One hour later...
It was 3pm. The second the bell had gone off, Eddie had shot up, packing his things into his bag. He couldn't leave until 3:30pm, but he could be ready to leave.
Rachel hadn't returned his call, making him even more desperate to get home. He wanted to make sure she was ok. That was his current priority.
As he packed his laptop away, there was a knock on the door. He looked up, smiling politely when he saw Charlotte stood there.
"Did Steph get home ok?" she asked
"Yes. Matt took her back to his. She's agreed to go on compassionate leave until at least next week" he told her
"That's good" she nodded
"I'm really sorry about the way she acted towards you. She's not usually like that" he sighed
Charlotte put her hand up to silence him.
"It's fine. She's grieving. People deal with grief in different ways. I should have been more delicate in my approach. You haven't suspended her, have you?"
"No. I thought about it. But, she is grieving and wouldn't do this normally. Rachel wouldn't have suspended her, and if I had, I would have been in trouble" he told her
"Good, I'm glad you changed your mind" she smiled
Eddie nodded.
"How did you get on with Janeece?" he asked, swiftly changing the subject
"Quite well actually. She's a promising young lady"
Eddie smiled.
"Maxine and Janeece were joined at the hip, inseparable" he explained
"Yes, I got that feeling from Janeece. I can see why Maxine was so loved by everyone in the school"
Eddie nodded quietly.
"How are you coping with it all?" she asked gently
Eddie sighed heavily. How was he supposed to answer that?
"I guess I'm... in shock, like everyone else. I can't believe it really" he shrugged
Charlotte nodded in understanding, willing him to continue.
"I'm more worried about Rachel if I'm honest" he admitted
"Because she's ill?" Charlotte questioned
Eddie nodded
"Have you spoken to her today?"
Eddie shook his head.
"Not since I left her to come to work this morning. I booked her a Doctor's appointment for this afternoon, but I don't know if she went or felt well enough to go, even though I told her to call me if she felt unwell and I would take her. I rang her at two o'clock and she didn't answer. So I don't know if she went or if she's lying unconscious somewhere in the house" he blurted
"I'm sensing you're worried because something like this has happened before?"
"Not exactly like this per se, but she has disappeared on me before and it... well... it isn't my story to tell... but it didn't end well" he explained
"It's understandable that you're worried about her" Charlotte sympathised
Eddie nodded. He felt like this was quickly turning into a counselling session. It was making him uncomfortable. He glanced at the clock on the wall, noticing it was now 3:20pm.
"I should get going" he decided, putting the last few things into his bag
"Of course, I'll see you tomorrow" Charlotte nodded
Eddie smiled at her, leaving the office.
As he strolled down the stairs and along the corridor towards the car park, he spotted Bolton. He was stood by the entrance, deep in thought as he looked out over the car park.
"Alright, Bolton?" Eddie asked
Bolton jumped, turning to face him.
"Yeah, sir. Fine" he nodded eventually
"You seemed deep in thought just then" Eddie observed, smiling kindly
"Was just thinking, Sir" Bolton shrugged
"About?" Eddie questioned
"Maxine" Bolton mumbled
Eddie nodded in understanding.
"I think she's at the forefront of everyone's minds today"
Bolton nodded, looking up at the ceiling. Eddie could tell he was trying to prevent any tears from falling.
"There's no harm in talking, Bolton" Eddie reminded him
"I know, Sir. Maxine was a good mate. I never liked Earl, but I never expected him to do that"
"I don't think any of us did" Eddie responded with a sigh
"What will happen to him?" Bolton asked
"I... don't know in all honesty. But he'll go to prison for a long time"
Bolton nodded.
"Is Miss Mason alright?" he asked
"She's fine. She's just not very well, that's all" Eddie reassured
"Tell her it's not her fault, Sir, yeah? We all knew what he was like. None of us expected him to take it that far"
Eddie frowned, wondering what Bolton meant by that. He decided not to question him. He needed to get home to Rachel. And besides, Bolton probably meant nothing by it anyway.
"Get yourself home, Bolton. I'll see you tomorrow"
"See you tomorrow, Sir" Bolton nodded
Eddie sighed, heading out of the school and over to his car.
As he got into his Land Rover, his nerves started to get the better of him. He dreaded to think what state he'd find Rachel in when he got home. She'd either be perfectly fine, or far from it. He pushed the images of her bruised and broken body lying unconscious on the bathroom floor back in July out of his mind.
The only way to know whether she was ok or not, was to go home and find out. He wanted to see her, he'd missed her today. They were in one another's company so much, that when they were apart, he felt lost. All he wanted was to sit on the sofa, wrap her up in his arms and never let her go. But, at the same time, he didn't want to know what the Doctor had said, if she'd even gone to her appointment at all.
Sure, maybe it was just a sickness bug that was taking a little longer than most to pass. But something was telling him it was more than that.
He thought about this morning, how she'd only taken one step forwards and had nearly collapsed. He thought back to yesterday, how it had only taken her to stand up too quickly for her to feel dizzy, lightheaded and sick. She had almost fainted on him. A sickness bug usually only lasted five days, if that. But Rachel had been like this on and off for a couple of weeks, gradually getting worse. Something was wrong, and they couldn't ignore it.
One thing was certain. Whatever this was, sinister or not, Eddie wasn't going to leave her side. They would face whatever this was, together.
Without a second thought, he started the car, driving out of the school gates towards home.
...
Bolton watched as Mr Lawson drove away. He sighed heavily. The guilt was eating away at him the longer he kept quiet.
He'd known all this time that Earl had, had a gun. He'd known from the first day Earl and his family had come to Waterloo Road. And he'd said nothing. And now, Maxine was dead. It was his fault.
"What's up with you?" Paul asked, standing next to him
"I just saw Mr Lawson" Bolton told him
"You didn't tell him anything, did you?" Paul panicked
"No way, man! Of course I didn't!" he huffed
Paul sighed in relief.
"Don't you think we should though?" Bolton questioned
Paul stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you mental?! Absolutely not!"
"But we knew he had that gun! He threatened us with it!" Bolton argued
"So? Bolton, do you know how much trouble we could get into for not saying anything all this time?"
Bolton sighed.
"We can't say anything, Bolton" Paul added firmly
"Fine, come on. Let's go home"