I suppose there is only one way to start this fic.
Happy (now belated) Birthday Gem. As you know, this wasn't the original idea that I had when I started to think about a birthday fic for you, but I think that you will appreciate this one more than the one I had planned to begin with. You said on Twitter that you were honoured but I have been honoured with your support since the beginning of my Waterloo Road adventure on this site. Your constant support has made my time here extremely worthwhile and I hope that you enjoy this fic as you have done with the rest of mine.
Now, shall we get into this out-of-hand one shot?
Maybe this could be seen as a sort of alternative S03E20 without Forest Mount and everything else that happened during that episode.
Then I Go And Spoil It All
Rachel had a smile on her face as she closed her laptop at the same time the bell rang to signal the end of another school day. Yet that bell gave more than just a sigh of relief that it was the end of the day or the working week. Because it also signalled that another term was over and even though Rachel knew that the next term was going to be filled with exam stress, it was the downhill to the summer and there was a part of her that couldn't wait for the six weeks off.
Although the footsteps making their way to her office was the one reason that she didn't want six weeks off and she couldn't help but smile at Eddie as he stood in the doorway.
"Are you joining us tonight?" He asked.
"Of course. It's the end of term and I need a drink."
"Why? Has Hordley been in contact?"
"No. Just think that I deserve it."
There was a part of her that wondered whether she would have to make the first move with Eddie. Things had drastically changed between them and she wondered whether she should have kissed him after he punched Stuart for her. Maybe it would be something that she would always regret not doing.
"I might even buy you your first drink," Eddie said.
"How very gentlemanly of you."
"Well… I try."
"I'm sure you do."
"Does this mean that we are going to see you with your hair down?"
"What are you suggesting Mr Lawson?" She said as she gathered up her bags and walked towards him. She felt like she had given him enough time to reply once she was standing in front of him and she couldn't help but enjoy how he was reacting to her question. "Do you not think that I can just be Rachel rather than Miss Mason?"
"I didn't mean it like that." He stuttered.
"Really?" She said before she clicked her tongue. "I bet I could drink you under the table."
She had no idea why she said what she did but she couldn't tell whether Eddie was impressed by her statement or questioning it.
"What all five foot five of you versus six foot two of me?"
"I am five foot six."
"And there is barely anything of you."
"I can handle my drink."
"You think that you could drink me under the table."
"Yes, I do. And I am prepared to put my money where my mouth is. If I stop drinking first, I won't get on at you to do your paperwork next term and I'll do it instead."
She had offered that prize to increase his interest. She knew that he hated the paperwork. She just wondered whether he would rise to the challenge.
"And if I stop drinking first?" He asked.
"I'll expect all your paperwork to be done on time or, better still, before I need it."
Rachel knew that it was a risk saying that. Because she didn't know whether, potentially, getting out of doing the paperwork was worth it for Eddie. She could see him mulling it over, weighing up the pros and cons. Although she knew that he had a point. He was taller and heavier than her by default. She just hoped that he hadn't had the same drinking experience as her when she was younger. Because it was the only reason she could drink.
"You're on, Mason."
She didn't expect her smile to grow, but it did and they fell in step with each other as they made a move to leave the school.
"I think this is how we should play it." Rachel said. "We take it in turns to buy the drinks and we both drink the same drinks. That way it will just be our levels of alcohol tolerance, rather than you moaning that I am drinking less with wine while you are drinking pints."
"Fine by me."
"Once the person who is buying the next round is finished, they go and get the next round of drinks. So if I buy, when you finish the drink I've bought you, you will get the next one. Is there anything that you can't drink?"
"Like I am going to tell you what my weaknesses are."
"We might have the same weaknesses. I am only trying to make it as fair as possible."
"Sambuca." Eddie eventually said. "Can't stand the stuff."
"Oh, me too."
"Really?"
"Had a night of it at uni. I can't even smell the stuff without having flashbacks of what little I can remember and wanting to throw up."
"Same."
"I also won't touch Jäger."
"Really?" Eddie said, sounding intrigued.
She rolled her eyes. Of course, he would be happier about the conversation if she couldn't drink one more drink than him.
"It was either the Jäger or the energy drink that made me throw up so I haven't touched either since."
"So no Sambuca or Jäger then."
She nudged his arm with her elbow. "And you can leave your gentlemanly ways until later. I'll be buying the first drink."
