Aaron stood in front of his bedroom mirror unbuttoning his shirt as Jackson picked out another. The last two shirts he'd picked out the builder had either laughed or teased him on his choice of clothes. He liked the white shirt he was currently taking off to please his boyfriend but apparently Jackson didn't. He had told him he looked like a scruffy school boy from the 90's. Fed up of picking out 'cheap and chavy' shirts he left it to Jackson to pick out a suitable, good enough, shirt. He didn't care what he worse as long it was descent enough to be allowed in to clubs.
"Here we go." Jackson said pulling out on of his own shirts. "This will actually look good on you. Unlike your over sized cheap shirts that you've borrowed off of Paddy."
"I am not wearing that!" Aaron told him straight up, sweeping Jackson's remarks about his wardrobe to the side.
"Why? What's wrong with it?" Jackson asked as he spun the shirt round to face him to see if him and Aaron were looking at the same shirt. It was black. It was safe and it wasn't chavy.
"That will not fit me." Aaron told him firmly. Jackson was a slimmer build than what he was. Plus the shirt was missing a few top buttons.
"Don't be silly, course it will." Jackson assured him. "It will actually fit you, then hang off of you like most of your clothes." He added it was about time Aaron began wearing clothes that showed of his body more rather than dressing like a twelve year old kid. "You'll look good." Jackson winked at him, hoping it would sway the stubborn teen into putting the garment on.
"No." Aaron said before walking past him to the wardrobe. No way was he going to go out dressed in public wearing the shirt Jackson had picked out. It wasn't him. It was Jackson. Jackson could get away with clothes like that, but he couldn't. They didn't suit him. He wasn't confident enough like the builder to be making his self seen and looked at. He liked to blend in and be ignored.
"Oh Aaron." Jackson said stepping up behind him so his body was flat against the teen's bear back. "You would look so, good." He breathed against Aaron's ear trying to persuade him.
"No." Aaron repeated, trying to ignore the feel of Jackson against him and his breath on his skin as he tried to concentrate on picking out a top to wear.
Jackson huffed. "Fine." He said, slipping his hands around Aaron, across the younger man's toned stomach.
He continued to ignore the builder, picking out a grey thin jumper and a pale blue t-shirt. His tactics weren't going to work. He pulled the t-shirt over his head and then his jumper, flinging the coat hangers on the floor. Jackson's hands remained where they were, interlocked round his waist, as he tried to pull his t-shirt and jumper down.
Eventually Jackson's grip around him loosened and the older man carefully turned the teen round, his eyes running up and down as he looked over the teen's outfit. "I suppose that will do." He teased before pulling Aaron in for a kiss. "Still think you would like great in that shirt."
"So when are you getting changed then?" Aaron asked innocently when they pulled away from their tender kiss. If Jackson a going to knock him it was only fair he did the same. He knew Jackson had taken his time getting changed, he'd used his favorite shower gel and put on his new dark jeans with his checkered shirt, taking in pride in his appearance even more so when he applied some aftershave. He'd even tried to attack Aaron with the stuff.
"Hey!" Jackson exclaimed, slapping Aaron playfully on the arm. It had taken him ages to get ready.
"Sorry, I honestly thought you hadn't." Aaron teased.
It wasn't long before they were queing up with Adam to get inside one of Hotton's nightclubs. They had silently agreed to stay clear of Bar west for a few months to allow things to cool down after the court case, before they stepped foot inside there again. The last thing they wanted was to bump into Darrel on their night out, so Jackson and Aaron were leaving it to Adam to pick where they drank that night. The first night club being, "project" a newly opened bar.
"Finally!" Adam exclaimed as they were finally being allowed into the nightclub after twenty minutes of waiting outside.
As soon as they got inside they weaved their way up to the bar. For a new nightclub it was extremely popular, it seemed everybody was out that night letting their hair down towards the lead up to the festive season. There wasn't a single table or chair left unoccupied as Jackson scanned the place for somewhere to sit down. Aaron had been standing for quite a while now and they'd agreed to leave the crutches at him only if Aaron spent a lot of time sitting down. As his eyes searched the club, he spotted a few girls who had clambered up one of the bench seats in the light blocks, swaying their hips back and forth as they link hands with each other.
"Three bottles of larger please?" Aaron ordered at the bar when he was eventually spotted by a barman. He turned round to speak to Adam but found him and Jackson watching the girls dancing from the bench. "Having a good look are ya?" He commented to them.
"Who wouldn't?" Adam said with a grin as he turned to pick up the drink Aaron had ordered him.
