Confrontations

Aaron was on a high from last night. He woke up on top of the most handsome builder in all of Yorkshire. Last night was difficult for him to do, mostly because he hardly expressed himself, so he never knew if he was any good when he finally did. He stroked Jackson's chest with his fingertips and tilted his head back so he could watch the cosy builder sleep, until he was woken up by Aaron's alarm which signalled the start of another day.

Jackson was nicer than usual this morning, and Aaron figured that was because how nice he was to Jackson last night. Maybe he ought to try that more often. He walked to work with his head down, hands in pockets, but the biggest smile on his face.

After work drained a few hours out of him, he went for lunch and was hoping to meet Jackson at the Woolie but he was disappointed when Jackson didn't show. They hadn't made any plans so it wasn't such a letdown, but he still would have liked to have seen Jackson there. On leaving the pub he noticed easy Eve down the road stroking Carl's arm and talking to him. It looked innocent from afar but Aaron knew right well what was going on. Unable to keep his anger to himself, as per usual, he charged up to Carl and confronted him.

"Oi you, keep your 'ands of him. He's taken, isn't that right Carl", Aaron asked inquisitvely, obviously trying to provoke Carl to say yes.

"Alright cool down, we're only having a chat", Eve tried to brush him off, but of course Aaron wasn't having it.

"Don't you have somewhere you should be Aaron?", Carl jeered, not taking any of Aaron's crap as usual.

"Don't you have someone to be with?", Aaron retorted, but Carl refused to play Aaron's games and so turned away to leave.

"Whatever Aaron, see you later Eve. I'd give you a pat on the shoulder but he might have us done for adultery".

"Yeah so instead you just kiss her at the back of the Woolie". Carl now stopped in his tracks and turned back to Aaron. Eve bit her lip and stayed quiet.

"What did you say?" Carl asked.

"You heard me. I saw you and her kissing behind the back of the Woolie. You're having an affair with her aren't you, you filthy geezer!"

"You watch your mouth you", Carl sneered and pointed at Aaron, but Aaron interrupted and grabbed him by the collar of his polo shirt.

"Or what? Or you'll cheat on my mam some more? You're not in a position to make threats are you Carl."

"Oh and like you are, like your relationship is so innocent." Aaron now let go of Carl's collar and took a step back, looking bemused.

"You what?"

"You heard me! You have a go at me for cheating when your boyfriend has been doing the same thing!", Carl remarked smugly, now turning the tables on Aaron.

"No, no he wouldn't. Me and Jackson spent the night last night, he wouldn't".

"Me and Chas spent last night together too." Carl said and winked at Eve, who made a disgusted face at him. Aaron became angry again and moved closer to Carl.

"Don't think you can turn this on me with your lies. Face it Carl you're a lying cheat and when my mam knows she'll have your head."

"Just like you'll have Jackson's head when you realise the truth. I actually feel bad for Jackson because knowing you, you'll probably stick a knife through him."

"You don't know anything about me, or Jackson, now back off!" Aaron threatened.

"I know Jackson has the hots for Nikhil. I also know they kissed yesterday outside of Home Farm."

"Your unbelievable, you know that?", Aaron said in disbelief.

"You're right. I am unbelievable. Maybe you'll believe me more when you see the flowers Jackson so easily accepted from Nikhil."

"You're lying"

"No I'm not, but Jackson is. He's a good liar though. He hid the evidence. Threw the flowers in the bin outside the shop so that you wouldn't see the evidence. Anyway I best get back to work. Have a nice day Aaron", Carl said smugly, then winked Eve a goodbye and took off. Aaron was left stood there looking furious, not knowing what to think.

"So how was your night last night?"

"Nikhil you have to stop doing that or you'll give me a heart attack", Jackson gasped, getting down from a ladder.

"Sorry", Nikhil smiled, "How are you?"

"Yeah, I'm good, and so was last night. Great actually", Jackson said ever so obviously.

"Why what did you do?"

"Nothing. Aaron did something. Actually he did loads, thats why he's such a good boyfriend." Jackson walked past Nikhil because he didn't want to see his face when it sunk in.

