By the end of the week Aaron was going out of his mind stuck in Smithy Cottage, with his mum popping over and Hazel wondering round when she wasn't working at the café or having a drink with bob at the Woolpack. The only up side of being stuck in Smithy Cottage was Jackson being with him but on Friday morning he received a call from a customer in Robblesfield who was offering Jackson a job to build an extension on the side of their house. It was an offer he couldn't refuse with the amount of money he was going to paid, so instantly Jackson took up the job offer which would taken a just less than a month to complete.
"Do you wanna got to The Woolpack?" Aaron asked bored, as he lied on the sofa in the living room.
"I don't know." Jackson sighed as he walked in from the kitchen having just finished washing up from lunch.
"Jackson. . ." Aaron moaned as he sat up. "I'm bored and I could really do with a drink."
"You're not supposed to be drinking when you're taking those pain killers." Jackson told him as he sat down behind him so the teen could lean back on his side.
"I won't drink then, I'll stick to cola all night." Aaron answered.
"It's a long way down there Aaron-." Jackson started.
"Then if I get tired I'll get you bring Paddy's car down to bring me back home. Any more excuses?" Aaron laughed getting the feeling Jackson didn't want him going out. "Besides it will strength my arms more." Aaron winked as he turned his head to look at Jackson.
"Fine!" Jackson huffed as he jumped to his feet. "I'll just go get my Jacket and pair of shoes for you." Jackson said as wondered through to the stairs. "Or should I say shoe."
"Haha, very funny!" Aaron called after him sarcastically; rather pleased he would be getting out of the house. He'd not been out in days and the only different company he had had was Adam calling roung on Wednesday to see how he was doing.
Pulling out his phone Aaron sent Adam a quick text before Jackson came back with his jacket on and one shoe for Aaron. He smirked at Aaron as he waved it in the air. "Now can you reach down their and put it on, or do you-." Jackson started.
"I think I can manage thanks." Aaron sighed as he snatched the shoe from Jackson to put on. He was glad that Jackson had nipped into town the previous day where he'd gotten Aaron a few pairs of extremely baggy fit Jeans, to fit over his leg splint and a few of sweatpants as well seeing as his usual trousers didn't fit. Today he had on a pair of the baggy fit jeans, hoping it hid his leg splint a bit more than the flimsy jersey pajama trousers did. "Right, let's go." Aaron said grabbing his crutches.
After a little persuading Jackson had managed to get Aaron to leave Clyde at home, telling him that in no chance in Hell would Diane let the dog inside the pub and there was no way he was going to sit outside all afternoon on the benches. Once inside The Woolpack Aaron had immediately started to regret coming. He hadn't given it a second thought as to what people my do or say when they saw him, having heard from Pearl about what had happened during the previous weekend. He'd been to anxious to get out of the house and into a different surrounding all week, to think about it at all. All eye's had gone to rest on him as he used his crutches to get inside the bar, he could see Betty and Edna staring in the corner and even caught Declan from the far side looking at him.
"Maybe this was a bad idea." Aaron hissed into Jackson's ear, ready to turn round and head straight back out.
"No, we're here now. Just ignore them, they'll stop in a few minutes." Jackson whispered back as he began to carefully guide him towards the bar.
"Aaron, how're you doing pet?" Diane asked from behind the bar as Jackson was about to order in.
"Great." Aaron said with an obvious false grin.
"He's doing alright, thanks Diane for asking." Jackson said for Aaron, digging in his pocket for his wallet. "Could we have one beer and a coke please?"
"Sure thing, I'll bring them over for you." Diane answered before she turned to get glasses.
"Be nice." Jackson whispered in Aaron's ear as they headed over to the seating area at the far back out of everyone's way.
"I am." Aaron hissed back.
"No you're not." Jackson laughed as he sat down. "They're only asking you if you're alright, they're concerned."
Aaron looked at Jackson.
"What? Would you rather they ignored you completely?" Jackson sighed, before he began to eat his words.
"Yeah, pretty much." Aaron answered him before Diane appeared putting their ordered drinks onto the table.
"Thanks Diane." Jackson smiled up at her.
"Anything else I can get you?" She asked clasping her hands in front of her.
"No thanks." Jackson declined politely, while Aaron just glared at her waiting for Diane to leave them alone.
"Alright then." Diane said as she left them to it.
"I hope you're not going to be like this all afternoon." Jackson commented as they sipped their drinks. Receiving yet another look from Aaron before he continued to look round the pub at who was staring at him. "They're just curious Aaron."
The teen scoffed before he took another gulp of his coke, catching Betty gawping at his leg that was rested straight out in front of him as he perched on the edge of the chair. "Having a good look are you?" Aaron shot over at her, snapping her from gaze.
"N-no love, I wasn't. . ." She tried to protest.
Aaron rolled his eyes. "Maybe you want me to get it out so you can have a good look at what real damage there is!" Aaron shouted over at her.
"Aaron!" Jackson warned, he didn't want him mouthing off in public. "Leave it."
Knowing Jackson was right to tell him to leave it, Aaron rolled his eyes once more and returned to his drink.
"Sorry." Jackson mouthed over at Betty. He knew Aaron was in the wrong for mouthing off at her, but it still didn't excuse the fact she wasn't being subtle about his injury that he was obviously sensitive about.
Half an hour later, Adam joined them in the pub. Jackson was grateful for his appearance he seemed to be able to distract Aaron's attention away from the locals and keep is fixed on the conversation they were having.
"Argh, Holly's driving me mad!" Adam sighed changing the subject from talking about Scarlett.
"Why? What she done now?" Aaron asked concerned for the girl. Even though he'd been trying to hide his sexuality at the time when going out with the younger man's sister, he really did care for her and he wouldn't' want to see her in any trouble. "She hasn't been getting into any trouble has she?"
