The Trio from Rio – Chapter 1
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
"WOW!" Aaron exclaimed. He was sitting in the back room at the Woolpack, looking at his mobile phone.
Chas looked up from reading the paper, "What's up?" she asked, as it was uncharacteristic of Aaron to show any excitement about anything.
"Adam's won a trip to Rio!" Aaron gasped.
"Rio?" Chas looked on in disbelief, "As in Rio de Janeiro?"
"Well, he's hardly likely to have won a trip around Rio Ferdinand!" Aaron said, sarcastically.
"Alright!" Chas tutted, "No need to get cheeky; I just don't see how he could have won a trip to Brazil, that's all!"
"Neither do I, but I'll find out later, when I see him!"
Sure enough, later that day, Adam turned up in the bar of the Woolpack, bubbling with excitement.
"So," Aaron smiled at his best friend, "Spill the beans about Brazil then!"
"Coffee beans, you mean?" Adam smirked.
"Don't get clever! Oh wait; you're not being!" Aaron could not resist a wind-up.
"You wouldn't say that, when I tell you that I won a trip to Rio because of my clever slogan!"
Aaron looked on in amazement, "You? Clever slogan? Now this I've got to hear!"
Adam could not keep up the pretence any longer, "Well, actually, it was my mum's clever slogan, for a competition on a coffee jar label, but we put my name on the entry!"
"So, by rights, your mum should be going, then!"
"Well, she would have done, except she's got a phobia about flying! That's why she put my name, just in case; not that she expected to win anyway...but; she did! Or rather, I did!"
"I see," Aaron took a swig of beer from his glass before continuing, "So, who are you going to take on this 'trip of a lifetime' then?"
"Well, as you're my best buddy, I was wondering if you wanted to come."
Aaron almost choked on his drink, "Me?" he spluttered.
"Why not? The trip is for two people; it's supposed to include a trip to see the carnival, or Mardi gras, or whatever they call it; should be quite an experience!"
"But, don't you have some hot date that you'd like to whisk away for a romantic break?" Aaron asked.
"You know I don't have a girlfriend at the moment!" Adam looked a bit dismayed.
"Oh, so I'm a 'totty substitute', am I?"
"Don't even go there!" Adam grimaced, "If you're going to get any funny ideas, the deal's off!"
"Don't worry, pal!" Aaron chuckled, "I was over you a long time ago!"
"Very funny!" Adam chortled along with his friend, "Seriously, though, will you come? Or won't Jackson let you out of his clutches?"
"You know that me and him have split up!" Aaron reminded his friend of his separation from Jackson.
"Yeah, but you two are always splitting up and then getting back together!" Adam said with a smile, "I thought you'd be all kissy-kissy again by now!"
"He's really finished with me this time!" Aaron grimaced, "You know how he hates violence! I wish I'd never gone with Cain to sort out that bloke that owed him money!"
"Why did you then?"
"We only had to put the frighteners on the bloke and he coughed up!" Aaron was trying to justify his actions, "Cain needed my help...and he's family!"
"Ah yeah!" Adam looked at Aaron with a smirk, "The Dingle Code!"
Aaron knew that his best mate was winding him up, "You can mock! But you, of all people, should know about family responsibilities; it's important."
"More important than your boyfriend?" Adam raised his eyebrows, "Anyway, can't you and Jackson find some common ground?"
"He's working in Hotten...I don't see that much of him! Anyway, he was pretty adamant that I'd have to prove that I'd change my ways; before he'd have me back."
"Maybe you'd better stay then; and sort things out with him," Adam turned serious; he knew how Aaron really felt about Jackson.
"Nah!" Aaron had made up his mind, "Maybe a break away from the village is just what I need!"
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The next morning, Aaron was in David's shop, selecting a snack, when Jackson's van drew up outside. The young builder entered and saw Aaron in the shop. There was a tension between them; even David picked up on it. Aaron approached the counter, just as Jackson did the same thing.
"After you!" Aaron was trying to be chivalrous.
"No, you were here first!" Jackson gestured Aaron to go in front of him.
"No, go on! I've only got to walk up the road; you've got to drive to Hotten!"
Aaron and Jackson both stood frozen to the spot.
"Well," David piped up, "One of you had better go first; otherwise we'll still be here at closing time!"
Aaron paid for his sandwiches, but he did not leave straight away as he wanted a word with Jackson about his holiday plans.
He followed Jackson out of David's shop and called after him. Jackson stopped and spun around to face the young mechanic.
"Jackson, I just wanted to let you know I'm going away with Adam for a couple of weeks; to Rio."
"Rio? In March?" Jackson looked surprised.
"Yeah, some competition prize, apparently; to see the carnival over there...I think it's more like their summer. Anyway, I just thought I'd tell you as I've bumped into you."
"Well, you don't need my permission!" Jackson said, sarcastically.
"I know!" Aaron looked a little exasperated, "But I didn't want you to think I was running away, or anything!"
"No skin off my nose!" Jackson replied abruptly, "You're a free agent! Have a nice time!" With that, Jackson jumped into his van and drove off, leaving Aaron to fight an unexpected feeling of loss.
As Jackson drove towards Hotten, he felt that he had been a bit harsh with Aaron. He had half a mind to turn around and drive back to Emmerdale to apologise. But then, he thought to himself, why should he? Aaron had pushed him to the end of his tether! He just wished that Aaron could always be the gentle, loving lad that only he got to see; but, it was in his personality to be surly and aggressive at times. Maybe that would never change and he was better off without him. All he needed to do now was convince himself of that!
