Eddie entered reception minutes later. He glanced around as he entered, then he spotted Rachel. He walked over to her quickly and hugged her.
"I'm so pleased you came." Eddie beamed. Rachel tried to smile back, but couldn't. Eddie sensed something was wrong. He grabbed her hand and led her back to his room.
She sat down on his bed and he pulled a chair from the corner to sit in front of her. Rachel was close to tears as she explained the whole story, right from the end of last term.
Eddie listened intently, taking in everything she said. At the beginning he felt sad that she had managed to move on so quickly, but as the story progressed, he felt guilty about his initial thoughts.
Finally, Rachel stopped talking. She was holding back tears, but she knew she wouldn't be able to hold them much longer.
Eddie looked into her eyes and took her hand.
"You can stay with me for as long as you want. I know you are in a bad place right now, but if you want to give us another try…" Eddie said slowly. Rachel couldn't believe what he was saying. She was so worried about how he would react.
She burst into tears. Eddie slid onto the bed and sat next to her, wrapping her into a warm embrace. He held her until she stopped crying. He looked at her tear stained face.
"I love you Rachel. I don't ever want to loose you. You could have 100 men's children and it wouldn't stop me wanting to be with you. Its going to be ok." Eddie told her.
Rachel smiled at him. She looked deep into his eyes and he understood that she felt the same way. "I'm sorry for ending it. I just didn't know what to do. I couldn't take another child away from you. Now, if you want, we could have one together. I know this baby wouldn't biologically be yours, but…"
"It doesn't matter Rach. I want to be with you, and I am more than happy to raise this child as my own. You shouldn't be apologising for ending it. I understand why you did it. I'm sorry I left." Eddie told her.
They exchanged tearful apologies. Then, finally, got up and went to dinner.
The next day, Rachel was waiting in her office. As soon as the bell went, she jumped up and hurried down the corridors. She came to the assembly hall, where students were already filing in to take their seats.
When everyone was seated, Rachel stepped up to the microphone to speak.
The hall fell silent as she started to talk to her students.
"I know this year has been a difficult one so far, but after last term I think we all deserve a clean slate. I know this term has been going a while, but I think we need a little refresher."
As she spoke she noticed someone slip into the hall, silently from the back door.
"I understand that there is still some tension between the old John Fosters and the Waterloo Road. I want you to remember that you are all Waterloo Road now. Nothing is going to change that. You will all be treated the same, no matter who you are or where you come from."
Suddenly she was interrupted.
"Always one ta make a good speechhh aren't ya Rachhhh." A slurred voice shouted.
"Well, weren't that loveleeee. Jussst what I like to hear in the morningggg" a different slurred voice shouted.
Every student's head turned to see who the drunken voices were coming from. Everyone was shocked to see Chris and Max standing together in the doorway.
Rachel stepped down from the stage and walked towards them.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed. Several other teachers stood, preparing to help her. Some Waterloo Road and some John Fosters, united against the drunken men. Before any of them could make a move, Eddie had jumped up from his seat in the back row.
Many student cheered, happy to see their old Deputy Head back. Eddie swung a punch and hit Max on the side of the head. Max fell to floor, where other teachers managed to pull him up and tie him to a chair. Chris was walked quickly towards Rachel.
His face was level with hers. He opened his mouth and vomited down her front.
Rachel grimaced. Chris looked at her with tears in his eyes. Then he whispered something so only Rachel could hear.
"I'm sorry…"
Then he passed out.