Chapter One

Half empty bottle of whiskey clutched in his hand, he stumbled down the main road towards the cricket green, blindly scrolling through his mobile phone as he was convinced a text had come through, he stopped occasionally to project incoherent abuse at the drivers who bothered to beep their horns at him as they passed. After all he was a strange sight to behold at twelve in the afternoon.

As he anticipated, what with it not being cricket season, the Pavilion was deserted. He made himself comfortable on the steps prepared to make the most of the peace and quiet on his day off. Unfortunately the weather had other plans, so as it started raining heavily he was forced to seek cover. Unable and unwilling to stumble back home to Butlers he decided to break into the abandoned equipment shed, which had at one time been his secret getaway. The first place he'd met Adam. Where it all began. He remembered their first meeting like it was yesterday…

Flashback

"And who the hell are you?"

Having had yet another pointless argument with his mum's boyfriend, Aaron had stormed out of the house before he had really flipped. He had arrived at the shed to find another someone in his spot, all chilled out, cig in one hand, beer in the other, he seemed to have the misguided notion he was staying.

"Adam. Barton. We've just moved into the farm up the road. He held out his hand for Aaron to shake, but he didn't acknowledge the gesture. What's your name?"

"Aaron Livesy. And this is my shed."

"Is it now? Silly me, I must have missed your name on the door as I happened to climb in through that window like you did."

Aaron was in no mood for smart arse comments, but there was something about this lad he liked, he couldn't put his finger on it, but he made him smile.

"Okay, so it's not mine officially, but I was here first so…" He nodded in the direction of the door, his meaning perfectly clear, but Adam chose to ignore this.

"Well think of me as your new room mate. Help yourself to a can and a ciggy-"

"I don't smoke. It's a nasty habit."

"I know. I only have the occasional one, but today has been unbelievably stressful."

"You're telling me." Aaron settled himself beside him and took up his offer of a drink.

Two hours and four beers later and the boys were a lot more relaxed in each others company, laughing, joking and sharing stories about family life and the village and its residents. It was like they had been the best of friends forever. They just clicked.

'I Need You Now…'

"Awwwww. I love that tune."

"Me too. That's our Holly our tea's ready. We're going to the pub later for our first family drink. You going to be in?"

"More than likely my lot practically live in there."

"We can have a few games of darts if you play."

"I do, but honestly I am not that good."

"Me either, so it should be interesting. I better get going or mum will be on the war path."

"Alright. I'll see you in there."

"Aaron! Mate are you okay?"

Aaron opened his eyes, blinking rapidly to regain focus, the light was hurting his eyes, his head felt like it was about to explode and his insides were fighting for release, but even in his drunken stupor Adam's voice was penetrating his consciousness.

"Wwwwwwwhere am I?" Gingerly, Adam supported him into a sitting position.

"The shed. What are you playing at?"

"Drinkin'. Day off. Jackson." He managed to string together as tears flowed freely down his face.

"Okay. Calm down and try and run me through that."

Removing the half empty bottle of whiskey from his lap, using his sleeve Adam tenderly wiped Aaron's tears away, before sitting next to him and wrapping him protectively in his arms.

"It's over. He's met someone else."

"He is such a pratt Aaron. You could do so much better than him."

"I just really wanted to make it work. We went through so much." Punctured his sobs.

"No. You went through so much, which is why I know you'll find someone else. But for now lets get you back home. You need to sleep this off, mate."

Adam hauled Aaron to his feet rather unsteadily, before putting his arm around his shoulders and supporting him back to Butlers, where Paddy dosed him up on paracetomal and tucked him up on the sofa.

"He'll be okay now."

Paddy tried to reassure him, but Adam couldn't help worrying. If this set Aaron back in anyway he swore he'd personally hunt Jackson down, punch him ten times harder than Aaron had managed and happily face certain jail time for it.

"I know. It's just…"

"Go home. If he needs you I'll call you."

"You promise? Even if it's just that he wants to talk."

"I promise. Cross my heart."