"You and Aaron?", was all Nikhil could manage, before throwing in a "Since when?"

"Since he got out of prison. I tried to tell you but you wouldn't let me. And after last night I figured I would just come out and say it."

"Wait, but what about us?" Nikhil asked desperately.

"There is no us, there never was. Just you trying too hard." Jackson noticed Nikhil's head drop in dejection and figured he was being a little hard on him.

"Look", he said, putting his hand on Nikhil's shoulder, "You're a really cool guy and such a gentleman, and you'll make someone very happy some day. But not me. I have Aaron to make me happy, and thats the way its always going to be. I'm really sorry Nikhil."

"Honey, I'm home" Jackson laughed as he came through the Smithy door. The kitchen was pitch black so he flicked on the light, hung his coat by the door, and then turned around to see Aaron sitting at the kitchen table staring at him blankly.

"Got you these", Aaron said coldly, nudging his head to the table where a batch of crumpled and destroyed flowers were laid. Jackson's heart stopped. He didn't exactly know how to explain this but at the same time he didn't know what Aaron thought was going on.

"Even comes with a message. Let me read it out to you:
Jackson, Happy Valentines Day. Love Nikhil x x x"

Aaron threw the card down on to the table aggressively. "Well say something Jackson!", he shouted.

"Aaron look its not what you think", Jackson pleaded.

"Great, you're cheating"

"Aaron I just said its not what you think, listen to me".

"Tell you what Jackson", Aaron snarled as he stood up, taking the bashed flowers in his hand and smacking Jackson with them "Why don't you take these flowers to your little loverboy and forget I ever existed! Looks like you already have". He turned away as a tear filled his eye. Jackson approached him and placed his hands on Aaron's shoulders, saying: "Aaron I love you", but Aaron flung his shoulders back and turned and pointed at Jackson.

"Don't come near me Jackson I swear I could punch you."

"Is violence all you think about?" Jackson moaned.

"I dunno, is Nikhil all you think about?" Aaron retorted.

Jackson sighed. "Look, Aaron, lets sit down and talk, yeah?", Jackson tried to plead, but Aaron shook his head.

"I think you better go", he said, lowering himself back onto the chair at the table.

"But Aaron -"

"I said, I think you better go Jackson. After all I did yesterday. I feel like a right plonker now. I woke up this morning proud of myself for making an effort with you 'cause I thought I'd done pretty well, now I know it was all just a joke while you were off bumming Nikhil. I bet you'se got a good laugh out of me and all".

"Aaron what you did last night for me was the best thing you could have ever done."

"Obviously not enough."

"Aaron, nothing is going on between me and Nikhil you have to believe me!", Jackson shouted. Aaron raised his head at him with wide, tear-filled eyes.

"So you didn't kiss him yesterday then?" He caught Jackson out, as he didn't answer the question.

"Well Jackson, say something! I knew it, you did kiss him".

"He kissed me actually."

Aaron shook his head incredulously. "Oh and that makes it better does it? Get out Jackson."

"Aaron I'm not going anyw-"

"I SAID GET OUT!" Aaron screamed as he boosted himself up off his seat and pushed a reluctant Jackson closer to the door. He opened it aggressively and shoved Jackson out in a forceful push which knocked Jackson on his ass outside the door. Before Jackson had a chance to beg for Aaron to listen, the door was already slammed in his face. He got up, wiped the dirt off his jeans subconsciously and stared blankly at the Smithy door for a few minutes - frozen - as if he had just stopped working. When his heart finally decided to start beating again his eyes filled up, but his mouth still stood wide open in shock. He went back to his van and sat in it for five minutes until he gained enough composure to drive home.

Aaron punched the door in anger. Then he rubbed his lips with his fingers and turned around, addressing the flowers on the table by hauling them up and flinging them at the wall with an "Aargh". Then he flung his back against the cottage door and sunk down to the ground, wrapped his arms around his legs, and rested his head on his knees so his jeans could soak up the tears that were streaming from his face.