"He wouldn't- or shouldn't be. . ." Aaron teased as he looked pointedly to Jackson who was watching the girls with a slight smirk on his face.
Adam laughed. "Think you should be worried mate."
"I'm just observing the cuteness of them and the fun partying they seem to be enjoying." Jackson said picking up his drink and taking a sip. ". . .Which is exactly what we should be doing!"
"Yeah!" Adam agreed. "It's about time we had some fun."
Aaron rolled his eyes and followed the two towards another part of a club.
They ended up drinking several more bottles of larger with a mixture of shots in between; each one of them was happily on their way to being drunk while having fun.
"They're way out of your league." Aaron commented when he caught Adam looking over to group of girls again who was now sitting at a table.
"He's right." Jackson joined in.
"And you're not?" Adam fired back.
Jackson shook his head. "Course not. Ladies love me."
"Good job you don't love them." Aaron quietly said into his drink.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Okay then, if you think you've got a shot with them, go on over and chat one up." Adam dared.
"No, I'd much rather prefer to see you try it." Jackson teased. He didn't want to involve any girl in anything to prove something so silly.
"Fine." Adam said standing up and brushing off imaginary dust from his shirt before heading towards the girls table.
"This is going to be hilarious . . ." Aaron commented as both he and the builder watched as Adam strode over to the girls and leant down on the table speaking to one of them.
"When do you think he'll get slapped?" Jackson asked curiously as Adam chatted to one, asking a question.
Aaron shrugged. He would have liked to have seen Adam getting slapped across the face, but it didn't seem to look like it would be happening. He was hitting it off with one of the girls who seemed genuinely interested in him.
Both Aaron and Jackson tried to look busy quickly when Adam motioned over his shoulder towards them and all the girls looked their way. What was he telling them?
A few seconds he arrived back over to them. "Come on, we're joining them." Adam said with a cheesy smirk. "Seems I am in their league."
"What? Why?" Aaron fired at him. He didn't want to join a bunch of cackling girls out on a girls night on their night out. Their main purpose was to get drunk and have fun. How were they going to achieve that by sitting with them?
"C'mon on Aaron." Jackson said. "It'll be fun."
Aaron mumbled a few choice words under his breath before he cooperated with the two, going with them to the girls table and taking a seat wedged in between of them and Jackson.
"Aaron and Jackson." Adam introduced to them as he seated himself beside the brunette he'd hit it off with. "Shall I get some drinks in?" He asked the table, seeing everybody's drinks were nearly empty.
"I'll come with you." The brunette said when most people nodded their heads in response.
No sooner had they joined the girls did Adam leave them to get drinks with the one he hoped to get to know better.
"So what do you both do as a living?" Another brunette girl asked as he sat across the table from them. "We already know what you're friend does, him and Jennifer already have one thing in common."
"I'm a builder." Jackson told her politely. "Self-employed."
"Run your own business. . . nice." She smiled. "And you?"
"Mechanic." Aaron answered, not feeling overly eager to get involved in any conversation with them.
"Good with your hands then." The brunette girl said causing Jackson to almost choke on his drink. "I work in a hairdressers part time, but I'm studying at uni at the moment."
"Oh, what you studying?" Jackson asked.
"Psychology with Georgia and Imogen here." She said just as Adam and Jennifer returned with the drinks, shots.
"Come on then." Jennifer giggled, giving each of them a shot.
Before long they were wrecked or at least Adam, Aaron and the girls were. They were all throwing down the shots like water. Jackson had kept to a minimum with his drinking, one of them had to responsible for the other two and tonight that came down to him. He watched as Adam and Jenifer walked onto the dance floor and began moving seductively along to the pumping music. There were many times that Jackson wished that Aaron danced. If he did they would get up and join Adam and Jennifer but sadly all they did was sit at the table. It wasn't the only time he wished Aaron would dance with him, he wouldn't mind being able to if they ever got invited to a wedding together or another special occasion, where they could glide around the floor oblivious to everyone else around them as they wrapped themselves up in each others worlds. But no, Aaron didn't do dancing.
The teen was currently drinking his ninth shot of that night since they had joined the girls, while Ivy, a blonde friend of Jennifer's, sat beside him trying her hardest to make him like her. She'd been giving the young mechanic looks all night, that hadn't go unnoticed y the builder but had by Aaron who never seemed to realize when somebody was hitting on him. Ten minutes ago, Ivy had found the courage to speak to Aaron who only grunted or gave single word answers in response.
"New watch?" Ivy asked, noticing the leather strap of Aaron's watch peeking out from beneath his sleeve.
