All-Talk

"Hey."

"Hey. . . Got the pints so your on the next round"

"Grand, cheers." The conversation was bound to be awkward. This was the first time Aaron and Jackson talked face to face since Aaron got out of prison, apart from the even more awkward interaction at Bar West that night when Aaron met Chris. Aaron picked up the pint that Jackson had just bought him and slugged away at it as a distraction from making conversation. He wanted to say loads to him but wanted Jackson to go first.

"So d'ya pull?" Jackson asked to an intrigued Aaron, who took his mouth away from the rim of the glass for a second.

"Y'what?"

"At Bar West? You said you were pulling. With Adam. Well just you."

"Oh right. Eh, yeah I did. Guy called Chris, nice lad. Bigger 6-pack than you." Aaron grinned then went back to his pint.

Jackson smirked at the idea but dismissed it, and instead smiled at Aaron still thinking of Jackson's body even now after they split. "So are you'se going out now? Like boyfriends?". Aaron's eyes widened. He didn't actually know. Three days ago he met Chris, slept with him, and texted him every day since, while also arranging to meet with him today, in the Woolie, in case things got complicated between him and Jackson. He did like Chris to be honest, and figured he should just say yes because it would probably turn out that way, but his answer was more inspired by the thought of making Jackson jealous.

"We are yeah. Really happy".

"Ha, nice try."

"What!"

"'Really happy'? You would never say something like that. Not in you're nature to be nice", Jackson grinned, and Aaron was initially annoyed, but accepted it as the joke that it was, "you'd never even say that about me when we went out".

"Maybe that's cause you didn't make me happy, like he does. Ever think of that?" Aaron didn't mean to sound so harsh but the comment did take Jackson aback a bit. Jackson looked down at his almost empty beer glass at mumbled something to himself, in an attempt to try and reassure himself what Aaron had said wasn't true.

"Is that why you said you loved me". Aaron heard the comment and looked up at a dejected Jackson who's usually warm, welcoming eyes were now gazing helplessly into his beer glass.

"Jackson, I, I didn't mean it like that. Anyway sure you've moved onto Nikhil ay? He must make you happier than I did, right?"

"Erm ..." Jackson paused, he had sort of zoned out but couldn't find an honest answer, and when he did find the answer, he startled himself, so he decided to lie; "Yeah, he does make me happier yeah. 'Xcuse me, gotta run to the jax". Jackson didn't need to pee, just pull himself together. Although Aaron had expected that answer from Jackson, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.

"Turn that frown upside down eh", a warm voice said from behind him, accompanied by a peck on the cheek. "Where's my beer?" Aaron turned around and because Chris' face was leaning right into his, he decided to lean in and kiss him, just as Jackson was coming out of the bathroom, of course.

"Here, it's my round anyway so I'll get you one too." Aaron ordered the pints and Jackson returned to the bar with Aaron, now one seat down because Chris had wedged himself between the pair. Despite this, Aaron and Jackson still continued their conversation, not paying much attention to Chris, in the middle. They finally started to get back on track. Their conversations were picking up and Jackson was telling him about his work and his lame, but slightly amusing jokes. Within a half an hour they had already re-established their friendship.

"One sec, gotta pee, be right back", Aaron said, downing the rest of his pint and rushing up to go to the loo. He burst through the bathroom door and threw himself at the closest urinal and let it rip. He let out a huge sigh of relief, and when he opened his eyes he realised Nikhil was peeing at the urinal right beside him.

"Enjoying you wee?" Nikhil asked, but Aaron just blanked him, so he continued. "How are things with you and Jackson now?"

"Yeah, good"

"Thats good. Glad to see we can all be friends again"

"Not to burst your bubble there Nikhil, but we were never friends. Have we ever even talked?" He had finished peeing and he now leaned into Nikhil's face, who was now - awkwardly - still letting it flow. "Just because me and Jackson are talking again doesn't make up for the fact that you just walked in and took my man. We technically never ended but then you had to go put your big hairy paws all over it didn't ya." He stormed over to the sinks and washed his hands aggressively, trying to create a dramatic moment, as Aaron generally does.

"Your man?"

"What?"

"You said I walked in on 'your man'. That says a lot about how you feel about Jackson. Not very fair for your boyfriend is it?"

"Look Nikhil, I reckon if you and me are gonna get along, you should just not talk to me, yeah?" He gave his nostrils one final flare, clenched his cheeks, and then stormed out of the bathroom.

Meanwhile all of this had been happening, Jackson finally engaged Chris in conversation while Aaron was in the toilets.

"So you and Aaron huh?"

"Me and Aaron . . ."

"Good boyfriend isn't he?" Chris hadn't notice Jackson's slightly jealous tone in that comment, as if too say, 'I had him first and he was a great boyfriend to me'. Nonetheless, Chris was still angry that Aaron paid more attention to Jackson than him, so decided to challenge Jackson.

"Yeah its great. Thought it might be awkward coming here today with you and him but glad he reassured me last night about his feelings for you."

"What do you mean?"

"Well he was just saying how he doesn't love you anymore. He said he was glad to be over you. Still wants ya as a mate though. But kept asking himself what he was thinking falling in love with you like he did." Jackson's feelings were severely hurt but he didn't want to show this, so he put on a brave face. He didn't realise Chris was only winding him up. Aaron now rejoined them, lightening the mood on his face, so as to pretend he and Nikhil had never been arguing. "Everyone alright?", he asked.

"Yeah, brilliant, aren't we?" Chris grinned at a gloomy Jackson.

Jackson raised his head to see Aaron sit down beside Chris, where Chris put his arm around him. He fought back the tears, as they would be an obvious give-away.

"Yeah, we're great . . ", he lied.