Eddie paced up and down his classroom, his hands resting on the back of his head. It was safe to say that the first day back at Waterloo Road wasn't off to a good start, for him or for Rachel. How much worse could it get? Eddie didn't want to know.

The events of the morning so far hadn't quite caught up with him just yet. As he paced up and down, he took the chance to let it all wash over him and to process his thoughts.

Rachel was resigning. The thought of that filled him with dread. He didn't want her to go. Rachel Mason was the best thing that had ever happened to Waterloo Road- and to him too. She had turned the school around, and she had turned Eddie's life upside down in the best way. Eddie had never been as happy as he had been in the last couple of months. He loved Rachel, as a girlfriend, his best friend and as a colleague. They were a team. Personally and professionally. The thought of her going was painful. If she went, he didn't want to stay either. Waterloo Road wouldn't be the same without her. He knew he could leave and follow her, but he wasn't sure if she was just leaving this job, or if she was leaving teaching completely. If that was the case, he had an even bigger battle on his hands.

He was furious with Steph. The last thing Rachel had needed on her first (and potentially last if she got her way) day back, was a confrontation with Steph, especially when she wasn't feeling well. The comment Steph had made had upset Eddie, maybe not as much as it had Rachel, but it had upset him all the same. Mostly because it wasn't true. Rachel would be a fantastic Mother, he knew that. But it didn't matter. Rachel had already had mixed emotions towards the pregnancy, so Steph's comment had sent her spiralling. Rachel believed what Steph had said was true, and he was going to have a hell of a job trying to change her mind.

The argument he had just had with Rachel was playing on a loop in his mind. He hated seeing her so sick, and the thought that she was getting worse frightened him, especially when she was refusing to get medical help. It left Eddie feeling quite helpless. There was nothing he could do, apart from worry, which wasn't helping.

He hadn't meant to snap at her the way that he had. His words had come from a place of concern, but had come out as angry. He hoped Rachel knew they had been said out of concern, but he doubted it. With the way she was at the moment, this would give her the ammunition to push him out completely. And he didn't blame her.

He didn't know what to do. He hated seeing Rachel so low, heartbroken and defeated. She had completely lost her confidence, personally and professionally. He just wanted to help, but he only seemed to be making things worse.

Charlotte knocking on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced at her wearily as he returned to sit at his desk.

"Everything ok?" she asked

"Terrific" Eddie mumbled sarcastically

"I take it that you and Rachel are having some issues?" Charlotte assumed, sitting on the desk opposite his

"Is it that obvious?" Eddie asked

"Eddie, I'm a counsellor. I can read a room and pick up on tensions easily"

Eddie nodded.

"She's completely shut me out" he sighed

"Do you know why?"

"She's pregnant" Eddie blurted without thinking

"Sorry, I shouldn't have told you that. It's not my place" he added

"It will go no further than this classroom, I promise" Charlotte reassured

"When did she find out?" she questioned gently

"Last week" he replied

"And how are you feeling about it?"

"I'd be over the moon, if Rachel was"

"And she isn't?"

"She's... scared, I think. We've talked about having children before; it was what we both wanted. It's just... come at the wrong time, and I hate saying that, but Rachel thinks, after what happened with Maxine that she doesn't deserve to be pregnant, or to be a Mother, because she's blaming herself. That's why Steph's comment upset her so much." He explained

"It's a big change, having a baby, even if you do want children" Charlotte pointed out

"I know. I just wish she'd talk to me" he sighed

"She will, just give her some time" she reassured

Eddie nodded, unconvinced.

"She's resigning too. Today is her last day, or she thinks so anyway. I found out this morning" he told her

"And you don't want her to go?" Charlotte guessed

"Of course not, and it's not just because I don't want her to go. What happened to Maxine wasn't her fault, but she thinks it is, that's why she's going. And I don't think she's just leaving Waterloo Road, I think she's leaving teaching all together. I can't seem to change her mind"

"Do you want me to have a word?" she offered

Eddie shook his head.

