A/N: Wow, can I just say I'm still in shock at the amount of reviews I've had for this! Many thanks to everyone still reading, and a big thank you to hannah5240, RachelMasonFan39, fayeftvanity, Mrs Carmichael, Lynny, LittleH12, FaeMelody, schefflera and the lovely guest!

Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter three.

Controlling someone is having the ability to influence and dominate a vulnerable human being.

Frustrated.

His world had completely fallen apart from one sentence. There was no longer any light, only the deep blackening hole that swallowed him. He'd spent minutes trying to digest her words and paced up and down the length of her living room. He wanted to have an understanding but he couldn't bring himself to use his words. A numbing sensation took over his body, and he brought his hands to his head. Then, in one split second, he looked to her and he felt regret. She'd opened her world to him and that was something that he'd craved for and now he was doing exactly as she hoped he wouldn't do.

'Eddie, say something, please?', Rachel begged as she nervously watched the scene unfold in front of her. She could see him shake his head and disapprove of her choice of words. In a panic, she stood and made her way to him in hope to salvage the friendship that they shared.

'I need to go', Eddie said alarmingly. As he left the room, she heard her front door slam with an almighty force and she fell back into the comfort of her chair. There was a stabbing pain to her chest, and she sobbed uncontrollably.

The slightest speck of light peaked through her curtains, and she woke to find herself still on the chair. She had fallen asleep and her whole body ached from both the aftermath of last night and the position that she had fallen asleep in. Her thoughts suddenly returned to not only Eddie but the fact that she did in fact have work, and she was unaware of the time. She jolted at the thought of possibly being late and quickly approached the clock in the hall to see that she had just enough to time to make it to school. Being on time, however, would be the last of her worries.

Eddie had been pondering over last nights events for hours. It was rather unusual for him, but this morning he'd come into school an hour earlier just to see her, again. The last hour had felt like three and she was still not here. A sick feeling brewed within him and he thought the worst. From all the time that he had known her, she was never one to be late.

A minute ticked by, and another, and then another. Before long the school bell signaled the start of lessons, and she still hadn't arrived.

It had been exactly 9:30 before she had driven her car into the school gates. She had been cursing the whole journey as she'd forgotten about the morning traffic. On finding the nearest parking space, she hastily made her way to her office and hoped that she'd make the journey with no further disruptions.

Much to her advantage, Rachel had successfully made the destination seeing no one. She felt out of sought and even her basic routine felt dominated by her rushed morning. She reached the door to her office and upon opening, she gasped before her whole body froze. Here he was, in her office, sitting in her chair. A little silence overthrew them for a few seconds before he cleared his throat. She felt her stomach somersault in fear of what he would say.

'Right', Eddie started as he kept a comfortable distance away from her. It wasn't because he wanted to, but because he didn't want to make the situation anymore complicated. Eddie wanted her but now really wasn't the time.

'I'm sorry, Eddie', she quietly spoke as she looked to him with sadness etching into her eyes. He watched as she trembled and nervously awaited his reaction to her apology. He, however, dismissed this and wanted reassurance that she was okay.

'How are you today?', Eddie asked as he pulled back her chair and stood. He watched as she flinched remembering the fine details from the night before. It was the pain stricken flash of emotion that caught him and he felt guilty.

'I'm okay', she whispered. He knew she was not okay. She looked exhausted and her stained lips held a strong indicator of her choice of drink from the night before. He took a few steps maneuvering himself from the side of her desk to the front, perching himself a seat on the edge.

'Have you slept?', he questioned gently as he watched her look away dismissively.

'A little. Eddie, look, I- .. I just', she began but failed to make sense of her words. The room found an uncomfortable silence, and honestly she wanted to run.

'That night, me and you, is that why you left in the morning?', desperately asking, Eddie took two steps closer to her. It had been a bold question to ask, but he needed to know.

'Eddie, I don't want to taint you. I-', she didn't have time to finish as a sharp interruption didn't give her the chance. A rather flustered Tom appeared at her doorway.

'Er sorry, Rachel it's the boys toilets, they've flooded again', Tom waffled as he looked between the pair. He'd known of the ongoing tension and felt rather awkward.

'Not again, you can't be serious?! Great. Eddie, can you please find out who's doing it?', Rachel asked diving straight back into her authoritative mode. This conversation was far from over, and at some point, they'd have to face it.

It took Eddie thirty seconds to reach Steph's classroom. On arriving, he searched the room for the culprit. It didn't take long before he sourced him out. Barging open the door, he alerted the pupils he was most definitely in a foul mood.

'Smilie, outside now!', Eddie roared as he glared at Bolton. A light snigger was enough to confirm that Eddie's assumptions were right. A slow and relaxed walk was enough to make Eddie's blood boil, this boy knew exactly what buttons to press. He had been so close to cracking Rachel, and once again, he'd been interrupted and by God he'd had enough.

'Boys toilets', Eddie said bluntly. It wasn't a question and Bolton was well aware. The teenage boy stuffed his hands in his pockets and gazed at his rather scuffed trainers. Annoyingly to Eddie, his smirk returned, and he was almost on the verge of collapsing with laughter.

'Think it's funny, do you?! We'll see what your mum says! Come on, move it!'. On charging Bolton down the corridor, Eddie's thoughts returned to the Bolton's behaviour and wondered how he could have taken so many steps backwards. He was rapidly becoming the person he used to be, and it had become apparent since he'd started his new job with Hordley.

Footsteps echoed the outer part of Rachel's office, and she half hoped they'd belonged to Eddie. She wanted to continue their conversation, to mend the broken mess and most importantly, she wanted her friend back. Unfortunately for her, it was Candice, and she sighed quietly before putting on a smiling front.

'Sorry, can I 'ave a word?', Candice asked walking into Rachel's office without an answer first.

'Sure Candice, what is it?', quizzed Rachel as she set the files she'd been looking through on her desk. She gave Candice her full attention as she focused.

'Our Bolton, I've told him he has to quit job, you know, after the toilets. He's been a little s- ... well you know what after starting that flaming job', Candice drained on. The sick feeling that Rachel had experienced earlier had returned and without having a minute to think, she interrupted. 'Candice, I really don't think-'.

'I've told him his behaviour needs to change, he ain't going back until he sorts himself out'. Within an instant, Candice had walked out of the office leaving Rachel reeling from her announcement.

Two minutes. It had only been two minutes since Candice had left before her phone buzzed. She knew exactly who it would be and wished after opening it she hadn't.

Fix it or things will get messy for you. Stuart.