"Worried I am going to screw you over with the first drink."
"Maybe I just want to set the bar. Honestly, Lawson, I hope you know what you are getting yourself in for."
"I'll be fine. I think it is yourself that you should be worried about."
Rachel bit the inside of her lip to try and stop her smile for growing. Part of her wondered whether their bet was a horrible idea but there was a part of her that was looking forward to the competition that she had started and spending the night in Eddie's company.
Eddie pushed himself off the wall as Rachel walked towards him, rolling her eyes. He wondered whether the eye roll was because of him or the fact that she had text him 10 minutes ago saying that she would be with him in a bit to only just turn up.
"Why is nothing ever simple?" She said as she reached him. "All I wanted to do was drop my car off at home and I couldn't even do that without something happening."
"Like?"
"My sister. God, she drives me around the bend. 'Did you say that you were coming down tonight?' No, I didn't. I am going down next Friday because I actually want to enjoy some of my break."
Eddie chuckled. "Family are annoying."
"And I only have her and Philip to deal with." She sighed. "Sorry. You know enough of my problems without adding my sister to the mix."
"Honestly, Rachel, it's fine. I want to know."
Eddie internally scolded himself for being that forward but he couldn't deny that he enjoyed the smile that rose on Rachel's face. He was a little unsure where they stood. He would regard her as a friend more than his boss but there was also a part of him that wanted more and he wished that he knew whether Rachel wanted that as well. Maybe he would find out when she was blind drunk after thinking that she could drink him under the table. There was no way that she was going to be able to do that.
"I thought you would be in there." She said.
"I didn't want to until you were here. After all, you said that you would buy the first drink and I didn't want this lot to put me one drink ahead of you."
"You still don't think that I could drink you under the table."
"Nope. I think I will be picking you up off the floor by your… fourth drink."
"Four drink? Is that all you give me?"
"I was going to say three."
"Time to prove you wrong, Lawson."
"I'd like to see you try, Mason."
He smiled at Rachel before they headed into the pub, with him holding the door open for her. He knew that Rachel wanted to set the bar as to what they would be drinking in the early part of their little competition and he did wonder what she was going to choose as they settled at the bar.
"There you are," Steph shouted. "We'd thought that you two had bailed on us."
"I wanted to drop my car off at home." Rachel said. "Is everyone okay for a drink?"
Eddie knew that the usual suspects would pipe up, even if they did have a drink in front of them. He shook his head as Rachel started to give over the order.
"Are you okay with Coke as a mixer?" She said as she turned to him.
"Yeah."
If anything, he was quite surprised that she had chosen to go with a short as their first drink and he knew that he would have to tell himself to pace the drink. Because he could quickly finish it if he wasn't too careful.
"And two Disaronnos and cokes please."
"Double or single?"
Rachel turned to him and he assumed that he was going to ask him for his opinion before she half-turned back to the bartender.
"Doubles." She said before she gave Eddie her full attention. "I'm in it to win it."
"Definitely four drinks."
"I am actually glad that you have so little faith in me. I can't wait to wipe the floor with you."
"You can be overconfident, Mason."
"I think my confidence is well placed." She said as she paid for the drinks. She handed him his before she tapped her glass against his. "To a night we won't remember."
"A night we won't remember," Eddie said before he took a mouthful of his drink, noting that he would definitely have to slow himself down with the drink that she had chosen while also thinking about what he was going to order for the next round.
"Are you okay?" Davina asked.
Rachel looked up and gave her a nod before wishing that she actually spoke. One of the reasons why she went home was to quickly have something to eat before she went out but didn't get that chance. She knew that drinking on an empty stomach was a bad thing to do and she wished that she had eaten more during the day.
Although, she didn't expect being in a drinking competition with Eddie.
"I'm fine. I just need a breather." Rachel said.
"You and Eddie look like you are going for it tonight."
"I am definitely going to stop buying shorts. He keeps knocking them back where I would quite like to enjoy the drink." She sighed. "We… I said to Eddie that I could drink him under the table. And I know I can. If he stops being an idiot and paces himself. Actually, how drunk are you?"
"Not very. Tom's taking me out tomorrow so we aren't drinking that much."
"I need someone who will remember who the winner is."
"Right."
