After lunch, Holly and her cousins had History in her Mums class, they went and sat in their usual seats, and Rachel started to teach the class, she handed back some marked essays and got the kids to get on with some work, all in all, it was a good lesson, the bell rang for last period and Rachel asked Holly, Phil and Aimee to stay behind. Holly still had hold of Paul's hand so he too stayed.
"What's up Aunt Rachel" Aimee asked.
"Nothing Love, just I'm going to need to stay here, prepare for parents night, will you two be OK making your own way home?" she asked Philip and Aimee.
"Yeah fine" they replied.
"Em, what about me?" Holly asked
"Well, you can sit in my office and revise, maybe catch up on some coursework" Rachel said.
"But Mum" Holly was about to start complaining, but Rachel threw her a disapproving look.
"Holly, go to class, and come to my office afterwards, you two I shall see you at home" Rachel said, and the kids went off to class.
Holly was so angry, she didn't want to sit in Rachel's office, the final bell had just rang and as everyone was making their way home she was making her way to her Mother's office.
"Holly you can sit over there, and get on with your work" Rachel said pointing to the table, Eddie came into the office behind Holly, and handed Rachel some reports. She got on with working through them.
Holly had just caught up on all her missed coursework over the past week when Rachel stood from her desk.
"Pizza OK for Dinner?" Holly shrugged; she didn't really care what she ate. "Holly, an answer would be nice" Rachel scolded.
"Whatever Mum, can't I just go home, I've caught up on everything I was behind on"
"No, an extra 2 hours work is not enough to pull those grades up, you have a few months of it, you better get used to it"
Holly sighed again and took out her English book and started to read it, a while later Eddie came in with their Pizza. The 3 of them ate it, Eddie and Rachel talking, but Holly ignoring them, when they finished, Rachel told Holly to stay in her office and work, she had to go mingle with parents, and visit her own children's teachers.
Rachel went to see Steph first, none of the parents had arrived yet, and she wanted to try and visit all the kids teachers first.
"Steph, can I have a word please?"
"Sure Rachel, what's up" Steph asked smiling her usual cheery self.
"My Daughters report card, and E, really?" Rachel said and Stephs smile disappeared, she knew what was going to happen here, she was going to get blamed for Hollys poor performance.
"Yes Rachel, really, her coursework has been shoddy for a while now, never on time and she hasn't been paying attention in class, but of course you do know about it already" Rachel was confused, until today, she had no idea.
"Steph, I don't know what your talking about" Rachel said "Until I got this report I had no idea about any of this"
"I gave her letters home, followed protocol, I even have the letters here, with your signature" Rachel was dismayed, her signature, no it couldn't have been, she had never seen these letters before, Rachel took them off Steph and looked at them. Steph was right, the 2 letters had her signature, but she hadn't signed them.
"I'm sorry Steph, I have never seen these before in my life, it seems like someone has some explaining to do" Rachel said, but before she went to confront her daughter she wanted to check with other teachers, most had the same problem, they had followed school protocol and sent letters out, which were signed apparently by Rachel, and obviously afterwards they didn't want to approach her about it. She was at least glad that Aimee and Philip were doing a lot better, at least it was one less worry.
Some parents started coming in, and lots wanted to talk to Rachel, of course she obliged and was polite and patient, but all she wanted to do right now was get to Holly and have this out with her. Rachel was on her way to her office when she heard her name being called, she turned round to find Eddie.
"Oh Eddie, I don't know what to do?" Rachel said, "Holly, has kept these from me, signed them herself" she handed him the letter.
"What, the little so and so"
"Eddie, I don't know what to do with her, I'm scared for her, she's going to throw her life away" Eddie put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, she rested her head on his shoulder and felt safe in his strong arms.
"Don't worry, we will sort her together, I mean if you want me in on this" Eddie said calmly.
"I would love that, but I think its something we have to do ourselves, I just worry that I'm losing my little girl" Rachel said hugging Eddie again.
