AARON LIVESY

-The Chase-

"Presence"

Aaron woke up to the sound of banging on his bedroom door, he thought it was actually his head but he was made well aware he was being woken. "Wakey wakey!" Chas yelled from the other side of the door.

Aaron groaned, he'd never ever had a hangover quite like it before. He put his arm over his eyes; he really did not want to get up. "Mum! Stop shouting"

Chas grinned and opened his door and walked in. "Aww poor baby" she said as she gently slapped his face. "Now get up and clean that bathroom now"

Aaron sighed heavily. "I'm heartbroken!"

"Heartbroken? Don't make me laugh Aaron" she sniggered "You shared a kiss, and you messed it up all on your own, now get up…get it cleaned before Diane gets up because I'm certainly not doing it, oh and open a window in here your stinking up the place" she told him and turned on her heel and left him to it.

Half an hour later, Aaron slowly walked into the kitchen to get the cleaning stuff. He noticed Victoria lying on the sofa, clasping a cup of coffee; she was watching his every move.

"Perv" he mumbled to her as he walked into the kitchen trying not to move his head and squinted at the lights as he reached down into the cupboard.

Victoria let out a little laugh "That ship has long sailed…although you are getting better with age, and that golden tan works…surprised Flynn didn't take you back…"

Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes. "We weren't together for him to take me back, we were just potential boyfriends" he told her as he pulled out the bleach and placed it on the bench top.

"You make me laugh you do! You so love him!"

Aaron scowled. "Now hang on there a sec, I'm not so sure about love just yet, if I ever get the chance that is…but I do like him and that's all I'm telling ya" he told her as he rubbed his forehead.

"Bloody hell you are rough" she said with a laugh.

Aaron scowled at Victoria "It's not funny Vic"

"Nah you're right it's hilarious" she said as she started to laugh.

Aaron sighed, ignored her and grabbed the bleach and the cloth from the sink and headed back upstairs.

A while later Chas stood with her arms folded in the doorway of the bathroom watching Aaron cleaning. "Almost done?" she asked.

Aaron turned to face her and nodded. "Yeah"

"How you feeling?"

"Like I've drank a full barrel of lager and probably some shots in between"

Chas smirked. "So what happened?"

"He's met somebody else" he told her with a shrug. "I don't know what to do"

"You do like him don't ya? No messing about"

"No messing about"

Chas smiled, she was proud of him. "Then do what you need too" she told him with a smile.

"Thanks mum, for coming to my rescue last night"

"Well I couldn't leave you in town could I?" she chuckled. "You're welcome, you were cute anyway, telling me you loved me and I lost count at how many times you said sorry"

Aaron blushed and looked away. That was enough, she'd embarrassed him she was happy now. She walked away chuckling to herself and left Aaron to finish off.

….

"Where are you going now?" Chas called across the bar as Aaron tried to make a quick exit

"Out!" he yelled back, not turning around.

He slowly walked through the graveyard and then lowered himself to the ground, sitting crossed legged in front of Jackson's headstone; he was content in sitting in silence for a few minutes. "Look before you start I know I've been an idiot, I don't need you telling me too" he lowered his head "I hope you're alright up there mate, I hope you've found Clyde, he gets lonely on his own" he chuckled but it quickly died down. "I miss you so much; I don't know what to do. I know you'd want me to move on and get on with my life, that's what helped me come back" he said with a sigh "How do I get through to him Jackson? He's found someone else who's probably a lot more reliable than me, I've got nothing to offer him and I'm damaged goods" He told him as he stared at the engraving of Jackson's name, hoping for a sign of some sort. "I'm so hangover it's unreal, fresh air is helping though, bet your having a right laugh at my expense aren't ya?" he said with a smile then decided to get up "Ah well…suppose you don't know either huh? Wish me luck" he touched the headstone with his fingertips, and felt a light breeze came from nowhere. He smiled and nodded, taking it as a good luck message, he smiled as he walked off.