"The first person to stop drinking is the loser. I mean is completely done for the night, stopped drinking."
"What has brought on this?"
"Like I said, I told Eddie that I could drink him under the table and I tried to make it interesting by saying that if he won, I would do his paperwork and if I won, then he would do his paperwork without me moaning at him."
"Does he really not like the paperwork?"
"How he thought he was going to be headteacher I will never know. I know… Jack did what he did but the more I think about it, the more I do think that he was trying to do it for the kids and the reputation of the school. He just went about it in completely the wrong way."
"Izzie's death didn't help with his decision making."
"Do you still love him?" Rachel said without thinking. "I am so sorry. And I know with everything that happened with you and Jack and Tom the other…"
"Rachel, it's fine. Because I think that there is a part of me that will always love him." Davina laughed. "Do you need some girly back up?"
"I could really do with something to eat."
"I'll get Tom to get some crisps for the table when he next goes and gets a drink."
"And I suppose I should go and buy mine and Eddie's next round." Rachel said as she managed to push herself off the wall of the toilet.
"You know, there are worse men than Eddie."
Rachel blinked at Davina for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I think he is mad about you. Worlds apart to how he felt on your first day. Just… if you feel the same, there are worse men than Eddie Lawson."
Rachel didn't completely trust her mouth to say something that she didn't want to, so she gave Davina a nod before she left the toilets and made her way to the bar.
"Lawson, are you trying to kill me?" Rachel said.
"You didn't say that you couldn't do tequila."
"But three shots each."
"I've got the lime and salt as well."
"You are trying to kill me."
Eddie was glad to get the tray down onto the table and equally glad that he hadn't managed to spill any. He was completely gone and he hoped that this might just tip Rachel over the edge so that he could win and stop drinking.
He had to stop the alcohol-filled thoughts as she placed her hand on his knee as she swayed towards him after he had sat down. She managed to get herself together to bring her chair closer to him but her hand seemed to remain on his thigh as she leant against him.
"What order is it? I always forget." She asked.
"Salt. Tequila. Then lime." Eddie said, trying to keep his voice level.
Rachel looked up at him and then where her hand was on his thigh. He equally loved and hated the smirk that rose on her face.
"Am I distracting you, Mr Lawson?"
"Not at all, Miss Mason."
"Sure?" She said as she raised her head to him.
Their eyes met and they could have ended the whole debate as to whether they were just going to be friends or whether they were going to be more there and then. Eddie was sure that they were leaning into each other, that he could have slipped one of his arms around her waist to bring her closer to him as they shared that very important first kiss.
When they were interrupted.
By Steph of all people.
Asking whether they were going to do karaoke.
Eddie blinked at the woman, knowing that he wasn't that drunk to be dragged into doing karaoke. There was nothing that was going to get him up there.
"Steph." Rachel said as she finally drew back from Eddie.
"I'll even let you two duet."
"No."
"I have the perfect song for you both."
"Steph!" Rachel shouted after the woman. "I am going to need these shots now."
Eddie couldn't help but watch Rachel as she licked her hand and placed the salt on there before handing the shaker to him.
"Three in one?" She asked.
"Definitely." He said as he took the shaker. "After three." He said when he was ready. "Salt, tequila, lime."
"Three, two, one." Rachel said.
Eddie didn't need to taste the tequila to know that all three shots were going to burn whether they did the salt and lime or not. He knew it was a horrible idea and he only had himself to blame.
"I suppose it is my turn now."
"Not another shot."
"Lawson, that was your fault." She said as she stood up and used the table to get her balance. "I'm fine."
"I am sure you are, Mason."
"You know, I have never loved the name that I chose for myself more than when you say it."
"Which part?"
"All of it."
"Well then, Rachel Mason, I think you need to get the drinks in."
Eddie watched her swaying for a moment before she pointed towards the bar and headed that way. He allowed his head to hit against the table, immediately regretting it as the table had become sticky from all the drinks that had been spilt on it.
If anything, he hoped that Steph hadn't spoilt the one chance he could have had to kiss Rachel Mason.
"Even blind drunk she is still bossy," Tom said as Davina joined him.
"I think that is just Rachel."
"They have this bet going on."
"I know, Rachel told me because she wanted someone sober enough to remember the outcome."
"Eddie asked the same of me."
Tom watched Davina shake her head.
