Faith could tell that Rachel was having a hard time dealing with Max Tyler, she could see straight through him. Though right now, Eddie didn't see the problem. He just thought Max was a bit of an ass but nothing more than that. Faith could see it though. She could see the devil's work functioning behind his charming eyes. But there was something else she had to deal with that Max Tyler had organised.

Rachel came into the staffroom after the morning meeting, going straight over to Faith and pulling her to the side, Faith let out a high mumble as she almost spilt her tea from being pulled away so quickly "Mum, watch out"

"I'm sorry I just...I have to tell you something"

Faith raised a brow to her and just waited for her to spit it out, Rachel looked over her shoulder and then turned back to her daughter and whispered "Bolton is coming into the school today"

She felt her heart suddenly begin to race, Rachel took the cup out of her hand before she dropped it. Faith stared into space for a moment and then snapped out of her gaze, her brows pinching together "Why? Why is he coming in?"

"Max wants to bring back in boxing as a curriculum sport...he's asked Bolton to come in and do a lesson as a tryout"

Faith shut her eyes and sighed. Damn Bolton from having a boxing gym in town, damn him for it being the only one in town. She just prays it doesn't become a regular thing, Faith ran her fingers through her hair and dropped her hand down onto her hip as she looked away. Rachel just looked at her in silence for a moment and then reached for her arm, giving her a light squeeze in order to grab her attention "Faith, love. Are you going to be okay?"

"Well I'm going to have to be aren't I, I mean do I have a choice otherwise?" Faith saw Max walk in the office and scoffed. She knew that he wasn't aware of Faith's personal life, why would he be? But she counted on one thing "He made this executive decision without you then?"

Rachel just folded her arms and didn't comment. Faith sighed and shook her head "You need to talk to dad about it"

"And cause more trouble?"

"Mum...it's your job"

"I know" Rachel sighed "But hopefully he will be out of here in a few days, he is supposed to be doing his rounds on other schools. So I am putting up with it until he leaves"

Before Faith could argue against her to be more bold, Rachel was pulled away by Eddie to make the morning hellos in front of the staff. As she did that, Eddie walked back over to Faith and muttered "I take it your mum has told you"

"That my ex boyfriend who I was planning my future with is strolling down the halls once again? She may have uttered a word or two" Faith said in a mumble as she brought her tea to her lips, then sighing after she lowered it back down, not looking at him in eyes "I didn't want to be that girl who brought her drama into work. I already did that with this school as a student"

Eddie sighed, shaking his head to her "Faith, no one thinks you're that-"

Faith just shot him an unconvinced look before he could even finish his sentence, knowing full well that he was aware the words that were coming out of his mouth weren't true. He just shut himself up with a small smile at her point that she had just made through just a damn look "Okay, fine. But don't start worrying what people think now"

He did have a point there, usually she wouldn't care. But it was different this time round in this school. She was a teacher, she wanted to be as professional as the rest of the teachers. Though they have all had their fair share of drama with their personal lives leaking in with their work, Rachel and Eddie included with the whole Melissa issue. Though they wouldn't appreciate if she did say that for her argument.

She was then snapped out of her thoughts as Eddie said "Look. It's going to be awkward when you see each other, there's no way getting around that. Just don't you know-"

"What?" She asked quickly, looking to him.

"Yell at him" Eddie said with a small smirk "We all know how much you liked doing that"

Faith just rolled her eyes and gave no verbal response, the elbow to his ribs was a reply enough.

She made her way down the hall, her heart pounding the whole way as she headed towards the gym. Just knowing that he was in the same building as her after these years made her stomach flip, it made her shake. So much that she had to stick her hands in her pockets as she grew nearer.

As she walked down, Nikki met her in the middle. Her brows pinched when she saw the anxious look on the young woman's face "What's got you all shaken?"

"My ex boyfriend" Faith said breathlessly, rolling her eyes and nodding down the hall "Who's currently in the gym"

Nikki's brows went up "Sorry, what?"

"Tyler thought it would be a good idea to bring boxing back into school. And with Bolton being the only boxer in the area, owning a gym as proof. He's asked him to come in and do a trail kind of thing"

"And because you work here he probably jumped at the chance" Nikki nodded, causing Faith to snap her head at her, she hadn't thought about that "You think?"

