The first week of the summer holidays was drawing to a close, and as Rachel Mason sat at her breakfast bar with her morning cup of coffee, she realised that she was already bored. She hated time off work; time that she felt could be put to much better use at school. She had brought home a pile of paperwork that needed doing before the first day of the new year and had spent a few hours on that, but even that was beginning to bore her. Whilst she loved her job at Waterloo Road, Rachel couldn't help feeling that her life had slowly turned into one huge pile of paperwork. She missed the classroom sometimes, and the opportunities it presented to interact with the students more. She was jealous of Eddie and his role in the school, as he still taught several lessons a week whilst also having a managerial role and a say in the running of the school.

Rachel scolded herself at this train of thought, back to Eddie again. He had been on her mind all week, ever since their near kiss in the nightclub. She was glad that they weren't in school at the moment, as she didn't know how she would react to working in such close proximity to him after what had happened. It was driving her mad, not knowing what his reaction would have been, what he was thinking. Melissa had turned up so immediately after it happened she hadn't even looked him in the eye since. Was he even thinking about her at all? Or was it just a drunken mistake? She desperately wanted to see him, speak to him. How else could she gauge his reaction? This last week had been hell constantly thinking about him, not knowing how he was feeling. But how was she going to orchestrate a meeting between them? She would need an excuse and she didn't want to start getting caught up in webs of lies or any of that nonsense. And what on earth would she say to him if she did see him? After all, there was nothing going on between her and Eddie. The whole situation was getting far too confusing for her liking, she would just have to try her best to forget about him.

Hearing a noise in the hallway, Rachel picked up her cup of coffee and carried it through to her living room, stopping in the hall to pick up the post that had just arrived. Placing her mug on the coffee table, she leafed through the mail in her hand. It looked like the usual rubbish, a couple of bills, an advert for sky and several takeaway menu's, but a small pink envelope at the bottom of the pile, addressed to her in unfamiliar script caught her eye. Upon opening the envelope Rachel found inside a small card inviting her to celebrate a 70th birthday. She couldn't think for the life of her who she knew who would be 70 soon, and opened up the card, her mind filled with curiosity. The card was addressed to Rachel and partner, and she realised as she read the message inside that it was from her cousin Julie, inviting her to her Auntie Gladys' party. It had been years since Rachel had been in touch with any of her family, and she suddenly felt guilty. Gladys was her father's sister, and back in the days that Rachel hated to even think of now, when her mother had thrown her out of the house and she had been forced into prostitution to pay the bills on her tiny bed-sit, she had always been there for her. Rachel had been able to rely on Auntie Gladys for a good warm meal and a chat when she was running seriously low on funds. She turned over the card and found that the party was to be held a week on Saturday at a hotel she had never heard of in Bristol, where the family had moved years ago. It was a long journey, and she would have to make a weekend of it, but it would be worth it to see her cousin and her auntie again, it had been far too long.

Deciding that she would check out the hotel on the internet later and try to book a room, Rachel switched on the television to see what was on. She wasn't used to watching much daytime TV, and flicking mindlessly through the channels, she came across nothing of interest. Just as she was thinking about getting dressed and ready for the day she was interrupted by the ringing of the phone.

"Hi big sis," came Melissa's voice down the line, "How are you?"

Rachel made small talk with her sister for a few minutes, asking how her holidays were going so far, and then cringing and wishing she hadn't as Melissa began to describe in great detail how romantic Eddie had been the Wednesday before. He had whisked her off to Blackpool for the day as a surprise whilst the weather was nice, knowing that it had been one of her favourite places to go as a child. She described in great detail how they had ridden on the big dipper together and walked along the beach, before stopping off for fish and chips on the way home. Rachel's heart sank. Eddie clearly wasn't thinking about her at all. Why would he be when he could spend the summer with Melissa, who he was obviously in love with if he was coming up with treats like this for her.

"So anyway", Melissa said eventually, "the reason I rang was to ask if you had been invited to Aunt Gladys' birthday party."

"I have actually yes", Rachel replied, "I've just been reading the card. Are you going?"

"Yes, the three of us are going to go down, probably make a weekend of it as it's quite far away. That's what I wanted to ask you. See I just rang the hotel that the party is in to see if they had any rooms left, and they said they have one double and a twin. So we were thinking it would work out quite well if we booked the double for me and Eddie and then the twin room for you and Phil, he says he doesn't mind sharing with you as long as you're ok with it? And it's only for two nights. So what do you think Rach?"

"Erm… well to be honest it sounds like you have it all worked out. I was thinking about making a weekend of it myself, I haven't seen any of the family in such a long time, so yeah, why not. As long as Phil will definitely be ok about us sharing a room."

"Phew, I was hoping you'd say that" said Melissa with a giggle, "as I've already booked the rooms, didn't want to risk someone else getting in there first. So we'll travel down Friday morning, we can check in from midday and the hotel has a rather nice looking spa I'd like to try out before the party. Eddie says he doesn't mind driving, so it's all sorted"

"Like I said, sounds like you've got it all worked out Mel. I'll just have to go shopping this week probably; I've no idea what to wear. I'll see you next Friday then eh?"

"Yep, sounds great. Have a good week Rach"

"Bye Melissa"

Rachel hung up the phone and groaned. Spending the entire weekend with Eddie and Melissa was not what she had anticipated when she had first thought about the party. It would be awful having to watch the two of them together. But she was looking forward to seeing her Aunt again, and her cousin who had been just as much of a sister to her as Mel had when they were growing up. And it gave her an excuse to go shopping, which would alleviate the boredom somewhat for one day at least.