Aaron wished he hadn't have bothered coming. From the minute Adam had arrived in the pub, he and his sister had been moaning and trying to outdo each other with their sob stories.

"I don't understand what you have got to moan about, Hols. All you've put mum and dad through and you get a holiday. Me, I get confined to the farm grafting while you go to the seaside!" Adam protested.

"Oh, that's right. Blame me, it's all my fault. Don't you think I feel bad enough? I mean is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life, pot washer at the Woolpack and being under lock and key at home. " Holly replied

Thank god I came out, thought Aaron as he listened to the siblings. He couldn't remember Holly whinging this much when they were going out but this constant bickering was driving him mad. His mobile beeped and he took it from his pocket, welcoming the distraction. Jackson's name flashed up on the screen along with an envelope. He opened the text message.

See you outside Bar West at 7. Can't wait. Jx.

Aaron smiled and his stomach did a somersault. It wasn't the Bartons doing his nut in. It was the fact the day wasn't going anywhere near quick enough for him. He was finally going to get some real time with Jackson. They had planned to hit the bar for a few drinks, grab a bite to eat and then back to Jackson's flat. "Bring your toothbrush" Jackson had said and Aaron was only too happy to oblige.

He'd only come to the pub because he was roaming around the house, checking the clock and had started to get annoyed with himself. Calm down, he kept saying. It's only a date. Who was he kidding? He debated going to Community Payback to kill a few hours but then decided against it in case it put him in a bad mood. He didn't want anything to spoil tonight.

"Oy smiley, are you with us?" Adam asked bring him back to reality.

"Sorry, miles away. What were you saying?"

"Holly was asking what you were up to later."

"Why?" Aaron asked immediately going on the defensive. He may be looking forward to his 'date' but he wasn't to tell the rest of the village about it!

"I've got the night off but I can't spend another night in front of the TV with the folks. Adam's on a promise so him and Scarlett aren't around…

"I'm not on a promise" Adam interjected. " it's just we don't get Scarlett's place to ourselves very often so she's cooking me dinner, just the two of us…"

"And your looking forward to afters eh" ribbed Holly. "Dad might let me off the leash if I'm out with you Aaron and Adam said he thought you and Jackson were going into town. I really need to get out of here for the night so can I tag along?"

"Erm… well…. Erm". Aaron struggled to find the right words. Well, he knew what he wanted to say – NO! And if he had felt more comfortable, he would have said two's company and all that Holly but instead he said…

"Yeah if you want."

"Great stuff. The folks will be ok with me going out if they know I'm with you and you'll return me safe and sound."

All the excitement he'd been feeling about the evening vanished. Why had he said yes? Not only was she going to be tagging along but he's also have to bring her back to the village which meant Jackson's planned sleep over had also gone out of the window. The only thing he felt now was dread because he was dreading explaining to Jackson how their plans had changed.