"So last month they tried to close the school down and now they're trying to get rid of Byrne? That's messed up" JJ said angrily as they all (I.E. Josh, Lauren, Finn, Nick, Jess and Ronan) made their way to the main hall where an assembly had been arranged for the last half of the final lesson.
"I know...it's bloody stupid" Finn agreed.
"Oi! Language Sharkey!" Grantley warned as they entered the hall.
"Sorry sir" Finn apologised before they went to sit down at the back. JJ stood at the back of the hall with Tom, Chris and Nick as all the seats were full and she didn't mind standing. Once everyone was in the hall and had settled down, Mr Byrne walked onto the stage with a member of the school government next to him. She looked way out of her depth and like she really didn't want to be there.
"Listen up everyone..." My Byrne said to get everyone to shut up.
"This is Ms Dameron, I think you all know why she's hear." Mr Byrne said, before her moved aside to let her speak.
"Now you all know about the decision that the board has been brewing on for a few weeks...now today I'm here with an announcement..." Ms Dameron started. JJ stood at the back in disgust. She hated this, and she was sick to her stomach with what she was hearing. They couldn't take Mr Byrne away. He was the beating heart of this school – the school in which he had given his everything to. JJ couldn't stand what this moron was saying any longer and that's when the idea popped into her head. She turned to Nick and whispered it in his ear. He smiled and nodded.
"Mr Byrne! Mr Byrne!" The pair started chanting in unison. Slowly, everyone in the hall started chanting as well, even the teachers. Hell – even Mr Bugden started eventually. Mr Byrne smiled and looked at the board member who was on stage in front of him. JJ walked forwards with Nick towards the stage. Everyone quietened down, knowing that they were going to say something.
"You can't force My Byrne to leave! He's the beating heart of Waterloo Road. He's given his everything to this school...to the students! He's fought so hard for all of us. I know that he's helped me in more ways than one, so I'm going to say this now. He goes, I go!" JJ said, shouting the last part. Ms Dameron looked at JJ and then everyone in the room before she looked at Mr Byrne.
"These are your students...I can see that everyone wants you to stay...I'm not going to take them away from you" She said smiling.
"What about the governor?" Mr Byrne questioned.
"Everyone was against him and he would get hell for making you leave" She said smiling.
"Thank You" My Byrne said shaking her hand. Upon hearing this, everyone cheered. The board member gathered her belongings, congratulated Mr Byrne and left.
"We...are...Waterloo Road!" JJ shouted, making everyone start shouting/chanting it. Everyone quietened down again once they saw that Mr Byrne was going to say something.
"Thank you all...It's good to see you all sticking up for something you all feel strongly about, and I am honoured to be the head master of this school" Mr Byrne said, causing everyone to cheer with happiness. Slowly everyone left the hall as the bell rang, signalling the end of the school day. JJ was stood talking to Mr Mead and Nick when Mr Byrne walked over to them.
"You two...can I have a word?" He said.
"You're not in trouble" He laughed, seeing them both look at each other. They followed him out of the hall and outside.
"I just wanted to thank you two personally, especially you JJ" He said in his Scottish accent.
"It was nothing really" JJ said shyly.
"Would you have really left if I had?" My Byrne asked JJ seriously. JJ didn't have to think about that one.
"Yes...you're the beating heart of this school sir. Waterloo Road isn't Waterloo without you. You've given me a lot over the past few months...I wasn't going to stay if you left. This school needs you." JJ said, remembering all the times he's been helpful.
"Well, nobody is going anywhere" Mr Byrne said happily.
"Go on you two...get going" He said before turning around to go back into the school.
"Mr Byrne..." JJ shouted, making him stop and turn around.
"I'm glad you're staying" She said with a smile, making him smile as well. JJ turned back around and walked off with Nick. As they walked out of the school gates, Nick wrapped his arm around JJ's waist.
"That...was awesome" He said at a loss for words, causing JJ to blush and laugh slightly.
"Well...nobody messes with Waterloo Road...it's messed up but aren't we all?" JJ explained, causing them both to laugh.
"And that's why I like you...a lot" Nick smiled, stopping to kiss JJ on the lips. JJ smiled and took Nick's hand in hers as they continued to walk down the street. Nick walked JJ all the way home to the group home before he left her to go home himself. After having dinner with everyone else, JJ went upstairs and had a shower before she got changed into her running gear. She grabbed her school bag and sat at her desk listening to music as she completed her homework. Just after 7pm she went for a run before she came home just after 7:30. She had another shower – something she always did on days she went for a run after homework – before she got changed into her pyjamas. After sorting out her school bag for the next day, JJ went to bad and sat playing on her phone until around 9:30 when she decided to go to sleep. Putting in her headphones like she did every night to listen to music, JJ layyed down and closed her eyes. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep, happy about everything that had happened that day.