One hour later...

It was break time. Apart from Janeece being absent from school, Rachel's morning had gone fairly smoothly.

She wouldn't have been so concerned about Janeece, if her going AWOL was a regular occurrence. But it wasn't, it was completely out of character for her. With her A-level mock exams starting tomorrow, her concern was heightened. Just because they were mocks, didn't mean the stress wasn't real.

It didn't help that she had, had a real job trying to get hold her Mum. She had picked up the phone to make the call at 9AM, and, by the time the woman finally answered, it was 10AM. According to her Mother, she was off with a 'Sickness bug'. Rachel wasn't entirely convinced that was the truth, but she had to take her word for it.

She had just finished a meeting with Chlo, Tom and Kim. It had gone well. Chlo was happy to put the work in to catch up on her A-levels in time for the exams in May. Rachel truly believed that, with the right support, she would go very far.

"Well, I think that went quite well" Rachel said, sighing in relief

When Kim didn't answer, Rachel looked up, studying her carefully. She seemed to be in a daze, eyes transfixed on the wall in front of her.

"Kim?" Rachel prompted

Kim jumped, snapping back into reality.

"Yes? Sorry... what were you saying?"

"I just said I thought the meeting went well" she repeated

"Oh, yeah, yeah, me too. Just because she's having a baby doesn't mean she has to sacrifice her education. I told Donte that this morning when he came to me stressing about her 'overdoing it' " she replied, rolling her eyes

"Exactly, I mean, she could go to University if she wanted to"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure she could" Kim agreed

Rachel had noticed that Kim didn't seem quite as 'on the ball' as she usually was. She had sensed something was off from the minute she'd come into her office for the meeting. She seemed constantly deep in thought, as well as jumpy and anxious.

"Kim, is everything ok?"

Kim looked at Rachel. She wanted to say no, but how could she? Saying "No" would mean she would have to explain everything. As much as she trusted Rachel, she knew that telling her or anyone else what was going on would cause a whole world of trouble for her, and Grace would be the one who got hurt.

Her mind wandered back to her earlier conversation with David. She had been expecting him to ask her for money on Grace's Father's behalf. David had claimed it was to help build a "Retirement home" for their Grandmother in Rwanda. Kim didn't believe that for one second.

One thousand pounds was a large amount of money that she didn't have, not for another week at least. And besides, she needed that money. She was struggling financially as a single Mum as it was. Any money she did have was used sparingly.

During the meeting, her mind had been drifting to solutions to get herself out of trouble. The problem was that David was demanding and intimidating, she didn't dare underestimate what he would do if she didn't pay up. She couldn't risk hers and Grace's secret getting out.

Rachel was becoming more and more concerned the longer Kim's silence continued. She could see something was troubling her, and she wanted to help.

"Kim? Talk to me?" she requested softly

"It's- uhm- it's nothing" Kim mumbled

"Are you sure?" Rachel checked

"Yes, yeah. I just didn't sleep very well last night, that's all"

Rachel nodded. She had a feeling there was more to it than that, but she didn't feel it was her business to pry. Kim would tell her if she wanted to.

"Well, if there's any way I can help, let me know"

"Actually,"

Kim paused when Rachel's head snapped up. She really didn't want to ask Rachel, but it was her only option at the moment. She had tried extending her overdraft with the bank, but she'd had no luck.

"I wouldn't ask this unless it was absolutely necessary,"

Rachel nodded, urging her to continue.

"Is there... any way I could get an advance... on my salary?"

Rachel was a little taken aback by the question. No one had ever asked her for an advance on their salary before. She wasn't even sure if it was possible.

"I... don't really know, Kim, in all honesty. Uhm- I can look into it for you?"

"Yes, please. That would be great" Kim nodded

"I'll get onto it today. You do know that we get paid next week? Do you desperately need it before then?"

Kim shook her head.

"I'd just forgotten how much everything costs over here. And with all the extras and nappies and baby food and..."

Rachel smiled sympathetically.

"Ok, leave it with me. I'll see what I can do"

"Thank you" Kim replied, smiling gratefully

"Tom said Grace's Uncle dropped in earlier?" Rachel blurted

"When did he tell you that?" Kim shot back, a little too defensively

"Just before you came in for the meeting. We were wondering where you were and he mentioned it" she explained, a little taken aback by Kim's abrupt tone

"Yeah, yeah. He- uhm- he just stopped by to say hello"

Rachel smiled.

"It must be really nice to have some family around"

Kim nodded, sighing in relief as the bell rang for the end of break. She turned to Rachel, offering her a weak smile.

"I should get to my next class"

"Of course. I'll have a look at what your options are for an advance on your salary now. If you come back at lunch, I'll hopefully have some information for you"

Kim smiled.

"Thanks, Rachel"

Rachel sighed, watching her go. That was another task to add to the ever-growing to-do list. Hopefully she would have time to speak to Bolton and to look into it before lunchtime.

...

Eddie wrote down the starter exercise on the board as his Yr 11 class settled down into their seats.

Philip's irritation only continued to increase as he watched Karla drawing him. He hadn't given her permission to do such a thing, that's what was annoying him most. It was creepy too! Why was she drawing him of all people? Did she have a crush on him? Was she trying to impress him? If that was the case, she was going about it in the wrong way.

Danielle and Aleesha weren't helping. Their irritating giggles rang in his ears, only adding fuel to the fire.

"She's got his ears just right!" Aleesha laughed

"He looks like a Hobbit!" Danielle chimed in

" 'Philbo Baggins'!!!!" Aleesha squealed

The whole class roared with laughter.

Philip stood up from his desk, storming over to Karla. He glared at her as he snatched the drawing from her. It wasn't even a good drawing in his opinion.

"I'm not the freak here, yeah? YOU are" he snarled, screwing up the piece of paper and throwing it back at her

"You can't say that!" Danielle exclaimed

"She's a freak, drawing me without my permission! Only psychopaths do that! Are you one of them as well as a brain-dead creep?" he sneered, kicking the back of Karla's chair angrily

Eddie turned around just as the scene was unfolding. A surge of anger shot through him as he heard those harsh words leave Philip's lips and he saw him throw the paper at Karla. He had thought that Philip would stop with this behaviour after the other day. Clearly not.

"OI! ENOUGH! GET OUT, NOW!" he yelled

Philip rolled his eyes, stomping out of the room and into the corridor. Once Eddie had checked that Karla was ok, he followed him, almost knocking the door off its hinges.

"What the hell do you think you're playing at? That is UNACCEPTABLE behaviour, Philip! You want to buck yourself up!"

Philip scoffed.

"Or what, huh? You'll call my Mum?" he challenged

Eddie sighed angrily.

"Everyone is jumping through hoops for you at the minute. Me, Rachel,"

"Well, I didn't ask you to, alright? I'm not your problem" Philip snapped, cutting Eddie off

"Yes, you are, Philip! Rachel is your legal guardian now, and I'm her fiancé. You are OUR responsibility whether you like it or not! And this... appalling behaviour stops NOW! Go back in that classroom and apologise to Karla!"

Philip rolled his eyes, huffing angrily as he stormed past Eddie to go back into the classroom. Eddie sighed, running a hand through his hair. He had no choice but to bring Rachel into this. Philip's behaviour couldn't carry on like this.