DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF ITV.
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MID SEPTEMBER
"Oh come on Aaron, I said we'd go now"
Nick sat on the moth eating couch watching Aaron as he pulled on his trainers, "but I HATE Rugby...I'm more of a footie man me"
Nick stood up and laughed, " It'll be a right laugh...especially the after match drinks in the club house...good hard drinking...I thought it'll be right up your street"
Aaron narrowed his eyes at him, " You never said anything about liking Rubgy before..."
Nick acted a tad coy, " Come on...all we'll be late..."
Aaron grabbed his keys, and after giving Clyde a good farewell pet in the corner and whispered all in doggie language that he'd be back later, he followed Nick out of the flat, "This BETTER be good"
XXX
The rugby match was on a playing field a few blocks away. Aaron watched on the lines with Nick. It had rained heavily that afternoon so all the players were caked in a good doseage of thick wet mud.
Of Course Aaron couldn't understand Rubgy. He didn't know the rules. The funny shaped ball, the overly tall goal posts, too much 'hand ball', some of them hugged that ball like a baby as they ran about that pitch.
Then there was the scrum. All that man meat together. Aaron smirked at that thought, but the idea quickly waned when he thought about all that mud too. Grease all over you was one thing, but all that mud...no way.
A goal was scored. And there was cheers from the spectators. Aaron forgot what team he was meant to be supporting.
"...okay...I better come clean" said Nick turning to him, hands buried in his thick man cardy, "Blame Ed over there on the pitch...he said he'd stand me for pint if I introduced yah to him"
Aaron frowned at him, " Ed? Ed who?" then he remember something, "...the other night? At the curry house...so let me get this right...THIS is a set up"
Nick saw that Aaron was ready to leg it, "No...he just wanted to...you know"
Aaron raised his eyebrowes at him, stuck up his hoodie and and marched away. Nick hurried after him, " Aaron wait...I'm sorry mate, I should've said"
"Yeah you should"
Nick stuck a hand on Aaron's shoulder and stopped him, "Come on...the games nearly finished...what's the harm in it?"
Aaron looked at him. Looked at the players on the pitch, then at Ed who was smiling at him...he had a whatsit in his mouth...a gum guard.
He blew out a sigh, "okay...but YOU are gonna so pay for this"
Nick smiled and followed Aaron back towards the pitch line.
XXX
At Bar West, Jackson pocketed the ball and won yet another game. Graham laughed at him, "so...the bearded wonder does it again"
Jackson shot a grin his way, "well, you will put me to the test...just ,means I have to win you everytime"
Graham picked up his empty pint glass, "another?"
Jackson nodded and Graham went to the bar to get another round in. As Jackson coined in another pound and reset the pooltable, he looked up to see Stu, Miles and Danny huddled around a table at a booth.
Jackson put his back to them, but it wasn't long until there was tap on his shoulder, he turned to see Stu standing there.
Jackson flashed a grin. He was polite like that, "alright mate?"
Stu nodded, " Yeah...errrr...can we talk?"
Jackson pulled a face, and playfully looked around him, "this sounds ominous am I about to be gang raped or something?"
Stu didn't smile, "it's about Nathan"
Jackson clutched his poolstick tighter, "Nathan? I rather not talk about him if you don't mind...I went round there the other day and he practically threw me out, I thought to meself, blimey, and we are NOT even together anymore!"
Stu stood there hugging his chest, "he's not well"
Jackson looked at him.
"...I'm really worried about him"
Jackson looked over Stu's shoulder to see Graham coming back with their pints. "go over there...I'll come and join you...buy you a pin(t)...whatever it is you drink"
Stu walked off.
Graham thumbed in Stu's direction, "What did that little camp queen want?"
Jackson glared at him, "not any of your business...i've set up the table...YOU can break", and handed him the chalk.
He then hared off to the corner. Stu looked up as Jackson bought him a drink, "So...what's up with him...he's lost abit of weight, I know that much"
Stu felt like he was going to betray his mate, but he was worried, the heck with it, "Jackson...Nathan's HIV...he was diagnosed 3 months ago"
Jackson's jaw was nearly on the bar floor. He quickly closed his mouth and looked at him, "So...you can live with that now...not that i'm not shocked that he's got it, because I am...I wouldn't wish that on anyone, INCLUDING him"
"I worried...we all are...thing is, he's STOPPED taking his meds...he says it gives him allsorts of nasty side effects..."
