DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF ITV.
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LATE-NOVEMBER
SOME VIOLENT SCENES. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO READ THAT KIND OF THING, THANKS.
The buzzer went and Stu pushed his way through the door and up the stairs to Nathan's appartment.
The door was already on ajar. Stu went inside and saw Nathan in the lounge, he beaconed his hand, "Come in...I've poured you a glass of wine"
Stu stood still near the door, "I'm not stopping, I've just come around IN PERSON to tell you to stop the harassment..alright?"
Nathan laughed, "Harassment? That's a bit OTT"
Stu stepped forward onto the freshhold, "I beg to differ...you are ALWAYS calling me...well I'm changing my number so that won't be a problem for very much longer"
Nathan came forward, "Look lets have a chat...we can get over this...WE USED TO BE BEST MATES...I aways liked you more than Danny and Miles"
Stu swallowed, "I don't care...I"
"And I helped you out...when you had those problems at college...when your mother had cancer and it was ME who helped her jump the que for treatment...is THIS how you thank me"
This threw Stu. Nathan had been great through that. If it wasn't for him...
"Nathan THIS can't go on...this...nastiness"
Nathan sighed, "why do you think I was calling you so much...I WANT to put things right...just YOU and ME...what do you say? Have a drink at least...and if...after we've chatted...you don't want to be friends, then you can go and we say nothing more..."
Stu blew out a laugh, he was a tad skeptical, "What NO reprecussions?"
"Of course not! What do you take me for...", Nathan stepped forward and handed Stu the glass of wine. Stu took it and moved into the lounge.
Nathan closed the front door and locked it.
Then removed the key and pocketed it...He smiled, and followed Stu further into the appartment.
Stu turned around, "I would keep that door on the latch, because I don't intend to stop long"
Nathan frowned at him, "You are STAYING for a drink, so why don't you sit down...now"
Stu could feel the malice masked behind the smile. So he sat down on the couch.
"That's better..."
"Look...what is it? You said something about making up...why should I? With the way you've been...hitting me and that...saying all that nasty stuff"
Nathan sat in the armchair and smiled, "It was nothing that wasn't true...and you DID deserve that slap, and you know it"
Stu shook his head as he put down the drink, "I don't have to sit here and listen to all of this...", he stood up, "...as I said...I'm changing my number AND I don't want you to talk to me anymore"
Nathan dismissed him, "and you've come round here to say that? You could've just called me and told me...I think you still WANT to be my mate...but the thing is I'd rather go stick pins in my eyes and still be mates with you"
Stu was amazed at how shocked he was, he shouldn't be, because THIS was classic Nate...bitchy and nasty as always.
"Well the feelings mutual...and now if you don't mind, I don't want to drink anymore of your cheap disgusting wine...", he lifted his glass and handed it to Nathan, " have the rest of mine...I hope it chokes you"
Nathan smirked with amusement as Stu walked up to the front door and rattled on the latch and then tried the handle.
He turned, " have YOU locked this?"
Nathan shook his head, "Yeah I did..."
"Why?"
Nathan raised an eyebrowe, "Because I didn't want you to go storming off like you are...and...because I haven't said you can go yet"
Stu gave him a 'wtf' look, "eh? I don't need YOUR persmission to leave here..."
Nathan stared at him, but he wasn't smiling. He came forward and nodded towards the couch, "Sit down"
Stu didn't move.
" SIT DOWN!"
Stu jumped. Nathan practically had screamed that.
Stu swallowed and very slowly went and sat down. Nathan calmed himself down and turned around and forced on a smile, "Now...we are going to have a nice little chat and we are going to make up...is that clear?"
Stu looked at him. Nathan's eyes were full of something. Something scarey.
"I ASKED you a question...do you want me to shout at you again...?"
Stu hmmmed a reply awkwardly, Nathan excepted it and went to sit in the arm chair again.
He looked up and grinned at Stu, "So...what shall we talk about...?"
XXX
Jackson got home and looked around the flat.
"Stu?"
He popped his head in the bathroom and the small bedroom then scratched his head and pulled a face. It was Wednesday. Stu finished early from college on a wednesday. He worked a couple of evenings in WH Smiths, but he'd of said.
