Lie To Me

Disclaimer - Nope not mine. They belong to ITV

A/N - So, writing about Jackson's funeral seemed to help a little. This is the outcome, tell me what you think? If you want more. You reviews help me combat the blues given to me by Emmerdale!

Lie of why you're leavin' early

Deny that you're in any hurry

Cry and tell me not to worry

Cause what I don't know, is never gonna hurt me.

- Shane Mack

Aaron, Jackson and Adam were mates; they were unlikely mates as they call come from different backgrounds. Aaron's childhood being the most different of the three of them but they lived in the same village and over time they just seemed to click. Jackson was the eldest; he was nineteen with the other two boys being seventeen.

They did literally everything together, whenever they could of course. Adam worked on the farm having left school as sixteen. Aaron was training to be a mechanic, he too having left school at sixteen and Jackson was a builder by trade. He was a builder, had been since he was fifteen, he found he had a passion for it during his work experience and he had taken a year out after school to pursue it further before heading to university because he wanted to be an Architect deep down, that's where his future was, he knew that but the passion he had for building was just the same. He was dreading the day he would have to give it up for a while, whilst he studies architecture.

"JACKSON!" he heard his name being bellowed from somewhere but looking around he couldn't see any of his friends, where was the voice coming from "JACKSON!" it roared again. He knew who it was now. It was Aaron.

"BY THE SHEDS!" he called back to his best mate, letting him know where he was as he carried on, building the small outbuilding for Declan Macey, the guy that had just bought Home Farm.

He spotted Clyde before Aaron, well spotted was the wrong word. The dog jumped up on him, demanding his attention before Aaron was anywhere in sight. "Hey boy" he says bending down and petting the dog affectionately. Picking up a stray stick from the ground, the throws it as far across the field as he can, a couple seconds later Clyde is off, fetching it and Aaron appears from the trees.

"Still not finished that?" Aaron asks, coming to stand still as his side, hands on his hips as he shakes his head in disappointment "should have hired me" Aaron smirks "I would have had it done by now"

"Ha!" Jackson retorts sarcastically with a roll of his eyes "you're just a grease monkey"

"Remember that next time that heap of crap you call a van breaks down, eh?"

Jackson shrugs "not the only mechanic in Emmerdale you know"

Aaron pulls a face and looks around, before he can reply with some sarcastic comment Jackson speaks over him "what are you doing here anyway?"

"Wondered if you fancied going into town tonight?" the mechanic asked. Jackson's brows pulled together "you came all the way up here to ask me that? Have you lost your phone?"

Scowling Aaron replies "I had to walk Clyde anyway, just answer the flippin' question will ya?"

Jackson smirks. Aaron, out of the three of them was the one with the short temper and the one that, when you knew how, was so easy to wind up.

"Just us or…"

"Adam too probably and Holly said some of her mates might tag along. Should be a good night"

"Says the seventeen year old who can't get into any clubs"

Again, Aaron scowled at his best friend "I'll get in, I look older than you!"

Jackson scoffs and rolls his eyes "right, cheers for the invite but if I don't get this finished I won't be going anywhere"

Aaron walked away from the builder, calling on Clyde as he went. Looking back over his shoulder he saw that Jackson was back at work and watched as he turned his radio up, the music could be heard from where Aaron was, half way across the field.

At 6:30 Jackson was finished for the day and was at home, getting ready when his Mum appeared at his bedroom door "alright love?" she asks, resting on the door frame. Catching her eye in the mirror he nods his head "Yeah, something you want?" he smirks and his Mother shakes her head "just wondering what your tartin' yourself up for"

Jackson rolls his eyes "I am allowed to dress nice without a reason you know" he tells her, pulling on his shirt "anyway, me, Aaron, Adam and Holly are going into town"

"Aren't they still underage?"

Jackson once again, rolls his eyes at the question "yes they are Mother, are you going to tell them they can't go?"

The door bell rang and Hazel heard it being opened by her husband "that'll be them then, will it?" she asks, used to Jackson's mates walking in and out as they pleased, she liked it. It made her feel young and some of his mates were pretty damn good to look at.

A few minutes later footsteps could be heard on the stairs leading to the hallway and Jackson bedroom. Popping her head around to look downstairs, to have a nosey at who was coming up Hazel exclaims "where's the rest of them?"

"Not coming" Aaron said, shoving his hands into his jean pockets "something going on up at Butler's so Adam and Holly have backed out" he frowns with a shrug "I got Ryan's keys" he grins "He's letting me drive it, thought I'd go for a spin, wanna come?"

"I got all dressed up for nothing?"

