Chapter 21

As they entered the Woolpack, the place was already busy with people having drinks and sitting at tables having supper. Aaron noticed Cain walking towards the bar with his empty pint glass.

"Evening, gents!" Cain said as he saw the boys walk in.

"Hey, Cain, what's up?" Aaron responded casually as he and Jackson walked up to the bar.

"Moira, pint please," Cain said as he put his glass on the counter and he added, "and Aaron's paying."

"Why am I paying?" He was surprised. "You rake in big money, you should be paying for my pint!"

"Oh should I? Well," he said, leaning in closer to Aaron, "as I recall, you owe me one for services rendered." He looked at him then down towards his knee, his eyebrows raised, his usual smirk on his face.

"Got it." Aaron smiled, a little redness creeping on his face. "Moira, two pints, please, and I'll take care of Cain's, too. Oh, and can we have a couple of menus, please?"

"Coming up, boys. Go sit and I'll bring everything over," Moira replied looking between Aaron's pink face and Cain's smirk.

"Did I miss something?" Jackson asked, a bit lost after watching this ambiguous conversation.

"It's nothing," Aaron said, "come on, let's grab a table." He wanted to walk away from there as quickly as possible so that he wouldn't have to explain himself. He figured he might have to at some point, but now was not really the time.

They sat at a table in a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes of the regulars. Shortly after, Moira brought the pints and the menus. Jackson thanked her and inquired about tonight's special. Some kind of pork roast with grilled vegetables and chips. Sounded good, two specials were quickly ordered.

"So, what was that nothing you were talking about?" Jackson asked, looking straight into Aaron's eye. Aaron was slightly uncomfortable, they had talked about the scar when they were on Tancook Island and as far as he was concerned, the subject was behind him, especially after what Jackson had told him last weekend in Beaumaris when he saw him wondering about which shorts to wear. For Aaron, the subject was closed. He didn't want to reopen it and have to tell Jackson about the conversation with Cain, because at that time, Aaron had been an idiot for even thinking Jackson wouldn't like him as much because of the scar and the occasional limp.

He still wasn't sure about telling Jackson, but after hesitating for a minute or two, enough time to take a few satisfying swigs from his lager, he decided to be the adult he should be and tell him. Maybe not everything, but enough to satisfy his boyfriend's curiosity. That way, he wouldn't be lying, he would just not be saying everything.

"It's to do with the scar on my knee. I was a bit down one day, not long after physio and all, and Cain asked what was the matter with me. I told him exactly what I told you when we were on Tancook Island. He talked to me and helped me sort myself out. And he charged me a pint for his counselling services!"

"Cain? He gave you that kind of advice? You serious?" Jackson couldn't hide his surprise.

"Yeah, he did, and you shouldn't sound so surprised, he thinks the world of you."

"I see, and that's it?" Jackson asked. "Then why was he so hush-hush when he spoke at the bar?"

"Well, at the time, I felt like a real idiot and I asked him not to tell anyone about our conversation, especially you."

Jackson was eyeing him, wondering what to say. At the end, he wasn't going to say much, but he was going to tease his boyfriend a bit, the opportunity was too good to miss. "Aaron, we've talked about this and you know how I feel about you, your ugly mug, your big scar, warts and all…"

"Jackson!" Aaron interrupted, shocked, but pretty sure he was just winding him up. "This was a serious worry of mine at the time." He was doing a half-ass job at feigning being hurt.

"I know, I'm just winding you up." He became more serious, "I understand what you're saying and it's fine. I'm glad you were able to talk to Cain. After all, he's your uncle and you guys work together every day, you're in business together. You don't need to worry anymore about it, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know. Thanks for being so understanding with me. But… erm… seriously, I don't have warts, do I?" Aaron was genuinely worried now and the look on his face was priceless.

Jackson burst out laughing, spitting some of the beer he had in his mouth. "None that you can see, sweetheart!"

"Oi, you! You're such a wind-up merchant!"

"Only with you, because I love you so much." Jackson smiled.

They enjoyed supper and they were now enjoying their second lager. Aaron was thinking about the conversation he, Jackson, Brian and Mark had on the way back from Beaumaris about Mark and Brian's volunteer work with the shelter. There was something that triggered his interest in what they were doing. He didn't know what just yet, but he thought it was a great thing to do and that maybe someone in those classrooms benefited from hearing their story. That's something that should make them feel good.

