DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or it's Characters, they belong to ITV1
chapter 1/3
***warning*** NO AARON!
A/N: This short story comes out from two PMs I got a few weeks ago...one wanted me to do a Jackson 'coming out' story...and the other asked when little Jack was born (you know who you are!) ...it got me thinking...but instead of two separate stories, I've decided to kill two birds with one stone...and combine it all! xx
There has 3 chapters...and you will have to be a Jackson lover to like it...it is set several years before his meeting of Aaron..., and Jackson would be 17...Aaron would have been 12!
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AND REVIEW!...THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH ABIT OF JACKSON RATHER THAN AARON!
APRIL 2005
Jackson Walsh jumped out the builders van, and turned, Ray was giving him the thumbs up, as he drove off and beeped twice...he made his way up the path,and opened the back door to see his mother at the stove, she turned pointing her finger, " OI!...YOU take them muddy boots off first...I've just gone and mopped this floor..."
Jackson sighed, and pulled off his boots, then dumped his rucksack onto the counter, "I Passed!... I passed me apprenticeship...no more flaming college for me!"
Hazel turned from the stove, she beamed a loving smile at him, " ohhhhh!...Jackson love, that IS good news...ohhhhh COME 'ERE you..." Hazel was then practically squeezing the life out of her son..."See I TOLD you you were clever...didn't I tell you...even after falling out that tree when you were little..."
Jackson smirked at her as he rolled his eyes, " blimey mum simmer down...I'm a only a builder, not a rocket scientist...", Hazel had her hands together, I Know love...it's just I'm SO proud of you, that's all...MY SON all grown up...and getting into the real world..."
Jackson went and stirred the peas on the stove, " hurry up with THIS will yah, I'm starving me..."
Hazel jumped back to making the tea, as Jackson went up stairs to get out of his work clothes, he pulled off his tee shirt and combats, and decided to go and have shower, but before he went in his mobile jingled...he had received a text.
Jackson went over and pulled the phone out from his combats...the display had the text received icon...he shrugged and opened it, it was from Sarah...his girlfriend...well his sort of girlfriend...it was sort of on and off...more off...he shook his head and opened it
...I HAVE to see u...Sx
Jackson pulled a long face...what did SHE want...the last time they saw eachother was a few weeks back, when they were out with a group of friends at a music gig...they had rowed...THEY ALWAYS rowed!
He threw the mobile onto his bed, he decided he MIGHT text her later...he then looked into the mirror...he was standing their in nowt but his boxers...he stared at his abs...his thighs...his upper arms...this gym thing was really starting to build him up...no wonder Sarah was always all over him...even though HE would rather be all over somebody else...he smiled at the thought.
Jackson quickly grabbed his shower, and after quickly pulling on some jeans and a tight T shirt, he hurried back down the stairs...where his father had just got in from work, Jackson looked up as Jerry thrown his newspaper onto the armchair in the sitting room, "Your mum has just told me the news... that you have finished with THAT apprenticeship..."
Jackson shook his head, grinning like a loon " yeah...NO more college...I'll just be working for a living, Ray's said that he's letting me on site for proper on Monday, no more workshops for me!...", Jackson looked real proud of himself.
Jerry blew out a sigh, as he sat down, " YOU will JUST be making the tea son...A LACKY...that's what YOU'LL be!"
Jackson glared at his father, waving out his arm to him, " WHAT'S IT to you...JUST because you wanted me to do somemit else...I WANTED THIS...I LIKE working outside...I LIKE building..."
Jerry nodded at him, " yeah YOU DO...only because you'll TOO flipping thick to do owt else, son..."
Hazel was then in the doorway, " ohhhh JEERRRY...Why can't you be pleased for him...HE'S worked hard for this...", Jerry deeply sighed, " I suppose he has...I JUST wanted him to do somemit BETTER than...THAT!", his eyes widening, as he finished his sentence.
Jackson pulled a face, raising his eyebrowes at him, " errrr!...I am STILL here you know!" he then stormed off, Hazel thumbed towards the kitchen, " NOW look what you've gone and done...can't we just all have a meal in this house, without aggro between you two please...SO WHAT...YOUR SON is going to be a builder...I suggest you DEAL with it Jerry...because HE has..."