He'd had the watch for a while but he barely wore it. It was a present from Paddy for his eighteenth and was always scared he was going to break it. It meant a lot to him. "Nope.2
"It's nice." Ivy commented, not knowing quite how to further their conversation. "Very smart."
Aaron nodded his head, taking another sip of his larger. Jackson really should have stepped in before when it was obvious Ivy liked Aaron. He could have politely told her she wasn't Aaron's type or told her that he was in a relationship with somebody. There was no way Aaron going to tell her straight when he didn't even realize she was trying to make advances.
Biting her lip, Ivy asked. "Do you want to dance?" She envied her friend Jennifer dancing with Adam.
Aaron shook his head. "Nah you're alright." How could he? They had already pointed out his leg earlier. Asking how it had happened? Did it hurt? How long before he could take the cast off?
"Well I'm going to." Ivy sighed as she stood. If she wasn't going to have any luck with Aaron then she would go find somebody else to dance with.
The builder waited until it was just the two of them before he spoke. "You could have told her."
"Told her what?" Aaron asked confused.
"That you're spoke for? She's not your type? Or even, your gay." Jackson teased, smirking when Aaron caught on.
"She wasn't. . ." He said. He'd never noticed but then again when did he ever? He didn't realize he'd been making an impression on Darrel until the older man tried to force himself upon him at the side of a road on a call out, not taking no for an answer.
Jackson nodded his head. "he was." He smiled. "Can't believe you couldn't notice. She's been eyeing you up all night."
"Shut up." Aaron said, he needed a smoke. He checked his pockets for his lighter and cigarettes before he stood. "Won't be a sec. Need a smoke."
Jackson rolled his eyes. He hated Aaron smoking, it was unhealthy and could be a reason hopefully way in the future why Aaron wouldn't be around anymore. "All right." He said as the teen headed for the exit.
It was freezing outside. The cold wind blew around him as he stood outside taking a cigarette out of the packet. He was finishing the cigarette as quick as he could and heading back inside in the warmth. He was about to light the cigarette when it slipped from his hand. A combination of Alcohol and shivering from the cold allowed the cigarette to fall from his grip and roll away from him when it hit the ground. Cursing, Aaron tried to lean forward to pick it up. Since not being able to bend his leg, he had become quite good at touching the floor with his hands whilst his legs remained straight. About to pick up the cigarette, Aaron stopped when somebody else snatched it up before him.
"Such a dirty habit." The voice of whoever had picked up his cigarette said. "It's bad for you health, you know?" He recognized that voice. Icy fingers trailed up and down Aaron's spine.
Straightening up, Aaron's suspicions were confirmed. He couldn't move. He was rooted to the spot. Darrel was standing in front of him. The one man he was trying to avoid. Smirking at him, making his skin crawl and his stomach knot in fear, just like all the other times he was confronted by Darrel, all he could do was stare back at him. His mind was screaming at him to move, to go back inside and back to Jackson. But his body wasn't listening. His legs felt like lead, impossible to shift.
"Still the silent type, eh?" Darrel sighed stepping closer, breaching Aaron's personal space even more. "It's good that you are. Can't stand it when people don't know when to shut up." He nodded threateningly.
Why did he have to come outside on his own for a poxy smoke for? He should have stayed inside where it was safe and waited to have his cigarette when they switched to another club or went home. It wasn't as if he couldn't wait. Since meeting Jackson he'd been cutting back.
"You'd know all about that as well though, wouldn't you?" Darrel commented. ". . .Not being able to keep your mouth shut."
Aaron looked around quickly. The street was empty, he'd stepped round the side for a smoke, to get some – if any – shelter from the wind. It wasn't such a good idea to be somewhere where there was nobody around, when he was on his own. Not now that Darrel had another opportunity to do or try anything he wanted. No one would stop him, no one would see. He couldn't even run. Is that what it was going to be like? Every time he thought he was doing okay Darrel pop up and try his luck again? Darrel would soon catch up with him if he tried to make a bolt for it, with his broken leg keeping him back he was vulnerable. He hated being vulnerable. Once again he could be a victim of Darrel and there was nothing he could do to get out of it. He had already found out fighting back didn't help. When was the teen going to be left alone?
"You could have ruined my life with your lies, you're pathetic! . . ."
Where had Aaron gotten to? Jackson was well aware that it took Aaron a little longer to get about nowadays, but never this long for a smoke. Maybe something had happened, he could have fallen down. They had all had quite a fair few to drink, so he wouldn't be surprised if Aaron had taken a topple and couldn't get up. It was bond to happen to one of them.
