CHAPTER TWELVE

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or its characters, they are owned by ITV

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, I liked writing this chapter for obvious reasons...

Aaron had spent nearly an hour in the shower, scrubbing himself thoroughly, he wanted to smell nice for Jackson, and as he now stood in his bedroom at Smithy, he gazed at his reflection in the full length mirror.

Aaron had chosen to wear his favourite blue jeans and jet black sweater, and had sprayed all kinds of aftershave and scent on himself.

Aaron couldn't remember when he had gone to all this bother last, he never seemed to make as much as an effort for Ben.

Then, as he thought of Ben, his mobile jingled. He had received a text message, and immediatley grabbing it from the bedside table, he hoped it was from Jackson...it wasn't...

looking forward to sat night...pick u up at 8 for curry - Ben x

Aaron bit his lip, he began to feel really bad about seeing Jackson tonight, but he couldn't deny himself that he was so looking forward to it, ever since getting Jackson's reply to his text message he sent him...it almost felt like going out on a date...but it wasn't...it was two mates going out for a couple of pints.

Aaron quickly replied with an OK, seeing he promised not to ignore Ben's texts again, then he pocketed the mobile.

Aaron took one more look at himself in the mirror, checking he was at his best for Jackson, with a lopsided grin, and a heart beating faster by the minute, he hurried out the bedroom and went downstairs.

In the Vets surgery, Rhona and Paddy were having a heated discussion, as Pearl was on the phone to another client.

" That's 3 clients today who've cancelled and going elsewhere, Paddy, what's going on!" cried Rhona.

Paddy shrugged " how do I know, I haven't upset anyone, have you..."

Rhona glared at him " don't look at me, I haven't upset anyone either!", both of them then stared toward Pearl, who had just finished her phone call, she looked up, removing her specs, " What..." she asked puzzled

Before Paddy could ask her, Aaron came through from the house " Hey, I'm off now" he said with a smile.

Rhona turned to him " hot date is it!", Aaron nodded " Yeah...I'm...meeting Ben in town arn't I!"

Paddy smiled " well...have a good night" he said in his usual soothing tone, Aaron frowned

"yeah...I always do..."

Paddy looked up before Aaron could leave " Hey, aaron you haven't upset anyone have you..."

Aaron turned with a " NO...should I have..." he barked.

Paddy shook his head " Doesn't matter, forget I asked, just have a nice night..."

Aaron walked off, leaving Paddy and Rhona wondering why their clients were beginning to cancel on them...

As Aaron walkerd across the village to the bus stop, Adam came flying up on his quad bike,

" Hey Aaron, off out mate..."

Aaron nodded " yeah...just into town...", Adam jumped off the quad bike, and smiled at him,

"You should have said...I fancy a good night out..."

Aaron shook his head, " not tonight you don't...I'm...I'm meeting Ben..."

"Ohhh, like that is it!", teased Adam, Aaron nodded just as he saw the Bus pull in to the village," Look...I've got to go mate..."

Adam grinned as the Bus pulled in at the bus stop " Yeah have a good one, mate"

Aaron jumped on the Bus and sat down, he wanted to tell Adam about him meeting Jackson, he hated lying to his mate, but he didn't, he just wanted to see how tonight played out first...

he didn't want to tempt fate...

Being a Friday the nightclub was busy, it wasn' t Bar west, Ben was likely to be there, and he didn't want the risk of Ben seeing him out with Jackson.

Aaron had arrived 30 minutes early, he didn't like being late, not for dates...he cursed himself, this wasn't a date...it was just two mates having a drink, he told himself.

Aaron stood at the bar with his beer, and before he could think about the thought Jackson might not even turn up, the very man tapped him on the shoulder gently, Alright mate...have you been waiting long..."

Aaron looked at his watch " just a few minutes..." he lied, Jackson knew him too well , Aaron's beer was nearly finished, Aaron liked to be early, and Jackson made sure he was dead on time, he didn't want to look too keen...even though he was, by turning up to early...and he definately didn't want to show up late...Aaron hated that with a passion.

" So...where's mine..." teased Jackson, both of them couldn't take their eyes off eachother...had Jackson deliberatly worn that red chequered shirt...he hated reading signals, he wasn't very good at it.

Aaron paid for 2 more beers, and turned toward Jackson, " So...shall we go sit..."

Jackson agreed, and they sat in a small booth away from the busy dancefloor, once they had sat and settled, Jackson took a long sup of his drink, before looking up to Aaron, " Sooo...what did you want to see me about..."

Aaron didn't know what to say...he was bottling it already, " just thought...you know...we are mates..." he pulled a face, this wasn't going as planned.

Jackson could see Aaron was feeling arkward, he smiled at him " Sooo...how's Paddy" he asked.

Aaron nodded, " yeah...yeah hes great...how's...you know...your Mum..."

Jackson's eyes widened as he laughed " Well...driving me nuts...but no change there...but she's doing well, thanks"

Jackson felt the silence soon kick in, he looked up " how's Ben..."

Aaron was thrown by the question, " Ben's...okay" he simply answered.

" Knows you're here with me does he..." teased Jackson with a wink, Aaron shook his head

" No...no he doesn't " he said matter of factly " we are not joined at the hip you know..."

" Sooo, that's why we are meeting here..." breathed Jackson, " I wondered why...when you texted a place to meet..."

