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

Chapter 24

On Monday morning, Jasmine drove she, Brett and Anna to the school. Anna had lost her car, selling it so that she could buy Brett one, and Brett hadn't yet pased a driving test.

It had been a rough weekend for Anna - she spent most of it inside the Jasmine's house, wallowing in self-pity, and thinking about her relationship. She only left the house to pick up her belongings - which Tom had already boxed up and left in the landing for her.

As she crossed the courtyard, the pupils all watched her - it was clear that the kids who had been on the school trip had let the word spread.

When she entered the staff room, Jasmine just behind her, all the eyes off the staff were on her too - apparently word had spread from the pupils, and from Eddie, Rachel and Jack.

Anna took a seat as far away from possible from where she usually sat. Jasmine sat loyally beside her, and Tom was already in the room, sat at the other side of the room, alone with his pile of marking for the first lesson of the day.

Steph came over to talk to Anna.

' Anna, darling,' she said loudly,' I heard that you just split up with Tom, it's just awful. I can't believe he thought that you were cheating on him - some men are just stupid. '

Anna inwardly cursed Steph for talking so loud, and attracting everyone's attention.

' How are you doing?' asked Steph.

' I'm doing just fine, thanks,' Anna muttered.

' It must be hard with the kids involved? '

She was still talking very loud, and everyone was watching.

' I'm fine, Steph, it's all fine,' Anna insisted.

' You don't look fine,' she said.

' Well I guess that I just need a coffee, or something,' muttered Anna, standing up and walking away.

Whilst she was getting a drink, Grantly came to stand beside her.

' Told you it would all end in tears,' he mumbled.

' Grantly, don't,' Anna sighed.

' Oh let me guess,' he said, cynically,' you love him. '

' I really, really do.'

' Your funeral,' the head of english muttered, before leaving his grandson's mother to her own devices.

She was not alone long, as Jack was there within seconds, and Tom was watching them closely, listening in.

Before he even opened his mouth, she shook her head,' Don't even bother Jack. I just want you to go away. I want you to go as far away as possible and never even think about me again. I wish you didn't exist. '

' That's a bit harsh,' Jack said, raising his eyebrows.

' It's not,' Anna said fiercely,' you've taken the only man I've ever loved away from me. Just look at me, will you - I'm 32, I have no house, no home, no car, no man, and I've got nothing to show for my life. And that's all down to you. '

With that, she stalked out of the room.

Tom looked after her - what the hell were they doing?

*****

First class on a monday morning - the class that included Mika and Brett.

They were the first two there.

When they entered, Mika came to stand in front of Anna's desk.

' Can I help you? ' Anna sighed, rubbing her temples with her forefingers.

' It's rubbish around our place now that you've gone, Tom's barely talking .. eating .. drinking .. moving .. he's like a bleeding zombie. '

'Yeah? ' Anna asked,' well might I remind you that he was the one who broke the relationship up.'

' I'm sure that he still loves you,' Mika said,' why can't things go back to how they were? '

' Because he's stupid, and he doesn't trust me, and .. and .. just sit down,' she said, unable to think of anything more to say, when what she really wanted was just to get back with Tom.

The class filed in, and at once she was innundated by questions from the pupils.

' Miss, have you split up with Mr Clarkson? '

' Miss, but I thought that you loved him? '

' Are you with Mr Rimmer now, Miss? '

' Are you going to move in with Mr Rimmer now, Miss?'

Anna snapped, throwing a heavy textbook onto the front desk, getting silence from the class.

' ENOUGH! ' she yelled,' this is no business of anyone else's. '

' No need to be so touchy,' muttered someone at the back of the room.

' I said ENOUGH! ' she snarled,' now - turn to page 134 in the textbooks and work through excersice 10.4. '

The class got to work, and the lesson was only 10 minutes in, when someone called out.

' Miss? Can I borrow a pen? Mine's run out. '

Anna rooted through a desk draw and picked out a pencil to lend to Janeece, when she suddenly bent double over her desk, clutching the edge of it.

Her movement caused everyone to look up, in suprise, and some in concern.

' Miss Aspinall? Are you alright? ' Mika asked, with a frown.

Anna's hand left the desk, and it flew to her stomach, whilst the other clapped to her mouth.

' Oh God, excuse me class, I really don't feel well,' she gushed, hurrying out of the room, leaving the kids to gawp after her.

*****

There was a knock on the staff room door at break time.

' Don't all rush at once,' Matt mumbled when no one went to answer it.