"Oh, your not losing her, she's just going through her rebellious Teenage stage, look at Aimee 6 months ago, and look at her now, that was you who fixed her, and Bolton, look what you have done to him, and Paul"
"Thanks Eddie, for the vote of confidence, but I better go talk to her now.
Rachel walked into her office, Holly was sitting with her English book, opened and some paper trying to start an essay, but had no clue where to start.
"Holly, we need to talk" Rachel stated as she sat across from her daughter at the table.
"What now Mum?" she sighed putting her book down. Rachel sighed and took the notes out of her pocket.
"Mum, I , I'm sorry" Holly said, Rachel closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I just don't know what has got into you, you always took school so seriously before, and now, 2 months before your exams your acting up, do you want to pass your exams?" Rachel asked.
"Yes Mum, of course I do"
"And how do you expect to do that, because the way your going, your going to fail them, and if you do, you'll be repeating year 11" Holly knew Rachel was disappointed, she should try better, but it was just so boring and for the first time in her life the cool kids were her friends, she was having the time of her life.
"And what do you think your Father would say about this, God, he will be turning in his grave, you know how he felt about school!" Rachel was shouting now and Holly was sitting trying her best not to cry, why did she have to bring her Dad into this, after everything he had done, she still loved her Dad, but he had done a bad thing, he wasn't perfect either.
"STOP IT" Holly screamed "I'm sorry" she hadn't meant to shout "But Dad's Dead, and he's never coming back, this has nothing to do with him"
"I'm sorry Holly, that was wrong for me to say that, but really, this can't go on, you know, if there is something going on that you want to talk to me about, you can"
"Mum I'm sorry, and I'm sorry for what's going to happen later, but I promise, I'll try harder" Rachel was confused, what was going to happen later.
"Holly, what's going to happen later" she looked at her mother, but couldn't say the words, they were too hard, but she just knew she was going to find out soon, she was going to have to either try and tell her Mum just now, or try and swap the swabs with Paul, but if Rachel found out about that, she would be in even more trouble.
"The Drugs day, I'll come back positive" She said quietly, but Rachel heard what she was saying loud and clear.
"What, Holly you better be joking" Rachel shouted.
"I'm sorry, it's not a joke" she looked down and started to cry, she had really gone and done it, Rachel was furious, but it wasn't just that, she blamed herself.
"Stay here, and don't even think about moving" Rachel said as she got up and left her office, she was searching, but could not find the person she was searching for, she walked into the Hall, but the parents were all gone, it was just a few teachers left, she walked over to Jasmine.
"Have you seen Eddie?" she asked hurriedly.
"Yeah, he's gone looking for you, on the way to your office" Rachel turned round and shouted "Thanks Jasmine" and started on her way back to the office.
Eddie was looking for Rachel, everyone was getting ready to leave, and he walked towards her office, before realising he had left something in his class. After collecting it, he was back on his way to Rachel's office. He walked in and seen Holly sitting crying at the table.
"Are you Ok" Eddie said sitting on the next seat, as Holly wiped the tears with her sleeve.
"You don't know?" Holly questioned.
"I know about your falling grades, I was a little shocked, but with a bit of hard work, that can be easy sorted" Eddie said, he had no idea about the other stuff.
"It's not just that, it's part of it, maybe you should just go talk to my Mum, no doubt she'll fill you in"
"Well, she's not here, why don't you fill me in" Holly didn't want to tell him, it was bad enough telling her Mum and seeing the disappointed look in her face, but Eddie too.
"I just did something stupid, and now she's annoyed, I mean really angry and disappointed, she probably hates me"
"Your Mum doesn't hate you, she may be disappointed, but that's all she will be, she loves you"
"I was so stupid, I know it was wrong to take Cannabis, but it was a mistake and I know that now, that's why I told Mum about it" Eddie was shocked, Holly, he didn't expect it from her, but like Rachel said, she didn't want this to be a witch hunt, and Holly had told her herself.
"Your Mum, she's probably just gone off to calm down, which you need to do to. I'll go look for her" Holly nodded "OK" Eddie said and left the office.