"I'm just going to see what's taking Aaron so long, tell my mate if he comes back where I am could you please?" Jackson asked Imogen over the music.
"Sure."
Adam tried to keep his breathing even. He couldn't let Darrel affect him so much, he was nothing. But he did, still! The older man got under his skin and made him sick. He could feel his pulse quickening, scared by the thoughts of what Darrel could do to him running through his head. After all he had reported him to the police and had him arrested in court. He'd managed to lie his way out of that, fool everyone, escape jail. Darrel would be livid, he had been that day he had pushed him down the stairs.
". . . Just because you can't admit that you want me." Darrel continued, glaring at Aaron. "You're just a messed up kid."
He was joking right? He did not seriously believe that he wanted him? He didn't' say just say that Aaron was messed up one? He was insane, delusional. How could he possibly think that Aaron wanted him? He tried to force him to have sex with him.
". . . You were gagging for it." Darrel hissed, making Aaron's stomach churn at the thought. "I know you fucking were!"
Jackson had just slipped outside, looking for Aaron. He wasn't on the street out front but there was alarge drive through to a private car park at the side of the club. Maybe Aaron had stepped round there to keep out of the blustery wing nipping around him. He couldn't blame him if had, he was beginning to shiver from the November evening. He began making his way round the side of the club rubbing his hands together to keep them warm as he searched the street. It wasn't until the older builder had rounded the corned did he find out what was taking the teen so long. Darrel.
The older man had Aaron frozen to the spot. The teen looked terrified. He had never seen him look so scared. Darrel wass only two feet in front of the teen, spitting angry words full of lies and hate. Anger boiled through Jackson's blood. Darrel had managed to get to Aaron yet again. He would not leave the young mechanic alone, even after everything he had put him through, all the pain h had caused. How dare he think that he could approach Aaron, talk to him, threaten him by the sounds of it! Quick on his feet, Jackson ran over to the two, ready to tell Darrel where to go if needed.
"What do you think your doing?" Jackson barked at Darrel, pushing him forcefully away from Aaron. "Get away from him."
A sinister laugh escaped Darrel's lips, all the time never removing his eye from Aaron. "Looks like you're saved this time." Darrel commented. "Unfortunately you won't be getting what you wanted, now, Aaron."
Hearing his name being spoken by Darrel made the teen feel sick with terror and fuel Jackson's anger even more.
"Don't you dare talk to him. You're sick!" Jackson spat whilst Aaron remained silent. "We'll report you to the police again if we have to."
This made Darrel laugh even harder. "We all know that doesn't get you anywhere." Darrel said stepping closer. "And we all know Aaron wants me, don't you Aaron?" He winked.
Jackson lost it. He was fed up with listening to Darrel's lies. He was sick and tired of Darrel getting away with his sick games. He was unbelievably exhausted with his games to get to Aaron. He lashed out, shoving Darrel hard, causing him to stumble back a fair few steps and his smirk to vanish. "I don't know what's going on in that sick head of yours, but you're going to stay away from us, from him." Jackson threatened.
"Or what?" Darrel counted, advancing on Jackson until he was only inched apart.
The older man wasn't going to intimidate him. The adrenaline and anger pumping through his veins was more than enough to make Jackson unfazed by Darrel's attempts to threaten him. "You don't want to know." Jackson hissed.
"Just like you don't want to know how much Aaron was gagging for it." Darrel sneered, intent on riling Jackson. "Not satisfying him enou-." He managed to get out before Jackson swung his fist into his jaw.
"Jackson!" Aaron burst out, no longer finding it hard to speak.
While Darrel clutched his jaw in, in shock from the blow, Jackson grabbed Aaron's arm and began to pull him away, away from Darrel. He couldn't believe he'd just hit somebody. Jackson despised violence. He hated it when Aaron got angry and lashed out but he'd done just that. He lashed out at Darrel furious of the sick words spilling from his mouth. Aaron didn't need to hear any of it, he didn't deserve to.
"I'm texting Adam, letting him know we're going home." Jackson told Aaron as he guided him towards the taxi rink down the road where there were more people around. "He'll understand when I tell him why."
Aaron didn't say anything as they stood waiting for a taxi home. He was still in shock. He couldn't get rid of Darrel everywhere he turned he was there. He just wanted to go home, lock himself in his room and never leave. He couldn't keep going on if he was scared to look over his shoulder incase Darrel was there.
A/N – Sorry for the wait guys, been overloaded with work. Hope it's worth the wait. Now cracking with another update for this fic and NYE. Thank you for all the great feedback I've received, it's really a great help!