He stripped out of his vest and combat trousers and threw them into the wash, and put his phone to his ear.
"Hi...Stu...babe, where are yah?...it's nearly 6...I'm taking you out, remember...give us a call back, fella"
XXX
As Nathan rambled on about himself and how he was feeling so hurt and angry and how people are treating him,Stu managed a quick glance at his watch, but Nate was watching him closely.
"...am I keeping you? I thought we agreed that YOU aren't going anywhere"
"It's nearly 6...Jackson'll be home...he's taking me out..."
Nathan lept up and held out his hand, "Your mobile...I heard it tweet earlier...it's him, isn't it?"
Stu didn't want to give Nate his lifeline, but the way he was glaring at him scared him, he hadn't it over quickly.
Nathan found the voicemail message and pressed the option to listen to it.
"Awwwwww...It's him...you're not home...awwwww he's abit worried...ohhhh, he's ment to be taking you out...but I won't tell you no more, your message, I know, but I'm not going to let you listen to it"
"Give it here!", Stu jumped up to snatch it off Nathan, but Nathan swung around and forced Stu back down. His hand grabbing at the throat.
"DID I SAY YOU COULD GET UP?! NO I DIDN'T, SO YOU SIT DOWN THERE AND STAY STILL!"
Stu shook his head, Nathan was absolutely barking. He had completely lost the plot. Nathan pocketed the mobile, "I'll keep it safe in here...just incase he calls, we don't want you answering it, do we?"
Stu sighed, trying to rationalise things, "Nathan, what's got into you? Why are you doing this?"
Nathan frowned at him, like he didn't know what Stu was on about, "doing what?"
Stu became frustrated, "THIS! THIS THIS THIS!"
Nathan raised his eyebrowes, "Did I say you could raise your voice at me?"
Stu had had quite enough. He got up and rushed to the door and started to clamber around with it, trying to desperately force it open.
Nathan sighed and reached out for the wine bottle and poured out the remainder of his drink, then, with the now empty bottle in hand, holding it by the neck, he went up to Stu and whacked him over the back of the head.
Nathan's breaths were heavy, he was really doing this. There was NO turning back now.
Stu whimpered and was thrown to the floor, but he was still conscious. He turned and looked up at Nathan, panic clear on his face as Nathan's dark shadow leaned over him...
XXX
Jackson looked out the window. Then turned and buttoned up his green checkered shirt. He looked at his watch, it was neary 7, now.
"Come on, come on", he muttered. He looked at himself in the mirror. Why hadn't Stu called? Had he forgotten that they were going out?
Had HE said something to upset him? Some guys were like that, you only had to look at them the wrong way, and Stu was bit of a sensitive sole.
That's what he loved about him.
Loved?
And he smiled. Was it love he was feeling?.
He sighed and grabbed his mobile up from the bed...he scrolled down to Danny's name and pressed call.
His phone was switched off and his voicemail wasn't working.
He sighed and went back to the window.
XXX
Nathan was going over the DVD collection on the shelf and looked across to the couch, "Now...now we are settled, we can watch a nice film"
Stu was dazed on the couch. Why couldn't he feel the pain? His shirt was covered in blood. It was everywhere. He went to get up, but a swave of giddiness came over him, so her sat still.
Nathan came over, "Now then, all comfy? I was thinking of watching this...what do you think?"
Stu glanced at the DVD box that was forced in his face...the writing was blurry. His vision or the box? It read Me and Jackson's big day.
"I thought you'd like to see it again. It was such a great day, wasn't it...", he fed the machine the Disc and turned his head round to face Stu, "...while we are watching, we can pay close attention to your face to see if there is any jealousy present. The old green eyed monster and all that...your face on screen that is...NOT your miserable face now"
Stu leaned his head back. There was blood on the couch now. His chest hurt him.
"Nat..than." he sluttered, "I'm scared..."
Nathan sat down and turned the volume up, "Shush, we are trying to watch this..."
XXX
Jackson put the phone to his ear as he sat on the bed, "Hi Stu...it's me again... you're gonna be be sick of my voice after all these messages, I must sound like a right stalker, or me mother...look, you're still not home...I'm getting abit worried now because it's Wednesday and you always finish at half two on a wednesday. Look...is it because you are annoyed with me or sommit?"
