CHAPTER ELEVEN

DISCLAIMER: I do not own emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV

A/N: Story about any delay with this chapter, I have been feeling under the weather, Thanks for all the reviews X

For the 3rd morning in a row, Aaron woke in a foul mood.

Ever since Ben had called him about his car, how he had found it smashed up in, the car lot at his flat in town.

Aaron wished he could get his hands on the culprits who done it, he had had major plans for that little motor, now all he could think about was causing major damage on them who had done this to him.

Aaron had a quick shower and while he was drying himself, his phone jingled, he reached for it on the side table, knowing instantly who it was,

please call me, i'm sorry - Ben x

Things between him and Ben were still frosty, even when Ben had told Aaron about the car.

Aaron wanted to blame Ben, the incident happened behind his flat, but he knew deep down it was unfair too.

Aaron dropped the phone on to his bed, and pulled open his top dresser drawer.

Jackson's framed photo was still amongst the boxer shorts, he pulled the picture out and hinted a smile, gently brushing his fingers briefly on the glass, he then returned it to his bedside table where it should be...

At the breakfast table, Paddy turned to Aaron, as he bit into his toast " so...did the police get back to you...you know...about your car..." Paddy was careful how he asked, the whole matter made Aaron touchy.

Aaron started to count off his fingers with a " No CCTV...No Witnesses...NO ACTION!" he barked, then stood and chucked his cup and plate into the sink.

He then turned toward Paddy with a big sigh, " I'm sorry Pads...you bought me that car, I only had it for 3 days...and look what I have done..." Paddy could see Aaron was flirting with both anger and guilt at the moment, he stood and approached him.

" It's fine...it's not your faught is it...and i'm sure now it's over at the garage, you can sort it out..." he said in a soothing tone.

Aaron snapped his head round " What! just like that...it costs money Paddy...and at this moment in time, I have no money!"

At that moment Aaron's mobile sung out, he reached for it and saw the display read, Ben calling...

Aaron cancelled the call, he wasn't in the mood to talk to Ben, with a huff, he stormed towards the door " I'm going to work...!" he snapped at Paddy.

At the garage, Aaron stared at this beloved motor, the smashed windsreen, the scratched bodywork...no headlights, the poor Fiesta was in a right state, and nothing had been done to repair it, since he and Ryan had toed it back to the garage.

As Aaron worked on an engine, he kept looking glancing over to the smashed up wreck, and it made his blood boil, all his plans he had for it down the drain.

Cain came forward with two mugs of tea in his greasy grasp, " Hey you...stop slacking off, you've been in a dream all morning...we will get it sorted!" told Cain, about the car.

Aaron grapped the mug and took a slurp, "when!...it's gonna take forever, and what with hah, you pay me about 40p a week...!" he snarled at his uncle.

Cain stared at the wreck, chewing his gum, " it won't take much...wasn't much to begin with truth be told" he grinned.

Aaron was hurt with that comment " Paddy bought me that motor, it's worth much to me!" he shot back at him.

"Easy tiger...i'll see what I can do alright...but even I can't worked miracles lad..." he then caught sight of a Ford Capri zoom into the village, Cain took a sip of tea and turned toward Aaron, whos head was now stuck in the engine he was was working on.

"looks like loverboys arrived for yah!" he teased with a grin. Aaron straightened up, and watched the Capri park up upon the garages forecourt.

Aaron approached the car, cleaning off his hands with an oily rag.

"So...you are still alive then...!" cried Ben, jumping out the car.

"Yeah..." barked Aaron in reply " should I not be..." Cain could sense an icy atmosphere between them.

" Well...you've been avoiding me texts, and me calls...and as far as I remember, it was you who started all this, by storming off last Friday...even when you came to collect the car, it was like hell had frozen over!" cried Ben.

Cain was still watching them, and Aaron could sense that his uncle found all this amusing to watch, he turned to Ben " Look...I'm not doing this here...meet me over at the pub...I'll be over there in a minute..."

Ben glared at Cain, then faced Aaron, " alright...be quick...I might not wanna wait too long..." he the hared off toward the Woolpack.

Cain came to stand at Aaron's side on the forecourt, " Did you say your motor was trashed at his flat..."

Aaron nodded with a frown, " Yeah..SO!"

Cain shook his head " interesting..." he said under his breath, as he watched Aaron start over toward the pub " and don't take all day about it !" he called behind him...when Aaron was out of sight, Cain began to scrutinize Ben's car...

At the pub, Aaron and Ben sat in silence at a table with their drinks, it was Ben who finally broke the silence, " So...why have you been avoiding me" he asked.

" I haven't ... if you haven't quite noticed, my car's be trashed!" Aaron snapped.

"...and that's my faught because..." sneered Ben.

Aaron shook his head, " I don't blame you...I don't"

Ben took a sip of his beer, " sounds like it where i'm sitting mate..."

Aaron was defensive at the remark " i don't!..., it's just I am so angry Ben...I only had that motor for 3 days...I'll tell you when I get my hands on them who did it...I'm gonna..."