It wasn't long before he seen Rachel about to head up the stairs "Rachel" he called and she turned round.
"Oh, Eddie, Thank God, you won't believe it" Rachel said but was cut off by Eddie.
"What, Holly, she's been taking Drugs, I know Rachel" he said as he hugged her again, he could feel how stressed and anxious she was. "Let's just calm down, I seen her there, she's upset and scared. She thinks she's disappointed you"
"No, it's me who's to blame, how did I not notice, and I brought her up, where did I go wrong Eddie" He stroked her hand through her hair to try and calm her down.
"Shh, Rachel, you have done nothing wrong, she told you didn't she, that couldn't have been easy, come on, lets just go talk to her, and remember what you said, this wasn't the time for recriminations, the whole thing is about awarness"
Rachel smiled, "And you said, their should be some sort of Punishment for testing positive"
"Well, maybe we both are right, lets just go talk to her, and then you can decided about any sanctions" Rachel took his hand.
"Yes, your right as always"
They walked together hand in hand to Rachel's office, for once Rachel didn't care if they were spotted right now she needed Eddie to be there for her.
Holly was terrified, she took her phone out and phoned Aimee, she didn't know who else to turn too.
"Hello" Aimee said
"Aimee, I don't know what to do, I told Mum, I told her about the drugs, and she's gone off"
"Oh Holly, look, it will be fine, Aunt Rachel she's good, she'll help you, did you mention me"
"No, I won't mention you, you only did it twice and it was ages ago, no point in us both getting into trouble is there"
"I know, but I feel bad, I mean the first couple of time, it was me who encouraged you, I'll explain to Aunt Rachel"
"No, don't you dare, I got myself into this mess, just try and be in bed for us coming in, Mums in a proper bad mood now, look I've got to go" Holly said as she heard footsteps coming towards her and hung up the phone putting it in her pocket.
"Holly, we need to talk" Rachel said as she sat on the sofa, Eddie sat on the chair next to Rachel's desk.
Holly turned round and looked at her Mother, "I'm Sorry" she got up and sat on the sofa next to Rachel. "I know it was stupid, and I promise, I will never do it again".
"Holly, I have to ask, exactly what did you do?" Rachel was worried it was something more serious.
"It started off with cannabis, not smoking it, but in a cake, that was at a sleepover, and then again the night of my birthday" She paused and Rachel remembered back to the night of her birthday, she and Aimee were both ill and hungover.
"Aimee, did she do it as well" Holly didn't want to say yes, but the pause said it all, Rachel knew she must have.
"mmm, I, I, she" she closed her eyes how could she do this without getting into trouble.
"It's OK Holly, I think you answered my question, she did it too" Rachel said, Holly didn't mean for her cousin to get into trouble.
"Yes, but, only twice, that was her last time, I did it again"
"OK, but I will be having a little chat with Aimee later as well"
"No, Mum don't, she knows not to do it, she won't do it again, she tried to stop me from doing it, Please, this was my fault, no one elses"
"Why did you do it Holly?" Eddie asked, Holly didn't know how to answer this, not without getting herself into a lecture about peer pressure. She shrugged he shoulders.
"I don't know, the first time I smoked it was in Scotland, that night at the beach, it made me ill, and Paul brought me back, then the next few times he told me not to, wait and see, he'll come back negative, he thinks Drugs are wrong"
"Well they are Holly, and you should have known that too, I'm disappointed that you didn't, I thought you had better sense" Rachel said.
"I know, but I promise, it won't happen again, I will never ever take drugs again"
"Promise me Holly, promise me right now, that you will never ever do something as stupid as that ever again" Rachel said.
"I promise" Rachel hugged Holly and put her hand through her hair, "I love you honey" Rachel said.
"Love you too Mum" she said as she relaxed a little in her mothers arms. "Mum, can we go home please, I'm tired". Rachel nodded and Holly walked over to the table she had been working at to clear her things away.
