Disclaimer: I do not own Waterloo Road, as it is the property of the BBC

A/N - I know I'm painting Jack out to be a much worse character than he actually is, but I'm just using him to create tension. This does not reflect my personal views.

Chapter 22

It was the middle of March - exactly 6 months into the relationship of Tom and Anna. It was just past mid-night, and the pair of them were preparing to leave their home, to meet other teachers and year 11 pupils, and to set off on the school trip to Belgium.

The group were going to set off at 1AM, to get to Dover in time for the early morning ferry to France.

Whilst Tom lugged his suitcase down the stairs, and went back for Chlo's one and Anna's two, - "You're only going for 5 days, including travelling" he whined as he did so - Anna had thrown her arms around her son.

Brett grimaced,' Mum, get off me. '

Anna pulled away and folded her arms across her chest, looking at both he and Mika,' Now you two behave yourselves whilst we're gone, Tom and I are really trusting you. I don't want to get back and hear that you think you can get in trouble because some of the staff have gone. '

' Yeah,' Tom said, coming to stand beside Anna,' and if I come back and find out that you've done anything to my house, there'll be hell to pay. '

Brett rolled his eyes,' We promise to behave,' he said with a sigh.

Final hug were given all around, before Mika and Brett were left alone

*****

It was less than an hour later when everyone was set and ready to go.

From the moment that the coach left the drive of the school, the kids were excited, and the staff worried about what they'd let themelves in for.

Eddie and Rachel were sat side by side right at the front of the coach, whilst the other four teachers took up the back seats of the bus. Anna was sat between Tom and Jack, with Jasine on Tom's other side.

' Oi! ' Tom yelled after about one minute into the journey,' sit down Bolton Smilie! If this coach crashes you're gong to go straight through the windscreen! '

Anna laughed cosying closer to Tom,' You sound like such an old man,' she snorted.

Tom dropped his lips to her ear and spoke so softly that no one else could hear, ' Sure you can manage all this time sat next to Rimmer? '

' So long as you don't leave me,' she replied.

' Never in a - Bolton! What did I just tell you?! '

Although the students had had no sleep, and were facing going over 24 hours without if they didn't sleep tonight, they didn't seem to care, despite being told many times that the ywould be tired in the coming days.

Some of the staff, however, saw it in their best interests to try and get some sleep - as Tom discovered when he awoke as the coach was pulling into customs at the docks.

He stretched his arms out in front of him and looked around, his eyes falling on the woman next to him. He frowned when he saw the position she was fallen asleep in - her head lolling on Jack's shoulder, and one of her hands laid on his thigh.

Something inside him stirred and he had the sudden urge to wake them both up and force Anna to go sit elsewhere. He shook his head, telling himself that he was being ridiculous.

*****

A short while later, when everyone was on the ferry, Tom and Anna stood up on the deck.

Anna looked out at the sun rising on the horizon line, and shuddered as the wind whipped through her hair, and she was blown over by a rush of cold air.

Tom's arm around her tighened.

A voice from behind interrupted,' Aww, now don't you two look sweet? '

Tom sighed,' Hello, Jack. '

' Do you want to borrow a jacket, Anna? You look very cold,' Jack commented, continuing in his persuit of Anna and ignoring Tom.

' She's fine,' Tom said, pulling her closer.

Jack raised an eyebrows,' I'm only trying to help a lady out. '

' We were just going in anyway,' Anna said, throwing Jack an irritated look and sweeping straight past him.

*****

When everyone was back on the coach after the ferry ride, Jack touched Annna's arm with his fingertips.

' Why won't you see that I'm not the bad guy? ' he said.

She rolled her eyes,' You're trying to take me out of a relationship which I'm already perfectly happy in. In my books that doesn't make you the saint. '

Jack looked at her with pleading eyes.

She responded by shaking her head and taking Tom's hand - Tom watching the situation very closely,' Why can't you leave us alone? What is it that you see in me that you want so much? '

Jack smirked,' I'm used to getting what I want. And I willl get what I want. '

Anna sighed.

*****

After stopping for a few hours shopping in the capital, the group reached the youth hostel in Ypres at 5pm.

Once there, it was Jack, as the History teacher, and therefore leader of the trip, who gave out the instructions,' You can all go to your rooms and unpack, and you'll be expected back here in an hour for dinner. '

He told everyone which rooms they were in, and gave them all a key to the room.

Before they left, he added,' If you need anything, myself, Mr Lawson and Mr Clarkson are in room 19 on the boys corridor, and Miss Mason, Miss Koreshi and Miss Aspinall are in room 2 on the girls corridor. If anyone is caught on the corridor of the oppoite gender, there will be severe punishments in place.'

Everyone went off to their rooms.

Once at the entrance to the girls corridor, Anna left Tom to go up to his own room for the next few days.

She'd gotten to the door of the room she was going to be sharing with Jasmine and Rachel and was about to enter the room, when Tom called out,' Hey! You forgot something! '

' Oh yeah! ' she called over to him,' what might that be? '

Tom grinned his infectious grin and strode down the corridor to her, taking her face in his hands and kissing her hard and passionately. She was taken aback, but soon her hands made their way to his waist and she was kissing back with just as much enthusiasm.

Wolf whistles broke them apart, and they looked sheepishly at Janeece ad Maxine, who were staying in the room next to the three female teachers.