Aaron looks Jackson up and down, before scowling "Not like you were going to pick anyone up is it? I mean...not when I'm with you"

"You're driving scares the crap out of me" Jackson told him honestly "I have no idea how you passed"

"Shut up!" Aaron says quickly "I'm a great driver" he looks at Jackson's Mother "right Hazel?" he asks, having given her lift into town the other week.

"Uh..." she looked between her son and his friend "I guess" she settles on before making a quick exit. Aaron watches her walk down the stairs, a frown on his face "she just doesn't want to tell you you're wrong" he points out to Jackson "now are we going or what?"

"Oh yay!" Jackson replies sarcastically, grabbing his jacket "Can't wait for all this fun"

Aaron's eyes narrow at him "You could always stay in, with Hazel and Jerry. Have a nice night in front of the TV?"

It was Jackson's turn to say "shut up" and push Aaron down the stairs in front of him. Aaron letting out a sarcastic laugh as he does so.

They had been driving around town and the back roads for hours, just the two of them. It was a laugh, talking about things they had gotten up to, talking about what they were going to do before Jackson went off to study.

He was speeding and they were both distracted by the music and by their chats that if Jackson hadn't looked around when he had and called out "AARON WATCH!" they would have been under a truck fighting for their lives or dead.

Aaron was able to pull the car out of the way, but he ended up going into a ditch, he didn't hit anything but he had to apply the brakes hard and he was thrown forward, his head hitting off of the steering wheel, hard.

"Ow" Jackson complains, rubbing his chest from where the seat belt dug into him from the impact of the breaking.

"Ryan's gonna kill us if we don't get those CDs back in order" Aaron mutters and Jackson can't help but laugh "shut up!" he says sitting forward and getting a good look at his friend "Aaron..." he says in a sudden worried tone, noticing the blood on Aaron's head "you hit your head"

Lifting his hand to his head and feeling the blood, the cut "So I have" Aaron says, realising for the first time.

Pulling his shirt over his hand and with one hand on the side of Aaron's head he turns him to him "Come here..." he says intent on cleaning the wound, he knew he should clean it to stop it getting infected or something like that. He just knew he had to clean it.

He moved closer to get to the cut on the left hand side of his head. Their heads were almost touching "ow" Aaron complained as he touched it lightly. "Quit your whinging" Jackson retorts, rolling his eyes. He looks down to see Aaron looking at him, a strange look on his face and suddenly he's leaning forward, suddenly he was going to kiss him.

In shock Jackson pulled back "Aaron!" he says, in a harsh and surprised tone, harsher than it should have been but he was surprised "what are you doing?" he asks, wide eyed and surprise written all over his face.

Aaron's eyes widen as what he tried to do finally registers in his brain. He's pushing open the car door and jumping out before either of them really knows what's happening. "Aaron!" Jackson exclaims, getting out of the car to and moving around to his side.

"Hey" he says softly, touching Aaron's arm only to have him pull away as if his touch burnt. "Aaron, talk to me" he tries to reason, touching him again. Aaron turns on him, stepping into his face "get out my face"

Jackson's brows pull together "You don't scare me" he reminds him "what was that?" Jackson wants answers, he needs answers. He needs to know exactly what that was between the two of them but before he can push for an answer Aaron turns and runs off through field "AARON!" Jackson yells out but he already knows it's pointless. Aaron is doing what Aaron does best when he doesn't know how to react to a situation, he runs.

"Great!" Jackson throws his hands up in exasperation, pacing the deserted road as the events of the past five minutes replay over and over again in his mind. What had just happened? He hadn't imagined it. Aaron had actually tried to kiss him right? That's why he was currently lost in the middle of nowhere whilst Aaron ran away from him. He had no idea what he was going to do, the only thing he knew he had to do was get Ryan's car back to the garage. Jumping in the car and trying to block out the thoughts running through his head he drove back to the village, parking the car outside of the garage and dropping the keys through Ryan's letterbox.

Hanging around his front garden he dialled Aaron's number but as expected it rang out. Aaron wasn't going to answer him, he knew that, he just wished he would because he needed to speak to him. Needed to know how he was, he was worried. When Aaron was upset he had a tendency to do stupid things.

Letting himself into his house, into his bedroom and falling onto the bed he cradled his phone in his hand, hoping that Aaron would call but knowing he wouldn't. Sleep would be long time coming for him, he knew that.

Two days later and Jackson still hadn't managed to pin Aaron down. He was avoiding him, he made that clear. They had plans to meet in the pub, with Adam but Aaron never showed. It was Aaron's birthday soon and Jackson just hoped they could sort of their differences before then.

