He hoped he would have the strength to do what was right. But faced with the decision in the moment he didn't think he could.
Both Aaron and Jackson had enjoyed a well deserved night out at Bar West, away from the prying eyes of the like of Betty and Brenda at the Wool Pack. They were nearing a total of five months together now, although still being as comfortable with his sexuality just not yet, Aaron felt more then comfortable with Jackson now. He couldn't imagine what life would be like without him sometimes to keep him on the right path as well as just being there for him. But he wasn't with just him just for that, he was a great laugh as well. Especially that night, they'd been knocking back drinks, laughing and talking, as Jackson made sarcastic comments about other people in the bar.
Being a well respected builder in the area, Jackson had an early start in the morning, as he intended on meeting his strict deadline which had been set that day by his new project manager. He didn't go much on her, a strict professional business woman that liked to get the job done. He was determined to get his hands on the promised bonus at the end of the job. He hoped to take a certain other person away for the weekend to spend some much needed time alone together. Lately they had been working hard, Aaron at the garage and Jackson on his job, they hadn't spent much together. With an early start, Jackson needed to get up nice and early in the morning - something he hated - so it meant their evening was ending just as everybody else's was starting. But neither of them minded that much, anytime together was better than nothing. Though they weren't too happy they had to spend the night in separate beds. Aaron had grown used to sleeping beside Jackson's body at Smithy Cottage. Tonight though, Jackson needed to go back to his own flat and get a proper nights sleep which wouldn't have been on the agenda if he was to go back to Aaron's bed.
"Sure I can't give you a lift back?" Jackson asked his boyfriend once more.
"Nah you're alright." Aaron told him, walking him to his van just down the street from Bar West. "Fine getting the bus."
"I feel bad though." Jackson admitted, unlocking his van and turning round to face Aaron, his back pressed against the driver's door. "I know I wouldn't want to get the late bus."
"Well I don't mind. You need to get some sleep." Aaron laughed, touched by his boyfriends slight show of guilt. "Now go, before I miss the bus."
"What If I want you to miss the bus?" Jackson teased, tugging on Aaron's grey jumper. He didn't care about the deadline at work to gain the bonus he'd been promised. All he wanted to gain right now was Aaron as he stared into those blue eyes. He had other things on his mind.
Before Aaron could answer Jackson, he was pulled into a passionate kiss. Jackson was leant against the side of hi Van, as he'd brought Aaron against him whilst his hands began to roam under Aarons jumper. It was a daring move, a very daring move considering his boyfriends wouldn't even hold his hand in public and earlier in the year had decked him just for touching his arm. It must have been the high they were both on from the night they'd had, teamed with the many beers Aaron had consumed that was clouding his actions but Aaron didn't pull away. Albeit he'd noticed his slight hesitation and the quick glance up and down the street that was currently deserted, it was a break through for him.
Aaron was the first to pull away. His breathing laboured as he rested his forehead against Jackson's who was also having difficulty catching his breath. "If I've missed my bus I'm not gonna be happy." Aaron joked, with a lopsided grin before leaving Jackson by his van.
He could sense Jackson's gaze still on him until he rounded the corner and didn't hear the start of the van's engine for a few seconds after that. It didn't bother him, he loved it. Although, if it had been anybody else staring at him he would have swung round and barked at whoever was stupid enough. But it was Jackson, so it didn't matter. It was reassuring to know that he still had such an affect on him after so many months together. After all the heart ache and drama he'd but Jackson thorugh he was more than surprised that he still wanted to be with him. Of all the people Jackson could be with, he wanted to be with him. He couldn't believe his luck.
"Just leave us alone!"
Nearly to the bus stop he was interrupted from his thoughts by a couple of girls who were obviously not interested in the attention they were receiving from two men, that weren't taking 'no' for an answer.
"Just leave us alone!" The girl repeated again, but more firmly as she and another girl hurried to quicken their pace.
"Don't be like that sweetie." One of the men leered, leaning in closer to her, his lips almost touching her ear. "Only want to talk." He then spat.
"Yeah well, I don't think they want to." Aaron shouted over to the two older men, gesturing to the girls dressed in glitzy dresses and high heels. He wasn't going to stand for two females being harassed by a couple of pervs.
"And who asked you?" The other man countered a bottle of beer in his hand. These men were obviously drunk. They'd had more to drink than what he had.
"No one, but I didn't need to be asked." Aaron shot back. He was stood on the otherside of the street, so it was needed to shout a bit to be heard over the bumping music of the clubs spilling out onto the street. It seemed out of all the people on the streets looking to go home or move on to another club, he was the only one to help the girls out. Even the bouncers dotted up and down the sides of the buildings seemed oblivious to it all.
By now the two girls had taken their chance to get a few metres ahead of their hasslers. However it wasn't much of an accomplishment when the two men hogged up behind them and grabbed them from behind. One took a girl by their waist while the other grabbed the second girls arm. They both jumped and cried out in shock.
"Take your hands off them now." Aaron ordered them as he ran across the road towards them, placing as much warning he could into his words. When they ignored him he decided to become hands on himself. Taking one guy by his shoulder, Aaron used most of hi strength to pull him off the guy. Up close he realised just how older and heavier they were to him.
Both men were in their later twenties at least, they were broader shouldered then he was and a few inches taller then he was as well. They reeked of alchol and had obviously been out on the town in their dress shirts and jeans. The girls made no move to make another escape, they were the same age as Aaron if not a bit older. One girl was still gripped roughly by one of the men, her arm twisted up in a vice like grip, the mans fingers biting into her tanned skin.
The man who Aaron had pulled off the brunette girl, didn't take to kindly to being treated how he was with the girls. He forcefull pushed Aaron away from them. "Back off." He warned, inches from Aaron's face. "These ladies and my friend and I are just having a good time mate."
Aaron turned to the two girls who did not look like they were having a good time. They looked scare and rightly so. These two men were rather intimidating as well as drunk and an awful lot bigger than they were. The were no match against them. "Are these guys hassling you?" He asked them politely. The blonde girl nodded timidly, but the brunette soon spoke she was the one who had been been shouting at them from the start.
"They won't leave us alone." The brunette said to Aaron, swatting the oldest man away when he tried to grab her again, her face a picture of pure disgust.
"I'm not going to tell you again guys." Aaron told them, using his two 'saluting' fingers to rub the bridge of his nose between his eyes. He didn't need this; his head was still muggy from all the alcohol and tired from his hard day at work at the garage. He was going to miss his bus if he hadn't already. "Just go, leave these Ladies they're not interested. You heard them yourselves."
Off guard, Aaron stumbled back a few steps on the receiving end of a heavy shove. He tried not to react. It took also his self control to keep a lid on his temper. He didn't take to kindly to being pushed around. Especially by a reeking drunken perverted man.
"As I said before, I'm not gonna tell you again." Aaron growled staring at the ground on a fixed spot by the others man feet. He onld looked up when he said the last bit. "You've got till three to move. . .one. . tw-."
He'd barely gotten to 'two' before a punch was swung his way, hitting him square in the jaw. One of the girls screamed, he assumed it was the blonde. He didn't have time to check. He needed to gain his sense of grounding. Recovering from the shock, Aaron wiped away the thin trickle of blood that had dripped from his slip lip with the back of his left hand before drawing back his other and slamming it straight into his attackers face. He heard the man's nose break and smirked in satisfaction.
