HEARTBURST,, The Next Step

[4.3] heads will roll

❝ You'll go, and I'll stay here.❞

‧₊˚✩

Maxie had been sat on the edge of her bed, reading and re-reading the letter that'd arrived in the post that morning. 

It was a confirmation letter from ERSD, telling her the start date and location for her to move to. Not only was she joining them as a dancer, but she had been given accommodation, provided by the company, that she was due to move in to within the next month.

"You all good?" It was her mum. Rose was leaning against her doorframe with a knowing look on her face and a mug of tea in her hand.

Holding up the letter, Maxie shrugged, "I move in ten days, they've just given me a date."

"That's amazing, Maxie," Her mother's eyes lit up at the news as she rushed forward. However, she slowed down upon noticing her daughter didn't reciprocate the excitement.

"You haven't told the boys yet, have you?"

Maxie was silent, she looked down at the ground. "I haven't told anyone," The girl whispered, "Just you and Miss Kate."

"Oh, honey," She quickly sat beside Maxie, pulling her in for a hug as tears began to fall from her daughter's eyes. It had been like this for a while now, once the thrill of the Internationals win had worn off and the reality of Maxie's future had set in, the light was beginning to fade from her eyes.

Rose knew this opportunity was life changing for Maxie, and she was only down about it now because it meant leaving everyone she loved behind. However, the last time she'd seen her this emotional was the year following her father leaving.

"You don't have to tell them now, Maxie," She stroked her daughter's hair as the girl cried into her chest, "Like you said, there's a whole ten days before you have to leave. You have time."

Once Maxie's tears slowed, Rose continued, "Plus, if it helps take your mind off it, there's a new IKEA opening up about a thirty minute drive away, so we can start looking for stuff for your new room and packing some of your stuff up."

"Just my stuff?" Maxie sniffled, finally looking up at her mum.

A few months ago, before they had left for Miami, Ella had told Maxie about a position her dad was offering for Rose to take back in England. When Maxie had initially told her mother about it, she seemed reluctant, however, after finding out her daughter would be moving back, too, she seemed a lot more open to it.

Rose took a breath, "Max, I know me taking this job would keep us together..."

"And you'd be paid more, treated better," She tried to list off, unsure as to why her mother seemed like she wasn't coming with her.

"Maxie," Rose sighed, "I'm not taking the job."

Max wiped the remainder of her tears, still confused, "But why?"

"My life is here, in Toronto, no matter how good of a position the job is, I can't take it if it means moving away," She explained.

"But my life is here, too," Maxie shot back, even more confused, "And you're practically jumping for me to go back."

Her mum shook her head quickly, "I'm jumping for you to go there because you have a future back in England. Max, I'm so incredibly proud of what you've done here, but you have the chance to really make a name for yourself over there."