Finders Keepers
Chapter 1
Jackson stepped bleary eyed into the shower, his mouth gaping open in a weary yawn. The hot water and the aptly named 'Energiser' shower gel dutifully washing away all remnants of sleep, readying him for another day's graft.
Once dressed, he did a quick tidy-up of his flat, starting with his bed. A plump-up of the pillows and a shake of the duvet and it was done. It needed the minimal of attention these days because all he did in it of late was sleep, his last relationship having ended a few months back.
Satisfied he was leaving the place in good order; he picked his keys up off the kitchen counter and made for the door. A sigh escaped his lips as he walked into the outside world, he was all too miserably aware that the flat would be just as quiet and empty when he returned to it later that day.
It had been his idea to break up with Harley, and he no regrets about making that decision. As far as he could see the relationship just wasn't going anywhere. Granted the sex had been great, but he wanted more than that from a relationship, much more. Jackson wanted it to develop, to grow, to deepen emotionally. Basically what he wanted was love and long-term commitment, he knew some people would say that at 22 he was too young to settle down but he was more than ready to do just that.
Harley and he had clicked, had got on really well. Despite that, there was no emotional spark between them and as much as he liked Harley, Jackson knew he would never fall in love with him; the chemistry just wasn't there. They'd shared in each other physically, but he'd never thought of them as lovers, it really was 'just sex' where they were concerned.
They had parted on friendly terms, Harley apparently having viewed their time together the same way he did. It had been fun while it lasted, a good memory but one that would fade into oblivion in time.
His ex, never one to let the grass grow under his feet, was already seeing someone else, but the same couldn't be said for him. So far he hadn't met anyone he liked enough to want to see them again. On nights out he'd chatted up the men he fancied, but had been left disappointed each time, the initially attraction waning on getting to know them a little better.
Was he too fussy? Too particular? He was beginning to think he was.
Was he ever going to meet Mr. Right? Was his soulmate really out there somewhere? Jackson kept telling himself he was, that he had to be, because he would settle for nothing less.
His personal life might be sadly lacking one very important element, but work wise he couldn't complain, business was booming. It was just a pity he couldn't be in two places at once. He currently had two jobs on the go and so was having to work long hours to keep up. Today was Sunday and he planned on working through most of it, treating it like any other working day.
Brier Beck, the old and dilapidated farmhouse he was currently in the process of renovating, was situated in a fairly remote spot. With no neighbours to object to noise and disruption he would be able to get on with things today, and hopefully end up a few days ahead of schedule.
A day off would have been nice, he could really do with one as his workload was proving exhausting. But, seen as he was lacking a significant other to share some quality time with, he'd hauled his aching bones out of bed and told himself it was better he do something to help his bank balance than mope around the flat. And mope he would have done, he just felt so very lonely right now.
Not the ordinary sort of lonely. No, he had plenty of friends to socialise with, and he could have gone to watch a footy match with a group of them today. Unfortunately their company wasn't what he wanted or needed right now. What he wanted and needed was some emotional warmth, some tenderness, a connection, a bond, someone he could truly share life with.
It was just after seven when Jackson reached his place of work, the roads had been quiet, all but deserted. Once he'd turned down Brier Lane, he knew he'd seen the last of civilisation, that he would only have himself to talk to. That was probably a good thing too because he really wasn't the best of company these days.
Unlocking the farmhouse's front door he stepped into the building's musty smelling hallway, he was still to tackle this part of the house and wasn't looking forward to doing so. Like the rest of the rooms it had been sorely neglected, but this particular area lacked light and its wooden panelled walls added to the gloom. It had an eerie feel to it too, and although Jackson didn't really believe in ghosts he was certain if he was to ever see one it would be in there.
