Disclaimer - The characters in this story or Emmerdale don't belong to me they belong to ITV
Chapter Two
Aaron waited outside bar west for 15 minute before Jackson arrived in his van, as Aaron stepped in he could tell Jackson had been crying and this made his heart ache, the thought of him doing this to someone he clearly cared about made him angry, angry with himself.
With Aaron now in the van they drove off, the first few miles in silence
'J… J… J… Jackson I'm sorry that I bottled up when you said you loved me, I just needed some time to think. Nobody has ever said that to me and I felt uneasy about the whole situation, not because it was you but because it was what you said I didn't know how to react to those words, and I didn't want to do or say anything stupid which is why I ran'
As Jackson listened to the words coming out of Aaron's mouth he thought for a while, in silence
Aaron sensed the awkward silence and asked Jackson to say something, but Jackson just concentrated on the road and moors ahead of him.
Aaron knew then there was no salvaging the damage that he caused, and he spent the rest of the journey home desperately trying to keep his emotions in and not break down crying in the van and Jackson did exactly the same.
About twenty minutes later they pulled up outside smithy cottage and both jumped out the van, Aaron going into the cottage and Jackson heading to the woopack.
Aaron looked back at Jackson and realised he had totally screwed things up between them and headed in doors. As he sat on the sofa head in his hands he thought of how he hadn't been able to repeat back to Jackson what Jackson had said to him and realised how hurt he must of felt, the thought of Jackson with so many unanswered question made Aaron fill up and sob.
Meanwhile back at the woolpack, Jackson entered and went straight to the bar,
'Pint please Diane'
As Jackson sat at the bar pondering on the nights events he felt a comforting arm around his shoulders and looked around to see his mums sympathetic and comforting face.
'I said to myself… I said hazel that does not look like the face of a man who has just had the best night out with his absolutely gorgeous hunky mechanic of a boyfriend does it?'
'Leave it mum' Jackson replied
'Come on my precious boy, what's happened? Or should I say what's he done now?'
'HE hasn't done anything' sharply defending his lover
'it's me I pushed him away' Jackson said quietly.
As Jackson stared aimlessly into his glass hazel could not help but think Jackson had really fallen for Aaron and hard…
'You really love him don't you my boy?'
'Yes', Jackson said with a sense of loss in his voice
'Well why don't you tell him how you feel?' hazel piped up ever so enthusiastically
'already did and that's the problem that's what pushed him away, I told him the other day and he ran a mile it came up tonight in conversation and he said he's never heard it said to him before so panicked as he didn't want to do anything or say anything stupid which is why he ran'
'well my boy the fact that he ran because he didn't want to say or do something stupid tells me that he wanted to protect you from his outburst which in turn means he has feelings for you but is scared to show them'
'Mum, can you just leave it, were over... end of and I don't think I'll come home tonight, might just stop at Declan's'
'But Jackson you will be freezing you ca…..'
'Mum' Jackson interrupted
'I have some sheets I use when painting and I have the portable heater so I will be fine, if not I'll ask Andy if I can stop at his tonight'
'But Jackson just come home and sort this mess out… please for me?' Hazel pleaded
'I think we both need some time to think things through and decide where this is heading mum, I can't vouch for Aaron but I now I do'
'He needs to decide if he's gonna grow up and not reason with his fists all the time and I need to know whether I can cope with his tempers whenever there is the slightest bit of trouble and whether I can actually calm him' Jackson proclaimed with an eerie sense to his voice as if he already knew it was over between him and Aaron and neither of them could sort out their differences.
'Okay my boy but you be careful and come home first thing and I will have a lovely hot bath run and a full English cooked for you!
'Think I'll wait till Aarons gone out if that's alright? Don't think I could face seeing him just yet!'
As hazel looked at her boy so hurt and destroyed by the man he loved she kissed his head and left knowing he wanted to be by himself.