Upon leaving the grave yard Aaron walked up and out of the village heading to the farm. As he walked he took his phone from his pocket and went through his contacts, when he reached Flynn on the list his finger hovered over it, then he lifted the phone and rested it against his bottom lip. Seconds later he decided to dial his number, but it went straight to voicemail. Aaron sighed and hung up quickly and decided to text instead Flynn please pick up, we need to talk, I'm not giving up on you, I'm gunna try every day until you give me a chance, please talk to me xx

When he reached the farm Adam saw him straight away and marched over to him. "What the hell Aaron? What were you playing at? I saw Flynn the other week with someone else"

Aaron nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, I already know…but I'm back now"

"A bit too late though don't ya think?"

"Who's side are you on?"

"No one's side, but you've messed this one up, but I don't think you need me to tell you that"

Aaron shook his head. "No, actually I don't"

"So you look rough, drown your sorrows did ya?"

"Something like that yeah, not that I can remember much of anything after I spoke to Flynn…listen c-can you…"

"Oh no…Aaron no, this isn't my mess"

"No but he'll listen to you, you two get on"

"Yeah but still…"

"Mate please" Aaron begged.

Adam shook his head. "No, you have to fix this yourself"

"I don't know how"

"Go round there show Flynn and his new guy that you mean business"

"And do what exactly?"

"Flowers?" Adam asked then smirked.

"Yeah, don't get clever"

"Alright, go round to his and make your presence known, hang around a bit, he'll get sick and come out eventually"

Aaron scoffed. "You really think that'll work?"

"Well go and find out, it's better than moping to me about him" he said as he laughed.

Aaron nodded. "A-Alright" he turned and walked away.

"See ya!" Adam called after him then went back to work.

…

Flynn's parents were away for the weekend, it was now Sunday and he only had a few hours before they came back so he was spending it with Chris, the lad he'd mentioned to Aaron the night before. Flynn liked Chris, he was the complete opposite of Aaron, calm, collected, open and reliable, but still it was very early days.

The only similarity between Chris and Aaron was how attractive they both were. Chris' sense of style was very much up to date, he had a definitive jaw line, big arms and his weight was average but Flynn didn't concern himself with things like that, he had an amazing personality and a full charming smile that's what was important. He was a few years older than him and worked as junior in a lawyer's firm which needless to say impressed him, not many young men knew what they wanted to do.

They spent their free time before Flynn's parents got home getting to know each other more. Flynn had already felt confident enough to tell Chris about his ordeal with Ed a few months back. Chris was shocked and completely angered by it and he kept asking if he was alright, how he felt now after a few months.

Flynn told him he was fine, he was better, told him about how Aaron was there to help him and he was honest with him about Aaron, that they shared a kiss and hoped that they would get together but he had to go away, he didn't tell him about all the complications with the police, just that he had to go away and he'd be back after two weeks and when he wasn't he lost hope and that was when he met him.

Chris smiled. "I'm glad we did"

"Me too" Flynn replied with a smile. "I'll go and get us another drink" he told him and got up and walked to the kitchen.

Chris got up to stretch his legs for a bit and when he passed the window he saw someone standing by the gate looking at the house. He frowned to himself. "Flynn! There's a chav stood looking at the house"

Flynn rolled his eyes when he heard the word chav, he knew it was Aaron. Not that he'd used that specific word to ever describe him but if he was wearing his joggers and hoody then that's what people would automatically assume. Flynn headed along out of the kitchen to the front door. "I'll sort it"

"Why? Who is it?"

"It's Aaron" Flynn said with a sigh as he opened the front door and walked along the front path to him. "What are you doing here Aaron?"

"I sent you a text"

"My phones off, Chris is here so…"

"Ahh right" Aaron smiled. "Chris is it?" he asked with a nod.

"I'm not in the mood for games Aaron, what the hell do you think you're doing watching the house? I thought I made myself clear last night?"

"I was waiting for you and you did make yourself clear, got yourself a boyfriend and hey that's fine I'm not knocking it but I'm the one you want, really"

"Don't flatter yourself!"

"Oh come on, I can see it in your eyes"

"No Aaron" Flynn shook his head. "You're seeing what you want to see"

Aaron sighed and looked away for a second.

