Chapter 4

Jackson entered the warm Woolpack and approached the bar. He was used to Chas' frosty stares by now but shrugged it off.

"Pint please Chas."

"Not entertaining tonight then?"

Jackson sighed "No. I'm not. Why is it any business of yours anyway?"

"Getting your leg over with another guy for a year while you were still meant to be in a relationship with my son..."

Just before the argument could escalate any further, Aaron appeared behind the bar "Mum I'm off now."

"Have fun love!"

Aaron, noticing Jackson staring, smiled at his Mum "Don't wait up, yeah? See you later. Love ya."

"Be careful, Aaron!"

"And where's the fun in that?" Aaron laughed

eeeeeee

"I thought you weren't coming!" Ed smiled, as he noticed Aaron getting out of the taxi.

"Said I would be, didn't I?"

"You look great by the way."

Aaron smiled, trying to hide the blush he could feel creeping on his cheeks "Thanks. You too. So, How did you get on tonight then?"

"52-4. We were the 4."

"Ouch."

"Yep. Think I could do with a drink. What you having?" Ed asked as the barman waited to serve them

"I'll get these. You bought them last night. Can i have a pint and Vodka Redbull please?"

"Woah hang on... Not Vodka. Gets me horny."

"Vodka gets you horny?"

"Yep. One drop and that's it. Can't control myself."

"Better make it a double then mate." Aaron said to the barman, earning hima playful punch from Ed.

"Hoping to get lucky, are we?"

"No...Just wanna see what happens to you." Aaron smiled.

eeeeeee

"So, Where's Aaron gone?" Jackson asked Chas

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just making conversation." Jackson sighed

"Well don't make it with me. You might like to pretend nothing's happened and you that you aren't treating Aaron like something you've just stepped in, but I haven't. Trust me if I had my way, you wouldn't even be allowed to drink in here."

"Aaron bought it all on himself."

"You knew exactly what Aaron was going through and you knew exactly what he was like. You could of just broken up with him Jackson and let it end there, but you didn't. You carried on that relationship for another year even though you were hopping from bed to bed every night."

"I'm not proud of what I did you know."

"Yet you continue to do it. I see you in here with a different guy practically every night, Jackson!"

"Aaron's a big lad. He doesn't need Mummy sticking up for him all his life. Well, what you bothered to be around for anyway."

"Right, that's it, You're barred. I don't want to see you in here again, That clear?"

"Crystal."

eeeeee

"Aaron, there you are. Mate we need your help with Ed."

"What's up Kev?"

"He's really drunk, He's outside and struggling to stand up but he's not letting anyone help him. I figured with you being his boyfriend he might listen to you."

"Woah no-one said anything about boyfriends!"

"Yeah ok, whatever, but seriously, we could use some help."

Aaron followed Kevin outside and they found Ed, slumped over a bush.

"Ed, Ed come on mate, You need to get up. Please man they're gonna ring the police." Kev attempted to get Ed standing but he pulled away, staggering into Aaron.

"Ed..Come on. Let me help you yeah?"

"I don't need help, Just get off me!" Ed lashed out, his fist connecting with something hard.

Aaron staggered back, shocked from the blow, he could feel his left eye burning and watering.

"Aaron! Oh god mate...Are you ok?"

"He just hit me, of course I'm not ok!"

"He lashes out when he's drunk, He didn't mean it. Please Aaron i really need your help here! Look he's done it to me before, He doesn't mean to. He just hates not having control of what he's doing."

Aaron sighed and threw his arm around Ed's waist and managed to get him upright. He could barely see out of his eye now and knew he would be on the recieveing end from his Mum in the morning.

"Mate you should get some ice on that Eye."

"Yeah I'll sort it when I'm home."

"Aaron.. Are..are you coming with me?" Ed asked, his head resting on Aaron's shoulder

"I'm gonna help Kevin take you home, then I'm going back to mine."

"Can't you stay?"

"I will another time. i promise."

eeeeeee

After what felt like hours of helping Kevin and a very drunk Ed, Aaron had finally returned home, surprised to see the pub still open. Bracing himself for 20 questions over his eye, he entered the pub. Chas had her back to the door, cleaning the glass on the fridge door.

"Alright Mum."

Chas spun round and immediately clocked her son's swollen eye.

"What the hell happened to you?"

"Ed got drunk, Me and his mate Kev tried to get him home and he lashed out. I think me just grabbing him shocked him a bit."

"Great. So you get rid of a slimeball and end off with a psychopath!"

"Ed's not a psychopath Mum! I grabbed him to stop him falling flat on his face and he lashed out."

"You better not be lying to me."

"I'm not. Honest. You know I don't get into trouble anymore!"

"Yeah i know." Chas sighed "Get some ice on that eye."

Chas watched Aaron disappear into the back room and sighed. She felt scared. What if it wasn't a one off? What if Ed got drunk and hit him again? She shook her head and pushed the thoughts to back of her mind. After everything Aaron had been through, she knew he would be more careful about who he trusted and wanted to be with...Wouldn't he?

TBC