CHAPTER SIX

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale and it's characters, they are owned by ITV

A/N: Thanks again for the kind reviews, please read and enjoy...

Aaron removed his greasy overalls, and strolled casually to the garage exit.

" OI...!, where are you off to..." snapped Cain.

Aaron turned, screwing up his eyebrowes in a frown, " you said I could leave early, i'm off into town tonight"

" With lover boy a?" enquired Cain, wiping his hands clean from the oil of an engine he had been tinkering with.

"Ben...?, yeah he's picking me up, Adam and Scarlett are meeting up with us later in a club, should be a mint night" told Aaron.

Cain came forward rubbing his chin, " so...what does this Ben do for a trade like...you've never said"

Aaron shrugged, " I don't know, this and that...does it matter!"

Cain could see Aaron was getting worked up, Aaron hated being given the third degree, he sighed, " have a nice night..."

Cain watched him nod, and and stroll away up the hill towards Smithy.

An hour later, Cain was locking up the garage and heard the skidding of tyres of a car coming to a stop, he turned in the darkness to see the Ford capri parked outside Smithy, and Aaron was jumping into the passenger side with a overnight bag.

The car did a three point turn and roared passed the garage, Cain was sure he had caught sight of Ben giving him a sarcastic grin as they came by, and sped out the village.

Later on, Aaron had showered and changed at Ben's freezing flat. He stared at himself in the wardrobe mirror, he was wearing his favourite black sweater and Jeans.

"Come on Aaron!" came Ben's yell from the lounge " or we will be late for your ape of a mate" he added, but under his breath this time.

Aaron rolled his eyes with a smirk " Okay, Okay" and strolled into the lounge, Ben was on the sofa clutching his mobile, he instantly slammed the lid shut, and quickly and stood up,

"So...you finished tarting yourself up?" he asked with a half smile,

Aaron nodded, " I was just making an effort for yah...who are you texting" he teased,

Ben looked up pocketing the mobile quickly " just a missed call, come on, we'll be late"

"another missed call...!, that's about 6 in the last hour...should i be worried " he said in jest,

" didn't know you've been counting them...!" snapped Ben, Aaron screwed up his face in puzzlement at the outburst of temper, Ben sighed,

" I'm sorry, it's just a mate giving me grief, let's just have a nice night shall we..."

Aaron pulled on his leather jacket, " look...you don't mind Adam and Scarlett joining us there?"

Ben realised his snapping at freaked him some what, he came and cupped his face gently, to Aaron, Ben smelt so good, " It's fine...It'll be great, and Tom will be there if you ignore me!"

Aaron didn't know whether to take that as a joke or not, but Ben was out the front door before he could react, he dug his hands in his pockets and followed him.

At Bar West, Ben turned from the busy bar toward Adam and Scarlett who'd just joined them,

"Hey...it's farm boy and ditzy girl...!, can I get you's a drink...?"

Adam beamed in a smile " not sure about that welcome mate, but mines a beer and a white wine for Scarlett"

Ben ordered the drinks, Adam turned to Aaron " Ben's a mint guy mate, I like him...he's a well laugh"

Aaron took a swig of his beer and looked at Ben paying the barman for the drinks, " Yeah...I like him" he smiled in reply " I really like him..."

Aaron was pleased and a little relieved, he was worried how folk would take to Ben, but all reactions had been great.

Paddy liked him, so did his mother, and now his best mate praised him, they had approved of his new boyfriend, for a novice at this gay thing, he had picked well, and just knew he was going to be fine with Ben...

As the night wore on Ben's mate, Tom, danced with Scarlett after she practically dragged him on to the dance floor. Aaron, Ben and Adam watched them from the nearby bar, amused by Tom trying to dance " He's worse than Aaron!" Adam joked, and that earned him a jab in the ribs by Aaron.

Aaron's eyes wondered towards the pool table, and saw him, Jackson was suddenly there, laughing and joking with his mates, he never saw them enter the club.

Aaron stared at him, like he was somehow drawn to him, but was instantly taken aback, when one of the young lads in the group put his arm around Jackson, it must be him, the better boyfriend he had heard about.

Aaron watched uneasily as Jackson beat his pool apponant almost instantly, that earned him a kiss from the better boyfriend, Jackson was gently touching the lads chin and kissed him, before he playfully slapped his bum and hurried off toward the bar.

The lad was giving Jackson deep and meaningful looks as he went,

I remember when he used to do that to me...and remember when he would look into my eyes like he did to his...

"...Drink Aaron...?" asked Ben, it had been the second time he had asked him, Aaron had been in a trance, but Ben was fully aware Jackson was present tonight, Tom had tipped him off, and he knew Aaron had seen him too.

Aaron nodded half heartedly, and then swung around and grabbed Ben and forced him into a full on snog, when Ben pulled away catching his breath he asked, " What was that for..."

"I...I just wanted to, needed to..." he turned to see Jackson back with his boyfriend, they were sitting now, and Jackson tenderly stoked th young lads face, Aaron shoked up, he spat,

"need a slash..." and he bolted off to the gents, Ben saw Jackson and knew Aaron was upset, he smiled, Aaron needed to see Jackson with someone else, to realise it is now only himself he will now want. Jackson would be history.

In the gents, Aaron was in a cubilcle, the tears of pain streaming down his cheeks. His Jackson had really moved on with out him. He really was with another guy, just like how he used to be with him.

Adam came in and called out " "Aaron!"

Aaron flushed the toilet and stormed out in a huff " can't I have a Sh*t in peace!"

Adam could see Aaron had been crying, " hey mate, what's up, it's nearly Christmas!" he said trying to force a smile with a funny face in he mirror.

Aaron pulled himself together quickly " I ok, in fact everything is great, where's Ben I need too..." he realised it was his best mate he was talking to, " I need to get a beer..."

He shot out the gents, and slammed straight into Jackson, Jackson and Aaron's eyes briefly gazed into eachothers, before Aaron forced his gaze to the floor said " Sorry, I was't looking where I was going" he mumbled shyly, his cheeks flushed.

Jackson smiled, " It's okay, having a good night out?"

Aaron nodded, he didn't want to talk to him, not like this, just wierd idle chat " Yeah, You..."

Jackson nodded " I having a ball, merry christmas, " he went into the gents and turned " and give my best to Paddy "

Before Aaron could reply the door had shut, his heart was beating so fast, it felt as it would leave his chest, he made for the bar and saw Adam and Scarlett " Hey Aaron it's Ben...he's stormed off..."

Aaron bolted out the club and saw Ben heading up the street " Hey Ben Wait... " he ran after him " wait will yah,"

Ben swung around " why, so I can stand in that bar, and watch you cosy up to your ex..."

Aaron closed the gap " Ben...he means nothing to me..."

" I didn't get that vibe" he shot

" It is..." Aaron pleaded, eyes welling up, " It's you I want, you know it is...I'll swear next time I see him I will blank him"

" Promise..." asked Ben

Aaron's heart was breaking " I promise, I'll never speak to him again..." Ben took Aaron and pulled him into the allyway and they kissed.

Ben pulled way " Good, now..." he took Aaron's hand " let's go home and you can prove to me just how much I mean to you..."

TBC

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