Nikki merely shrugged "If I was asked to be near the girl I was still in love with I think I'd jump at the chance too"

"We don't know if he's-"

But she just received some more of the Nikki Boston eyebrow raise. To which Faith just rolled her eyes again "Yeah you might see it as a good thing because you like boxing so much"

"And you might see it as a good thing because you like Bolton so much" Nikki whispered as she then went on and past Faith, calling a good luck to her when she was heading to the door further down the school. Despite the teasing, Nikki may have a point deep down. Amongst being nervous in seeing Bolton a part of her, somewhere in her body, was rather excited.

She wondered what he looked like now, was he bigger built with his boxing? New hair style? Beard? What? All her thoughts practically carried her to the gym, making her dazed and oblivious to the reality that was waiting for her in the hall as she walked in.

Walking in and finally clicking her eyes onto Bolton as he set up the punch bags brought on. Well she was right, he was bigger built. Not by much, by his arms were certainly bigger as she could see from him wearing a short sleeved gym top. He ditched the buzz cut, now his hair was slicked back with one piece flopping down on his forehead and has a five o'clock shadow going on. He looked good, very much so. But that would stay to herself and maybe Rachel if she was pushed deep enough by her.

She wasn't quite sure what to do yet, it was like she was suddenly stuck. He hadn't seen her yet and it was as if her words were stuck on her throat, stopping her from saying anything. Eventually though, his eyes caught onto her when he was dumping some boxing gloves in the cart to the side. Jaw dropping slightly at the sheer sight of her standing before him.

She too had changed, only a bit with her hair being different, more dark like auburn. Slightly longer too. But still the most beautiful woman he had seen. She was still everything and more. Slowly, he moved his hand from the car and took one step forward "Faith"

Faith folded her arms and took a breath, her expression being more gentle as well as her voice as she went onto say "No need to act surprised, Bolton. I know that you knew I worked here"

"Well yeah but…"

"But?"

Bolton sighed and simply came out with it "Thought you'd want to avoid me best you could today"

Faith nodded, taking a step forward into the gym, briefly looking down to the floor as she did so. After a pause she muttered under her breath "Maybe I wanted to"

"Really?"

She could hear in his voice alone that he was hurt by that, she looked up to him and sighed into a frown, shaking her head and only being able to speak in a vulnerable whisper "No"

He let out a tight smile, taking a few steps more towards her, his arms extending out more as if he wanted to hold her, which he did deep down "I've wanted to speak to you for ages now"

Faith shook her head and put her hand to his chest when he came close enough, if he got any closer and she felt like she may tremble to his arms. And things were so far gone that she couldn't afford to do that "There's nothing to say"

"There's loads! Faith, we left things in such a stupid way"

"Stupid way?" She repeated, still in a calm manner as she pointed out "It was you who decided to leave Uni"

"But I didn't think it meant I'd lose you"

Faith ran her fingers through her hair and stood a step back, looking to the side. Her hand falling down onto a punchbag that was now hung up. Her fingernail picking into the fabric due to her nerves with it all "Well it did. I couldn't live my life with someone who was always messing around with their future and dumping on commitments"

"I never dumped my commitment to you, did I? And my future is pretty stable now"

She was surprised by how grown up he sounded now. No more talking like a backstreet gangster. Though it was that rough diamond type that made her fall for him. Still, he was nice to see that he had matured. Her eyes closed once she heard him say "I still…I still you know"

Quickly, she spun around to him "I'm seeing someone" it was more blunt than she intended, but it was like she just had to get it out. And the expression that grew on his face made her heart hurt. The way the drop of his expression, she knew it was matching how his heart sank.

Faith once again ran her hands through his hair, taking a breath to then go on and explain "I'm just-I've been texting someone for a while now, few dates and that"

Bolton nodded, rubbing his lips together rather roughly as it was a bitter pill to take. Going on to say boldly "Do I know him?"

Faith sighed and closed her eyes for a moment "Can we please not get into this?"

"So I do?" He took another step forward. Faith just stared at him, not wanting to go down into some kind of argument, not wanting him to name a list of guys they are both friends with or mutual with to cross off "Does it even matter?"

"To me? Yeah!"

Faith bowed her head for a moment and took a small breather, gripping to the back of her neck before looking back up at him and frowning "Bolton. I loved you, you know I did. You were my first everything but normally people don't stay with their partners from high school"

"Since when we were like normal people?"

