DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF ITV.

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MID-NOVEMBER

It was Friday night. Aaron finished work early because he wanted to get ready for tonight. It was a stupid karaoke, but Nick said he wanted to go.

He felt alot happier because all that business with the sex vids on the net was done and dusted. Nick had made some calls, but it turned out that they hadn't been the ones to take it done, Reece it seemed had already deleted his account. How amazing was that.

As Aaron hared up the back stairs of the pub to grab a shower, Chas followed him. It seemed the vid business hadn't been completely forgotten about after all.

"So...it's it true then? Are you starring in some mucky porn site on the web?" she asked looking rather annoyed.

Aaron shook his head in frustration. Jackson had whinged on the other night about his mother was doing his head in, and one of the reasons why he moved out.

He knew how he felt.

"Mum! Will you just keep out of it...it's ALL been sorted now"

Chas put her hands on her hips, "So there WAS something to worry about then...the mind boggles of what you get up to"

Aaron rolled his eyes as he tore off his Tshirt and went to close his bedroom door, Chas stuck her foot in it, "Not so fast boyo, I asked you a question?"

Aaron fumed at her now, "Mum! Will you just drop it, i'm 19 I can do what I like. Just leave it", and he managed to kicked her foot out of the way, and slammed the door. And locked it.

She shook her head with frustrations of her own. What was happening to her son? Why was he acting like this? She had been a right tart when she had been his age...was he doing the same? Was that what he had ment by, when he said he took after her.

She shook her head and again and went back down the stairs, while Aaron had his shower.

XXX

"Is he gonna be there?"

Danny asked this as he came out of Stus's flat with Stu and Miles.

Stu shrugged as they all bundled into the cab, "who Nathan? I don't know...he stopped calling me days ago"

Miles looked up, "I feel abit bad...we are supposed to be his mates and here we are having a girls night out and he's not to be seen"

Danny looked at him from the opposite seat as the cab turned the corner, "He's been aright shit to Stu..."

Miles glared at him, "well wouldn't you if he decided to jump into bed with your husband"

Stu's breath was steaming up the window, "just shut up about HIM will yah...lets just think about our karaoke routine..."

Miles pulled a face at him, "that's what I'm saying...out routine usually involves Nathan, he makes the song"

Miles was pissing him off now. Stu intook a deep breath, "calm and sireen"

XXX

Aaron stood at the bus stop. He hated getting the bus, but Nick said he was working till late and couldn't pick him up. He shivered in the chill. It was then a car drove by and stopped. Looking up from his phone, Aaron saw that it was Adam and Victoria.

"You alright mate? Want a lift into town, we're going that way", said Adam winding down the window.

Victoria gave him a smack on the shoulder, "Oi! WE are NOT giving that mucky pig a lift anywhere"

Aaron could see that Vic was still non too pleased about him bedding off Amy's boyfriend.

"Ohhh come Vic, that's all done with now...give the lad a break!"

Aaron shook his head as he leaned in the car, "Yeah...it's not my fault that Reece couldn't get enough of me and wasn't getting anything out of Amy, was it? Frigid cow"

This did himself no favours with Victoria, even though Adam's face was like, you've done it now, she screamed at him, " AARON you are such a pig! Just drive off Adam, NOW!"

Adam looked like she was giving him headache. He managed a farewell nod at Aaron and drove off. Aaron shrugged as he lit up a cigarette and waited patiently for the bus to turn up.

XXX

Stu laughed as he led the way down the steps into Bar West. Danny was telling them all about what he and his new man Jamie had been doing. Miles followed on behind feeling like one of 'them' was missing. One of the gang.

Danny was first up at the bar and was getting in the cocktails. It was always cocktails with karaoke, and that was still a good hour before it started.

Stu picked up the song catalogue from the bar top and leafed through it, "yep...it's still there...shall I go and put our names down"

Danny nodded as he paid the new barman the drinks. The sight of him put a smile on Miles' face when he clocked him, "well...it seems this night is not gonna be a complete disaster after all...", he aired with a smile.

XXX

The Karaoke at Bar West was in full flow. Aaron stood up at the bar and painfully glared at some tart stood at the mic singing 'down town'.

Her voice went straight through him. The bar man was then collecting up some beer glasses nearby and whinsed too. Aaron smirked at him knowingly.

"She aint no Cilla Black is she?" he said.

The Bar man laughed out loud, "I think you MEAN Petula Clarke..."

Aaron laughed at him, "No I don't mean that silly cow up there, I mean the one who sings it..."

The Barman looked at him, "No I mean...", Aaron's face looked cute. Just not very sharp, "...yeah you're right"

Aaron took an interest and watched the barman round the bar back to the other side, "I haven't seen you around here before?"