Rachel went outside and Eddie followed her. "See Rachel, she is sorry, and I think she knows it was wrong"
"Yes, but should I punish her, my head wants to, but my heart thinks she's made a mistake and knows it"
"I'm not her father, but I think you should make her get tested anyway, and then, she will have to go onto the drugs awareness course, and don't do anything too harsh, ground her for a week or so, that should be long enough"
"Yes I agree, she should get tested, and the course will do her good" They hugged again, Rachel looked up and kissed Eddie, they deepened their kiss and for a moment forgot all time and space, until they heard a cough in the background.
"My stuffs all packed now, ready to go" Holly said.
"All right, let's get home, it's been a long day"
"Are you staying at ours tonight" Holly asked Eddie, he looked at Rachel who smiled.
"If he wants to, then he can"
"OK, I just need to get some things from mines first, and then I'll come over" Eddie said.
"Your toothbrush is at ours already, it's the scabby blue one" Holly said, Rachel and Eddie laughed, although Eddie's face was turning a deep shade of red.
The 3 of them walked out of the school together, they were the last people to leave, and while Rachel made sure the door was locked and alarm set, Holly got into the car. Eddie and Rachel walked towards the car park hand in hand.
Holly text Paul, she wanted to tell him that she was grounded and would more than likely be losing her phone, she didn't want him texting and not getting any replies.
"Rachel, are you sure you want me to come and stay tonight, maybe it will be best if I go home, give you a chance to talk to the kids" Eddie said, Rachel didn't want that, she looked into his eyes and kissed him.
"I want you tonight Edward Lawson" she paused for a second before rephrasing "I need you tonight" They kissed again, this time there was a hunger for both of them, and Rachel hoped it would be a good night between them, it was exactly what she needed to release the tension and stress which had overcome her the past couple of hours.
"All right, I'll be at yours in an hour" Eddie said whilst playfully slapping her on the backside. Rachel giggled, an hour she thought to herself, unsure if she could really wait that long.
They got into their separate cars, and Holly had her phone and I pod in her hand already waiting to hand to her mother. "Holly, whats this?" Rachel questioned.
"I'm grounded, right" Holly stated, she assumed it was obvious, but Rachel hadn't quiet decided yet what to do, when she had the idea.
"Holly, what do you think I should do" Holly looked at her in confusion, unsure of what Rachel was actually asking her to do. "I mean, if the roles were reversed, and you were the parent and I was the child, what would you do?"
"Em, I guess I would ground you, and tell you off" Rachel nodded as she started the engine and started to drive the familiar route home.
"For how long?" She questioned.
"I don't know Mum, maybe a couple of months" she looked at her mother for any indication of what was going on.
"OK, well, you'll be glad I'm not that strict" she smiled at Holly, and she looked back incredulously at her Mother. "2 Weeks, but after that, your still not allowed out on a school night until after exams"
"OK, that's not what I expected" Holly said. "Not that I'm complaining"
"There are some conditions first, the first is that you hand over anything you shouldn't have, and the 2nd, I want to know where it all came from in the first place"
"But if I tell you where I got it from, they will know I grassed them up?" Holly said anxiously .
"No one knows about tonight yet, or have you told anyone?" Rachel asked.
"Just Aimee"
"Good, well, don't tell anyone, and you can get busted with everyone else on Wednesday, now, where did you get it from, I promise no one will know it came from you?"
"You know the van that comes to the main gate and sells chips, well from there"
Rachel was dumbfounded, how could anyone do that, selling drugs to kids.
"Thank you" Rachel said, and that was the first item on her to do list, to call the police tomorrow, and get rid of those degenerates from around her school. "And when we get home, I want you to go and give me anything you shouldn't have"
"What will you do with them Mum?"
"I'll be taking them to the police station, no, in fact, you and I will be taking them to the police station" Holly slumped down lower in her seat, why did her mum have to do everything like she was on some talk show about dysfunctional teens, honestly did she think she was the female Jeremy Kyle.
"Can't we just flush it?"
"No, you are going to learn a valuable lesson, and maybe take your cousins along" Rachel said to Holly's horror.