Faith opened her mouth to speak and then stopped herself for a moment. Bolton huffed "I waited-"

"That has nothing to do with me. That was your choice, I can't put my life on hold which is why we split up in the first place and you damn well know that" her voice went more sharp, harsh. But she still tried to keep her temper at bay.

Bolton bit his lip and gave a firm nod as he grumbled "I see how it is"

"Please don't play the victim. Don't go back to our friends and-"

"Do they know bout your new boyfriend?"

"First of all, he isn't my boyfriend. But to answer your question. The girls know, yeah. And Donte…I told them not to tell you because I didn't want to upset you"

"Would've of found out eventually though wouldn't I?"

Faith bit her lip "I suppose so"

They just looked at each other for a moment, before anything else could be said. Denzil came walking in, after say his hellos with Bolton, he looked to Faith "Miss Mason wants you. At the cooler. Said you'd be here"

Faith glanced to Bolton and then just nodded, leaving without saying a word. Once she walked away, she allowed her composure to slip, she didn't break down into tears. It wasn't that dramatic, but she did tear up. Seeing him again and having to tell him that she was ultimately moving on whilst hearing that he was hanging onto her with everything that he had.

Faith made her way up to the cooler to see Rachel inside with Lindsay, Faith walked in, looking right to her mother "You called" hoping that Rachel wouldn't notice that her eyes were now rather red. But of course she did.

Rachel frowned as she whispered between the two of them "Darling…"

"It's fine" Faith responded breathlessly, shaking her head. Taking her focus back to Rachel and seeing how her pitiful look still remained, leading to Faith sighing and then giving a code for her to drop it for now "Mum, please, it's fine"

Rachel knew the tone fairly well and given the situation of having a student in front them. She decided to leave it, glancing to Lindsay, she muttered "May have been there to stop her the other week but couldn't stop her today"

Faith sighed "Who?"

"She slammed Vicky McDonald against some lockers. Vicky said she said something about her mum, not meaning to be offensive but…"

Faith then broke out into a smirk "And you know I had a reputation in losing it with people who insulted my mother?"

"Yes, to be frank"

Faith nodded and muttered as she slowly turned "I'll try"

Rachel walked out as Faith made her way over to Lindsay, resting on the table that was beside hers "So. What did she say?"

"Called her mad"

Faith nodded, glancing outside to Rachel who was patiently waiting "Look, I don't want to come across as a hypocrite. Because I've had my history of flying off the handle when people say the wrong thing about my mum. It's because you feel like you've not got anyone else, right?"

Lindsay just nodded, Faith looked down for a moment "Your sister talks about your dad a lot. But I gather you weren't as close to him"

"I'm not here to talk about my dad" Lindsay said sharply, eyeing Faith "Don't turn this into a police interview. I lost it with Vicky, I will say sorry. Done"

"Lindsay it's not done…when Mr Tyler finds out, he'll have words"

"What's he going to do? Ring my mum?" Lindsay said sharply, to which Faith just stared at her. Sighing deeply through her nose "It's going to be like that?"

Lindsay just folded her arms and sat back in her chair.

"I pushed people away who tried to help. Acting like I didn't give a sh-like I didn't care, but I know that you're just making yourself feel even more lonely, even more than you need to be"

"Is this your job?" Lindsay laughed, then looking to her "Being the relatable one"

"It wasn't intended to be. But with you and the way you're being, I guess so"

"And what is Mason's role? Be the mother I never had or some crap like that?"

Faith couldn't help but let out a grumbled laugh "Yeah, well. It's kind of what she does. She was that for me and then turned out to be my real mum, but I think you're safe from that"

She could have sworn she saw Lindsay let out an amused smile. But Faith then went back to being more serious "In all seriousness, no Miss Mason isn't here to be the mother for you. She's to be someone you can go to, easily. But we're not trying to replace anyone or fill in for an absent family member. We are just here to be someone you can talk to. When you're feeling mad come talk to me or Miss Mason. Anyone you feel comfortable with"

Faith looked to Rachel and realised in that moment how much she sounded like her mother. How what she just said was so similar to something Rachel said to her all those years ago. Lindsay just looked to her and shrugged "What happens now?"

