Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, as it is the property of the BBC.
Chapter 21
Almost two weeks later, everyone was back at school for another term at Waterloo Road.
Tom drove he, Anna, Brett, Mika and Chlo to the school, as Brett hadn't yet passed a driving test, and was merely taking lessons.
' See you later,' Tom said to the three teenagers, as they got out of the car, before offering out his arm to Anna.
She readily took it, and they walked up to the staffroom. Once there, Tom went off to make them both a drink, whilst Anna sat down with Matt and Jasmine.
She smiled briefly at them both, and looked back over her shoulder at Tom, her smile widening.
Jasmine laughed a little,' So you had a good christmas? '
Anna turned her attention back to her collegues,' Yeah, we did. We moved in together, and we spent two weeks of pure bliss.'
' Isn't it heard with the kids always around? ' Matt asked, raising his eyebrows.
' It's not so bad, actually,' shrugged Anna,' Brett and Mika are always going out places, and Chlo's always off with Donte. And look at what he bought me for Christmas.'
She reached a hand into her blouse, and pulled out the golden chain, paying the locket flat on her palm and holding her hand out to Jasmine.
It was Matt who said,' Oh my God.'
' I know, it's nice, right? ' Anna smiled.
Matt shook his head,' Actually, I meant - look who's just come in here.'
A hand touched Anna's shoulder, and Tom handed her a steaming mug of coffee, before sitting down next to her, and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
He frowned upon seeing that all three of the other teachers were gawping at something at one side of the room.
Tom followed the direction of the looks, and tutted when he saw what they were all looking at.
' What the hell's he doing here? ' demanded Tom, an angry edge to his voice, as he observed the man.
Jack Rimmer was in the staff-room, larger than life, all cocky and arrogant, and was shaking hands with a few of the other teachers.
' Great,' muttered Tom.
Anna exchanged looks with Matt and Jasmine, looks of anxiety. They all knew that Tom had a rather strong dislike towards Jack because of Izzie's death.
Anna wreched her eyes away from Jack, and turned back to Tom.
She looked at him, and scrutinised his face, she set her mug down on the table in front of her, and laid a hand on her partner's cheek. She rubbed her cheek with his thumb softly, until he looked at her.
' Tom,' she merely said.
His eyes met hers, and he shook his head, taking hold of her hand,' Sorry .. I'm sorry .. I just - I - '
' Tom,' she said again,' he doesn't matter.'
He nodded,' You're right. '
Jasmine looked over curiously,' I wonder what he's doing here? '
The bell rang, and Anna shrugged,' I guess we'll find out later.'
And indeed it was later on when Anna next encountered Jack.
She went from her classroom to the staffroom during breaktime. She sat down on her favourite chair in the corner of the staffroom, and took a few pieces of paper out of her organsier, looking over her lesson plans for the rest of the day.
As she did so, someone took a seat in the chair opposite her.
She looked up expecting to see Tom, but instead there sat Jack.
' Well, we meet again, Miss Aspinall,' he said, flashing her a smile.
She just looked up, smiled, and continued with her work.
He broke the silence again,' So .. you're looking very lovely today. '
She shrugged,' No more so than usual. '
Jack leaned over and took her lesson plans right from her hands, looking down at one of them.
' Standard Deviation? ' he asked raising his eyebrows,' that's very interesting. '
' You're a mathematician? ' she challenged,' I wasn't aware that the department were hiring someone new this term. '
The corners of his mouth twitched up slightly,' No. History. I'm here until the summer, covering Mrs Sampsons' maternity leave. I thought I'd just come over here and say hi .. or something.'
' Well, now that you've done that ... ' she said, the meaning in her words bluntly clear.
Jack frowned, looking wounded,' What's the matter? Are you worried what Tom would say? '
'Tom doesn't control me, and I don't believe it's any of your business. Besides - aren't you with Davina? '
' Actually, we spilt up over Christmas,' Jack informed her, suddenly taking a hold of her hand,' She was jealous of how I looked at someone else just before Christmas, and I wasn't sure I had feelings for her any more.'
' Anna! ' called Tom, as he approached, he stopped a few feet away, hands on hips when he saw that her hand was in Jack's.
Rather awkwardly, Anna cleared her throat, and pulled her hand away,' If you'll excuse us, Jack ..' she said lightly.
Jack shrugged, standing up, and clapped a hand to Tom's shoulder before departing, saying,' Good to see you again, mate.'
Tom was furious as he sat down in the chair that Jack had just vacated. It showed in his face, his eyes, his body language, and his proximity to Anna.
Anna got up and sat on the arm of Tom's chair.
Tom looked at her, both confusion and annoyance etched upon his face.
She tried to explain,' Look, Tom, I was just looking over my lesson plans, and he came over and started talking to me. And then he grabbed my hand and told me that he'd split up with Davina and .. and .. ' she tailed off, unsure of quite what to say.
Tom finally reached out and made a connection to her, running his fingertips along the length of her arm gently, he told her,' I just feel like I already lost one person whom I loved to him, and I'm not ready to lose another.'
Anna softened, dropping her lips to his forehead,' You're not going to lose me,' she whispered,' I promise.'
Tom smiled,' Good. I'm a very jealous and possesive man. I especially won't lose you to another man.'
' You won't,' she said,' I love you too much. '
Later on Anna was packing up for the day, and was about to head out to the car park to meet Tom and the kids, when Eddie came in to the classroom.
' Mr Lawson? ' Anna said, with a smile.
' Rachel want to see you in her office,' Eddie told her, as she followed him out of the room and locked the classroom door behind her, slipping the key into her handbag.
' If you're going out to the car park, could you tell Tom I'll just be a few minutes? ' she asked.
Eddie dismissed it,' It's alright, Tom's going to be there too. As am I. '
In Rachel's office, Anna entered the room to see that Rachel was stood behind her desk, and Tom, Jack and Jasmine were stood there in a semi circle around the desk.
Rachel clapped her hands together as Eddie and Anna joined the group.
' OK,' she said,' I wanted to gather everyone here to talk about the school trip we've got coming up with the year 11. As you know, we're taking some of the year 11 students to the Belgium as part of their history course, to visit world war one battlefield and memorials. The trip is taking place in March, it's 5 days long, and you lot are the teachers I've chosen as my first choices to go. Some of you for obvious reasons, some of you for less obvious reasons.'
Anna looked around at everyone, trying to work out what these reasons could be. She noticed that other people did so, too.
Rachel noted this also, and elaborated,' I'm going because a member of senior staff is required, Jack's going as acting head of History, Anna and Eddie because I know have had family serve in that war. And Tom and Jasmine as they have a form each in year 11. So are you all up for it?'
There was a vigourous agree from everyone.
Eddie grinned,' Almost an entire week nonstop with the kids - it's a good job Grantly's not going.'
They all scoffed.
' We'd better be going,' Tom said, gesturing to himself and Anna,' the kids'll be waiting for us by the car. '
' Are you going to be alright to leave the kids whilst we're in Belgium? ' Rachel asked suddenly.
Tom looked at Anna who shrugged,' Well, Chlo's going on the trip anyway, and the other two are 18. They're old enough to look after themselves. '
As she and Tom left the room, Tom slipped his hand into hers. He pushed his lips against her ear as they walked,' Great. Nearly a full week with Rimmer. '
Anna laid her hand on the small of his back,' Shut up. We'll have loads of fun.'