"Why don't you just invite the entire school along, make a drugs amnesty" Holly said mockingly, but Rachel thought the idea was actually very good, the week was about drug awareness, maybe on Wednesday they should have an amnesty to get rid of all the drugs from the school.
"You can watch your tone Young Lady, I think you have gotten off very lightly considering what you've been doing" Rachel said sternly as the pulled into the drive way. "Now inside and do as I asked" she instructed, and Holly didn't need to be told twice.
Holly went upstairs to her room followed by Rachel, who was a little surprised that Aimee and Philip were both in bed, it was only just gone 10pm, unless they knew about what had happened earlier.
Holly walked over to her drawers and took her Teddy which was sitting on top, she unzipped the jacket off it, and inside was a block of cannabis. She handed it to her Mother. "Is that it all Holly?" Rachel asked.
"Just these too" she said going into a drawer and getting some normal tobacco and rollups.
"Thank you, now get ready for bed, and I will see you in the morning" Rachel said before giving her a hug and heading to the twins rooms, she knocked lightly on Aimee's door first, but there was no answer, so she opened the door, and noticed her lying fast asleep, she walked over to her bed and tucked her in. She checked on Philip, and done the same, before going downstairs and pouring a large glass of red wine, she deserved this tonight she thought to herself.
She went upstairs for a shower, and got changed into a nightdress before pulling her housecoat over it just incase the kids came downstairs. She was back downstairs drinking her second glass when she heard some footsteps on the stairs, she knew they weren't Philips, and she doubted Holly would come down again tonight, so it was no surprise when Aimee came into the room.
"Hiya Love, did something waken you?" Rachel asked.
"No, I wasn't actually sleeping, I was scared about what you were going to do"
"Me, why Love?" Rachel knew the reason, but she wasn't too angry with Aimee.
"Because I took those drugs too, and its unfair for Holly to be punished and not me" Aimee said sitting on the couch next to her Aunt.
"How many times have you done it" Rachel asked.
"Twice, I never smoked it, just ate it, but that was bad too, right"
"Yep, but you know it was wrong, and you learned your lesson, I still expect you to get tested, and no one knows about Holly yet, so please keep it quiet, she will be tested too".
"It was ages ago, will I come back positive" Aimee asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but if it is positive, you'll face the same consequences as everyone else" Aimee nodded.
"OK, and I guess I should ground you as well, so you have a week starting from tomorrow"
"OK Aunt Rachel, I'll just go to bed if that's OK" Aimee said getting up and walking towards the door.
"Course it is love, oh and Aimee come back a second and give me a hug" Aimee walked back and hugged her Aunt. "I just want to say well done love, your school report was fantastic, I'm really proud" Aimee smiled, she had never been told she was doing well before, probably because she hadn't before, but she was very happy.
"Thanks Aunt Rachel, if it wasn't for you I doubt I would have done so well" This made Rachel feel very proud, maybe she was doing a good job afterall.
Aimee left and went up to bed, feeling a lot more happy and settled.
Rachel didn't have much longer to wait before she heard a key in her door, she smiled and resisted the urge to run to Eddie, she waited till he came in, and they quietly and calmly went upstairs to Rachel's room.
The second they were in Rachel's room they were engulfed in each others mouths, Rachel slid her housecoat off, revealing a rather sexy nightdress which left very little to the imagination; she noticed the reaction from Eddie straight away. "Wow" he whispered before his hands were roaming her hot body.
Her nipples were coming through her silk nightdress and Eddie loved nothing more to every so often give them a little attention causing Rachel to moan.
"Shhh" Eddie said through the giggles, "the kids" he reminded her. Rachel hoped they were fast asleep, but right at this minute, she did not care, all she wanted was Eddie inside her.
Rachel moved position, so she was on top, she unbuttoned Eddies shirt, revealing his hard chest, you wouldn't think to look at him, but Eddie was a strong man, she moved to his trousers removing them before he flipped her over again.
"My turn to be boss tonight Rachel" he said slyly and she giggled, it wasn't long before they were making love. It was just what Rachel needed, and Eddie too.
