–AARON LIVESY–
– BEHIND CLOSED DOORS –
"Moving On"
Aaron looked suspiciously at Cain as he approached. "Alright?" he asked.
Cain nodded and eyed Aaron carefully.
"Okay, no really…I've done something haven't I?"
Cain pouted and shook his head. "Nope, not to my knowledge"
"Ok then so what's with the smile? Cain Dingle never smiles"
"Oh no, no I do…on occasion"
Aaron rolled his eyes. "And what's the occasion?"
"Telling you in person about your promotion"
Aaron frowned. "Eh?"
"You can work on the cars"
Aaron's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
Cain nodded. "Yeah, but only under mine or Debbie's supervision, I had a word with her and she thinks it's a good idea"
"Ah that's great; I can't believe it…t-thanks"
Cain smiled again. "No worries, but listen I can stand a lot of things but if you throw this back our faces well let's just say-"
"I know, I've seen and heard what you can be like…I won't throw it back…you've helped a lot Cain, this is the least I can do to thank you"
Cain nodded and swallowed hard. "I'm glad she found you again kid" Without Chas being alerted to the growing problems Aaron wouldn't be in the village now, away from all the suffering and pain that was inflicted upon him. Even he couldn't shift the horrific images of a beaten nephew from his mind, he doubted he ever would.
Aaron could feel tears in his eyes, Cain's words impacted immensely, he coughed and blinked a few times frowning and looked around for a distraction, then turned back to Cain and nodded with a small smile. "Me too"
Cain placed his hand on his shoulder. "Right, come by tomorrow after school and we'll get you started"
Aaron nodded. "Cheers Cain, I'll see you tomorrow" he told him and then started walking away.
….
A while later Aaron was standing on the bridge staring down at the river flowing beneath and occasionally throwing stones into it.
Victoria smiled as she stopped on the edge of the bridge watching him. She walked toward him now making her presence known.
Aaron turned his head and saw her, he stood straight. The last time they had seen each other they parted on awkward terms. "Hi"
Victoria smiled at him. "Hi, what ya doing?"
Aaron shrugged. "Just getting some fresh air"
"Yeah, same" she told him as she stopped beside him and looked out to the river.
"Vic I'm-" "Aaron I-" Both them smiled at each other. "No go on" Aaron told her.
"I just wanted to say that the way I went off on one after we had sex I shouldn't have, being a virgin isn't something people want to keep secret I understand that now and I'm sorry for kicking off"
Aaron shrugged with a smile. "It doesn't matter..."
"So, we're cool then?" she asked.
Aaron stared for a second. "Do you remember when we got drunk and you said there were rumours about me?"
Victoria nodded.
"Well…" Aaron sighed.
Victoria smiled softly when she realised the truth was coming. "It's okay"
"No Vic, it's not…I dragged you into that when it was a lie…I was lying to myself and I hate that I got you involved, I'm really sorry"
"I know" Victoria chuckled. "I figured there was more to it after we did it and I have seen that very handsome lad around Smithy a lot lately"
Aaron blushed and looked away. "Jackson" he said with a nod.
"Well I'm jealous" she told him and they both laughed.
"Yeah, he is alright isn't he?" he asked her with a cheeky smile
"Alright! Are you kidding me Aaron? Have you seen what you've got there?"
"Course I have...I' am sorry though Vic…I never meant for things to get so messy…"
"Listen to me Aaron, I don't know what it must have been like…but the important thing is you realised before it was too late. I don't feel bad toward you, we can be good mates me and you" she smiled. "And if anyone doesn't like what you are, they can come to me, although I know you can hold your own"
Aaron chuckled and nodded. "Thank you"
"So you and the hunk; done it yet?"
Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes. "Oh don't please…"
"Why what's the matter?"
"I really want to, he does it for me you know…we kiss…we play around but it stops and it's me I know that"
Victoria nodded. "Do you trust him?"
"Completely yeah"
"Well then, there's no problem. He knows you better than most people, and he knows it will be your first time…I'm sure if you let it happen, you'll just relax and it'll be the best experience it can be"
Aaron hadn't realised that it was as simple as Victoria had put it. He thought about it and smiled. "Alright then" he said with a nod. "I'll try" he chuckled.
"Good now you can take me to the cafe for something to eat"
Aaron laughed. "Come on then" he said as they started walking away back toward civilization.
…..
Late afternoon Aaron walked into Smithy and was surprised to find the place empty, a note was left from his mum saying that Paddy was working late and she was staying with Debbie for some drinks. His eyes widened and he smirked, an opportunity perhaps? He walked back into the doorway and hung up his jacket then noticed the pile of post on the doormat and picked it up, he walked back through into the kitchen and put them down on the table, he saw one letter addressed to him and he picked it up. He knew where and who it was from instantly and he ripped it up just like he had told him he would just before he left the prison. Gordon could send as many visiting orders as he wanted but Aaron was done with him. He walked back and opened the front door then ran along the front of the house to the bins; he didn't want anyone finding the pieces of the letter. They didn't need to know. He lifted the bin lid and let the pieces drop down the side so they were hidden by the bin bags. He let out a sigh of relief as he closed the bin.
When he turned around he jumped. "Jesus!" Adam, the new lad from the farm stood only a few metres away from him.
"Alright?"
"What do you want farm boy?"
Adam laughed "So, what do you do for fun round here? Apart from talking to computers that is"
Aaron scowled and shrugged his shoulders "Wouldn't know, not from round here" he explained with sadness in his voice, he wished he'd always lived here.
Adam pouted, intrigued by Aaron's words. "Ah right fair enough, where are ya mates?"
"What mates?" he shrugged again.
Adam smiled "Good job I'm here then isn't it lad"
"You think I want to be mates with you?" Aaron laughed it off, and then started heading back toward the front door.