Jackson had dreamed of becoming an arcitect, but he was too rubbish at his maths...Jackson loved to build...since he was a young boy playing with his lego in his bedroom...it was the next best thing...
He sat at the kitchen table, as Hazel placed his pie and chip down in front of him, "THERE you go my lovely boy...get that down yah...", she then dumped Jerry's down in front of him, she glared at him, then turning back to her son as she sat down, she watched as Jackson poured a shed load of gravy all over his chip, " YOU GET THAT from your father...chips and gravy AAAGH! ", she said while salting her food, he was licking his fingers of the gravy that had escaped... " I bet you are gonna be needing alot of good meals in yah...all that PHYSICAL labouring you are gonna be doing...IT'S REAL MANS work...", she glared at Jerry again, "unlike some I could mention..."
"DO you HAVE too!" told Jerry, glaring back at her, Jackson sighed and stood up,holding out his hands "look...if you two are gonna bicker, I'm going out...", Hazel stood up all concerned, " but Jackson...your tea love...", Jackson felt bad for her, but he shot a glare toward his father, " WHY CAN'T YOU BE HAPPY FOR MAH..." he waved his arm out, " WHY DO THIS AAALLL THE TIME!...", he then disappeared into the hallway.
Hazel looked down to Jerry, " NOW look what you've done...you are a useless father...WHEN are you EVER going to show him you're proud of him a...", she throw her knife and fork onto her full plate, " NOW I'VE lost MY appetite..."
Jackson was up the street in no time, he had his mobile to his ear, " hey Sarah it's me...you wanted to see mah...so...is now a good time..."
An hour later, Jackson walked up the driveway of Sarah's parents house...he went up to the door and rang the bell, Sarah answered it, and pulled him inside.
Jackson glanced into the lounge, but Sarah laughed at him, " it's OKAY...Mum and dad have gone out for a meal...we've got the place to ourselves..."
Jackson looked at her...his eyes betraying his discomfort, Sarah reasured him, " hey...THEY won't be back for hours...do you want a beer...Dads got plenty in the fridge..."
Jackson swallowed nervously, and shook his head, " yeah...why not...", he followed Sarah into the kitchen and she opened the fridge and handed him over a can...
"naughty naughty!" came a teasing voice, Sarah turned to see her older brother Craig standing in the doorway, " dad will go spare if any of his cans are missing...", Sarah glared at him, " bog off Craig...I'll just say YOU took one...", Craig raised his eyebrowes at her, " oh well...just as well go the whole hog and take another...", Craig reached into the fridge...Jackson looked at him...his body...it seemed that Craig had got back from a run...he was only in a vest and shorts...and looked hot...Jackson struggled to tare his gaze away...Sarah placed her hand in his,finally forcing his gaze toward her "wanna go up stairs..." she asked.
Jackson placed his arms around her and kissed her gently on the lips, then in an embrace, Jackson faced toward Craig who was sipping from the lager can watching them...he winked at Jackson...smirked and announced, " I'm all hot and sweaty after that run...I'm just gonna grab meself a shower..."
Jackson stared after Craig, as he disappeared into the hallway, Craig glancing BACK at him before he went up the stairs...Sarah pulled out the embrace, "So do yah wanna come upstairs or what...", Jackson smiled at her, "yah...why not...JUST as long as I'M DOWN HERE again when your folks get back..."
Sarah grabbed Jackson's hand, and pulled him up the stairs, once they were inside her bedroom, Sarah closed the door and sat Jackson down onto her bed, " Jackson...there's... I'm sorry about last time...when we had that fight..."
Jackson could see that Sarah wanted to say something...but couldn't get the right words out, "Sarah...what is it...", Sarah swallowed, and stared at him in the face, " Jackson...I'm pregnant...THAT's was why I was so narky with yah at the concert...I...I wanted to tell you but I were scared...", Sarah was shaking...but there was relief in her expression...finally to be able to finally unleash a secret she had been keeping for weeks...