"I love You Rachel Mason" Eddie said as he lay with his arm draped protectively around her, cupping her breast at the same time.
"Oh Eddie, I love you too" They fell asleep in this position, and didn't wake up until the morning.
Rachel woke up early the next morning, Eddies hand was still draped around her, she got out of bed and grabbed her robe, the cold hair hit her like cold waves in the sea. She walked into the bathroom and had a long hot shower before getting dressed walking over to the bed where her boyfriend lay.
"Eddie, time to get up" she whispered sexily into his ear, he moaned and opened his eyes.
"What did you have to get dressed for" he griped whilst pulling Rachel on top of the bed, causing her to giggle loudly.
"Will you shut up, it's gross" Phil shouted irritated from his bedroom, he was having a bad enough time as it was. Holly and Paul were loved up, Rachel and Eddie, Flick and Marley, why did Flick want Marley and not him.
Rachel getting chastised by her nephew caused her to giggle and Eddie giggled even more until they were both in a fit of giggles and the whole house had woken up.
Holly ran into the bathroom before anyone else, this was the only part about living with her cousins she hated, she had been used to having this bathroom to herself and Rachel having hers to herself, but now she had to share. She jumped into the shower and quickly got dried and dressed. As the constant banging on the door from her cousins was more than a little annoying. When she came out, Aimee ran in afterwards making sure she got there before Philip.
"Ha" Aimee said to Philip and proceeded to get ready.
"Sorry Phil" Holly said "you OK?" she questioned, he was in a mood.
"Fine, your chirpier than I thought you would be, I thought you would have been Hung, Drawn and quartered last night"
"Yep So did I Philip, so Did I" she said, before grabbing her bag and running downstairs.
40 minutes later and Eddie and Rachel were still not out of Rachel's bedroom, Rachel had to have another shower and get changed again, but it was worth it, not to mention that both Mr Lawson and Mrs Mason, would be in a good mood that day.
It wasn't long before they were all in the car ready to go, Eddie was in his own, and the kids in Rachel's, but of course before they got there, Holly had a little matter to attend to in the Police station.
"Mum please don't make me do this" Holly pleaded from the back seat.
"Holly, your doing it, end of discussion" Rachel stated sternly.
"But what if they arrest me for having them" Holly was worried, why could she not just get rid of them another way.
"They won't" Rachel said
"But how can you be sure" Holly argued back.
"yeah Aunt Rachel, how can you be sure, she broke the law" Philip interjected.
"It will be fine" Rachel said calmly as she parked the car, now come on. Rachel knew it would be fine, only because she had already spoken to a police officer who had agreed not to formally punish her daughter, instead just to give her a bit of a fright.
Rachel put her hand on Holly's shoulder and guided her through the door to the reception.
"Hi," Rachel said to the young man behind the desk, "We are here to see PC Richards" Rachel said, and the young man disappeared.
Holly was sat next to her cousins in the reception whilst Rachel stood at the desk waiting for her daughter to come up.
"I hate this" Holly whispered to her cousins "its so not needed, she's making a total Drama of it all"
"Holly, come here" Rachel said as a much older and scarier looking Policeman arrived.
"Can I help you?" PC Richards said, his voice sounded harsh and uncaring.
"On you go" Rachel said nudging Holly forward.
"Em, I, well, em I" Holly stuttered.
"Look I don't have all day" the officer stated
Holly swallowed hard and quickly said what she had to say.
"I've come to hand these in" she handed over the drugs and the policeman looked at them.
"tut tutu tut" he said to himself "Another stupid kid" he said "Don't you think we have enough to do without having to deal with stupid kids like you" Holly didn't know where to look so she set her eyes firmly on the floor.
"I'm Sorry Sir" she stated
"Well since its your first time, we'll let you off with it, because I believe you won't be so flaming stupid next time, now why don't you go sit with your friends, if their not too ashamed of you" he said and Holly didn't need to be told twice.
"She got them from the van, that's outside Waterloo Road" Rachel told the officer, could you please try and do something about it today?" Rachel asked, and the police officer said they would try.