Faith then shrugged "Not got a clue I'm pretty new to all of this. But I'm just presuming that Mr Tyler will want words, you may get a metaphorical slapped wrist but other than that" she shrugged again. She then strummed her hands on the table and stood herself back up "All you can do right now is just sit here, face the music and move on. Just don't make a habit out of it, Lindsay. It's tiring and you will only get so many chances"

Lindsay just nodded and kept herself quiet once again. It was like trying to get blood from a stone, as Tom says about his classes. Faith walked out of the room and raised her brows to Rachel "Not much luck there"

"I could tell"

"Mum I gotta say. I'm not good at that kind of stuff" she laughed "Comforting teenagers"

"I just think that you and her are quite alike"

Faith smirked and nodded "Perhaps that's why she sees straight through it"

Rachel sighed, then letting out a simple shrug "I suppose we'll have to try different methods…it's just a sensitive issue"

"Not like you haven't dealt with this before" Faith raised her brows, she then looked down to her watch "I've got a lesson to sit into right now but I've done all I can"

"I know love and I'm grateful" Rachel rubbed her arm "The end of the day is soon enough. I have bottle of wine in my office, we can talk about things then"

"No whiskey?" She frowned, then rolling her eyes "Actually you know, anything will do"

Throughout the entire lessons she sat in and helped out. Bolton was on her mind, knowing that he was here right now burned in her mind. The things that they discussed, everything else that she wants to say to him but didn't get a chance. Then again, she felt like things were better left unsaid.

By the end of the day, she ran into him once more as they crossed paths in the hallway, she was heading to her mother's office and he was heading home or wherever. Bolton just looked to her, Faith cleared her throat quietly and tried to keep it civil "Go well?"

"Suppose. Gonna have a meeting with that Tyler guy. After school lessons and shit"

"Tyler? Not my mum?"

Bolton just shrugged. Faith sighed under her breath. Max Tyler was worming his way into everything and she couldn't stand that Rachel was too afraid to say anything that she was letting it happen. Bolton bit his lip "Faith. I can't stand you not being in my life"

"Bolt-"

"I don't mean as my girlfriend" Bolton sighed "Well not really I mean. You were my best mate. I miss that"

"You're saying you want to be mates? Bolton that can't happen, you saw red the moment I told you I was seeing someone"

"I was just shocked is all" Bolton tutted "I just. I want it to be okay between us again that we can at least hang out in our group like the old days, y'know?"

Faith bit her lip and looked away from him, why was he doing this to her? Making her look like the bad one for being realistic that friendships between ex's never work. People who say that it does are just lying or trying too hard to prove a point.

"Just go back to your life. And I'll go back to mine. We've been doing it for the past two years just fine, just cause you've seen me now, you don't need to act like you've be wallowing for me"

"And what if I have?" He said sharply, annoyed that she was contradicting his feelings. Which wasn't exactly intentional.

Faith looked around "I am not having this debate with you here. I was through having a relationship spat with you the moment we left this place as students. I'm not doing it now as a teacher and I'm certainly not doing it now as your ex. I'm glad you sorted things out after leaving Uni. I hope you get things sorted here, and maybe I will see you around"

She didn't let him get a word in and walked passed him. She was trying to be cruel to be kind. Trying to make it easier for them both, if she shut him down like this, it would be easier for him to move on from getting closure. She got it, he hadn't seen her in two years of course he was going to still think highly of her. And she had to try and snap him out of it, all for his own good. Because a part of her will always love and care for him, she will always want the best for him. And now she no longer felt like the best thing for him was her.

Faith swallowed her feelings, burying them deeply and made her way into Rachel's office, letting out a deep and rather shaken breath once she did. Dropping down onto the couch "Why isn't there a glass of red in my hand?" she wiggled her free hand "Something wrong with this picture"

Rachel let out a small smile and took the bottle and two glasses over to the couch, filling the two glasses up on the table, then passing one into her hand. Faith sat up as she quietly thanked her and took a deep sip of the wine before letting out a breath and putting the glass down on the table, rubbing her forehead hard as she groaned "Ugh, mum. Fucking men"

Rachel rested her head in her hand "You seemed cut up earlier"

Faith leaned her chin against her knuckle and nodded "Yeah. Guess I was" she took her eyes to Rachel and sighed "First time I've seen him in two years, mum. And the things he was saying to me…I really think he would have took me back right there and then"