"Oh come on mate!" Adam called after him "Don't be like that, you seem a sound lad, want a match on Xbox sometime?"
Aaron carried on ignoring him and Adam sighed "My dad's got some cans in?"
Aaron stopped and turned around and Adam grinned. "I thought that might have sparked your interest…come on then" he said as he started walking down the drive.
"Yeah I'll just lock the door" he told him and ran back and grabbed his keys and left again locking the door behind him. He quickly caught up to his new friend as they headed to the farm.
…
Night had set in and Jackson walked into Smithy, he could hear the TV in the living room and he walked on through to find Chas and Paddy settled watching a film. He smiled as they looked up at him. "Oh sorry to interrupt"
"Nah you're alright mate? Had a good time?" Paddy asked.
Jackson frowned. "Listening to my mums stories from her travels doesn't count as a good time" he smirked. "Called me as soon as school was done" he sighed.
"Okay then, so where's Aaron?" Chas asked.
"Yeah we thought he was with you" Paddy added.
Jackson's frown deepened. "Nope, last time I saw him was this morning, I'll ring him"
"No point, his mobiles in the kitchen"
Jackson sighed. "Where the hell could he be?"
"We don't know, we tried Cain, Zak and Lisa…" Chas shrugged. "He's not with any of them and he hasn't been seen"
"And I saw Victoria, she saw him earlier he was at the bridge, said they'd had some lunch then off he went, Cain saw him when he finished at the garage, he came back here but that was that…" Paddy told him when there was a knock on the door.
Chas quickly jumped up off the sofa and walked past Jackson to answer the door.
"It's hardly going to be him, he wouldn't need to knock, the doors unlocked" Paddy said with a roll of his eyes as he got up and followed her, as did Jackson.
Chas opened the front door and was met by a woman with wavy dark hair holding her very drunk son up.
"Is he yours?" Moira asked.
"Uh yeah…" Chas replied as she reached out to take hold of him.
"I'm Moira, I just moved in at the farm, seems our sons have become friends, been drinking and playing on the X box from what I saw when I walked in…"
"Oh god I'm sorry, I'm Chas…this is Paddy and this is his boyfriend Jackson"
Jackson smiled and waved and Moira nodded to them all. Jackson grinned as Aaron stumbled off his mother then landed against Paddy who thankfully grabbed a hold of him.
"Shh, d-don't tell him, he d-d-doesn't know yet" Aaron slurred as he tried to turn back to face Moira.
Jackson's couldn't stop the grin on his face.
"Oh, oh right…I see…well then you can tell him in your own time, just no more alcohol for either of you next time, but X box is fine" Moira explained.
"I'm really sorry" Chas apologised again.
"Hey, no harm done" she smiled. "I'll see you around"
Chas smiled and watched as Moira left, she closed the front door and turned back to the audience behind her and her drunken son. "You know what kiddo, I could scream, ground you…but I won't" Chas decided. "You'll pay tomorrow at school" she grinned and Jackson burst into laughter.
"Ah I'm sorry" he apologised. "He's just so adorable…I'll sort him out, go on you two get back to your film and I'll sober him up and get some food down him"
"You sure?" Paddy asked.
Jackson nodded and moved to take hold of Aaron. "Right come on you"
Aaron groaned and had a permanent frown on his face. "I'm gunna be sick!"
Chas and Paddy quickly made their escape and left Jackson to it.
"You dare, you can when we're upstairs, come on"
….
Midnight drew closer, Aaron had sobered up immensely and had gotten cleaned and freshened up after having something light to eat, he felt queasy but nowhere near as bad as he did when he'd gotten home. He was sat on his bed cross legged looking out of the window, Jackson was sat opposite him.
"I'm sorry Jackson"
"Will you stop apologising?"
"No, no because I should have been here when you got in"
"Who says?" Jackson frowned.
"No one I just-"
"You're allowed your own space Aaron, time to do things you want to do and if that's getting drunk with a new friend then fine, but if you fancy him then it's not fine" he laughed.
Aaron sighed. "I saw him this morning first, I did look I won't lie, he's alright but nothing compared to you, me and Adam will only ever be friends, I wouldn't ever do that to you Jackson"
Jackson smiled. "I know"
"And that's why I-I decided I want to…" he stopped, finding it embarrassing.
"Want to what?"
"Well you know…me and you…" he looked at Jackson. "Together, sex…" he looked down at the quilt, blushing in the process. "I-I mean that if it…happens" he sighed "…Then I want it too, n-no stopping at a certain point…I trust you completely and I'm ready"
Jackson was overwhelmed, Aaron sounding so grown up was still something new to hear but he respected his decision and understood what he was saying. "I'm ready too, and I trust you as well…"
Aaron looked up at him with a sheepish smile. "I'm not saying this because I want to plan it…" he shook his head. "No, it wouldn't be the same…"
"If it happens then we let it" Jackson added.
"Yeah" Aaron replied with a smile.
"Fine by me" Jackson leaned closer and kissed him softly on his lips. Aaron kissed back and when they parted they both got up and got undressed for bed. "You're so going to pay at school tomorrow…" he told him as they both got into bed.
"Ugh god don't…" Aaron told him as he reached for the lamp and turned it off, leaving them in darkness.
"Well…" Jackson began as he turned on his side and pulled Aaron into him, feeling his smooth warm back against his chest. "I've no sympathy"
"Keep telling yourself that, you've already proved that you have by looking after me tonight"
"Hmm…yeah" Jackson replied. "Suppose I have haven't I?"
Aaron smiled in the darkness. "I really do love you Jackson"
"Not a day goes by where I even doubt that, I don't think I ever will. I love you too Aaron" he told him softly and kissed the back of his neck before they both settled down to sleep together.
TBC…