Having finished the upstairs Jackson was now working on the kitchen, and he was enjoying doing that. It was a typical farmhouse kitchen, large in size with a low beamed ceiling, stone floor and an aging Aga in the corner of the room. Even in a state of disrepair it had a cosy feel to it. Tony, the owner wanted to spruce it up without losing any of its character or charm. It seemed the property he'd inherited would see him quids in if he transformed it into a luxury holiday cottage. Not that Tony was short of cash, not if the car he was driving was anything to go by. Jackson liked the man; he was friendly, and more importantly stuck rigidly to their agreement on payments. Not all his clients had been so reliable when it came to coughing up the readies, and like everyone else he needed to eat. Knowing how remote the place was Tony had also provided a few basic essentials for his use. Jackson had certainly made good use of the kettle, fridge and microwave when here. It was the kitchen he made a beeline for now, intent on making himself a mug of tea, his first of the day.
Rounding the kitchen door Jackson's eyes were immediately drawn to something he hadn't been expecting to see, something that shouldn't have been there, that had no right being there in the kitchen. The something being a someone, and that someone was curled up on the floor, asleep.
Jackson's initial surprise swiftly turned to anger, "Oi!" His voice echoed around the otherwise silent room. As intended it startled the trespasser into wakefulness and then up onto his feet.
As a dazed set of eyes stared back at him Jackson demanded "What're you doing in here? This is private property?"
"Nothing. I just..."
"Just what?" He wanted an answer and when his question was met by silence he pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket saying, "I should call the police..."
"No!"
"Then tell me what you're doing in here?" He had an obligation to his client, he had to follow this through, get to the bottom of it and make sure it didn't happen again.
"I ...I needed somewhere to sleep."
The anger that had enveloped Jackson on seeing the stranger was now rapidly dispersing. He was starting to think past the unauthorised presence, and was suddenly
interested in the individual himself. Why had he no bed to go to?
For the first time he was really seeing the other man and as he studied his face Jackson realised he was a fair bit younger than he was, sixteen or seventeen maybe. He couldn't fail to notice how good looking he was, how blue his eyes were. He found he was actually more than a little attracted to him!
Jackson was thrown by the realization. It wasn't right was it? He was just a kid, a kid who was obviously in some kind of trouble; why else would he be sleeping rough?
"I thought the place was empty..."
"And that makes it alright does it? " Not in his eyes it didn't.
"No. I thought I'd be gone before anyone came, that no one would know. I'll go now and..."
The lad was edging towards the door but Jackson wasn't prepared to just let him go. "How'd you get in?" He'd shut all the windows and locked all outside doors the night before. The farmhouse might be in the back of beyond but as the lad's very presence proved that didn't guarantee its security.
More silence but this time it was accompanied by a look of unease, of guilt. That confirmed his suspicions but Jackson wasn't satisfied with that, he wanted the lad to admit to what he'd done, "Well?
"How'd you think?"
The guilt was gone, replaced by a cockiness Jackson didn't like, the lad needed reminding he was the one in the wrong here, "So I do need to call the police!"
"Go on then!"
"Breaking and entering is a crime…"
"I wasn't going to steal anything. I told you, I just needed somewhere to sleep."
The lad wasn't sounding so tough now, his bravado seemingly having deserted him. Jackson knew he was genuine, that he'd acted out of desperation, so what did he do with him now? Let him walk away and forget about him? Or did he try to help him?
"Alright. I believe you."
"You're not calling the police?"
"No."
"So I can go?"
Jackson didn't think the lad seemed in any hurry to leave and that proved to be the deciding factor, "Unless you want a drink, I was just going to make one."
"Yeah, thanks."
There'd been no hesitation and it had Jackson wonder when the lad last had something to eat, "You hungry?"
"Yeah."
Again no hesitation but the lad had looked a little embarrassed on making the admission.
"A pie do you?" He had several of those in the fridge, it wasn't a conventional breakfast by any means but it was the best he could do.
"Thanks."
As he waited for the kettle to boil and the microwave to ping he was all too aware that an uncomfortable silence had fallen around the room, well what were you supposed to say in such situations? Did he make small talk or did he come right out and ask his guest just what was going on with him? After a little thought on the matter he decided it was probably best to take it slowly, to start with the obvious, "What's your name?"
"Aaron."
tbc