The barman smiled at him as he pulled some bloke a pint, "It's only my first night..i'm Jonny"

"Aaron"

Jonny took the money from the punter smiled at Aaron giving him the once over, and went to get the blokes change.

XXX

Stu and Danny sat in a booth talking about Stu's vandalised car.

"So do you know who done it?"

Stu sighed as he picked up his second cocktail of the night, "Kids we think, they are running riot on the estate at the minute...but Jackson said he'll get it all sorted out for me..."

Suddenly Miles was then upon them, a big fat grin on his face, "look who i've bumped into!"

Both looked round to see Nathan step forward, "...I've been a right case over the last few weeks...but seeing all what i've had to put up with, who can blame me...look...soz yeah..."

Stu looked at at him, "IF we let you sit with us...will there be any jibes about me and Jackson? Because if there is...you can bog off"

Nathan perched his bum on the end, "of course...OH LOOK! We're up next on the karaoke...I hope you weren't gonna be singing without me!"

Miles laughed, "THEY might've...but I was with you all the way..."

Stu felt sick. He was having a good time up till now...now HE was watching him. Everything he did.

He could throttle Miles at times.

XXX

Aaron was still up at the bar. He was now sitting on a stool with his hand beneath his chin watching Jonny work.

At times, when he could, Jonny came over and chatted to him. At the moment Aaron had told him he was a machanic and that he liked to go to work out at the gym. He pulled a face at that as he thought it. It was only a white lie.

Jonny was a fitness fanatic. He was in the gym everyday and Aaron noticed the'i've never you around the gyms before' look he gave him. There weren't that many gyms in Hotten and Jonny was virtually a member in all of them.

"So...what time do you get off...?", asked Aaron. This was kind of forward for him. It was blokes who seemed to chat him up, so he wasn't used to it.

Jonny shrugged as he glanced across at another idiot belting out bon jovi on the karaoke, "after all this...I get a break at midnight"

Aaron laughed, "Do you play pool?"

Jonny raised his eyebrowes as he opened up a bottle for a lad he was serving, "No...pool is a game for them types who come in here and can't admit to who they are...you know with the game being popular in straight places...that's MY opinion anyway, why? Do you?"

Aaron shook his head, "What me? No"

He pulled a face as he said it. But in some ways he didn't play that much pool. And he only had started playing it when Jackson was around.

"Nah...I was just trying to keep conversation" added Aaron.

Jonny's smile was nice. His mouth was smiley, his eyes were green and his hair was a mix of blonde and red.

And as for the bod...he was well fit. The gym was there to see. Nice toned arms, nice mustles. Aaron was careful not to be caught staring at him.

"So is that your mate over there?"

Jonny was nodding his head towards Nick chatting to some blokes Aaron didn't know, "Yeah...he is...why? You fancy your chances, do yah?"

Jonny's eyes met Aaron's, "I was thinking about someone alot nearer actually..."

XXX

Dancing queen tailed off as Stu, Danny, Miles and Nathan laughed at their own performances and went back to sit down after a a small cheer from the crowds.

Miles glares at Jonny talking to Aaron over at the bar, "Oh look...HE is STILL speaking to that knobhead Aaron...doesn't he know he's like the local bike"

Stu pulled a face at him, "Jackson says he's not as bad as he was"

Nathan licked his lip, "Oh he would know...with him and Aaron being the best of buds again"

Stu didn't rise to it.

Miles was leading the way back to the bar, "hey anyone want another drink?"

Nathan grabbed Danny's hand and pulled him onto the dance floor, "I fancy a dance actually...Stu...are you coming?"

Stu backed off and sat back down, "no, I'll just sit this one out thanks...", As the bloke on the karaoke sung his heart out Nathan and Miles began to dance. And by the look of it, the way they kept glancing over at him. HE was the topic of conversation.

He looked at his mobile. Jackson had texted him a smiley face. Going home to him tonight was at least making this night bearable.

XXX

Nick glanced over towards Jonny. Aaron was waiting for his mate to respond, "So what do you think...?"

"Not bad...but I could do better..."

Aaron scowled at him, "Then it's a good job that he's after ME and not you, int it"

Nick nodded, then turned to see Jonny talking to what looked like Ross and a few other guys. They were looking and pointing over towards Aaron and laughing.

Aaron had his back to them. Nick could see guess what they were saying, he had heard it all before.

So he kept sctum and not tell Aaron.

XXX

Jonny looked at Miles as he wiped the table over. Ross had went along his way.

"So, you are not gonna give us your number then?" asked Miles.