The rain pelting against his window woke him up, Aaron, again the first thing on his mind. Jumping out of bed he pulled on clothes and headed down to the kitchen, where his Mother was making breakfast "Alright love?" she asks, handing him coffee

"Yeah" he says lifting the coffee but heading out the back door. He lived right next to the garage "Ryan, seen Aaron?"

"Probably still in bed mate, day off"

"Cheers!" Jackson thanks him, taking a gulp of his coffee and dropping it back on the kitchen counter on his way out of the house "where you going?" Hazel called out after him

"Out!" was his short reply just as the door slammed behind him. He wasn't going to let Aaron continue to avoid him, continue to make this more than it was. Because he'd hit his head, he was confused, that's all it was, right?

xxx

Aaron was in bed. It was his first day off since that night. He had been trying to keep himself busy, he didn't want to think about what almost happened. How could he have been so stupid? How could he have tried to kiss one of his best mates? Jackson's reaction kept going over and over in his head, what had he done? What if Jackson told people? He'd deny it but what if people believed him?

He thought he had managed to change how he felt. Deep down, he knew there was something different. He'd always known. He didn't look at girls the way he should, he didn't instantly fancy them, he had to force himself to fancy them. He would continue to do that until it just happened because he wasn't giving in to whatever this was. He wasn't a queer, he never would be. He bang on the head had caused him to try and kiss Jackson. If Jackson wanted to make something of it then…then he could and Aaron would just have to shut him up.

Groaning he rolled over onto his stomach in bed, pulling the pillow over his head as he did so. He didn't want to think about it. He didn't want to think about the day when he would have to face Jackson again or what Jackson would say. Downstairs, he heard the door slam closed and then the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs, he put it down to Paddy.

xxx

Jackson didn't bother knocking, he never had before, he let himself into Smithy and climbed the stairs, knowing Aaron would still be in bed.

He pushed open the door to Aaron's room, heard him grumble "do one Paddy" but ignored him, closed the door behind himself then said "It's not Paddy" He watched as Aaron's whole body tensed up, he could tell Aaron's breathing was coming in short bursts, anxiety taking over him clearly "Aaron"

Licking his lips Aaron turned himself over in the bed, propping up against the headboard "What do you want?"

"You've been avoiding me for days"

"No I haven't" Aaron says with a scoff "I've been busy, you wouldn't know anything about that cause you don't have a real job"

He ignored Aaron's remark, knowing the younger boy was merely trying to cause an argument to stop this conversation from happening but Jackson wasn't going to let that happen "Put these on!" he says throwing Aaron his tracksuit bottoms "we need to talk"

Aaron did as he was told and pulled the tracksuit bottoms on, glaring at Jackson the entire time. He didn't want this conversation and kept looking at the door. Jackson could read him like a book "You won't make it" he tells him "I'll stop you"

Aaron curses him under his breath and sits on the windowsill, arms crossed over his chest "what do you want?"

"The other night, we have to talk about it"

"No, we don't"

Jackson paced the room, working out his next question. He knew what his next question was going to be he just didn't know how Aaron would react to it, he changed it for another one.

"Why did you try to kiss me?"

"What?" Aaron says "I didn't" denial seemed the easiest way to go for the mechanic. Jackson rolled his eyes "Are you gay?" he asked quietly, tentatively. That question got more of a reaction than his first. Aaron jumped to his feet and was in front of him before the words had even left his mouth "what did you say!"

"Are you gay?" Jackson repeated, he wasn't afraid of Aaron, he never had been.

"NO!" Aaron said, loudly and Jackson was far from convinced "Why did you try to kiss me then?"

"I didn't"

Jackson shook his head "I'm not going to judge you Aaron. I just want to understand, help you"

"You'll help me by shutting up and not talking about it ever again"

Jackson dropped down onto the edge of Aaron's bed, his head in his hands and his shoulders were tense. Aaron was confused, what had just happened.

"Jackson?" he asks, in a worried tone.

Jackson lets out a small laugh "I was scared you, so scared. I didn't want to tell you, I thought you'd go off on one and not want to be my mate. How wrong was I?"

"Tell me what? What you on about?"

"I understand what you're going through Aaron. I know how you feel"

"Oh yeah? You know what it's like to have someone nag at you for a stupid mistake after you hit your head?"

Jackson shakes his head once more, a small, sad smile on his lips "I know what it's like to be afraid to admit your gay"

"I'm not Gay!" Aaron barked out, then Jackson words register "what do you mean, you know?" he takes a step back, to get a better look at his friend.

"I'm gay" Jackson says, his shoulders falling as he finally says the words out loud. The words he had been scared to say, to Aaron, to Adam to everyone really but mostly them. They were his best mates, he didn't want to lose them.

