Break time came around a lot quicker than Eddie had expected. Before he knew it, he was setting off on break duty, doing a routine check of the school corridors and playground, on the lookout for bad behaviour.

Thankfully, everyone seemed to be behaving themselves. The students were catching up with their friends after being off for two weeks. Most of the boys were outside playing football, whilst the girls stayed inside where it was warm, all gossiping and chatting away. It was good to be back.

The careers event was a success with the students. But, so far, his opinion on Kim Campbell hadn't changed.

Despite Kim's protests, he had gone to oversee the careers event in the hall this morning. All he could say was that he would have run the event a lot differently. For example, he wouldn't have asked the students unrealistic questions about what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives.

Eddie knew all the staff and students liked Kim and were happy she was back. But so far, he was underwhelmed by the infamous Kim Campbell. He thought she was a little arrogant and naive, thinking she could return to Waterloo Road like it was still the same place that it was a few years ago. A lot had changed since then, and he hoped she would learn that quickly.

As he approached the second floor corridor, the sound of a baby crying reached his ears. Curious and a little concerned, he followed the noise.

He was surprised when he found Kim leaving the crèche, a defeated look etched on her face. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she rested her head on the wall. Eddie wasn't Kim's number one fan, but he did feel a small amount of concern for his new colleague in this moment.

"Everything ok?" he asked

Kim looked up, suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at the sight of him. He was the last person she wanted to see.

Maybe she was imagining it, but there was a smug look on his face that she couldn't stand. She had spotted him at the back of the hall this morning, watching her like a hawk, internally criticising her every move and everything she said. It had irritated her, but she knew if she had paid him any attention, he'd won.

Now, he was watching her again, struggling to leave a screaming Grace in the crèche whilst running a careers event for different year groups. Grace had already been through enough, and Kim couldn't help but that she was making it worse. No one could know the truth though. Grace was her daughter and that's all anyone needed to know.

Eddie would just love to see that she wasn't coping, that she was failing. Her stress had nothing to do with Grace, not really. It was all to do with him and his attitude, which Kim believed was borderline misogynistic. She was growing tired of it. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of keeping her head down and letting him get away with his behaviour. She had to say something.

"No. No, not really" she huffed, storming over to him

"Is she not settling in?" he asked, a little patronisingly

"No, it's nothing to do with the baby. It's YOU and YOUR attitude!" she snapped

Eddie frowned at her. Before he could even open his mouth to reply, she cut him off.

"Look, I've been brought into this school to take control of Pastoral Care, right? I don't need you to supervise me, thank you very much!"

Eddie scoffed.

"Eddie, I've been teaching for nine years. If I need help, I will ask you! I just wanted to clear up any confusion" she added

Eddie glared at her. He wasn't impressed by her attitude.

"Fine. I'll remember that" he replied coldly, storming away

...

On the playground, Bolton, Marley, Paul and Philip were all huddled in a corner, talking about Sarah-Leanne as they waited eagerly to go back in for her talk.

"I gave one of her calendars to my Uncle for Christmas once. It actually made him smile!" Paul joked

Bolton smirked.

"Yeah, I bet it did! What do you think of her, Marley?"

"Who?" Marley asked, snapping out of his daze

"Sarah-Leanne. You would, wouldn't you?" Bolton questioned

"I would, without a doubt!" Philip cut in, a little too confidently

Bolton snorted.

"Yeah, if only your Auntie would let you! Jog on!"

"I'm serious! If I got a chance, I'd be all over that"

Paul and Bolton burst into a fit of laughter.

"If you got a chance?" Paul repeated

Philip nodded.

"Is that some form of alternate reality or something?" Bolton teased

"Shut up" Philip scoffed nervously

The boys continued to laugh. Bolton knew Philip was naive. He was desperate to fit in, and would do anything to make it happen. As he continued to laugh with Paul and Marley, an idea popped into his head. Maybe he could use Philip's desperation to be 'one of the boys' to his advantage.

"Well, it's not every day that your fantasy woman comes to school, right? Maybe Philip should take his shot?" Bolton suggested, nudging Philip gently

"What? And ask her out?" Paul questioned, frowning

"Yeah, why not? If he doesn't, he's going to kick himself later, aren't you, mate?"

Philip suddenly felt like a rabbit caught in the headlights. Truthfully, he didn't really have much interest in Sarah-Leanne. He was just trying to keep up with the boys.

"I'm not sure" he mumbled with a nervous chuckle

"Come on! What's the worst that could happen? She can only say 'No'. And what if she said yeah?" Bolton pointed out

"She won't, though" Philip answered

"Hey, why not? You should give it a go, mate!" Paul encouraged

"I just remembered, I read somewhere that she likes younger men" Marley chimed in

"Ohhhhhh, you've got to do it now!" Bolton exclaimed

"I don't think so, guys" Philip mumbled

"Oh, come on, man, you've gotta do it! If you don't, it'll sound like you were just mouthing off earlier, won't it?" Bolton argued

"Oh, well..."

Philip went silent as the bell rang out to signal the end of break. He had been backed into a corner here, and he wasn't sure how to get himself out.

"Come on, man, now is your chance!" Bolton exclaimed, pushing Philip back over to the school building