"Although, do you think this will give them that push?" She asked.
"We will have to see what song Steph has lined up for them." Tom chuckled. "They are both gone."
"Are we ready for this entertainment?" Steph said as she joined them.
"What are you doing?" Tom said.
"Well, I may have ruined a moment between them. So I am hoping this will reignite it."
"With what song?"
Tom could only start laughing as Somethin' Stupid started and he was fairly certain that both Eddie and Rachel would be glad that they wouldn't remember this.
"Do you think that is appropriate?" Tom said as he saw Steph filming them.
"I just thought they might need proof."
"Of what?"
"Rachel isn't a bad singer," Davina said, changing the subject.
"I thought Eddie would be worse too," Steph said.
"Oh Steph, what have you done?" Tom said.
"They need a push and what a time to do it."
"When they are in the middle of a drinking competition? You are definitely hoping that they don't remember aren't you?"
"With the amount they've drunk, I should expect that they won't."
Tom felt like he could only watch in both horror and anticipation as both Rachel and Eddie turned to each other as the song started to come to its end. The private moment that Steph had walked into earlier now seemed like a rather public moment as they sang the last lines of the song to each other.
To his surprise, it was Rachel that placed the microphone down to launch herself at Eddie, with Eddie managing to hold their balance and his microphone. It seemed like the only reason they knew that they weren't alone was when the next person on the karaoke broke them apart, with a boo from Steph.
Tom found himself turning to Davina.
"I think she likes him." She said.
"I think so too."
Tom didn't know why it was gone midnight and he was still in the pub. Actually, he knew why and he hoped that it would be over soon. Although he felt like him and Davina would have to take Eddie and Rachel home, mainly so they didn't have to pay a massive fine if one or both of them threw up in the taxi home.
"Can't handle it, Lawson?" Rachel said as she returned with two neat whiskeys.
"I just need five," Eddie said.
Out of everything, Tom was most impressed at how Rachel (who he would consider to be very drunk at this rate) placed one of the whiskeys down in front of Eddie before she knocked back that one left in her hand. She placed the glass down before she fell into the seat next to Tom, with him catching her so that she didn't hurt herself when she almost slid off.
"You seem to be a drink behind now." She said.
Tom had this feeling that Eddie'd had enough two drinks ago but was keeping it up because he didn't want to let Rachel win. But there was a sense of realisation on Eddie's face that made Tom think that he was going to end up throwing in the towel. Maybe just by the way that Eddie kept raising his drink and not actually drinking any of it before he placed it down again.
Eddie shook his head. "I'm done."
Tom never expected that Rachel would have picked up the whiskey that she had brought for Eddie and knocked that back as well before finishing the drink that Eddie couldn't.
"Oh, dear Lawson. All that paperwork next term." She said.
"Right, can we go home now?" Tom said.
Rachel shrugged before she fell against him. Eddie excused himself and Tom hoped that he wasn't going to throw up.
"Tom?" Rachel said.
"Yeah."
"Do you think everyone will mind?"
"Mind what?"
"I… have dated… colleagues in the past. But never… someone in my senior management team. I mean, there is one thing for certain, Eddie is the best deputy that I have ever had. Would… things be ruined if… we started something?"
"Well personally, for me, I wouldn't mind. If it is something that you want then you should go for it. I think everyone else in the staffroom will be with me on that one. But I suppose that isn't what you are worried about. The Governors know that you work well together. Just look at what you have done in just under two terms. I am sure that you are someone who knows where the lines are between professional and personal. I don't think Jack ever did."
Tom felt like either Rachel realised what she was doing or whether she was trying to stop herself from being sick as she slowly sat up. She turned to him and nodded.
"To think, I almost didn't take the job. I didn't know whether I wanted the challenge of it." She said. "And any difference in the school isn't just down to me and Eddie. It is down to everyone. Because I couldn't do it without everyone else. Especially teachers like you, Tom. You care and the majority of the time, that is half the battle."
"Okay, you have had too much to drink. You are giving out compliments. Next, you will be saying that Steph and Grantly are good teachers."
"I'm not that drunk. But Steph does care. Even if I think I could say more French than her."
Tom laughed. "I think most of the students can speak more French than her."
"I do value good, caring teachers. Which is why I asked you first whether you would be Davina's mentor. Because she is going to be a teacher like you. And I want her to be a teacher like you."
