HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[1.11] can you keep a secret?

[1X11]

I do not own any characters/plot from this show apart from my own!

Yeah, so I sorta skipped episode 10, purely because I don't think it would be right if she was at the photo shoot (because she isn't an E-Girl) and I wanted to give Riley and James a day where your girl Maxie wasn't third-wheeling.

{Members of the A-Troupe vie for the solo spot for the Regionals performance. Meanwhile, Michelle and Maxie learn of Chloe's money problems.}

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❝They did not just quit the studio, because those two girls are probably our one chance at winning Regionals, and they just walked out the door.❞

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It was the morning, the sun was shining warmly on the paved seats of Toronto as Michelle and Maxie made their way to the bus stop.

"I'm walking with Michelle to the bus stop because my mum can't take me to dance on Mondays and Tuesdays, due to her busy schedule, and seen as we live pretty close to each other, her dad usually takes the both of us," Maxie explained.

Michelle continued, "My dad couldn't take us to dance today. So we decided to take the bus to the studio instead," she grinned. 

On the bus, Chloe was currently stood reading a book in her work uniform.

"I'm on my way to work," she states, "I have a part-time job. Just taking a few shifts here and there because I pay for dance."

As the bus pulls to a stop, the two girls giggle at something they saw on the other side of the road whilst walking on. They immediately walk to the centre of the bus where two spare seats were, not noticing the fact that Chloe was stood a few feet away, mainly because as they were so deep in conversation.

Chloe let out a shaky breath, "When I see Max and Michelle get on the bus I'm really nervous because I don't want either of them to see me in my uniform."

Taking a seat in the aisle opposite the two girls, Chloe tried her hardest to hide her face by putting her hand to the side of her face, as if it was going to make a difference. Maxie finally noticed her friend and nudged Michelle while whispering, "You see Chloe too, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, but what's she wearing?" the blonde responded, earning a shrug in response.

Maxie turned around, "Chloe?" she called out.

"Chloe?" Michelle repeated, leaning forward to get a better look.

Chloe pulls her hand away from her face while she stumbles on her words, "Oh, um... Hey, Michelle, Maxie. I didn't see you guys there," she tried her best to form a smile.

Maxie grinned, grabbing Michelle by the hand and pulling her to the other side of the bus, "We'll come and sit beside you," she said, motioning for Chloe to move two seats down to make room.

"Chloe is here on the bus too," Maxie commented, "What a weird coincidence."

Michelle added, "And she's wearing some really weird costume?" 

Michelle looked the girl up and down with an inquisitive look on her face, before asking, "What's with the dress?"

"Yeah," Max piped up, "You looked like you walked right out of a 1970's diner."