Stalker
Part 1
They'd had a row, a huge one, one that had started off as a misunderstanding and quickly escalated into an all out slanging match. They'd both said things they didn't mean, both said things they would always regret. Then Jackson had tossed some of his stuff in a holdall and stormed out, Aaron making no effort to stop him. They believed it was over between them and neither one of them cared right then, but just minutes later as the anger began to subside, as rational thought began to return, they were both ruing what had happened and fearing they'd lost the other for good.
They were both hurting, left smarting, Aaron unable to believe Jackson could just walk out on him, Jackson unable to believe Aaron had made no attempt to stop him. They ached for each other but they were both too proud too stubborn to make the first move and apologise, neither one thought they were to blame for the bust up, each believing it was all the others fault...
He kept checking his phone, hoping there would be a message, that he'd somehow missed a call. It had been three days now, not to mention three nights, and still there was nothing. He knew where Jackson was, he was staying with a mate, a straight mate so he had no problem with that, but he did have a problem with him not beng where he was supposed to be, where he belonged...with him.
Paddy had said he was sick of him moping round the house, sick of his miserable face, sick of his childish sulking. He'd threatened to bang his and Jackson's heads together if he could just get the two of them in the same room.
It had been Paddy's idea to go to Bar West, "It's Friday night, he'll be there, expecting you to turn up, you always go there on a Friday night."
Yeah they did always go there on a Friday night, only they went there together, as a couple and had ever since he'd seen sense and realised that what he felt for Jackson was love. It's where they'd met, it's where they were guaranteed a good night. It had become a habit a ritual, one they never tired of.
It didn't feel right going there on his own though, it felt like he was on the pull, no it just didn't seem right to his thinking, and anyway Jackson might not turn up. He might not want to see him, and what if he was there but with someone else? No, no he didn't want to believe that, he knew Jackson loved him. Paddy was right, he'd be there waiting for him.
He'd taken his time getting ready, pulling on a shirt he knew Jackson liked him in, patting on what was probably a bit too much of his favourite aftershave; the one he always said turned him on. Finally after checking himself out in the mirror he told himself he'd do and made his way downstairs.
He'd been going to catch a bus but Paddy had been standing by the front door, car keys in hand, determined to drive him into town, to make sure he went where he was supposed to be going. He'd snapped at the older man, told him to stop treating him like a kid and Paddy had told him he would if he stopped acting like one.
Knowing he had a captive audience Paddy had given him one of his pep talks, one about relationships, telling him how arguments could be healthy but not if you let them fester. He'd gone on and on but he had to admit everything he said made sense. He shouldn't have left it this long to reach out to Jackson, he should have called him, gone to see him, swallowed his pride and told him he was sorry, and that he loved him and wanted him to come home.
As usual the club was heaving, all the tables were occupied and so he took root by the bar, his eyes scanning the length and breadth of the place and quickly realising Jackson wasn't there. His heart sank, weighed down by disappointment and hurt, he'd let himself believe Jackson would be here and finding out he wasn't had come as a huge blow.
Then suddenly he wasn't alone, someone was talking to him, chatting him up! The other bloke Matt, was about his age, his height, was fairly good looking and seemed nice enough, seemed pretty keen too but he had absolutely no interest in him, he was interested in no one but Jackson and so had politely told him he was with someone, was waiting for him to come. He'd got a good natured "Oh well, no harm in trying!" in return, and he'd watched Matt as he quickly moved on to another wallflower. He couldn't believe it when just five minutes later someone else made a move on him. Barry or Baz as he said he liked to be called was a few years older than him, a lot shorter and again nice enough looking. He should he supposed be flattered by all the interest but he wasn't. Baz was proving a lot more persistent than Matt had been. He just couldn't get rid of him; even though he'd told him he was waiting for his boyfriend he still stood their bending his ear. Deciding Baz was just in need of some company he took pity on him chatting away amicably, careful not to give him the wrong signals, and all the time his eyes were fixed on the entrance door willing the man he loved to walk through it.
Suddenly he did and he felt his heart somersault in his chest. He could see Jackson was looking around the club, looking for someone...looking for him. When their eyes did finally meet there was just a few seconds hesitation, a little uncertainty on both their parts, and then they were smiling, walking towards each other through the crowd. Heartfelt apologies followed by a passionate kiss at long last putting everything right between them.
They'd stayed for one drink, then left to pick up Jackson's stuff, travelling back to Emmerdale in his van. After letting Paddy know they were home they'd disappeared up the stairs, and had slept in late the next morning. Paddy waking them with some disturbing news, sometime during the night all four tyres on Jackson's van had been violently shredded.
TBC
