Hidden Depths – Chapter 1

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV.

-O-

Joanna Bristow was sitting at the dressing table in her bedroom, looking at her attractive face in the mirror as she applied her make-up, in preparation for an evening out. She swept back her long, wavy auburn hair as she carefully used a fine brush to put mascara on her eyelashes, which made her dark brown eyes stand out. Just as she was doing this, her sister Jenna entered the room and flopped down on the bed. Jenna and Joanna were so alike in appearance that they were often mistaken for twins, although Jenna, at eighteen, was actually a year younger than her sister.

"I wish mum and dad hadn't moved here," Jenna sounded fed up.

"It's not that bad!" Joanna replied, "You know dad's always been a farmer and we've always lived on a farm, so what's so bad about this one?"

"Its miles from anywhere," Jenna caught her sister's reflected gaze in the mirror, "the nearest village is three miles away...what's it called? Emmerdale?"

"It seemed quite a nice little place."

"Yeah, if you're a pensioner: or a sheep!" Jenna's sarcasm came to the fore, "Anyway, is your boyfriend picking you up?"

"He's not my boyfriend: this is the first time I've been out with him."

"What's his name again?"

"Jackson," Joanna rose from her seat and searched for her coat.

"Doesn't he have a first name?"

"That is his first name!"

Jemma giggled, "That's a funny name, what does he do?"

"He's a builder, has his own business and a van with his name on it."

"Am I supposed to be impressed?" Jenna could not resist trying to wind up her sister.

"At least he has his own transport," Joanna replied, haughtily, "That's handy if he's got to come out here to pick me up."

"I don't think going out in a smelly old van is my idea of a good night out."

Before Joanna had the chance to respond to her younger sister's teasing, their mother May called up the stairs to tell her Joanna that her date had arrived.

"Well," Joanna looked at Jenna, "At least I AM going out, which is more than can be said for you!" She poked her tongue out at her sibling.

"Oh...very mature," Jenna rolled her eyes skyward.

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Two days later, Donald Bristow drove his Land Rover onto the forecourt of Dingles Garage in Emmerdale, his daughters were sitting next to him on the front seat, bickering as usual. Donald was well-built and dark-haired, with a heavy beard which was showing grey flecks, he climbed out of the vehicle to be greeted by Aaron Livesy, dressed in his overalls, with the sleeves rolled up revealing his strong forearms. Jenna caught sight of Aaron and her mouth dropped open, "Cor! Look at him, he's gorgeous!"

"I thought you said Emmerdale was full of pensioners...and sheep," Joanna had also clocked the young mechanic.

"Well, it is," Jenna defended her original statement, "But even a place like this must have its share of fit young lads."

"You've changed your tune," Joanna chuckled, "Maybe this village does have some attractions after all."

Donald disappeared inside the garage, as directed by Aaron, to speak to Cain Dingle about servicing his Land Rover, leaving Aaron to continue his work on a Ford Focus parked on the forecourt. Jenna stared at Aaron's rump as he bent over the car's engine.

"I think we'd better introduce ourselves," Jenna licked her lips and climbed out of her father's vehicle, hotly pursued by her sister.

"HI!" Jenna said as she approached Aaron, who nearly banged his head on the underside of the car bonnet in surprise.

"Hi," he replied, as he focussed on the two girls.

"We've just moved into Cattlegate Farm, up towards Robblesfield, do you know it?" Jenna tried to strike up a conversation.

"No, I can't say I do," Aaron replied, "I don't get into Robblesfield much."

"Where do you get into?" Jenna asked, boldly, "That pub over there, I'll bet," she pointed towards the Woolpack.

"Yeah, sometimes," Aaron looked closely at Jenna, he was sure that the girl was thrusting her ample bosom in his direction!

"I'm Jenna and this is my sister Joanna."

"Hi Gemma!" Aaron had misheard the name.

"No...Jenna!" she corrected him.

"Oh sorry," Aaron looked a bit sheepish: he looked at Joanna, "Joanna? Did I get that right?"

"Pleased to meet you," Joanna felt that she needed to say something and not let Jenna do all the talking, which was not unusual for her.

"I'm Aaron," the young mechanic kept his hands at his sides, he looked down at them, "Excuse me for not shaking hands, but my mitts are a bit mucky."

"That's OK," Jenna smiled, "What time are you likely to be in the pub tonight?"

"Around seven, probably," Aaron replied.

"Might see you there then: with clean mitts preferably!" Jenna was a cheeky one.

"OK," Aaron smiled as Donald reappeared from the garage.

"Come on then girls," Donald hurried his daughters along, "If you want a lift to Hotten, we'd better get going!"

"See you later, Aaron," Jenna returned Aaron's smile as she climbed back into the Land Rover.

"You're a fast worker!" Joanna exclaimed once they were underway again, "Poor Aaron was like a mouse being cornered by a cat."

"I wouldn't call him a mouse," Jenna replied, "He looks all man to me!"

"You want to watch you don't bite off more than you can chew."

"Do you fancy the pub tonight? You could bring Jackson along and make it a foursome," Jenna suggested.

"OK, then," Joanna could not see the harm in investigating the Woolpack, "I'll ask him to give us both a lift in his van."

