Lie About Us

Disclaimer - Emmerdale & its characters do not belong to me, they belong to ITV

He was being ignored. That was the conclusion that Jackson had come to at five o'clock on Saturday night. One hour before he had to be in Bar West for his date with Frank but it wasn't Frank that was ignoring him, oh no, Frank had text him twice already, no, it was Aaron that was ignoring him. He was being childish, again.

From the around half past one the afternoon before, just after their blissful night and morning together Aaron had stormed out of the apartment and he hadn't spoken to him since. Jackson had tried calling of course, more than once but he was being ignored and now it seemed as if Aaron had turned his phone off because it was going straight to voicemail. Jackson knew what he was up to of course, he always did. The mechanic was hoping to make him feel bad, bad enough that he would cancel his date just to run and make sure he was alright. Well Jackson isn't a stupid man and Aaron isn't a kid. He's not about to run after him, he's done it one too many times before. So instead Jackson has decided to let Aaron man up, to see just how the mechanic reacts when he starts dating someone more than twice. Part of him is hoping that it will be enough to spur his lover into action, action of the coming out variety and he just hoped that by the time Aaron did gather up the courage to come out that he hadn't moved on. He couldn't see it happening, his feelings for the mechanic ran deep but still... He was sure stranger things had happened.

He'd stayed out of the way since yesterday though, avoided the pub and the numerous phone calls from his friends in the village. He didn't want to put him or Aaron in a tough position where they would have to make small talk just to make it look like there wasn't something wrong between the two of them when there was. No, until Aaron had calmed down Jackson's plan was to stay well clear.

He had a date to get to.

Xxx

He was early, not by much but he was early but it didn't matter because Frank was already sat at the bar with two beers in front of him clearly waiting on the builder. Jackson couldn't help but smile at the sight and he made straight for the other man. Touching the small of his back as he neared to alert him to his presence before slipping in next to him "Hi" Frank said, a smile gracing his features, a smile that Jackson couldn't help but return.

"Been waiting long?"

"Just got here" Frank tells him "ordered the beers"

"Thought it was my round?"

Frank shrugs "You can buy the next two rounds if it makes you feel better?"

"Done" Jackson agrees with a nod of his head "should we find a table?"

Frank scans the crowds for a free table "I see on!" he says "we've gotta be quick" with that he takes off through the crowds to secure them a table and Jackson smiles. He likes this guy; he's funny, cute, kind, caring... He's out the closet, he would be good for him and he chose to ignore the nagging little voice at the back of his head that said 'He's not Aaron' he didn't want to think about Aaron. Shaking his thoughts away he followed Frank through the crowds towards what was now their table.

By the time eight o'clock as come they've downed a couple more pints and are waiting for the pool table to become available, their next in line for it.

"JACKSON!" a loud voice calls over the music and Jackson knows instantly who the voice belongs to, he smiled to himself as Sol, one of his friends, and a couple more of his friends make their way towards him "Didn't tell us you were coming here tonight" Sol complains before resting his eyes on Frank "Oh" he says, his eyes widening and he's elbowing one of the other guys "Jackson has a date, this is new"

Jackson glares at him and shakes his head. It was true though, as far as his mates were concerned he hadn't had a date in a long time. No one knew about Aaron, just the way Aaron wanted it. "Yeah, yeah" he says rolling his eyes at his friend

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" Sol asks and Jackson thinks it through for a minute before saying "No" with a huge grin on his face. Frank who was sat beside him dipped his head and laughed before addressing Jackson's friends "I'm Frank" he says nodding at each of them "Nice to meet you"

"Mind if we join?" Sol asks all ready slipping onto a stool

"Actually..." Jackson begins to say as Frank talks over him "No, course not. More the merrier, we're just about to play pool"

"Great!" Sol exclaims "Jay's round?" he asks looking at one of the other guy's in the group. Jay shakes his head at his friend but heads towards the bar anyway.

Jackson turns to Frank "Why'd you say yes?"

Frank smiles at him as he explains "Got to get to know your mates sooner or later right? Can't have them not liking me"

Jackson was taken aback, this guy was clearly trying to make an effort with his friends, so that if whatever they were doing did develop that he knew his friends. Aaron wouldn't do that. Whenever his friends were in the village Aaron made sure to stay far away. He was liking Frank more and more.

"Table's free" Frank says slipping away from the table and not noticing the look that the builder was currently sporting. He was impressed.

