Maxine Barlow

Maxine Barlow
Portrayed by	Ellie Paskell
Gender	female
First Appearance	Series 2 Episode 4
Last Appearance	Series 4 Episode 8
Cause/Reason	Shot dead by Earl Kelly
Born	1991
Died	2009
Relationships
Mother	Patti Barlow
Father	Kevin Hurst (Step)
Guardian	Steph Haydock
Romances	Lewis Seddon Earl Kelly
Daughters	Charlotte Seddon (Stillborn)

Maxine "Max" Barlow (1994-2009) was a student at Waterloo Road, who was good friends with Janeece Bryant and Steph Haydock. She had relationships with Lewis Seddon and Earl Kelly but was tragically shot dead by the latter.

History

Maxine dropped out of school but after conquering her addiction she returned and was in the Sixth form with her best friends Janeece Bryant and Chlo Grainger.

Maxine moved in with Steph Haydock after she discovered that her stepfather was responsible for sexual assaults against pupils Celine Dixon and Stacey Appleyard. Kevin was promptly arrested and Maxine was sure that her mother wouldn't take her in again. Maxine was originally going to be put into a care home but after finding out the conditions there, Steph decided to take her in.

During an archaeological dig in series 3, the remains of a baby's corpse was found by Karla Bentham and Janeece Bryant. Once the new headmistress Rachel Mason, found out, she immediately contacted the police. An investigation had been launched and Steph must interview each girl at Waterloo Road who has been to the school nurse with sexual health problems. In the end Maxine admits to Janeece that the baby was in fact hers, and it was stillborn. Baby Charlotte was buried by Maxine and was fathered by Lewis Seddon.

On a school field trip, Maxine overheard a conversation between Matt Wilding and his boyfriend and quickly informed various students via text message that Matt was gay.

When new pupil Earl Kelly and his siblings were enrolled to the school, he had instant interest in Maxine, much to the chagrin of Janeece, who had a crush on him. At first, Maxine stated she wasn't interested in him but later at a Kelly party, Earl convinces her to give the relationship a go. But when Steph discovers their relationship, she informed Maxine not to socialise with him as she thought that Earl was a bad influence on her. However Maxine disobeys her rules and starts to sneak out to see Earl. When Earl and his siblings are put into care, Maxine allows him to stay in her room without Steph's knowledge or approval. When some of Steph's money and jewellery go missing, Steph accuses Maxine of being back on the drugs but it is later found that Steph simply misplaced the jewellery, and the money. The jewellery Earl gave Maxine was what he had bought for her himself.

On 25 February 2009, Earl Kelly gave the idea of starting a family to Maxine. Maxine loving Earl willingly says yes and later informs Steph. As Maxine already had a stillborn child (Charlotte Barlow) Maxine knows what it's like to be pregnant. Steph is determined that Maxine won't have a child with that hooligan Earl Kelly. Maxine follows her heart and ignores Steph until she meets Earls ex-girlfriend Jade. Jade gave birth to a child four days earlier and demands money off Earl to look after the baby. Maxine is determined that Jade is lying, but when Jade invites Maxine to come and see the four day old baby in a cardboard box and a blanket over the box she is horrified that Earl now wants to sell the baby and immediately breaks up with Earl when she gets back to the school. Earl is not going to let this happen, so when Maxine is in her house cooking a meal for Steph to say sorry, events take a dramatic turn when Earl breaks into her house. Janeece looks behind her, as she sees Earl, she is terrified, and warns Maxine. Earl is not going to let Maxine break up with him, as Janeece is now out of the house, but when she comes back into the room where Maxine and Earl are, she sees a fully loaded gun in Earl's hand. Janeece then runs up behind him, she tries to snatch the gun, as Maxine tries to as well. Earl manages to get both the girls off him and get Janeece in the sofa so then its only him and Maxine. Earl then says that they're perfect together and he wouldn't dream of selling their baby. Maxine then calls him a sick little boy. Earl loses it and shoots Maxine in the stomach. Earl realises what he's done and makes a run for it. Janeece, panicking as her best friend is dying, tries to phone the police. Steph then arrives at her house and sees Maxine lying down in a pool of blood. Steph soon realises who's done this and tries to help her. Minutes later Maxine dies in the loving arms of Steph and Janeece. Earl is then found wandering a nearby street, and arrested. At Chlo Grainger and Donte Charles's wedding, balloons were made for Maxine and then released into the sky.