' Are you sure you should be down here? ' Janeece asked, teasingly.

' Yeah,' Maxine added cheekily,' what would Mr Rimmer say? Caught on the corridor of the opposite sex, Mr Clarkson. '

Tom grinned,' Keep your noses out of it, kids. '

*****

The time came for tea. Everyone went through the self service food system, chose what they wanted, and sat them selves down in the groupes of four and five. The six teachers sat around a long table, along with a coach driver and a tour guide - who would be giving the trip around the war sites.

Jasmine engaged Anna in lively conversation about plans for later on that evening. The accomodation they were staying in had a bar, and Jasine was eager to have a few drinks with her friend that night.

' I hear that they've even got a karaoke,' Jasmine said, excitedly.

' Oh no,' whined Anna,' I'm not singing. '

' It'll be a laugh,' Jasmine insisted,' you're up for it, aren't you Rachel?'

' I'm certainly not spending a night in the room on my own while you're having fun,' the headmistress beamed.

' But I can't sing! ' Anna insisted.

' You've got a lovely voice, sweetheart,' Tom told her,' voice like an angel. '

Which was how after the teenagers had been told to go to bed at 11PM, their teachers locked up their rooms and all met in the bar.

They were all sat around one table in the corner of the room, when Jasmine slammed the karaoke book down on the table.

' Come on then - who's up for it? ' she asked.

' I'll go,' Rachel offered.

' What are you going to sing? ' Eddie asked, but Rachel shook her head.

' Patience, Mr Lawson, patience,' Rachel laughed.

Rachel took to the microphone 10 minutes later, and although she didn't have the best of voices, she certainly provided the entertainment factor. They all cheered at her choice of songs - Waterloo, by Abba - a very appropriate choice given their jobs.

They were cheering the loudest of anyone in the bar when their collegue had finished.

' Come on, you have to sing something now,' Rachel insisted.

Anna continued to protest, but her friends and collegues were not interested in what she wanted, but their own entertainment.

Jack finally offered,' Look - how about I sing something with you - it'll be easier that way, I'll bet. '

' Yeah, come on,' Rachel agreed.

' Go on,' Eddie coaxed.

Anna threw a helpless little look at Tom - she saw the dislike for the situation in his eyes but felt that there was little she could do about the situation, and so sat back as Jack chose a song, and allowed him to pull her out onto the floor in front of the screen.

When the song played, she rolled her eyes - of course he had to pick something romantically based.

She took hold of a microphone and sang,' Summer Lovin', had me a blast, summer lovin' happened so fast. '

She let herself go, and really enjoyed the song, even going so far as to forget with whom she was singing, and dancing around him as they sing, allowing him to spin her under his arm, and when they finished, he kissed her cheek.

When they got back to the table, they were heavily congratulated.

' I'll get the drinks in,' Tom announced, heading off to the bar.

' I'll help you carry them back,' offered Anna following him to the bar, and standing besides him.

She looked at his profile, and frowned when she noted his own frown and look of distaste.

' Are you alright?' she asked.

He didn't look to face her, and kept his eyes on the bar,' You seemed pretty comfortable up there.'

Anna sighed,' Tom - don't even go there. '

This time he did face her, lookng angry, and folding his arms across her chest,' Don't go there? Oh, I'll go there alright. You seem to be perfectly happy liasing with Jack Rimmer, and even more happy to string me along. '

' String you along?' she echoed, her voice going up at least an octave in pitch,' oh grow up, Tom. You're being pathetic. '

*****

After her argument with Tom, Anna told everyone that she had a headache and was going to go back to the room and try to get some sleep.

She was vaguely aware of Jasmine and Rachel entering the room around 1AM, and going off to bed.

And she couldn't sleep - she spent a couple of hours laid in bed awake, thinking about Tom.

She looked at her watch - it read at 3AM. She sighed, throwing back the quilt, pulling on a dressing gown over her nightdress, and leaving the room.

She crept upstairs, then walked carefully down the corridor that the boys were staying on. She heard laughter coming from some of the rooms, as if some of the boys were still awake, determined to pull an all nighter.

It was just her luck that the staff were staying right at the end of the corridor, and as she passed by one of the rooms, its door flew open, and there stood Donte, looking at her in suprise.

' Donte,' she whispered sharply, caught out.

Donte smiled kind of awkwardly,' It's alright, Miss Aspinall, my room-mate's asleep. '

' Don't tell anyone that you saw me up here, and I'll try and talk Tom into extending Chlo's curfew. ' she pleaded - she knew this would look bad if it got out.

' Yeah. Sure - I'll just go back to bed, or something. '

' I'm not doing anything dodgy,' she said, though she was unsure why she was bothering to tell him - probably because he was part of her odd and extended family,' Tom and I had an argument .. a really big one .. and I can't sleep until I've said sorry. '

Donte smiled sympathetically,' Chlo said that you and Tom were having problems with Mr Rimmer, and for what it's worth, I think you and Tom could come through anything. '

' Thank you. '

Seconds later, Anna was knocking on the door of Tom's room, hoping she wouldn't wake Eddie or Jack. To her relief, it was Tom who answered.

He looked very suprised,' Oh. I thought it would be the kids playing knock-a-door-and-run, or something. '

' Oh Tom,' Anna said simply, shaking her head.

Tom nodded,' I know. Me too. '

He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. They didn't even need to say the words.