"I don't know. That Roz has been hanging around lately." Adam told him. "Holly's been acting weird."
"I'll keep an eye on her for you, if you want." Aaron offered. He dreaded to think what Roz was getting Holly into now.
"Thanks mate." Adam smiled gratefully, wondering how Aaron was gonna do just that from Smithy cottage.
"Aaron love, what you doing here?" Chas called over half of the pub as she made her way over.
"Great." Aaron groaned as he closed his eyes. He thought he'd managed to get out of seeing her for the day. Usually he only saw a couple of times a week or a more and even then it was because he passed her in the street or she was in The Woolpack with Charity when he happened to come in. Since the weekend he'd seen her every single day for a couple of hours at least each time, mothering him and making sure he was alright.
"Like I said earlier, play nicely." Jackson grinned at Aaron as Chas took an empty seat next to Adam. "I was just about to get another round in, can I get you a drink?" Jackson asked Chas as he stood up.
"Usual for me please!" Chas answered him before she turned to Aaron. "I hope you're not drinking."
"I'm not." Aaron breathed picking up his half empty glass of coke. "See!"
"Mm. . . good boy." Chas praised as she crossed her legs, her short black skirt already hitching up a tad to reveal the top of lacey stockings.
"Mum!" Aaron hissed as he caught sight of her legs, gesturing to them when he got her attention.
"What?" Chas laughed as she feebly attempted to tug the hem of her skirt down.
"You look like a tart!" He shot at her. How could she wondered round the village showing everything off to any male that would ogle at her.
Hurt Chas stuck her nose in the air. "Adam doesn't think so. Do you love?" She aimed at the younger lad who sat beside her.
Choking on the last of his pint, Adam cleared his throat and backed her up frightened to get on the wrong side of her. Her temper was worse than her son's. "N-no course you don't."
"See." Chas smirked as Adam stood up.
"Just gonna go help Jackson bring the drinks over." He quickly excused himself, scuttling off to the bar.
"It's only a bit of leg Aaron." Chas justified when she caught him still glaring at her.
"Start telling me that when you get groped." Aaron mumbled under his breath.
"What was that?" Chas snapped, who hadn't heard, what she thought, a snide remark utter from her son's mouth.
"Should have listened more carefully." Aaron smirked at her as Jackson and Adam returned with the drinks.
"Hope you two are getting along nicely." Jackson chastised only catching the last part of their conversation.
"Like a house on fire." Aaron sneered as he took the fresh glass of coke from Jackson.
"Good."
They stayed at The Woolpack for dinner, neither of them bothered to go back to the house and cook for themselves, mainly Jackson who would be doing the dinner seeing as Paddy was working and Hazel was holding a painting class in town. Chas had left them alone after the first round of drinks Jackson had brought when she arrived, going over to join Charity and Katie at the Bar. While Jackson had nipped off to the toilets after they had finished eating, Aaron quickly asked Adam for a sip of his beer.
"What? No, Aaron, Jackson would kill me!" Adam exclaimed at his friends request.
"What he won't know won't hurt him, I'll break your legs if you don't let me." Aaron smirked. "I'll buy you another one in the next round."
Adam seemed to thinking about what was worse, Jackson finding out and killing him or Aaron breaking his legs if he didn't comply. "Fine." He huffed. "But quick, before Jackson comes back." Adam said watching the door to the toilets.
Aaron grinned as he took the pint glass from Adam, they'd order another round as they'd finished their food. He didn't plan on drinking the whole pint, just enough to get a taster. With everything that had been going on he needed a drink to settle his racing thoughts for a moment. He was going to be careful, he knew the effects the pain medication would have teamed with alcohol, so he took several gulps before setting it back down on the table in front of Adam. He wiped the back of his hand across his mouth and relished in the taste of the amber liquid. "Thanks mate, I owe you one." Aaron said to his mate, just as Jackson returned.
"What do you owe him for?" Jackson asked curiously as he took his seat.
"Nothing." Adam quickly answered receiving a curious glance from Jackson and a glare from Aaron.
"Is that so . . ." Jackson mused taking a sip of his own pint. "You drank that rather quick." Jackson commented as he noticed Adam's pint.
"Yeah." He nervously chuckled. ". . . Was thirsty."
"Obviously." Jackson smirked as Aaron continued to glare at Adam.
As nine a clock came, Adam headed back home making excuses that he had an early morning start ahead of him, never mind that it was the weekend, and Jackson and Aaron decided to head back home. They were halfway home, Aaron struggling on his crutches as he climbed up the hill adamant that he was going to make it on his own, when Jackson started to talk.
"I know you sneaked some of Adam's pint down you when I was gone." Jackson announced as they passed the phone box.
Shit. "Do you?" Aaron asked, playing it by ear how Jackson was going to react. Everyone had been fussing round him all week and he knew anything that was going to set him back a bit or effect him the slightest was going to tick them off. His mother would kill him if she knew what he'd done while he was still taking pain medication. He just hoped Jackson was a little less angered by it.
"Yeah I do, I'm not stupid." Jackson laughed. "Adam's a bit of a giveaway though."
"Ah right." Aaron was a little stunned he hadn't received a lecture from him.
"Just don't think I will be sympathetic when you wake up with a groggy head in the morning." Jackson said as he walked on ahead.
Aaron scoffed. "I never wake up with a hangover. I'm not even tipsy."
"We'll see about that." Jackson laughed as he knew what was coming Aaron's way. "You might not feel is now, but it will sneak up on yah."
"Whatever." Aaron grumbled as he tried his best to keep up with his pace.
A/N – Second update of the day! Woo! Hope you guys enjoy it all! Let me know what you think.