"Do you ever switch off?"
"If I switch off from work, I start thinking about things I don't want to think about."
Tom was about to ask her more when Davina joined them saying that she hoped there was a winner because they were going to be kicked out at this rate.
"Rachel won. So I think we can book a taxi and get these two home." Tom said.
"I'll go and find Eddie." Rachel said as she attempted to stand up.
"You stay there. I'll find Eddie." Tom said.
"I'll book a taxi," Davina said.
Tom shook his head as he stood up and walked over to Davina.
"Find out where she lives. I think it might be best just to drop them off together." Tom whispered.
"Really?"
"I think they have a lot they need to talk about in the morning."
"Tom, I don't think that either of them are going to remember anything."
"Maybe not. But Steph might have given them the drunken push, I think we need to give them the subtle morning after nudge. Especially when Rachel has just asked me whether everyone will mind them getting together."
"You'd better find Eddie."
"I hope that if he has thrown up, that he isn't going to throw up any more."
"Do you think that this was a bit of competition between them or do you think that it was just a way to give them a bit of liquid courage?"
Tom shrugged. "All I do know is that I want to get to bed."
"Well if it blows up in our face, then it will be your fault."
"Fine," Tom said before he left to find Eddie.
Rachel knew that she wasn't on her own in bed by the fact that the other side of the bed was dipped slightly. There was a part of her that noted that she was fully dressed, meaning that she couldn't have had sex with the person lying next to her, who she hoped was Eddie.
She kept her eyes closed to try and piece together what had happened the night before. One of the last things that she could remember was doing three tequila shots and that was more because she could still taste it in the back of her throat. Just that made her think that tequila might make the third drink to be on her blacklist.
She smiled as she heard the groan next to her and the way that the bed moved as the person rolled over. She opened her eyes, not knowing whether she was glad that she was in her bedroom and bed or not, to Eddie lying next to her, fully clothed as well. She knew that he was suffering worse than her when he opened his eyes and then quickly closed them again.
"Please say you know who won. I don't want my hangover to be for nothing." He said.
"I can't remember. I'm sure Davina will. I asked her to keep an eye out because I knew I wasn't going to remember."
"I asked Tom the same thing. Did we do karaoke?"
"I know someone brought tequila shots. I can still taste them."
"That must have been you. I wouldn't have brought tequila."
"I think you did." Rachel took a sharp breath. "Steph told us that we were doing karaoke. I can't remember if we did or not. I think we may have done. But it was the reason we did all three tequila shots at the same time."
"I can't remember that."
"Did those shots finish you off?"
"If I did buy them, I don't know what I was thinking. Anyway, how do you seem fine this morning?"
"I always have a glass of water with a rehydration sachet in it. Work it out at university and it has always served me well. You obviously didn't want one as there is one on the side."
He slowly opened his eyes and turned to look at the bedside table. She could tell that he was thinking about whether he could sit up and drink it. She knew that she would have to try and get up as well at some point. She might seem okay but her stomach was definitely telling her that she'd had a skinful the night before.
She risked it at the same time Eddie did, turning to find a glass of water on her bedside table as well. Even drunk, she knew what to do to help herself out the next morning. She took a couple of sips before she turned to Eddie.
"How did we even end up back at yours?" He asked. "I'm guessing we are at yours or I haven't been in my spare room for a very long time."
"I would guess Tom and Davina. And yes, we are at mine. In my bed."
"I'm guessing we didn't…"
"I am assuming that as well."
"I think we might need to talk."
"I think we do as well. Just… before we do." She said.
She didn't know what compelled her to lean over and place a kiss on his lips but it is what happened. She didn't put any pressure but it would have been enough for him to know what she had done. She noted the way that he tilted his head so that she could deepen it if she wanted to but she knew that there would be time for that later. Once they had spoken.
She just wanted to know what it was like to kiss Eddie Lawson while she was sober, if she had kissed him when she was drunk.
"I think that was what we were going for when Steph interrupted us about karaoke." She said as she pulled back.
"Is that your last memory?"
"Unfuzzy memory. I have no idea about the rest of the night."
"The more you talk about it, the more I am remembering."
"How about we go out for breakfast? There is a nice cafe down the road as I don't have anything in the house and we are in no fit state to drive."
