Runaway
Part 2
Paddy could be such an old woman at times, his fussing and 'little chats' did his head in. He'd said he was worried about him well when wasn't he? He was forever giving him cause to be concerned about him. Well he was going to have to learn to stop fretting over him, realise it was a waste of time...finally realise that he was a waste of time... a complete waste of time!
He'd made for the bus stop, he'd go to work but he wouldn't go home... to the Smithy, he knew he was going to have stop thinking about it as home; he was going to have to move out. Paddy had another 'son' now, one he really did need to worry over, one he needed to spend more time with. He knew Rhona resented the time Paddy spent with him, the time he spent running after him. He couldn't blame her, he was a disruptive presence in her home, he was making them both unhappy, causing arguments between them, he didn't want that.
By the time he'd reached the bus stop he was regretting the damage he'd done to Paddy's car, he couldn't quite believe he'd taken his anger out on it like that...then again he could, that was him to a T! Get angry, lose control, hit out. He was reverting back to type, the old Aaron Livesy. The one no one liked including himself. Well people could hate him all they wanted, he didn't care, he didn't care about anything anymore.
He'd been lost in thought, aware of a car stopping in front of him but not of whose car it was, it was only when the driver got out did he take notice, it was Paddy.
"Get in the fuckin' car, NOW!"
Paddy rarely swore and never at him, he rarely raised his voice to him either but he'd just done both and it had thrown him and he found himself obeying the order. Once back in the car Paddy had put his foot down on the accelerator and sped away, the miles passing quickly and in silence. When they were just short of Emmerdale Paddy had slowed down and pulled into a lay-by, switching off the car engine to then eye him determinedly.
"I want you to have some counselling, and I'm not taking no for an answer. I love you and I'm not letting you destroy yourself."
He'd bit back on his reply, swallowed his protests, the 'I love you' bit had got to him, it always did. Why didn't those three words trip so easily off his own tongue?
"Aaron?"
"Alright." He'd let Paddy believe he'd agreed to counselling, he had no intention of going though, he hated the idea of talking to a stranger more than he hated talking to someone he knew, someone he trusted. What good would it do anyway, he was beyond help.
"Good, I'll arrange it today, get you seen asap..."
He let Paddy prattle on, the older man taking his silence for agreement. He'd finally got around to the damage he'd done to his car, letting him know he expected him to fix it. He'd nodded his head, of course he'd fix it, it would have to be in his own time though, Cain didn't do freebees.
Paddy seemingly satisfied with what had passed between them had then driven them home, as they'd got out the car he'd told him to go get a shower, that he stank like a brewery... and to make sure he ate something before he went to work. He was at it again, fussing over him, Pearl would have likened him to a mother hen, the same couldn't be said about Rhona, not this morning anyway. She was standing in the doorway, giving him a reproachful look. As he'd stepped past her into the hallway she'd opened her mouth and let her feelings on his latest blow out be known. He'd ignored her, carried on up the stairs, having to admit to himself that everything she'd said was true. By the time he'd reached his bedroom door he could hear Paddy defending him, he knew that would result in an argument between the two of them, it always did, he was the only thing they argued over these days. He'd taken the much needed shower, the jets of water temporarily drowning out the sound of their voices. Twenty minutes later they were still arguing, it sounded a lot more heated now though. He dressed quickly, wanting to get away from there, from the ugliness that was again all his doing. As he'd made his way downstairs he realised Rhona knew what he'd done to the car. She was going on about him losing control, that it could just as easily have been Paddy's head that he'd kicked in, that he'd beaten him up before, who was to say he wouldn't do it again or turn on her or Leo?
That had brought him up short. He wouldn't hurt Rhona, he wouldn't hurt Leo he was just a baby...but then he was capable of anything when he lost his head!
Paddy had reacted badly to that idea, shooting his girlfriends concerns down in flames; they were really going at it now, hammer and tongues, saying things he knew they would both later regret. Well it would definitely be the last row they had because of him; he'd make sure of that. He couldn't stomach anymore, it was making him feel sick, just like the recent rows he'd had with Hazel and his mum had done, so he let himself out of the house unheard.
As he'd made his way down the hill to work he told himself there was only one way to end the misery he was causing everyone and that was to put as many miles as he could between him and them.
He was going to have to leave Emmerdale and for good.
He had some money saved, not much, hardly anything in fact but he knew where he could get his hands on some, desperate times called for desperate measures... it wouldn't be the first time he'd stolen what he needed.
TBC
