A/N: Just a little chapter ...

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Burning under your control

Chapter seventeen

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

Troubled.

Disturbance soared through Rachel and Eddie, and they frantically began to mentally prepare themselves for what was to come. The pub had quickly become a bad idea, and all intentions of having an enjoyable and peaceful evening had been crushed, quickly. The two figures standing at the door spotted them sitting in the corner and so it was too late to leave. Dread filled Rachel, and she took a quick glance at Eddie before returning her focus to the familiar pair.

'Well, fancy seeing you pair here', Steph sniggered as she smugly looked between the pair of them. Her delight was obvious, and Rachel knew that by tomorrow there would be supporting evidence that there was something going on between herself and Eddie.

'Can we help you Steph?', Eddie questioned angrily. His and Rachel's thoughts had never visited the fact that Steph was a regular here and that she probably would have been in here night after night. Even though it was school tomorrow, that was no exception.

'No no, me and Matt here have come for our Sunday drink', Steph cast her eyes to Matt, who nervously looked away from them, refraining himself from mirroring Steph's smugness.

'Of course you have', Rachel answered whilst she took pleasure in having a rather big gulp of her wine. You could have cut the tension with a knife, and honestly it was one of the most awkward situations that she'd ever been in. Eddie glanced at Rachel, and she knew he was questioning whether they should leave and carry on their evening elsewhere.

'Well we'll leave you to your ..', Matt began, sensing that this was becoming vastly awkward for all four of them. He struggled how to address their meeting, and what he should call it. Realising that Matt didn't want to cause offense, Steph took it upon herself to finish his sentence.

'Date', as soon as she mentioned the word, both Eddie and Rachel threw a glare her way.

'It's not a-', Rachel said defensively. Her stern tone implied that she wasn't impressed with Steph's comment.

'Come on Matt, the bar is waiting!'

Twenty or so minutes had passed and neither Rachel nor Eddie had said much as they'd been cautious how to act around one another in fear of speculations arising. Eddie cleared his throat before taking a swig of his pint.

'Do you think we'll be the talk of the staff room', it was the question that Eddie had known that she'd ask, and honestly he was surprised that it had taken her this long.

'Probably', he replied. His tone was flat, and it wasn't that he didn't care, but it was more the fact that her concerns would always take priority in their relationship. She remained silent for a little while and he knew exactly that she would be overthinking.

'It's alright', he reassured as best as he could.

'Eddie, they already know about the kiss', she panicked as she brought her head into her hands and admitted defeat knowing that she'd have to face reality tomorrow.

'I told Steph that it wasn't tr-', Eddie defended the situation before her head shot back up and she glared at him.

'And she's going to believe that?! We both know she's hardly going to think that's true!', Rachel exclaimed before finishing the remains of her wine. Eddie didn't have a valid point to argue against her, and so instead, he nodded before mirroring her and finishing his pint.

Melissa had been throwing a few items into her suitcase, before the sharp ring of the doorbell alarmed her. On realising that she should probably answer it, she quickly closed her case before hiding it under the bed. Every step she took on making her journey downstairs, she pondered who it could have been. She hastily threw back the door to find two police officers staring back at her. Her body went into fight-or-flight mode and she wished that she'd never opened the door in the first place. A million questions throwing her and she was unsure what she'd been caught for this time.

'Can I help you?', she asked nervously.

'We're looking for Rachel Mason', relief swept her as she realised they weren't for her. Curious at what they could want with her sister, she questioned them.

'She's not here. I'm her sister, what's going on?'

'We just need to ask her a few more questions', the officer asked as he cast his eyes in the gap between Melissa and the door frame trying to catch who else was in the house.

'About what?', she asked confused.

'A Mr Hordley'

'Hordley?', the name was familiar, all too familiar and Melissa edged the door a little more to try to shut away their prying eyes.

'Stuart Hordley', one officer stated. Her world crashed around her and she fell into a deep dark hole, once again. She wondered if she had heard right or whether it had been an awful dream that she was desperately trying to wake up from. She'd been silent for too long, and the officers became rather suspicious of her actions.

'Do you know him?', he questioned her.

'No .. no, I er, I'll let her know that you've called', she stuttered before trying to divert them away from the house. Her growing curiosity over the situation made her frustrated. The need to call and quiz Rachel over the connection between her and Stuart becoming more urgent. The officers stood for another few seconds before they nodded and turned to make the way towards the car, not before however turning back at her to take once last glance. Melissa watched as they drove away, and fear flooded her and she slammed the door shut. Turning around, she was met by a pale faced and nervous looking Philip.

'Mum, how does he know Rach?'