By eleven o'clock they were standing outside Bar West waiting on a taxi. Frank was on call the following day so he didn't want to be out late or get too drunk just in case and Jackson agreed to wait for a taxi with him, share it with him. Before he knew what was going on Jackson found himself being backed up against the wall outside the bar and Frank was kissing him, it took seconds before he responded, why shouldn't he respond he asked himself.

Between kisses "Come... Back... To... Mine" Frank asked, making his intentions clear by pressing against the builder. Jackson groaned out loud. He wanted to but... He wasn't the type to sleep with someone on the third date.

"I don't sleep with guys on the third date" he explains "Doesn't mean I don't want to"

"Do I get a fourth date then?"

"Course" Jackson smiled at him "and a fifth"

"Hmmm" Frank replied, thinking "I guess I can wait, waiting makes me seem less like a slut"

"Are you a slut?" Jackson asks with a laugh as he rearranged his clothes and the two of them make for the taxi rank.

"Not anymore" the other man explains "When I was younger but... I'm all for relationships these days"

"Me too"

"I'm hopeful" Frank says just as they reach a taxi "Cause I quite like you"

"I quite like you too" Jackson admits and he wasn't lying. He did like him, he really liked him but Aaron was always there in the back of his head. He had to get rid of Aaron's voice in his head telling him that he wanted him more. It was right though, he did but he was going to fix that because if Aaron wouldn't come out then he wasn't about to sit around waiting. Getting into the taxi with Frank Jackson made a decision, he was going to try and make a go with things with Frank, see where they ended up, see what Aaron would do about it because he knew, he couldn't lie to himself, if him seeing Frank couldn't make Aaron come out then nothing would.

Xxx

Half an hour later Jackson was stood in his bathroom washing up, he was brushing his teeth when the mark left on his neck and shoulder by Aaron caught his eye. Had Frank seen it? He wasn't sure. He had tried to hide it earlier on with the collar of his shirt and whilst out he had forgotten its existence. Had it ridden down and Frank had been able to see the marks? If he had noticed he hadn't mentioned them but why would he? They weren't seeing each other properly and they could have been left over from ages ago, although they did look rather new.

Aaron. He missed him. He wondered how he was, if he was alright. He wondered a lot of things, he just wanted the mechanic to call him, text him anything really but he wasn't going to be the one to make the first move this time, this time Aaron was in the wrong, not him.

Xxx

Two days later, lunch time and Jackson was making his way into the cafe and he wasn't really watching where he was going which was the exact reason he failed to notice Aaron coming out at the same time. Neither of them was paying attention and they only noticed the other when their bodies literally collided with each other.

"Sorry"

"Sorry" they mumbled simultaneously as they looked up to see who they had bumped into, both sets of eyes widening when they see exactly who it is.

"Excuse me" Jackson says attempting to step around the mechanic but Aaron isn't having it and he blocks him, Jackson moves to the right and again Aaron blocks him "stop being childish"

"Stop avoiding me"

"I haven't been avoiding you" Jackson points out "I had a date on Saturday" he doesn't miss the way Aaron's face scrunches up in distaste as he says that part "and yesterday, well, I had stuff to do"

"You're always in the pub for a drink on a Sunday"

"Well I wasn't yesterday"

"Cause you were avoiding me"

"Believe it or not Aaron my life doesn't revolve around you!" he barked at the younger man, sick of his accusations and he didn't want to admit that a part of him, a part of his life revolved around Aaron "now excuse me, I'm on lunch and you're not taking up all of it with your childish behaviour"

He had just stepped away from the mechanic when he heard him say "Can I buy you lunch?" he turned to find Aaron's deep blue eyes watching him expectantly and against his better judgement he agreed "I'm not one to turn down a free lunch, am i?"

"No" Aaron agreed with a smile as he turned on his heel and followed Jackson inside the cafe "What do you want?" he asks as the builder finds them a table in the corner. Jackson gives him his order and he heads to the counter to order.

Five minutes later and Bob has given them their order and left them alone. The silence is deafening and Jackson isn't about to make things easier for the mechanic. He had to fix this mess, not the other way around.

"Are we good?" Aaron asks after a few moments "I mean... I'm sorry about the other day"

"Yeah, we're good" Jackson says with a smile. He wants to make Aaron work for it a little more, really he does but those blue eyes always make him cave. They way Aaron's eyes light up at his words makes his stomach flip in the way only Aaron can achieve.

"I wanna kiss you" Aaron admits and Jackson is slightly taken aback by that. It wasn't like Aaron to admit that in such a public place, where people could hear.