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Aaron was sitting at a table in the Woolpack, chatting to his best mate Adam, who was with his girlfriend Scarlett, when Jenna and Joanna arrived with a young man that Aaron had not seen before. The guy was slender but muscular, with big brown eyes and short dark curly hair and 'designer stubble'. Aaron thought the guy was very good-looking.

Jenna, on seeing Aaron, made a bee-line for him and the introductions were made all round the group. Aaron shook Jackson's hand as they were introduced and Aaron was surprised to feel a spark, like a little static electric shock, as their skin came into contact. He thought that it was of no consequence, but could not understand why he immediately felt attracted to this guy. However, he did not dwell on it, as Jackson was being very attentive towards Joanna while, at the same time, Jenna was crowding Aaron: it was obvious by her actions that she fancied him!

When the two sisters eventually went off to the toilet together, Jackson homed in on Aaron, "So, you work at that garage up the road?"

"Yeah, that's right," Aaron replied.

"Do you reckon you could service my van? It's due for a check-over."

"That's what we're there for, why don't you bring it in one day?"

"Yeah, OK, I'll do that," Jackson smiled at Aaron as Joanna and Jenna returned to the table.

"You two look as thick as thieves," Joanna said as she parked herself in her previous position next to Jackson.

"I'm just arranging to get my van serviced at Aaron's garage," Jackson replied and he almost felt that he was making excuses for talking to Aaron...as if he had something to hide. He could not understand why such a simple, innocent conversation gave him this feeling of doing something furtive.

The four of them spent a pleasant evening in the Woolpack and both Aaron and Jackson made arrangements to meet Joanna and Jenna again. They decided to visit the cinema that Friday, as there was a film on that they all wanted to see. Jackson offered Joanna and Jenna a lift back to their farm in his van and, as the two couples stood on the road saying goodnight, Jenna made a grab for Aaron and kissed him. Aaron kissed her back...his bravado made him want to match Jackson's performance with Jenna's sister. Finally, after they all came up for air, the sisters climbed into the van and Jackson shook Aaron's hand again, "See you tomorrow, mate," he said, cheerily, "I'll ask your uncle to give the old girl the once over."

"I think Cain is fond of giving old girls the once over," Aaron smirked, "...and I'm not talking about the van!"

Jackson laughed, he loved Aaron's sense of humour, "Can I give you a lift anywhere?"

"No, you're OK, I only live over there," Aaron replied, pointing towards Smithy Cottage.

"That's handy...you haven't got far to go if you get bladdered in the pub!"

Joanna was getting impatient and she leaned out of the window of the van to speak to Jackson, "Are you taking us home tonight, or what?"

"Alright, I'm coming!" Jackson exclaimed as he looked at Aaron and rolled his eyes skywards.

Aaron chuckled, "She's got you under the thumb, mate."

"Tell me about it," Jackson replied, "Anybody would think we're married."

Jackson climbed into the driving seat and started the engine and Aaron strolled slowly back to his house. Paddy was still up and greeted him as he walked through the door.

"Good night, was it?" Paddy enquired.

"Yeah, OK," Aaron sounded non-committal, which did not come as any surprise to Paddy.

"I saw you with a nice-looking girl earlier when I was in the Woolpack, is she local?"

"Lives up near Robblesfield," Aaron replied, "Cattlegate Farm I think she said."

"Oh yeah, I know it. The previous people moved out of there a while back. I suppose they are the new tenants."

"Their dad came in the garage earlier and asked Cain about servicing his Land Rover, so I suppose we'll be seeing them around the village."

"I suppose we will," Paddy had a knowing smile on his face, "Especially if you're going out with that girl...what's her name?"

"Jenna."

"Gemma?"

"I made that mistake too!" Aaron laughed, "No...it's Jenna."

"Oh!" Paddy looked embarrassed, "I'll have to remember that, if she's your new girlfriend."

"I wouldn't say that...although we have arranged to go out on Friday to the flicks."

"Well, just you behave yourself in the back row!" Paddy chuckled.

"I might have to, with her big sister and Jackson as chaperones!"

"Jackson? Is he the guy with the dark hair that you were sitting with?"

"Yeah, seems a decent bloke. He's Joanna's boyfriend."

"Jenna's sister?"

"What's this, the third degree?" Aaron tutted.

"Just taking an interest," Paddy was used to Aaron's resistance to being questioned.

"Anyway, I'm whacked, goodnight Paddy," Aaron made for the stairs.

"'Night, Aaron."

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As he lay in bed that night, Aaron could not get the image of Jackson out of his mind: the lovely smile, the fit body, the friendly manner, not to mention the exciting tingle as he shook the guy's hand! Aaron wondered why he was feeling this way, his mind should be full of Jenna who was attractive, flirtatious and had a lovely figure. Yet, all he could think about was a dark-haired young builder with the most amazing warm brown eyes.

If Aaron was being true to himself, then he would know why Jackson, not Jenna, occupied his thoughts as he tried to drift off to sleep. There was something hidden deep within his make-up, something that he did not want to face or admit, but it was still there nevertheless. He squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to get some sleep, but the image of Jackson's handsome face would not go away. In his half-awake state, his mind drifted and he imagined kissing those inviting lips. He was jealous of Joanna who had kissed those lips only hours earlier. He secretly wondered what it would be like to lock lips with another guy...something he had always denied having any interest in.

Sleep eventually came...maybe tomorrow he could get these weird thoughts out of his mashed-up head.