Moving on (Waterloo Road)

Chapter 17

Authors note: I'm not so sure if people are even reading this but I'm going to continue anyway. I have so much of it already written as an original story so it's just a case of changing the characters

As Eddie pulled away and stared at her, the ringing of her mobile went off from her desk; tearing herself away, Rachel retrieved the device and noticed the caller ID. Answering the call, she smiled at him before finally sitting back next to him, her coffee in her hand as the cool breeze from the open window felt cool against her neck.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Nikki; she's spending the afternoon With her nan"

"Rache..."

"I know; we need to talk. How about a drink after work?" She suggested.

"Don't you need to get back to Nikki?"

"She'll be okay for a bit"

"And what just happened?"

"Later, I promise"

With her cardboard cup back back on the coffee table, he leant in, hand cupping her cheek as he kissed her again.

"Don't you have a lesson to prepare for?"

"Probably" he answered, leaning in again.

"Eddie, I think I need to make a phone call, In private"

"Okay"

Watching him leave, having disposed of the rubbish on his way out, Rachel sighed; for the first time in a long time, she was genuinely happy but with the choice she was about to make, it was only a matter of time before that good mood diminished entirely. Phone in hand, she settled back in her high back black chair, needing to feel a sense of control and confidence as she dialled a familiar number; hearing the ringing tone from the other end, she began to wonder if she was making the right decision.

"Hey, you okay?" A voice on the other end of the phone said, interrupting her thoughts.

"I guess; I needed to talk to you...if you Can?"

"Go on"

"I've been doing a lot of thinking the last few days and whilst I understand you had to work this week, Nikki and I really needed you ; from day one, we never really had the chance to just be a normal couple. There was, is always something going on: mom, Nikki, the school and I just think it would be better if...if we go out separate ways"

"Why?"

"We spend more time apart than we actually do together; if were lucky, we may get a weekend or two in a month and...it's Not enough, not anymore. I'm sorry"

"Is there someone else?"

"No, I just, need to take some time to concentrate on Nikki and myself"

"Fine, I'll get my stuff when I get back the weekend"

"I do, did love you Tom..."

"Just not enough"

As he hung up, Rachel sighed; staring at the disconnected screen, she realised how ungrateful she must've sounded considering all that Tom had done to support her when her mom died.

Just a few hours later, knowing Nikki was safe and occupied, she and Eddie headed to the pub where, with an orange juice each, they sat at one of the tables in the window away from everyone else.

"You're quiet" he said, breaking the silence.

"I broke up with Tom"

"When?"

"This afternoon"

"Because of...?"

"Not just that; everything this week has got me thinking"

"I didn't mean to come between you"

"I'm not a cheater or the other woman" she responded, taking a sip of her orange juice.

"So what does this mean?"

"The same as I told him; Nikki comes first and I need to start thinking about my wellbeing too"

"And our kiss?"

"You and I, it can't happen right now; if I'm honest, Tom and I shouldn't have even lasted this long so it was only a matter of time before we ended things"

"I can understand that"

"I'm not saying I didn't enjoy that kiss because, I did, but the timing is all wrong"

"So...I can't do this again...?" He asked as he slowly leant in and kissed her softly.

"I should be getting back to Nikki; she'll be wondering where I am" she said, breaking the kiss for a second time.

"Five more minutes?" He asked, leaning in once more.

"Five minutes" she relented, reciporating the kiss until she pulled away. "I really have to go"

"Can i give you a lift?" He offered, as they both put their coats on, Rachel flicking her hair out.

"My cars outside" she replied, picking up her bag.

"It'll give me an excuse to pick you up in the morning. What do you say?"

"I don't want to Make Nikki suspicious, not until I've talked to her properly"

"Okay" he sighed, as he escorted her to her car. "I'll see you in the morning then"

"Yeah, you will"

"Rache..."

"Give me some time"

Eddie watched as Rachel got into her car, started the ended and drove off; arriving back at the flat, she found Nikki sat up to the table, looking at various photo albums and belongings of her moms.

"You okay?" Rachel asked, placing her coat and bag on the back of the car before making a drink and joining Nikki.

"Yeah, we went to the house; sorted through some of the stuff"

"Is this what you want to keep?"

"Some of it, I've already put some awayy; I thought you might like this"

She handed her aunt an album full of photos of Nikki growing up; looking through, no one would've knew the lies behind the images. Seeing her sister over the years, it made her smile; she looked up at Nikki and took her hand.

"Thank you"

"You were back later than I thought?"

"I went for a drink with Mr Lawson"

"Oh yeah!"

"Nikki, we are just colleagues, and friends"

"He's told you, hasn't he? You know how he feels about you, don't you?"

"How did you know about that?"

"He told me yesterday; you look happy"

"Nothing happened"

"What about Tom?"

"It's over. I ended it this afternoon"

"Why?"

"It wasn't working anymore"

"Because of me?" She asked.

"Not because of you; I don't know, it didn't feel like it was working anymore"

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be; how did you get on this morning?" She asked, picking up her mug of tea.

"Really good actually"

"That's good; are you okay to go in tomorrow?"

"Yeah"

"Have you eaten?"

"I had lunch with nan, I'm not hungry"

"Okay, I'll leave you to it"

Kissing her forehead, Rachel left Nikki to continue looking through the stuff whilst she sat on the sofa, laptop booting up to carry on with some of the work she hadn't completed that afternoon.