass and freeing it out of the window "dad to the rescue ey" he laughed as he picked his daughter up and cuddled her glad one of his children was yet to find him embarrassing and still wanted his help. "Josh, hurry up mate we need to leave soon" Nikki reminded her son as she walked past his bedroom door. Josh was still asleep, Nikki knocked again "Joshua Clarkson, I will not tell you again, GET UP" Josh opened one eye slowly, and then the other "okay mum" which was enough to satisfy Nikki for now as she headed downstairs. "you need to get out of here before they catch you" Josh whispered to Lauren as she moved her head from under the covers "how am I supposed to get out without them seeing me?" Lauren whispered back. Same way you got in, through the back window but you'll have to be fast, Mum will be in here in a minute wanting to know why I'm not dressed" Slowly Lauren got dressed, Josh still felt so lucky to have a girlfriend like her even after all the arguments that they had, not seeing each other in lockdown had actually brought them closer than ever. She clambered out of the window and managed to get down the street undetected.

Meanwhile in the Lawson house, everyone was up and dressed and ready to leave "right girls, year 11 the big one…" "yes dad we know, important year, heads down, get this right and the whole world opens up" Esme said cutting Eddie off and repeating what their dad had been saying to them all summer. "right have you got everything, because I'm not writing you a note if you forget your P.E kit" Rachel said smiling. Eddie looked at his wife, even after two years of managing a school during a pandemic she was still killing it every single day and he couldn't be prouder of her. "Can I have a note please miss?" Eddie said planting a kiss on Rachel's forehead "Mum, dad get a room" "this is a room, it's the kitchen" Eddie sarcastically replied. "yes, and we have to eat here" Grace said rolling her eyes. "please can I go to Finn's after school" Esme asked hopefully "not tonight love, it's the first day back and you'll have homework" Rachel said, "please mum, I won't be out late, I promise" Esme persisted "If she's going to Finn's can I go to Ronan's?" Grace asked needing to get her chance too "no, you heard your mother both of you meet us at Mum's office at the end of the day" "homework before boyfriends anyway" Eddie said being the ever-protective father. The girls pouted but knew better than to argue, for now anyway.

When everyone had been dropped off, the Clarkson's made their way into the staff room for the first staff meeting of the year "welcome back everyone, it's so lovely to see you all in person rather than on a screen" Rachel said happily as she announced the notices for the first week back. "now we will still have some anxious children, so please be gentle with them" Rachel reminded the staff. "I really hope Josh gets his head down this year" Nikki said worried that he would go off the rails as he had in year 10 with the drugs. "he'll be fine love, all that is behind him now anyway" Tom reassured his wife. Tom's first lesson of the day was Year 11, a class which included the Lawson girls, Josh, Finn and Lauren. "morning gorgeous" Finn said as he put an arm around Esme "morning babe" Esme said planting a kiss on Finn. The group of friends all found their seats at the back of the room "I don't think so, right Esme at the front here, Finn over there, Grace behind and Lauren over there" Tom said as he entered the room. "no sir don't be tight" Finn started as he didn't want to be separated from his girlfriend "not a discussion Finn, move please" Tom replied firmly. "well, I'm not moving" Esme said feeling rebellious. "Esme Lawson move to the correct seat now or it will be a detention for refusal to follow instructions" Tom said very firmly "no, what are you going to do" Esme replied, "Es just move, you'll end up in more trouble" Josh whispered trying to keep the peace between his dad and the rebellious 16 year old. "no, I'm sitting next to Finn, end of" Tom having had enough of this little charade simply said "right, cooler now" Esme huffed but eventually got up and took herself off to the cooler, which to her dismay that period was being manned…by her dad.

Eddie looked up at the door "are you serious, it's period 1" he said firmly to his 16-year-old. "Clarkson was being annoying, he wanted to move me away from Finn and I wouldn't, so he sent me here" Esme said frustrated. "MR Clarkson, was doing his job then, what did I say to you this morning about how important this year was, ey" Eddie said. "I know I know" Esme replied rolling her eyes. Eddie was annoyed by this attitude "right, you're grounded for the week, must be a record first day back" "dad, no please I'll behave" "I know you will, you'll stay in here for this period and then you'll go back to Mr Clarkson and apologise" Eddie instructed "for god's sake" Esme shouted as she threw her book on the floor and stormed out of the room. Only to bump straight into Rachel who was coming to ask Eddie something "hey hey, what's going on" Rachel asked grabbing hold of Esme. "I was rude to Mr Clarkson and dad has grounded me' Esme complained "well sounds like Dad was right" Rachel agreed. "now sit yourself down and do some work please instead of behaving like a toddler" Rachel instructed. Esme gave in and sat herself down at the desk, putting her head in her hands.