Ben could see Aaron's hand's fist into balls, "...So you should..." smiled Ben " but it's always happening round my way...I feel bad...I should have warned you..."

Aaron looked up at him, he felt bad for Ben blaming himself for the smash up, he sighed "don't be soft, it's just a car, it'll get fixed...in time"

Ben and Aaron's eyes met, and Ben thought it the right time to flash a grin, " So...are we okay..."

Deep down, Aaron wasn't sure he wanted them to be, but seeing he was so nice to him, he smiled, " Yeah...yeah we are..."

Ben then quickly downed his pint, " good, now i've gotta go..." Aaron looked up to see him slip on his jacket,

" Maybe we can have a nice night a Bar West...I can make up for...stuff" suggested Aaron.

Ben nodded with a smile, " I'll text yah...and i'll expect a reply this time" he said in jest " see yah soon..." he then ducked out the pub, leaving Aaron finishing his pint.

Pearl was at her desk in the Vet surgery, she looked up from her computer as the door clicked open, and she removed her specs to see Ben standing there, with a bunch of flowers in his clasp.

" A very, very big sorry for the other day pearl...I behaved apallingly..." he soothed with a massive grin that instantly made Pearl start blushing.

" On Benjamin...they are beautiful...how very kind of you...you are such a gentleman"she cooed " was your mood something to do with Aaron" she then pryed!

"Something like that, why don't you get some water for those..." Ben pointed out.

Pearl wofted around him " Yes, yes...i want them to keep fresh don't I...silly me..."

She disappearerd out the office for a few moments to find a vase, Ben had all the intentions to be nice, he really could be when he wanted to be, but seeing Paddy's full client list in full view on the computer screen was to tempting for him.

He hurried over and pressed the print icon, it seemed to take forever to print out, but once it had he slipped the sheet of paper into his jacket.

It was just in the nick of time, as Pearl reappear with the flowers he bought her now in a floral vase, " ...Now Benjamin dear...are you going to join me with a nice cuppa..."

Ben cursed the thought, " No..no I must go...but I hope you enjoy your flowers..."

Ben bade farewell to Pearl, and walked back through the village to the garage where his car was parked.

He couldn't help smirking at the sight of Aaron's smashed up car, he hated doing it of course, but Aaron needed teaching a lession.

Just as Ben jumped into car, he caught glimpse of Cain staring at him with a knowing look, Ben hated Cain...there was something about him he was uncomfortable with..

He stared the engine and sped off out the village, Cain watched him go...Cain didn't trust Ben...and he was begining to wonder if Ben really was bad news...

Later on after dark, Aaron was at Mill cottage with his Mum, they sat on the couch talking,

" It's unlike you to be all deep and meaningful with me, love" Chas told flicking back her dark hair.

Aaron turned a bottle of beer in his grasp, " ...I don't know what to do...about...Ben..."

" Ben...what about him, love " asked Chas, pouring herself a white wine.

Aaron swallowed, he hated talking about his feelings, but if he didn't now, his mind would explode.

" I...think...i think...i'm in love..." he muttered unsurely, afraid someone else other than Chas could hear him.

" Love...you are in love with Ben...!" cried Chas " Aaron...that's unexpected..."

Aaron pulled a face " did I say Ben...I'm not talking about Ben"

Chas shook her head in puzzlement " then who are we talking about, love..."

"Jackson!"cried Aaron, as if his mother should have known who he ment, " I think I love Jackson..."

Chas gave him a sympathetic look, " but that's all in the past...you've got to move on, he has... you've said so yourself...and what about Ben, you can't go messing folk around Aaron, you'll get yourself a reputation!"

" I know... I know he feels the same...I just know it, i've felt it...everytime we meet, i feel it..."

Aaron was getting tongue tied, and stood " Look I'm gonna go, I hate talking about this...I should never of come..."

Chas stood and grabbed her son by his shoulders, " Look, Aaron...i'm not good at all this me self...just look at my track record...so i am in position to tell you what to do...but all I will say is follow your heart, Aaron...follow you heart babe..."

Aaron left Mill cottage, his feet crunching the gravel upon the driveway, his Mothers last words turning and turning over in his mind.

Aaron paused at the gate, and pulled his mobile out from his hoodie pocket, he then scolled down to Ben's number on the display...he justed stared at it...finger hovering over the call button.

He bit his lip, and scrolled down further through his phonebook, to Jackson's number, without further thought he pressed call, and stuck the phone to his ear.

Aaron was dismayed to hear, " you have reached Jackson Walsh, can't take you call at present, so please leave a message and I'll get back to you"

Aaron took in a deep breath, and spoke, " It's me...it's Aaron...can we meet up...I need to talk to yah...just call me, or text me...anytime...I just need to see yah, Jackson"

Aaron ended the call, and prayed Jackson would get back to him, even though deep down he knew Ben would feel betrayed, when or if, he did contact him.

Aaron hated going behind Ben's back...but his feelings for Jackson were getting too strong to ignore...

He had to come clean to Jackson...he had to come clean to Ben of how he really felt...

Whatever the consequences...

TBC

All reviews welcome x