I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS, LIKEABLE OR NOT. THEY ARE ALL PROPERTY OF THE ITV STUDIO

LATE AUTUMN

Aaron was thinking about Ross.

Well most of the time he would think about him and have a nice wank in bed, but this time he was thinking about what he had said when he asked him about Marlon and Laurel. Ross had been open with the truth and told him about the day he carjacked Laurel. That was out-of-order, but at the same time there didn't seem to be anything wrong with Laurel, apart from going a bit mental and pointing a pair of scissors at him, she seemed to of recovered okay.

Aaron puffed on his ciggy and leaned up against the wall of the pub. Again, a night out with the bad boy and his mates had ended up with Ross going home with some slapper with a skirt up her crack.

It was shocking. They were all standing up at the bar and Ross had his tongue down this slappers throat, and she was grasping hold of the growing bulge in Ross's tight jeans.

Pity it was HER hand.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see movement behind the skip bins. Somebody was there hiding behind them, he could tell.

He pretended not to notice at first, then flicking his cigarette away, he went to go back through the back door. He hovered just inside and turned to his head to see the shadow move away from the bins. He then bolted out and grabbed the culprit by his labels.

Aaron shook his head and laughed out triumphantly at the young teen with his shaven head and earring, "IT IS YOU, I KNEW IT!"

Jack turned his head, his school tie looking like it was about to strangle him, "Leave off will yah!"

Aaron let him go and nodded towards the bins, "Why have you been hiding behind there? Are you spying on me?"

Jack shook his head, "No...why would I?"

Aaron blew out a laugh, "Errrr because this isn't the first time, is it? You were seen the other week peering inside Paddy's place"

Jack secured his rucksack on his shoulder, "So...I was just passing, what's it to you?"

Aaron nearly fell into fits of laughter, "PASSING! You are meant to be in Hotten mate...your school is nowhere near here"

Jack looked a bit nonplussed.

"...and speaking of which, WHY are you not AT school, by my watch it's only midday"

Jack shrugged.

Aaron took him by the shoulder and led him down the slip road between the pub and a cottage to Main street then they headed to Bobs café.

Inside, Jack sat down and Aaron ordered two hot chocolates. Aaron sat down opposite the boy and raised his eyebrows, "Well...come on then...WHY are you bunking off school?"

Jack sighed, "I just came looking for you...nobody said where you went so I came in to see whether you were here or not and you are"

Bob came over with the drinks. Jack drank some of his. Aaron sat back in his seat, "Jack...you can't go bunking off school mate, your parents will just go and get a fine"

Jack bit his lip.

"Dad and granddad don't know I'm here"

"I bet they don't"

Jack just shrugged again.

Aaron leaned forwards, "Jack it's good to see you mate, but...well... your dad probably wouldn't be best pleased to find out you've been here, will he"

Jack shook his head, "No...he'd be mad"

Aaron licked his lips, "So...how is your dad? Is he...okay?"

Jack shrugged, "Yeah...I suppose...he's doing a bit of graft...not much...you know, because he has only got one leg"

Aaron hated hearing that, it made him feel like shit.

Jack looks up at him, "He gets mad when I talk about you...he says he hates you for doing that to him...causing it...I ask him if you are coming back and he keeps saying he'd rather see you fall under a truck"

"Nice"

Jack swallowed down and looked at him questioningly, "Was it you? Did you REALLY cause it?"

Aaron put his hand to his mouth, he was really on the spot now. He intook a breath and shook his head, why lie.

"Yeah...if it wasn't for me...then yeah...maybe your dad wouldn't be like he is now"

Jack looked really disappointed in him, he took his bag stood up and made for the door, Aaron was in hot pursuit, "Jack wait up...please...It's not...well..."

Jack turned, "It's not what? It's not that bad...he can still get about? He MISSES his leg Aaron...I hate seeing him like that...and he's right, it's all your fault"

Aaron followed him up the street, "but I paid for it Jack...I went and beat him up...the bloke who did it...and I went inside for it"

Jack paused at the bus stop and turned around, "but it's not going to make my dad okay again, is it...I've found out what I wanted to know...and like him...I don't want to see you again"

Aaron felt choked, "Jack please don't say that..."

"I wish my dad never met you...it's all your fault, you and your half a brain"

The bus was pulling up, Aaron was sobbing now as Jack jumped on and stared back at him harshly.

The bus then pulled off, Aaron had his hands to his head and stood there watching it disappear across the bridge.

They all hated him. Jackson, Jerry, Jack...that part of his life was well and truly gone.

He went back to the pub and sat up at the bar. God he felt like getting really bladdered now. He wasn't in there too long before Ross and his mates came in. Ross smiled at him and placed his hand onto Aaron's upper back, "Hey...some of us are going into town...come with us if you like"

Aaron was feeling a bit despondent, "I'm not good company mate...and besides you'll only be chancing more shirt and leaving me on my own again anyway"

Ross laughed and leaned in to his ear, "I CAN have a good time without sticking my cock-up a cunt you know..."

"Nahh..I'll give it a miss thanks"

Ross shrugged at him, "Your loss...I was thinking about getting off me face and that...you know what you like to do when I'm off my face..."

Aaron smirked but he still nodded, "No...maybe another time"

Ross backed off, "Yeah well...as I said YOUR loss...looks like I'll just have to go and find someone to carjack instead, won't I..."

Ross was about to leave when Aaron got up from his stool and stopped him, "Alright alright...let me go change me shirt and I'll meet you out the front"

Ross was pleased, he grinned at him and watched Aaron round the bar and go through to the back, Ross meanwhile went outside and had his mobile phone to his ear, "Mate, it's me...I think we have our getaway driver...", he looked up to the pubs bedroom window, "...yeah...the one I said about, he's a whizz with a motor...likes going fast...", he laughs, "...nah, he'll be easy to control...the guy has it really BAD for me at the minute so a few sweet whispers and a few touches in the right place will have him eating out of the palm of my hand...I'll say, we're on for Friday..."

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