Jackson leaned an elbow onto the bar, "then tell him he HAS TO take them!"
Stu gave him a knowing look, "tell Nathan? You know what he's like, he knows best!"
Jackson leaned his back on the bar now because he knew what was coming, "Why do you think he'll listen to me? Because that's what you're getting at, isn't it?"
Stu nodded.
"Stu, he never listened to me when we were together, let alone now...I don't think i'd do any good mate"
"He loves you...he says he doesn't and he's SO WELL over you...but he's not"
Jackson sighed, "Ohhhhh Stu...don't be telling me that because now I feel all sorry for him...and after all what HE did!"
Stu gave him an apologetic look.
Jackson sucked in his cheeks and smiled at him, " ohhhh goooo on then! You've twisted me arm, I'll stop by tomorrow...there's a renovation I'm working on around the corner from his...I'll call in then"
Stu thanked him and walked off. Jackson almost regretted his decision at once...but he had promised Stu now...and he thought himself a man you can reply on...
Flowers or chocolates?
He pulled himself together and shook his head deciding on nothing...and went back to his game wih Graham.
Of course he never said owt to Graham...but the distraction was clear on his face now, as the news really sunk in.
Nathans got HIV.
XXX
Aaron laughed his head off. He was actually enjoying himself, even though he did have doubts about it.
The club house was a simple facility. A bar that went straight across one end, and a 'village hall' feel seating area.
It was also very rowdy with the team celebrating their latest victory.
Aaron still decided that footie was better than ruggers any day, but he was happy to join in now.
He lifted his bottle of beer and turned to Nick, " They certainly now to have themselves a good time, eh?"
Nick nodded, then saw Ed make his way over. He was wearing a green and white striped rugby top, " Alright Nick! Glad you made it...and you Aaron", he reserved a longer gaze at Aaron.
Aaron knew he was being eyed up and looked away. He was still gonna kill Nick for this.
"So Aaron" Ed sat down on the bench and smiled at him, "Did you enjoy the game"
Aaron gave him a smarmy smile, " I don't know the rules mate...give me a game of footie anyday"
Ed tilted his head and nodded, " footies alright...but if you to watch a real mans game, you know where to come" he told with a nod and a wink.
Aaron pulled a face and drank up, "So...can we go now", he said this to Nick.
Nick and Ed glanced at one another. Aaron got up anyway, "ohhhh, don't rush yourself will yah...I'm off to the bog"
Ed watched him go, then turned to Nick, " I thought you said he was easy going...blimey, it's like pulling teeth to get a smile out of him"
Nick sat back clutching his bottle, "Maybe it's just your charm mate"
Ed leaned forward, hands flat on his thighs, "he IS single?"
Nick shook his head, "yeah...he went out with that sleeze bag Jackson Walsh for a few months but it didn't last"
Ed frowned, "what? Cruiser Jackson? The one who goes out with that tart, whathisname?..." he flicked his fingers as he tried to recall the name"...Nigel...NATHAN!"
Nick smiled at him, " the one and the same...but it was Aaron who did the dirty on HIM so what goes around..."
Ed could see Aaron coming back from the bogs, his hands in the front of his trackies.
"Do you fancy him or what?"
Ed laughed, " Course I do! I wouldn't have asked yah to bring him along otherwise"
Aaron looked like he was wanting to go, " Are we going or what?"
Ed stood up, " Why not Bar West or somewhere...my shout"
Aaron glared at him, " i'm alright thanks"
Ed cracked a smile, " you certainly are that lad!"
Aaron pulled a face at him, " are your jokes always that cheesie"
"I do like to spread it about"
Aaron half smiled.
"ARRRRR GOT YAH...YOU SMILED!" cried Ed. Nick nodded as he stood, " yep...that was a faint one there Aaron"
Aaron sighed, "Ohhhh go on then, I'll let you buy us a drink...but it's STRICKLY hands off the merchandise" he said, staring at Ed, then walked off.
Ed silenced a 'yessss' to Nick and they followed him out of the club house.
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