Aaron knocked back his beer, he hated to ask, but seeing Jackson had asked about Ben, he had to ask about Dan, it was only fair to. " How's...you know Dan..."

Jackson looked up from his glass, " Dan's history..."

Aaron tried hard to hide his delight, but put on a serious expression upon his face,

"I'm sorry to hear that...what happened mate..."

Jackson shrugged, rolling his glass in his palm, " Me mum that's who...it's not her fault, but Dan couldn't get used to her being around all the time...got to much for him, in the end i just said , if you don't like her living here then leave...I came home that night to find he had packed up and buggered off...Dan wasn't in for the long haul with me" he said sadly.

Aaron could see a pool table standing idle, he looked at Jackson's sad dejected face and smiled, " Come on you...wanna game...you know you want to..."

Jackson sighed " Go on then...but prepare to be well and truely thrashed..."

Aaron laughed as they made their way to the table, " I'm alot better than i used to be...so be warned, you playing Luckey Livesey!" That managed to crack a smile on Jackson's face and Aaron was pleased by it.

They played 3 games, and Jackson beat Aaron every time, both of them laughed out loud with eachother, really enjoying eachothers company, the old banter really taking off between then again...something Aaron really missed.

When it was time to go they left the club together, and strolled side by side towards the taxi rank.

"So...what now" asked Aaron, a little nervous, shivering in the mid January cold night air.

" Home...I'm tired..." told Jackson sticking his hands deep down into his jeans pockets, Aaron bit his lip " Ohh...okay..." he looked towards the taxi rank disappointedly, Jackson sighed, and hinted a smile, he knew Aaron wouldn't make the first move...

" Do you want to come back to my place for a coffee..." he asked, smiling hopefully at him.

Aaron's little face lit up in a flash, " YES" he said quickly...then a more casual " Yeah...that would be nice..."

They walked the 20 minutes hike together to Jackson's masonette, and when they arrived at the front door, Jackson turned " be warned...Mums up...and hospital didn't change her...infact she's on top form..."

Inside Hazel was watching an old comedy on the TV, and she laughed out loud at it, but she still heard the click of the front door in the hall, " In here love, did you have a nice night out...you and this...mate..."

Jackson and Aaron appeared in the small homely lounge, Hazel turned from the TV screen, and stared at Aaron, "ahhh...so look what the cat's dragged in! this the mate you were meeting was it!"

"Mum..." warned Jackson, Hazel faced the TV again,

"No...No, it's your life...as long as the last one doesn't show his beaky little face around here I'm happy..."

" How...how are you...you know feeling Hazel..." Asked Aaron rather sheepishly.

" I'm fine...have to be don't I...with this ones taste in men...I said to myself, I said Hazel, if your sons gonna find a decent man, I'm gonna have to stick around to keep an eye out for the baddens...and he's still looking bless him"

Aaron hoped not, was Jackson still looking for a fellow who wasn't him!

"...I have to take all these thought..." said Hazel pulling out a bag of tablets beside her armchair, " but it's these little bleeders that's keeping my ticker tickering...get it ticker...ticking"

Aaron just frowned, Jackson was even more embarrassed at his mums jokes than he was of his own,

"Mum..." he simply sighed " can you just go and make the coffee..."

"As long as it is just a coffee on the menu!" she said, getting up and hobbling to the kitchen to make it.

Jackson turned to face Aaron " Sorry about her..." he said.

Aaron nodded " It's okay...i've quite missed her...in a funny way"

Jackson stared at him, his smile fading to a more serious tone of expression

" What is this...what are we doing..."

Aaron swallowed, " I don't know...all I know is...is that...that..."

"Sugar Aaron!" called Hazel from the kitchen, Aaron nodded, " yeah 3... cheers..."

Jackson came closer to Aaron " You were saying "

" Well...it's...well...well I...

"Milky or strong, Aaron!"

Jackson, frustrated, pulled a frown and answered for Aaron, " He has it milky!" he then turned to him, " you still do don't yah..."

Aaron nodded, and looked to the floor...Jackson closed the gap between them, and with his hand he lived Aaron's face by his chin " what was it you wanted to say..."

" I...I...I want you!" he hissed in a whisper, Jackson gentley smile at him " So, it's not just me...you've felt it too..."

Aaron nodded " I want you Jackson...so badly it hurts..." he said, his eyes beginning to well up with emotion, finally being able to at last, unleash his true feelings...

Jackson cupped Aaron's face wiping away his tears, " I was a jerk...I should of stayed and listened to you...not just assume how you feel..."

" I do...I think I do love you..." told Aaron, fearing Jackson no longer felt the same way.

Jackson nodded knowingly, " I know...I feel it..." Aaron went to kiss Jackson and they briefly touched lips, before Jackson pulled away " Aaron...you are not a cheat...you have Ben..."

" I do not love Ben...I like him...I like him alot, but I don't think about him all the time, like I do about you...I think about you all the time"

"Then you have to tell Ben...we can't...start anything until you do...if we make a go at this...it has to be a fresh start...you've got to tell Ben..."

Aaron nodded, he knew Jackson was right, his mother had known, follow your heart she had said to him...

" We...we are going out tomorrow night for a curry in town...I'll tell him then...I'll tell him it's over..."

With that in mind, Aaron and Jackson embraced, and as Aaron laid his chin on Jackson's shoulder, he just knew Ben wasn't going to take the break up well...and deep down he was dreading it...

he was worried sick, how he was going to react...

TBC

All reviews welcome x