Thank you for the reviews.

I have kinda forgotten what happens in these earlier chapters... Mainly because I am on my way to the end (I am hopefully going to be writing chapter 30 today).

Chapter Fourteen
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

The coffee that Eddie handed Rachel was needed. As much as she tried not to worry over the events the day before, she had come to see things from Eddie's point of view and it scared her that she had ran into the school so quickly and thoughtlessly. Not that Melissa heard her crying, thankfully. Philip did and spent most of the night trying to console her.

"Firstly, to you two, I'm sorry for what I did yesterday. I should never have run back in. I was so worried about the panic that the gun caused due to the fire, that I almost made it like the fire again."

"I think we would all prefer it if you didn't do something like that again," Tom said. "Maybe just for poor Eddie's sake."

"And I told you yesterday that I understood why you did it," Eddie said.

She smiled as she realised that she didn't really have to worry too much when it came to Eddie and Tom. She knew that Eddie understood but Tom seemed to understand as well without being fully informed about what was going on. Unless he knew something that she didn't know that he knew yet. She hadn't yet found the chance to ask him how much he had heard of her argument with Stuart.

"Then I suppose back to the subject in hand. What measures do we put in place to make sure nothing like that happens again?" Rachel said. "I emailed the LEA last night and they have basically said that we think about what we want and then they will provide the approved businesses for us to deal with."

"As bad as it sounds, you are going to need the metal detectors, like they have in airports. Maybe everyone in the morning has go through the main doors." Tom said.

"Then we would need someone to monitor it," Eddie said.

"Or a team."

"I suppose it could work, as well as making sure that students don't arrive before and leave at a certain time. Maybe we will have to have a look at the fencing around the school. Make sure it is secure. We don't really want anyone entering when nobody is here to plant it somewhere that they could pick it up at a later date." Rachel added.

"Bin checks as well then?" Eddie asked.

"Anything to keep everyone safe. Worse case, this isn't an isolated incident. If you want to get a gun into a school you are going to do whatever it takes to get it in."

"She has got a point," Tom said.

"The only problem I am thinking of is budget," Eddie said.

"It's coming out of the contingency fund. Now that we have one again." Rachel said. The confused looks from Tom and Eddie made her explain herself. "When Stuart was blackmailing me, he basically wanted me to make sure that he won the contract. I threatened to walk as well as giving up all of our contingency funding for the next five years do that he could win the bid."

"Why did you never say anything?" Eddie asked.

"Because I knew it wouldn't go down well. No emergency repairs or new development for five years. With this building practically falling apart. I think it is one good outcome from the fire. At least the place has been checked over and given at least a lick of paint."

She knew that he meant why didn't she eventually tell him about Stuart saying that she should threaten to walk to get him the bid. He had already given her a mini-lecture on why it wasn't a great idea to try and save Stuart from the fire and she should have got herself out and told one of the firemen. Not that they knew what condition Stuart was in. Whether he was alive or dead.

"Eddie told me," Tom said, bringing her from her thoughts. "Well, I asked a few questions after I had heard your argument with Stuart."

Her eyes flicked up to Eddie before going back to Tom.

"I had wondered how much you heard. Not that it matters anymore. It's not like we need the lie."

She knew the look Eddie was giving her. He was trying to gauge whether he had done the right thing while also telling her that it was something else they needed to talk about. It did annoy her that she couldn't open herself up. It wasn't like she didn't want to. She just didn't want to get hurt again. It didn't help that Melissa was back in her headspace as well.

"I know Pastoral Care is more for the students but my door is always open if you want to talk. I know from experience that it is a hard time. Nobody is expecting you to be 100% okay Rachel."

"Thanks, Tom. And I suppose it is time to expand how many people I rely upon. Welcome to my inner circle." She paused for a moment. "Now the Head of Extended Services."

"Do we have to consider Melissa?" Eddie said.

"Is she really that bad?" Tom asked.

Rachel shared another look with Eddie.

"Let's just say, Rachel wanted to come back to work so she wasn't with her 24/7."

"She is a little full-on."

"A little?" Rachel said. "If you think that is a little, you haven't seen anything yet."

"Micheal didn't like her and I think she only spoke like four words to him."

"It's not like I don't like having her around. Just she is better off in small doses. Philip, on the other hand, I could be with all day long. Admittingly, he is quite a shy person, but I just get along with him better." She paused as she found the notes that she made during the interviews. "Well, we all liked that Andy."

"He did have some good ideas," Eddie said.

"And he could probably relate to them all a bit more as he said he was self-taught after school failed him," Tom added.