"Don't be daft" Aaron says "You're not gay, look at you!"

Looking up at him Jackson nods "Look at you" he replies and Aaron frowns, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. Jackson was gay? If so why did he pull away the other night?

As if reading his mind Jackson says "I pulled away the other night because you surprised me. I never expected you to be…I just didn't expect it"

Aaron puts more space between the two of them "does anyone know?"

Shaking his head is all the answer Aaron needs "I'm going to tell people, I just…I didn't know how you and Adam would react. Didn't want to lose my best mates"

Aaron nods at the new information, taking it in.

"Now you see, I know what you're going through"

Aaron shakes his head violently, still denying it "I'm not Gay Jackson" he says "I don't care that you are" he tells his mate, surprising himself "but I'm not. The other night was a mistake, cause of the accident"

It soon becomes clear that Aaron isn't going to admit to it, not right at that moment anyway "I've told you now, I'm glad I have. It's not going to change anything between us, is it?"

"Course not" Aaron tells him, a small smile on his lips "I'm not a complete dick, just cause you fancy guys doesn't mean I don't want to be your mate"

"What about Adam?"

Aaron shrugs, he couldn't answer for the young farmer.

"Don't tell him" Jackson says, not ready to fully come out "I don't want anyone else to know"

Aaron nods, he could keep Jackson's secret, hell he had been keeping his own for years "You're not going to tell anyone what happened the other night are you?"

"Course not"

Before either of them could say anything more, before the dust could properly settle the door was again heard being closed behind someone, followed by them running up the stairs "It's not Paddy" Aaron says "he can't move that fast"

Jackson lets out a small laugh just as the bedroom door is pushed open. It's Adam "Oh good!" he says seeing the both of them "Your both here, need your help!"

"What is it?"

"We need help on the farm" Adam tells him "Come on"

Aaron and Jackson share a look. They both know they have much more to stay to each other, so much more than needs said but as of right now they were going to have to put that behind them for their friend.

"Come on then!" Aaron says grabbing a hoodie and pulling on his boots "I've got the jeep" Adam tells them as they head downstairs "we don't all have to squash onto that quad"

Much later on that day, early evening the boys were trapsing back to Jackson's. Jackson having bought them cans from the shop, they were going to relax and watch some DVDs. Aaron and Jackson were aching from helping on the farm, Adam wasn't but he was used to it because he worked the farm every day, Aaron and Jackson weren't.

"I'm knackered!" Aaron says, dropping himself onto Jackson's bed and making himself comfortable. Adam sitting at his feet "You two need to do a proper days graft"

"Oi" Jackson says, resenting that comment "I'm a builder, I know what hard graft is" he nods at Aaron "he doesn't"

Aaron merely scowls, too knackered to do anything else. He does manage to grab the offered can from Adam and pull it open, but that's about it "put this DVD on then, the one you two won't shut up about"

Hours passed and the film finished. Cans were drank, too many cans were drank "I'm going to head off" Adam said getting to his feet "Got to be up early in the morning"

"You can crash if you want mate, you know that"

Adam nods his head. He did know that. Of course he did "The walk will sober me up" he looks at Aaron and laughs "You might be stuck with him though"

Jackson looks at his friend and agrees "Yeah, he's out of it. See you tomorrow"

Not bothering to be quiet about his exit Adam all but slams the bedroom door closed which wakes up Aaron "What?" he asks a little disorientated "what's going on?"

Jackson laughs outloud "nothing" he says taking the DVD out of the machine and putting it back to the TV.

"Where's Adam?" Aaron mumbles, still half asleep. Jackson jumps back on the bed, beside Aaron as Aaron finally comes round a little more, he pushes himself up on his elbows, looking around.

"Just gone home"

"Oh" Aaron's head falls back onto the pillow and Jackson shakes his head. "You can't hold your drink. It's embarrassing"

Aaron's hand reaches out, pushing Jackson's shoulder "Shut up, I can. I'm just tired. My day off and I spent it on a farm"

"Yeah yeah" Jackson retorts, not believing him at all. Aaron tries to look annoyed but it doesn't work what with him looking so tired and being so drunk.

For a minute their eyes lock and time seems to freeze for a second. Jackson doesn't know what he's doing or why he's doing it but his hand ends up flat on Aaron's chest as he leans over the younger boy, brushing his lips against his.

The kiss was tender but short. Jackson pulled away, his head laying on the pillow next to Aaron's, his hand still on the mechanic's chest. His eyes drift closed as do Aaron's, comfortable in each other's company and too tired to even think about anything else.

A/N - LIKE IT? LOVE IT? HATE IT? WANT MORE? LET ME KNOW!