Jackson was shellshocked...at first he stared at her, face blank...then he stood up and paced about the bedroom thinking...then finally, he stopped and looked at her sat on the bed, "your dad is gonna flaming KILL MAH!"
Sarah shushed him, "shhhh...Craig doesn't know...NO ONE knows...", Jackson pulled his eyebrowes together, " ARE you sure like...I mean...it's not a...well...", Sarah shook her head at him, " no Jackson...I've done 3 tests...they've come out positive EVERYTIME...I'm pregnant..."
Jackson slumped back down next to her and turned...face still shell shocked, " but...WE only did it the once..."
Sarah managed a nervous laugh, " THAT's ALL IT TAKES...", Jackson's mind was now racing...he suddenly glared at her " ARE YAH sure it's mine!..."
Sarah jumped up, " WHAT!...what do you take me for...ARE YOU calling me a slag!...THAT was my first time Jackson..."
Jackson swallowed,as he stared to the carpet, " mine too...", Sarah hinted a smile, " I noticed...you were pretty crap...abit disappointing after it took you WEEKS to even make the first move..."
Jackson hinted a smile himself, " as if YOU'VE got anything to compare it wit...any way, I wered just...building meself up to it...", he then started to fret again,and snapped his neck round " your dad is going to KILL mah...and MY dad...he'll kill me too...HE'LL be dictating to me about how i've now RUINED my life..."
Sarah shook her head at him, " Jackson calm down...", Jackson gazed at her in disbelief, "HOW can I be...HOW CAN you just sit there ALL calm..."
"because I've had more time to get used to it...I was shitting meself when I missed me period...", Jackson gave her a distained look.
Craig was then knocking on the bedroom door, " OI you two...you better not be doing anything I wouldn't in there...OR WOULD!", Jackson glanced at the door knowingly...he then faced Sarah, " look...i'm gonna have to go...I REALLY NEED to take this in..." he stood up, and opened the door, Sarah ran to him, " Jackson..."
Jackson turned back to her, " Sarah...it's alright...I JUST NEEED some time...to get me head round it...", he then disappeared down the stairs...
At the front door, Craig was waiting for him, "GOING so soon..." he teased, Jackson stared into Craigs eyes, there was something about him that made him feel strange...but, shrugging it off he was then out the door.
Later Jackson was in the town, he looked across to a busy club...a club that he knew was a GAY CLUB...Bar West it were called...he stood in the late evening drizzle, hands dug deep into his pockets...he bit his tongue, then strolled across the road to the window and peered down...he could see a whole host of clubbers having a great night out...lads laughing, joking...kissing...he stared at a couple who approached the entrance, they were hand in hand...Jackson focused his brown eyes onto their hands clasped together tightly...he watched as they disappeared inside and faded into the laughter and chatter...and the music...the dance music that was just urging him to be drawn in...like a moth to a flame...
"ARE you going in..." asked avoice behind him...Jackson swung around to see a young lad of about 18 standing there, Jackson swallowed,his big brown eyes all over the shop, "ERRRR...nope...just...well..." he was stuck for words.
The lad laughed, and headed to the entrance, " well if you change yah mind...I'll be waiting at the bar..." the lad turned to go inside, before turned briefly with a; "I'm Joe by the way..."
Jackson nodded, but at the same time was backing away up the street, " yeah...CHEERS for that..." he then turned and hurried off, he glanced around a couple of times as he rounded the street...his heart was threatening to beat right out of his chest...he leaned on the wall to gather up his thoughts...WHAT THE HELL was he thinking...he shook his head a few times before going in the direction of home.
The drizzle at stopped when he reached the garden path to his parents house, he hurried to the door and put his key in the lock...as he pushed it open, the damned squeak of it's hinges, alerted Hazel...she turned from working on her latest art masterpiece, to see Jackson just about to head up stairs, " ohhh love...I was just wondering when you were coming back..." she stood and came toward him...and smiled, " I've kept your tea warm...it's sitting in the oven ", Jackson raised his eyebrowes at her, " and NO doubt dry as old leather then, smashing...I'LL give it a MISS all the same..."