"I suppose do we consider Steph or Grantly? I mean, not being nasty, half the time they can't keep the kids' attention. Grantly knows how to control a class and Steph has got better but I don't see them inspiring adults any more than they do the children." Rachel said.

"And their motivation for taking the job. They both just want more non-contact time from the kids. My personal opinion is we leave Steph and Grantly out of it. I think we go Andy, that Lisa, George and then Melissa if none of the rest wants it. I know that George was just a graduate but he could be someone that we could mould and help shape." Eddie said.

In all honesty, Rachel couldn't help but agree with him. It was the best way to do it and Tom agreed. Just as she was finding the details to call their first choice, the phone rang and Rachel picked it up, dreading the worst from the call.

"Okay, we are left with Melissa, Steph and Grantly." Rachel said as she put down the phone.

Eddie huffed as Tom reentered the room with lunch for them all.

"I am guessing not good news," Tom said.

"None of them will take the job because of the gun."

"These are definitely not helping then." He said as he reached into the plastic bag and pulled out five newspapers, all with Waterloo Road as their front page spread.

"Oh god. Tom, make sure you reimburse yourself from petty cash." She said as she started to spread them out.

Eddie picked one of them up and started to read it. Rachel could tell that he was getting angry at the contents.

"Listen to this. 'Waterloo Road is once again the scene of panic and confusion as Rachel Mason's first day back went with a bang.'" He muttered for a bit before he continued reading out loud. "'Head of governors, Ralph Mellor, has assured us that he believes that this is an isolated incident. It seems like the bad omen of Waterloo Road may be its own headteachers.' The bloody cheek."

"Eddie, this is even better. 'The ever heroic Rachel Mason, who was carried out of the school when it set fire earlier this year, risked her own life for the child who was carrying the gun. Does this mean she endorses the use of guns? With the sordid past that she has, anything is possible.'"

"I think you two should probably stop reading them," Tom said.

Rachel couldn't stop herself from agreeing with Tom. She was quite glad that she was unconscious when the papers must have been full with the story of the fire and her past. It was something that she didn't have to deal with and for her own peace of mind, it was probably best if she didn't have to deal with it.

"Back to the Head of Extended Services. Melissa, Steph or Grantly." She said.

"I know we said that we would find Steph something after she was sacked as Financial Director but after the whole thing with Monsieur Legard, do we really trust her to run a class of adults?" Eddie argued.

"And Grantly can't stand the kids half the time," Tom said.

"But Melissa has no previous experience teaching. She got corporate experience but that is just about it." Rachel sighed. "I suppose it comes down to the better of the evils."

"I don't think you are going to like what I am about to say," Eddie said.

"Probably not but carry on."

"As full-on as Melissa is, she is sort of in-between Steph and Grantly in terms of people skills. And her flirting at the moment only seems directed at me, so I think she is safer than Steph in that sense. But ultimately, you hold the final decision."

"Would it be so bad to give Melissa the job? Maybe on a temporary basis to see how she goes. As long as she is willing to learn, we can place one of us as like a mentor." Tom said.

"Like you have the time mentoring Davina as well." Rachel said. "I can't go home and say that to her, but I will think of a way to word it."

"Honestly, she can't be that bad."

"Oh Tom, you have seen nothing from my little sister yet. That's if she breaks from the new and improved Melissa."

"You're not mad at me for telling Tom are you?" Eddie asked.

"No. Obviously I don't know how much you said but I trust that you said enough to answer his questions. And after last year, maybe I do need to extend my circle of trust. Tom's a great guy and one of the few people that doesn't spread rumours around here."

"Maybe because he has been the subject of many rumours. Plus he has been in your position. I know it is something else on our 'to talk about' list but he has lost two babies. Someone other than me to talk about it with."

"When did they say that the baby was not alive anymore?"

"As soon as they allowed me to see you after you were admitted. Rach, they asked my opinion on what they should do and honestly, I still don't know whether I made the right decision."

"She was never going to grow anymore. I think you did the right thing."

"She?"

Rachel turned to him. "Gut feeling that the baby was going to be a girl. Don't know why."

"I could imagine you with a little girl."

"It's now just another what if."

"Maybe…" He started.

Rachel knew what he wanted to say and she couldn't deny that it seemed like a great idea. To make their lie real the next time around. She just worried that all the trauma that her body had been under and everything else that it might just be too late. It wasn't like she had youth on her side.

"Yeah, maybe."

She knew that for her to take the next step with Eddie, all she had to do was get her confidence back. Something that she was sure would happen with him by her side but she didn't know whether Melissa being there as well would help or hinder her.