Jonny grinned at him, "Aren't I the lucky guy? Two blokes after me and it's only my first night working here"

Miles looked towards where Aaron was standing with Nick not to far away, "You and HIM...that scank"

Jonny frowned, "Scank? Is that YOU just turning up the hard cheese?"

"No...just telling you how it is...you're new round here, you don't know about his reputation of, well...lets say he's been and had just about everywhere and everyone"

Jonny's face fell...and listened as Miles carried on...

XXX

Aaron was in a good mood as he came out the bog and went towards the bar. Jonny was getting his jacket on.

The barman turned, "Hi..."

Aaron raised his eyebrowes at him, "I thought maybe...if you want...we could go for a ruby somewhere"

Jonny frowned at him as he zipped up his jacket, "go for a meal?"

Aaron pulled a face at him, "Errrrr, yeah...that's what a ruby murry is...curry"

"Yeah I know what it means but...", he rounded the bar and came to stand next to him, "I was thinking about something better, we could cross the park if you want...it's nice and dark"

Aaron didn't get it. His expression said it all.

"...you know...skip the meal...get abit friendly...", Jonny teased him. His hands coming to rest on Aaron's butt cheek.

Aaron glared at him, "What do you think you are doing?"

Jonny was somewhat surprized by Aaron's lack of response, "Well...I've heard you are ALWAYS up for a bit of fun...you and me can have as much fun as you like..."

Aaron was realising what was happening, "so you just wanna have it off, do yah?"

"Well yeah...don't you?...Come on, you've being up for it all night, giving it all that!"

Aaron shook his head in disgust, "nah...you've got me wrong pal"

"I don't think so...an easyride they said...looks like it's worn out of steam", Jonny was about to knock off when Aaron snatched his arm, "whos been saying stuff about me? WHO IS IT?"

Jonny shook him off, "does it matter? If you don't want that shag then you're no use to me mate, see you around" and he was gone.

Nick came over to him, "Hey what were that all about?"

Aaron went to the bar to get another drink, "What's it to you...I wanna get bladdered"

Nick could see that Aaron was rattled. But past experience of Aaron told him to be cautious, "Look...if you wanna talk about it, you know where I am...", patting the lads upper back, he then walked away.

XXX

Nathan went to get himself a drink when last orders were called. He had drunk alot this evening. He hoped it didn't effect the Meds he was on too much.

But he was having fun. And his smile was even stretched further across his face when he clocked how miserable Aaron was.

"So, that guy give you the brush off did he?"

Aaron gave him the death glare. Nathan laughed in his face. Aaron pulled his fists and looked aggressive. Nathan nodded towards the bouncers, "deck me...then THAT lot will have you threwn out on the cold pavement before I hit the floor"

"JUST FUCK OFF!"

"Oh dear! Language Aaron"

Stu and Danny came over to see what was going on. Both could see the tension building, in Aaron anyway.

Nathan turned, "Hey Stu, it seems that some bloke's given Aaron the brush off"

Stu shook his head, "Oh for god sake Nathan, will you wind your neck in"

Nathan turned around and glared at him, "Hey! This is the bloke whos trying to take Jackson from you"

Aaron pulled an 'as if' face.

Nathan raised an eyebrowe, "Oh come on...being all mates with Jackson's just part of the plan, isn't it?

Danny jumped in, "stop it Nathan, you are winding the lad up"

Nathan nodded, "yeah...and we ALL know what happens when he gets wound up...", Aaron controlled himself and marched off to the bogs, Nathan went to follow him, but Stu jumped forward and grabbed him.

"Hey just leave off Nate...you've had too much to drink, he is seriously going to smash your face in if you wind him up anymore"

Nate laughed in his face, "Oh look at you all pally with local slut..."

"Nathan...", Stu stared in directly in the eyes, " me and Jackson are together...just deal with it...get on with your life...because it's this that makes me want to stay away from you...face it, this isn't about Aaron, this is about you...you're jealous"

Nate poofwooed it.

"Yeah you are...you say you are okay with it, but you are not...you lost Jackson a long time ago...you're jealous of what we have"

Nathan tore in and grabbed Stu by his hair and floored him, then he went and hit him in the face. But then someone was pulling him off him.

It was Aaron, he stood inbetween them, "Oi...leave off him..."

Nathan looked at Miles, "Oh it's pathetic...lets get out of here"

Aaron watched him go then looked at Stu, "are you alright?"

"Yeah thanks"

"Well...Jackson's a mate and you are his lad so...well...", he felt weird now.

Before Stu could say anymore, Aaron was gone.

Nathan was seething. Aaron was Aaron. But that traitor Stu...his card was well and truely marked now...

XXX

Events turn nasty in the next chapter...