Hazel watched him step up the stairs, " YOUR fathers at the pub...HE doesn't mean to put yah down you know...you KNOW what he's like...it's the way he IS...", Jackson turned on his heel, "Mum STOP making excuses for him will yah!...he's..." he closed his eyes and thought against slagging him off, " ...look...I'm tired...I'll see yah in the morning yah..."
Hazel watched him disappear into his room, that was just at the top of the stairs, she bit her lip...and went to grab the linen basket from the kitchen.
Jackson flopped out onto his bed, he pulled out his mobile to see that he had received a message from Sarah, R U ALRIGHT?
Jackson cursed beneath his breath...COURSE he WASN'T allright...with this hanging over him...he throw the mobile to his dresser and then picked up his i pod...MUSIC always made him think clearer...
As he laid back on his bed, he closed his eyes and listened to the music through his headphones, then he opened his eyes to see his mum peering around his bedroom door with the linen basket...Jackson pulled the earphones from his ears and frowned at his mother, "MUM!...WHAT is it now...I JUST wanna be left alone, alright"
"just come to see if you've got any dirty washing...", she was snooping around his bed, Jackson was waving a hand out to her in disbelief, "AND WHAT...you are gonna be DOING a wash this time a night, are yah!"
Hazel laughed at him,as she picked up a t shirt and combats from the floor, " you KNOW what you'll like...it's saturday tomorrow, and you'll be in yah pit till gone noon!"
Jackson sighed and stared up at the ceiling, Hazel could ALWAYS tell when something was on his mind, she stood still clutching the linen basket watching him, " look love, what'sup...someminks on yah mind...it's not like you don't tell me anything...", Jackson raised his head to glare at her, "NOT this time mum...just leave it will yah, PLEEASE!" Hazel shook her head, knowing her limits of not pushing too far with him,she turned and said, "Oh I see YOU'VE dragged yahself back from the pub..." Jerry was at the doorway behind Hazel, "so what's this all about...", Hazel turned around, "ohhh DON'T START Jerrrry"
Jerry held his hands up, " IT'S alright!...I'm not starting anything...I just want say sorry...", Hazel looked gobsmacked, " sorry!...YOU!...are you FEELING alright!", Jerry shook his head at her, and turned to Jackson, " I'm sorry son...about what I said earlier..."
Hazel stuck on tongue inside her cheek, " until the NEXT time..." she murmured... Jerry glared at her, " DO YOU MIND!"
Jackson looked up,it waas up to him to be peace maker again, " mum...just...just give him a minute will yah...please"
Hazel shook her head, and closed the door behind her, Jackson stared back to the ceiling again...Jerry sat on the bedroom, " look son...I am sorry about what I said...it's just...I don't want you to go throwing your life away, that's all...I WANT you to make something of yahself"
Jackson lifted his head, " I'm not!...look...I'VE GOT plans me...I may only start out as the tea boy on site...but...I'M GONNA build me own business me...JUST YOU WAIT!...YOU won't be seeing ME on THAT rogue traders!", Jackson saying that as he ment it.
Jerry stood up and nodded, " yeah...I should hope not! ...You'll go far!...if you take after me..." he moved to the door and turned, " and I suppose there IS a top side to this builders lark...the girls...you'll be woof whistling them as they walk by..."
"maybe..." said Jackson, with a hint of a smile, then as he heard he him go down the creaky old stairs, he reached his arm down to his bottom drawer of his bedside unit...and pulled out a free ad newspaper...he quickly flicked the pages until he came to the GAY FRIENDLY club, bar west...
his mind was in turmoil...HOW COULD HE JUST 'COME OUT' now...
He had rehearsed it SO many times...his mum...she would take it in her stride...
His dad...that was another story...
but it WASN'T that simple now...Sarah was pregnant...it wasn't just a case of him dumping her for a bloke...it'll be dumping HER and her baby...
he forced his eyes shut to close out everything...he didn't know waht to do...
but the one thing he DID know was...he wasn't goint to get any sleep tonight...
to be continued...