"No, it's fine. I'll sort it, thanks though"

Charlotte smiled, heading over to the classroom door.

"I'll talk to Steph, make sure she apologises to Rachel"

"Good luck with that" Eddie huffed

"Things will work themselves out, Eddie. Just give it time" Charlotte reassured, leaving the classroom

Eddie sighed, resting back on his chair. He knew things would eventually work out. It was just how and when they would.

...

Rachel sighed heavily as she pulled a photo-shopped image of Jasmine Koreshi's face attached to a dog, off the notice board in Reception. She rolled her eyes as Aleesha and Danielle retreated a little, giggling and sniggering. It was petty little stunts like this that made Rachel glad that she was resigning. Dealing with stupid little antics like this were a waste of time, but as Head Teacher, she had to get to the bottom of it. She was glad that, by tonight, she wouldn't be dealing with it anymore. Little things like this would be someone else's problem. And the big things too.

"Who did this?" she demanded angrily, turning to Danielle and Aleesha

The two girls didn't answer, their giggles growing louder, only increasing Rachel's suspicions that they were the culprits. As she had no proof, she would have to investigate further. Another job to add to her endless and still growing to-do list for today.

"I will find out if you two did this, girls! Go on, get to Registration" she huffed, shaking her head in disbelief as she watched the two best friends walk away, their giggles echoing down the corridor

"What happened there?" Eddie asked, moving to stand beside her

Rachel huffed, turning around to face him. She had expected to be angry with him after their earlier argument, but she wasn't. She was angry at herself, but not Eddie. He was and had been only trying to help. She wanted let him in, but she didn't know how.

She handed him the photo, placing a hand to her pounding forehead.

Eddie scoffed in disbelief, pulling three folded up pieces of paper out of his blazer pocket. Rachel frowned at him.

"They're all around the school. I've been removing them as I've seen them" he explained

"Can you please find out who's doing it?" she requested with a heavy sigh

"Not like I've got anything important to do" he grumbled sarcastically, rolling his eyes

Rachel smiled at him weakly.

"Miss, are you kidding me?" Aleesha exclaimed from down the corridor

Rachel turned her head, groaning when she saw Rose, Marley and Sam entering the building. She looked at Eddie, unsure of what to do. This day just seemed to be getting worse.

"What the hell are they doing here?" Paul chimed in, eyeing the Kelly's with a look of disdain

Rachel leapt into action, walking over to Rose. She needed to diffuse and manage the situation as quickly as possible. Eddie wasn't far behind her.

"Paul, this has nothing to do with you. Go to registration, please" she instructed firmly

Paul stormed away, Aleesha and Danielle following behind him.

Rose glanced at Rachel, smiling hesitantly at her. Sam and Marley hovered behind her, looking incredibly uncomfortable about the situation.

"Hi, Rose. Can we take this upstairs to my office?" Rachel greeted, noticing there were a few students and staff lingering in the hallway to listen in

Rose nodded.

"You go ahead, I'll be with you in five minutes" Rachel told them, ushering them down the corridor

Once they were out of sight, she turned to Eddie. She sighed as she closed her eyes. The world was starting to spin again. The Kelly's returning to Waterloo Road was the last thing she needed today.

"What do we do?" Eddie asked

Rachel opened her eyes to meet his gaze.

"Let's go and talk to them, we'll go from there" she decided

Eddie nodded. He moved to walk on ahead, pausing when he noticed she wasn't following him. He turned to look at her. The colour had drained from her cheeks again.

"Just give me a minute" she whispered, placing her hand on the wall as she took a deep breath to calm the dizziness and nausea

"Can I do anything?" he offered, feeling a little helpless

"No, I'm ok" she insisted

"Thank you though" she added

He smiled softly at her.

"It's what I'm here for" he shrugged

Once the dizzy spell had passed, Rachel led the way up the stairs to her office. She was dreading the conversation with Rose, mainly because she didn't know what to do for the best. This was definitely the last thing she needed today.