"You left me Aaron, I was so excited for the chance of finally getting a chance to be with you after Jackson, I understood the two weeks, but four!"

"I already explained myself"

"Yeah you did and a part of me understands, really I do but the other thinks that you're selfish, worried only about yourself and do you know what? Has it not even crossed your mind that I might have needed you Aaron?" Flynn asked as he jabbed his index finger into Aaron's shoulder. "I was raped too, I know you went through it a hell of a lot more but I'm telling you now once was enough!"

"I-I'm sorry" Aaron said with tears in his eyes.

"No! I needed you and you weren't there"

"Flynn I did miss you ya know…everyday…I realised how much I liked you"

"But hang on…while missing me and realising that you also realised that me and you might feel weird, strange"

"Don't make fun of what I said; I was being honest with you"

"Well it was a pathetic excuse!"

"Maybe, but not from where I was stood, not at the time, not with all those things going on in my head about Jackson, about Ed…b-but now…now I want to stop feeling like I'm not good enough" he said as he looked behind Flynn and saw a tall lad stand in the doorway, he assumed it was Chris, it had to be. "Because I am good enough, and I'm certainly good enough for you"

Flynn saw Aaron looking behind him and he looked too and saw Chris. He turned back to Aaron and chuckled. "You're good enough for me?" Aaron nodded. "Think twice about that mate cause him there, he's one hell of a step up from you" Flynn's words were harsh but it was a defence to hide his hurt and true feelings for Aaron, but Aaron didn't see that, all he saw was him lashing out, getting his own back.

Aaron bit his lip and nodded, fighting his emotions as he did.

"He's a good man, got prospects, knows what he wants, training to be a full time lawyer…and then there's you…"

Aaron scoffed. "What? This cause I don't wear a suit, I'm not smart enough or clever enough to do what he's doing?"

"It's not about that, I just like that he knows what he wants unlike you, he's reliable, so see it's not about being smart or what you do in life it's about being there when you say you will and actually being able to face whatever feeling you have head on and I'm telling you I like him, a lot and you won't ruin this for me"

"But you like me so much more" Aaron wasn't giving up despite the nastiness from Flynn.

Flynn didn't reply straight away, he shrugged. "Too late now"

"Is he bothering you?" Chris finally called to Flynn.

"Oi! Why don't you keep your nose out eh?" Aaron told him harshly.

Chris walked out of the house and over to them. "You talking to me?"

"Well I don't see any other trainee lawyers around, do you?"

"Come on" Chris said to Flynn as he chose to ignore Aaron.

Flynn nodded and started walking back to the house.

"You know I'm right Flynn and I'll wait as long as it takes, I'll keep trying as long as it takes"

Chris stopped and faced Aaron. "You bother him once more and me and you will have to have words"

Aaron simply grinned, and nodded his head. "Fine by me" once the front door was closed, Aaron put one leg over the knee high wall and then the other and sat there facing the house. He sighed and took out his phone.

"Adam!"

"Alright mate how's it going?"

"I feel like a right stalker"

Adam laughed through the phone. "Anything yet?"

"Oh yeah Flynn came out, was proper nasty I told him I'd wait as long as it took and that I'll keep trying, oh and then his new boyfriend came out, junior lawyer ya know…."

Adam laughed again. "Jealous much?"

"What? N-…yeah alright a little bit, its people like him that make me feel not good enough, jumped up little twerp!" he said with a sigh. "No actually he's tall, made me feel literally so small" he scoffed. "I can't sit here all day mate I feel stupid"

"Well leave it for today, you've made your point to them both"

"Yeah suppose" Aaron sighed.

"Sorted then, head back and I'll have a pint waiting in the woolie"

"Ugh god no, I'll have a coke thanks"

Adam laughed. "Alright, coke it is, hurry up I'll see ya in a bit" he told him before he ended the call.

Aaron sighed as he looked at the house, god he wanted him badly. One day, one day he just kept telling himself. He got off Flynn's wall and walked away, back to the bus stop to wait for the bus back to the village.

TBC…