He scratched his head as he stood up and went to the window to look out, "...I know you think you love me more than I love you...but that's not true, I do love you...", He smiled. A smile of sudden realisation, "...I want you here with me in our bed...it's so different with you, with Nathan it was always HIM and with Aaron, he was sweet but he couldn't give me what I wanted...but you...you give your all, don't yah...come on...because if you ARE mad at me for some reason then...well...we can sort it...call me"
He ended the call and went back to sitting on the bed. Phone in his grasp waiting.
XXX
Nathan sighed as the Wedding DVD came to an end.
"Awwwwww...and then we went off to Spain..."
Stu had his eyes closed. He felt so sleepy.
"Hey! You better not've fallen asleep...", Nathan kicked his shin, "OI! Wake up!"
Stu opened his eyes, they felt so heavy.
Nathan sighed, "I'll tell you what...seeing you seem so sleepy, and that MIGHT be the nytol in your wine, I'll know what'll liven you up...a breath of fresh air"
Stu felt relieved. Outside. Escape.
Nathan went over to the french windows and unlocked then, "It's abit parky out...but I'm sure we'll be alright standing on the belcony"
The belcony!
Stu tried to squirm into the couch as Nathan came over and pulled him up by the arms, "Come on...our fresh air awaits"
Stu was shaking his head no and was trying to grip his trainers into the rug, but Nathan elbowed him, and he went flying to the floor. Non too pleased, Nathan yanked Stu up by the hair and dragged him over to the french doors.
"Nathan NO...Nathan no...", Stu tried to sob, but it was too painful.
Stu's knee smashed up against the metal surround of the french door and then his elbow bashed into the step. Face down his nose was forced to the cold concrete, then Nathan trod onto his hand.
Stu whimpered.
"Come on, what's the point of YOU being down there, when the fresh air is up here..."
Nathan was smiling down at him.
Stu managed to get to a crawl and look up, "Please...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...please don't do this...Nathan, please..."
"Are you sorry for being such a crappy friend to me? Are you sorry that YOU stole my man off me? Bedded him when he was helping ME supporting ME through the HIV? What a cunning evil scheming little bitch you are...AREN'T YAH?"
"It...not...like that...it," he felt breathless, "he...I love him..."
Nathan's eyes narrowed at him. That was the last thing he wanted to here, "You what? He loves you, you love him...god it makes me want to be sick...YOU ARE SICK!"
Nathan was shaking in anger again, and by reaction Stu put himself in a ball as Nathan kicked him repeatedly as he said.
"YOU ARE A FUCKING EVIL LITTLE BITCH! YOU WANTED ME TO GET HIV! YOU WANTED JACKSON ALL LONG, THAT'S WHY YOU WERE MY FRIEND...YOU WERE JUST WAITING TILL THE MOMENT YOU COULD POUNCE ON HIM!"
"Nooo"
"GET UP YOU LITTLE FUCKING CREEP...GET UP"
Stu did his best, but his body felt like it was broken in more than one place. He started to sob, "You helped me when my Mum had cancer...", he blurted.
"And it's a pity she didn't croak!"
Stu came over all dizzy. Nathan started to sway in front of him, but the pain was just so numb. it was there, but it wasn't.
"Stu..."
Stu looked up at his name, then Nathan gave him a great big shove.
He toppled over the belony.
He was falling. He was falling down. The sky was clear...he could see the big fat moon.
And then he saw nothing at all...
XXX
Jackson laid on the bed with the low lamp on. He rolled his head and looked at the clock on the bedside.
11.
He swallowed. Maybe he was with Danny. Or Miles, he didn't have his number. His Mum? Maybe, but he didn't have her number either.
His phone suddenly bleeped. Jackson grabbed it and looked at the screen. He sighed in relief it was Stu.
sorry babe...Miles in a crisis, can't talk, will call tomorrow...will be stopping here all night...sorry about meal...I love you, Stu X
Jackson smiled. A sort of half smile. Strange, Stu never called him babe. But at least he was safe.
And that was good enough to sleep on.
XXXX