"A penny for them," Jackson said as he looked at Aaron lost in thoughts.

Aaron looked up, "I was thinking about what we talked about in the car on the way back Sunday, you know, the stuff that Brian and Mark do in schools."

"Are you really? Are you interested by that?"

"Are you?" Aaron came back quickly.

"I asked you first," Jackson said with his eyes bright and a smile on his face. He knew he had cornered Aaron and he would have to admit that he might want to do something like that.

"Well, yeah, I guess. I don't know. It's a big thing to go talk about that and I'm not sure if I'm ready but, at the same time, I'm thinking there's probably a whole bunch of kids like me, who feel the same way I felt and can't get their heads around being gay, let alone come out to their parents or their mates."

"I think it's fantastic that you're thinking about it, I'm impressed. Again, Aaron, you surprise me."

"Shut up!" Aaron replied, a small smile on his lips.

"No, I'm serious. I never thought you'd feel up to doing that kind of work, but I'm really pleased that you're thinking about it. I would go up with you, we could do it together."

"Well, that's good then, 'cause there's no way I'd stand there on my own in front of a classroom full of teenagers looking at me," he said with a chuckle.

"You wouldn't be alone, the teacher would be there and the person from the shelter. But anyway, we should check with Brian and Mark and see how we can get the ball rolling. Or do you want to think about it a bit more?"

Even if Aaron had been thinking about this a lot since Sunday, he still wasn't sure. But at the end of it, he figured they could contact their friends and let them know they were interested. The rest would then be sorted if they decided to go ahead.

"Let's do it! Let's call them and see what happens."

Jackson was impressed and the smile he gave him said so. He never thought Aaron would make such a bold move but he was definitely going to be there with him and support him. Well, since they were both going to be there, Aaron will obviously support him, too. Jackson might be more outgoing and more confident, but he had never done this, so he, too, would be nervous in front of the classroom full of teens who would have eyes only for them. Oh, and questions! God, what kind of questions would they have?

The following Friday, they decided to head to Bar West for a night out. They hadn't been there for quite a while and thought it a great idea. They called Brian and Mark to see if they were interested, and the four of them agreed to meet there around 8:30 for drinks and pool.

The place was buzzing with the weekend crowd, young and old, the cruisers, the lookers, the wallflowers, and those who didn't really fit into any category because they just hopped from one bar to the next without giving the regulars enough time to categorize them.

Aaron and Jackson arrived first and found a spot actually not too far from the pool table. It was perfect, they would be able to keep an eye on it so they could put their money down and get their turn at playing. There were already a few quid lined up.

They had ordered their drinks and were keeping an eye on the entrance to see when their friends would arrive. Mark and Brian entered around 8:45 and Jackson spotted them. After settling down, Jackson asked them what they wanted, "My treat," he said. Brian went for a lager, as expected, and Mark went for a glass of red wine after noticing that Jackson had chosen that. "And not the cheap stuff either," he said to Jackson, a smile on his face.

"Only the best for you, my friend," Jackson replied with a wink.

He walked away to get the drink. In the meantime, Aaron, Brian and Mark started chatting about their week, checking out the guys who were playing at the pool table and generally being silly. They were tired after a long week of work.

Jackson came back with the drinks and they settled comfortably, enjoying each other's company. The four friends always had a good time when they went out and tonight was no exception. Mark was checking the pool table to see when their turn would come up. As he looked over, two young men were starting a game, two really good looking young men. He didn't remember seeing them here before. One looked slightly familiar, but he didn't know why.

"Jackson, look at these two guys," Mark said, tilting his head in the direction of the pool table. "Aside from both being quite cute, one of them looks a bit familiar, the blondish one. Have you seen him before?"

"I have, actually." Turning quickly to Aaron, he tapped on his arm, "Look who's playing pool." Aaron looked up and a big smile broke on his face. After explaining to Mark and Brian who the lad was, Aaron slipped off his seat and walked behind Ray, leaning close to him while he was preparing to take a shot, "There's no way you can make that shot without cheating," he said, startling the young man who actually missed his shot.

