'Aaron Livesy are you here?' the karaoke host's voice boomed. The crowd's loud chatters quietened down as they searched the room for him. Outside the cubical door he heard the toilet door open and slam. Uh-oh they were coming to get him, whoever they were.

'Aaron?'

it was Adam.

'Aaron I know you're there so just listen to me, OK?. OK, I know that this is an absolute nightmare for you and I know how much you hate doing things like this but you need to relax, OK?'

his voice was so soothing, Aaron's shoulders began to relax.

'Aaron, I hate mice you know that. And my worst nightmare would be to walk out of here to a room full of mice. Now could you imagine me?'

Aaron smiled at the thought, Adam would probably run a mile screaming like a girl if he saw a mouse.

'Yeah, well, I would be right here where you are now and nothing in the world would bring me out. Anyway, Aaron, all I'm saying is you don't have to do this if you don't want to. Nobody is forcing you...'

'Ladies and gentlemen, let's let Aaron know that he's up next!' yelled the DJ.

Everybody began to stamp there feet and chant his name.

'OK, well nobody who cares about you anyway,' stammered Adam. 'But if you don't do this I know you will never be able to forgive yourself because Jackson wanted this and he obviously had his reasons. Lets just put this down as another silly Aaron day and we can laugh at it in a few months time yeah?'

He came out of the cubical and charged straight for the door. He knew Adam was right, he wouldn't forgive himself. He would feel like he has letting Jackson down. And he didn't really care what the crowd thought about his singing, it's unlikely that he would see any of them again.

Aaron had everybody's attention now, if he hadn't hid in the toilet like he did then the people at the back probably wouldn't be paying any attention but he had so all eyes were on him.

There was complete silence as the music started. He stared down at the table where his family were and cleared his throat.

With an extremely shaky and timid voice he sang. ' "What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me?'"

His family howled with laughter at the choice of song. To help him along Hazel started to sing along to the chorus with him. This encouraged the rest of his family to sing and even a few of the crowd joined in. ' "Ooh, I'll get by with a little help from my friends; yes I'll get by with a little help from my friends.'"

when he had finally finished singing the DJ took the microphone from him and between laughs managed to say 'please give it up for Aaron'.

'That was terrible mate' Adam said 'But I'm proud of you and Jackson would be too'

he just smiled at him and looked at Hazel.

'Thanks for helping me' he said to her and she smiled at him.

His mum waved at him from the bar and took a picture. He just hid in the corner drinking his pint.

Hazel shuffled over to him and sat quietly for a while listening to the next act on stage. Eventually she plucked up the courage and turned to Aaron with tears in her eyes. 'Jackson's probably here you know.'Poor Hazel, she missed her boy so much.

She was right though Aaron thought. He could feel him, he could feel him wrapping his arms around him and giving him one of his hugs that he missed so much.

Daniel took to the stage to announce the winners. 'OK, I would like to thank everyone for taking part in tonight's competition. You provided us all with some terrific entertainment. So the two people that will be going through to the final stage are...Keith and Samantha!'

'I voted for Keith' Chas announced.

'Yeah that's because he is cute' Rhona laughed.

'Well we all have our individual talents'. Adam agreed.

Aaron wondered what his were. It must be wonderful to win something, to know that you have a gift. He had never won anything in his life. He didn't really have any hobbies and didn't do any sport or anything. Aaron had lived his life being interested in Jackson. In fact, everything he did revolved around him. In a way, being his boyfriend was all he was good at really. (in the end anyway he thought). Now what did he have...Jackson was no longer around and he couldn't even sing in a karaoke competition properly...never mind win it.

Aaron looked around the club. Adam and Mia sat gazing into each others eyes like two love struck teenagers, Hazel, Paddy and Rhona had left and his mum...where was his mum. He spotted her sitting on the edge of the stage swinging her legs and striking a very provocative pose for the karaoke host.

Aaron was alone. As much as he wanted to leave them all too it he knew that he had to stay, there would be plenty of times in the future when he would be alone like this, the only singleton in the company of couples and he needed to adapt. He felt angry that they hadn't even noticed him but then cursed himself. He couldn't have asked for more supportive friends and family. Maybe this was Jackson's intention. Maybe that this situation was what he needed. Maybe he thought this would help him. Perhaps he was right because he was certainly being tested. This was forcing him to be brave in more ways than one. He had sung to hundreds of people and now he was stuck in a room full of couples. Whatever his plan was, he was being forced to become braver without him.

Aaron was getting bored now and was just about ready to leave when Daniel came over.

'Can I get you a drink, Aaron?'

'No thanks, I'm heading home now'

'Ah, Aaron!' Adam protested, you can't go yet. Get him a pint' he said as he turned to face Daniel.

Before Aaron could protest he had already left for the bar.

Adam and Mia had made there way over to the dance floor before Daniel came back.

'where's Adam gone' he asked.

'over there' Aaron said pointing to the dance floor.

'Ah well more drinks for you then' Daniel said sliding a shot glass across the table.

'Ugh, what's this?'

Daniel looked away awkwardly 'I can't remember'

'Oh, come on! I had to stand in front of a few people and make a fool of myself. The least I deserve is to know what I'm drinking!'

Daniel looked at him with a smile on his face. 'it's called a BJ. You should have seen the bar man's face when I asked for one. I don't think he knew it was a shot!. Adam suggested it, something about it being an easy drink to swallow.'

Aaron just laughed at that, trust Adam..

'So..if you don't mind me asking. If you hate singing so much, why did you enter?.

'Oh my hilarious boyfriend thought it would be a good idea to enter me into a singing competition.'

Daniel laughed. 'is he here tonight then.' he asked. 'I don't want him thinking I'm poisoning you with this awful concoction.'

Aaron looked around. 'yeah he is definitely here...somewhere.' he smiled.