A short while later, he came back into the room, saying,' It's your son, Anna. Says it's urgent. '

Anna frowned as she went to answer the door,' Brett, Mr Wilding said that it was urgent? '

Brett shrugged,' Just wanted to see if you were OK. '

' I'm fine. '

' You just ran out of a classroom,' Brett said,' and you didn't look too good when you got back either. '

' You cheeky sod,' Anna smirked,' when did kids start questioning their parents, eh? '

' C'mon this is me you're talking to - what do you expect? ' he teased,' but seriously - are you alright? I was really worried about you. '

' Honestly, I feel fine now,' she assured her son,' it just .. came and went away again. Must have been something that I ate. '

' Well .. if you're sure ..'

' Positive. Get out of here. '

Sitting back down with Jasmine, Jasmine raised her eyebrows,' What did Brett want?'

' Just checking up on me. I wasn't feeling so good this morning in my first class, and I ended up running off to go throw up in the toilets. '

' Yet you're still here? ' Jasmine asked incredulously.

' I am fine now. I promise. '

Jasmine scoffed.

Anna poked her,' Hey - leave me alone, or else I won't be such a nice, easy to-live-with kind of girl. '

' Fine, fine,' Jasmine relented,' I'm dropping it, I'm dropping it. '

*****

Tom and Anna managed to avoid each other for the rest of the week, but on Friday something changed.

The day started out simple enough, Jasmine, Anna and Brett showed up for the school together, and the two female teachers went off into the staff room.

As they were sat there, along with Matt, Matt looked at her in concern.

' Anna? Are you alright? ' he asked.

Anna frowned,' Yeah, I'm fine, why? '

He shook his head,' It's just .. well, you look a bit tired, a bit pale. Are you alright? '

Anna insisted that she was fine, but 10 minutes later, she grimaced,' Actually, I don't feel so good. '

She fled the room, catching the attentions of many of the staff. Eddie called from the other side of the room,' Is she sick again? '

' I'm getting worried about her now,' Jasmine nodded.

Tom watched the exchange, not saying anything, but unable to keep the look of concern from his face - he had had a lot of time to think over the past few days, and he was beginning to see sense about himself and Anna. The situation was making everyone unhappy ... he, Anna, Mika and Chlo, Brett, Donte, their other collegues, and the pupils who had to put up with two had-been very popular teachers turning snappy and moody.

The moment that Anna re-entered the room, Eddie grabbed a hold of her arm and pulled her towards him.

' Are you feeling alright? ' Eddie asked her.

' Just a bit sick .. it's nothing,' Anna insisted.

' Are you sure? ' Eddie pressed, narrowing his eyes at her and surveying her face,' because to my knowledge, this is the 5th time this week that this has happened . . . 5 days in a row, of running off sick in the morning, and then claiming to be fine. '

' But I am fine now .. I've just been under a lot of stress, and stuff, you know that. I am fine. '

Eddie shook his head,' Well, I'm not so sure. I want you to go and see a doctor. '

' If I agree to make an appointment for over the weekend, will you leave me alone? ' she sighed, giving in.

' Of course,' Eddie agreed.

Anna nodded,' Good. Then I will. But I'm fine. Really. I just wish everyone would stop nagging on at me.'

' It's only because we're concerned,' Eddie reminded her as the bell rang,' now come on, we've got litle monsters to teach. '

*****

At break time, two men were on their way to visit Anna before she'd even had chance to leave her room.

Jack Rimmer entered her room, just as Tom Clarkson was walking down the corridor, about to call upon his ex. Tom sighed, but his basic human curiosity got the better of him, and he moved closer to Anna's class room, stopping outside, and deciding to listen in on their conversation.

Anna looked up, suprised, when Jack entered.

' Oh, what do you want now? ' she demanded, sighing as soon as she saw him,' don't you think that you've already caused enough trouble? '

Jack nodded, looking down sheepishly,' I know ... I'm here to say sorry. '

' Sorry,' she scoffed,' you think that "sorry" can solve all of this? '

' No,' he admitted,' but I thought that it might make you feel a little better. And I also thought, that .. maybe .. maybe you needed someone to talk to. '

' Yeah? Well you thought wrong, didn't you? ' she returned.

' Please. Anna. Let me explain .. let me at least explain why I did it .. why I've been pushing you from the beginning. '

' Because you're an arrogant idiot,' suggested Anna flatly,' but please .. go on .. I'm intruiged. Why did you decide to ruin my life. '

' Don't say that,' Jack pleaded,' I haven't ruined your life, surely? '

' You've sure as hell made it as difficult as possible for me to live. As meaningless as possible. '

Jack looked at her sharply,' What do you mean? ' he had noticed the meaning behind her words,' not meaningless ... surely you don't mean ...? '

' Yeah,' she nodded,' I considered it, but what's it to you. '

' When? ' demanded Jack,' how? you're not serious, are you? '

' Deadly serious. Monday evening,' replied Anna, not meeting his eyes,' couldn't face it, after seeing him on Monday. I went out for a walk that evening, and I threw myself in the canal. '