"I suppose the walk might do us some good."
"Although I am going to have a shower. I feel so sticky. If you want one, I can show you where the bathroom is."
"I could probably do with a freshen up."
"And Eddie." She waited until he had turned to her. "If we did have sex, I wouldn't have regretted it. I wanted… to kiss you a couple of weeks ago. When you punched Stuart for me."
"Really?"
"I like you, Eddie. That is why we need to talk."
"You know… it might have been why I reacted the way I did when I found out. Because it was a shock and I couldn't see you like that. And I was starting to care about you in a different way. At the very least, I want you to be my friend. And I was jealous of Stuart when he took you out for dinner."
"I hated going. Because I knew that he was only trying to wine and dine me because he wanted to make up for what he did. I should never have left that folder in my drawer."
"I shouldn't have been a nosey git and looked at it."
"Maybe. But you know and I can't change that."
"I am here for you, Rach. For whatever is thrown at us next."
"Come on." She said as she tapped his leg before she stood up. "Otherwise we will have the talk here."
"I don't actually know whether I am ready to move."
"Well you throw up on my carpet and you are paying to get it cleaned."
"This is your fault that I ended up like this."
"And for your ego, I hope I won."
"My ego?"
"Yeah. You doubted me. Maybe you will never doubt me again."
"I still don't see how you could have."
"And I would have done it on an empty stomach."
"Honestly Mason, I don't know what to do with you."
She turned to him. "Well, I could think of a couple of things."
"Okay, we need to go. Or we might never talk."
"Are you going to get out of bed then?" She said before she bit her lip. "Because I could always be persuaded to come back."
"No, I think you are right. We need to talk. And I don't trust my stomach at the moment." He said as he finally made a move to get out of bed. He slowly stood up and took a couple of deep breaths.
"You okay?"
"Might make myself throw up anyway. See if that makes me feel better. Where is the bathroom?"
"Second door on your right."
"I'll see you in a bit."
A smile broke out on her face as she watched Eddie slowly move before he picked up his pace, obviously trying to make it to the bathroom before he did throw up. She shook her head and was glad that her stomach wasn't feeling that bad. She grabbed a couple of items of clothes before she headed to her ensuite, trying to remember if she did have that shirt from an ex-boyfriend or whether she did throw it out when she moved for the Waterloo Road job.
"If I hadn't seen you over the Easter break, I would ask whether you were still hungover." Rachel said as she met Eddie on her way to the staffroom.
"Very funny."
"Is it a case of the first day of term?"
"Of course. And we should be able to find out who won our little bet."
"I still think I won."
"And like I said on the night, you can be overconfident."
"You love the confidence."
"Well, I am glad you have it back after Hordley."
Rachel smiled at him, wanting to press a short kiss to his lips but knowing that they said that they would see how things would play out between them in their personal lives before bringing it into their professional lives. Which is why she was quite surprised by Steph's comment as they walked into the staffroom and how Rachel wished that she could have remembered more.
"Here are the love birds," Steph said.
Rachel turned to Eddie for him to give her a shrug.
"Steph, we knew that they wouldn't remember," Tom said. "Oh, and Rachel won the bet. Quite impressively as well. Eddie had a round of vodka and cokes, which he couldn't finish. Rachel had brought neat whiskey for the next round, downed both of them and the rest of Eddie's drink."
"Told you. Enjoy the paperwork." Rachel said.
"I'm more on what Steph said," Eddie said.
"Do you want proof?" Steph said.
Rachel looked at Eddie and knew that they both didn't want to see this but took their position behind Steph, with a few others circling around as Steph got up the video.
"I said we did karaoke." Rachel said.
"I'll get to the good bit," Steph said as she started the video towards the end.
Now that it was playing, Rachel could remember the sound of Somethin' Stupid and it was probably the reason why it was stuck in her head the next day. But she didn't think it was because she had sung it with Eddie. What did shock her was the way that she put down the microphone and threw herself at Eddie. She was waiting for that memory to come back to her but she couldn't remember it but there was proof that it happened.
"Oh, dear Mason," Eddie said.
"So did you go home together?" Steph asked.
"That is for us to know and for you to guess." Rachel said.
She noted the look between Tom and Davina and it was clear that they hadn't said anything and now wasn't going to say anything. Out of the whole of the staffroom, Rachel trusted them with that secret.
