Simple Passion *•Waterloo Road•*

001

Esmè sat in the garden at her parent's house. She smiled as she looked up and saw her best friend Max Tyler walking in. "Didn't think you were gonna show. Aren't you some big executive head up in Greenock?" She asked.

Max laughed. He sat down next to Esmè and smirked. "No boyfriend?"

"Nope. Seriously, what are you doing here? You live in Scotland," Esmè said. She had missed him. "Well?"

"Thought I would make the drive just for this barbecue. Are you okay?" Max asked as he looked at her.

Esmè sighed and shook her head. "No. You left me behind. You went to Greenock without even saying goodbye. That broke my heart," she mumbled.

Max looked into her blue eyes. "I'm sorry. Why don't you come back with me? A fresh start will do you good."

"I can't up and leave everything behind."

"You can. I can get you a flat and get you a job. It will be great for you," Max told her. He wanted her in Greenock with him. He missed having her around.

Esmè didn't know if she could make the change and move to Greenock. She didn't think she would settle. "I can't."

Max sighed and took her hand. "You can. You have nothing to stay here for. Greenock could be good for you."

****
A few days later.

Esmè knew Max was leaving to go back to Greenock. She didn't want to say goodbye to him again. She looked at the text on her phone;

One final chance... do you want to come? - Max x

Esmè knew she had nothing to stay in Rochdale for. She typed out a message that she knew would change her life;

Yes. I want to come. Pick me up? - Esmè x

She took a deep breath and began packing up her stuff. Her mum walked in. "What's going on?" She asked.

"I'm going with Max. To Greenock."

Claire grinned and nodded. She pulled her daughter into a hug. She took her daughter into the bedroom and sighed. "Your dad and I were saving this for you," she said as she took out a cheque. "Get yourself somewhere decent to live. Promise me."

"I promise you mummy."

****

Max arrived to pick up Esmè . He saw his parents and her parents standing outside. Esmè was there. He climbed out the car and looked at Robert. "You better take care of my Essy Max. If she gets hurt, I'm holding you responsible."

"She won't get hurt. I promise," Max said. He looked at Esmè. "Are you ready?" He asked.

Esmè nodded. She watched as her dad and Max put her stuff into the car. She looked at her mum. "You'll come and visit won't you?"

"Try and stop me baby girl."

****

While they were driving, Max looked at Esmè. "You made the right choice you know."

"Like you said, I had nothing to stay in Rochdale. Besides, I didn't want to say goodbye to you again," she told him. She sighed. "My mum gave me a cheque. For a flat. I'm gonna miss her."

Max smirked. "She will visit. I've seen my mother more times since I've been up here then I did when I lived in Rochdale."

Esmè smiled slightly. She soon fell asleep.

****

It was nearing midnight when they arrived in Greenock as the two of them had stopped off a couple of times. Esmè groaned. "So. Which hotel are you taking me to?"

"You're not staying at hotel. You're staying with me until we can get your flat sorted," Max said as he pulled up outside his house.

Esmè sighed. "Max. No. I can't stay here."

"Yes you can. We've had sex before. You've spent the night in my bed plenty of times. Nothing untoward will happen. Not unless you want it to," he told her.

"I'm not having sex with you Max. It happened once and we promised to not speak of it again."

Max smirked and helped her out of the car. "It was some pretty good sex if I recall."

****

The next morning, Esmè woke up in Max's bed. Against her protests, she had slept in the same bed as him. They had fooled around but not had sex. Esmè couldn't go there with him. He was her best friend.

Esmè walked downstairs and saw Max sitting on the sofa. He smirked. "No funny business huh?"

"Hush."

Max laughed and winked. He motioned for her to sit down next to him. Esmè sighed. "It feels weird being here. I don't know if I'm going to settle," she mumbled.

Max pulled her into his arms. "It will be okay. I promise you. Look, Christine agreed to interview you. She knows you're a trainee. My connections have gotten you onto the teacher training at Glasgow university. You will be okay."

****

A few hours later, Esmè emerged from Christine's office. She saw Max waiting for her. "She offered me the placement," she said with a grin. She soon lost her smiled. "You're going to be my boss."

Max smirked. "That's an advantage. Listen. Do you want to go out tonight? There's someone I want you to meet," he said.

Esmè nodded and smiled.

****

Later on that night, Esmè stood in the club with Max. She looked up as he placed a hand on her back. "You're touching me."

Max smirked. "You weren't complaining last night," he told her.

Esmè rolled her eyes but grinned. "Yeah. Last night was just a little foreplay. Had to make up for lost time."

Max smirked and pulled Esmè into his arms. He planted his lips onto hers in a passionate kiss. She pulled away and looked at him. "We can't do this Max. I don't want my heart broken."

"Esmè."

"No. Listen. Please. You left me behind. You broke my heart and I can't forget that. I loved last night. But nothing else can ever happen."

Max watched as she walked off. But could he win back her love for him?