Eye Opener

Part 1

Their relationship had hit yet another rocky patch. Rocky patch! That was the understatement of the year. Things were really bad between them this time, they shared the same bed still but the last couple of weeks sleep was all they'd done in it, their backs turned on each other.

They barely talked, only when they had too, and then they'd just snap words out coldly. The tension was growing increasingly unbearable and so it didn't surprise him when he'd come home from work to find Jackson's stuff packed, him sitting on their bed waiting to talk to him.

"I've been putting it off but I can't any longer. For both our sakes I have to leave."

He'd nodded, he didn't want Jackson to go but knew as things were he couldn't stay, "Where will you go?"

"Andy's for now, Ryan's old room, it's only temporary. I'll be moving out of Emmerdale just as soon as I can."

"You don't have to."

"Yes I do."

Jackson was right off course, he had to leave Emmerdale, they couldn't see each other every day and expect to function normally, it would hurt too much.

That's all they'd said to each other, even though there were a million words they could have said, they'd stopped trying to reach each other, given up on making the puzzle fit.

He'd heard the front door close and as it did so had swallowed hard, knowing the door had just been firmly closed on their relationship too. Jackson wouldn't be coming back.

He'd stared out of the window, watched Jackson walk away from him, the older man stopping on the corner, turning around to look up at their...his bedroom window. Their eyes had met and they'd held each other's gaze for one long moment, silently saying what they hadn't been able to say before... goodbye.

He'd made his way down to the surgery, drawn to Paddy, his friend, his rock. He'd found the older man at the reception desk, catching up on some paperwork. He'd eyed him questioningly, knowing instantly something was wrong.

"What's up with you? You've got a face like a slapped arse. You and Jackson haven't been rowing again have you?"

"He's gone."

"What do you mean he's gone, gone where?"

"Gone, as in left, packed his stuff and moved out 'gone'. Gone as in fucked off to happier climes 'gone'." Paddy was staring wide eyed at him now, struggling to digest what he'd just heard. He'd known he'd have trouble believing it, accepting it, as far as Paddy was concerned he and Jackson were made for each other. The older man had eventually found his voice...

"Did you try to stop him?"

"No."

"Well get after him then."

"No."

"Aaron! He's the best thing that ever happened to you..."

"It's not working Paddy, you know it's not." He'd witnessed enough arguments lately to know that.

They just couldn't seem to get close, to connect any more, all they did was hurt each other. "Better we end it now while we still care about each other, I don't want him hating me."

Paddy had opened his mouth ready he knew to protest, but then the surgery door had opened, a stranger stepping around it, bringing their conversation to an end.

Their visitor turned out to be Rob Jacobs, the trainee vet Paddy was expecting. He was on a month's placement at Paddy's practice and had arrived a day early, wanting to settle in at the B&B, and had come over to introduce himself.

Eager to make the young man feel welcome Paddy had invited him out for a pint later that evening, and he'd readily accepted the invitation. Once he'd gone Paddy's attention had turned back to him, eyeing him thoughtfully he'd carried on where they'd earlier left off, "I don't think ending it is what either of you want."

He hadn't wanted to hear that and had snapped back "It not what you want you mean!" He'd stormed off then, before Paddy had chance to say something else he didn't want to hear.

He'd taken a long shower, trying not to think about Jackson but he was all he could think about. And the bedroom was full of memories of him, his aftershave still lingered there. He was already missing him, aching for him but that would pass wouldn't it? He'd stop loving him one day.

He hadn't wanted to go to the pub, he'd wanted to sprawl out on the sofa and watch TV. He planned on doing nothing more strenuous than stuffing his face with chocolate biscuits that had been dunked in tea. He just wanted to pig out and wallow in his misery. But Paddy wouldn't let him, no surprise there! He'd hauled him to his feet, frog marched him to the door and then ordered him to go get the drinks in while he went to collect Rob.

The Woolpack was fairly busy, the usual crowd. He'd had a good look around, half of him hoping Jackson was there the other half of him hoping he wasn't. Feeling a mix of disappointment and relief when finding he wasn't there. He was hopeless, he was going to have to toughen up, accept him and Jackson were over and move on.

Thankfully Paddy and Rob had arrived not long after, and he'd been able to lose himself in their conversation, joining in when he felt like it. When Paddy had left to go to the mens he'd gestured around him and asked Rob, "So what do you think?"

"Yeah it's alrght for a quiet drink but I'm into clubbing. I'm hoping there's some around here?"

"Yeah, Hotton's got a few bars, clubs."

"Would one be a gay club by any chance?"

"A gay club?" He couldn't hide his surprise, he'd had no idea Rob was gay.

"Yeah. I'm gay, have you got a problem with that?"

There was no mistaking the challenge in Rob's voice and there was no missing the smile on his face when he told him, "No, I'm gay too."

TBC