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The flight to Rio went off without incident, but, when Aaron and Adam arrived at their hotel, the desk clerk, a good-looking young man who spoke perfect English, albeit with a Portuguese accent, explained that there had been a hitch with the booking, "I'm afraid we've had some problems with the plumbing, a couple of rooms were flooded and need redecorating" he explained, "the two single rooms that you should have been staying in are not available until the problem is fixed. We're putting you in our luxury suite; at no extra charge of course, but there is only one double bed in that room...is that a problem?"
Adam and Aaron looked at each other; then Adam spoke, "What do you think?"
"Fine by me!" Aaron replied, "As long as you don't snore!"
Later, they had been shown to their room near the top of the building. It had a balcony with a beautiful view of the beach and the famous Sugarloaf Mountain beyond the bay.
"Nice!" Aaron said, as he surveyed the room and the view.
"Yeah, pity I've got to share a bed with you, though!" Adam teased his friend, "Don't go 'trying it on' in the middle of the night, otherwise I'll need extra pillows to put down the middle!"
"As if!" Aaron had a wicked smirk playing around his lips, "What's the matter? Afraid you'll be tempted to give in? After all, I'm one sexy guy! I bet you wouldn't say 'no' to a bit of man on man action for a change!"
"Get over yourself!" Adam said, "I wouldn't fancy you, even if I was gay!"
They both laughed, enjoying the banter that was an integral part of their friendship.
"...and what makes you think I'd fancy you, farm boy?"
"Face it! I'm pretty damned irresistible!" Adam thrust his hips forward for comic effect.
"Oh yeah, 'cos you're such a stud!" Aaron dissolved in a fit of the giggles, joined by his friend.
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The next day, the boys were due to go to the carnival; as previously arranged by the company who had run the 'coffee bean' competition. It was going to be a hot day and both Adam and Aaron wore only t-shirts and shorts.
Much to his own surprise, Aaron enjoyed the carnival parade. There were crowds of people lining the route of the procession; lots of people were singing and dancing; not only the performers, but the spectators as well. Every now and then, a spectator would be swept up into the throng and would become part of the parade! As Aaron watched, he saw a young, muscular Brazilian lad approaching. He was wearing a sparkly thong and a headdress of brightly coloured feathers; like a flamboyant Red Indian! He spotted Aaron as he drew nearer and held out his hand to him! Aaron, after glancing at Adam next to him, let the young man pull him into the gyrating throng! Aaron pranced around next to the handsome Brazilian lad, completely swept up in the moment. Before he knew it, they had separated from the main parade and found themselves in a quieter side-street, the music and laughter of the parade slowly receded into the distance.
The young, almost naked lad stopped dancing and Aaron studied him more carefully. He was about Aaron's height, with beautiful dark brown eyes, short, jet-black hair and a rich, flawless coffee-coloured skin. Aaron thought that he was one of the most beautiful boys that he had ever seen! Especially when he smiled, showing a perfect set of pearly-white teeth.
"You English, eh?" the young man spoke for the first time; his English was quite good but he had a thick Portuguese accent.
"Yeah...how did you guess?" asked Aaron.
"You look pale!" the lad explained, "Most English visitors have pale skin! Until they've been here a while...then they go red!" he chuckled.
"Shouldn't you still be dancing with the others?" Aaron asked.
"It's nearly finished," the boy did not seem bothered that he had split away from the parade, "I only live a couple of streets away...would you like to come for a drink?"
"I dunno," Aaron had suddenly remembered Adam, "I'm supposed to be with my mate; I'm not sure where he's got to!"
The boy had a carefree aura about him, "He'll be alright!" he started walking and beckoned Aaron to follow, which he did; he felt an instant attraction to this hunky lad!
They walked through a couple narrow, cobbled streets, lined with old terraced buildings. They had to walk on the cobbles in the middle of the road; as resident's cars were parked on the pavements; hard up against the front walls of the multi-coloured properties. As they walked they introduced themselves and Aaron found out that the local lad was called Miguel Santos. They reached an old house with ochre-coloured walls, which sat between two white-walled ones; and Miguel opened the front door and ushered Aaron inside. Aaron stood in the front room of the house, nervously studying the sparse furnishings and tiled floor.
"Take a seat, I'll go and put some proper clothes on!" Miguel smiled at Aaron, "Then we can go for that drink!"
Miguel disappeared into another room while Aaron sat on a small sofa, waiting for him. After a few minutes, Miguel returned, wearing a tight-fitting singlet and skimpy shorts which left little to the imagination! Aaron had to smile at the thought of Miguel's description of 'proper clothes'! Now that Miguel had removed his carnival headdress, he reminded Aaron of someone, but the young mechanic could not place him in his mind.
Suddenly, Aaron's mobile phone beeped. He took it from the pocket of his shorts and looked at the screen; the message was from Adam, "Where the hell are you?"
Aaron looked at Miguel, "It's my mate, Adam! Sorry, I'll have to answer!"
"Of course!" Miguel beamed at Aaron, he had a gorgeous, natural smile and easy manner, "Your friend will be wondering where you've got to!"
Aaron dialled Adam's number and spoke when his best mate answered, "I'm with this guy, Miguel, from the carnival. We're back at his house."
"The be-thonged dancer? You dirty hound!" Adam's voice had a chuckle in it, "I'll meet you back at the hotel later, stud! Fill yer boots!"
Aaron was about to protest his innocence; but Adam ended the call and he was unable to answer.
Miguel sat next to Aaron, in close proximity; and put his hand on Aaron's bare thigh, "I've got a bottle of wine; we could always stay in and have a drink here!"
Aaron knew, instinctively, what was going to happen next, but he seemed powerless to resist as Miguel's full lips crashed into his! He wanted to say 'no' to his new friend but, by now, his mouth was full of Miguel's insistent tongue!