"Back to today, rather than the end of term." Rachel said with a clap of her hands as she moved back to be in the centre of the room. "I know this is a stressful time of year with the exams looming but please try and keep the kids as calm as possible. I am sure I can count on you to be a support to Tom as I am sure his visits will increase. Just try and tell them that we are wanting them to go into their exams and prove that they have learnt what they have been taught and to do the best they can and to make themselves proud. Hopefully, this can be the best year yet for Waterloo Road and if it is, I will treat you all with a drink on the first day back after the summer." She looked at her watch. "15 minutes until the term starts, so just keep doing what you all do best and let's get these kids through the exam period as stress-free as possible."
There were mumbles of agreement and Rachel left with that. She knew that Eddie was going to follow her, but she knew that his thoughts wouldn't be on the paperwork that he needed to catch up with.
"I think we need a rethink." He said.
"I think you need to get on with your paperwork and then we can talk. Because I am still waiting on a couple of things from last term."
"Are you sure?"
"I am pretty sure I said that if I win, you would do all your paperwork on time or before I need it. There are still a couple of budgets that I am waiting on and a couple of other bits that you assured me that you would sort. How can I do all my work when I am waiting on stuff from you?"
She heard him groan before he said that he would get it done, turning into his classroom when they reached it. If anything, Rachel wanted a bit of time to process what she had seen and how that was going to change her attitude towards their newfound relationship
"There. Are you happy now?" Eddie said as he walked into her office and placed his paperwork on her desk.
"Very." Rachel said as she smiled up at him.
"How were you not worse in the morning?"
"Like I said. My tried and tested method. Will you take my advice next time?"
"Next time? I am not getting that drunk again."
"Plus… I spent a lot of my late teens, early 20s drunk. For obvious reasons. I wanted to forget about what I had done and it was the only way I knew how to."
"I… didn't think about that."
"Probably because you don't want to. I don't want to either. It was the reason I changed my name. I felt like I could leave it in the past that way."
"So?"
"So?" She repeated.
"So do you not remember what Steph showed us this morning?" He said as he leant against her desk.
"I now know why I had Somethin' Stupid stuck in my head the next day."
"I was more focused on the bit at the end."
"I knew you would be." Rachel said as she leant forward. "Why don't you wear ties?"
"Because I don't like them."
"It just… doesn't make this easy."
"What easy?"
Rachel rose out of her chair slightly to press her lips against his, glad that the desk stopped any wandering hands during the school day. Maybe if it was after school, she would have allowed Eddie more but unfortunately for the both of them, it was the middle of the day.
"See if you wore a tie, I could have pulled you towards me and I wouldn't have had to get up." She said as she sat back down.
"Well, I could always be persuaded to lean more forward rather than you trying to strangle me with a tie." He said as he leant forwards a little more.
She smiled at him before kissing him again. "I mean, if you keep this up, regarding your paperwork, maybe I show you how happy I am on Friday night."
"Why? What is happening Friday night?"
"I was thinking, maybe, a nice restaurant. Not too nice so you don't actually have to smarten yourself up but one with good food. Have a meal and a couple of drinks in good company before." She paused to gauge his reaction. "Either back to yours or mine." She leant forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Maybe I'll show you what all the fuss is about."
"Why is it only Monday?"
"Will it now be a long week, Mr Lawson?"
"You are going to be the death of me Mason."
"Am I now?"
"I'd better get on with my paperwork."
"Never seen you so keen to do paperwork."
"Maybe I have an incentive now to do it."
"Well, if I knew that from the start."
"You, Rachel Mason, are one of a kind."
"So are you, Eddie Lawson."
"I would have thought I was like any bloke that you would have met."
"No. You definitely have a heart of gold."
He smiled widely at her. "I think I should go."
"Am I distracting you, Mr Lawson?"
"Of course you are, Miss Mason."
"Good."
Eddie shook his head at her before he pushed himself off the desk and made a move to leave her office. If anything, she held her pen between her teeth just to see the reaction that Eddie would give her as he looked back before babbling about the paperwork and marking before he left her properly.
Rachel couldn't help but smile to herself, completely and utterly distracted from what she was doing to thinking about the things that she could do to Eddie when they got to one of theirs after their date Friday night. Because she wanted to make it worth his while. If it made him do his paperwork.