A/N – Thanks to Soapiefan for checking this over and making some useful suggestions.

Disclaimer – ITV own Emmerdale & characters, I'm just playing with them

Remembering

Part One - Running

Aaron ran through the streets of Hotten.

Away from Jackson. Away from what had happened.

He didn't know where he was exactly but he kept on running.

The loud blast of a car horn brought him sharply to his senses. He'd run out into a road without looking. Luckily the driver was more alert than Aaron. He swerved and just missed hitting the breathless young man.

Aaron stepped back from the road. Where was he? It looked familiar but he couldn't see anything he immediately recognised.

Looking around, he spotted a bus stop on the other side of the road. That should show him where he was. Crossing over, he approached the stop. He immediately saw that this was one of the stops on the route that the Emmerdale bus followed. That must be why it looked familiar. He'd probably looked out of the bus windows at this street dozens of times. Maybe he'd known where he was running to after all.

Using his phone to check the time, he saw it was nearly midnight. Looking at the timetable he saw that he'd just missed one. The next bus – the last of the night – was due at 12.50. Just over an hour to wait. The service was pretty irregular during the day; at this time of night it was even worse.

He looked up and down the street but there was no sign of any passing cabs. He hadn't really expected to see any and he couldn't really afford it anyway but if one had been passing he'd have flagged it down.

With no other options he sat down to wait, pulling his jacket a bit tighter around himself.

As he tried to get comfortable on the bus shelter seat he checked the timetable again. Maybe he'd read it wrong before. He was pretty sure he hadn't but he had nothing else to do and it would pass another 30 seconds.

As he ran his finger down the list of times, he noticed the reddened skin and bruising on his knuckles. Quickly he dropped his hand back down out of his sight and put it back in his pocket. He didn't want to think about how he'd got those bruises.

He had a sudden vivid image in his mind of his raised fist and the look of fear in Jackson's eyes.

Aaron shook his head. He wouldn't think about that. He didn't want to think about anything that had happened tonight – Leyla, the argument, any of it.

He just wanted to forget it all, at least for now.

But the thoughts kept sneaking into his head. Thoughts of Jackson.

He wondered if Jackson was thinking of him. Probably not. Why would he after tonight? Probably glad to see the back of him. He'd not even tried to come after him as Aaron had run out of the flat, he'd just slammed the door. Aaron had heard it as he reached the bottom of the stairs.

He'd not tried to call or text either. Aaron would have seen a text or missed call when he'd checked his phone for the time 5 minutes ago. But there had been nothing.

Maybe he'd call Jackson in the morning. Apologise. Promise it would never happen again. No, what was the point. No way would Jackson want him in his life now. Despite everything, all his promises, he'd shown that he was still willing to use his fists. How could Jackson ever trust him again? Rhona was right – he didn't deserve a boyfriend.

Aaron's head dropped towards his chest. Seemed as if he'd really blown it this time.

xxxxx

Jackson's phone rang out 6 times before going to voicemail.

It was the third missed call in the past 15 minutes. Leyla was persistent whenever she was worried. And she was worried about Jackson. She'd been worried ever since Jackson and Aaron had left Bar West. Their argument had been different to the usual sniping they did with each other. They were only holding back because they were with friends. She had a feeling that it was going to get a lot worse when they were on their own.

Each time she called and didn't get a reply, the gnawing feeling in her stomach got worse. David told her she was worrying about nothing but she was going to keep ringing until she spoke to Jackson.

xxxxx

Jackson's flat was quiet once the phone stopped ringing.

Most Friday nights there would have been noise and people – Jackson's flatmate nearly always had mates round. But he was away for a few days so the flat was unusually peaceful.

Jackson had been excited at the prospect of Aaron and him having the place to themselves for a change. At least he had at the start of the evening…

Lights were on in the main room and the cluttered hallway.

There was no-one in the main room. Nothing to indicate the increasingly loud and angry argument that had taken place there half an hour previously.

But in the hallway, next to the pile of trainers and box of tools, lay Jackson. Completely still. The only movement at all was a trickle of blood running from his temple and down his bruised cheek.

TBC

As usual, reviews are most welcome