"Then kiss me"

Aaron rolls his eyes and Jackson scoffs, it was worth a try but he knew Aaron wouldn't kiss him. Twenty minutes later, once lunch was over Jackson stood from the chair "thanks for lunch, I better be getting back"

"I'll walk you out"

Once outside Jackson knows Aaron wants to ask about his date and Jackson wants to lay things on the line, tell them exactly where they are "I'm still dating this guy Aaron. That's not going to change"

Aaron's less than pleased about it but he nods anyway.

"I don't know what's going to happen but..."

"But if you start seeing him, seeing him then we're over. I know the drill"

"I've got to get back to work" Jackson says, throwing the mechanic a quick smile before getting back into his van and driving off.

Xxx

Aaron stands just outside the cafe and watches as Jackson's van pulls out of the village, he knows that he's losing him. Slowly, he's losing him. He doesn't know anything about this Frank guy but already he hates him. Already he never wants to see him, meet him but he knew that sooner or later he would be doing just that. He didn't want that day to come. He wants to come out, really he does. He wants to be with Jackson and not care who knows and he thinks he's getting there but he's just not completely sure when he'll get there fully. Sooner rather than later he hoped though because if he didn't get there before he lost Jackson, well, he'd never get there.

Xxx

That very night Jackson found himself in the Woolpack, the regulars were there and Victoria was behind the bar with Aaron and Adam sat at the side laughing, Adam noticed him first and waved him over.

"Where have you been this weekend?" Adam asks

"I've had stuff to do" Jackson tells him "Did you miss me?"

"Course!" Adam grins "I've had to put him with him and her" he says pointing between Aaron and Victoria.

"You've clearly had stuff to do" Victoria says as she reaches over the bar and pulls at his collar "What's this? A love bite?"

Jackson pulls away "Victoria!" he scolds but she's just grinning at him and demanding details.

"Did the guy from the date the other night give you that?"

Jackson just pulls a face and she narrows her eyes "I'll get it out of you" she warns him "Pint?" he nods and he can't help but notice the way Aaron is glaring at him. What was his problem?

Adam had gone to the toilet and Victoria was serving and Jackson took his moment to confront Aaron "What's wrong with you?"

"Where'd you get the mark on your neck?" he demanded to know "You sleeping with him already?"

"No!" Jackson barked "You put them there... Remember?"

He could vaguely remember something along those lines and he shrugged apologetically "Sorry, touchy on the subject of you and... Well, you know"

"Yeah I know" Jackson agrees "But I'm not sleeping with him"

Aaron nods, a small smile on his face. A smile that quickly disappears when he says "...Yet" but they don't have chance to discuss because Adam reappears and a few other people join them at the bar and instead of focusing on each other they spend time having good time with their friends.

They sit at opposite ends of the table, Jackson choosing to be as far away from Aaron as he possibly could. The mechanic wouldn't take his eyes off of him though, he was glaring at him every chance he got and Jackson knew exactly why. It was because of what he said just before they were joined by the others.

Aaron had left to go to the toilet and whist he had Adam had gotten up from his spot at the side of Jackson, giving Aaron the perfect opportunity to sit next to him on his return.

"That's my seat"

Aaron looks up to see Adam standing over him "My seat is free"

"I want to sit there"

Aaron shrugs, he wasn't about to move because he had to talk to Jackson "I'm not sitting beside your sister any longer" the mechanic points out and the farmer rolls his eyes and slides into Aaron's free seat.

"What are you doing?" Jackson asks, turning his full attention to the mechanic, making sure to keep his voice low.

"What did you mean yet?"

"What do you think I meant?"

"You can't sleep with him"

"Why not?"

"Cause I said" Aaron says simply with a shrug "You can't sleep with him"

"I think you're forgetting Aaron that I can sleep with who I want... I don't have boyfriend"

"What am I? Chopped liver?"

Jackson can't help but roll his eyes "I'm your dirty little secret" he reminds the mechanic "which makes you my... I don't even know what"

Jackson was aware of the pain in the younger man's at his eyes words but he couldn't let it bother him. Aaron was the problem, Aaron and his refusal to come out and the fact that they had to run around stealing moments here and there.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah" Jackson confirms with a nod and a couple of seconds later he has to watch as Aaron gets up, makes his way around the bar and grabs hold of Victoria. He whispers something in her ear which makes her grin and she shoves him. Jackson's eyes narrow, he can guess what the mechanic is saying to her and two seconds later Victoria has left Alicia minding the bar and Aaron is pulling her through the back.

Jackson downs his pint and quickly orders another; he plans to get very, very drunk.

Xxx

A/N - Reviews are always welcome, wanted and appreciated.