"Crap!" he exclaimed. "Aaron, you made me miss this great shot, I could have pocketed two balls," he said trying to make it sound like this was the shot of his life.

"Yeah, as if!" Aaron retorted, teasing. "Ray, good to see you again, and here, and… with someone?" he asked with a smile and glancing quickly at the other young man with him.

"Yes, with someone." Turning to his new boyfriend, he motioned to him to come over, he wanted him to meet Aaron. "Scott, I want you to meet a great guy and great friend, Aaron Livesy. Aaron, this is my boyfriend, Scott Campbell."

"Really nice to meet you, Scott." Aaron said as he shook his hand. "Look, I don't want to hold you up. Finish your game and then come over to our table and you'll meet our friends. We'll have a drink together, please?"

Looking at Scott for confirmation, he nodded his head. "We'd like that. Thanks."

Scott Campbell was eighteen years old. Having repeated a year, he was now in his last year of Sixth Form. He wanted to go to college so he was working hard. He was raised in a strict religious environment, his parents were practising catholics. He had been struggling with his sexuality for a few years now, and actually plucking up the courage to walk into Bar West several months ago was an enormous accomplishment for him. He didn't share his parents' religious fervour, not because religion wasn't good or valid, but because he couldn't understand this message of love and compassion that the Church was sending, yet it couldn't accept gay people for who they were. In his mind, it didn't make sense. If God was love and compassion and He created him in his image, then him being gay was not a sin nor an abomination, or whatever fancy words they were using to put him down.

His relationship with his parents was alright but there was a lot of stuff he didn't tell them. He knew for a fact that they would likely reject him if he came out to them. So, over the years, he learned a lot about himself, about being gay; somehow, he managed to accept who he was and see the good in himself. He might not be religious the way his parents were but he had a spiritual side, he was able to see the good in people and, more importantly, he was able to see the good in himself, in his person. He was gay and that was it. He didn't feel bad about it, it just was. He certainly wasn't ashamed of it. So the only choice he had was to accept himself and move on, make a life for himself and be happy. Nobody else was going to do it for him, certainly not his parents.

He came to Hotten on an assignment for school a few months ago and thought he should stay the weekend. That's when he decided he needed to make that step. He took a deep breath and walked into Bar West. Once the initial shock of realising it was a pub like most other pubs, he felt more relaxed and actually chuckled to himself, because he had been so nervous before coming in. Maybe it was all the reading he had done, the magazines he had seen, but when he came in and saw men and women together, kissing, holding hands and just being themselves, it didn't faze him, he was comfortable. This was his world. He wanted it. He came to the pub a few times but it was only on his third visit that he met Ray.

Both of them hit it off quickly, their personalities were similar. They both hated violence, both were a little romantic and they both enjoyed each other's company a lot. They seemed to have found in each other a companion, a true friend, but above all, a lover, that someone to take the relationship to the next level, when they would be ready.

Scott had been horrified upon hearing what happened to Ray. He felt really sad. He knew that bad things happened to good people, but who the heck would want to hurt Ray Branswell? You had to be out of your mind. He didn't know what to say, but all he wanted to do was take Ray in his arms and hold him tightly to tell him nothing that bad was going to happen to him again. Well, he knew that was impossible to promise, but at least he could give him the comfort of a tight, loving hug, the reassurance of his presence, of his support.

Scott was well-built. He was into a bit of sport, soccer mostly, and did some jogging to keep himself in shape. He had a nicely defined body.

Ray wasn't a sports person but he certainly could appreciate how fit Scott was. He had had the opportunity already to run his hands along Scott's strong arms and to feel the lines of his pectorals. Ray was an artist, after all, and he could very well "see" what was under the shirt. One day, he would have the pleasure of drawing that beautiful body.

Scott was very happy to have met Ray and he felt that he was probably the person he would want to spend a lot of time with. His lover forever? He didn't know yet, but he like Ray a lot and was willing to make sure they would find out if they were made for each other.

They finished their game and went over to join Aaron, Jackson and their friends. They had a great evening together and got to know each other a little more. Scott certainly appreciated the opportunity to meet new people and maybe make new friends. He had heard about what Aaron had done for Ray, so he was pleased to meet him and to meet his very good looking boyfriend.

TBC