"He let you down. You didn't let him down"

"I know I just mean that I think that he would have laid all his cards down on the table there and asked to jump back into a relationship. That he still loves me which made it all the more harder. All the more harder to tell him about Liam, I mean when he founds out that it's him he'll go mad, they were good mates at uni"

Rachel sighed, reaching over and putting her hand on Faith's arm, giving it a gentle stroke with her thumb "My love, I remember when you cried for weeks over him. Months even. You let him go eventually and now he has to do the same, who you date is no longer his business"

Faith ran her fingers through her hair and let out a small, rather shaken sigh. Rachel shuffled forward and put both hands on her arm, gripping tightly "Faith. Do you still love him?"

"Probably" she responded in a tearful laugh as she lifted her head "I probably will always want him and…" she groaned again and looked to her "Have you seen him?"

"Yes, he came to see me"

"Mum. He's gotten better looking, I mean, I didn't even know that was possible"

Rachel gave her a small, amused smile "I think you'll always find him attractive, that was never exactly an issue for you now was it? And god knows he will always find you attractive"

Faith then squinted to her "Did he say something to do?"

Rachel took in a breath and sat up straight more, taking her glass again and had a sip of wine before letting a slow nod "He may have uttered a few words about you. Asking who it was that you were seeing…and asking if I could convince you to…reconsider"

"Reconsider?"

Rachel raised her brows and stated gently "Him"

Faith let out a breath and looked out the window, she too then took her glass back into her hand and took a sip of it. If this were perhaps a year ago, she may have considered it. But she was at a completely different stage of her life now, she couldn't risk going through all that turmoil again.

"Your hair" Rachel commented, causing Faith to look back at her "Hm?"

"He said he liked your hair. Also said you were still as beautiful as ever" she looked down and muttered "Maybe I shouldn't tell you all of this"

"You're my mother. Yeah you should" Faith said gently "Mum the thing I always admired about you most was your honesty with me, I don't want that to change cause you're scared of upsetting…speaking of which, I am going to go slightly off the subject and say that you need to do something about Tyler. He's taking control of everything, mum. Even after school sessions as Bolton told me that Tyler is looking at running it up. That's something you should look into, not him"

Rachel sighed, she had a feeling that it was going to get onto this at some point "I don't know how to go around it"

"Start off by speaking to dad. He has your back no matter what, but if you don't say anything to him then he'll be none the wiser like all men. You're not saying anything because you want to prevent drama, just like how I didn't have it out with Bolton in the middle of the hallway just then. Because we feel like we bring bad blood up all the time. But this is your school. You can't sit back and let someone try to take that"

"As I said this morning to you, I'm waiting it out-"

"He's not bloody budging. Mum, I can see it and deep down so can you. I love you which is why I am always going to be straight with you. You need to nip it in the bud now"

Rachel took a breath and then nodded "You're right, you are"

"Just start off by talking to dad when we get home, after his drink at the pub. Maybe he will share a pint with Bolton" Faith brought her glass up to her chest and sighed out with her eyes closed "God the way he still looks at me…"

She looked to Rachel's warm eyes, Faith raised her brows, putting her finger and thumb close together as she explained "Mum he was this close to holding me. And for a split second it felt like I was back to being with him again…for a split second I…I almost fell into it"

Rachel just remained silent as Faith carried on, more in a rant and scowl at him for a moment "He said he wanted to be my friend, but how thick can he be? He can't be my friend not after everything we have been through. Treating it like we dated for a few fucking weeks. It was four years"

"I just think he's trying to hold onto you the best he can"

Faith nodded, looking down to her wine "Yeah well, he can't can he? Because we know how he'll get. He'll end up saying how he wants all of me and he can't have that, not right now…and I don't think I can ever get back to that. Cause I'm not the girl he fell in love with, I've changed, I'm strong"

"Darling you were always strong. Believe you me, you were always that"

Faith looked to her and just smiled, Rachel gave her daughter's hand a squeeze "So. Let's finish off this wine, head home for a nice curry in front of some television. Yeah?"

"Woman after my own heart" Faith mumbled as she necked down the remaining part of her wine as Rachel then did. Hopefully she would be able to block out the emotions she had been feeling from today, and if there was one thing Rachel was good at, it was certainly knowing how to make Faith feel like everything was right in world, even if it was just for an evening.